Superintendent Conrad’s weekly message for September 16, 2022, focuses on Bedford Day, September 11, DPW Road Work Updates, Hispanic Heritage Month, Dial 988 the new Nationwide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Open House Dates; METCO Students Lead Tours of Nubian Square; Free Lunch for All; and COVID-19.
Bedford Day is Tomorrow!
Tomorrow Saturday, September 17, 2022, is Bedford Day. The town will be celebrating with a number of events including https://friendsformatty.org/mattys-5k-road-race/ beginning at JGMS at 8:30 AM. The Bedford Day Parade at 10:30 AM. The Bedford Day Fair at Town Campus from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. During the fair, the Bedford Department of Health and Human Services will be offering free COVID-19 booster and Flu vaccination clinics! For more information about these clinics please navigate to Bedford Health Free Shots, the Bedford Public Library will be having its Fall Book Sale from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM more information is available at Bedford Library Events, and the Bedford Arts and Crafts Society is hosting their annual regional art show from 9:00 until 2:00 PM in the Town Center building. More information is available at Bedford Arts and Crafts Show. The day will be capped off with fireworks! The fireworks will start at 7:30 PM. For more information please navigate to Bedford Day 2022
Sunday, September 11, 2002
Last Sunday was the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, a solemn day for each of us as individuals and as a nation. On the morning of September 11, 2001, extremists hijacked four airplanes from east coast airports, including our own Logan International Airport. Two of those planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, a third hit the Pentagon, and a fourth crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed during these attacks. Tomorrow we will commemorate this solemn anniversary. For more information on the September 11, 2001 attacks please navigate to The 911 Museum and Memorial or The History Channel 9/11 page
DPW Road Work Update
Please be aware that on Monday 9/19 and Thursday 9/22 South Road will be open for buses and emergency vehicles but partially detoured for all other vehicles. However, on Tuesday 9/20 and Wednesday 9/21 South Road will be closed to through traffic between Hartwell Road and Summer Street EXCEPT for buses and emergency vehicles.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latinx and Hispanic communities in the United States. The event, which spans from September 15 to October 15, commemorates how those communities have influenced and contributed to American society at large. For more information on this topic please go to History Channel Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month
National Suicide Prevention Month
Please be aware that September is National Suicide Prevention Month. All month long mental health advocates, prevention organizations, schools, and community groups will be highlighting ways we can unite and promote suicide prevention awareness. For more information please go to https://afsp.org/national-suicide-prevention-week
Dial 988 the new Nationwide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
This summer saw the introduction of the national suicide prevention and crisis lifeline toll-free number. 988 has been created as a resource for individuals needing information or resources to strengthen suicide prevention and mental health crisis services for everyone. For more information please navigate to https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988
Open House Dates
- Lt. Eleazer Davis School Open House
- Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten parents and caregivers on September 28, 2022
- Grade 1 and Grade 2 parents and caregivers on September 29, 2022Both evenings will be from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm
- Lt. Job Lane School Open House
- Grade 3 parents and caregivers on Tuesday, September 20, 2022
- Grade 5 parents and caregivers on Wednesday, September 21, 2022
- Grade 4 parents and caregivers on Thursday, September 22, 2022All three evenings will be from 6:30 pm until 7:30 pm
- John Glenn Middle SchoolParents and Caregivers of all JGMS students on Thursday, October 13, 2022, from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm.
- Bedford High SchoolParents and Caregivers of all BHS students are invited to Back to School Night on Thursday, October 6, 2022, from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm.
METCO Students Lead Tours of Nubian Square
Please join Bedford METCO students and others to discover the historic treasures of Nubian Square in Boston. The tours feature information gathered by our young METCO scholars. Join students from METCO’s suburban high schools on a walking tour highlighting stories of Black artistry, activism, and achievement you might not have learned before. The FREE tour culminates at METCO’s brand new headquarters with an in-depth exhibit on the history of educational activism in Boston. The tours are being extended into September. To sign up click on the date and time. For 9/24/22 @10AM or 9/24/22 @1PM.
Free Lunch for All
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has decided to support another year of free lunch for all students! The state legislature recently approved funding for school districts to continue offering lunch to all students without charge. Districts will be reimbursed for all lunches served by the federal USDA program as well as by the state to reach the free lunch rate. Districts are required to use point-of-sale cashier systems to document lunches served. Additional a la carte items will be available at a cost. Free and Reduced applications will continue to be collected. For more information go to https://www.bedfordps.org/district/food-services-department
COVID-19
The school nurses are in the process of being certified to provide symptomatic antigen testing at school. Unfortunately, there is a delay from the state in the application process. The plan is to have symptomatic testing up and running in the schools as soon as possible. Testing, when available, will be available to all symptomatic students who have a consent form on file.
If your child has mild symptoms of illness, please test them at home with a rapid home antigen test before sending them to school. Please refer to the COVID-19 symptom checklist on the BPS website and for more detailed information on COVID-19 protocols for school.
We encourage all families to keep a supply of COVID-19 home rapid antigen tests on hand. Home test kits are available from the following town offices during normal business hours: Health Department, Council on Aging, Town Manager’s Office or the Bedford Free Public Library. Students may attend school with mild symptoms as long as they are testing negative on an antigen test before coming to school.
We encourage everyone who is eligible to consider getting vaccinated with the most recent booster. Free vaccinations are available from the Bedford Department of Health and Human Services tomorrow Saturday 9/17/22 at Bedford Day. For more information about these clinics please navigate to Bedford Health Free Shots.
For the latest information on COVID-19 cases within the school district please navigate to the Bedford COVID-19 Dashboard
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