Notes from the Superintendent’s Update – Friday, April 26

This is a portion of the Superintendent’s Update by Superintendent Cliff Chuang mailed to Bedford Public School community on Friday, April 26. 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,

At this week’s school committee meeting, I shared a sobering FY24 budget update. Though this is a difficult challenge to face in an increasingly challenging fiscal environment, I am confident that we will work together to ensure that we continue to provide high quality educational services to our students and families. I will provide additional details about mitigation efforts in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, we continue to look ahead and think about what we’d like to prioritize as we develop the 2024-2027 district improvement plan. Thank you to the more than 500 individuals that responded to the second Strategic Planning Survey. We will iterate on this data, do some additional engagement, and provide one more survey opportunity before the end of the school year to provide additional input. We are still on track to share a draft plan in September.

As a reminder, I am also hosting a spring series of Trail Walk & Talks (register here) for those who want to chat in-person to provide feedback about the strategic planning process underway. Feel free to share your thoughts with me or other members of the leadership team when you see us at various spring performances, athletic and other social events.

Sincerely,
Cliff Chuang 莊宏毅
Superintendent, Bedford Public Schools

Bedford Trail Walk & Talks with the Superintendent – Spring 2024 Edition

I am looking forward to getting back on the trails this spring, revisiting some favorites from the fall and trying some new ones, guided by the Bedford Trail Guide. This is an opportunity for community members to provide additional feedback and ideas about the proposed framework for our 2024-2027 district improvement plan outlined in my Report of Entry Plan findings. Here are the dates and times for these Trail Walk & Talks, which will each last for roughly an hour. These are intended for adult caregivers and community members, though kids are welcome if accompanied by an adult. For planning and communication purposes, please register here where full details about where to park and meet are provided. Walks will be canceled in case of poor weather.

Upcoming Events:

April: Month of the Military Child
April: Autism Awareness Month
April 26: Arbor Day
April 30: 5:30-6:30 pm – Trail Walk at Fawn Lake (meet at Lane Elementary School)
May: Asian American & Pacific Islander and Jewish American Month
May 1: International Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day
May 1: 7:00 – 8:30 pm – Sarah Ward: Executive Functioning and The 360 Model (presented by the BHS Counseling Department)
May 2: 9:00-10:00 am – Trail Walk at Fawn Lake
May 2: 6:30-8:30pm: Opting for Growth by Embracing Stress & Emotions with Dr. Karin Hodges at JGMS School Auditorium (presented by SEPAC)
May 3-5: K-12 Art Shows at BHS
May 5: 2:00-4:00 pm – Bedford Holi 2024 (presented by South Asian Association of Bedford)
May 6: 6:30-7:35pm – Bedford Family Forum #1 at BHS LGI (sponsored by Bedford PDC & Equity Imperative)
May 7: 6:00-7:00 am – Trail Walk at Minuteman Bikeway
May 11: 10:30-11:00 am – Trail Walk at Franklin Park Zoo, Boston
May 14: 5:30-6:30 pm – Trail Walk at Hartwell Town Forest
May 15: 7:30-8:45pm – Bedford Family Forum #2 at BHS LGI (sponsored by Bedford PDC & Equity Imperative)
May 16: 5:30-6:30 pm – Trail Walk at HAFB Castle Park Loop

School Committee Meeting Update

At the School Committee meeting on April 23rd held at the METCO Headquarters (11 Roxbury St, Boston) & via Zoom Webinar, the committee heard updates about the district’s literacy shift, Bedford’s METCO program (continuing the recognition of 50 years of METCO in Bedford), and the current status of the FY24 budget. Full supporting materials can be found here: School Committee – Meeting Schedule & Supporting Documents.

May 1: International Walk, Bike, & Roll To School Day

May 1: Sarah Ward: Executive Functioning and The 360 Model

The Counseling Department (K-12) of Bedford Public Schools will host
Sarah Ward: Executive Functioning and The 360 Model:
When: May 1, 2024
Where: Bedford High School, Large Group Instruction Room (Limited Seating Available, more information to come.)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Live Streamed with Bedford TV
Lecture Audience: Parents, Students, and School Staff ages K-12

TEACH CHILDREN TO MANAGE THEIR TIME, SPACE, AND MATERIALS, WHILE KEEPING THEIR EMOTIONS IN CHECK! POWERFUL STRATEGIES TO HELP CHILDREN DEVELOP INDEPENDENT EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SKILLS

Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC/SLP has over 25 years of experience in the treatment of executive dysfunction. Sarah is an internationally recognized expert on executive function and presents seminars on the programs and strategies she has developed with her Co-Director Kristen Jacobsen. Their 360 Thinking Executive Function Program received the Innovative Promising Practices Award from the National Organization CHADD. She has presented to over 1800 public and private schools and organizations worldwide. In recognition of their global influence in the field of twice-exceptional learning, Sarah and Kristen Jacobsen were the honored recipients of the Nancy Tarshis Legacy Fellowship Award. Further solidifying their status as eminent figures in their field, Sarah and Kristen were named one of the Top 10 Professional Development Providers for 2023 by Education Technology Insights Magazine. For more information on The 360 Model: Breakthrough Series click below: Parent lecture

May 2: Opting for Growth by Embracing Stress & Emotions with Dr. Karin Hodges

May 3-5: Spring K-12 BPS Art Show

Where: Bedford High School
When: Friday, 5/3 are 6pm-9pm, Saturday 5/4 are 10am-2pm, Sunday, 5/5 are 11am-2pm

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Bedford Public Schools K-12 Art Show! This is one of Bedford’s most highly attended events, with thousands of visitors coming to view student work each year. As in years past we will be displaying thousands of individual works of art from all grade levels, including a senior exhibit with musical accompaniment from senior Zach Shen and the Funky Bunch. New additions to the show this year will be large scale author murals painted by the BHS Art Club, as well as an art making station in the cafeteria. We will also be selling Bedford Farms ice cream, with proceeds benefiting senior art scholarships, so leave room after dinner!

May 6 & May 15: Bedford Family Forums

‘Faces of Bedford’ Series of Video Interviews

We are happy to share a new series of profiles called Faces of Bedford prepared by volunteers from Bedford Embraces Diversity with technical support from Bedford TV, featuring members of our diverse community, many with connections to the Bedford Public Schools.

In recognition of the Autism and Neurodiversity Acceptance Month in April, this week we encourage you to listen to the interview of Brian Guay. Brian was diagnosed with autism at age 3 and as a student growing up in Bedford, attended the May Institute, Melmark New England and then returned to Bedford High School at age seventeen as a student in the LABBB Program . While enrolled in LABBB, Brian attended Middlesex Community College as part of the MAICE Program when he was 20. Now 29, Brian is a local employee who holds 3 jobs ( Mango Bay Equestrian in Bedford, Berryfield Farm in Lincoln, and HomeGoods in Waltham) and is also a farmer and an artist. You can read more about Brian at “It’s a Wonderful Job.” Work Where Dreams Come True… | Advocates.