Principal's Message
October is here! We've got a lot of events and engagement opportunities this month including the upcoming Read-a-thon, Garden Work Party this weekend, Playground Improvement & PTO Meetings, Haunted Hallway, Book Character Dress Up Day, Picture Day, Dwarfism Awareness Day (not in this order). Please read the information below for dates and details. There are a lot of ways to be involved and we LOVE having volunteers back in the building and participating in community activities.
Families, we need your help reinforcing these important school rules:
I asked teachers to remind students that PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES are not allowed during school hours. (*I was very unpopular with a group of 5th graders on Tuesday when I announced this). If your child has a cell phone, tablet, or laptop, please remind them to keep it put away during school hours (this includes in the gym before school). Smart Watches are tricky....I'm ok with students using them as a watch, but they should not be texting or calling from them during the day. We need all communication to go through the office so that we can make sure adults know what's going on and can support as needed.
Along those lines, we've seen a lot of toys, Pokémon cards, and stuffed animals coming to school. Small fidgets for individual use as "tools" are ok, but toys should remain at home. If you need help explaining why to your children, here are a few of our reasons:
- Toys and electronics can get lost or broken at school.
- When students trade Pokémon cards, there are often regrets and kids wanting cards back, resulting in hurt feelings.
- Personal toys and electronics are often the source of distraction and arguments at school.
- School staff cannot properly supervise personal electronics at school.
I hope these talking points are helpful. THANK YOU for your support and partnership.
Toni
Calendar - Important Dates
- 6th - PTO Meeting, 7:00 pm
- 8th - Garden Work Party
- 9th - Garden Work Party
- 11th - TAG Parent Night, 6:00, Zoom
- 12th - International Walk & Roll to School Say
- 14th - No School, Staff Development
- 10/17 - 10/21 Book Fair
- 10/10 - 10/28 Read-A-Thon
- 18th - All District Earthquake Drill
- 19th - Hearing Screening, K-2nd grade
- 19th - Parent Awareness Night, more information below
- 21st - Bethany Lock Drill in afternoon
- 25th - International Dwarfism Awareness Day
- 26th - Principal Chat
- 26th - Picture Day
- 28th - Character Dress Up Day
- 28th - Haunted "Fun House" Hallway / Fall Carnival
Your help is needed!! The Garden Party has only THREE volunteers so far. Many hands make light work! Come down to the school this weekend, Oct 8 & 9, to help assemble our new garden beds and get everything prepped for a new year of green learning.
Please sign up to lend your time or tools using this Google form. Thank you for your support!
MONDAY - Bethany's Annual Read-A-Thon Begins
Be on the lookout for your student to bring home information and pledge packets Monday!
Online & Manual Fundraising
This year we are thrilled to once again offer online fundraising via 99Pledges https://app.99pledges.com/fund/bsptoread2022! The online platform makes it easy to reach out and connect with friends and family across your community. Students can set up their individual pledge page in 3 easy steps!
Click on “Add Participant” at the bottom of the page and provide the requested information to create an individual student pledge page, join your class & even add a photo!
Share the link to your profile page via email, Facebook, text or other electronic method of choice!
It is that easy!
While the use of 99Pledges for fundraising is highly encouraged, students will have the option of also collecting pledges manually as done in the past. Pledge packets & instructions will be sent home with your student on Monday.
Whether using 99Pledges or the manual pledge sheets, remember that sometimes a personal request from your child, in person or over the phone, goes a long way!
All pledges must be input online or returned to the office by the cutoff date of Monday November 7, 2022 to be counted toward school rewards and prizes.
***Manual pledges will not appear in the 99Pledges fundraising progress reports for the student, their class, or the school. All pledges, both handwritten and online, received by the cutoff date of November 7 will be counted and included with the fundraising totals that will be announced and used to determine prizes.***
Corporate Match
Did you know that your company may match your donation? Corporate match is the easy way for donors to double their gift! Corporate match funds ARE counted towards your student's fundraising total. (Just be sure to include a receipt with their name for all matched donations.) Click on the following link to learn more:
WEDNESDAY - Walk & Roll To School
On October 12th, 2022, join people from around the world as we celebrate International Walk + Roll to School Day. Walk, bike, scooter, skate, roll, bus or carpool to school and be entered to win fun prizes.
The grand prize winner will earn a new scooter with a helmet! Walking and rolling to school is great for kids, our community and our planet. Here are the top five reasons:
- 1. Fewer vehicles driving to school reduces traffic congestion and carbon emissions near schools and in our parking lots.
- 2. More people walking and rolling builds school community and makes routes safer.
- 3. Physical activity boosts kids’ readiness to learn and improves their physical and mental health.
- 4. Kids have fun with friends and bond with families while walking and rolling together.
- 5. Being outside builds independence and lifelong transportation skills.
For more information visit www.beaverton.k12.or.us/safe-routes
FRIDAY - No School, Staff Development
Bethany Social Media
The School District has asked each school to have more of a presence on Social Media. Bethany now has an Instagram account, along with our Facebook account. Click on the links below and follow us on both pages to see what is happening during the day.
We are in the process of taking pictures from different areas of the school. We may post pictures or videos, but there will be no names associated with the pictures. If you would prefer that we don't publish a picture of your child, please send me an email to: Sue_Kropilak@beaverton.k12.or.us
5th Grade - Weekly News
The 5th grade teachers have created a matching grant fundraiser. Your support can help our students connect to the world around them through individual subscriptions to The Week Junior. By introducing a steady flow of current events into our classroom, our kids will be better informed and better prepared for the bigger conversations we hope to have around rights, responsibility and community.
If you would like to donate towards our project please click on this link:
*The BEF New Project Match will match the first $500 in contributions to this project.
Leave a Lasting Print at Bethany Elementary!
With each $150 donation your personal message will be etched on a charm and permanently hung on the central fence of Bethany Elementary School Playground. The money raised will go towards funding playground improvements and future PTO projects!
Complete this google form to secure your charm. A member of the PTO will contact you to confirm your charm text and arrange payment.
Return Chromebooks and iPads
We are missing Chromebooks and iPads and chargers. If your student had a BSD iPad and charger or BSD Chromebook and charger at home to use for Temporary Learning or FLEX online, please make sure you return them to school. Even if your student received the devices from another school such as FLEX, please bring the devices to Bethany.
School Supplies for 2022-2023
We want to say Thank you to the families who have paid for school supplies.
If you haven't yet paid, please feel free to send in cash or a check to the school office. We will also be collecting money by check, cash, or card at the Back To School Night.
You can follow the instructions below to pay online.
2022-2023 Meal Benefits
EVERY family needs to apply if they want Meal Benefits for 2022-2023.
- The free meal program has ended. Income guidelines have risen significantly.
For example, a family of four can have a total household income of up to $83,249 and qualify for meal benefits!
- Meal benefits application can be done online on our app SCHOOL CAFE, an account will need to be set up.
- Make sure to apply during summer since applications from last year are expiring at the end of June.
Please consider applying if you feel your family may qualify. It is confidential, school staff have no way of knowing which students have benefits and which do not. We highly recommend families applying.
Local Levy
On November 8, 2022, voters will have the opportunity to decide whether to renew a 5-year local option levy. If passed, the proposed levy renewal would fund approximately 286 teaching positions, maintain class sizes and help prepare students for post-high school endeavors. The proposed levy renewal is projected to raise approximately $39-$43 million annually; over a 5-year period, the proposed levy renewal would raise about $205 million.
If passed, the proposed levy renewal would continue the existing tax rate of $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
If the proposed levy renewal does not pass, the levy rate would not be assessed. The District would not receive about $39 million to fund 286 teaching positions, maintain class sizes and help prepare students for post-high school endeavors, starting in the 2023-2024 school year.
The current local option levy expires on June 30, 2023.
Bethany Elementary School