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Schools

Bedford Middle School Gets High Honor

Westport school receives coveted Blue Ribbon Award from the U.S. Department of Education.

Praise and thanksgiving were key elements of a Blue Ribbon Awards Celebration held at Bedford Middle School today, celebrating the school’s receipt of a special citation from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Bedford Middle School was one of only 314 schools nationwide to receive the coveted Blue Ribon Award from the U.S. Department of Education. The award honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior, or have made dramatic gains in student achievement and helped close gaps in achievement among minority and disadvantaged students.

During a schoolwide assembly celebrating the honor, Dr. Cary Bell, principal of Bedford, noted the award is an affirmation of what he already knew.

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“Bedford Middle School is a special place with a good feeling, good students and good teachers,” he said. “Students enjoy the core academic subjects as well as the equally important areas of physical education and the disciplines of music and art. I am thankful for the dedicated staff and the work they do and for the children they love.”

He added, that at this time of year, it is natural to show appreciation, and the awards ceremony was to show gratitude for those who made the school so deserving of the prestigious award.

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In his remarks Bell praised all those whom the school employs, from the nurse to the cafeteria workers to the janitorial staff, and added special thanks to work of the PTA, the Westport Board of Education, the students, and the principals of Westport's elementary schools, who helped prepare students for entering Bedford Middle School.

During the 90-minute ceremony, remarks also were made by PTA co-presidents Ellen Lautenberg and Lynn Nicklin; Don O’Day, chairman of the Board of Education; and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Elliot Landon.

During a particularly light presentation, veteran staff members Fred Choromanski and Ann Radley spoke about their experiences in working at the school for more than 25 years. In  jest, they explained to students how times have changed technologically, noting that before texting became a daily occurrence, students had to pass notes to communicate.

Students, too,played a key role in the oral presentations. Each class had  representative speakers who gave remarks on what makes Bedford a Blue Ribbon School.

The sixth grade was represented by Kathryn Lesch, Jimmy Ray Stagg and Jared Vishno. Seventh-grade speakers were Jason Blankfein, Claudia Landowne and Chloe Rosenfeld. The eighth-grade class was represented by William Haskell, Olivia Kapell, Melissa Mann and Eleanor McGuirk.

 The students praised the teachers for their hard work and diligence in creating an environment that allows students to learn while having fun. Some expressed their appreciation of the school’s extracurricular activities, such as the Bedford Acting Group and the orchestras, which allow students to express themselves as well as meet others with similar interests. Others praised the technology the students are privy to in their studies, such as PhotoShop.

To showcase the school's language programs, Lindsey Furman gave a speech in French and Baxter Stein presented his comments in Spanish.

The presentations were interspersed with examples of Bedford School’s student talent.  Camerata, a student choir, sang several songs. The chamber orchestra played Sanseneon, the jazz ensemble presented a rendition of Brain Sprain, and "The Telephone Hour," a song from the school’s upcoming production of Bye Bye Birdie also was performed.

 

 

 

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