May 19, 2023

 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,


Artificial Intelligence in Education

Last evening, the Board of Education received a presentation on the future of Artificial Intelligence in Education.  Artificial Intelligence has already been embedded in our daily life and can be defined as the ability of a computer to think and learn.  The adaptation of the technology is occurring at a rapid pace. As we continue to embrace advancements in technology, we wanted to take a moment to share some insights with you about the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education and the challenges it presents. To be transparent, I used AI (ChatGPT) to generate ideas in writing this newsletter and adapted it to our own district context.  

AI has the ability to revolutionize education by providing personalized learning experiences, facilitating efficient administrative tasks, and expanding educational access. It can help identify individual student needs, adapt curriculum content to meet their specific requirements, and offer real-time feedback to enhance their learning outcomes. AI-powered tools can also streamline administrative processes, freeing up teachers' time to focus on instruction and fostering stronger student-teacher relationships.

However, as with any transformative technology, there are challenges that need to be acknowledged and addressed. We want to assure you that we are committed to navigating these challenges responsibly and ethically. Here are a few key considerations:

As we navigate the future of AI in public education we are excited about the potentials, while cautiously acknowledging the risks and limitations.  AI will change the future of education and careers available to our students. We know that we need to navigate providing students with the skills to be able to enter the global workforce to meet these demands.  

Celebrations & Student Recognition

As we wind down the school year, we have a variety of activities, awards celebrations, art shows, and concerts.  The official countdown is that there are eighteen days left of school.   We look forward to our senior prom tonight, BMS Moving Up Ceremony on June 12th, and BHS graduation on June 13th (rain date June 14th).  

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 2023: Bethel High School, Ella Egan, and Joshua Wright; Bethel Middle School, Shravya Mankala, and Christopher Troetti. 

Western Connecticut Superintendent Association Student Recognition Awards

Two students from Bethel Middle School and two from Bethel High School were recognized at a ceremony on May 15th.  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 were:  

CABE Student Leadership Awards 

Western Connecticut Superintendent Association Student Recognition Awards

Grammy Music Educator Quarterfinalist

The Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum have announced a total of 212 music teachers as quarterfinalists for the 2024 Music Educator Award, which recognizes current educators — kindergarten through college across public and private schools — who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools.  Congratulations Amy Hannequin, Chorus Teacher at Bethel Middle School!  Amy was selected along with other quarterfinalists, who hail from 197 cities, all were selected from more than 2,000 initial submitted nominations. Semi-finalists for the 2024 Music Educator Award will be announced this September. The ultimate recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY Week 2024. 

Department News

IMPORTANT INFO 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. 

This Week's Updates & Reminders

Summer’s BEST Enrichment Programs Pre-K-Grade 2

REGISTRATION THROUGH PICKaTIME. 

ON BPS SUMMER PROGRAMS PAGE


The Bethel Public Schools will be offering exciting and dynamic Summer Programs this Summer. We will offer one session of programs for grades Pre-K through Grade 2 (this is the current grade of your child). We will be combining our most popular programs to offer a variety throughout the morning. Class sizes are limited to 15 students each. We hope to create a summertime adventure of discovery, fun, and learning that will enrich your child. The Enrichment programs are self-funding. The cost of each program is set to cover the cost of the teacher and the materials. You will be sending your child to a fun, safe, educational program at Berry School.  


Save July 5- July 21, 2023, to enroll your child in a rewarding summer experience!

Summer Brochure 2023


Sincerely,

Linda Anderson

     Coordinator of Community Programs

Questions? Please email Linda Anderson at: AndersonL@bethel.k12.ct.us 

Kindergarten Registration is Open!

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.

Upcoming Calendar Events

Flyers, Fundraisers &, Community News & Events 

School Events

Book Drive

May 10th - June 2nd

Girl Up Club

JWG.pdf

FREE PROGRAM

Junior Winter Guard Club

Pre-Registration Required

See Flyer for details

Community Events

BethelLibrary5.20.pdf

Griffin Mobile Vaccination and/or Health Screening Clinics  

May 20, 2023

Bethel Public Library

Goats Galore.pdf

Goats Galore

May 21, 2023

CVH Animal Sanctuary

Vaping me crazy 23.pdf

"Vaping Me Crazy!"

May 22, 2023

Newtown Parent Connections

Bookmark Contest


Submission Deadline

May 31, 2023


Create a Colorful Bookmark Inspired by YOUR Favorite Book!

Contest Entry Form


Bethel spring 2023 event ad.pdf

Try Orienteering

June 3, 2023

See Flyer for Details

Bake Sale

June 4, 2023

Proceeds go  to 

Foundation Fighting Blindness

Day Camp 2023.pdf

Parks & Recreation Day Camp

Registration Begins April 17, 2023

(See flyer for details)

Bethel Parks & Recreation

Foster Care Awareness Month

How to Help

Family & Children's Aid

Summer flyer 2023.pdf

Summer Brochure

Registration Begins May 1, 2023

Bethel Park & Recreation

We Are Hiring

Apply Today!

First Student Bus Company

Police Cadet Program

Newtown/Brookfield/Bethel 

Cadet Meetings Every Thursday 6-8PM

Bethel Historical Firefighters Museum

Come See a Piece of History

Fun for All Ages!

Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet service.  This new benefit  provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.

Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail in application.

You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting www.fcc.gov/ACP, or by calling 877-384-2575. 

Do you want to be the first to know when school is delayed or canceled in bad weather? Follow me at:  @BethelCTSuper In order to enhance communication with parents, in addition to our Twitter feed, we have a Facebook page at Bethel Public Schools, and Instagram at @christinelcarver We post photos of school and district events, general communications, and school closing/delay information. Please “like” our page!  Also, be sure to check out our bethelpublicschools Flickr page

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.

BEtv - See what's new this week! 

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: 


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