This is an Archive of the Bedford High School Planning
June & July, 2007
The Planning Team completed the hiring for positions at the new high school. Work is ongoing and nearing completion for the teacher and student handbooks, new teacher training, and moving into the new building. Student preliminary schedules were distributed to students before the school year was over, and over 95% of students' schedules were complete. Guidance is hard at work trying to work out schedule conflicts for the remaining few students. Students will get an updated schedule during their open house hours as follows:
Tuesday, August 14, 4pm-7pm
Thursday, August 16, 4pm-7pm
Monday, August 20, 9am-12 noon
Wednesday, August 22, 9am-12 noon
Communication Meeting - May, 2007
The communications committee is working feverishly and excitedly to begin to plan the dedication ceremony for the new Bedford High School and the new Ross A. Lugio grade7 and 8 middle school. In keeping with the success we had last year giving tours of the new facilities during Olde Towne Day we decided to coordinate the dedication of the buildings during that time. It seems all the town turns out for Olde Towne Day and how better to promote that community event than to celebrate another community event with it!
The weekend of September 14-16, 2007 is sure to be packed with excitement and something for everyone in Bedford! In addition to the spectacular community spirit felt at Olde Towne Day we will host several high school athletic events in our premier stadium all weekend to ramp up the excitement even more! We will host tours of the buildings on Saturday, and we are thinking of hosting a middle school dance one night and a high school dance on another night of that weekend. A bonfire, fireworks, picnics/barbeques, a bulldog mascot contest…..you name it, we are thinking of it!
We are in the early planning stages of the dedication and the festivities. Please check in on this website for updates! GO BULLDOGS!
Bedford School Board Meeting - 4/30
Principal George Edwards and the School Board reviewed the second draft of the Parent/Student Handbook. The Board offered comments, suggestions, and edits, and requested clarifications on several items. The process covered approximately half of the Handbook, and will resume at the next meeting.
Communication Committee Meeting - 4/19
District Vertical Curriculum Team - 4/16
Linda Belmonte and Bob Jozokos met with Assistant Superintendent Chip McGee and Instructional Specialists Jo Hendry and Barbara Gondek to outline the workings of the new district Vertical Team.
High School Advisory Committee Meeting - 4/12
Bedford Curriculum Committee - 4/10
The BCC has been discussing several potential school policies relating to the new requirements from the NH State Board of Education. These include Extended Learning Opportunities (IHBH), High School Graduation Policy (IKF), Assessment, (ILBA), HIgh School Competency Assessments (ILBAA), and Alternative Credit Options (IMBC). Many of these directly affect the operations of the high school, and are carefully being considered.
School Board Meeting - 4/9
George Edwards presented the first draft of the Bedford High school Parent/Student Handbook to the School Board. He explained that this is a work in progress, and invited the Board to review it and bring forward suggestions for changes at the next meeting. The review process will span several Board meetings.
School Board Meeting - 3/26/07
The planning team and the district administration presented the first in a series of topics related to assessment, competencies, grading, grade point average, and class rank last night to the school board. Chip McGee, Asst. Superintendent, began the discussion with an overview of research on grading and assessing (see links below for articles and Power Point) followed by an overview of how the assessment and grading process is markedly different in a competency based school.
Given those parameters, Lisa Ransom from the Planning Team then outlined the definition and purpose of grade point averages (GPA) and a class rank (CR) and explained the varied ways to calculate and utilize GPA and CR. There was lots of great conversation between the presenters and school board. We look forward to a continued dialogue with the school board to get into place policies and documents that represent how learning at Bedford High School will be assessed, reported, and will best represent the hard work the students at Bedford High School are doing.
PowerPoint Presentation on Grading Practices
* "State of College Admission" NACAC's 2006 Annual State of College Admission Report
* “Towards a Unified Theory of Grading” by Jonathan Dresner in /Education News/, Jan. 3, 2005
* “Where Some Give Credit, Others Say It’s Not Due“ by Jay Matthews
in /Washington Post/, June 14, 2005, spotted in /PEN Weekly
NewsBlast/, June 17, 2005
* "The Marshall Memo" by Kim Marshall, a compilation of articles on grading, posted with permission of the author.
* “The Case Against Zero” by Douglas Reeves in /Phi Delta Kappan/,
December 2004 (Vol. 86, #4, p. 324-325), no e-link available
* “Making High School Grades Meaningful” by Thomas Guskey in /Phi Delta Kappan/, May 2006 (Vol. 83, #9, p. 670-675) no e-link available
* "Should high schools have valedictorians? Asked and Answered” in
Principal Leadership, March 2006 (Vol. 6, #7, p. 10), no e-link
available
* “Improving the Way We Grade Science” by Jacqueline Clymer and
Dylan Wiliam in /Educational Leadership/, Dec. 2006/Jan. 2007
(Vol. 64, # 4, p. 36-42), no e-link available
NCTM Conference - 3/21-24
Linda Belmonte attended the 2007 National Conference for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in March. The conference theme was about mathematical representations. Several sessions attended involved the International Baccalaureate Program, as well as developing mathematics curricula.
Communications Committee - 3/15
On March 15, 2007 the Bedford High School’s Communications Committee met in the evening. The members of the communication committee include memberships of the high school planning team, the district leadership team, school board members and several parents and students from grade 6-9.
The group’s primary focus this month was beginning the planning for the dedication ceremonies for the buildings on the new school campus -The Ross E. Lurgio School (grade 7-8) and Bedford High School (grades 9-12). At a previous meeting we had discussed the possibility of having the dedications in conjunction with Olde Towne Day (Sept 15, 2007). The group thought it would be great to make it a weekend event with some athletic competitions taking place, a dinner, etc – to really pull the community together for these events. Terry Wolf reported out that she spoke with the people in charge of OTD and they were very excited about the possibility of having the dedication during Olde Towne Day festivities. We will begin planning accordingly. We also started to discuss submission of student essays of their experiences this year as a McKelvie student or a West High School student anticipating the transition to Bedford High School.
"Flex Time" Rumors!
Students will not be able to leave the school during their study blocks at Bedford High. The recent newspaper article in the Bedford Bulletin entitled "Flex Time" misquoted Superintendent Tim Mayes. Students will have some flexibility to sign out of study to go to the library or meet with a teacher, but they will not be allowed to leave the building.
Hiring for Bedford High School - Ongoing
The Planning Team has been interviewing candidates to staff Bedford High School on a rolling basis. There are openings in all departments at the high school level. Teachers and support personnel can still apply for positions through the SAU office and the employment pages on the SAU25 website. Please submit a complete application as soon as possible.
Job Fair - 2/17
The Bedford School District held its first job fair on Saturday, February 17 at Riddle Brook School. Approximately 300 potential candidates came to meet the principals and administrative staff for all schools in the district, including Bedford High School. The job fair was a very successful event for the district.
School Board Meeting 2/19
On February 19, the Bedford School Board approved the International Baccalaureate Program for Bedford High School. Courses for the IB program will begin in the 2008-2009 school year, and they will be open to juniors. This program provides advanced instruction in six areas: English, a second language, individuals and societies, experimental sciences, mathematics and computer science, and the arts. Students will be able to take any one course, several courses, or the complete Diploma Program. They are recognized for each course they complete with a certificate. More information about the IB program is available through the IBO website and the presentation given to the school board.
First BHS Course Registration 2/13
Students completed the first Bedford High school course registration by February 13, selecting courses for their first year at BHS. If your registration form was not turned in, please send it directly to our office at 230 New Boston Road, or deliver it to our office at Riddle Brook School. If you are still not sure if you will attend BHS, but you live in Bedford and will be a freshman or sophomore next year, please reserve a place for yourself by turning in a form now.
Advisory Committee 2/13
The High School Advisory Committee met in the SAU Board Room and discussed the course selection process, possible school start times, and the IB program. Plans were made to take a tour of the high school.
School Board Meeting 2/5
The School Board approved the overarching Student Competencies for Bedford High School on Monday night, February 5. The high school daily schedule was also approved. The actual start and end times for the school day are still in the discussion stages, along with the elementary, intermediate, and middle school start and end times. The Planning Team made a final presentation about International Baccalaureate at this meeting. Superintendent Mayes and Asst. Superintendent McGee also spoke about their experiences with IB.
Social Studies Meeting 1/31
Bob Jozokos, Barbara Gondek, and Jan Raudonis met with the 7th and 8th grade social studies teachers to continue alignment of curriculum. The team discussed the skills and knowledge every student should have by the end of each grade. Discussion will continue at the next meeting in February.
Individual Parent Meetings 1/29 & 1/31, 2/5 & 2/8, 2007
The Planning Team met with individual parents and students over several weeks in January and February to answer questions regarding course registration for next year.
Ninth Grade Parents Meeting - Thursday, February 1, 7pm
Several hundred parents and students joined us at McKelvie for a discussion on the course registration process on February 1. Mr. Edwards discussed the course registration timeline, which courses are required for graduation, and an overview of the electives available to incoming sophomores.
Meeting with Current Eighth Grade Parents 1/25
On Thursday, January 25 several hundred parents and students attended a meeting regarding the course registration process for attending BHS next year. Mr. Edwards discussed the registration timeline, which courses are required for graduation, and the electives available to incoming freshmen. The registration forms are due February 13 to the students' homeroom teachers.
BHS Course Sign-ups Begin! 1/23
The Planning Team visited all eighth grade homerooms at McKelvie on January 23. We passed out the BHS Program of Studies, some planning tips and worksheets, and the course registration form. We discussed the school day, and how students will have up to eight units of classes they can take next year. On Thursday night at 7pm, parents are invited to an informational meeting where we will discuss the course registration process. The due date for course registration forms is February 13, and students should turn them in to their current McKelvie homeroom teachers.
Proposed BHS Student Competencies 1/22
The Planning Team presented at the School Board meeting on January 22. The main focus was the background on developing the over-arching Student Competencies that all students must know and be able to do by the time they graduate. These proposed competencies, when approved by the Board, will become one of the guiding documents for the development of the curriculum at BHS. The proposed student competencies:
All graduates of Bedford High School will consistently demonstrate competency through a body of work in five major areas that support the accomplishment of the school’s mission and are aligned with national, state, and local standards. These over-arching expectations encompass developmentally appropriate academic, civic, and social outcomes and identify what a Bedford High School student will know and be able to do upon graduation. The Student Competencies are:
Skills and Knowledge: students will demonstrate mastery of academic competencies throughout the curriculum and extended learning opportunities.
Problem Solving: students will collect, organize, analyze, and assess information and strategies to create, apply, explain, and evaluate solutions.
Communication: students will communicate effectively through listening and speaking, reading and writing, and media.
Self-Management: students will demonstrate respect and responsibility while managing personal time, conduct, wellness, and planning.
Collaboration: students will work effectively with others and strengthen group performance by sharing ideas and workloads.
Math Curriculum 1/12
Jo Hendry and Linda Belmonte met with the eighth grade math staff to begin the discussion of pre-algebra and algebra vertical alignment from the middle school through the high school. The alignment includes meeting the NH math standards to best prepare students for the NECAP testing as well as for their futures.
Social Studies Curriculum 1/10
Bob Jozokos and Barbara Gondek met with the social studies staff to begin vertical alignment from the middle school to the high school. The main focus is the American History curriculum at this time, as the students at BHS will have two courses in American Studies in freshman and sophomore years.
Mike Huff/ International Baccalaureate 1/8
Mike Huff presented IBO background and personal experience teaching courses within the International Baccalaureate Programme to the School Board on January 8. He stressed that within the framework of types of courses that must be taught (math, science, English, world languages, arts), the district has the latitude to develop the curriculum according to its own needs and goals. Students would take IB essay exams in each of the areas that would require analysis, critical thinking, and good writing skills. The School Board has not made a decision regarding IB at BHS as of this time.
Student Planner/Agenda 1/8-1/20
The Team has been researching and reviewing possible planners/agendas for student use at BHS. We are also working on the inserts for the agenda, in an effort to make them student-friendly and useful for academic reference as well as for planning.
BCTV 1/8
Bob Jozokos and George Edwards met with Bill Jennings at the BCTV studio to further discussions regarding facilities, equipment, and courses at BHS involving television production and editing.
Power School Training - January
Members of the Planning Team have been attending various training sessions on the PowerSchool student information system. The team will be developing the high school schedule using PowerSchool based upon the student course sign-ups that are due February 13.
Special Education Meetings - January
The Planning Team has been meeting with various members of the special education staff in the district in order to plan for the needs of our students next year. We have also been visiting the different classrooms at West and McKelvie to meet the students and staff.
Meetings with West/Bedford High 9th Grade Students Dec-Jan
The Planning Team has been meeting with Bedford's 9th grade students at West High on a regular basis. The times are Tuesday mornings for the first 5 periods of the day, and Thursdays starting at 11:15 and going through the remaining periods of the day. Students are welcome to meet the team during their study period to discuss any issues or ask questions they may have about transferring to the new Bedford High next year.
School Board Meeting 12/18
The Bedford School Board approved the 4th draft of the Bedford High School Program of Studies at Monday night's meeting. The Program will now be formatted for printing, and will be ready for the January meetings with students and parents. At that time, the course scheduling process will be explained, and the Program of Studies, forms and instructions will be available. Meeting times will also be arranged so that parents and students can meet with McKelvie guidance and Planning Team members to address individual questions regarding signing up for courses at Bedford High School.
9th Grade Building Tour 12/16
Nearly 500 ninth graders, parents, family and friends visited Bedford High School Saturday morning and toured the new school, including the Lurgio Middle School. Entering the main high school entrance, the students viewed the courtyard from the main entrance, visited classrooms and had a chance to be on stage in the still-scaffolded auditorium.
8th Grade building Tour 12/15
The entire eighth grade class bussed it up to the new Bedford High School site, and received tours of the new school. The tours included the art, music, theater, gym, classrooms, the central hub of the school and the main entrance. Then the students toured the Lurgio Middle School, where they had the chance to see what the finished classrooms, hallways and science classes would look like. Checking out the new lockers and the athletic fields were highlights of the tour.
9th Grade Info Session 12/13
The Planning Team presented an overview of the high school programs to ninth grade students and parents in the McKelvie gym. Focus was given to graduation requirements, which have been pro-rated for the class of 2010, and the program of studies. In addition, a timeline for course sign-ups was proposed. Students will receive the program of studies some time in mid-January. A rebroadcast of the presentation can be seen on BCTV. The graduation requirements and Mission Statement have been approved by the School Board, and the remaining information is in draft form. The Program of Studies has been presented to the School Board, but has not been approved yet. You can download the PowerPoint presentation for a glimpse into the future of BHS.
8th Grade Info Session 12/7/16
On December 7, the Planning Team gave a presentation to our current eighth graders and their parents about the new high school. Over 200 people attended, with many questions about the school and what courses, athletics, clubs and activities will be offered. The graduation requirements and Mission Statement have been approved by the School Board, and the remaining information is in draft form. The Program of Studies has been presented to the School Board, but has not been approved yet. You can download the PowerPoint presentation for a glimpse into the future of BHS.
Planning team visits grade 9 students at West HS 12/7/06
On Thursday, December 7th Mr. Nilsen, Mr. Jozokos, and Mrs. Ransom from the Planning Team began the series of visits to West High School to meet with the 9th grade students. It has been a program that the Planning Team has been anxious to begin and now that we are finally getting over there we are excited and look forward to more interaction with the students and establishing more of a Bedford High School presence for them at West.
The students were great! We met with them in small groups of 12 or so during part of their study hall periods. We will be making the rounds and will get the word out as to our schedule and we will be ‘coming to a study hall near you’ to meet you, hear your ideas and get to know you better.
Students expressed both excitement and concerns about the impending move from West to Bedford High School. There were a million questions – everything from athletics to start of the school day, from levels of classes to block scheduling. It will be so beneficial to continue with our student meetings at West – we are setting up a schedule for the winter with the West administration. We will be posting that schedule as soon as it is available on this website.
School Board Meeting 11/27/06
On Monday night, November 27, the School Board approved the revised Bedford High School Graduation Requirements. The Planning Team incorporated the Board's suggestions, allowing the non-credit requirements to be met through flexible means, including using hours earned in community-based activities to meet the hours.
Bedford High School Graduation Requirements:
½ unit Arts (including Fine Art, Music, Drama and Dance)
½ unit Digital Portfolio (Information Communication Technology)
4 units English (including ½ unit Writing)
3 units Math (including Algebra I)
3 units Science (including 1 unit of a Physical Science, 1 unit of a Biological science)
3 units Social Studies (including 1 unit of US and NH History and Govt, ½ unit NH
Govt/Civics, ½ unit Economics, ½ unit Global Studies/Geography
3 units Wellness (including 1 unit PE, ½ unit Health)
½ unit Personal Finance
½ unit Senior Project
½ unit Advisory
6 ½ units Electives
Total = 25 units
Non-credit requirements
16 hours Career Exploration and Planning
16 hours Community Involvement Service
8 hours Democratic Process
8 hours Cultural Enrichment
32 hours School Activities – minimum of 8 hours in 1 co-curricular activity each year
Hours pro-rated for Class of 2010:
12 hours Career Exploration and Planning
12 hours Community Involvement Service
6 hours Democratic Process
6 hours Cultural Enrichment
24 hours School Activities – minimum of 8 hours in 1 co-curricular activity each year
(approved by Bedford School Board, 11/27/06)
Also at the meeting, the Planning Team presented a draft of the proposed Program of Studies to the Board for their input.
High School Science 11/17/06
On November 17, Linda Belmonte of the Planning Team and Jo Hendry, the District Math & Science Coordinator, visited the Nashua School District and High School to research science curriculums. The visit included meeting with the district coordinator, classroom teachers, and class visits to see program implementation with students.
Meeting with Students 11/14/06
McKelvie’s SUCCESS students along with their teacher Ann Marie Pepe and school counselor Sue Mullen welcomed the planning team into their classes this past Tuesday. We had great conversations with the students about what high school is like, what Bedford High School will be like. They asked great questions and we talked about what a ‘day in the life’ of a high school student might be. Exploring options, planning for the future, tying in what they are doing now in grade 8 into what they’ll need to be ready for in high school and beyond – these were a few of the topics we discussed. For being so early in the morning, (first and second class of the day!) the students had lots of ideas and great things to share. The most enjoyable part of our Planning Team experience is meeting with students, talking about the great things that await them once we are all together at Bedford High School. Student input is a valuable and vital part of the planning process so we look forward to being involved with students at every opportunity. We’ll be back at McKelvie soon. The administration at West is trying to fit us into their busy schedule and we anxiously await our meetings with students there soon.
School Board Meeting 11/13/06
At their regular Monday night meeting, the School Board passed a motion on ability grouping. After a presentation by Mr. Edwards and discussion among the Board, Mr. Sacks made a motion that passed
4-1. The motion was:
The Bedford School Board directs the Bedford High School Planning Team and administration to develop a curriculum framework that includes the following: "foundation" support classes, a standard program of studies that prepares students for post-secondary level work, a standard program of studies that prepares students for post-secondary level work at the decelerated level as warranted, an honors program, Advanced Placement courses starting the sophomore year when appropriate, Advanced Placement courses and/or International Baccalaureate in the junior and senior years, as well as a broad variety of courses with progressive levels of difficulty. The curriculum will include: Multiple pathways so that students can serialize courses to best meet their needs, abilities, and timing. Students will be able to move between different levels of courses without hindrance. The Planning Team should also evaluate whether additional course levels are needed to support and challenge students of all abilities and motivations.
Athletic Info Meeting 11/09/06
Principal, George Edwards and Athletic Administrator, Thor Nilsen hosted an informational meeting on co-curricular activities and athletics on Thursday November 9th in the McKelvie Middle School cafeteria. the meeting was very well attended by future Bedford High students and their parents. The co-curricular activities will be determined by what types of activities students want, as well as those that are traditional to high schools, such as student council. Information regarding particular sports, which will be interscholastic, not club-level, will be posted in the future.
School Board Workshop 11/6/06
At the School Board workshop on November 6, Tim Mayes presented several options to schedule the school day for all the schools in the district. Each of the possibilities has pros and cons, including the budget implications. The Board reviewed the proposed graduation requirements, giving the Team feedback on the number of hours and the number of credits proposed. The Board continued to deliberate the question of ability grouping and listened to more information from the Planning Team and administration about various models. The Team answered several questions the Board had posed about the ability grouping model presented at the October 23rd meeting.
FIRST, Women & Technology 11/3/06
Linda Belmonte and Jo Hendry, Bedford's Math & Science Coordinator, attended the annual symposium sponsored by US FIRST at the Millyard in Manchester on November 3. Many women in science, technology, health, education, and industry gave talks regarding their experiences in tech fields, what it takes to get there, and how students can reach their dreams in these fields. Plans are to take students to this symposium, starting with the first year.
West High Meeting 11/02/06
The Planning Team met with administration and department heads at West High on November 2. West provided the Team with information regarding current classes, structures and programs that involve our freshmen, so that appropriate programs can be put in place next year for a smooth transition. The Team is planning office hours and time to meet with students at West. A flyer and survey will be distributed the week of November.
School Board Meeting 10/23/06
Mr. Edwards presented several ways to schedule a school day to the school board on October 23, followed by a first draft of a potential Bedford High School day schedule. Three models of ability grouping were also presented, refining the possibilities from prior meetings. A single draft version based on the board's input will be presented at the November 6 school board meeting.
Transition Advisory Committee – 10/19/06
The Transition Advisory Committee had its first meeting at the SAU Building. The team is composed of five students, eight parents, one community member, one school board representative, the Superintendent, and two planning team members: Mr. Jozokos and Principal Edwards. The committee is charged with providing feedback to school district administration and staff on proposals for the transition of students; school structure, programs, curriculum, and schedules; and any other tasks assigned by the chairperson. The team reviewed the high school mission statement and the first draft of the proposed graduation requirements. The committee will meet monthly.
School Board Work Session- 10/16/06
During the televised October 16 work session, Kathy Conlin and Roberta Keane presented information about Bedford's special education population at West High School. The Planning Team presented ways to embed honors into a core curriculum. The Planning Team will present a narrowed range of ability grouping models at the next school board meeting, at 7pm on October 23.
School Board Meeting - 10/10/06
The Planning Team presented options and examples of ability grouping to the Board during the October 10 meeting. The slides from this presentation are available in pdf format through this link. The members of the Board gave the team their input on narrowing the possibilities for Bedford.
Adventures at Cardigan! - 10/3 - 10/6/06
Mrs. Ransom spent the week with the Delta group (yea Delta!) at Cardigan Mountain as part of the 8th grade experiential learning expedition. The great weather and views only added to the fabulous experience with the students and chaperones in Mr. Hinsley’s group. The students were masters at measuring stream flow and doing leaf rubbings, the chaperones mastered the creations of culinary delights and kept right up with the students’ speedy ascent of the peaks! Thanks to all the Delta gang – especially Mr. Hinsley and Mrs. Reihl for their hard work, planning, and patience with us all.
School Board Work Session - 10/04/06
The School Board and Planning Team held a work session on Wednesday, October 4, at 7 pm in the SAU Board Room. The discussion centered on ability grouping. The team presented examples of how schools group students, and options that can be added to create hybrids. The presentation will be repeated Tuesday night, October 10, at 7pm at the SAU.
Leadership Team - 10/03/06
The Bedford School District Leadership Team met on October 3 at the SAU. Due to the expected large number of applicants for staffing at the high school and in the district, Karl Haven developed a district applications system, which he introduced at the meeting.
School Board - 9/25/06
The School Board approved the high school's Mission Statement at the meeting on September 25. You can read the Bedford High School Mission Statement on the web.
NEASC Visit - 9/24 - 9/29/06
From September 24th to the 27th, Mr. Jozokos participated in an accreditation self-study review of Monadnock Regional High School in Swanzey, NH. Mr. Jozokos was on a team of thirteen education professionals from all over New England. The team reviewed the school's self-study and made a recommendation on accreditation to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Monadnock Regional's accrediting body.
BCTV - 9/29/06
On Friday September 29th, the Planning Team taped the first in a series of television shows that will air on BCTV. The taping focused on introducing the team and several major areas including the mission statement, the web site, the high school building, and athletics.
Budget - 9/15/06 - 10/09/06
The budget for the high school's opening year is being drafted. The Planning Team has been meeting with the SAU to determine the technology needs for the new high school over the past weeks, Thor Nilsen has been putting together the budget for the athletic programs, and the team is developing the startup and operating budgets for the 2007-2008 school year.
College Fair - 9/28/06
On Thursday evening, September 28th, Lisa Ransom and George Edwards donned their Bedford High School shirts, packed their pockets with business cards and headed to UNH for the Annual NEACAC College Fair. They met with over 250 college and university admissions counselors from all over the country to introduce Bedford High School to the college admissions community. Many of the college admission representatives were already familiar with the fact that Bedford was in the process of building its own high school. The reps were excited about hearing the updates on the construction and the planning of the high school programs. Mr. Edwards and Mrs. Ransom connected with colleagues from colleges’ admissions with whom they have worked for years and plans have already been made to include Bedford High School in the ‘college admissions visitation loop’ for next fall.
NHSAA Conference – 9/20/06
Principal Edwards, along with Ms. Ransom and Mr. Jozokos, attended the New Hampshire School Administrators Association Best Practices in Developing High School Competencies and Competency Assessment workshop. Also in attendance were Assistant Superintendent McGee and Instructional Specialists Barbara Gondek and Jo Hendry. There were many presentations including Tom Welch, formerly of the Kentucky Dept. of Ed., Paul Leather from the NH Dept. of Ed., and several high schools currently developing competency based systems including Moultonborough High School and Salem High School.
NEASC School Visit - 9/17-20/06
Linda Belmonte was member of the visiting committee that went to Danvers High School from September 17-20. The visiting committee looked at the entire school environment and established programs in light of the seven NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation standards.
Leadership Meeting – 9/19/06
The Planning Team attended the monthly district leadership meeting with the Superintendent and central office leaders, instructional specialists, principals, and assistant principals. Several items were discussed including teacher observations.
Technology Meeting – 9/19/06
The Planning Team met with Karl Haven, Director of Technology, Mark Conrad, Chief Financial Officer, and Chip McGee, Assistant Superintendent, in an on-going series of planning for technology at the high school. A variety of ideas were discussed with an emphasis on what the end-user side of the technology would require.
Tuesday Talk with McKelvie Students, 9/19/06
The Planning Team invited McKelvie students after-school on September 19 in the cafe, for another in a series of Tuesday Talks with future Bedford High School students. Topics discussed included IB, AP, and athletic programs.
Work Session - 9/18/06
The Team met with the School Board for a work session on Monday, September 18. The team presented many factors in consideration of the question of ability grouping. The conversations will continue on ability grouping at a date yet to be determined.
Olde Towne Day - 9/16/06
Community members, the Communications Committee, the SAU, Ed Joyce, and the Planning Team planned new-school related events for Olde Towne Day. Future Bedford High School students gave tours of the middle/high school construction to over a thousand Bedford residents. They took a school bus from the parking lot to the building, and toured the auditorium, combined gym, middle school library and classrooms. Many thanks to the student tour guides, the bus driver, and to the volunteers who helped throughout the day.
Food Services - 9/14/06
The Planning Team and Ed Joyce, Principal-elect of the Lurgio School, met with Lisa Dollins, Director of Food Services, to discuss plans for serving lunch at the new schools. Possible ideas were brought up, such as breakfast and providing snacks during the day.
PTG - 9/14/06
Principal George Edwards, along with the principals and assistant principals from all the town's schools, met with the PTG for the annual "Meet the Principals" at BCTV on September 14.
Technology - 9/12/06
The Planning Team met with Mark Conrad, Chief Financial Officer, Ed Joyce, Principal-elect of the Lurgio School, Karl Haven, Director of Technology, and Chip McGee, Assistant Superintendent, to work on technology plans for the new middle and high schools.
Mission - 9/11/06
The Planning Team formally presented the draft Mission Statement to the School Board. The draft Mission is available for the community on the Mission page.
Web Surveys - 9/11/06
The Planning Team met with Karl Haven to put surveys online to gather information from the community. The initial surveys are for incoming Bedford High students to share their thoughts with the Team.
Budget - 9/8/06
The Planning Team met with Mark Conrad to work on the budget for the new high school.
Work Session with the School Board - 9/6/06
The Planning Team met with the School Board at 7 pm on Wednesday evening, September 6, at the SAU for a work session. A draft of the Bedford High School Mission Statement was presented and preliminary discussions on ability grouping were held.
Technology Training - 9/6/06
The Planning Team attended the technology training provided to the district by Karl Haven on using the Bedford software in developing the budget for the 2007-2008 school year.
High School Board Liaison and Curriculum Committee Board Liaison Meeting - 9/1/06
The Planning Team met with the liaisons from the school board, Cindy Chagnon and Terry Wolf, for preliminary discussions regarding the proposed Mission Statement on September 1. The Mission will be further discussed at the Work Session on September 6, 7pm.
Architect Meeting - 8/31/06
The Planning Team met with the Bedford High School architect, Paul Marinace, on August 31 for a discussion on portions of the school's core, including the gym and cafeteria, that are nearing the completion stages.
Bedford School District Opening Welcome- 8/29-8/30/06
The Planning Team joined employees of the entire school district for the new school year welcome by Superintendent Tim Mayes at McKelvie Middle School on August 30. The following day, we enjoyed the first day of school at Riddle Brook, when many teachers brought their classes for a tour of our office in the second grade wing. High School Principal George Edwards welcomed the students, and found that they were ready for the Bulldogs to come to town!
School Board Meeting - 8/28/06
George Edwards and Bob Jozokos met with the school board to answer questions regarding the International Baccalaureate Programme. The School Board has approved the initial $4300 for the Intent to Apply that is due September 15. This does not obligate the District to continue through the application process, but it does allow for continued research into the programme, which will now provide a consultant to answer questions before the district makes a decision.
Nashua South - 8/25/06
Principal George Edwards and Financial Director Mark Conrad visited Nashua South on August 25 to explore potential classroom furnishings and configurations.
NHADA - 8/21 - 8/23/06
Thor Nilsen attended the New Hampshire Athletic Director's Association workshop to review the scheduling procedures and classification within New Hampshire.
Student Input - 8/22/06
Many Bedford students shared their thoughts and ideas about their new high school with the Planning Team at a meeting in the Library on August 22. This was the second of many get-togethers we hope to have with our incoming students. Look for news of our next planned meeting soon, and in the meantime, come on Olde Towne Day to meet your new principal and tour your new school.
Bedford District New Teacher Orientation - 8/21 -8/24/06
The Planning Team joined other district new teachers and staff members for new teacher training at the SAU.DOE Grants - 8/21/06
Linda Belmonte, the math, science and technology member of the Planning Team, went with Jo Hendry to the NH Department of Education in Concord on August 21. The purpose was to explore possible connections to higher education through grants to provide professional development in math and science.
NHHEAF - 8/18/06
Lisa Ransom, the guidance and student services member of the Planning Team, went to the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation workshop for new school counselors on August 18. She was part of a panel discussion on new school counselors.
Building and Furniture - 8/17/06
Visits to Exeter High School and Middle School were made on August 17 to review buildings with similar features as designed by the BHS architect, and possible furniture configurations for specific educational uses.
Communications Committee - 8/16/06
The Communications Committee met on August 16. Topics included the Bedford High School website and community communication tools, and planning for Olde Towne Day events relating to the new school.
Leadership Workshop - 8/15 - 8/16/06
The Planning Team joined the Leadership Team for a two day workshop on August 15 and 16. The agenda included a review of the Bedford School District's Goals and Objectives Action Plan, team building opportunities, team meeting goals and consultancies, teacher supervision, and grading and reporting. NHIAA - 8/15/06
Thor Nilsen, the Bedford High School Athletic Administrator, went to the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association meeting on August 15. The meeting provided new New Hampshire aa's to review state policies and procedures regarding interscholastic activities in New Hampshire.
International Baccalaureate - 8/14/06
On August 14, the Planning Team presented their research into possible implementation of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the Bedford High School to the School Board. The Programme was highlighted in the Curriculum Research Committee's Report for consideration, with all twelve members in support. They also noted that in order to offer the Programme in time for the first graduating class, the "Intent to Apply" will be required by September 15, 2006. The School Board has the Programme under consideration for the next Board meeting.
Manchester School of Technology - 8/11/06
On August 11th, one member of the planning team met with Karen White, Principal of the Manchester School of Technology. They discussed the current role of MST with West and the MST curriculum and schedule.
BCTV - 8/10/06
On August 10th, two members of the planning team, along with Superintendent Mayes, met with Bill Jennings at BCTV. A tour of the facility was taken, staff was introduced, and a discussion about the role of BCTV in the BHS curriculum was discussed.
McKelvie - 8/9/06
On August 9th, the Planning Team met with Jan Raudonis and Ed Joyce, Principal and Assistant Principal of McKelvie. They reviewed an overview of McKelvie including parent involvement, curriculum, schedule, and Cardigan.
Athletics - 8/9/06
On August 9th, two members of the planning team met with the Booster sub-committee and reviewed the information from previous meetings with the Bedford Educational Foundation, the PTG, and others. They prepared for a report to the school board on August 14th. BCTV in the BHS curriculum was discussed.
Student Input - 8/8/06
The team met with Bedford students at the Bedford Public Library on August 8 to get their input regarding the new high school. You can share your thoughts on Tuesday, August 22 from 12 to 1:30, also in the library. Pizza and snacks will be provided!
Technology Institute - 7/31 to 8/4/06
During the week from July 31 to August 4, members of the Planning Team visited current district teachers who were working on technology projects for their classrooms.
Curriculum Continuity - 8/3/06
On August 3rd, Chip McGee met with the Planning Team to review ideas for aligning curriculum to meet State of NH requirements and what we already do in grades six through eight.
Special Services - 8/2/06
On August 2nd, the Planning Team met with Kathy Conlin, Director of Special Services, and Roberta Keane, Special Education teacher. Programs and procedures were explained and ideas about transitioning to BHS were considered. Further meetings were planned for.
Fitness Equipment - 8/1/06
On August 1st, two members of the planning team met with Cindy Chagnon, School Board Chair, to consider options regarding the purchase of fitness equipment.
Mission Statement - 7/06
The team began work on the high school's mission statement. The ultimate goal is to create a mission that reflects the values and beliefs of the Bedford community.
Human Resources - 7/27/06
On July 27th, Carol Sideris, the Director of Human Resources, met with one planning team member to review possible procedures for hiring staff for the high school.
Financial Planning - 7/27/06
On July 27th, Mark Conrad, the Chief Financial Officer for the school district, met with two members of the Planning Team to review and plan for the 2007-2008 budget and procedures for purchasing equipment and furniture for the school.
Curriculum Research Committee - 7/26/06
On the night of the 26th, the BHS Curriculum Research Committee formally presented their Final Report to the Planning Team. The two groups, along with members of the community, had an informal exchange of information and afterward, the Research Committee highlighted select parts and ideas from the report.
Curriculum Fact Finding - 7/26/06
On July 26th, the Planning Team met with the two district Instructional Specialists, Barbara Gondek and Jo Hendry. Barbara and Jo formally introduced themselves to the team and presented an overview of the K-8 curriculum. The team had time to ask questions, make comments, and plan for additional meetings.
More District Technology - 7/25/06
On July 25th, three members of the Planning Team again met with the technology teachers to learn what’s being done with technology K-8. The technology teachers presented information and examples about each grade’s use of technology including digital storytelling using iMovie, investigating theorems using Geometer’s Sketchpad, presenting reports with Hyperstudio stacks, exploring music through GarageBand, graphing with Excel, and creating timelines of historical events with Timeliner.
School Board Work Session - 7/24/06
On the night of July 24th, the Planning Team attended a School Board work session. The school board presented the Planning Team with information on some over-arching questions related to the District Mission Statement, new teacher profile, community connections, and student and program success.
Communications Committee - 7/24/06
On July 24th, members of the Planning Team toured the building site along with members of the Communications Committee and afterward met for a formal meeting to discuss ways to inform the community on progress with the high school planning.
District Technology - 7/24/06
On July 24th, two members of the Planning Team met with the Director of Technology, Karl Haven, and the Building Technology Teachers, Kay Klein, Diane Lonergan, Debra Rodd, and Donna Dennis, to review and plan for the new State Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) standards. They discussed building a digital portfolio to keep track of each student’s progress towards meeting those standards.
Student Input - 7/21/06
On July 21st, Director of Technology Karl Haven met with one member of the Planning Team to brainstorm uses of the web to facilitate communication between students and the high school team.
Curriculum Sharing - 7/13/06
On July 13th, Chip McGee, Assistant Superintendent in charge of Curriculum and Assessment, visited with several members of the Planning Team individually to discus conceptual ideas for the high school.On July 17th, Chip McGee presented the District’s use of NWEA assessments to the Planning Team. Assistant Superintendent McGee also offered the first of two sessions on the Instructional Management System used District wide to align curriculum.
Data Gathering - 7/06
Beginning in July, the Planning Team began reading through community reports and documents including the year 2000 Connections to Life: Final Report of the Bedford School District High School Academic Standards Committee, the 2001 Envisioning A Bedford High School: A Summary of Issues for Consideration in Developing a Bedford High School, and the July 10th Bedford High School Curriculum Research Committee Final Report.
Tour of Bedford - 7/5/06
On July 5th, the Superintendent of School, Tim Mayes, drove the Planning Team around Bedford to give them a feel for the town. The team was able to meet most of the summer staff at each school including clerks, secretaries, custodians, assistant principals, and principals.
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