NOTE: Below's chronology of general events is based on past years at BHS but may change each year, based on the preferences of the school administration.  See http://www.bedfordps.org/high-school for specificity on dates.

 

EXPLANATION OF SNOW DAYS:  For each day that school is cancelled due to an official snow day, a day is tacked on to the end of the school year, thereby extended it out.  Delayed school-start times do not count as official snow days. (As an example, if there is a huge winter snowstorm for which school is cancelled 2 whole days and starts at 10 am on the third day, then, at the end of the school year in June, 2 days are added.)  

 

Over the summer, class schedules are mailed to incoming high school students’ homes.

iPad Orientation sessions (mandatory) will be offered before school starts.  Dates to be determined (TBD.) See iPad details Here.  In addition, students who are interested in trying out for a Fall Team Sport should register (before mid-August) and plan on attending tryouts which usually are in the last two weeks of August.  

 

August: iPads for freshman and new students will be assigned.  

 

Before BHS officially starts classes, there will be an “Arena Day” (date: TBD but it usually is the week before school starts.)  This is a designated day to go to school to make schedule changes.  There also will be a Freshman/New Student Orientation offered before school starts.  

 

In the Fall:  

 

• Back to School Night gives parents a chance to hear a keynote speaker and then walk through their student's class schedule to meet teachers
• Colleges visit BHS during lunch time to meet any interested students, chiefly Seniors who may be interested in learning more about the college.  The BHSPA eNews informs you of upcoming visits.  The college visits are posted in Naviance too.  
• Guidance meets with Sophomores to review Naviance; Sophomores should complete their Career Interest Inventory in Naviance.
• Freshmen meet with Guidance Counselors in mid-November to check in about school and classes. 
• There is a Fall College Planning Night for Seniors (but open to all students) and their families.

In the second week of January:  There is a Semi-Formal Dance held by Juniors and Seniors.  There also is a College Planning Night focused on Juniors and their parents/guardians but open to all students/families.  Check with the Guidance Dept for details and click HERE for college planning information.  Juniors in the Spring should plan to take tests like the SAT, ACT, SAT subject tests (if needed), AP/IB tests (if applicable.)  Consult with Guidance about tests.

 

Usually the third week of January:

• Midyear exams (midterms) are held.  
• BHS Principal mails letters to 8th grade families about starting 9th grade at BHS.  If you don't get one, please call BHS (781) 275-1700.  The letter reviews the course selection process and important dates. 

Fourth week of January/Beginning of February:  Guidance counselors will meet with Juniors for review of data in Naviance (online college planning portal that is used by BHS.) 

 

Usually the first week of February: The Program of High School Studies for the upcoming school year is posted on the BHS website.  Click here to find the latest course catalog. 

 

Usually during the second week of February:  8th Grade Students/Parents Night.  8th graders of John Glenn Middle School, Hanscom, private schools, and homeschooling and their parents/guardians are invited to attend.  At 6:30 pm in the BHS Auditorium, the BHS Principal gives an overview of the school and academics.  Then families are invited to relocate upstairs to the BHS Library for a Curriculum Fair where Program Administrators provide info about classes and answer questions.  BHS students will provide tours of the school too.  Click HERE for the 2016 information package.

 

Early March: 8th gr. students will learn about course scheduling. Click HERE to see information about requesting courses.  Also, at the beginning of the month, BHS teachers of core classes enter into Aspen their recommendations for next year's courses (and leveling) for their students who then have an opportunity to accept the recommendations and/or request other classes.  Students work with their Guidance Counselors to finalize selections.

 

A period of weeks in March:  8th grade students will access Aspen, view teacher recommendations and request remaining courses.  Also, if desired, parents may phone or email middle school teachers to discuss teacher recommendations.

 

By the beginning of April:  8th graders' level change request forms are due at BHS, in the appropriate Department Program Administrator’s mailbox.

 

Early April:  Guidance meets with Juniors to discuss getting teacher recommendations for college applications.

 

May:  There are a Junior Prom and a Senior Prom, two separate events and nights. Seniors are in the home stretch of high school, preparing for final exams, if any, and graduation.  Also in May are Advanced Placement (AP) exams for those students who took those classes and register for the tests.  

Also this month, the National Honor Society organizes a panel of seniors to talk about their recent experiences in applying for and selecting their higher education choices. The NHS organizers try to mix it up with diverse students, e.g., those going to military academies, Ivy League, community college, state schools, etc. The variety depends, of course, on who is available.

 

Graduation:  Seniors graduate, typically, in the very beginning of June, about two and a half weeks before school ends for grades 9 - 11.  Finals for seniors precede their graduation.

 

The night of Graduation:  After the graduation ceremony, later that night, there is the All-Night Grad (ANG) Party, open only the graduates all night long.  The school is transformed completely inside to a super fun house. Each year is a big surprise as to what exactly goes on, but BHS parents are in charge of planning, setting up, chaperoning, and cleaning up in time for school the next morning for underclassmen who still are in class. (No Seniors parents' are chaperones.  Don't want to cramp their kids' fun.)  It's a safe alcohol/drug/phone-free way to celebrate one last time with classmates, and every year kids are amazed at how awesome the ANG turns out to be.  

 

Usually a week before school ends in June:  Step Up Day, a day for 8th grade students including Hanscom students to visit Bedford High School for a presentation and showing of their new schools. The visiting students will have a chance to meet peer leaders at the school to ask questions and get a student perspective.  Step Up Day usually is on a Monday, a week before finals for grades 9 - 11.

 

The last five days of school:  Final exams occur for grades 9 - 11.