March 8, 2024
BHS NEWSLETTER
Check out the BHS Important Links Guide if you have questions about Bethel High School.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 15, 16, 17 - Anything Goes Performance by Bethel Theater Boosters
March 20 - SAT/PSAT & Professional Learning - Early Dismissal
March 21 - Evening Conferences & Prof Learning - Early Dismissal
March 22 - Day Conferences - Early Dismissal
March 29 - Good Friday - No School
March 29 - NJROTC Military Ball
April 13-21 - Spring Recess - No School
The district calendar can be found here
Dear Parent/Guardian,
It's a wonderful time of year when we can honor those who have contributed so much to our school community. Please join me in congratulating this years teacher, pillar, and rookie of the year!
Michelle Leary - Teacher of the Year
Jonathan Dos Santos - Rookie of the Year
Maura Dundie - Pillar of the Year
Sincerely,
Chris Troetti
Principal
SAT & PSAT Testing at Bethel High School on March 20, 2024
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, Bethel High School will be testing students in Grades 9-11. Each grade will participate in the following:
GRADE 9: Grade 9 students will take the Digital PSAT 8/9.
GRADES 10: Grade 10 students will take the Digital PSAT 10.
GRADES 11: Grade 11 students will take the Digital SAT. This is the SAT School Day test required by the state of CT. Students will test on their school-issued Chromebooks.
GRADE 12: Grade 12 students will stay home this day and catch up on school work/assignments.
Safe Driving in Parking Lots:
We have seen an increase in fender benders in our parking lots. Most students have done the right thing and reported the incident to the main office and/or Officer Broad. However, there have been a few cases where the student or adult has left the scene of the accident. We understand that accidents happen as many of our drivers have just begun driving. Please remind your students that if they have an accident they must report it immediately. Thank you for your for your partnership in this matter.
US News and World Report
We are once again pleased to announce that Bethel High School earned high National and metro-area rankings in 2023-2024 Best High Schools, which U.S. News released on August 29th. Please see Bethel High School's updated U.S. News profile page, with details about its rankings. Thank you to our staff, students and greater community for making BHS a wonderful place to be!
Science Opportunities for Students:
The Virtual River Research Program is for students who are interested in a mostly virtual experience with optional in-person components. The group will meet once a week after school via Zoom. One demonstration day at the Harbor Watch Lab in Westport, and one field testing day are available as part of the program. This program runs Tuesdays from March 5 - April 2. Registration is open! This science internship program for high school students interested in water quality and the environment will include weekly sessions of instruction with a Harbor Watch scientist. There is no cost for students to participate in this program and no prior experience is needed.
The Nuvance Research Program at The Rudy L. Ruggles Biomedical Research Institute is a summer
research experience where students “learn by doing” and work to broaden their students’ understanding of the research process and highlight possible career paths by providing an authentic experience working in an active research lab. The program provides an opportunity for students to work with a senior scientist in order to learn or improve technical skills and obtain a basic understanding of the biomedical research field. The program emphasizes hands on laboratory experience and training in pipetting accuracy, bacterial growth, protein lysis and quantitation, agarose gels, electrophoresis, western blot analysis, fluorescent microscopy, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assays and tissue microarrays/staining. Students must currently be juniors or seniors in high school at the time of application in the spring of 2024 (class of 2024 or 2025 only) AND must be a minimum of 16 years old on June 1, 2024. Please note that students must meet BOTH class and age requirements.
Students interested in either program should email Mr. Turek at turekr@bethel.k12.ct.us for registration information.
A Note from The Health Office
NJROTC Military Ball - Friday, March 29, 2024
The Military Ball will be held on Friday, March 29, at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville, CT from 5:00 – 11:00 p.m. See the Military Ball letter for further details.
Art News
The following BHS students have artwork featured in the annual Brookfield Craft Center Artists on the Rise Show. This Saturday is the opening reception and award ceremony: 5-8, awards starting at 5:30.
Do you Yoga?
Ah Ha Yoga has been a staple at Bethel High School since 2014. In fact, students at BHS have an opportunity like no other students in the state of CT: To take a semester of Yoga for credit…How amazing is that?! I have been teaching yoga for 11 years with over 3500 hours of teaching and have had many students here at BHS take this course more than once.
Yoga is a powerful tool for teenagers to help them find calm and balance amidst the chaos of daily life. Yoga is not simply a physical endeavor, but it is one that addresses all of the other dimensions of health (mental, emotional, and social) and it empowers teens with increased emotional intelligence.
From simple breathing exercises to mindful movement sequences, students will experience and cultivate self-awareness, self compassion, and resilience, as well as physical strength, cardiovascular endurance, and of course, flexibility. And by the way, you DO NOT need to be flexible to practice yoga! Touching your toes is not the goal; it's the journey getting there.
All students are eligible to take this elective course and it will be unlike any other course you have ever taken.
~Namaste
Ms. Kaye
PSAT Score Reports
In October your child took the PSAT, and now has access to the PSAT score report online (https://studentscores.collegeboard.org/home). Your child needs to create a College Board account to be able to access the online score report. The report is interactive, and pinpoints areas of academic strengths and weaknesses in reading, writing and language, and mathematics.
We highly recommend that you and your child access the online report to:
1. Review Skills Insight to get targeted suggestions for improving performance;
2. Identify test questions and answer explanations in areas of difficulty to clarify errors in understanding and answer selection; and
3. Link your child’s College Board account with Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy to get a personalized practice plan with instruction and feedback relative to college and career readiness skills. You may access College Board’s tips on How to Link Your College Board and Khan Academy Account.
Character Strong Tip of the Week:
Are you getting enough sleep at night? Lack of sleep is a common problem for many. Phones are one reason people experience insomnia. High achievers also report having trouble sleeping at night. A good night's sleep is crucial to a person's physical and emotional health. Besides turning off the phone, taking a warm shower 30 minutes before going to bed can relax the body and mind and result in getting a better night's sleep. You're worth it. Make getting a good night's sleep a priority. It can significantly improve a your life.
If you are interested in volunteering in our community, click here to learn more about the Bethel Community Cares Coalition.
Are you interested in attending a virtual Character Strong lesson? Please email Tom Salvador for more information on upcoming virtual sessions.
For more information about the Character Strong program, please visit the BPS EI website.
Nurse's 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 supplying 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 current doctor's orders (see blank forms below) which must be signed by both the doctor and parent/guardian.
Updated: BPS - AuthorizationofMedication.pdf
Updated Allergy Treatment Protocol.pdf
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 $15.69), 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, Dr. Kristen Brooks, Assistant Superintendent, 1 School Street, Bethel, CT 06801, 203-794-8613 Section 504 District Coordinator, Dr. Christine Sipala, Director of Special Education & Pupil Services, 1 School Street, Bethel, CT 06801, 203-794-8616