Superintendant Conrad’s update for the week ending June 3, 2022, included congratulations to the Class of 2022; DESE 
COVID-19 Testing UPDATE and Covid Information; LGBTQ Pride Month; BEST/PTO Color Run needs volunteers!; School Offices, Summer Hours; Work Permits; DESE Annual District & School Report Cards; Bedford Youth and Family (BY&FS); BY&FS Summer Food Bank Grab Bags;BY&FS Helping Hands Bag Decorating Event; BY&FS and MPY June Workshops
Congratulations to the Class of 2022
On Thursday, June 2, 2022, the Bedford High School Class of 2022 received their diplomas in a wonderful ceremony at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. The ceremony was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the class. After the ceremony members of the class participated in the All-Night After Graduation Party sponsored by the BHSPA. Thank you to everyone who made these two events possible. Special thank you to Principal Galante, her team, and our parent volunteers.
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.”
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 May 30, 2022
- BHS 32 students, 25 staff, 0 positive cases
- JGMS 101 students, 23 staff, 2 positive cases
- Lane 167 students, 33 staff 3 positive cases
- Davis 213 students, 31 staff, 0 positive cases
Cases Reported This Week Since May 27, 2022:
- BHS 5
- JGMS 32
- Lane 9
- Davis 1
LGBTQ Pride Month
June is LGBTQ Pride Month as designated by Presidential Decree. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Pride Month is celebrated each year during the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The purpose of the month is to recognize the positive impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. For more information please visit The Library of Congress About Pride Month
BEST/PTO Color Run needs volunteers!
BEST/PTO is excited to announce the in-person return of their Spring fundraiser, the 6th Annual Color Run on Saturday, June 11, 2022, 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. Please sign up today to help BEST reach $100,000 this year! Registration is $30 per individual or $90 per household and includes bags, t-shirts, and food tickets. Registrations after May 3rd will only include bags and t-shirts while supplies last. More details and sign up at BEST Color Run. We also need lots of volunteers (both adults and students grade 8 and up) to make this event a success. Volunteers get a free t-shirt and a food ticket.
Thank you for your support of this wonderful community event!
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:
- 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
- Superintendent’s 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.
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 Helping Hands Bag Decorating Event
On Thursday, June 9, 2022, from 3:30-4:30 pm, Bedford Youth and Families in collaboration with the Bedford Free Public Library will be hosting the first Helping Hands Bag Decorating event. If you are interested in helping your community and learning more about food insecurity check out this fun, free, and educational event for all ages!
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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