BUCCANEER NEWS Vol. #10 11/3/2025

• Here is a list of the sporting events for this week (UPDATED)
• Weekly Staff and Parent Bulletin Requests

1) [NEW] SNAP Benefits

2) [NEW] 7th Grade Hearing/Vision Screening

3) [NEW] BHS Basketball Fundraiser

4) [NEW] Term 2 Starts Thursday 11/6

5) [REMINDER] Science Club

6) [REMINDER] Children's Grief and Loss Awareness Day-November 7th

7) [UPDATE] Parent/Teacher Conferences

8) [REMINDER] Shawsheen Tech Open House, November 5th From 6:00-8:00pm

9) [UPDATE] Save the Dates

This Week:

11/4 (T) No School for Students - Teacher Professional Day

11/5 (W) 4:00-7:30 Parent Teacher Conferences

11/6 (Th) Term 2 Begins: 7th Grade PE and Art Swap and 8th Grade PE and STEM Swap

Next Week (So Far):

11/11 (Tu) No School - Veteran's Day

11/13 (Th) Mental Health Screen (look for details from our counselor)

Bedford Public School Nutrition supports all families by ensuring our community knows of the availability of free nutritious lunch and breakfast at our schools every school day and will continue to do so. Please see the enclosed link to our school menus. https://bedfordpsmanutrition.org/index.php?sid=1598992805232&page=menus

Also, please take note of Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline https://projectbread.org/foodsource-hotline, FoodSource hotline counselors, in 180 languages, can help families find food assistance through other sources such as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program and local food pantries.

Last and not least, our local Bedford Food Bank has shared this statement. During the federal shutdown, the Bedford Food Bank will operate its 3 core services as usual: · Drive-through Food Bank – Thursdays, 3:30 – 5:30 pmbehind the Town Center (Yellow) Building, 10 Mudge Way, Bedford · Home delivery program for homebound and disabled Bedford residents – call 781-275-7727 · Self-service locker program - guests who cannot attend the drive-through program can come to the Town Center and retrieve their distribution at their convenience - call 781-275-7727

We understand that a prolonged shutdown may increase the number of neighbors seeking free, healthy food, and we are committed to supporting them. Our mission remains constant: To provide nutritious food and personal items with dignity, supporting the health and well-being of every household. The Bedford Food Bank (BFB) motto is “Sharing Good Food.” The Bedford Food Bank is here for our community, and our work continues. If you need to find a food pantry near you, outside of the 3 offerings above, please visit: https://www.vivery.org/find-food/#food-finder-map. If you’d like to support the good work of the Bedford Food Bank during this challenging time, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Checks can be made out to: The Town of Bedford, c/o Bedford Health Department, 12 Mudge Way, Bedford, MA 01730.

As you know from emails, starting this week on November 3rd all 7th grade students will have hearing and vision screening. Parents will be notified if further evaluation is necessary by their physician. Heights and weights will also be done at this time. Annual Height and Weight Screening The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires the annual height and weight screening protocols to include the calculation of a Body Mass Index (BMI) and percentile for grades 1, 4, 7, and 10. Each child’s height and weight will be used to calculate their BMI. The results will be kept confidential in each student’s school health record. BMI is a “weight for height for age” index that can be a useful tool in early identification of possible health risk factors among children and youth. If you would like the results of your child’s BMI screening please contact me. Additional information about children’s wellness and fitness is available at www.mass.gov/massinmotion/. Please feel free to call if you have any questions or concerns. If you do not want your child to participate in this screening please send an email to tracy_fernald@bedfordps.org. Tracy Fernald RN JGMS Nurse 781-275-3165 tracy_fernald@bedfordps.org

For 7th and 8th grade, the PE/Art/Stem Rotations will be happen on Thursday, 11/6.

• 7th grade PE and Art swap
• 8th Grade PE and STEM swap

We are excited to announce we have an advisor for the Science Club, Ms. Bharatan. The Science Club will start on Tuesday, October 28th from 2:25 PM-3:25 PM in room B115. Science Club will meet every Tuesday till April 28th

November is National Children's & Teen Grief Awareness Month!

This month is an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact that the death of a family member

has on the life of a child or teen. It also provides a space for them to show support and

encouragement to others.

Staff and interns from The Children's Room (TCR) will be partnering with JGMS counseling

staff from our school to host activities and an awareness table during lunch on November 7th.

Students who would like to participate will have the opportunity to anonymously represent

anyone in their life who has died and/or write a message of support for peers.

We hope that this event may also be an opening for family discussion. Consider asking your

student what they drew/wrote on their blue heart honoring or supporting someone. Share with

them about the individuals your family remembers and the memories you hold.

The color for Grief Awareness Month is Blue. Please encourage your child to join us by wearing

BLUE on November 7th to show support for their friends & classmates who have experienced

grief.

If you would like more information about ways to be supportive of a child/teen who is grieving,

please click here.

Please feel free to contact The Children’s Room for information about grief support services

available free of charge for children, teens, and families. Click here for the contact form.

We will hold Parent/Teacher Conferences this year on the following dates:

1. Wednesday, November 5, 2025 4:00-7:30 Parent Teacher Conferences

2. Wednesday, November 19, 2025 2:15-4:15 Parent Teacher Conferences

It is important for me to inform incoming families and remind returning families that it is your choice whether you schedule a conference for your child and there is no requirement to schedule a conference for your middle schooler. Our goal is to ensure that conferences are meaningful and useful to you and for your family. Therefore, I ask you to consider your child and whether:

• You feel they are developing appropriately at grade level academically and socially.

• You have received or are actively receiving ample/sufficient communication from your teachers regarding your child’s learning and middle school experience thus far.

If you answer yes to either of the bullets above, please consider emailing your teachers to ask if they think a conference is necessary for your child before taking a slot or requesting an alternate time. Oftentimes a check in with a teacher via email or telephone will provide the information you need to support your child in lieu of a scheduled conference.

After we send out sign up links next, we invite all families to sign up for a conference or request one via email to your child's team leader if the slots fill up before you can sign up. As we have done in previous years, if you are not able to schedule a time on November 5 or 19, and feel a conference will be helpful, we will accommodate you at times that have yet to be determined.

Finally, to ensure all families have access and we can maximize time allotted, all conferences will be via zoom. We look forward to communicating more next week.

Here is the sign Up Link

Ahead of our annual field trip to Shawhsheen on 11/12, we encourage interested students to attend Shawsheen's Open House. Parents and students welcome!

Tour classrooms, meet teachers and students, explore all of the program offerings that prepare graduates for college, careers and beyond...

1. Wednesday, November 5, 2025 4:00-7:30 Parent Teacher Conferences

2. Wednesday, November 12, 2025 8th Grade Shawsheen Field Trip

3. Wednesday, November 19, 2025 2:15-4:15 Parent Teacher Conferences

On the rare occasion you are requesting an item be placed in a weekly bulletin, please refrain from email and please use the Google Form listed as

• Weekly Staff and Parent Bulletin Requests

It is listed above so you may access it from these bulletins anytime.

Using the link will ensure your item is considered in a timely manner. I typically check them every Sunday. Any item I have questions about may need to wait so please give 2 weeks notice as

Think ahead and order a yearbook for your child! Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and put in code 4008 for John Glenn middle school. We do order extras and do not always have enough to go around in June so secure yours now! As we get closer to to the end of the year, the price will increase to ensure we meet our ordering quota. Please purchase now and get them when they are at their lowest! Email Ms.Beinert with any questions or if you require financial assistance this year.

CLUBS

JGMS has a variety of clubs and sports that meet outside of school hours. The list of clubs are listed here

SPORTS

For students who want to compete in sports at JGMS, please sign up here

Sports Opportunities at JGMS: Students have a variety of options. Here is a list of sports that we offer at JGMS throughout the year.

Coaching Staff: JGMS offers four sports in the fall. Please contact the JGMS coach with questions. Please contact your child's coach via email for information regarding games, practices, or changes to schedules. Sports schedules can be found each week at the link at the top of bulletin listed as "This week's sports schedule - Click "view Schedules" on right to find Middle School schedules. Practice/Tryout information for sports are listed below.

GENERAL:

JGMS Athletic Coordinator: Ken Norling

FALL:

JGMS Cross Country: Ken Norling

JGMS Boys Soccer: Pete Simonini

JGMS Girls Soccer: Paul Harrington

JGMS Field Hockey: Indigo FoxTree indigo_foxtree-mcgrath@bedfordps.org

JGMS Football: Joe Curran joseph_curran@bedfordps.org

WINTER:

JGMS Boys Basketball: Vinnie McGrath

JGMS Girls Basketball: Greg Hinz

SPRING:

JGMS Boys Baseball: TBD

JGMS Girls Softball: TBD

JGMS Co-Ed Outdoor Track: Ken Norling

Please be aware and follow the drop off and pick up routines designed to provide a safe environment for entry and exit of students.

DROP OFF: Please see the drop off routines below

Students who:

• walk/bike to school may enter in the front by the School Administration wing or the parking lot door

• ride the bus to school should enter in the front by the School Administration wing

• ride in a car to school should enter in the back parking lot. Caretakers should follow the traffic pattern laid out below in the morning

PICK UP: Please see the pick up routines below

Student who:

• walk/bike from school may exit any door that is most convenient.

• ride the bus from school may exit may exit any door that is most convenient. These students will walk to Bedford High School to pick up the bus. Dismissal at JGMS is at 2:16 and the dismissal at BHS is at 2:24. Busses will depart from Bedford High School at 2:28.

• ride in a car from school should exit the school by the parking lot. Caretakers should follow the traffic pattern laid out below in the afternoon.

Attendance: Please let us know when your child will be absent, late, or dismissed by emailing JGMS_Attendance@bedfordps.org. If for a dismissal, please indicate a time as well. You can also send a note with your child to be dropped off in the main office prior to going to class. If we know of a dismissal ahead of time we will attempt to have your child ready when you arrive.

Religious Holidays: Please follow the directions explained here.

Tech Support: If your child is having technical trouble throughout the school year please send an email to tech_support@bedfordps.org.

Taking the Bus: Please see the guidance on the district’s transportation website. Please review the transportation guidelines with your children as we hope families will choose to ride the bus again.

Sports schedules: Please visit the sports section of the website to access the schedules of the upcoming seasons. You can click on “view schedules” under the calendar on the right. You should look for “middle school” teams when searching for your child’s sport.