Editor’s Note: in this week’s message Superintendent Conrad speaks to a misuse of the BEST school directory, International Women’s Day, Bedford Dollars for Scholars, the 26th Annual Regional High School Art Show, Mama Mia! the BHS musical, as well as Covid protocols and case updates.
Misuse of our BEST Directory
I want to apologize to any of our families who received a campaign email from Ms. Kelly Horton, a candidate for school committee. Ms. Horton misused the BEST Directory to campaign for elected office in town. It is important to know that you should not have been subjected to this type of email. The purpose of the BEST Directory is to foster community, it is not to be used for marketing purposes and it was. Please know that this misuse was not approved or endorsed by the Bedford Public Schools or BEST. It should also be clear that our ASPEN Data system was not breached, instead the BEST Directory was misused. This was a violation of the BEST Directory agreement which states that,
“… all of the information contained herein is not for commercial use and not for further distribution. The use of the information, including email addresses, is ONLY for classroom, personal, and BEST activities. It would be inappropriate to use the emails or other information for commercial/business activity or non-BEST fundraising activity. Your understanding in this matter is greatly appreciated.”
The candidate and BEST have sent emails apologizing to our families for the misuse of the BEST Directory. Please know that we respect everyone’s privacy and will ensure that this does not happen again to BEST or any of our other parent groups. This is a deeply troubling situation and I apologize to everyone for this breach of edict.
**Please note that NO campaigning is allowed on school property.** This includes posting signs, holding signs, or passing out literature. We will make sure that everyone understands this for all elections moving forward.
International Women’s Day
Tuesday of this week was International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is a global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also seeks to accelerate gender equity. For more information about International Women’s Day go to https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
Bedford Dollars for Scholars
CSF of Bedford Dollars for Scholars kicked off their 57th annual Dollars for Scholars Fundraising Campaign. Bedford High students stuffed and labeled letters, which will be mailed to Bedford neighbors this week so please be on the lookout for those letters. Please help make this year’s scholarships for the Class of 2022 the largest awards yet. In May 2021, CSF of Bedford awarded over $157,000 to graduating seniors. For additional information, please see their website, bedfordma.dollarsforscholars.org
The 26th Annual Regional High School Art Show
The Artwork of over fifty Bedford High School students will be on display at the 26th Annual Regional High School Art Show at LexArt located at 130 Waltham Street, Lexington, MA from March 5th through 20th. The exhibit hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 am until 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am until 5 pm. A private reception for artists, family, and friends will be held on Tuesday, March 15th from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm. Images of the installation can be seen at: https://www.lexart.org/high-schools/bedford
Mamma Mia at BHS
Bedford High School will present MAMMA MIA, the crowd-pleasing hit featuring the music of ABBA, March 16-19, 2022 in the Joseph Buckley Auditorium at Bedford High School. The show features lots of laughs, amazing dancing, and favorite pop hits, and is most suitable for a PG-13 audience.
Performances are March 16 at 4:30 pm, March 17 & 18 at 7:00 pm, March 19 at 1:00 pm (a mask-required show), and 7:00 pm. The March 19, 2022 show at 1:00 pm was added to accommodate a mask-required performance. Masks are required at the 1:00 pm show and strongly encouraged at all of the other shows.
Tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for students/seniors and are available here. Don’t miss your chance to see BHS’s talented performing arts students on stage for the first live spring musical since 2020!
Testing
Want to be part of our FREE at-home testing program or our pooled testing program?
- Click Here to opt-in to At-Home Antigen Test Opt-In Google Form
- Click here to view a video on How to use the iHealth COVID 19 Test
- Click here for instructions on how to use the iHealth COVID 19 Test in multiple languages
- Click here to consent to the ongoing Pooled Testing Pooled-Testing Consent Form
Masks for those who test positive for COVID-19
Please keep in mind that for infected individuals the current guidelines require masks to be worn within the ten-day infection period.
- Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will need to wear a mask after a 5-day isolation and/or quarantine period when around others for an additional five days, except when eating, drinking, or outdoors.
- Individuals who experience COVID-19 symptoms should stay home and obtain testing. If they receive a negative result and their symptoms improve (including remaining fever-free for a 24 hour period without fever-reducing medication), they can return to school but should continue to wear a mask until their symptoms fully resolve.
- Unvaccinated individuals should continue to wear a mask in school settings.
COVID-19 Email Addresses
Please continue to utilize the COVID-19 email addresses for all COVID-19 related inquiries. All cases of COVID-19 (both home tests and tests from a medical provider) should be reported to your child’s school nurse using the above-listed email addresses.
- For the Davis School please email: [email protected]
- For the Lane School please email [email protected]
- For JGMS please email [email protected]
- For BHS please email [email protected]
Case Update Information
Moving forward we will continue to track reported positive student and staff cases via self-administered home-style antigen tests, as well as point of care tests (either PCR, rapid PCR, or rapid antigen). DESE guidance has been updated, and self-administered home-style antigen tests with a positive result are accepted and treated as a positive case of COVID-19. The dashboard is up-to-date and can be accessed here:
Link to COVID-19 Cases in the Bedford Public Schools This Week
Please be sure to report any positive COVID-19 test results to the absence line or your school’s covid email address listed above.
Safety Check Testing/Pooled testing/weekly PCR testing
- It is important to note that our COVID-19 safety check testing protocol is up and running weekly at each school. We urge everyone to sign up to be part of our protective testing program.
- We are using the single swab collection, placing 2 -3 swabs in a “pool” to be processed by the lab, and if the pool detects a positive result, the school nurses will retest those individuals with rapid antigen tests, and if positive families will be notified and instructed on isolation procedures.
- If the rapid test is negative and the individual is symptom-free, they can resume weekly COVID-19 testing the following week.
Pooled Testing Results Week of March 7, 2022
- BHS 93 students, 38 staff, 0 positive cases
- JGMS 168 students, 42 staff, 0 positive cases
- Lane 343 students, 41 staff 1 positive case
- Davis 280 students, 43 staff, 0 positive cases
COVID Case Updates
Please check the link below to review current and past cases of COVID-19 cases within our school community. Please note that these numbers have been reported on the Bedford COVID-19 Dashboard. Our case information to date is broken out by school below
Cases Reported This Week Since March 4, 2022:
- BHS 0
- JGMS 1
- Lane 2
- Davis 1
Link to COVID-19 Cases in the Bedford Public Schools This Week
Positions available
The Bedford Public Schools are seeking substitute teachers and Special Education Teaching Assistants. If you are interested please apply at BPS Substitutes or to BPS Special Education Teaching Assistants.
As always, thank you for your patience, your participation, and your continued commitment to our schools.
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