Superintendent Conrad’s weekly update for June 16, 2023.
Hello Bedford School Community,
Flag Day
On Tuesday, June 14, 2022, we observed Flag Day which is celebrated annually on the fourteenth of June. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States of America on June 14, 1777, by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress. The Flag Resolution stated: “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; That the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14th as Flag Day. For more information navigate to History.com What is Flag Day
Juneteenth
On Monday, June 19, 2023, all Bedford Public Schools will be closed as we celebrate Juneteenth, the newest Federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the announcement made on June 19, 1865, to tens of thousands of African-Americans in Texas that they had been emancipated, closing the door on one of the last chapters of slavery in the U.S. Juneteenth traces its origins back to Galveston, Texas where on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major Gen. Gordon Granger landed in the city with news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were now free. The announcement came two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of Jan. 1, 1863, that freed enslaved people in Confederate states. However, since that proclamation was made during the Civil War, it was ignored by Confederate states and it wasn’t until the end of the war that the Executive Order was enforced in the South. For more information about Juneteenth please navigate to What is Juneteenth or read President Biden’s Juneteenth Proclamation.
Lane School Grade 5 Challenge Day
This past week the Lane School had a great Grade 5 Challenge Day! It is a day filled with smiles, perseverance, and a collaborative spirit as the fifth-grade students climbed our terrific outdoor course. Challenge Day is an exciting tradition at Lane School. It serves as a wonderful culmination of the year-long Grade 5 Project Adventure Curriculum in PE class. During this special event, students engage in various outdoor climbing activities, showcasing important skills like teamwork, empathy, communication, goal setting, and resilience.
A special thanks to Ms. Post and Mr. Smith, our two Lane School Physical Education Teachers for organizing and managing the day and to our many parents helping out. Your assistance makes our Challenge Day tradition possible.
Lane School Solar Panels
Congratulations to Lane School on the installation of its educational solar panel and wind turbine on the roof over the science corner in the lobby. Students will learn how solar panels capture the energy from nuclear fusion in the sun and how the wind turbine captures the kinetic energy of the wind to make electricity! This renewable energy will be used to run a variety of student-designed Rube Goldberg Machines.
If you are interested in designing one of the Rube Goldberg Machines to be displayed in the lobby in September, please email Rob Ackerman at [email protected]
This program was made possible by a collaboration between Lane School, the enrichment team at BEST and the Facilities Department.
Davis School Bollards
If you have not had a chance to visit the Davis School recently please check out this Bedford Citizen article that details the artistry of Sarah Scoville and the volunteers who helped paint the circular bollards in front of the Davis School Bollards at Davis School
8th Grade Moving on Ceremony and Celebration
Congratulations to the 8th graders who are “Moving On” from JGMS! The 8th grade had their Moving On Celebration on Thursday, June 15, 2023. All of the 8th graders were recognized in a special ceremony with friends and family. If you’d like to watch the ceremony please go to 8th Grade Moving On 2023. Following the ceremony, students enjoyed a barbeque dinner as well as games and other activities. Thank you to the MSPA and 8th Grade Moving On Committees for planning the Moving On Celebration!
Spring Athletics Update
Outdoor Track and Field had a strong showing at the State Divisional Meet with four student-athletes qualifying and representing BHS at the Meet of Champions at Fitchburg State University. Senior Jessica Lin was selected as the Foley Division Player of the Year. Samantha Sheahan, Farrah Scott, Josh Garraway and Andrew Tram were selected as League All-Stars.
The Softball Team won the Foley Division then defeated Westborough and Holliston in the MIAA State Tournament before being eliminated by Tewskbury in the sectional semifinal. Senior Kaylee Grace was selected as the Foley Division Player of the Year. Seniors Lindsey and Nicole Steele were selected to the All-Conference Team and Alice Cooperider, Alexa Masters, and Kate Patterson were selected as league All-Stars.
The Baseball Team finished just shy of qualifying but had many individual highlights including Sophomores Drew Siwik and Ryan Capobianco being selected as DCL All-Stars.
Girls Tennis qualified for the State Tournament and defeated their 1st opponent in North HS from Worcester 5-0 before being eliminated by Scituate HS. in the round of 32. Seniors Danielle DiGangi and Kate Heller were both selected as DCL All-Stars.
Girls Lacrosse won their first-round game in Dartmouth before losing to Duxbury in the Round of 16. Gabriela Zovko was selected to the All-Conference Team while Samantha Kinch and Caroline Luongo were selected as DCL All-Stars.
Coach Ashley Martell stepped in at the last minute to fill in for Coach Chang as the Head Coach of the Boys Lacrosse Team and along with a strong senior class led the Boys Lacrosse Team to a first-round win vs Essex Tech before falling to Grafton in the Round of 16. Senior Eric Miles was selected at the Foley Division Player of the Year while Ryan Cohen and Ian Grover were selected at DCL All-Stars.
The Boys Tennis team led by All-Conference Player Adam Capobianco and DCL All-Stars Dillon Denny-Brown and Spencer Goss have led the team to their second straight Final Four trophy with wins over Groton Dunstable, Dedham, and Wilmington and are set to take on league opponent Wayland HS in the State Semifinals on Wednesday.
Also, the JGMS Track team won the boys and girls state meet this past weekend at Gardner HS.
Preparing for Fall Athletics
The start of the Fall season will be here before you know it. Football begins on Friday, August 18th, and all other sports are set to begin on Monday, August 21st. Fall Registration is open. Instruction for registration can be found at BPS Sports Registration Information. Remember that student-athletes must also have a valid physical and High School participants must also complete an ImPact test. The presentation from our Fall Sports Meeting can also be found on the Athletic Webpage. If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]
Summer Office Hours
During the month of July and the second week of August all of our school offices, and the Superintendent’s office, will be open Monday through Thursday. While some offices may be staffed on Fridays, we will not be making appointments on Fridays for registrations, school tours, or other routine business. All appointments during the summer will need to be scheduled in advance. For more information see our BPS Summer Hours Webpage. The office hours will be as follows:
Superintendent’s Office: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday through Thursday
Davis School Main Office: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm Monday through Thursday
Lane School Main Office: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm Monday through Thursday
JGMS Main Office: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday through Thursday
BHS Main Office: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday through Thursday
Work Permits
Nancy Powell, BHS Registrar, oversees Work Permits for high school students. Please reach out to her at [email protected] or 781-275-1700 ext. 4407. More information about work permits may be found on our website here.
Literacy Plan Update
At the Bedford School Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tricia Clifford presented an update on our Bedford Public Schools Literacy Plan. The comprehensive BPS Literacy Plan Progress as of June 2023 document was reviewed along with data from recent formative assessments of students K-10. The committee appreciated all of the work that has been accomplished by teachers, administrators, and Literacy Committee members. Dr. Clifford has created a blog post that explains more about the BPS Literacy Plan. To read the BPS 3-Year Literacy Plan, the Update, or the Blog Post please click on the links.
Bedford Food Bank is free and open to all!
As we transition to summer and the end of school, the Bedford Food Bank wants to remind families that the Food Bank Drive-Thru is available on Thursdays, 4-5:30 pm at the Town Center Building, 12 Mudge Way (rear parking lot). No preregistration or paperwork is required. This is a free service of the Town of Bedford and available to any household where supplies would be helpful. In addition to pantry staples, the Food Bank offers fresh produce, dairy, meat, protein, diapers, feminine care, and household products. For more information, please visit: www.bedfordma.gov/BedfordFoodBank or call 781-275-7727.
MassHealth Update
Current MassHealth members who received a blue envelope and need help completing their MassHealth renewal are invited to a free webinar on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, or Wednesday, June 21, 2023. The webinar sponsored by MassHealth will review the steps needed to renew coverage. To register please navigate to https://malink.co/2023-webinars.
Bedford Cultural District Music & Arts Festival 2023
The Bedford Cultural District Partnership (BCDP) will celebrate its first anniversary on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 11 am until 3 pm on the Bedford Common at 75 The Great Road with a Music & Arts Festival 2023. They will have four diverse musical groups performing during the day, several nearby open houses, local community booths, activities for kids and adults, Bedford Farms Ice Cream, Sidewalk Book Sale at Bedford Free Public Library, and several organizations selling or demonstrating their crafts. Entertainment, education, and fun for all ages. For more information please navigate to https://www.bedfordma.gov/437/Bedford-Cultural-District
Bedford Family Connection Event
Please join the Bedford Family Connection as they celebrate 35 years of family fun! The 35th Anniversary Bash will occur on Saturday, June 24, 2023, from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM at the field at 12 Mudge Way in Bedford. Since its inception in 1988 Sara Dorer and Judi Babcock. Bedford Family Connection has been supporting families with children ages 0-5 in Bedford for the past 35 years! Bedford Family Connection has become a cornerstone of our community, providing support, connection, and resources for families in the area. To celebrate Bedford Family Connection will have a bubble performer, a live folk band with family-friendly music, a few giveaways, and ice cream to purchase! Click HERE for more information and to purchase tickets.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to JGMS and the community members who donated clothes and shoes in the Planet Aid collection box at JGMS this school year. JGMS was awarded a Certificate of Outstanding Achievement from Planet Aid for collecting over 10,000 pounds of reusable clothes and shoes during the 2022 – 2023 school year. Thank you to everyone supporting this important endeavor!
As always, thank you for your patience, your participation, and your continued commitment to our schools.
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