In the 2013 BEF grant cycle, the Bedford Education Foundation (BEF) accepted the generous donation of Seth Meyers to establish a permanent educational grant named the Hilary Meyers Excellence in Foreign Language Grant (HMEFLG) to be used for the advancement of foreign language education in Bedford schools. The HMEFLG review process is incorporated into the BEF grant cycle.
In the years since it was established, the HMEFLG has funded grants to enable our language teachers to participate in various study abroad programs enabling teachers to immerse themselves in their chosen language and culture. Most recently, we funded a grant for one of our Spanish teachers to enroll in an immersion program in Costa Rica. This fund has also supported grants for visiting artists and musicians for World Language Day, as well as Organic World Language Training to shift how our students learn foreign languages in all grades from 5-12.
We are especially proud that the BEF and HMEFLG has been instrumental in the establishment of Sister Schools in Spain, France, and Taipei.
With the support of the BEF, we sent the BHS Dean of World Languages to the proposed sister school sites in France and Taipei. The Taipei trip was very successful in establishing the relationship between the schools. The summer trip to the Jeanne d’Arc school in Mazamet, France enabled the final plans for the first French student exchange. Meeting the staff of the schools in person was integral in creating connections between the French teachers and our BHS teachers in order to have our students participate in the program and begin to authentically use the French language by communicating with the Jeanne d’Arc students.