May 17, 2024 

Newsletter

Bethel Public Schools E-News 

“Our Primary Purpose is to Improve Student Achievement”

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This Week's Content

Superintendent's News

Christine Carver, Ed.D.,

Superintendent of Schools


Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members,

Celebrations & Student Recognition

As we wind down the school year, we have a variety of activities, awards,  celebrations, BHS Grad Walk, BEF Summer Kick-Off.    The official countdown is that there are sixteen days left of school.   We look forward to our senior prom tonight, BMS Moving Up Ceremony on June 7th, and BHS graduation on June 10th (rain date June 11th).  

CABE Student Leadership Awards 

The CABE Student Leadership Awards are given to recognize student achievement and potential.  These students were picked from among their peers for exhibiting leadership qualities as defined by the criteria developed by CABE.  The Board recognized the level of achievement of these students at last night's meeting.

Congratulations to the following students on receiving the CABE Student Leadership Award for 2024: Bethel High School, Sophia Ochs and Vincent Greto; Bethel Middle School, Lizzy Cullinan and Trisha Sharma  

Western Connecticut Superintendent Association Student Recognition Awards

Two students from Bethel Middle School and two from Bethel High School will be recognized at a ceremony on Monday, May 20th.  The Western Connecticut Superintendent’s Awards are given to students who exhibit a commitment to community service, demonstrate academic prowess, and provide leadership in the school community.  These students’ outstanding work ethic in the classroom, generosity in the community, passion for the arts, and leadership within their schools, are among the reasons they have been chosen for this prestigious honor.  This year's recipients areBethel High School - Madison Tamburri & Joshua Heyel; Bethel Middle School - Bhuvan Sai Dasari & Ryan Marks 


Impact of Technology Video Series

As we have said in previous communications, we are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact of technology on the physical and mental health and overall safety of our students. In response to that concern, the Social Emotional Learning and School Climate Collaborative has developed a series of videos to address a variety of issues that we are seeing.  Below are the next videos of the series you will receive in the next few weeks.  Our goals are to educate you on the issues and discuss ways to partner to keep our students safe.  Please watch! 


In our technology series, Dr. Brooks, Ms. Kearney, and Mr. Salvador address the topic of cyberbullying.   Almost all of our bullying reports start online.   Listen to what it is, how we address it, and what you can do as a parent to support us in stopping cyberbullying.  


Cyberbullying 

Community Partnership Program

The Community Partnership Program and Bethel Garden Club recently worked on the Blue Star Memorial Garden together!

CABE Student Leadership Awards

This Week's Updates & Reminders

Grad&Dad BEF Fundraiser 2024 (1).pdf

IMPORTANT HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION 

Student Medications

Non-Compliance

The Connecticut General Statutes (Section 10-204a and Section 10-206) require local boards of education to ensure that each child attending school be adequately immunized and have an up-to-date health assessment (physical) on file.  The Bethel Public School District requires that all students who enter Grades 7 and 10 must have a mandated health assessment dated on or after July 1, 2023 in order to be compliant.


These forms can be found below: 

STATE OF CT - HEALTH ASSESSMENT RECORD: Age 5 - Grade 12

Your child can also pick up a blank form during the school day at either the BMS or BHS Health Offices.

Because the school district must comply with the state regulations, your child will not be allowed to enter school on the first day of the 2024 - 2025 school year, unless you provide the school with an updated health assessment and/or documentation with the necessary immunizations completed before that date.

Please provide the proper documentation to your child’s school. Paperwork can be mailed, faxed or emailed to your child’s school.
Bethel High School                                                                          Bethel Middle School
Nurse Lisa Davenport, RN                                                            Nurse Christopher Cruz, RN
Nurse Jill Kurtz, RN                                                                        Nurse Lydia Petitti, RN
300 Whittlesey Drive                                                                     600 Whittlesey Drive
Bethel, CT 06801                                                                            Bethel, CT 06801
Phone: 203-794-8600 ext. 1262                                                   Phone: 203-794-8669
Fax: 203-830-7350                                                                          Fax: 203-794-8083
davenportl@bethel.k12.ct.us                                                        cruzc@bethel.k12.ct.us

kurtzj@bethel.k12.ct.us                                                                  petittil@bethel.k12.ct.us

BETHEL WALK AUDIT FLYER & INTRO.pdf

Sustainable Bethel Commission's Bethel Walk Audit  - May 18th

The Bethel Walk Audit will take place SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024 from 1 PM - 3 PM at the INTERSECTION OF STONY HILL ROAD AND OLD HAWLEYVILLE ROAD. The Sustainable Bethel Commission is seeking volunteers to conduct a Walk Audit on part of Stony Hill/ Route 6 in Bethel to document and capture the experiences of pedestrians, cyclists, public transportation riders and others to find and recommend to the town more sustainable transit oriented development options. The objective is to improve safety, ease of access to local establishments, and quality of life for Bethel residents, organizations, and businesses in the Stony Hill area. The Sustainable Bethel Commission and Bethel residents will be taking a close study of the intersection at Stony Hill Road and Old Hawleyville Road and the surrounding area. We are notifying the community and inviting you to participate in the Bethel Walk Audit. Click here for the FB event page, the flyer and more information about what a walk audit entails. 

If you are interested in participating as an individual or a group/organization please click the Volunteer Form link or scan the QR code on the flyer to complete the volunteer form. Reach out with any questions about volunteering and/or partnering with the Sustainable Bethel Commission to sustainablebethel@bethel-ct.gov 

2023-2024 Calendar - BOE Approved 3-2-23 - Revised 2-14-24.pdf

Upcoming Calendar Events

May


June

Spring 2024 Newsletter.pdf

Bethel High School Alumni Association Spring Newsletter

IMPORTANT NOTICE

We have mentioned several times in our newsletter the need for help to continue the operation of our Alumni Association. The average age of our board is above 80 years old, and we need new, younger members to continue providing newsletters and operation of the Association. In the event we have to become inactive due to lack of participation, the board has proposed continuing to provide scholarships to two deserving Bethel High School graduates until the current fund held by the Bethel Public Schools administration is depleted.  If you wish to help with the continuation of our Bethel High School Alumni Association, you may contact any of the board members listed in this newsletter, or write to: Bethel High School Alumni Association, 300 Whittlesey Drive, Bethel, CT 06801.

Any and all help to continue our Association will be gratefully appreciated.

The Brian Kirmil Arts Scholarship 

Dear BPSD family and friends,


I’m honored to share with you that I am serving as the Chairperson for the newly established Brian Kirmil Arts Scholarship, in honor of the late A. Brian Kirmil, who served as principal of Rockwell School from 1996 to 2013.

 

We are looking for initial donations to start a yearly $500 scholarship in Brian’s name that will be awarded to a graduating senior from Bethel High School who has participated in our district arts programs. (Music, theater, dance, visual arts, etc.)


To make a tax-deductible donation and read more about the scholarship, please visit:

 

https://www.betheledfoundation.org/kirmil-scholarship.html


We are hoping to raise $5,000 by April 28th of this year, which will fund our scholarship for the first 10 years.


Please consider making a donation and sharing this link with anyone and everyone who knew Mr. Kirmil so we may keep his memory alive through this arts scholarship.

 

A very special thanks to The Kirmil Family, all our committee members, and to the BEF for their support in establishing this scholarship.


Thank you so much and "have a sparkling day"!


-Dennis J. Arcano

Brian Kirmil Arts Scholarship Chairperson             

K-3 General Music, Anna H. Rockwell & Ralph M.T. Johnson Elementary Schools 

Newsletter - Kindergarten Registration 24-25 (2).pdf

2024-2025 Kindergarten Registration is Open

Beginning July 1, 2024, the Connecticut General Statute requires that children turn five years old on or before September 1 of the school year to enroll in Kindergarten. 

Circle of Friends Early Childhood Program Information

COF OS 2.12.2024.pdf
Circle of Friends Flyer 24.25.pdf

Upcoming Calendar Events

May

June


Flyers, Fundraisers &, Community News & Events

See flyers for full details 

Community Events

BOOKMARK CONTEST2024.pdf

Bookmark Contest

May 1-May 31st 

2024 Summer Camp.pdf

Bethel Park & Rec Day Camp

Registration Begins 

April 22th Online at 9 AM

Summer flyer 2024.pdf

Bethel Park & Recreation

Summer 2024

Registration Starts May 6, 2024

BETHEL WALK AUDIT FLYER & INTRO.pdf

Bethel Walk Audit 

MAY 18, 2024

1-3 PM Stony Hill Road & Old Hawleyville Road 


Volunteer Form

Girls Lacrosse Camp

Wednesdays 6/19-731

Bethel Park & Recreation

Bethel Youth Cheerleading Spring Cheer Camp

Thursday Nights in May


EarlyBird Pricing at Workspace.pdf

WorkspaceCT Summer Programs

Earlybird pricing for WorkspaceCT summer experiences for kids and teens runs for two more weeks. Use code EARLYBIRD15 by March 31 for 15% off all summer programs.  See their summer offerings here: https://www.workspacect.org/summerprograms 

Summer Theater Summer 2024

Parks & Recreation

2024 Spring Flyer (1).pdf

2024 Bethel Spring Soccer

See Flyer for Details

Spring Lacrosse

Grades K-8

Registration is Open Now

529 University of Bridgeport Elem PHONE.pdf

Summer Reading Skills

Classes offered

See Flyer

Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary


CVH102874_mch_fly_butterflyprty_8.5x11.pdf

June 8, 2024

Bug Bazaar.pdf

June 23, 2024

Firefly Flyer.pdf

July 10, 2024

Regional YMCA of Western CT

Sping 1 AD - Untitled Page (1).pdf

Swim Lessons

See Flyer

Regional YMCA of Western CT

Swim Lessons:

We Offer Lessons Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Classes all prices are listed in the flyer along with a clickable link to our registration site. 


FAQs

Bethel Public Schools App

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.

Bethel Public Schools Digital Learning & Data Privacy Resources 

Bethel Public Schools is committed to innovative teaching and learning using 21st-century personalized curriculum with 1:1 digital resources available in a protected anytime, anywhere learning environment. While we are dedicated to providing rich, relevant, and rigorous resources we will only do so in compliance with Federal and State laws on student data privacy. On the district’s website, the Student Data Privacy pages are designed to inform and address staff, students, and parents on approved digital resources, student data privacy legislation, and data breach notifications.


If you are new to the district, we have a Blended Learning website to support our students, staff, and families as they use digital tools to enhance teaching and learning.  It is a wonderful resource—please bookmark this site!

Board of Education Policy Updates

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: 


School Lunch Program 2023-2024 

Bethel Public Schools have opted into the State Transition Assistance for Breakfast and Lunch Expenses (STABLE) funds.  These funds will provide one breakfast meal per day at no cost to ALL students and one lunch meal per day at no cost for students eligible for reduced-price meals. Because free lunch status has been extended for the school year 2023-2024 to include reduced eligible students, it is important that all families who might qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch submit an application as soon as possible. Applications can be found on the Bethel Public Schools' website under departments, Foods & Nutrition, or in the main offices at each school.  


2023-2024 Free Reduced Lunch Press Release

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, 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