- Bethel School District
- Bethel News
-
May 17, 2021
As you may have heard, Gov. Inslee recently announced that Washington is moving toward a statewide June 30 reopening date and that all counties in Washington will move to Phase 3 effective May 18 until June 30.
Inslee also announced that the new CDC guidance on masks does not apply to schools. So we will continue to require masks for staff and students across the district. All COVID-19 related health requirements remain the same for all Bethel Schools.
Fall 2021
The Bethel School District’s goal is to start the 2021-22 school year with all students in all of our schools returning to full time, in-person learning. The only virtual online learning environment option in the district will be by enrolling in the Bethel Virtual Academy (BVA).BVA is a K-12 online school that provides support for students while they are in an independent and self-paced program. Students are taught and supported by Bethel School District certified teachers. If you’re interested in learning more about the Bethel Virtual Academy visit the BVA Website.
You can read Gov. Inslee’s full announcement by clicking here.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is providing Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines at two of our high schools this week.
- May 19: Graham-Kapowsin High School. Students must register using this form: https://form.jotform.com
/211294132203138 - May 20: Spanaway Lake High School. Students must register using this form: https://form.jotform.
com/211316536114142 - May 25: Spanaway Lake High School. Students must register using this form: https://form.jotform.com/
211316560451143
These clinics are intended for students 12 years of age and older.
Parents/guardians must complete the Vaccine permission form linked below prior to the clinic if the parent/guardian is not going to be present at the clinic.
Vaccine permission form in English
Vaccine permission form in Spanish
Vaccine permission form in Russian
Community Health Care is providing Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines at two of our high schools next week. Permission forms are available by following the registration links below.
- May 24: Bethel High School. Students must register using this form: https://hipaa.jotform.co
m/211296658288166 - May 25: Bethel High School. Students must register using this form: https://hipaa.jotform.
com/211307467888163 - May 27: Challenger High School. Students must register using this form: https://hipaa.jotform.co
m/211315896888168 - May 28: Challenger High School. Students must register using this form: https://hipaa.jotform.co
m/211316971590153
April 19th, 2021
Based on the most recent information from the Washington State Department of Health, this year, graduation will be an outdoor event held at the Washington State Fairgrounds Event Center in Puyallup. All Bethel high schools will graduate on Friday, June 18.
9:30 a.m. – Challenger High School
12:00 p.m. – Graham-Kapowsin High School
3:00 p.m. – Spanaway Lake High School
6:00 p.m. – Bethel High SchoolSocial distancing guidelines will be in effect during these events.
April 15th, 2021
Register NOW for preschool and kindergarten this fall!
Preschool and kindergarten registration for the 2021/22 school year is now open!
- Preschool is open to students aged 3-5.
- To enter kindergarten a child must be five years old on or before August 31, 2021.
Learn more and register now at bethelsd.org/welcome
May 28th is a regular school day
This is just a reminder that May 28th will be a regular school day, because of the day we missed in January due to the power outage.
Public Meeting: Native American Education
The Bethel School District will hold a public meeting on April 28 at 6 p.m. to:
- Share a draft of our application created in partnership with our Indian Parent Committee
- Gather input
- Approve the Title VI Indian Education Program Grant for the 2021-2022 School year
This meeting will be held via ZOOM. If you are a parent/guardian with a student enrolled in the Bethel School District and you would like to attend, please email one of the educators listed below. They will provide you with the ZOOM link for you to be able to access the meeting.
Rachael Barger: rbarger@bethelsd.org
Heather Wippert: hwippert@bethelsd.org
April 6th, 2021
COVID-19 Testing at all Bethel schools
As a new partner with the Department of Health’s Learn to Return program, we are excited to add COVID testing as part of a comprehensive strategy to keep our schools safe for in-person learning, stop outbreaks and get students and staff back to school sooner. We will offer free testing within our isolation rooms at each of our campuses for all students and staff who develop symptoms while on-campus, with an expected start date of April 12, 2021. Testing is free for everyone regardless of insurance status.
Testing will be done with an oral swab, which is comfortable for our students and staff alike. A shallow nasal swab is also available as needed. To see how this is done, check out this video. If you choose to have your child tested, you can register one of two ways:- Via a registration link emailed to you in advance by your child’s school.
- On site when you come to pick up your student.
Permission and a HIPAA form will need to be signed by the legal parent/guardian of the child prior to testing. Please note that testing is completely free, however, if you are insured, your health insurance company will pay in full. If you are uninsured, public funds from the CARES Act will cover the cost.March 19, 2021The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the agency has changed its recommendation on COVID-19 social distancing in schools from six feet to three feet.
The CDC made no change to the guidance around mandatory face coverings for all students, staff, and visitors, and we do not expect that to change.
We do not anticipate any near-term change to our current six-foot distancing standard here in Bethel. With less than three months remaining in the school year, we will need to wait for both the Washington State Department of Health and the Pierce County Health Department to review the CDC’s recommendation. We will then need to decide if the benefits of another change this school year outweigh the benefits of waiting.March 1, 2021
The School Board has unanimously approved the elementary boundary revisions as recommended by the Boundary Committee.
The new boundaries will go into effect this fall, for the 2021/22 school year.
The adjustments to the elementary school boundaries were to accommodate the opening of the district's newest school, Katherine G. Johnson Elementary, and to alleviate overcrowding in some of the district's larger elementary schools.
Thank you to all of you who provided feedback that allowed the committee to make adjustments to the various drafts when possible.
You can see the new elementary boundaries at www.bethelsd.org/boundary
Elementary Transfer Requests: In-District & Nonresident
Due to the recent boundary adjustments, all current elementary transfers are invalidated for the 2021-22 school year. Students with an approved transfer that currently attend school outside their attendance area, will be reassigned to their resident school, based on their home address and the new boundaries.
In order to attend a school other than their assigned resident school, a new transfer request must be completed online and approved. Parents will provide transportation for students who voluntarily attend a school outside their attendance area.
The school reassignment and transfer reapplication process does not apply to students in special programs or district placements (self-contained Special Education classrooms, Thompson's Dual Language program, medical placements).
You may begin the transfer process by clicking here: https://www.bethelsd.org/Page/6196
The transfer deadlines are as follows:
1st Round of Transfers
March 26: Parent Submission Deadline
April 15: Parents Notified Deadline
2nd Round of Transfers
May 27: Parent Submission Deadline
June 11: Parents Notified Deadline
3rd Round of Transfers
August 20: Parent Submission Deadline
August 27: Parents Notified Deadline
January 29, 2021
High schools in the 4A South Puget Sound League (SPSL) and 3A Pierce County League (PCL) will return to sports practices in February with football beginning on February 1.
Fall Sports 2/8/21 through 3/20/21
- Boys/girls cross country
- Football (starts 2/1/20)
- Boys/girls golf
- Girls soccer
- Girls swim and dive
- Volleyball
Spring Sports 3/22/21 through 5/1/21
- Baseball
- Fastpitch softball
- Boys soccer
- Boys swim and dive
- Girls tennis
- Boys/girls track and field
Winter Sports 5/3/21 through 6/12/21
- Boys/girls basketball
- Girls bowling
- Cheer with stunting
- Dance
- Boys tennis
- Boys/girls wrestling
Seasons will be six weeks long with competition taking place between league schools. There will be no statewide culminating events this year with an emphasis on getting back to sports and activities in a safe environment. Each sport has a required number of practices for each student-athlete prior to participating in a competition. Football and gymnastics would start a week early as there are more pre-contest practice requirements for safety reasons.
In Phase 1 of the Healthy Washington guidelines cross country, golf and swim & dive can practice and compete. Competition for football, soccer and volleyball are dependent on reaching Healthy Washington Phase 2, though these sports can practice in Phase 1. Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reports that determine phases are released every two weeks on Friday afternoon and take effect the following Monday.
Schools will continue to follow established COVID safety guidelines that include screening, sanitizing, and physical distancing.Resources• WIAA/Healthy WA Sport & Activity Guidelines (updated 1/26/21)• Washington Sporting Activities COVID-19 Guidance (updated 1/11/21) – school and community sport information begins on page 3• DOH Risk Assessment Dashboard – Look under "Reports" for the weekly "Roadmap to Recovery" reports each Friday - May 19: Graham-Kapowsin High School. Students must register using this form: https://form.jotform.com
-
Graduation 2021: June 18
The Class of 2021 will be walking across the graduation stage on Friday, June 18! Livestream links for Bethel, Challenger, Graham-Kapowsin, and Spanaway Lake high schools can all be found at: bethelsd.org/Graduation2021
Summer Meals
This summer, our amazing Child Nutrition team will be serving meals at three locations in the district! Curbside/Drive-up summer meal service starts on Monday, June 28 at Shining Mountain Elementary, Spanaway Lake High School, and Graham-Kapowsin High School.
Meals will be served Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
-
Summer meal service is FREE and open to ALL kids ages 1-18. Kids do not need to be BSD students.
-
Parents (or other adults) may pick up the meals. Kids do not need to be present at pick up.
-
Walk-ups are welcome, but there will be no on-site dining.
-
Meal bags will contain breakfast and lunch.
-
There will be no meal service on Monday, July 5th.
The summer meal program will run through July 30 at Shining Mountain and through August 13 at GKHS and SLHS.
Questions? Please call 253-800-3912.
Students! Earn extra credits this summer!
This summer, 9th through 12th grade students have the opportunity to earn extra credits toward graduation. Credit Retrieval Summer School Sessions will be held:
-
June 28 - July 16
-
July 19 - August 5
Students may attend one or both sessions. Each session will earn students 0.5 credits for each course successfully completed. Capacity is limited, so if you are interested, please fill out the Registration Form here: https://app.informedk12.com/
link_campaigns/2020-21-summer- school-credit-retrieval- application-electronic-form? token=11BFgh8T7QobcGSjMopceR29 Quick Clicks
The Graham Pierce County Library is now open!
https://www.facebook.com/
BethelSD/posts/ 10158738636879892 The Pierce County Library’s Summer Reading Program is underway! https://summerreading.pcls.us/
The County has a number of upcoming COVID-19 clinics.
https://www.tpchd.org/healthy-
people/diseases/covid-19/ covid-19-vaccine-information We're hiring school bus drivers and we provide in-house CDL training! https://www.applitrack.com/
bethelsd/onlineapp/default. aspx?Category=Transportation Registration for the 2021/22 school year is now open! Register now! https://www.bethelsd.org/
welcome -
-
School Board Meeting Recap 6-8-21
Comprehensive Sexual Health Curriculum Update
The Board heard an update about the work and progress being made by the Sexual Health Adoption Committee. Subgroups in the committee have been examining curriculum and standards for different grade bands: K-3, 4-5, 6-8 and 9-12. There is also a subgroup for HIV/AIDS education. Subgroups are forming their initial recommendations to present to the full committee in the fall.
Senate Bill 5395, passed by the legislature and Washington voters in 2020, requires all schools provide comprehensive sexual health education by the 2022-23 school year that is, “medically and scientifically accurate, age-appropriate, and inclusive of all students, regardless of their protected class status.”
Even with the new legislation in place, parents and guardians will still have the option to preview the curriculum ahead of time, and opt out their student(s) if they choose to.
2021 Retirees
The Board recognized staff members that are retiring this year with a slideshow.
Policy Updates
The Board accepted the following policies for first reading and further study.
- 4218 Language Access Plan
- 6000 Program Planning, Budget Preparation, Adoption and Implementation
- 6600 Transportation
Challenger High School Mascot
Challenger High School’s ASB students have been working for over a year to identify a mascot for their school. After their presentation, the Board accepted the raven as the official mascot for CHS.
http://go.boarddocs.com/wa/bethel/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C29P235F5528
Bethel High School Mascot Committee
The Board approved the members of the Bethel High School Mascot Committee.
Bethel Early Learning Center Naming
The Board selected Bethel Hope Early Learning Center as the new name of the Bethel Early Learning Center. Hope is a connection to the Lively Hope Community Church, which occupied the building prior to the District purchasing the property. It also shows the hope we have that the children attending the school will have a positive, productive start to their education.
-
Click Icons for Latest News
