Superintendent Conrad’s Weekly Update ~ June 10, 2022

Editor’s Note: In his message for June 10, Superintendent Conrad spoke of DESE’s updated Covid testing program and other covid protocols; BEST/PTO Color Run!; Bedford Cultural District Grand Opening ; Davis Town; Lane School Challenge Day; Lane School Playground Alternative and Augmentative Communication SIgn; School Offices, Summer Hours; Work Permits; LABBB Collaborative Graduation; The EDCO Collaborative; DESE Annual District & School Report Cards; Bedford Youth and Family (BY&FS); BY&FS Summer Food Bank Grab Bags; BY&FS and MPY June Workshops.

DESE COVID-19 Testing UPDATE

On Wednesday, May 24, 2022, Commissioner Riley updated the DESE K-12 COVID-19 Testing Program. The update let us know that pooled testing and at-home test kits will continue to be available through the end of the 2021-2022 school year. During the summer (for school-based programs only) DESE will continue to provide at-home tests for symptomatic testing only. No other services will be provided. Therefore we will no longer have access to CIC Health, our pooled testing partner. Beginning in the fall of 2022 DESE will no longer supply at-home test kits or pooled testing thereby ending the DESE-sponsored testing program that has been in place this school year. To read the entire memorandum please navigate to May 24, 2022, DESE Update on COVID-19 Testing Program

DESE continues to offer vaccination clinics in cooperation with DPH and believes that “vaccinations continue to be the best way to protect individuals against the effects of COVID-19.”

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Thank you to everyone who participated in our testing programs and who helped keep our communities safe. I am grateful to our Lead Nurse Tracy Fernald and the entire nursing staff for all of their hard work in making our testing programs an important mitigation strategy for our ability to maintain in-person learning.

COVID-19

To review the current number of cases please follow this link to the Bedford COVID-19 Dashboard and for national data please review the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker Weekly Review

COVID-19 Testing

Our COVID-19 weekly pooled testing schedule will continue through the week of June 6th.  There will be no COVID testing the week of June 13th (the last week of school). Additionally, the final distribution of home tests will be the week of June 6th.

COVID-19 Case Updates

Town of Bedford COVID-19 Dashboard Cases in BPS This Week

Pooled Testing Results Week of June 6, 2022

  • BHS 27 students, 22  staff, 0 positive cases
  • JGMS 109 students, 23 staff, 3  positive cases
  • Lane 167  students, 29  staff   2 positive cases
  • Davis  172  students, 32 staff, 1 positive case

Cases Reported This Week Since June 3, 2022:

  • BHS  19
  • JGMS 11
  • Lane  3
  • Davis 9

BEST/PTO Color Run!

The BEST/PTO’s 6th Annual Color Run is TOMORROW, from 4 pm to 6 pm at the JGMS fields. The event features a racecourse with color powder, raffles, music, food, bounce houses, face painting, and more. Families are invited to Walk, Run, Roll, or Stroll as little or as much as they want. This event has raised over $85,000 for the Davis and Lane Elementary Schools since 2016. Thank you for your support of this wonderful community event!

Bedford Cultural District Grand Opening 

The Bedford Cultural District will have its Grand Opening on Saturday, June 11, 2022, from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. There will be a number of activities including a Ribbon Cutting at the Bedford Library at 10:00 am as well as cultural exhibits on the common including a scavenger hunt, arts and culture events, music, and interactive demonstrations, as well as an art gallery at the First Parish Church on the Common. For more information please navigate to www.bedfordma.gov/culturaldistrict or call 781 275 1111.

Davis Town

This year marked the return of the beloved Kindergarten tradition of Davis Town. Davis Town is a two day event where kindergarten students integrate skills and knowledge they have gained throughout the year to convert their classrooms into different organizations and take turns working the organizations and then visiting the organizations. This is a culmination of learning about communities and the interconnectedness between businesses, programs, and community members. This year students created interactive toys stores, aquariums, animal shelters, art galleries and carnivals. In several of these instances students engaged the greater community in sending in donations to support real life efforts (such as supplies for an animal shelter).

Lane School Challenge Day

This past week our Lane Elementary School Grade 5 students celebrated their hard work with their annual Challenge Day culminating event. Students engage in “challenge by choice” to push themselves on the Lane School outdoor ropes course. The Project Adventure curriculum has been a tradition at Lane School for over twenty-five years. Lane School is one of the few elementary schools in Massachusetts with a premium outdoor course. As Mr Ackerman said, “what makes this event and curriculum special is seeing students cheer each other on and physically help their peers reach their goals.” Thank you to Mr Smith and Ms Post, our entire BPS Physical Education team for leading this effort.

Lane School Playground Alternative and Augmentative Communication Sign

We are excited to announce that our Lane Elementary School Playground has added a brand Playground Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) Sign. The new communication board was purchased with funds donated by B.E.S.T.  to the Lane School. The board is for the use of all students at Lane Elementary School and in the town of Bedford.

It is particularly beneficial for students who use AAC devices to communicate.  We encourage everyone to ask questions and find ways to communicate using the AAC Sign.  The symbols on the board have been chosen to help students use core and fringe words. Children can point to pictures on the display to express their thoughts and feelings and interact with peers.

We are grateful to B.E.S.T. for their support of the AAC SIgn which will allow all students and children the opportunity to communicate with peers and adults.

School Offices, Summer Hours

During the month of July this summer all of our school offices, and the Superintendent’s office will be open Monday through Thursday. While some offices may be staffed on Friday, 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.

The office hours will be as follows:

  • Superintendent’s Office: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
  • Davis School Main Office: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm
  • Lane School Main Office: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm
  • JGMS Main Office: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
  • BHS Main Office: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm

Work Permits

Work Permits for high school students are overseen by Nancy Powell, BHS Registrar. 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.

LABBB Collaborative Graduation

On Thursday, June 9, 2022 the LABBB (Lexington, Arlington, Burlington, Bedford, Belmont) Educational Collaborative held its graduation ceremony at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library in Lexington. The ceremony celebrated the graduation of over thirty LABBB students including two from Bedford. The ceremony was hosted by Ms. Trisha Costa and featured the Lexington Minutemen. During the ceremony Interim Executive Director Dr. Bill Lupini introduced incoming Executive Director Ms. Pamela Girouard. Ms. Girouard will begin her tenure on July 1, 2022. Congratulations to all of the LABBB graduates and their families and a special shout out to all of our Bedford High School students who attended the ceremony to support their classmates.

The EDCO Collaborative

On Thursday, June 9, 2022 the EDCO Collaborative ceased operations. Over the past two years, the EDCO Board has been working diligently to meet all of the requirements needed to close the collaborative. The Board would like to thank and recognize the employees and staff of the EDCO collaborative over its more than fifty years of service to students, families, and member districts.  The EDCO staff made a tremendous impact on its students and has had a distinguished record of positive impact on the teaching and learning of member districts and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  This was an incredibly difficult decision to close the EDCO collaborative and the board is forever grateful for the service of everyone involved in the collaborative over the past fifty-plus years.

DESE Annual District & School Report Cards

Every year, each public school and the school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. Just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the district’s report card is designed to show families how our district is doing in different areas. Due to the pandemic, DESE did not issue new district and school accountability determinations this year, however, our 2021 accountability determinations may be viewed on our website here. These reports contain valuable information related to other areas of the district and school performance.

Bedford Youth and Family (BY&FS)

Bedford Youth and Family Services (BY&FS) are happy to announce upcoming programming for members of the Bedford community. For additional information on these and other programs, please go to the Bedford Youth and Families “News and Announcements” page or contact Youth Social Worker Mackenzie Comeau at [email protected] or at 781-918-4331. Additionally, BY&FS will have social workers and counselors available at their office at 12 Mudge Way or by phone at 781-275-7727 to discuss any counseling services you, your children, or your family may need. For more information please navigate to the department’s website at Bedford Youth & Family Services

BY&FS Summer Food Bank Grab Bags

Starting Tuesday, May 31, 2022, and continuing throughout the Summer, the Bedford Food Bank will have five (5) dry bags located at the Bedford Free Public Libraries “pick-up table” for residents in need.  These will be large, brown, labeled bags with assorted breakfast and lunch staples along with other dry goods items.  There will also be information on the town’s food bank, their hours, and other food assistance programs included.

BY&FS and MPY June Workshops

Bedford Youth and Families in collaboration with the Massachusetts Partnership for Youth have also planned two workshops in June for community members to attend.  The first workshop is titled “Self-Regulation Strategies K-5 Workshop for Parents” and will be held on June 13th from 4-5 pm via zoom.  This workshop will be led by clinician Julie Cullen and will invite parents to learn how to teach their kids how to develop coping strategies to manage difficult situations.  These skills will lead to improved self-regulation and an increased ability to be actively engaged in learning.

The second workshop is titled “Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in School and Community Settings” and will be held on June 27th from 4-5 pm via zoom.  This clinician-led workshop will teach participants strategies on how to create safe and supportive learning environments for students with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

To sign up for either of these workshops please go to the Bedford Youth and Families “News and Announcements” page or contact Youth Social Worker Mackenzie Comeau at [email protected] or at 781-918-4331.

As always, thank you for your patience, your participation, and your continued commitment to our schools.

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