Attention Families!!!

Do you have children that will be 5 on or before January 1, 2024 and ready to join the Bethel Public Schools family?

If the answer is yes, please complete the registration process for your child to attend kindergarten in the fall.  

 Please see the info below for our process. 

Kindergarten Registration for the 

2023-2024 school year is now open!

To access the kindergarten registration site, go to our district website, www.bethel.k12.ct.us, scroll down, and click on the “Registration” link in the maroon circle halfway down the page. Select BPS Pre-Registration Form K-12. There you will begin the online process to formally register your child for kindergarten. 

At the completion of your online registration, an email will be sent to confirm that the parent portal account has been created AND all of the online enrollment forms have been filled out.  At this time, we anticipate that in-person appointments will take place in March & April (no registration appointments will take place until all of the online registration is complete). This appointment will take approximately 15 minutes as long as all of the required paperwork is provided. Students do not need to attend this appointment with their parents.  Parents/guardians will be contacted using the email provided during online registration to make a kindergarten screening appointment, which usually takes place at the end of May.  More information will follow on this step of the process.

If you are a parent of a current Circle of Friends student, you do not need to complete the online registration. Kindergarten registration instructions will be sent home with your child. 

If you have any questions about the process or need help, please contact the District Registrar at (203) 830-7355.

Check out the App for the Bethel Public Schools. If you go into your App Store and type in Bethel Public Schools, you should be able to install it for free. The App can provide you quick mobile access to information commonly requested.  

Our calendars, time schedules, social media feeds, athletic schedules, district social media, lunch menus, etc. are all in the App. You can even call the schools from the App.

After you download the App, you will be prompted to select the schools from which you want to get information. Essentially, this is the "news", push notifications, and the "events calendar". This is a screenshot of what the App looks like.

As a reminder, The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revised their COVID guidance for schools on August 11, 2022, after the Department of Health had released its Operational Strategies guidance. Please note the following:

• If a student has symptoms we ask that families test their child at home. If the student tests negative and symptoms are of a mild respiratory disease (no fever, infrequent cough, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, etc.) the student can return to school with improving symptoms and fever-free x 24 hrs. without fever-reducing medication.

• If the student tests positive, they should be isolated for 5 days. It is recommended by CDC and DPH that they wear a mask for days 6-10.   

• In the case of an exposure to a COVID+ individual, it is recommended that instead of quarantining an asymptomatic individual should wear a high-quality mask for 10 days, with testing on day 5.

The Bethel Public Schools Health Offices no longer have COVID test kits available to distribute. However, every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests through the U.S. Postal Service. Please click on the link below:

https://www.covid.gov/tests

Check out the photos on the Bethel Public Schools Flickr page!  Dan DeBlois, District Photographer, will post photos on Flickr throughout the school year.  Follow @DanDeBlois on Twitter to be notified when the photos are posted. 

We post photos taken by our staff. The photographs are from various school events open to the public. Sports, Concerts, and Musicals are some examples. We will be regularly including more events. On Twitter follow @DanDeBlois for updates on event postings.  Go to flickr and take a look. 

BPSD 2nd Public Forum on the State of Our Students

http://devos2.bethel.k12.ct.us/show?video=fde14af1c835

Berry Roars at its February School Assembly!

http://devos2.bethel.k12.ct.us/show?video=e8fd51f7e450&apg=4d17c1b509fc

BHS Kindness Assembly 2023

http://devos2.bethel.k12.ct.us/show?video=fa26b254fe0f

If you have a student Athlete participating in Spring Sports please watch the

Spring Sports Meeting for Parents. Presented by Athletic Director Mark Caron

http://devos2.bethel.k12.ct.us/show?video=ab032297fa42

Meet Johnson Schools resource officer in their JStv Interview

http://devos2.bethel.k12.ct.us/show?video=6049abd5fe69&apg=4d17c1b509fc

Check out our full lineup here

https://sites.google.com/bethel.k12.ct.us/betv/home

Watch when you want to watch? Go to our Video On Demand Channel

http://devos2.bethel.k12.ct.us/show-videos?g=4d17c1b509fc&page=1&filter=vod

The Bethel Public Schools, as a learning community devoted to the academic and social growth of our children, creates educational opportunities that inspire competence, creativity, teamwork, and a drive to excel. In an environment of trust and respect, high expectations for student performance are evident in the discussions, actions, and policies of the Board of Education. Board of Education policies can be found on our district website. As a way to increase communication about Board of Education policies, we include Board of Education policy updates in this section of our newsletter as they are approved by the Board. You can find the Board of Education policies on the district website at Bethel Board of Education Policies 

Recently Revised/Reviewed Policies & Regulations: 

• Regulation – 5131.911 – District Safe School Climate Plan – 10-21-21 

• Policy/Regulation 5118 - Nonresident Students - 10-21-21 & 3/17/22 

• Policy/Regulation 1140 - Distribution of Materials- 10-21-21 

• Policy 1170 - Recognition of Citizens, Staff Members, Members of Board of Education, Students- 10-21-21 

• Policy 1312 - Public Relations- 10-21-21 

• Policy 3524.2 Green Cleaning- 10-21-21 

• Policy/Regulation 5141.3 - Health Assessment and Immunizations - 10-21-21 

• Policy 5131.911 - Bullying & Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Intervention - 11-18-21

• Policy/Regulation 1220 - Citizens Advisory Committee- 12-16-21

• Regulation 1221 - Citizens Advisory Committee for the BOE- 12-16-21

• Policy 1331 - Smoking in School Facilities- 12-16-21

• Policy 1411 - Law Enforcement Agencies- 12-16-21

• Policy/Regulation 4118.231 Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco-Free Workplace - 12-16-21

• Policy 2232 - Electronic Records and Information - 2-15-22 

• Regulation 2232 - Electronic Records and Information - 2-15-22 

• Policy 5141.231 - Chemical Health Policy for Student-Athletes - 2-15-22 

• Regulation 5118 - Nonresident Students - 3-17-22

• Regulation 5111 - Admission - 3-24-22

• Policy 1416 - Fiscal Authorities  4-21-22

• Policy 1700 - Otherwise Lawful Possession of Firearms on School Property  - 4-21-22

• Policy 2000 - Concept and Roles in Administration  - 4-21-22

• Policy 2111 - Equal Employment Opportunity - 4-21-22

• Policy 2112 - Professional Learning - 4-21-22

• Policy 2113 - Grievance Procedures - Title IX -  deleted 4-21-22

• Policy 2130 - Job Descriptions - 5-19-22

• Policy/Regulation 2131 - Superintendent of Schools - 5-19-22

• Policy 2141 - Recruitment and Retention of the Superintendent of Schools - 5-19-22

• Policy 2142 - Evaluation of the Superintendent - 5-19-22

• Policy 6162.52 - Student Privacy (PPRA) - 6-21-22

• Policy 6162.51 - Student Surveys (deleted) replaced with Policy 6162.52 - Student Privacy (PPRA) - 6-21-22

• Policy 6141.51 - Enrollment in an Advanced Course or Program and Challenging Curriculum - 6-21-22

• Regulation 5131.911 - District Safe School Climate Plan - 10-20-22

• Policy 6148 - FAFSA - New Policy - 10-20-22

• Policy 2150 - Administrative Staff - 10-20-22

• Policy 6146.1 - Grading/Assessment Systems- 10-20-22

• Regulation 6146.1 - Grading/Assessment Systems - This regulation has been deleted - 10-20-22

• Policy 6146.11 - Weighted Grading and Calculation of Grade Point Averages, New Policy - 10-20-22

• Policy/Regulation 5113 - Student Attendance and Truancy - 12-15-22

• Policy 5141.21 - Administration of Student Medications in the Schools - 12-15-22

• Policy 4118.235/4218.235  - Reports of Suspected Abuse or Neglect of Children or Reports of Sexual Assault of Students By School Employees - New Policy - 12/15/22

• Policy 2210 - Administrative Discretion in Absence of BOE Policy - 1-19-23

• Policy 2220 - Representative and Deliberate Groups - 1-19-23

• Policy 2222 - Administrative Council - 1-19-23

• Policy 2231 - Policy and Regulation Systems - 1-19-23

• Policy 2300 - Role of Board of Education and Superintendent - 1-19-23

Extended Free School Meals 2022-2023 School Year

The CT General Assembly passed legislation to make Breakfast and Lunch free (through federal grant funding) to all students in the State of Connecticut through the remainder of the school year.  This means that we will NOT need to resume charges as of March 1st.  If anything changes we will let you know! 

School Resource Officer's Program Goals & Objectives

Assignment of a uniformed law enforcement officer to a school by the Police Department to work in cooperation with the school administrators, students, staff, parents, and community members in the following areas:

1. Law Enforcement - To help maintain a safe and secure environment that will be conducive to learning. To help prevent crime and violence in our schools and on our school grounds. To help decrease criminal offenses committed against persons and property in and around schools and to help enhance overall safety

2. Education- Counseling - To promote positive attitudes regarding the police role in society and to inform students of their rights and responsibilities as lawful citizens. To help students learn more about the law and the criminal justice system

3. Law Enforcement - Education - To establish a liaison with school personnel in a cooperative effort to prevent disruptive or violent behaviors.

4. School Official - SRO’s are considered school officials in the capacity of district and school safety.

We would like you to meet our School Resource Officer Team for 2022-2023

Our School Resource Officer's biographies can be found on our website at BPS Resource Officers

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, 203-794-8613   1 School Street, Bethel, CT 06801 

Section 504 District Coordinator:  Dr. Christine Sipala, Director of Special Education & Pupil Services,  203-794-8616 , 1 School Street, Bethel, CT 06801