Dear Bethel High School Students, Parents, and Guardians,

It's hard to believe, but as of today, we are halfway through the final marking period of the school year.  If you have not done so already, please take a moment to review your students' grades with them, as we head toward final exams in a few short weeks.  As always, if you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to reach out to their teacher(s).  

We look forward to celebrating with our seniors in the coming weeks with a series of events, starting with Prom on May 17th!  Special thanks to the volunteers who have been planning the Post Prom, which provides our students a safe and fun alternative after the festivities.  If you have not done so already, please consider providing a donation or volunteering for this worthy cause.

Happy Mother's Day to all of our BHS Moms!  Have a great weekend.

Chris Troetti 

Principal

2024 Graduation Information

The Bethel High School Graduation Ceremony is rapidly approaching. This rite of passage reflects the culmination of 12 years of academic study.  It is a special opportunity for students to celebrate their accomplishments with family and friends and to embrace the future that awaits them.  Therefore, it is our wish to mark this milestone by providing the graduates, parents/guardians and guests with a dignified and memorable ceremony.  

The Bethel High School faculty and staff are looking forward to this special ceremony to be held on Ralph DeSantis Field at Bethel High School on Monday, June 10, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.  In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be postponed to Tuesday, June 11th at 6 pm.   The graduation ceremony will be a traditional, formal commencement exercise that we believe reflects the values of our Board of Education and our educational community.  This letter contains the major details about the ceremony so that you may plan for this important evening. 

All seniors will receive up to ten (10) graduation tickets.  These tickets can be picked up in the Library Learning Commons beginning on Wednesday, May 29th.  In order for seniors to receive tickets, all outstanding obligations (class dues, lost/damaged book fees, fines etc.), including Service Learning hours and completion of the Capstone project, must be settled.  If handicap access is needed, please contact the BHS Main Office at (203) 794-8600 ext. 1405.

A rehearsal will occur on Friday, June 7th after exams @ 12:15 pm.  Students must report to the Track & Field Training Center for rehearsal.    

On the day of Graduation, June 10, 2024, seniors must report to the Track & Field Training Center at Bethel High School promptly at 5:00 p.m.  Unless they are dropped off, all seniors must park at Bethel Middle School. Seniors should have lunch before they arrive. Guests will be admitted at 5:00 p.m.  Each guest must present a graduation ticket upon entering.

Graduating students will wear graduation robes (and honor cords if applicable) and faculty members will don full academic attire.  In keeping with a formal ceremony, graduating students are expected to dress appropriately.  Students are expected to wear semi-formal attire; collared shirts, blouses, dress slacks, skirts, dresses, ties and appropriate shoes (no high heels) are the expected apparel.  Jeans, shorts, t-shirts or sneakers are not to be worn.  Students are reminded that any inappropriate statements written on graduation caps will result in the removal of the cap and/or dismissal from the ceremony.

We remind both parents and students that all school rules are still in effect.  Parents and students should be aware that any student who is suspected of using alcohol or drugs, or who behaves in an inappropriate manner during the ceremony will be escorted from the ceremony.  Because of recent events in schools and the climate of our times, senior pranks are strictly forbidden.  Pranks can be dangerous, costly to the school, and disruptive to the educational process. As a result, we ask that you discourage your son/daughter from participating in any senior prank.  Please understand any engagement in a prank or disruptive behavior will result in disciplinary action and possible exclusion from the graduation ceremony. 

We hope that this information is helpful to parents/guardians and students and we thank you in advance for your cooperation.  Feel free to contact the BHS Main Office if you have any further questions or concerns at (203) 794-8600.

Character Strong Tip of the Week:  

Listening to music can put a person in a good mood.  According to a 2019 study, the average teen spends 2.5 hours per day listening to music, and over half of young adults, ages 18 to 29, report streaming music every day (compared to 24% of all adults). If you need a healthy way to calm down, try music, especially music without lyrics.  Listening to music without words allows the mind and body to relax yet still focus on what you are doing.

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.

Free/Reduced Lunch Application 

Working papers are available all year long from the Main Office @ BHS.  Please read this important letter.

Click this link for this important letter regarding summer employment for minors

The process is as follows:

1. The student gets a job.

2. 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.

3. 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.