Summer Meals & Food Resources for Bethel Families

Summer is here, and we want to help make sure every child has access to healthy meals while school is out. Whether you're looking for free meals, grocery assistance, or other summer opportunities, there are several resources available to support Bethel families. Free Meals in Bethel Children ages 0-18 can enjoy free breakfast and lunch this summer at two Bethel schools. No registration or paperwork is required. Willamette High School (1801 Echo Hollow Road) June 22-August 7 | Monday-Friday Breakfast: 9:00-10:00 a.m. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Prairie Mountain School (5305 Royal Ave.) June 22-August 14 | Monday-Friday Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 a.m. Lunch: 12:00-12:30 p.m. Please note: Meals must be eaten on site, children must be present to receive a meal, and menus may change based on food availability. More Free Meal Options Food for Lane County  also offers free lunch for youth ages 18 and younger at locations throughout Lane County. June 22-August 21 | Monday-Friday | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Many summer camps, summer school programs, and other eligible youth programs across Oregon also provide free meals to enrolled participants. If your child is attending a summer program, ask whether meals are available. Visit the Food for Lane County Summer Food Program for additional meal locations and daily menus. Bethel Summer Resources Our Summer Resources webpage includes information about summer meal programs, community events, sports camps, family resources, and more. Visit  bethel.k12.or.us/summe r to learn more, and please share this resource with friends, neighbors, and other Bethel families. Additional Grocery Benefits for Eligible Families Many Oregon families may qualify for Summer EBT, which provides a one-time $120 grocery benefit for each eligible school-aged child to help purchase food during the summer. Many families will receive these benefits automatically if their child qualified during the 2025-26 school year through SNAP, TANF, qualifying Medicaid, foster care, or certain student eligibility categories. Other families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals may need to submit an application. To learn more about eligibility or apply, visit sebt.oregon.gov. Families can also find additional free summer meal sites across Oregon by calling or texting 2-1-1 or by using Oregon's Summer Meals Site Finder. The site also includes participating camps, summer schools, and other eligible summer programs that offer free meals. We hope these resources help your family enjoy a healthy, fun, and active summer. We look forward to welcoming students back this fall!

Friday, Jul 10 2026

Big learning is happening this summer in Bethel!

Bethel's Summer Reading Program is in full swing, and this year, 285 students are spending their mornings building confidence and strengthening their reading skills with the support of 46 dedicated staff members. Designed for students in current grades K–5 who have been identified through reading assessments as benefiting from additional support, the program provides targeted instruction in reading, language comprehension, and phonics through engaging, small-group learning. The classrooms are full of energy, curiosity, and encouragement. Students start their day with breakfast, spend the morning learning alongside caring educators, enjoy lunch together, and head home at 12:30 after a morning of meaningful growth. Programs like this make a lasting difference. Every summer, we see students make tremendous progress, with many returning to school ready to thrive and no longer needing the same level of reading support. We're so proud of our students, families, and staff for making the most of summer learning!

Friday, Jul 10 2026

Tai Pruce-Zimmerman joins Bethel School Board

At its June 24 meeting, Tai Pruce-Zimmerman was officially sworn in on the Bethel School Board to fill a vacancy following the resignation of a former board member. When a position on the Board becomes vacant before the end of a term, the Board solicits applications from interested community members and appoints a replacement by majority vote. Tai Pruce-Zimmerman will serve through June 30, 2027. The position will then be on the ballot during the next regular school board election. Pruce-Zimmerman, who was a appointed by the school board brings a strong commitment to public education and serving the Bethel community. We are excited to welcome him to the Board and look forward to the perspective, leadership, and dedication he will bring in support of Bethel students, staff, and families. Please join us in welcoming Pruce-Zimmerman to the Bethel School District Board of Directors!

Thursday, Jul 09 2026

2026 Unified Football Camp

2026 Unified Football Camp @ Willamette Wolverine Stadium (1801 Echo Hallow Rd. Eugene, Oregon 97402)  Register here Friday, August 14th Camp Time 9:00-10:00 am Post Camp BBQ 10:00-10:30 am Camp Includes:  A variety of football drills (with Willamette Varsity Football Players supporting and interacting with campers making sure they have fun and are safe). All campers will have the opportunity to take pictures with Willamette Varsity Football Players and a Team Picture. Gear to Bring: Athletic Shoes, T-Shirt & Shorts, Water Bottle or Sports Drink, all campers will get to wear an official Willamette Football Jersey for the camp. Student Support: Students must be accompanied by an adult. Willamette football players/football staff & adults trained to support students with special needs will run and assist in camp activities. All we need is a familiar face there to make sure the campers feel comfortable. Camp Participation Information: Participants are invited to wear an official Willamette Varsity Jersey or bring their own. All Campers will receive a FREE t-shirt. All campers and their families are invited to a post-camp -BBQ hosted by Willamette Football. Camp Contacts: Josh Line Head Football Coach josh.line@bethel.k12.or.us Kara Schmidt Coaches Liaison/Support Staff Kara@ElevateRealEstate.Group 541-954-0286   Brook Lahmann Parent Liaison brookly.lahmann@gmail.com 805-794-5460   Register here

Tuesday, Jun 16 2026

Danebo Elementary Expansion Project

Danebo Elementary Expansion Project Begins This Summer This summer, construction will begin on the final major project funded through Bethel's voter-approved 2020 bond: a significant expansion and renovation of Danebo Elementary School. The project includes a new building featuring six classrooms, a shared learning space, and a new gymnasium. The addition will be connected to the existing school through a covered breezeway and will be built on the current baseball field site. Construction on the new addition is expected to continue through spring 2027. In addition to the new building, several improvements will be made to the existing school, including renovations to the front entrance and current gym, which will serve as more of a multipurpose room in the future, installation of a new digital reader board, and cooling in every classroom. We are grateful to our community for investing in Bethel students and schools through the 2020 bond. These improvements will create more comfortable, functional, and engaging learning spaces for current and future generations of Danebo students. We would also like to thank our project partners, Pence Construction and Rowell Brokaw Architects, for their work in bringing this project to life. To stay up to date, visit https://bethel.k12.or.us/danebo-remodel Join Us for the Groundbreaking Ceremony The community is invited to celebrate the start of construction at a groundbreaking ceremony on June 10 at noon at Danebo Elementary School. Students, staff, School Board members, and project partners will participate in a brief ceremony marking this exciting milestone for Danebo and the Bethel community. We hope you'll join us as we celebrate the beginning of a project that will benefit Danebo students for years to come. Construction activity will begin this summer and continue throughout the 2026–27 school year. We appreciate the patience and support of our students, families, staff, and neighbors as this exciting project moves forward

Monday, Jun 08 2026

Welcome to Kindergarten! Important Smart Start Infor...

Kindergarten Smart Start Bethel School District's Kindergarten Smart Start program is designed to help students and families transition smoothly into kindergarten. During the first two weeks of school, incoming kindergarten students attend in smaller groups and on part-time schedules, allowing children to become comfortable in their new school environment while staff get to know each learner. What is Smart Start? Smart Start provides a gradual introduction to kindergarten and helps students learn important school routines and expectations, including: Classroom expectations Recess routines Cafeteria procedures Arrival and dismissal routines Building relationships with peers and staff This approach also allows educators to get to know each child through observation, play, and small-group activities, helping schools create balanced classrooms that support all learners. Kindergarten Smart Start Schedule Week 1: September 7–11 During the first week of school, kindergarten students attend two early-release Smart Start sessions in a small-group setting. This allows staff to observe students in a welcoming environment and begin learning about their strengths, interests, and needs. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day. Week 2: September 14–18 During the second week of school, kindergarten students attend one full-day session and one early-release session. All students attend together on Wednesday. Individual family meetings take place on Thursday and Friday, providing an opportunity for families to connect with school staff and learn their child's classroom placement. All kindergarten students begin attending full-day kindergarten on September 21. Kindergarten Orientation Each Bethel elementary school will host a kindergarten orientation event the week before school begins (August 31–September 4). Families will receive school-specific information regarding dates, times, and locations during the summer. Registration & Transportation Students must be registered for kindergarten before participating in Smart Start. Families who need bus transportation should also complete the district's transportation registration form. Transportation registration is separate from kindergarten enrollment. Kindergarten Registration Transportation Registration Smart Start Family Questionnaire To help schools prepare for a successful start to the school year, families are asked to complete the Smart Start Family Questionnaire. This form provides important information about scheduling preferences and helps staff learn more about incoming kindergarten students and their families. Smart Start Family Questionnaire Questions? Questions about Smart Start, kindergarten registration, or transportation can be directed to your neighborhood school or the Bethel District Office at 541-689-3280. We look forward to welcoming the Class of 2039 to Bethel Schools!

Wednesday, Jun 03 2026

FREE Summer Kindergarten Readiness Program for Incom...

FREE Summer Kindergarten Readiness Program for Incoming Kindergarteners Bethel is excited to offer KITS (Kids in Transition to School), a free summer program designed to help incoming kindergarten students and their families feel confident and ready for the start of school. During this six-week program, children participate in engaging activities that build early reading, social, and classroom skills, while parents and caregivers attend workshops focused on supporting a successful transition to kindergarten. Program details: Dates : June 29–August 6 Days: Monday–Thursday, 8:30–11:00 a.m. Location : Prairie Mountain School Transportation provided Breakfast and healthy snacks provided KITS is open to all incoming Bethel kindergarten families, but space is limited and spots are filled on a first come, first served basis. Families can learn more and register HERE!   Programa GRATUITO de Verano para preparar a los estudiantes que empezarán el Kindergarten El Distrito Escolar de Bethel se complace en ofrecer KITS (Kids in Transition to School), un programa gratuito de verano diseñado para ayudar a los estudiantes que ingresarán al kindergarten y a sus familias a sentirse seguros y preparados para el comienzo de la escuela. Durante este programa de seis semanas, los niños participarán en actividades divertidas que fortalecen las habilidades tempranas de lectura, sociales y de salón de clases, mientras que los padres y cuidadores asistirán a talleres enfocados en apoyar una transición exitosa al kindergarten. Detalles adicionales: Fechas: 29 de junio–6 de agosto Horario: lunes a jueves, de 8:30 a.m. a 11:00 a.m. Lugar: Prairie Mountain School Se proporciona transporte Se ofrecerán desayuno y bocadillos saludables Abierto a todas las familias de Bethel con estudiantes que ingresarán al kindergarten El espacio es limitado y los lugares se asignarán por orden de inscripción Las familias pueden obtener más información sobre el programa e inscribirse en el sitio web de Bethel .  ¿Tiene preguntas? No dude en comunicarse con Yadira Flores al 541-607-1497 o al Google Voice 541-321-8779 (llamada o mensaje de texto).

Tuesday, Jun 02 2026

FREE Summer Kindergarten Readiness Program for Incom...

FREE Summer Kindergarten Readiness Program for Incoming Kindergarteners Bethel is excited to offer KITS (Kids in Transition to School), a free summer program designed to help incoming kindergarten students and their families feel confident and ready for the start of school. During this six-week program, children participate in engaging activities that build early reading, social, and classroom skills, while parents and caregivers attend workshops focused on supporting a successful transition to kindergarten. Program details: Dates : June 29–August 6 Days: Monday–Thursday, 8:30–11:00 a.m. Location : Prairie Mountain School Transportation provided Breakfast and healthy snacks provided KITS is open to all incoming Bethel kindergarten families, but space is limited and spots are filled on a first come, first served basis. Families can learn more and register HERE!   Programa GRATUITO de Verano para preparar a los estudiantes que empezarán el Kindergarten El Distrito Escolar de Bethel se complace en ofrecer KITS (Kids in Transition to School), un programa gratuito de verano diseñado para ayudar a los estudiantes que ingresarán al kindergarten y a sus familias a sentirse seguros y preparados para el comienzo de la escuela. Durante este programa de seis semanas, los niños participarán en actividades divertidas que fortalecen las habilidades tempranas de lectura, sociales y de salón de clases, mientras que los padres y cuidadores asistirán a talleres enfocados en apoyar una transición exitosa al kindergarten. Detalles adicionales: Fechas: 29 de junio–6 de agosto Horario: lunes a jueves, de 8:30 a.m. a 11:00 a.m. Lugar: Prairie Mountain School Se proporciona transporte Se ofrecerán desayuno y bocadillos saludables Abierto a todas las familias de Bethel con estudiantes que ingresarán al kindergarten El espacio es limitado y los lugares se asignarán por orden de inscripción Las familias pueden obtener más información sobre el programa e inscribirse en el sitio web de Bethel .  ¿Tiene preguntas? No dude en comunicarse con Yadira Flores al 541-607-1497 o al Google Voice 541-321-8779 (llamada o mensaje de texto).

Tuesday, Jun 02 2026

June Newsletter with Summer Resources, Camps and More!

Bethel District News June, 2026 Summer 2026 issue Plan ahead for 2026-27! Summer resources: Free summer meals Summer camps and sports camps Community events Last day of school - Thursday, June 11 (half day) Friday, June 12: Grading/in-service day (last day for teachers)    Graduation information The Willamette High School graduation ceremony will be Friday, June 5th at 6:30 p.m. at Wolverine Stadium. The Kalapuya High School graduation ceremony will be Thursday, June 11th at 5:30 p.m. at Wolverine Stadium. Planning for 2026-27 school year Enrollment Reminder Just a reminder to all Bethel families to please fill out your registration paperwork as soon as possible. This helps us plan for the upcoming school year. New and returning families can register here.    Plan ahead for next school year with the 2026-27 calendar, linked here! Bethel District Calendars   Register now for bus transportation for 2026-27 school year All students must be registered each school year to receive transportation services. Families must complete a request form for each student who needs busing to and from school—even if you already provided busing information as part of the school registration process. The Transportation Request Form for the 2026–2027 school year is now open and available on the Bethel School District website. The forms are also included below. Submitting this form helps ensure that qualifying students have a route assigned before the start of the school year. Kindergarten Transportation Request Form Grades 1-12 Transportation Request Form Summer resources, camps and events Summer is here, and there are a number of resources available to Bethel students and families while they are away from school, most are listed below! Be sure to check out our summer resource page linked here for information about meals, events and other resources. Click here for summer resources Free summer meals Free breakfast and lunch meals will again be available to all Bethel students throughout the summer months! Children ages 0-18 have access to both breakfast and lunch at two Bethel schools – Prairie Mountain School and Willamette High School. Details are included below. Summer Meal Schedules Willamette High School – 1801 Echo Hollow Road Dates: June 22 - August 7  Breakfast: 9:00-10:00 a.m. Monday – Friday  Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday – Friday   Prairie Mountain – 5305 Royal Ave. Dates: June 22 - August 10 Breakfast 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Monday – Friday Lunch: 12:00-12:30 p.m. Monday – Friday Things to know: No grab-and-go meals: All summer meals will be provided for on-site consumption. Children will be welcome to eat their meals in our school courtyard-areas.  Children accessing the meals must be present to receive them. Parents, guardians, and others are not able to take food home with them. Summer meal programs may have to make last-minute changes to the menu, based on availability.   Food for Lane County summer food program Free lunch for youths 18 & under!  June 22-August 21 11:30am-12:30pm, Monday-Friday Visit Food for Lane County - summer food program for list of sites and the daily menu   Produce Plus Families throughout the community are welcome to visit the first-come, first-served drive through produce pick-up from 10am-12p.m. every Wednesday at the Bethel Farm located behind Prairie Mountain School, access via Patriot Way. Be sure to park in the Farm’s gravel parking area. Click here for more information and details   Bethel Family Resource Center The Bethel Family Resource Center will be available to Bethel families throughout the summer months. Families are invited to come in and “shop” for food and essentials, including fresh food, dairy products, breads, canned products, clothes, toiletries and more.  Have questions? Contact Shannon Witty at Shannon.Witty@bethel.k12.or.us or call 541-689-0641 ext 3024. Check the Bethel events calendar for dates! Where: Clear Lake Resource Center at 4646 Barger Drive until July. From July 9th on, the pantry will be located at 4656 Barger Drive (formerly Shasta Middle School)   Summer EBT for school-aged children returns Summer EBT is a grocery benefits program. It helps families buy food for their school-aged children when school is out. Each summer, families will get one payment of $120 for each eligible child to buy groceries. Who Qualifies: Families can find details about Summer EBT at sebt.oregon.gov.  Your family received Summer EBT benefits through an approved application in 2025. Children on SNAP, TANF, or the Oregon Health Plan. Children in foster care. Kids attending schools with free or reduced-price meal programs, including those in migrant programs, experiencing houselessness, or in Head Start. How to Get Benefits: Most families will be automatically enrolled and receive benefits on their EBT card. Some families need to apply. Sign up at sebt.oregon.gov to be notified when to apply.   Use benefits at stores and farmers markets accepting EBT. For more info, visit this page or contact 2-1-1. Want to contact someone directly at the Bethel School District? Call 541-689-3280 and ask to talk with Molly Lucas.    More summer meals program resources Food for Lane County Oregon Summer Food Program Find a Meal site Low Income Relief FreeFood.org Summer and sports camps Sports camps Here is a list of sports camps you will find on our summer resource page: Bethel Youth Football and Cheer Camp Unified Football and Cheer Camp Girls Volleyball Camp Boys and Girls Basketball Camp Girls Soccer Youth Camp Youth Football Camp Visit the summer resource page for more information and details!   Fun and FREE for any Bethel Student entering 4th grade! Register here! Students will enjoy: Gardening Beekeeping Arts and crafts Nature exploration Cooking Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm June 22-26, June 29-July 3, July 6-10 For questions, please contact Stormy Smith or call 541-607-9853   Chess camp All the details for the camp can be found on this registration link (full details from the link are printed below) Two weeks of chess camp will be offered this summer: July 13-17 and July 27-31. The camp schedule will be 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. The camp is open to all K-12 students (All K-2 students should know the basics of piece movement). For more information, click on this chess camp link Here are the full details from link: Two weeks of chess camp will be offered this summer: July 13-17 and July 27-31. The camp schedule will be 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. The camp is open to all K-12 students (All K-2 students should know the basics of piece movement). If not already USCF members, participants will receive a 1-yr membership as part of their registration. Click here to see photos of past chess camps. The suggested donation for the camp is $150 ($30/day). There are sibling and multiple week discounts. No one will be turned away for financial reasons. If you can pay more to help cover the costs for others, your generosity is always appreciated. All profits will help support the Willamette High School Chess Club. More details about the camp including payment options will be sent out 2 weeks before the camp. Click here to see what last year's funds helped provide. Monday through Thursday campers we will be improving their chess game while having fun through active lessons, rated USCF games, blitz sprints and chess variants like bughouse! Friday will feature a USCF rated tournament so campers can show how much they have learned! Campers should provide their own lunch and water/snacks (note: during both camps, free breakfast and lunch are available at Willamette HS for those under 18). The camp will be based in Room 10 at Willamette High School, 1801 Echo Hollow Rd, Eugene, OR 97402. Contact Mike Myers for more information: mike.myers@bethel.k12.or.us Free and fun summer events Learn to ride a bike - Free, all ages, drop-in event for not-yet-riders Sunday, August 30, 2:00-4:30 pm, Willamette High School (1801 Echo Hollow Rd, Eugene) Safe Routes to School can teach you or your kid how to ride a bike! We teach kids in local schools and hold several Community Learn to Ride events every year that are completely free, super fun and open to the public. See below for information about how to teach somebody to ride a bike, or to sign up to volunteer at one of our events! ​ **Community Learn to Ride events will be cancelled or postponed if air quality is 150 or above on the AQI scale.  ​ Contact Rachel.Tochen@bethel.k12.or.us with questions or to volunteer.   Health Fair Free resources and services June 6, 2026 12:00-4:00pm NAACP Office: 4646 Barger Drive, Eugene   We’re excited to share a free summer opportunity for Latinx youth ages 15–18 through the Pasos al Futuro / Puertas Abiertas Leadership Academy, offered in partnership with Lane Community College. Running July 10–24, this bilingual, bicultural program helps students build confidence, leadership, and life skills for future success. Participants will enjoy workshops on financial literacy, scholarship and résumé writing, college campus visits, and fun community-building activities that celebrate culture and connection. Visit the link here   The Bethel Green Teams want to thank you for your support this year. You’ve done many things to help us in our endeavor to reduce solid waste in our landfills and bring about an awareness of sustainability to our community. Together, we have: switched all but the high schools to flatware instead of plastic sporks created a sorting station for compost and recycling at each of 8 schools established a NO IDLING campaign to save our lungs and atmosphere held many activities such as auctions, costume share fairs, and shoe drives grown pollinator gardens hosted Walk to School events raised awareness of food waste in our cafeterias increased awareness via announcements, marquee and LED signs, and posts in ParentSquare participated in this year’s Electronics Drive. held a FIX-IT Fair hosting Earth Week activities at each school …and much more. We look forward to working with you next year to continue our amazing progress on our goals. We couldn’t do it without you. ~The Green Teams   Green Teams contact: Ellie.Owens@Bethel.K12.OR.US   Celebrating our amazing staff Thank you for sending in your nominations throughout the year! This school year, we awarded over 100 Staff Spirit Awards! Thank you to all our fantastic teachers and staff who have really made an impact on their community! Have someone deserving in mind? Click the link below to submit a Staff Spirit Award nomination! Spirit Awards!   Help us prepare for next school year Your voice helps us grow. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts in our Communications Survey — what’s worked well, what could be improved, and how we can better communicate for the next school year. 👉 Take the survey here!   Bethel School District Website

Monday, Jun 01 2026

Bethel Students Showed Up — And It Shows!

Dear Bethel families, Bethel students showed up — and it shows! Students across the district have just completed Oregon’s statewide assessments, also known as the Smarter Balanced (SBAC) assessments. These assessments are one way students can show what they know and reflect the learning they’ve built throughout the school year, and we have some great news to share following this year’s testing season.  We’re excited to share that we saw incredible gains in participation across our district this year! While we don’t have all of the data back quite yet, we can share that at Willamette, we saw participation rates double from last year! In addition, we have some anecdotal data that shows how much growth and achievement took place in particular grade levels and it’s inspiring to see.  Thank you for partnering with us to support students during the testing process. We are excited to continue building on our progress next school year.  Reports to be mailed to all 3rd-8th grade students  Before summer break, families of students in grades 3-8 will receive a mailed copy of their student’s progress report from Bethel School District designed to provide a more complete picture of each student’s progress. This report will also be shared digitally via ParentSquare. An example of the report is included in this message and will include: SBAC scores in English Language Arts and Math A brief summary explaining what the assessments measure Your student’s rate of attendance this year Tips and ideas for supporting your student’s success A QR code linking to additional information about SBAC testing and student progress in Bethel As you review your student's results, keep this in mind: growth looks different for every child. Even if your student stayed at the same achievement level as last year, they may have made real progress — these scores are one piece of a much bigger picture of who they are as a learner.  Families looking for more information about SBAC scores, achievement levels, state standards, and how Bethel prepared and supported students during testing can visit the  district website for additional resources and explanations . There, families can also learn more about how Bethel staff helped students prepare for testing through practice questions, test-taking strategies, and conversations about why these assessments matter and how they can help reflect student learning and progress.   Thank you for your partnership this year. Your support during testing season makes a real difference for our students, and we look forward to building on this momentum together next year. Sincerely, Bethel School District

Thursday, May 28 2026