FEBRUARY 3, 2023
BHS NEWSLETTER
Check out the BHS Information Guide if you have
questions about Bethel High School.
Embedded Files
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Wed., Feb. 8 Prof. Learning – Early Dismissal K-12
Wed., Feb. 8 Course Selection Night, 6 pm - 2023-2024 Program of Studies
Week of Feb 13 Kindness Week
Feb. 20 & 21 Presidents’ Day Recess – No School K-12
Wed., March 15 Full School Day - BHS Only - No Conferences
Thurs., March 16 Evening Conferences, Early Dismissal
Fri., March 17 Afternoon Conferences, Early Dismissal
Wed., March 22 SAT/PSAT & Prof. Learning - Early Dismissal - BHS Only
Fri., March 24 BHS NJROTC Military Ball
Reminder: Agenda Book replacement fee is $10. BHS Photo ID replacement fee is $5.
Dear Parents/Guardians,
On February 2, 2023, Bethel High School was notified by a staff member that a highly offensive video in which a student was using a racial slur was circulating among our students. Understandably, our students and staff were highly offended and infuriated by what they had seen.
We take such matters very seriously and are deeply troubled by this incident. As soon as we learned about what had occurred, an immediate investigation took place. The Bethel Public Schools does not condone racist or discriminatory conduct of any kind. Please know that we have taken action in accordance with our policies.
Bethel High School has a long-term partnership with the Anti-Defamation League, and each year they present the Names Can Really Hurt Us program to our sophomores. We also have developed advisory lessons to ensure that all students can learn in a safe, inclusive environment, free of hate speech and acts of bias. In addition to holding individuals responsible for their conduct, we will work together to ensure that the entire Bethel Public Schools’ community is affirming to people of all backgrounds.
We ask you to speak to your children to support respectful behavior within our community and thank you for your continued partnership in creating a culture of respect and empathy.
Sincerely,
Christopher M. Troetti Christine L. Carver, Ed.D.
Principal, Bethel High School Superintendent of Schools
We highly recommend that all students use their BPSD issued Chromebooks in order to have consistent access to the BPSD-wifi. Personal devices cannot be maintained by BPSD personnel. All students have been issued BPSD Chromebooks.
Character Strong Tip Of The Week: The three main elements of well-being are: Emotional, Mental, and Social. Intentionally focusing on living a life of gratitude, finding healthy ways to ease mental stress such as working out, and doing small favors and acts of kindness for someone contribute to a person's well-being in each of these three areas.
Are you interested in attending an actual Character Strong lesson or learning more about youth mental health first aid training?
Please email Tom Salvador, salvadort@bethel.k12.ct.us for more information.
For more information about the Character Strong program, please visit the BPS EI website.
DBT in Schools Parenting Webinar 2.8.23.pdf
Students are reminded that they are not permitted to park at Berry School. Juniors should park in the Junior Lot (across from the BHS Football Field) and seniors should park in the Senior Lot (above the BHS Main Entrance).
Students are reminded that they are not permitted to park at Berry School. Juniors should park in the Junior Lot (across from the BHS Football Field) and seniors should park in the Senior Lot (above the BHS Main Entrance).
Complete this form to apply for Junior/Senior Privilege
Come join Help Me to Not Freak Out!
This is a group designed to help students who are struggling with coping skills, problem solving, social skills and more.
Help Me to Not Freak Out! will meet once a week during Wildcat Advisory for 6 weeks and will be co-facilitated by a school counseling graduate student and a school counselor.
It will start at the end of February and will run through early April. This group will be available for current 9th and 10th grade students to join! Space is limited.
Click here for more information: Help Me Not Freak Out
Formal Dress Exchange FINAL A Flyer (1).pdfJoel Barlow Franek Event (Feb.2023) (1).pdf
Welcome theater lover to BHS Theater Boosters! The BHS Theater Boosters Inc is an organization created
exclusively for the purpose of supporting the theater program at Bethel High School, Bethel, Connecticut
and encouraging community through motivational activities, musical events, fundraising events and other
member inspired activities.
We strongly encourage you to get actively involved and become a member of this amazing organization.
Please join us and have some fun! We need your help to be successful. Become a member today and show
your support for the BHS theater program. This year we plan to support more learning events, more
community outreach, more publicity, more fundraising, and more end of year celebrations. But it cannot
happen without your support! Come join us! All are welcome! Membership is only $10.
Click here to join: BHS Theater Boosters Membership Form
The Center for Empowerment and Education, formerly known as the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury, has been working with students in the Bethel Public School system for many years providing educational programs on a wide variety of programs including healthy relationships, sexual harassment, and online safety. The Center for Empowerment and Education is a member agency of the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence and has been providing services to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in the Greater Danbury area since 1975. The Center has offered sexual assault prevention and awareness programs in community schools for over twenty years.
Since October 1, 2016, all local and regional school districts in Connecticut are required to implement sexual assault awareness and prevention programs in grades kindergarten through twelve, as per Section 17a-101q of the Connecticut General Statutes. The Department of Children and Families (DCF), in collaboration with the Connecticut State Department of Education (SDE) and Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, have developed a framework as well as performance indicators for these programs.
Bethel High School is partnering with the Center for Empowerment and Education and their education team to provide programs to our Grade 9-12 students that align with the guidelines set forth in the state-wide framework. You can learn about the Center from their website: https://thecenterct.org
Please see below the programs that will be offered in each grade level:
9th Grade via Health classes:
Healthy Relationships & Dating Violence
In the United States, 1 in 3 teens is a victim of sexual, emotional, verbal or physical abuse by a dating partner. This program analyzes the root cause of this issue, power and control, and sheds light on unhealthy relationship dynamics. Students will learn to identify “red flag” behaviors and where to seek help for themselves or a friend.
Cybersafety
This program on cybersafety teaches students about online dangers such as bullying, online strangers, sexting, geotagging, etc., as well as what they can do to stop these behaviors and protect themselves. This workshop helps students understand what sexting is, why it happens, and the legal, social, and emotional consequences associated with it.
11th Grade via Health classes:
Got Consent? Addressing Sexual Assault
This program helps students understand sexual assault by explaining specific laws, statistics, and debunking myths about perpetrators and victims. Our interactive clicker technology allows teens to anonymously input answers for all to see, creating a meaningful and profound discussion. Through activities and conversation, students learn what consent is and when it can and cannot legally be given. Students will learn of the options and resources available in the aftermath of an assault.
Flirting or Hurting? Addressing Sexual Harassment
This program about sexual harassment focuses mainly on understanding and communicating personal boundaries. Students identify the difference between flirtatious behaviors and sexual harassment, along with the continuum of harmful acts that can constitute sexual harassment. Students learn laws and consequences associated with harassment.
12th Grade (Spring 2023 during Wildcat Time):
Know Before You Go
This program is for students in 12th grade and explores campus sexual assault and the importance of consent. Analyzing campus culture and social norms, students will learn to identify behaviors, attitudes, and customs which lay the groundwork for sexual violence to flourish. The second half of this program will focus on empowering students to be “upstanders” in potentially harmful situations. Attendees will gain tools that will allow them to intervene in safe, non-violent ways to help end sexual harassment and sexual abuse. Students will also learn about Affirmative Consent and the policies and laws in place regarding college campuses’ response to sexual assault.
If you do not wish for your child to attend these programs, please notify BHS Asst. Principal, Mari Lerz at (203) 794-8600 ext. 1400.
If you have any questions about the programs, contact Michele Cousens (she/her/ella)
Prevention Education Coordinator, The Center for Empowerment & Education, 2 West Street, Danbury, Connecticut 06810 Phone (203)731-5200 x251, michele.c@thecenterct.org
Message from the Health Office
PARENTAL/GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITY:
It is your responsibility to alert the health office of your child's school if your child requires medication. Parents/guardians are responsible for dropping off their child's medication (i.e. EpiPens, inhalers, diabetic supplies, etc) at the start of each school year and replacing this medication upon expiration. These medications must be accompanied by the doctor's orders which must be signed by both the doctor and parent/guardian.
Failure to have the medication and doctor's orders in the health office will result in your child not being able to participate in athletics, field trips, school activities etc.
Scholarship Season is HERE! Students and families are invited to view the Scholarship Program overview. In a separate document, Seniors will have access to the current local scholarship offerings which include details for applying and submitting applications. Each scholarship is unique and varies in format, requirements and submission process, so each one should be reviewed carefully. Many of these scholarships will require submitting to the Career Center for final processing, and late applications will not be accepted.
Scholarship workshops are being planned for students to get assistance with this process, and there will also be an upcoming Coffee With Counselors for parents which will cover our scholarship program in more detail. Stay tuned for upcoming dates!
Stay tuned for more to come...
Twitter: @BHSCareerCenter
IG: @BHS_Career_Center
The BHS Pathways Program is designed to connect students with specific interests to a concentration of study. This program allows students to increase their depth of knowledge, participate in internships and/or other varied experiences and provides them with an opportunity to earn a certificate upon graduation. There are six Pathways:
If a student is interested in signing up for a particular Pathway, we ask that he/she fill out the Pathway Sign-Up Form. Please note: To ensure students in the senior class qualify to complete a Pathway, they must sign up before the end of November during their senior year. Any student in the graduating classes of 2024, 2025 and 2026 can sign up for a Pathway throughout each school year.
If you have further questions about the Pathways Program, please contact Mr. Troetti, BHS Principal: troettic@bethel.k12.ct.us or 203-794-8600 ext. 1402.
Working papers are available all year long from the Main Office @ BHS. Please read this important letter.
The process is as follows:
The student gets a job.
Employer gives the student a “Promise of Employment”. This letter MUST have ALL of the following information: the business information (preferably on company letterhead), hourly wage (currently minimum wage is $14.00), the hours per week and a DETAILED list of tasks (no vague descriptions like ‘cleaning’ are permitted). If the letter does not have all that information, we cannot issue Working Papers.
Student emails or brings a copy of the Letter of Intent to Hire to the Main Office at BHS – call first (203-794-8600 opt. 0) to make sure someone is available. Secretaries prepare the working papers and give them to the student.
Please don’t wait until the last minute as this may impact your start date at your new job.
Exceptions to the need for the ED-301(Working Papers)
1. - If the employer is a licensed summer camp, a municipality, state or federal employer, Working Papers are not required BUT the same prohibitions for time/days of work apply – especially with 14 and 15-years old. The prohibitions for the hazardous tasks which apply to all minors also apply – see the Hazardous Occupations Orders in the Manual. Working on roofs, use of certain machinery etc. are all prohibited.
2. Agricultural Jobs – We do not issue Working Papers for minors to be employed on farms. When we say agriculture or farm work, we are implying work that is directly related to the function of the farm: dealing with animals, planting, picking product etc. If you get this kind of job, you must simply provide proof of age (14-17) to the employer and if you are under 16 years old, you are not permitted to use ladders or power-driven equipment.
PLEASE NOTE that this ceases to be agriculture when it is work in retail stores (not just a produce stand on the side of the road). If you are working in a STORE like a garden center, this is not agriculture and does require Working Papers.
3. Minors under 16 do not work AT ALL ANYWHERE (including agriculture) during the school year, EXCEPT that a 15-year-old may work in a Grocery Store as a cashier, bagger or stockperson and only on a Saturday for no more than 8 hours. Work is restricted to periods of school vacation (defined as when school is out of session for 5 days or more) and never on a day followed by a school day.
· At 14 we issue Working Papers for a minor to work as a caddy or in the pro shop of a private or municipal golf course during school vacations.
· At 15 we issue Working Papers to work in retail as a cashier, bagger or stock person during school vacations or for the grocery store exception during the school year.
Nondiscrimination Statement
The Board of Education complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws prohibiting the exclusion of any person from any of its educational programs or activities, or the denial to any person of the benefits of any of its educational programs or activities because of race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, alienage, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, or gender identity or expression, subject to the conditions and limitations established by law.
It is the policy of the Board that any form of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, alienage, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, or gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by state or federal law is prohibited, whether by students, Board employees or third parties subject to the control of the Board. The Board’s prohibition of discrimination or harassment in its educational programs or activities expressly extends to academic, nonacademic and extracurricular activities, including athletics. It is also the policy of the Board to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, alienage, disability (including pregnancy), veteran status, or gender identity or expression.
Title IX District Coordinator Section 504 District Coordinator
Dr. Kristen Brooks Dr. Christine Sipala
Assistant Superintendent Director of Special Education & Pupil Services
1 School Street 1 School Street
Bethel, CT 06801 Bethel, CT 06801
203-794-8613 203-794-8616
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