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Academic Tutoring
The National Honor Society tutors students in the Skills Center (see description below) after school. Students may request tutors from their Counselor or their Counselor may recommend a tutor.

After School Help
Students can make individual appointments with their teachers, and the teachers try to be flexible to arrange appointments on different days after school. There may again be a schedule for after school help as there has been in past years. Students are encouraged to speak to their specific teachers about options for accessing extra help.

Directed Study
Directed Study (Course #0101) ensures quiet time for homework and assignments in a supervised study hall environment. Directed Study is:

• An elective open to all students at Bedford High.
• Offered on a pass/fail basis for Level 1 credit.
• Usually is taken as a minor.

A teacher is available for occasional help. For more information, please see the Bedford High School Program of Studies.

The Reading Program
Dedicated reading courses are listed under the English Department listings of the Program of Studies. For example, the #0901 Reading Elective (offered for Level 1 credit) is an individualized reading program designed for students who want to improve reading and study skills. Small group instruction allows for individual attention in this elective. For more information, please contact Mrs. Rozen at x8046.

Skills Center
The Skills Center at Bedford High offers a range of support services for regular education students in all grades who do not have a diagnosed learning disability but seem to struggle with learning and organization. The Skills Center is run by Ms. Deborah Sakelakos, Skills Center Coordinator, under the direction of Mr. Jon Sills, Principal of BHS. Skills Center classes are held in Room C182, located off the stairwell across from the BHS Library.

Students may be referred to the Skills Center by their guidance counselor, a teacher, parent, or through a self-referral. The student and the guidance counselor meet to confirm that the student wants to be in the Skills Center and will make good use of the time in the Center. The counselor then makes the necessary adjustments to the student’s schedule.

The Skills Center electives are:

• Offered for Level 1 credit.
• Usually are taken as a minor and meet two times in the 6-day cycle.
• Not available to students on a drop-in basis. Students must sign up for the Skills Center electives through their guidance counselor.

Several teachers staff the Skills Center. The staff works with students according to the area of need indicated by the student and the area of expertise offered by the teacher.

Three courses are offered in the Skills Center:

• MCAS Support (#7521).
• Organizational Skills (#7531).
• Academic Support (#7511).

During any given block in the school day, there are a maximum of fourteen students in the Skills Center, divided into groups of four or less for practical help in each of the three elective classes.

For more information about the Skills Center, please call ext. 8047, see the description of course offerings in the Program of Studies, or see the Skills Center Department information on the BHS website.

Career Investigation
The Occupational Education Department has a license to access a web site for help in determining career options and to perform college research.

• Students complete a career interest questionnaire on the site.
• Students get a list of career options matched to their interests and strengths.
• Students may search for schools that correspond to their career interests as well as other criteria, such as size and location.

To gain access to the web site, students must request the password from their Guidance Counselor.

Junior Mentors
A new program begun in the 2001-2002 school year, Junior mentors are assigned to groups of incoming freshmen as orientation guides. The Juniors apply to be Mentors and are trained in groups by Peer Leaders (see below).

Students apply to the program by writing an essay about their role models and why they are interested in the program. Students are selected based on their behavior as positive role models, compassionate young adults, good problem solvers, and students who have consistently shown respect for their peers, teachers, and the values of Bedford High School. As the goal is to have a 4-1 mentor-to-freshmen ratio, some students are not chosen. While all of the applicants exhibit many of the behaviors that we would like to see modeled for incoming Freshmen, those selected demonstrate these characteristics more consistently than others over the previous year.

Junior mentors give their assigned students a tour of the school the week before school begins. They also meet with the small group during X block to discuss any questions, problems, or concerns. The program continues during the school year as the mentors try to meet with their freshmen at least once a month to make the relationships stronger. The Junior Mentors are also responsible for planning a school-wide assembly sometime during the year.

Peer Leaders
Seniors and Juniors may apply to take the Peer Leadership course in the Physical Education & Health Department curriculum. Each student must:

• Submit letters of recommendation from three teachers.
• Interview with current Peer Leaders.
• Interview with the Teacher Advisor.

Candidates are selected based on:

• Disciplinary history.
• Pledge to be drug free.
• Good communication skills.
• Commitment and understanding of the program.
• Positive self-esteem.

The majority of Peer Leaders selected are Seniors but qualified Juniors are also included.

Working Papers
The state requires that students obtain Working Papers from the school when they get a job. This requirement applies even to summer jobs. The school office is open during the summer. (Students must be at least 14 years old.)

If the student is under 16, the process is:

• Get yellow card from school.
• Have it filled out by the employer.
• Take it to your doctor for signature.
• Bring it back to the school principal's office.
• School gives student 2 duplicate white cards for parent to sign on back (do NOT fill out rest of cards).
• Return white cards to principal’s office, where they are completed.
• One card goes to the employer and one stays with the school.

If the student is over 16, the process is:

• Student goes to office and provides information on the employer.
• School prepares card.
• Student takes card to employer.