Bethel Middle School Family News

Hello Bulldog Families!

Welcome to the beginning of a new and exciting school year at Bethel Middle School! We hope that you have had a safe and enjoyable summer break. As we look ahead to the start of the year, please take note of upcoming dates for incoming 6th grade orientation/WEB day and the first day of school.

We are thrilled to welcome both our returning families and those who are new to our community. Our dedicated team of educators has been hard at work preparing for the arrival of your students. Staff want to make this year filled with engaging learning experiences, personal growth, and memorable moments for all our students.

Bethel Middle is committed to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We believe in the power of collaboration between home and school, and we look forward to working closely with you to support your student's success.

I encourage you to stay connected with us throughout the year. Our school website and newsletters will keep you informed about important events, updates, and opportunities to get involved. Please make a habit to read the entire newsletter so that you and your student are in the know about the happenings at Bethel Middle. The newsletter will be sent out weekly during the school year.

Thank you for entrusting us with the education and well-being of your student. Together, we will make this school year a rewarding and successful one for all.

Let's have a fabulous start to the year!

-Ms. Lewis

AUGUST 28 -- FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

School starts at 7:10am and ends at 1:40pm.

FALL SPORTS:

Baseball & Fastpitch

Track.

Please ensure your child has a sports physical and all the necessary paperwork filled out. You can find information on sign ups through the district website: Bethel School District Athletics

Do you have a question about a bus route? You can check at this link:

We know that there is a real need for cell phones for kids, and that families support students carrying cell phones for safety reasons. However, cell phones create disengagement, and distraction during the school day.

Cell phones & earbuds MUST be out of site during the school day.

Students are not to have cell phones visible during any time during the school day, and especially in class. Students may keep cell phones on silent, and in their backpacks or in their lockers.

If a student has a cell phone or earbuds visible in class, the student will be asked to put it away.

Progressive discipline will be administered for repeat violations:

Cellphone placed in Cellphone Locker to be picked up end of day

Parent Pick Up

Cellphone Parent Plan

If you have a reason to connect with your student, please communicate with the front office and we will reach out to your student to be able to connect with you.

Our purpose is to create the best possible learning environment for students so they are set up for success. We would really appreciate your support in educating your student.

Schedules will be made available AUGUST 19 at 7:00am.

Schedules will be able to access through StudentVue and ParentVue.

Paper copies will be available the first day of school.

Please know that as we get final enrollments and adjust for student needs, there may be schedule changes that occur prior to the first day of school.

Child Nutrition Services will continue to participate in USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2024-25 school year.

All students attending Bethel Middle will receive FREE breakfast and lunch for the 2024-25 school year.

Families with students attending Bethel Middle School are required to complete the 2024-25 Family Income Survey found below.

Lunch is determined by your 5th period teacher.

School Supplies:

· 1 box colored pencils (optional)

· #2 pencils

· Pens (blue or black only for writing, one red for correcting/editing)

· Highlighters (assorted colors)

· One 3 inch 3 ring binder for organizing classes/materials

· One composition book or notebook Math and other paper/notebooks as needed

· Earbuds or earphones that can plug into an iPad

Bethel Middle School will have lockers in the fall.

Two ways to find your locker & locker combo

1. On your printed schedule
   
   
2. On StudentVue, under the tab "Student Information" & scroll to the bottom

Lockers are ONLY available BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL and to get their lunch if they brought one from home.

Students are not permitted to use the locker during passing time.

Lockers are not required and students may carry backpacks to class.

Students should plan to leave cell phones in their lockers during the school day.

Cellphones must be OFF, OUT OF SIGHT, and NOT IN USE between 7:10am-1:40pm.

All students will take a school photo for their ID card and yearbook.

SPORTS OFFERED:

Baseball/Fastpitch- Sept 3 tryouts

Track- Sept 4 first day of practice

Baseball and Fastpitch will have tryouts, and teams will be announced by the end of the first week. Track is a non-cut sport, meaning all students who wish to participate will be able to.

Students who wish to participate MUST have an ASB card and a current physical on file. Physicals are valid for 13 months from their original date

Please visit ParentVue to sign students up for athletics (School Links -->Athletic Registration Forms). You will upload your physical here as well. Families must have an active ParentVue account before attempting registration.

The ice room will be open to store large bags. Students who have smaller bags will have the option of storing bags in school lockers that can be accessed at the end of the day. Students will be able to use locker rooms to change before going to their sports.

Please begin to practice working on a combination lock so that you know how to open one.

As we approach the start of the 2024-25 school year, we want to remind you that Bethel School District has some requirements for guests who attend events at Art Crate Stadium. To ensure the safety of our students, parents, and community, the following must be adhered to:

ALL elementary and middle school students who plan to attend school-sponsored events, such as football games, MUST be accompanied by an adult. They will be turned away if they attempt to gain admittance without a parent.

Only clear bags or small clutch/purses/wallets will be allowed inside the stadium. Bags must be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”. A small clutch bag, not exceeding 4.5” x 6.5”, with or without a handle or strap, may be carried inside the stadium.

We thank you for your understanding and adherence to these new guidelines.

Do not delay in ensuring your child receives the vaccinations they need to attend school in the fall. Students that do not have the appropriate vaccinations MAY NOT ATTEND SCHOOL.

Washington State Law requires that all children must have a completed Certificate of Immunization Status form on file showing proof of the following vaccinations:

• Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis) vaccination for all children 11 years and older.
• Varicella (chicken pox) vaccination or history of having had the disease verified by a healthcare provider.
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
• IPV ( Polio)

Our office will be available starting August 23rd to receive all medications, supplies and paperwork. It's very important that we get these items ASAP as the team needs time to prepare care plans and train staff to ensure all students are safe.

To make sure that all students can start the school year on time, provide the school with authorizations for your child's medication and treatments for life-threatening conditions prior to school starting on August 28, 2024, and all 6th graders to be able to attend WEB/Bulldog Basics camp August 23, 2024.

Schedule doctor's appointments now so you are ready for the return to school. Students who have the following need to have doctor's orders for medication. These must be updated every year:

• Epipen use or other life-threatening allergy rescue medicine
• Inhaler for Asthma
• Diabetic Insulin, including a self-administering pump
• Seizure medicines
• Other life-threatening medical conditions

We are not collecting COVID vaccine information. We encourage eligible students to vaccinate, but you do not need to provide us with evidence.

When you're back to school shopping, please consider purchasing the following items for our needs closet:

• Feminine hygiene products
• Packaged underwear (all sizes needed)
• Grey or Black leggings (all sizes needed)
• Grey or Black sweatpants (all sizes needed)
• Socks

All of these items can be turned in to the main office.

THANK YOU for you consideration in supporting students who may need it!!

Over the last four years, we have been researching and developing a plan to standardize and improve grading practices in all of our middle and high schools. You can expect to see the following changes in 24/25:

1. All assignments and assessments will be graded using a common four-point rubric.

2. Only the student's overall grade will use letter grades. There are no more pluses and minuses or D grades—just A, B, C, and F using a common grading scale.

3. The current calculation for GPA will not change.

4. Extra credit will no longer be available.

5. Assessment retakes will be available.

This is the first phase of a two-year implementation process called Standards Based Instruction and Grading. More information will be shared in August and throughout the year. In the meantime, you can learn more on our website:

Summative Reassessment Guidelines:

• Reassessment is accessible to all students and may vary by subject matter/discipline. Reassessment may be the same test, a portion of the same test or a different test that measures the same or very similar standard. Reassessments may be written, oral, project or performance based.

• Students are encouraged within ten (10) school days from the grade being posted to submit a retake; after ten (10) school days, reassessment opportunities are up to teacher discretion.

• Teachers may require that students provide reasonable evidence of learning prior to reassessment.

• Teachers provide additional support to students. Support may include RTI/WIN time sessions, extra resources, in class re-learning opportunities and/or after school study support.

• Teachers are not required to provide reassessment opportunities for summative assessments given in the final two weeks of a progress or trimester.

• StudentVue/ParentVue gradebook should provide students and parents with an up-to-date description of student progress towards the standards.

POLICY 3224 DRESS CODE POLICY UPDATE

In collaboration with several stakeholder groups, we have updated BSD's Dress Code Policy 3224.

DRESS CODE:

Preserving a beneficial learning environment and assuring the safety and well-being of all students are primary concerns of the Board of Directors. Students' choices in matters of dress should be made in consultation with their parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver(s). It is the policy of the Bethel School Board that the student and their parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver(s) hold the primary responsibility in determining the student’s personal attire, hairstyle, jewelry, and personal items. It is the responsibility of schools to ensure that student attire, hairstyle, jewelry, and personal belongings do not pose a health or safety risk to any student and do not create a hostile or intimidating environment that disrupts learning for any student.

In relation to student dress, the district’s values include the following:

• Students should be able to dress and style their hair for school in a manner that expresses their individuality without fear of unnecessary discipline or body shaming;

• Students have the right to be treated equitably. Dress code enforcement will not create disparities, reinforce or increase the marginalization of any group, nor will it be more strictly enforced against students because of racial identity, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, gender nonconformity, sexual orientation, cultural or religious identity, household income, body size/type, or body maturity;

• Students and staff are responsible for managing their personal distractions; and

• Students should not face unnecessary barriers to school attendance.

UNIVERSAL DRESS CODE:

Students must wear:

• Top (shirt, blouse, sweater, sweatshirt, tank, etc.);

• Bottom (pants, shorts, skirt, dress, etc.); and

• Footwear.

This policy permits additional student attire requirements when necessary to ensure safety in certain academic settings (e.g. physical activity, science, or CTE courses). Additionally, this policy allows for reasonable variation in required student attire for participation in activities such as swimming or gymnastics.

Students may not wear clothing, jewelry, or personal items that:

• Displays obscene or sexual words, pictures, messages, innuendoes, etc.;

• Displays drug or alcohol-related words, pictures, messages, innuendoes., etc.;

• Displays threats, violent conduct, weapons, etc.;

• Demonstrates hate group association/affiliation and/or use hate speech targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, other protected groups, or gang association/affiliation, etc.;

• Shows private parts (clothing must cover private parts in opaque - not able to be seen-through material);

• Covers the student’s face to the extent that the student is not identifiable (except clothing/headgear worn for a religious or medical purpose);

• Attire worn in observance of a student’s religion is not subject to this policy

BMS specific:

• Students may not wear visible undergarments as their only clothing

• Students may not use fragrances and sprays at school, as it causes respiratory hardships on others in the building

ParentVUE is the main portal to enroll new students and to complete the required annual information updates. If you have not logged into ParentVue, please visit this page for directions. https://www.bethelsd.org/Domain/4973

We are excited for the new school year and know you are too! If you'd liked to volunteer in one of our schools, please fill out the Volunteer Application linked below.

VOLUNTEER FORM

Register to VOTE! Click Here ~ https://www.piercecountywa.gov/6572/Register-to-Vote

Washington offers online voter registration. You can register by mail to vote in Washington by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local election office. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer. You can register or update your address online or by mail until 8 days before an election. You may also register in-person through Election Day. Registration forms submitted by mail need to be received, not postmarked by the 8-day deadline.

• Main Office: 253-800-7200
• Attendance: 253-800-7292
• Registrar: 253-800-7284
• Associate Administrator, Danielle Cronin: 253-800-7200
• Assistant Principal, Julia Muneshige: 253-800-7200
• Principal, Stephanie Lewis: 253-800-7200

AUG 23- WEB/Bulldog Basics (6th grade only)

AUG 28- School Begins

SEPT 11- Back To School Night 6:00-7:30pm

SEPT 12- Picture Day

Website: https://www.bms.bethelsd.org/
Location: 22001 38th Avenue East, Spanaway, WA, USA
Phone: 253-800-7200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethelmiddle