September 1, 2023 

Newsletter

Bethel Public Schools E-News 

“Our Primary Purpose is to Improve Student Achievement”

BPS Facebook

BPS Flickr

BPS Instagram

BPS Threads

BPS X (Twitter)

This Week's Content

Superintendent's News

Christine Carver, Ed.D.,

Superintendent of Schools

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members,


Opening Days


We had a smooth opening of school!  Our teachers started last Wednesday, with professional learning sessions and preparations for the start of school. Dr. Brooks and I visited all of the schools on the first day and throughout the week to welcome our students and faculty and wish them a fabulous new school year.  True to tradition within the Bethel Public Schools, our teachers were engaging students in developing a positive culture and climate within classrooms and the school!  


Bethel High School US News & World Report Rankings


A huge shout-out to BHS! US News and World Reports only rank the top 206 high schools in the state. We ranked 45, in the top 50. To put that in perspective there are 556 high schools in the State of Connecticut and 431 are public high schools. We also moved up ranking in our region! 


State Data Release

As you may have seen in a press release from the Commissioner of Education, the state recently released state-wide data in the academic areas of English language Arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and attendance.   We are proud that we have made significant growth in mathematics and science, with incremental growth in ELA.   To enhance our ELA data, we are in the process of implementing two new core resources to support our classroom instruction.   We believe these resources support the implementation of all components of the Science of Reading.  Parents can be very helpful in supporting literacy development.   The most important way to improve reading skills is to read!   Work with your children to find books and genres that they love and encourage them to read daily.   

 In the area of Chronic Absenteeism, as has been indicated in my previous emails, we need to do better, particularly at the high school level.   Let this serve as a reminder of how important it is for your child to attend school on a regular basis.   It is critical to their academic success and builds lifelong habits.  Please send your child to school every day!  

We will be updating our district data dashboard, but in the meantime, if you would like to look at Bethel's data and other districts, the State has a very comprehensive website called EdSight.  I would encourage you to look at it!  There is a lot of interesting data related to public schools in the state.  


BPS Flickr First Day Photos


First-day pictures will be posted on our Flickr website next week. Dan DeBlois, District Photographer, will post photos on Flickr throughout the school year.  Follow Dan on X (formerly Twitter) @DanDeBlois to be notified when photos are posted then go to Flickr and take a look.  


Staff Recognition Awards


We believe that the Bethel Public Schools have been blessed with outstanding staff, volunteers, and community members who have shown dedication and commitment to the Bethel Public Schools and the Bethel community. At our staff convocation, we recognized our 2023 Sara Mass Award recipients, Nat Claridge, Johnson School PE Teacher & Keith Marotta, Bethel Middle School PE Teacher, and our District Teacher of the Year, Kristen Faucher, World Language Teacher, Bethel Middle School.

Kristen Faucher

District Teacher of the Year

Keith Marotta & Nat Claridge

Sara Mass Memorial Award Recipients

Do you want to be the first to know when school is delayed or canceled in bad weather? Follow me at Instagram & Threads @christinelcarver, Bethel Public Schools Facebook Page, X @BethelCTSuper,  and Bethel Public Schools Website We post photos of school and district events, general communications, and school closing/delay information. Also, be sure to check out our bethelpublicschools Flickr page

BPS School Resource Officers

We would like you to meet our School Resource Officer Team for 2023-2024

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:

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

School Bus Routes

School Bus Routes 2023-2024

2023-2024 Bus Routes are posted on the district website under “Departments” on the menu bar and then “Transportation Information” 

 

If you have questions with regard to the Bus Routes, please contact the Bus Company directly at 203-748-8091.


This Week's Updates & Reminders

2023-2024 Open House Dates

Bethel High School

September 13 – 6:00 PM

 

Bethel Middle School

September 14 – 6:00 PM

 

Johnson School

September 28 – 6:00 PM


Rockwell School

September 21 – 6:00 PM

 

Berry School

September 20 – 5:30 PM

Bethel Public Schools’ Digital Learning 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 using approved digital resources in our district. 


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!

2023-2024 School Lunch Program

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

SCHOOL HEALTH UPDATES 

CT State Department of Education State Mandated Screenings

The Bethel Public School District follows the mandated screening guidelines as set by the State of Connecticut. 

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 Grade 7 and Grade 10 have a mandated health assessment dated on or after July 1, 2022, in order to be compliant.


These forms can be found below: 

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

Because the school district must comply with the state regulations, your child will not be allowed to begin 7th grade/10th grade on the first day of the 2023-2024 school year, 8/28/23, 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.


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. 


*** Please also note that physicals for athletics are only valid for 13 months. It is your responsibility to make sure that your child’s physical is updated so that they are able to continue participation in their chosen sport. 

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.

Upcoming Calendar Events

Flyers, Fundraisers &, Community News & Events 

Community Events

BETHEL Organics announcenment 8.7.23 (1).pdf

NEW

 Recycling Program for Bethel Residents

Bethel Organics (Food Scraps) 

Drop-Off Program

FALL 2023.pdf

Bethel Parks & Recreation

Fall 2023 flyer 

Registration Begins August 31, 2023

Pack 156 Flyer (1).pdf

Join Cub Scout Pak 156!

Open to Girls & Boys, K-Grade 5

Join us to learn more on 

September 6, 2023

 See Flyer for Details

Public Meeting Flyer V2.3.pdf

MOBILITY AND PARKING PLANS

FOR DOWNTOWN BETHEL

Public Meeting

September 7, 2023

6 PM - 8 PM

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. 

School-Based Health Center

Do you want to be the first to know when school is delayed or canceled in bad weather? Follow me at Instagram & Threads @christinelcarver, Bethel Public Schools Facebook Page, X @BethelCTSuper,  and Bethel Public Schools Website We post photos of school and district events, general communications, and school closing/delay information. 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! 

Welcome Back to a new school year with new programs on BEtv!


Stay tuned to watch Live Stream, Broadcasts, and On Demand here

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

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 Closing/Delay Information


In the morning when it is necessary to close school due to inclement weather or have an unscheduled early dismissal due to forecasted inclement weather for the afternoon, the “Schools Closed” or “Early Dismissal” announcement will be made over the following radio, television stations, websites, Twitter, and text message via our SchoolMessenger communication system.  

             WLAD                 AM      Danbury 800 on the dial

             WINE                  AM      Brookfield         940 on the dial

             WICC                  AM      Bridgeport         600 on the dial

             WEBE                         FM      Bridgeport         108 on the dial

             WEZN                 FM      Bridgeport         100 on the dial

 

TV Channel 3, TV Channel 8, & TV Channel 6.

 

Bethel Public Schools Website – www.bethel.k12.ct.us

Connecticut Weather Website – www.ctweather.com

Follow me on Instagram & Threads @christinelcarver, Bethel Public Schools Facebook Page, X @BethelCTSuper,  and Bethel Public Schools Website 

 

When school is in session for the day and it is necessary to have an unscheduled early dismissal (click for times) due to weather or other emergency an “Early Dismissal” announcement will be made.  You will be notified by our automated message system, SchoolMessenger, via voice, text message, email, and appropriate announcements will be made over the above radio, television stations, websites, and Twitter. 

 

*Therefore, it is important your contact information is accurate and you update your contact information promptly if this information changes. If during the school year any of your demographic information were to change, you can update it at any point by contacting your child’s school directly.

 

The SchoolMessenger caller ID for all phone notifications is: (855) 326-1797.

**Please add this number as a contact in your phone so you can easily identify the call is coming from the Bethel Public Schools.

 

Please Note:  There will be no school activities, including athletics, on days when school is closed due to inclement weather.

 

 

For emergency announcements, SchoolMessenger notifications are sent out as soon as decisions are reached. Being on the notification list is not a substitute for monitoring your local media (radio, TV and so on) in situations where a delay in opening or school closing is an obvious possibility (such as when the weather forecast calls for snow). The BPS website, is updated as media calls are made.

 

 

Please note, although the district does not charge you for this service, it does not pay for text message charges that may be incurred by you for sending or receiving text messages. Check with your wireless carrier for possible charges. 

 

SchoolMessenger alert for Text messages

For all NEW parents/guardians: 

Reminder to New BPS Parents/Guardians - SchoolMessenger:

The district uses the SchoolMessenger notification service to send important information to families through phone calls, emails, and text messages.

To comply with wireless carrier requirements and protect against unsolicited text messages, you may receive a text message on the wireless cell phone number which the district has on your file, requesting that you "opt-in" to receive important information from the district via our SMS text messaging service.

The message you receive will come from our 'short code', 67587 and read similar to the following:

"Bethel Public School messages. Reply Y to subscribe or STOP to cancel. Msg&data rates may apply. Msg freq varies. Visit schoolmessenger.com/txt for info"

So that you may continue to receive these important messages, we encourage you to reply with "Y" or "Yes" when you receive such a verification message. If you do not reply, you will not receive any further text messages from our schools.

To opt-out of all text messages from SchoolMessenger, visit http://www.schoolmessenger.com/txtmsg/ or reply with "STOP" to the opt-in message that you receive. If you opt-in, but later decide to opt-out, simply send "STOP" to 67587.  You may also reply "STOP" to any message from our organization.

Please check with your wireless carrier for information about your mobile service plan and any possible charges related to text messaging.  Our organization does not reimburse for any charges associated with sending or receiving text messages. See flyer for details/QR Code.

SchoolMessenger Call-In Message Retrieval

As you know, our automated message system, SchoolMessenger, allows us to communicate important information to parents, guardians, and staff via voice, text message, and email.  Our SchoolMessgenger account now has a Call-in Message Retrieval feature.

 

The Call-In Message Retrieval feature is a powerful option that allows SchoolMessgenger phone call recipients to dial a toll-free number where they can replay previous phone notifications that they may have missed, or someone else answered the call, in cases where a cell phone call was dropped before the message could be completed, the reception was poor and/or the recipient was unable to understand the message.

 

The SchoolMessenger caller ID for all phone notifications and Call-In Message Retrieval is:   (855) 326-1797

 

*Again, please add this number as a contact in your phone so you can easily identify the call is coming from the Bethel Public Schools.

Please Note:  When a recipient wants to call into the system to listen to a message they might have missed, they simply hit re-dial on their phone, and, if their caller ID is not blocked, the system will identify them and play back the most recent 10 calls to that number from the past 30 days - including the time/date that the message was sent.

 

If the recipient has their caller ID blocked, the system will prompt them to enter the number that received the original call, after which the system will replay the recent messages to that number.

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