Superintendent Conrad’s weekly update for June 21, 2023.
Hello Bedford School Community,
Today was the last day of school for the 2022-2023 school year as such this will be my final Friday letter of the year and as Superintendent of the Bedford Public Schools. New Superintendent Cliff Chuang will be in touch over the summer to tell you when to expect communication from him. I wish you all the best, beginning with a restful summer.
To help with your transition to summer I have included two poems. The first is a poem created by an Artificial Intelligence Bot with the prompt, “Create a short poem about the end of the school year.” The second is from an eminent American Poet of the last century William Carlos Williams. I will let you decide on the quality of each.
“Create a short poem about the end of the school year.” by Chat ChatGPT Online
The end of the school year is here,
A time we all hold oh so dear.
Long days of studying now done,
New beginnings have just begun.
Goodbye to classes and exams,
Hello to summer, sun, and sand.
No more pencils, no more books,
Just time to relax and take a look.
At all the memories we’ve made,
The laughter, learning, and escapades.
So let’s celebrate this milestone,
And look forward to what’s yet unknown.
Summer Song Summer Song by William Carlos Williams
Wanderer moon
smiling a
faintly ironical smile
at this
brilliant, dew-moistened
summer morning,—
a detached
sleepily indifferent
smile, a
wanderer’s smile,—
if I should
buy a shirt
your color and
put on a necktie
sky-blue
where would they carry me?
Retirees
As the year closes, we want to acknowledge our retirees. Please join me in thanking this group for their important contributions to the lives of Bedford students and families. Each has given so much to all of us and it is our hope they have a wonderful retirement and enjoy the next phase of their lives.
- Nancy Thorsen – School nurse since 2001
- Susan Nocera – First Grade Classroom teacher in Bedford since 2002
- Ken Whittier – Food Services Director at Bedford since 2006
- Donna Naugler – Special Education Department Administrative Assistant in Bedford since 2007
- Maryellen Schissler – Preschool Teacher in Bedford since 2011
- John O’Connor – Tech Ed Teacher in Bedford since 2012
Congratulations!
Congratulations to our Nurse Team Leader Tracy Fernald, who is also the nurse at John Glenn Middle School for being included in the Boston Globe’s 2023 salute to nurses! We would not have been able to make it through the COVID-19 pandemic without the hard work of Tracy and the other school nurses. Her care of the faculty, staff, and students as well as her ability to assist families cope with emerging medical issues is amazing so this is a well-deserved honor. Tracy was nominated by her colleague Julie Lane. To read Julie’s tribute to Tracy please navigate to https://sponsored.bostonglobe.com/studiob/2023-salute-to-nurses-letters-e-m/
Bedford Family Connection Event
Please join the Bedford Family Connection as they celebrate 35 years of family fun! The 35th Anniversary Bash will take place 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.
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 pre-registration 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.
Summer Office Hours
During the month of July through 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 normal 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
As always, thank you for your patience, your participation, and your continued commitment to our schools.
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