Bobcat Blast
December 1, 2022
Principal's Message
Dear Families,
December is upon us! It's time to bundle your children up in warm coats, hats, and gloves on these cold days. Our lost and found is OVERFLOWING with clothing, lunch boxes, and more! Take a look at this video to see if you recognize anything. All families are welcome to stop by the lobby before or after school to claim your child's belongings.
- Pro tip #1: If you label your child's items, our wonderful volunteers will deliver them to their classroom.
- Pro tip #2: Pack an extra set of clothes in your child's backpack for the occasional muddy playground mishap and save yourself an extra trip to school.
I also want to share with you our plans for classroom celebrations this year. We discussed as a staff WHEN and WHY we will have parties in classrooms. We used the following set of "non-negotiable" criteria:
Our decisions should adhere to the following:
- Align with District Policy (especially as it relates to holidays)
- Align with Bethany's Mission & Vision
- Be in the best interests of ALL students & families
- Be fun! 🙂
After reflection and thoughtful discussion, we concluded that we would celebrate all of the wonderful learning students had done on the last day before each of the 3 seasonal breaks (Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer Break). Teachers will communicate with you about their specific plans if they haven't already. December 16th will not only be our party day, but a SCHOOL-WIDE PAJAMA DAY too! Look for Mr. Parker in his adult-sized onesie in the front of the school at arrival time! 😂
Finally, I cannot end this message without expressing my gratitude for all of you, for all of the ways you show your appreciation to our wonderful staff, the way you take care of each other, for trusting us to care for your beautiful children, and for making Bethany the loving and supportive community that it is. My gift to YOU is this list of 8 gifts that don't cost a cent. I try to share these gifts each day with as many of your children as I can...but I'm slightly outnumbered! Let's make these last few weeks of 2022 as CALM (yes please!), productive, and joyful as possible. ❤️
Superintendent Coffee Chat
Our new Superintendent, Dr. Gustavo Balderas, will be at Bethany next TUESDAY, December 6th from 4-5 pm (open to anyone in the district) to engage in and connect with the community. I would love for any interested Bethany families to attend! (I'll be there too).
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Calendar - Important Dates
- 6th - Coffee Chat with Superintendent Balderas at Bethany, 4-5:00pm
- 8th - PTO Meeting, 7:00pm
- 16th - Pajama Day and Classroom Celebrations
- 19-31 - Winter Break
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Overdue Library Books
We need your help! We have a LOT of overdue and missing library books from last year (and this year too). Ms. Hussain will be sending out overdue notices with the list of titles that your child(ren) have checked out.
PLEASE look around your homes, cars, Grandma's house, or anywhere a book may be hiding! 🙂 The books that have been marked as "lost" have fines attached. If this is a hardship for your family, please reach out to Ms. Hussain or Mr. Parker and we can work with you.
We would much rather have the BOOKS than the money to replace them. Let's see how many we can return before Winter Break! Thank you!!
Wet Weather = Clothes in Backpacks
We encourage you to keep an extra pair of clothes in their backpack, so they can change.
Running Club for 3rd - 5th Graders
Holiday Light Recycling
If you put up Holiday lights, did you find lights that no longer work? (Indoor or Outdoor)
Drop off your broken / old holiday lights and the Green Team will recycle them. There is a box in front of the main doors to collect them.
******* BSPTO News *******
PTO Meeting Rescheduled to Dec 8
Next week we will vote on two RFFs (Requests For Funds) - please come and hear from our Bethany teachers! It's an excellent opportunity to get some insight into your students' classrooms.
If you'd like to review last month's meeting minutes, they are available on our website.
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 341 749 4608
Passcode: Bobcats22
PTO Parent and Teacher Survey
We have 66 responses to our survey so far - thank you! If you haven't taken the survey yet, we hope you will. The responses willhelp guide our spending priorities for the year to come! Your entry will also give you the chance to win a $25 gift card!
Share your thoughts: what are the most important spending priorities at Bethany for the PTO?
Please use the QR Code or click below on the link to take the survey.
Student Support Fund
Reporting An Absence
Please remember to include the office in any communications regarding your child's absences. You may leave a message on the attendance line at 503-356-2035 or email Mrs. McLeod at annmarie_mcleod@beaverton.k12.or.us
The most important information to include in these communications is:
- Child's name
- ID number (their library number)
- Teacher
- Date of absence
- Reason for absence
Immunization Exclusion Day
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Please note that Immunization Exclusion Day is FEBRUARY 15, 2023. Your child's immunizations must be up to date by this day. According to Oregon state law, no student will be allowed to attend school if immunizations have not been completed. All absences will be considered unexcused.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact AnnMarie McLeod at annmarie_mcleod@beaverton.k12.or.us
Hand Sanitizer Donations
During the last few years the District was providing hand sanitizer for schools. That plan has now stopped and we need to provide our own bottles.
We could use your help. If you are willing to donate a bottle or two (foam preferred), you can bring it to the office.
Thank you for your help.
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.
State Report Cards
Each Fall, the Oregon Department of Education produces school and district report cards. Here is the 2021-22 Bethany Report:
School Directory
We are in the process of creating a Bethany Family Directory, that will be shared with the families at Bethany. If you would like to be included, please fill out this form:
If you do not fill out the form, your information will not be included.
Once it is ready, it will be sent out to those families who participated.
5th Grade - Middle School Learning Options Information
Applications for the 2023-2024 school year will be available starting Monday, October 17. Current BSD students are able to apply online using their BSD student ID.
Information About BSD Learning Options and Application Process
Please do some early investigation of our option schools and programs online and plan to attend one or more of the upcoming open houses. Please know that students may only apply to one option school or program. Please give careful consideration to your choice of school. Once an application has been submitted, no changes are allowed
Will You Be gone for an Extended time?
Parents/Guardians: Please note if your child will be out of school for an extended period of time (10 days or more), you must fill out a Notice of Pre-Arranged Absence form, which you can pick up in the office. This form must be turned into the office at least ONE WEEK before the date the absence begins. Please contact the office if you have any questions. Thank you!
Bethany Social Media
We are on Social Media! We have been posting fun pictures and videos, so be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook. You can click on the links below and still see the posts without having these apps.
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
Bethany Elementary School
Website: https://bethany.beaverton.k12.or.us/
Location: 3305 Northwest 174th Avenue, Beaverton, OR, USA
Phone: 503-356-2030
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethanyBSD