Welcome Back Letter

To All Bedford Academy Family Members:

Welcome to another exciting school year. This school year marks our collective return to in-person instruction. We have all experienced hardship and anxiety since March of 2020, when New York City schools implemented remote learning in the face of a global pandemic. Our goal is to provide your most precious resource, your children with an inviting, safe, affirming and competitive academic and social-emotional atmosphere. For most of our 9th and 10th graders this school year will be your official introduction to the norms, values and expectations of Bedford Academy high school. In regard to the 11th and 12th graders this year represents the unique challenge of preparing you for the workforce or for college. In any case, each individual grade and scholar will need as much support as possible in order to navigate what will be an exciting and unpredictable year.

Social distancing will be in place for the foreseeable future. There will be staff members to greet your children upon their arrival and departure every day. Inside all classes, three feet distancing will be maintained. All staff members, scholars and visitors must wear a mask inside of Bedford Academy. Due to additional space constraints, lunch will be served inside of classrooms and scholars can only remove their mask when eating. Each room is equipped with two ventilation machines and windows will remain open to increase airflow. There will be weekly random testing. If you have not filled out the COVID-19 random testing document, please refer to page 5 in the DOE Homecoming 2021 packet. Bedford Academy classes will begin on September 13, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Scholars will assemble in the following areas and have their programs distributed to them:

  • The Seniors will be on the third floor
  • The Juniors will be on the second floor
  • The Sophomores will be on the first floor
  • The Freshmen will be on the first-floor atrium and in the basement/cafeteria

This school year, there will also be changes that are unavoidable. Based on health protocols, that dictate that no unvaccinated individuals can use the YMCA facility, we have to provide gym in our atriums on the second and third floor and in our cafeteria. No student can be mandated to be vaccinated and there are no exemptions that the YMCA will make to accommodate our scholars. However, if your child is vaccinated and you care to share their status, they will be allowed to use the YMCA gymnasium for classes.

There will be several grade-wide meetings that all parents should attend. The schedule for the meetings are as follows:

  • September 20, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. for all Freshmen parents
  • September 21, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. for all Sophomore parents
  • September 22, 201 at 6:00 p.m. for all Junior parents
  • September 23, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. for all Senior parents

All meetings will take place in the first-floor atrium. The meetings will outline the goals, classes and forthcoming events that can be expected for the year; in addition, you will meet with our partners that will be working with your scholars this year.

Bedford Academy is a uniform school. The uniform colors are tan/blue khaki pants and a white/blue polo short-sleeve or long-sleeve shirt with the school logo. There are no crocs, slippers or sliders allowed to be worn inside of Bedford Academy. You can wear any sneaker, shoe or boot of your choice. The pants can be purchased at Old Navy, The Gap or any other store of your choice. The shirts can be purchased at Ideal uniform store located at 1816 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210.

If you have any questions or concerns, prior to the first day of classes, email me at Amuhammed@schools.nyc.gov. Be safe and stay strong.

Educationally yours,

Dr. Adofo Abdullah Muhammad
Principal