This is a portion of the Superintendent’s Update by Superintendent Cliff Chuang mailed to Bedford Public School community on Friday, February 2. Please find this week’s full issue of Superintendent’s Update and back issues at bedfordps.org.
Cliff’s Notes
Dear Bedford Public Schools Community,
Last night, I presented the FY25 School Committee budget to the Bedford Finance Committee. FinCom members asked many thoughtful questions, but did not take formal action. I will keep the community updated on the budget process as we progress toward Annual Town Meeting on March 25, 2024.
Also, February is Black History Month. Please join us for our celebration on February 8th (see below) to celebrate 50 years of Bedford’s participation in the METCO program and to dedicate the Irene Parker Foyer at BHS. And we continue to share the stories of Bedford’s alums in the ongoing Black Excellence series which will continue throughout the month and into March.
Sincerely,
Cliff Chuang 莊 宏 毅
Superintendent, Bedford Public Schools
Upcoming Events
- February (all month) 2024: Black History Month
- February 4-9, 2024: National School Counseling Week
- February 6, 2024: 6:00 pm – Davis Family Forum with Dr. Alex Hirshberg and Beth Benoit (rescheduled from January 9th)
- February 7, 2024: Winter Walk to School Day
- February 7, 2024: 6:30pm at BHS – Well-Balanced Student Presentation
- February 8, 2024: 6:00 pm at BHS Cafeteria – 50 Years of METCO Celebration
- February 10, 2024: 7:00 pm – Dollars for Scholars Trivia Night at the Bedford American Legion
- February 10, 2024: Lunar New Year – Year of the Dragon
- February 12, 2023: 6:30 pm at BHS – Presentation by Catherine Steiner-Adair, author of The Big Disconnect
- February 13, 2024: 7:00pm – School Committee Meeting
- March 9, 2024: 7:00pm – BEF Denim & Diamonds Bash (Cafe Escadrille, 26 Cambridge St., Burlington, MA)
New: National School Counseling Week
February 5-9, 2024
National School Counseling Week 2024 will be celebrated from February 5 through February 9. This annual celebration is the perfect time to recognize the contributions of school counselors and school adjustment counselors across Massachusetts, and more specifically in your own school community. This year’s theme is “School Counseling: Standards-Based, Student Focused”. I have had the pleasure of working with many of our counselors, who are integral members of our team. Please take this opportunity to let your child’s counselor know about their contributions to your student’s growth and development.
Reminder: February 6 – Davis Family Forum with Dr. Alex Hirshberg & Beth Benoit
February 6th from 6:00pm – 7:00 pm: Social and Emotional Challenges in the Inclusion Setting
Dr Alex Hirshberg of Behavioral Health Services will host a discussion with Principal Beth Benoit. The purpose of this evening is to build off of the well-received presentation Dr. Hirshberg shared in September (Prepare the Child for the Road, Not the Road for the Child: Building Resilience to Emotional Distress”; recording can be found here) around resiliency in children. This discussion will focus on the emotional needs in the early elementary grades and how to support all students within the community. This is an adult only event. A small group of High School students will be available if you can’t arrange childcare. Please fill out this form, need for childcare, if you plan to bring your child and have them stay in the Davis Library during the meeting.
New: February 7th – Winter Walk to School Day
Winter Walk to School Day is Wednesday, February 7. Show your New England resilience by joining us for Massachusetts Winter Walk & Roll to School Day on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
Lane Students: Lane Students can meet at the Middlesex Overflow Parking lot at the VA (210 Springs Road) no later than 7:50 AM to walk to Lane School. This walk/roll will be supervised by Recreation Staff. Davis Students: Davis Students are encouraged to park at the Lutheran Church parking lot to walk or roll to school with their parents at 8:40 PM. Questions? Please contact Nikki Taylor, Assistant Director of Recreation ([email protected])
New: Parenting Solutions Library from the Massachusetts Partnership for Youth
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce its new, free MPY Parenting Solutions Library. MPY is offering the MPY Parenting Solutions Library in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Through this new partnership, MPY is pleased to offer proven resources to help students’ families thrive.
Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children’s mental well-being. The Parenting Solutions Library may easily be accessed using the link on MPY’s home page (www.mpyinc.org). No log in or passcode is needed.
Reminder: February 8th – 50 Years of METCO Celebration
February 8, 2024 from 6:30-9:00pm
Join the Bedford METCO program & the Parents Diversity Council for soul food and spoken word performances for a 50 Years of METCO and Black History Celebration on February 8th from 6:30-9:00pm at the Bedford High School Cafeteria. There will also ceremony recognizing the Irene Parker Foyer as approved by the Bedford School Committee on November 14, 2023.
Reminder: February 10th – Dollars for Scholars Trivia Night
Register NOW for the CSF of Bedford Dollars for Scholars IN- PERSON Trivia Night Sat Feb 10 7-10 pm
Get your team ready and join us for some Trivia Fun, Cash Bar, and Raffles on Saturday Feb 10! The CSF Dollars for Scholars Trivia event will be held IN PERSON this year, brought to you by Sporcle Trivia. Doors open at 6:30 pm, with the Trivia kicking off at 7pm. Teams of 6-10 players (maximum of 10 players per team), $300 per team. The maximum attendance is 15 teams, so RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Prizes will be awarded to the 1st and 2nd place teams. Proceeds go to support scholarships for Bedford/Hanscom graduates who plan to continue their education. Team Captains please register your team HERE, or visit our website: http://www.bedfordma.dollarsforscholars.org. If you are a group of 2-5 who would like to participate and would enjoy making new friends by being placed on a Trivia team, please contact Tara Goss at [email protected].
Other Recent BPS Newsletters
In an effort to support communication, here are the links the most recent newsletters from our schools and our special education department.
Lt. Eleazer Davis Elementary School – Scribbles – January 30, 2024
Lt. Job Lane Elementary School – Lane Notes – Week of January 29, 2024
John Glenn Middle School – Buccaneer News Vol. #22 – January 29, 2024
Bedford High School – The Bedford Buccaneer – January 29, 2024
Special Education Director’s Update – January 2024
JGMS Student Newspaper: The John Glenn Journal – Winter Edition 2024
BHS Student Newsletter: The Lookout – January 2024
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