The story
The school board is looking to change the “pathways to graduation.”
Explain
The school board has a list of hopes and dreams that they’re trying to check off. They’re more “let’s make the school a better place” than “I want a pony.” Personally, we prefer the latter, but what can you do? Changing the path to graduation is next on their list.
But what does that actually mean?
If we’re being completely honest, we don’t really know. And we don’t know if the school board really knows. They basically want to be able to offer different paths to graduation for students, not ways to actually walk around the football field and grab your diploma. There are two ways to think about this: diplomas and credits. As far as diplomas, there’s the typical BHS diploma of 24 credits, and the “adult diploma,” which is essentially the state’s regular 20 credit diploma.
Ummm regular?
Yep! The differences between the state’s graduation requirements and BHS’ requirements were the most interesting thing we learned from the hour long school board meeting video. In three words: we’re getting screwed. BHS requirements in excess of the state’s include: 80 real world learning hours, one extra year of wellness, and a senior project. BHS also tacked on advisory, but we can’t really complain about a free half credit for just showing up and having more people celebrate your birthday.
And credits?
Technically the goal is to offer different paths for different types of learners. So it could very easily be a change in how kids receive those credits. What we’re really wondering is if this may affect the IB diploma…or maybe that’s just on OUR list of hopes and dreams…
So what now?
The board hopes to release a survey by the end of the year asking the community their thoughts on different paths to graduation. They’re leaving it wide open. We’re still all for the pony. We don’t think it’s time to take it off the table yet.
The Runaway
It will be at least two years until any changes are implemented into BHS, so congrats to the class of 2024: you will have more options for graduation! We’re all for the initiative to make life better for the seventh graders.
What to say…
When your parents tell you that constant complaining will not get you what you want…
We beg to differ. After a lot of backlash on Facebook, the Bow Lane developers were forced to accept the density calculations, and have requested a 93 unit apartment complex, which is much smaller than the previous 120 unit request. The revised development will not affect the wetlands at all, so there’s not a real reason for the town to deny them. The developers also plan to renovate Shorty’s into a new restaurant. One Bedford resident was very supportive of the developers reopening the restaurant so that it would alleviate the crowding at existing restaurants. All he wants is to walk in and get a table right away. We agree. Who cares about workforce housing?! That’s why we need to build these apartments. We’ve had enough of waiting 20 minutes for a table!
When we’re supposed to get more snow today…
Too bad alpine is over. Yes, too bad, but it was a happy ending. The girls finished in first (again!) and the boys finished in second. Not too shabby, right? The most notable Bedford skiers were Cole Berube, Jessie Rioux, and Sydney Berube. And, eight on the team qualified for the meet of champions. So, at least for those eight, the season is not over yet. And you know who else is still going strong? Nordic. Their state meet is not until March. We finally found all of their meet results. Check them out on our sports guide. Though, we’ve got to say, while we were digging to find them, we found out the real reason Nordic rocks: they usually get to leave school for meets around noon. We will be signing up next year.
When Runaway Bulldog calls the school out for being a little biased towards sports…
Aren’t you a hypocrite? Yeah, maybe. But we’re changing that…at least this week. Especially since a lot of DECA students won first place at states, and boys hockey is now in fourth. For DECA states, students choose events to compete in－either roleplays (choose a scenario that you present to a judge), or presentations. Most do the former. The club took 72 students to states, and 36 are going to nationals. Shreya Sharma, Amanda Xie, and Gray Theodore won state officer. It’s no big deal.
Things to Know
Fake News
Last week, we accidentally lied to you twice: the girls swim team actually came in second, and Tara McGadden will be back next year. For the former, Direct Athletics actually started the fake news. For the latter, we don’t know what happened. McGadden is a sophomore (not a senior), and will thankfully be back to win the all-around for two more years. Sorry for the slip up!
Free Food!
Not really. But we thought it’d get your attention. The BHS Coffee House is this Thursday at 6:00 in the Commons. You can get food, drinks, and student-or teacher-performed music for $3 a student and $5 an adult.