September 16, 2022 Newsletter
Bethel Public Schools E-News
“Our Primary Purpose is to Improve Student Achievement”
This Week's Content
Superintendent's News
Christine Carver, Ed.D.,
Superintendent of Schools
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members,
We had a wonderful first three weeks of school. Our students and staff are excited to be back. There is a marked difference in our students' commitment to academics and school climate. We have every confidence that this will be an amazing school year.
National Merit Scholar Semifinalist
Congratulations to BHS Senior, Suhani Kashyap, for being selected as a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholar Program! Suhani was one of 16,000 students across the nation selected as a semifinalist.
Importance of Daily Reading
The school year has started strongly in the area of early literacy. Having had the opportunity to get into a lot of classrooms in the last three weeks, students are actively engaged in their learning. A reminder about the importance of daily reading for pleasure with actual books. It is interesting that often our youngest children do not know how to hold books or turn pages!
While we understand the value of technology, go to the library, expose them to the joy of a book. The patterns of spoken language (i.e., reading and talking with your child) greatly enhances future literacy skills (vocabulary development, reading comprehension, fluency, etc.). We recommend reading with your child daily in early elementary! Older students should find books of interest and get in the habit of reading daily!
We also can not stress enough the importance of oral language development. Oral language development is critical for vocabulary development and a precursor to reading comprehension. It should begin at birth and is a critical part of early development. Simple ways to develop oral language include:
Active everyday conversations. Make time in your day for formal communication (i.e., family dinners, activities, etc.) OR informal (at a restaurant, in the car, in the store, etc.) instead of relying on technology to keep your child occupied.
Limit technology with young children. New research shows that the use of technology actually limits oral language development because there is no interaction in developing language skills. Sharing oral stories and listening games, such as "Simon says". This builds vocabulary and listening comprehension.
Singing and playing rhyming games. This develops phonemic awareness. Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and manipulate the sounds in spoken words and the understanding that spoken words and syllables are made up of sequences of speech sounds. It is the foundation of reading.
Dramatic play where your child takes on imaginary roles.
Quest for the Best Photos on Flickr
Quest for the Best pictures are available on our Flickr website. Dan DeBlois, District Photographer, will post photos on Flickr throughout the school year. Be sure to follow Dan on Twitter @DanDeBlois to be notified when photos are posted then go to flickr and take a look.
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
Department News K-12
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Music News - Music Notes 9-16-22
This Week's Updates & Reminders
GO ORANGE!
September is No Kid Hungry Month. No Kid Hungry is Bethel Public Schools’ opportunity to be a part of a movement that has a real and lasting impact on the mission to end hunger in America!
Students and staff please spread the word about hunger awareness and
GO ORANGE on Friday, September 30, 2022.
We will be holding a food drive at all Bethel Public Schools on
Friday, September 30 and encourage students to donate a kid-friendly food item;
kid-friendly means that it can be opened and consumed without adult assistance.
ROCKWELL, BERRY & JOHNSON SCHOOLS
are looking for individually wrapped snack items: i.e., Goldfish, pretzels, nut-free granola bars, individual apple sauce cups, etc.
BETHEL MIDDLE SCHOOL & BETHEL HIGH SCHOOL
are also looking for individually wrapped snack items, but also individual meal items like ramen soup, individual cups of mac & cheese, Chef Boyardee meals, etc.
These items will be distributed by school social workers and other agencies
RIGHT HERE IN BETHEL!
Please bring your item to your school’s cafeteria on Friday, September 30, 2022.
Ways to show your support:
Wear ORANGE clothes on September 30th
Decorate your classroom or doors in ORANGE
Donate a canned or dry good item for our 8th annual food drive
There will also be a jar at each school for teachers and students to donate
dollar bills or loose change to this cause.
However you choose to participate, THANK YOU for your commitment to end childhood hunger in our Community!
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Winter Guard - New Members Welcome!
New Members Welcome in grades 2-8!
First Practice - September 14th
See Flyer for complete details.
2022-2023 Open House Dates
Johnson School
September 22 – 6:00 PM
Rockwell School
September 19 – 6:00 PM
Berry School
September 20 – 6:00 PM
2022-2023 School Lunch Program
As was communicated in a separate email and on social media, the schools have opted into Shool Meals Assistance Revenue for Transition (SMART) funds. These funds provide meals (breakfast and lunch) at no cost for all students at the beginning of the school year (anticipated through December). Even though lunch will be free at the beginning of the year, it is important that all families who might qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch submit an application as soon as possible. Please read the email which was sent for more information. Español. Português.
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Bethel Schools Odyssey of the Mind
Registration NOW OPEN
Registration will close on 9/23/22
See brocure for details and registration link.
COVID Protocols for 2022-2023
Our state required plan for Safe Return to In-person Learning Plan are posted on our website. It contains the procedures for students and staff who are symptomatic OR have tested positive for COVID-19. If you have any questions about those protocols, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Health Supervisor, Lisa Davenport (davenportl@bethel.k12.ct.us) or your school nurse. If you have feedback on that plan, please complete the Google Form.
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.
Flyers, Fundraisers &, Community News & Events
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Winter Guard
New members welcome in
grades 2-8
First Practices 9/14 & 9/28
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Multiverse Expo
Free Event
September 18, 2022, 1-5 PM
![](https://www.google.com/images/icons/product/drive-32.png)
Minion Movie Night
September 23, 2022, at 7 PM
BHS Track
Bethel Winter Guard Fundraiser
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MONARCHS, MEADOWS & MORE!
September 25, 2022
CVH ANIMAL SANCTUARY
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NOT SO SPOOKY ANYMORE
October 23, 2022
CVH ANIMAL SANCTUARY
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Bethel Parks & Recreation
Fall 2022 Brochure
Registration begins
August 31st at 9 AM
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BHS THEATER BOOSTERS
MEMBERSHIP FORM 2022- 2023
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 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
Twitter - @BethelCTSuper
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.
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:
Regulation – 5131.911 – District Safe School Climate Plan – 10-21-21
Policy/Regulation 5118 - Nonresident Students - 10-21-21
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
Regulation 2232 - Electronic Records and Information - 2-15-22
Policy 5141.231 - Chemical Health Policy for Student-Athletes - 2-15-22
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
BEtv - See what's new this week!
BHS Marching Band kicks off the season at Quest for the Best
Check out their performance!
http://devos2.bethel.k12.ct.us/show?video=17d913aa3236
BHS Wildcats first home game of the season with your announcers Chris Baker and Jack Kinas
http://devos2.bethel.k12.ct.us/show?video=e9c7396d5ca7
BPSD Convocation can be seen here
http://devos2.bethel.k12.ct.us/show?video=587a08b8ba43
The latest Board of Education Meetings can be viewed here.
http://devos2.bethel.k12.ct.us/Show-Videos?g=f87c9047&page=1&filter=vod
Check out our full line up 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
If you don't get us on Comcast cable, Channel 97, you can still see all our programming streaming live at
http://dv2.discovervideo.com/play/?id=xw3838k&player=291&type=flash
BPS School Resource Officers
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:
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
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
Law Enforcement - Education - To establish a liaison with school personnel in a cooperative effort to prevent disruptive or violent behaviors.
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
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