Welcome Class of 2017 Bulldogs!

High School Leadership Team Bill Hagen, Principal Gary Dempsey, Assistant Principal (last names A-K) Bob Jozokos, Assistant Principal (last names L-Z) Christina O ’ Hara, Dean of Humanities Linda Belmonte, Dean of Math, Science, and Technology James Brown, Dean of Students Roberta Keane, Special Education Coordinator Bill Whitmore, Director of Athletics Peter Gagnon, IB Coordinator

Agenda The Guiding Documents Mission Statement Student Competencies Graduation Requirements Real World Learning Co-Curricular Activities Student and Teacher Responsibilities Competencies Scheduling The Schedule Athletics Summer Opportunities

Mission Statement Bedford High School is a community with a passion for learning, dedicated to educational excellence for all students and staff. We are committed to high standards and exceeding our comfortable limits. We advance skills, knowledge, critical thinking, and problem solving through a culture of rigor, relevance, relationships and results. We foster habits of open inquiry and an understanding of our diverse world through a challenging curriculum that creates the connections integral to a nurturing and engaging learning environment. We believe in educating the whole person so all members of Bedford High School embody respect, responsibility, integrity, and compassion, with a unique vision and voice. Through good citizenship and service to others, we strive to make positive contributions to the world.

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 Self-Management Problem Solving Collaboration Communication

Graduation Requirements We have both Credit Requirements and Real World Learning (RWL) Requirements. 24 Credit Requirements for Graduation: 0.5 Advisory 3 Social Studies 0.5 Digital Portfolio2 Wellness 0.5 Arts0.5 Personal Finance 4 English 0.5 Senior Project 3 Math 6.5 Electives 3 Science

Graduation Requirements 80 hours of Real World Learning Hour Requirements  16 hours Career Exploration and Planning  16 hours Community Involvement and Service  8 hours Democracy in Action  8 hours Cultural Enrichment  32 hours School Activities – minimum of 8 hours in one co- curricular/athletic activity each year Hours begin to accrue the day a student leaves 8th grade. Students will be expected to meet these requirements over four years’ time.

Process for Acquiring Real World Learning Hours 1. Activity form must be signed by adult leader of the activity. 2. Student enters the activity and hours into the RWL data base for approval. 3. Student submits the completed form to Advisor (forms available on website). 4. Advisor approves the activity. Digital Portfolio: This is a collection of a student’s work, embedded in certain lessons over their high school career. Students are responsible for uploading their work to this site, and the Advisor can help with this process.

Co-Curricular Activities These fulfill the “ School Activities ” RWL requirement. We currently offer more than 60 clubs (see complete list on website). Process for creating a new club: Gather a group of like-minded students Find a staff Advisor Talk with Mr. Dempsey

Student Responsibilities Advisory: Be on time. Participate. Communicate: Talk to your teachers. Go for extra help as needed. RWL:Acquire and document hours, being sure to earn 8 School Activity hours per year.

Student Responsibilities (cont.) Managed Time: It is a block of time with no class. Not everybody has Managed Time. You can lose Managed Time. Acceptable places to be:  Commons, Library, Academic Centers, Appointments (counselor, teacher, driving hours) Managed Time is not Early Release/Late Arrival. Those privileges are reserved for juniors and seniors.

Student Responsibilities (cont.) ●Study Hall  Silent work zone  Can be requested by parents  Academic Placement in Study Hall: If a student fails 2 or more credits, Study Hall replaces Managed Time. ●Cell phones and IPods  Allowed in Commons, Bulldog Corner, patio and Courtyard, hallways during passing times, and designated teacher activities  Cell phones are not allowed in classrooms, bathrooms, and locker rooms.

Teacher Responsibilities ● Get to know each student. ● Maintain a safe and respectful classroom environment. ● Teach to different learning styles. ● Provide regular assessment of student performance. ● Provide timely and corrective feedback to students, including updating grades in PS every two weeks. ● Communicate with parents, including returning phone calls and responding to s within 24 hours. ● Provide extra help as necessary.

Student Competencies Five over-arching Student Competencies: Academic Competencies 1.Skills & Knowledge 2.Problem Solving 3.Communication Social and Civic Competencies 4.Collaboration 5.Self Management

Collaboration and Self-Management do not get averaged into the academic grades of courses but do get scored in classes and reported on the report card. Example: Student is exhibiting poor academic performance on Report Cards. Parents may wish to look at Self Management grade to see if behavior, rather than ability, is influencing his/her academic grade. Advisory counts toward earning credit and is scored using a school-wide rubric.

Course Competencies: Example In Writing (required, 9th grade, analytical writing) There are 3 Skills and Knowledge Competencies: A- Grammar: Students will integrate knowledge of English Grammar and language usage into the writing process. B - Process: Students will incorporate pre-writing, drafting, editing, revising, and publishing into the writing process. C - Students will select and apply writing styles appropriate for audience and purpose.

Competencies: Understanding the Student Portal Minimum passing grade is 70. Students must pass every competency to pass the course (even if average is passing). Example: A) Grammar - average: 75% B) Process - average: 65% C) Communication average: 70% Overall average: 70%…but not passing If the average is above 70% and one or more of the competencies are below 70%, a “ Not Competent Failure (NCF) will be indicated on the Parent Portal.

Competencies: Understanding the Student Portal We use rolling percentages (called the “ Y5 ” grade), but still report “ snap-shots ” of student performance in quarter grades. Keep your eye on the Y5 grade. That ’ s the one that indicates real time passing/failing and if credit will be awarded. The quarter grades are not averaged for a final grade; however, they do establish athletic and co-curricular eligibility.

The Parent Portal

School Counseling Responsibilities We are currently working closely with RAL 8 th grade counselors to ensure a smooth transition. Students are assigned a counselor by alphabet, and they keep their counselor for four years. School counselors are part of the Wellness I curriculum, and they help freshmen formulate a four-year plan. They will also be working with freshmen through their humanities class. School counselors are 504 case managers. Students should see their counselor if they have any scheduling issues.

Scheduling Requests were submitted in February. The master schedule is currently being completed. All students’ schedules will be made available to students upon completion of the new online InfoSnap registration process in August. Schedule changes will be limited.  Special Ed Placement  Level changes Add/Drop period - four weeks at the start of the course WP/WF

Schedule Morning: warning bell rings at 7:50am, and class begins at 7:55am. Afternoon: class ends at 2:35pm, and buses leave at 2:45pm. Daily: Alternating schedule with “ Red ” and “ Silver ” days (R/S) Four “ Blocks ” (class periods) each day Blocks are 85 minutes long. Lunch is 30 minutes long. Advisory meets every day and is extended to 25 minutes twice per week.

BHS Schedule Red Block 1AdvisoryBlock 2Block 3Block 4 Silver 7:55-9:179:21-9:469:50-11:1211:16-1:081:12 -2:35

Athletics Good Sportsmanship 30 Varsity teams Eligibility:  Enrolled in at least five courses  Pass at least four credits in the quarter prior to the season  Abide by the rules in the Student Athletic Co- curricular Handbook School Vacations and Expectations Fall Sports Information- Fall sports sign-ups June 5, 2:45pm RAL Media Center

Summer Programs for Freshmen B.A.S.E. Camp! Enrichment: In-Writing (0.5 credit) Remedial Summer School for Future Years: Full Course Recovery Competency Recovery

Communication and Information Alert Now (primary phone number)‏ Principal's Weekly School Website ( RSS feed available on website Facebook (Bedford High School, Bedford NH)‏ BHS Counseling - Naviance (uses your address), Facebook, Twitter Twitter (BHS Bulldogs)‏

Questions?