Check out our Virtual Kindergarten Round Up Tour
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Wednesday June 3, 2020 
I'd like to thank everyone who attended today's Coffee with the Principal for prospective families! Zoom meetings are not the same as in person meetings, but it's nice to be able to talk face to face. I hope I've answered all of your questions, but you can always reach me at the school at 734-854-5437. Our next Coffee with the Principal for prospective families will be in two weeks, on Wednesday, June 17th at 9:00 a.m. Again, you can always call me with questions at the number above. I look forward to meeting even more families at our next meeting. See you there!
-Dr. Magnuson, Principal
Friday May 29, 2020
New Bedford Academy Families,
Since we can’t all be together on the last day of school, we decided it might be fun to have all the students participate in a Virtual Field Day (week)!
We came up with a few ideas for you to do using things from around your house! Here’s how it works:
* Follow this link for a list of activities: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1M04I8eLPcGaOm5EMAq7JeMs73UoFwmcqlS5DdEPx5cc/edit?usp=sharing
* Complete any (or all) activities between June 1-8
* Take pictures and videos of yourself completing an activity
* Send pictures/videos to Mrs. Smock asmock@newbedfordacademy.com by June 8th
* Look for everyone’s Virtual Field Day pictures on Facebook on June 12th!
Big thanks go out to Mrs. Smock for arranging this great alternative to our normal Fun & Field Day!! We hope you will all participate in whatever way works for your family. Stay safe, and have a bunch of fun!!
New Bedford Academy staff
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IMPORTANT NOTICE OF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 26….
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is implementing a program called the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT). This is a food assistance program for Michigan students, aged birth to 26, who were receiving free or reduced-priced school meals while at school.
You do NOT need to fill out a separate application. There are two ways that eligible students can receive P-EBT benefits:
- Students who already receive Food Assistance Program (FAP) benefits will automatically have the P-BET benefits added to their current Bridge Card.
- Students will be mailed a P-BET card if they:
- have a Direct Certification from foster care, Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) OR
- are currently eligible based on their free and reduced-price meal application
You can complete a new free and reduced-price meal application by printing a copy of the application from our website, picking one up at the school, or requesting that we e-mail you an application. You have until Friday, May 22nd at 3:00 pm to return your fully completed, dated, and signed application to the school. We have a deadline for entry to the state, so if we don’t receive your application by Friday, May 22nd at 3:00 pm, you won’t be eligible for the benefits. For that reason, we strongly discourage using the postal system, and instead return your application in person to the box outside the school.
If you have a change of address or phone number, please contact the office. Your benefits will be mailed to the address that the state has on file through the school records system, so it needs to be correct for you to receive your benefits.
Call us with any questions.
Dr. Magnuson, Principal
Free/Reduced Application (click to view)
P-EBT Memo from MDE 5/15/2020 (click to view)
Wednesday April 15, 2020
Our authorizer, Ferris State University, approved our COVID-19 Emergency Continuity of Learning Plan (CLP) on April 15, 2020. Click HERE to view the plan.
Thursday, April 09, 2020
New Bedford Academy families,
I hope all of our students and families are keeping safe during these stressful time. Dr. Hamlin and I wanted to take a moment to update you on the latest changes regarding New Bedford Academy and the emergency measures regarding COVID-19.
Last week Governor Whitmer announced schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year.
What that means for you.
- Despite our building being closed, New Bedford Academy teachers and staff will still provide students with online and distance learning through June.
- Child Care is cancelled until the emergency is rescinded.
- All state standardized assessments are waived for the 2019-2020 school year.
- Read by Grade 3 law is postponed for the 2019-2020 school year.
- Credit can be given to students, through a number of measures that make sense to the school, including projects, essays, end of course work, local assessments, etc.
- Students with satisfactory progress in March may be passed to the next grade.
Here’s what we are doing.
Even though our building is closed to students, teachers will continue to provide instruction online at our website, through email, class chat rooms or blogs, pod casts or videos, phone support, and regular mail. Teachers will answer questions and provide feedback via email, chat rooms or blogs, telephone, or postal mail. Packets and activities will be provided via postal mail to those who don’t have access to the website. We will post classroom phone numbers for students and parents/guardians within the next week so that students can get direct support from their teacher or classroom aid during classroom hours.
Staff will be available Monday through Friday between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm providing instruction and support. Please see each teacher’s web page for a specific schedule of weekly events.
In order to help support you at home, please email your teacher and let them know these things…
- Does your child have access to a computer, tablet, cell phone, or other device?
- Does your child have access to the Internet on that device?
- Do you allow your child to use the device and Internet for learning activities?
Here’s what you can do.
We encourage you to visit the school’s website daily and view assignments and lessons, check out the blog, get the work assigned for the day, and view any videos or other postings. If you don’t have access to the website, packets will be mailed to you on request. Either way, the following recommendations will help students continue learning.
- Establish a daily schedule/routine for your child so they know when they will be studying and working with their teacher.
- Make sure your child is doing the assigned work.
- Make sure you child turns in work (either online or via email or regular mail) and gets feedback from their teacher.
- Stay in contact with your teacher and the school, and call or email if you have questions or comments.
- Don’t hesitate to call the school if you need extra support; we are here to help you.
We understand this is not an ideal situation for you, our students or our staff and that times are difficult. We want you to know that we are here to support you any way that we can during these difficult times. Please understand this is new to all of us and that our staff is working hard to provide the best education they can in these stressful times. Please be patient with them.
Finally, we don’t want our children to fall behind because of this pandemic. Please help us keep our students focused and ready for return in the fall. Reach out to us for help and support. We are here for you.
Thank you all so much for your continued patience and understanding during this remarkable time! Stay safe and stay in touch.
Dr. Jefferson Hamlin, Superintendent Dr. Amanda Magnuson, Principal
Navigating Extended Time Away From School: Information for Families With Children Receiving Special Education Services
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Tuesday, March 23, 2020
Dear New Bedford Academy families,
Hello – I hope you all are doing well and staying safe and healthy. There are opportunities in our townships to grab some breakfast and lunch for your kids during this mandated shelter-in-place. New Bedford and the community have coordinated local resources for food drive-thru sites that will assist people all across the township.
There is currently food “drive-thru” service for families who need it during this mandated closure. All children 18 and under, as well as special education students under the age of 26, are eligible for these free meals. Students do not need to be enrolled in local schools or at pick-up sites to receive these federally funded benefits.
A free, boxed lunch will be provided, along with breakfast for the next day, in each pack. These will be cold meals consisting of:
Breakfast: fruit, whole grain item (such as cereal or muffin), & milk
Lunch: fruit, vegetable, whole grain item, milk, meat/meat alternative
Local Pickup Locations
Monroe Road Elementary School
Bedford High School
Pickup Times
10:30 am – 12:30 pm: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
4:00 – 6:00 pm: Wednesdays
If alternative pickup times need to be arranged, please contact the Food Service Department at 734-850-6127.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE ENROLLED IN THE PICK-UP SITE SCHOOLS OR EVEN BEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE IN FEDERALLY FUNDED DRIVE-THRU FOOD SITES. No ID is required. Just drive up, grab and go. No questions will be asked.
Meet Up To Eat Up
You can also click on this link https://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/schoolnutrition/ to access the Michigan Department of Education Meet Up To Eat Up map, for access to more sites near you.
Instructional Materials
We are working hard to continue to provide education for your students. Teachers have set up web pages on our site for those of you who have access at home. For those of you who don’t, teachers have created items that will be mailed from the school on a regular basis. Additionally, I sent out an email to all parents with information about where to get free Internet service for the next two months.
Look for Teacher Web Pages across the top navigation bar. Click on the link and select your child's teacher. Keep checking back for more updates. Use the BLOG feature to chat with your teacher, talk with friends, and answer questions posed by your teacher.
Please continue to stay safe and healthy.
Your partner in education,
Dr. Magnuson
Michigan Department of Education COVID-19 Memo updates (click here)