MSPA: Bedford Middle School Parents Association Newsletter
The MSPA is a non-profit volunteer organization run by parents. Its purpose is to facilitate communication between parents and the school community and to raise and distribute funds to supplement programs and services for the JGMS students and school community. Do you have ideas on how the MSPA can best support JGMS? Please email us at jgmsparents@gmail.com.
TEACHER APPRECIATION ST. PATRICK'S DAY BREAKFAST
The teachers and staff truly appreciated their St. Patrick's Day Breakfast. Thank you so much to every one who donated. If you would like to donate to the MSPA to help with upcoming appreciation events please click hereor Venmo @JohnGlenn-MSPA or donations can be mailed to: MSPA, c/o Kelly Randazzo, 5 Selfridge Road.
JGMS EVENT AT THE EDGE THIS FRIDAY MARCH 26
Attention all John Glenn Middle School students, please join us for a night of reconnecting at The Edge Sports Center at Bedford. While still remaining socially distant, kids will be able to have free skate time, request their favorite songs from the on-ice DJ, and enjoy light refreshments! Due to social distancing, each hour is limited to 40 students. Details are provided below. Please email our office if you have additional questions. Events@SuzAndCo.com
PLEASE NOTE: Skate rentals will NOT be available so kids are encouraged to bring their own, borrow from friends or rent elsewhere if possible! Parent/guardian must accompany student at check-in to sign a COVID waiver.
Message from BPS Tech Department:
The Aspen migration has been completed. Please keep in mind that not only did we move from being hosted onsite to being hosted by Aspen, we have also upgraded to the latest version of Aspen, therefore there will be a different "look and feel", but the workflows should still be the same.
Because of this migration, the address to access Aspen has changed as well. The new address is https://ma-bedford.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do. If you have bookmarked the previous version of Aspen, please remove or update it.
For questions or concerns, please email tech_support@bedfordps.org
SPRING SPORT REGISTRATION NOW OPEN IN ASPEN
Message from Mr. Norling about spring sports at JGMS:
Hello Students and Parents,
This email is a reminder that Spring sports sign-ups are open. I have attached the directions for registration.
This registration is currently for Track, Baseball, and Softball. We are still undecided on the format of the season as we are collaborting with the state guidelines and other towns within the district.
As of now, practice schedules are undecided. Once there is a clearer picture of how the season will be run we will send out information.
Please make sure the student participating has an updated physical in our system. Copies of the physical can be forwarded to our school nurse at
All sports seasons will start after April break on 26th.
Thanks and will send out info as soon as possible.
For directions (with pictures) how to sign up in ASPEN click here, or follow the directions below:
TO REGISTER FOR SPORTS
1. Log into Aspen Parent Portal. Click “Initiate” in tasks widget on main page.
2. DO NOT USE THE STUDENTS LOGIN INFO.
3. Click Workflow drop down list, select Spring sports registration.
4. Click on magnifier to select student.
5. Select student to register for sports then click “OK”
6. Click “Next”
7. Select Sport, Answer all applicable questions, Review the handbook and complete the concussion course if needed. ‐ Click “Next” to confirm
8. Click “Finish” to complete registration Process
POOL TESTING INFORMATION
Message from Superintendent Philip Conrad:
Dear parents, caregivers, and guardians,
Thank you for your continued partnership during this unprecedented school year. In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we have been working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) to implement a free COVID-19 pooled testing program for the students and staff of the Bedford Public Schools.
The purpose of this letter is to seek your permission to regularly test your child as part of a pooled testing program at our school. Pooled testing involves mixing several individuals’ test samples together into one “pool” and then testing the pooled sample for COVID-19. This approach increases the number of individuals that can be tested at one time and allows us to regularly test our entire school community for COVID-19.
The pooled tests will be performed at least once per week with a shallow nasal swab for all participating students and staff members. Schools will receive the pool results within 24-48 hours. If the result of the pool is negative, then all individuals are presumed to not have COVID-19. If the result of the pool is positive, then all individuals in the pool must be retested individually. Because pooled testing does not give individual results, you will only be notified if your child requires follow-up testing.
We will begin the weekly testing on March 15th and will continue this through the end of April. To give permission for your student to participate in the COVID-19 Pooled Testing Program at our school, including consent to transmit student information via the pooled testing technology platform, consent for any necessary follow up tests, and consent to share the test result information with the Department of Public Health, CIC Health and (a third party [non-profit] organization contracted to compile consent for testing and to share test results), and the Broad Institute (the lab that processes the tests), please see the Pooled Testing Overview document and slides below. If you want to sign up for pooled testing, please sign up by Friday March 12th to be included in the pooled testing next week.
We are extremely grateful to our committed staff and families that continue to show great flexibility and resilience as we navigate through this school year. It takes all of us working together to contain the spread of this virus. We are excited to add pooled testing as another mitigation measure for our school community.
As always, thank you for your patience, your participation, and your continued commitment to our schools,
Upcoming Community Support Seminars
The Health and Human Services Department, in conjunction with the Bedford School Counseling Department, has upcoming community support seminars. Please see flier below for registration information.
Spring Forward Parent Support Sessions on 3/29, 4/5 and 4/12 at 7 pm with Child Psychologist Dr. Rachel Kramer
Upcoming SEPAC Events
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM Basic Rights: Understanding the IEP Free to attendees
The Federation for Children with Special Needs and Bedford SEPAC present Basic Rights: Understanding the IEP
•Why the IEP is Important
•Who is eligible for an IEP
•How the IEP is Developed
•Strengths and Concerns
•Vision Statements
•IEP Sections including PLEP A & B, Annual Goals and Service Delivery Grid
•Differences between Accommodations and modifications
•Response, Placement and Consent
•Procedural Safeguards and more!
Registration Link to get zoom: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUqc-urrD4pHtWFKhA6-Gah0iWFOZlDpCJb
Upcoming Bedford Embraces Diversity Events
Race and Identity: A Forum for Bedford’s Schools and Community March 24 and March 31, 6-8 PM
Bedford Embraces Diversity and the Parents Diversity Council are teaming together to provide a forum for Community and School to come together to talk about racism.
These workshops, facilitated by trainers from IDEAS (part of the EDCO Collaborative), are intended for teachers, members of the community and parents with children in the school system. Break out group discussions will intentionally be a mix of these three groups and provide opportunities to hear different experiences and perspectives.
Participants will:
- learn strategies to talk about and disrupt ongoing racism,
- discuss historical examples of racism and how racism shows up today, and
- learn about racial identity development.
It is not necessary to attend both workshops. Please attend one or both as your schedule allows.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Bedford Embraces Diversity and the Parents Diversity Council are teaming together to provide a forum for Community and School to come together to talk about racism.
Indigenous Peoples Day in Bedford Call to Action
Please join Indigenous Peoples Day Bedford in advocating for the passage of a warrant article at Annual Town Meeting on May 15, 2021 that would designate the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day in our community. We believe that a holiday that celebrates the resilience of Indigenous peoples is far more truthful and reflective of our values as a community than one that honors a man whose legacy is characterized by conquest, slavery, and genocide. Indigenous peoples have been asking for this change since the 1970s. By honoring this request, Bedford will celebrate the diverse histories and cultures of the land's First Peoples, correct false histories, and create an environment where healing can begin.
We are asking all JGMS families to take the following action steps:
Sign our statement in support of the IPD warrant article atwww.ipdbedford.org. (Where you can also learn more about this effort and view our growing list of supporters.)
Share this call to action with your friends and family.
CSF of Bedford is unable to host their annual CSF of Bedford Dollars for Scholars Phone-a-thon due toCOVID-19 this year, but they are continuing to adapt and improvise – just as our high school students have done all year. CSF is conducting a Mail-a-thon fundraiser this year to gather support for the scholarships our high school seniors will need more than ever. Bedford residents will receive personal letters in early March asking for your continued generous support of CSF of Bedford Dollars for Scholars. All contributions are awarded as financial scholarships to seniors heading off to college or pursuing other education. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
To donate online please visit https://bit.ly/DollarsForScholarsMail-a-thon2021.
If donating by check, please make payable to “CSF of Bedford” and mail to:
CSF of Bedford Dollar for Scholars, PO Box 585, Bedford, MA 01730
Please see flyer below for more details.
Bedford Food Bank
The Bedford Food Bank at Town Center Building
Thursday, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
To assist and support Bedford residents in need, the Town of Bedford has established a temporary food bank at the Town Center Building (yellow building behind Town Hall) at 12 Mudge Way on the Town Campus.
Families and guardians of Bedford school children are welcome to continue to access Bedford's Food Bank. Please visit the Bedford Food Bank site for more information.
BEDFORD BUCCANEER MASKS FOR SALE
Last call for Bedford Buccaneer masks! The perfect mask for school, outdoor activities and sporting events! Adult and youth sizes available. Limited quantities.
March Promotion:
- Purchase 2 masks for $20
- Purchase 5 masks for $45
- Donate a mask to someone in need in the community - $5.00
- Bulk orders - please email BHSbucsparents@gmail.com.
The masks are stylish, high quality, washable and 3-ply - perfect for the fall and winter seasons. Masks can be purchased in Adult and Youth sizes and come in Bedford blue and black. Click on the link below for the image.
To order, go to https://bhspa.org/order. Masks will be delivered to your home (Bedford, Hanscom or Boston or can be picked up in school by a student) within a week of placing your order at no charge! Bulk sales are available as well for a reduced price. Please email BHSBUcsparents@gmail.com to inquire about bulk sales or if you have questions.
Attendance
Attendance is taken every morning by the end of first block for students on-site and remote. Parents need to call their child in if they are going to be absent, regardless if they would be attending school on-site or remote.
If a child is sick and needs to be out due to a needed test or they are physically unable to “participate in school”, parents must notify the office prior to the absence. If it needs to be an extended leave of more than 3 days, students can shift to have access to the Remote D cohort and then back to the hybrid model, but the office must be made aware.
JGMS office number: 1-781-275-3201
School Start and End Times
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday:
7:40am-2:05pm
Doors open at 7:30am
Dismissal begins at 2:05pm
M/R Cohort A/C in person, Cohort B/D remote
T/F Cohort B/C in person, Cohort A/D remote
Wednesday:
8:40am-12:50pm
All students remote
Bell Schedules
Please click herefor the regular and 3/4 day Bell Schedules
Nurse's Welcome Back Letter
Please click herefor the nurse's welcome back to school letter. This document contains all the information you need about the health and safety policies that have been put in place, mask requirements, FAQ about illness and school attendance, how to reach the nurse at each school, and helpful links.
Classlink is meant to give students easy access to the most used apps. Clicking on any one of these icons will take students directly to the application noted. Click here for more information.
Meeting Links + Google Calendar
All class meetings will be scheduled through Google Calendar. Each day students will be able to follow a schedule using the same system throughout all of their classes.
How do I find my class meetings?
Students will find all meetings in Google calendar.
Click on thislink to find the directions.
Google Classroom
How do I join each of my classes?
All classes at JGMS will provide information to students via Google classroom. Students will need to Join each of these classes. Click on this linkto find the directions.
Can you tell me more about the information in Google classroom?
Click on thislink to find more information directly from Google.
Donate to the MSPA
Thank you to everyone who has donated to the MSPA this year. Donations will be used to support ongoing requests for programs and events to support JGMS. To make a donation, please click the button below or donations can also be mailed to:
MSPA, c/o Kelly Randazzo, 5 Selfridge Road
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