School communication and cancellation procedures

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The winter months bring harsh weather to Hanscom and at times inclement weather results in school closings and delays. The following information will help Hanscom families know what to do if Hanscom or Bedford schools are closed or delayed.

Hanscom Primary, Hanscom Middle and Bedford High School have systems in place to notify parents of early dismissals, delayed openings and school closures. During snow emergencies, parents are asked not to call the school to check on cancellations unless absolutely necessary. It's imperative the phone lines are open for emergency communications.

Parents are urged to exercise their own best judgment regarding children's safety and not send children to school in bad weather if they believe travel is dangerous. Parents should review the school's absentee policy. If the information on the emergency card that was filled out at the beginning of the school year has changed, it is the responsibility of the parent to contact the school with all updates to include who can pick up the child in case of emergency when a parent is not available. Please be sure the emergency contact information is current. Parents may contact the school's main office with updates.

Hanscom Primary and Middle Schools
Lincoln Public Schools rely primarily on email and a phone messaging service to deliver information about emergencies, school cancellations and other urgent announcements. Automated phone messages are sent to home, office and mobile phone numbers provided by parents. Email messages are also automatically sent to each of the email addresses in the student records.

The automated email system requires parents to establish user accounts on the district website. To do so, log on to www.lincnet.org and click on website registration in the Quicklinks section of the website. Establishing a user's account will give access to teacher and principal newsletters, email distribution of important announcements and teacher web pages.

In the event that school is cancelled or delayed for any reason, information about the school schedule will be broadcast via the district's automated phone and electronic mail systems. Information will also be posted on the district website and on local TV channels 4, 5 and 7. Parents, when looking for closings on television, should look for Lincoln Public Schools.

In rare circumstances, weather conditions become so severe that safe practice requires the schools to send children home during the school day. Despite the unlikelihood of such an event, parents should plan with their children for such occasions and inform the school in writing about what can be done with the children when school is dismissed early.

Parents are urged to take time now to discuss these plans with their children and make sure they know who can be called in such an emergency if the school cannot reach the parents. Early dismissal information will be communicated via the district's automated phone and electronic mail systems.

As a reminder, parents are responsible for their children prior to boarding the bus and after disembarking from the bus.

In the event that school is closed due to inclement weather, all after-school elective use and evening events will also be cancelled. This includes athletics, theater productions, school clubs and instrumental music lessons.

Bedford High School
The Bedford Public Schools broadcast emergency messages using a number of media. General emergency messages and early and late school openings and closings can be found on the school system's public web home page, through the local media and the school sends out a general phone message to all parents listed in the school database.  Parents are encouraged to check the Bedford Public Schools' web page or to listen to the radio or television.

Bedford schools information will be posted to www.bedford.k12.ma.us and broadcast on local radio stations WBZ (1030 AM) and TV channels 4, 5 and 7.
Parents are urged to keep emergency contact information up to date.

For further information on the school liaison program, visit http://www.hanscomservices.com/SchoolLiaison.asp or to contact 781-225-2765.