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Administrator Changes for 2025-26 School Year
As we look ahead to the 2025–26 school year, we’re excited to celebrate the dedicated leaders stepping into new roles in Bethel! Some are long-standing members of our community taking on fresh challenges, while others are new additions bringing valuable experience and energy to our team. Please join us in congratulating the following administrators: Mari Ford - Administrator - District Office After 21 years as principal of Danebo Elementary—and 29 years in Bethel—Mari Ford will officially “retire” from her role at Danebo this year. Her hard work, institutional knowledge, and deep kindness have left a lasting impact on Danebo and district. She will definitely be missed at Danebo, but we are thrilled Mari will remain on the Bethel team for at least one more year as an administrator at the Bethel District Office. Jenn DeBlois - Principal - Danebo Elementary School Jenn DeBlois, current Clear Lake Principal, will take over as principal at Danebo Elementary next year. With Clear Lake Elementary transitioning into a community hub this summer, Jenn will continue serving as a Bethel administrator just down the road at Danebo. Over the past three years, Jenn has led Clear Lake with care and dedication. Prior to that, she served as principal of the Bethel Online Academy (BOA), and before that, spent 16 years as an elementary teacher at Prairie Mountain. Her experience, relationships, and commitment to Bethel will be an incredible asset to the Danebo community. Trinity Welch-Radabaugh – Principal - Shasta Middle School Trinity Welch-Radabaugh, currently assistant principal at Willamette High School, will step into the principal role at Shasta Middle School. We extend our best wishes to current principal Brady Cottle, who has accepted a position with Springfield Public Schools. Trinity has been an integral part of the Willamette community, bringing dedication, expertise, and a passion for student success to our district. We know she will make a positive impact on the Shasta community. Trinity brings 19 years of experience in education, including serving as principal and assistant principal at North Eugene High School, and prior roles in the Corvallis School District. Her leadership and student-centered approach will be a great fit for Shasta. Michael McDonald - Willamette Assistant Principal Michael McDonald, currently the district’s CTE coordinator, will become an assistant principal at Willamette next school year. Michael brings over a decade of experience as a building principal in Central Oregon. Over the past year, he has worked closely with WHS students and staff, building strong relationships across Bethel’s secondary schools and the broader community. We are proud to welcome and celebrate these leaders as they continue helping Bethel thrive. Here's to a strong start to the 2025–26 school year!
Monday, Jun 09 2025
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Bethel all-staff BBQ - Friday, June 13
The Bethel Education Foundation is hosting an all staff BBQ Friday, June 13, from 1-3 p.m. in the District Office parking lot! Join us for a family-friendly celebration to mark the end of the 2024-25 school year. To-go containers will be available for anyone who can't stay long. We hope to see you there!
Monday, Jun 09 2025
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Bethel Newsletter: Summer Resources, Events & Inform...
District Newsletter Summer 2025 Last day of school June 12 - Last Day of K-12 (Half Day) June 13 - Grading/In-Service Day (last day for Teachers) Coming Up Summer break is just around the corner! We hope that everyone gets the opportunity to rest and relax a little over the summer months. We recognize that a break from school can sometimes mean a break from routine, regular meals and time with peers. Included below is a list of resources and opportunities for Bethel families to take advantage of over the summer months, including free food, local summer camps and more. 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. Transportation request process and timeline for 2025-2026 school year can be found here! Transportation Request Forms Student-Led Bake Sale - June 6 Our students in the Rooted In Blackness after-school program will be hosting their very first Student-Led Bake Sale on Thursday, June 6th after school (3:30pm) at Cascade Middle School. This fundraiser is a wonderful opportunity for our students to practice leadership, community engagement, and teamwork—all while raising funds to support Rooted In Blackness programming. FREE Summer Meals in Bethel! 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 23 - August 8 Breakfast: 9:00-9:30 a.m. Monday – Friday Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday – Friday Prairie Mountain – 5305 Royal Ave. Dates: June 23 - August 8 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. Produce Plus Families throughout the community are welcome to visit the first-come, first-served drive through produce pick-up from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.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. Bethel Family Resource Center The Bethel Family Resource Center will be available to Bethel families throughout the summer months. The center will be open from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the following dates: June 18, July 10, July 24, Aug 7, Aug 21. 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. What: Cascade Family Resource Center When: 4-6 p.m. June 18, July 10, July 24, Aug 7, Aug 21. Where: Clear Lake Resource Center at 4646 Barger Drive starting July 10th! Summer EBT for school-aged children returns for second year The Summer EBT program helps families buy food for school-aged children during summer break. The program aims to reduce child hunger and support healthier diets. Who Qualifies: Families can find details about Summer EBT at sebt.oregon.gov. Your family received Summer EBT benefits through an approved application in 2024. 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. Click here to learn more More summer meals program resources Food for Lane County Oregon Summer Food Program Find a Meal site Low Income Relief FreeFood.org Youth Sports Opportunities Upcoming Athletic Opportunities Willamette High School athletic programs will begin their summer workouts throughout the next few weeks. Click here to view some of the sports Willamette offers. If you do not see the sport you are interested in listed, please reach out to Willamette's Athletic Director, Bill Wagner -bill.wagner@bethel.k12.or.us for questions. Free + Fun Summer Events Save The Date! BEF Movie Night at WHS - Watch for more information! July 19, 2025 Click here to learn more Looking Ahead for 2025-26 Early Release Wednesdays & Expanded After-School Care We’re excited to share that the 2025–26 school year calendar has officially been approved by the Bethel School Board. We believe that this calendar will greatly benefit both staff and students by supporting collaboration, planning, and strong instruction. The finalized calendar is attached to this message - happy planning! Information about early release schedule can be found here! Bethel families are invited to apply for free, full-day preschool through Preschool Promise at the soon-to-be Clear Lake Community Center! Apply here for fall 2025. More details can be found at bethelpreschoolpromise.org Follow us for exciting news and updates Huge congrats to Willamette and Prairie Mountain for 1st and 2nd in the E-Waste competition! Together, Bethel schools saved 8,120 pounds of e-waste from landfills. Special shoutout to Ellie Owens, our Green Teacher Leader, nominated for the Jeanne Roy Changemaker of the Year Award for her amazing work building green teams across our schools. Thank you, Ellie, and thanks to everyone helping Bethel go greener! Like and follow us on social media for more updates like this: Facebook Instagram Want to start planning for next school year? Check out the 2025-26 Bethel School District calendar here.
Wednesday, Jun 04 2025
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Register now for bus transportation for 2025-26 scho...
Dear Bethel families, The end of the school year is just around the corner and of course, we are already preparing for next school year! One important thing that you need to know is that we are introducing a new annual process for bus transportation requests. Beginning this 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 2025–2026 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 Transportation request form timeline: June 1 – August 18: Transportation request window open All eligible requests submitted by August 18 will be assigned a bus route in time for the first day of school. Route information will be shared with families about one week before school begins. August 19 – September 1: Temporary closure of transportation request form The request system will temporarily close to prepare routes. September 2: Request form reopens Families submitting after August 18 may experience delays, and requests could take up to five days to process once school has started. A few reminders: Students must be approved and assigned to a route before riding the bus. Not all requests are guaranteed. Eligibility is based on Bethel’s busing policies. Students who don’t ride the bus for two consecutive weeks may be removed from the route. If your student’s participation in sports or other activities affects ridership, contact the Transportation Department. Walk Zones & Transfer Students: Students living within Bethel’s walk zone or attending a school on a district transfer, charter, or Superintendent Exchange are not eligible for regular bus transportation. Alternate bus requests for walk area students are not accepted. Bethel’s walk area is determined by board policy EEA : For elementary students to receive bus transportation, they must reside one mile or more from school. For middle and high school students, transportation will be provided for those students who reside 1.5 miles or more from the school. Questions? Please reach out to Bethel’s Transportation Department by emailing transportationrouters@bethel.k12.or.us we’re here to help!
Tuesday, Jun 03 2025
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Upcoming Athletic Opportunities
Starting on Tuesday, May 27th the OSAA open period begins. Willamette High School athletic programs will begin their summer workouts throughout the next few weeks. Below are the schedules for some of the sports Willamette offers. If you do not see the sport you are interested in listed, please reach out to Willamette's Athletic Director, Bill Wagner - bill.wagner@bethel.k12.or.us for questions. Girls Volleyball - Weight Room workouts every Thursday May-June from 3:30-4:30 - Small group sessions in the main gym from 10:00-11:00 am every Tuesday in July Girls Soccer - Workouts start on June 17th and they are every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00-11:00 am inside Wolverine Stadium Boys Soccer - Workouts start on June 17th and they are every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30-10:00 am inside Wolverine Stadium Boys Basketball - Summer tryouts are May 27th and 28th in the main gym from 4:00-6:00 pm Girls Basketball - Summer tryouts are May 27th, 28th,29th and 30th in the main gym from 6:00-8:00 pm Track and Field - Summer workouts start June 17th, and they are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00-11:30 am Dance Team - Summer Tryouts are May 29th and 30th from 4:00-6:00 pm in the main gym Cheer Team - Summer Tryouts are May 27th, 28th in the upper gym from 4:00-6:00 pm and May 29th from 4:00-7:00 pm in the West gym All athletes who are playing a Fall sport you can register for your sport using this link - Willamette High School All students will also need a current physical to participate next year. The Bethel Health Center is currently offering free physicals for the next few weeks. Please contact the Bethel Health Center at (541) 607-1430 to get your appointment scheduled. Go Wolverines!!
Friday, May 23 2025
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Bethel Newsletter: May 2025
Bethel District News May, 2025 Bethel District Calendars In this issue 2025-26 Bethel District Calendar Update on Early Release Clear Lake Farewell Celebration Parent & Caregiver Survey Kalapuya Plant Sale Family literacy nights! Upcoming no-school days May 26 - Memorial Day 📅 2025–26 Calendar Approved: Early Release Wednesdays + Expanded After-School Care The Bethel School Board has officially approved the 2025–26 school year calendar, which includes a new 90-minute early release every Wednesday starting in September. To help families adjust, we’ve expanded after-school care across the district: Boys & Girls Club is moving to the new Clear Lake Community Center with space for up to 120 students. Summer camp registration is open now! Learn more » YMCA will offer care at Meadow View and Fairfield Annex, with registration now open. Adventure Club is relocating to Danebo Elementary and accepting students from all Bethel elementaries. After School Club continues to serve students at Irving Elementary with both K–5 and preschool care. Plus, the soon-to-open Clear Lake Community Center (CLCC) will be a vibrant resource for youth and families across Bethel. More about the CLCC » 📎 View the approved calendar here. 📖 Read more about the schedule change and expanded care options here. Clear Lake Farewell Celebration - You’re invited! Thursday, May 22 | 4:30–7:00 PM Clear Lake Elementary- 4646 Barger Drive After decades of memories, learning, and community, it’s time to give Clear Lake Elementary the send off it deserves. We invite all current and former Clear Lake families, staff, and alumni- and anyone who wants to celebrate Clear Lake - to join us for one final celebration of this beloved school. 🎉 Event Schedule: 🕟 4:30–5:30 PM – Self-guided Open House through the school building 🎈 5:00–7:00 PM – Outdoor Party with food, music, bounce house, face painting, crafts, memorabilia, and more! This is a special opportunity to walk the halls one last time, reconnect with familiar faces, and celebrate the Clear Lake community together. Heads Up: Parent & Caregiver Survey Opens Next Week! We want to hear from you! Bethel’s annual Parent & Caregiver Experience Survey opens Wednesday, May 7 through Friday, May 16. Your feedback helps us improve, create welcoming schools, and better serve students and families. The survey takes just 10–15 minutes and can be completed for each school your child attends. All responses are confidential, and we’ll share results once the survey closes so you can see how your input makes a difference. Stay tuned for the survey link next week! KITS (Kids in Transition to School) KITS (Kids in Transition to School) Bethel School District is offering a FREE summer program for you and your child to get ready for kindergarten. KITS (Kids In Transition to School) improves early reading and social skills, building a solid foundation for future success. Throughout the 8 week program… Children attend groups to learn valuable classroom skills and prepare for kindergarten Parents/guardians attend workshops to learn ways to support their child during the all-important start in kindergarten Transportation is provided Healthy snacks are provided KITS runs for 8 weeks from June-August and is open to all Bethel families, but space is limited and groups are filled on a first come, first served basis. This year’s program will take place at Meadow View K-8. Families can register here. To learn more about KITS, including dates, times and locations, visit our Bethel website. Click here for a look at how KITS makes a difference for kindergartners. Bethel Family Literacy Nights - Save the Date! We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming Family Literacy Nights, designed to build community around reading and support every young reader in Bethel! These fun and engaging events will feature family-friendly information about the Science of Reading, hands-on reading activities tailored to each grade level, and take-home resources to support reading at home. Every student will also receive a free book to enjoy, and families can enjoy a delicious dinner and dessert together! 📚 Theme: Passport Around the Reading Brain 🍝 Dinner: Spaghetti, butter noodles, garlic bread & lemonade 📍Malabon Literacy Night Tuesday, May 13 | 5:30–7 PM Open to families from Malabon, Fairfield, Irving, and Clear Lake 📍Prairie Mountain Literacy Night Thursday, May 15 | 5:30–7 PM Open to families from Prairie Mountain, Meadow View, Danebo, and Clear Lake Kalapuya Plant Sale - May 10 Come grab your garden goodies at the annual Kalapuya High School plant sale! When: Saturday, May 10, 9am–1pm Where: Kalapuya High School – 1200 N. Terry St. What: Wooden planter boxes, hanging flower baskets and lots of flower, veggie, fruit & herb starts! All proceeds support Kalapuya High School and the Bethel Farm! Make a difference in the lives of students - Donate today! Every year, Bethel Education Foundation awards a graduating senior from Kalapuya and Willamette High School with a $1,000 scholarship to use towards their continuing education. Watch the video below and see how your generosity can make a significant difference for our students! Follow this link to donate! Check Out the 2025 Client Resource Guide! The latest Direction Service Client Resource Guide is now available! This helpful guide is packed with information about activities, camps, community supports, educational services, and employment programs for youth with disabilities and their families. You can view the guide online or print a copy to keep at home. It’s a great resource to explore opportunities and supports available throughout our community. 📘 Find it here: directionservice.org/familyresources Celebrating our amazing staff! Do you have a favorite Bethel staff member who should be celebrated? Is there someone who goes above and beyond to help students and staff? Show them some love with a Bethel Spirit Award nomination! Spirit Awards! Bethel School District Website
Wednesday, May 07 2025
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Bethel student joins Gov. Kotek to celebrate histori...
Today, our own Bethel student Sofía Vasquez, had the incredible opportunity to join Gov. @govtinakotek at the Oregon State Capitol as she signed House Bill 2007 into law! HB 2007 is a summer learning bill that will allocate $35 million per year toward summer learning for Oregon students for the next three summers. Sofía was one of 400 students who participated in Bethel’s Summer Reading Program last year, where nearly one in four students improved so much that they no longer need intensive literacy support! Sofía can now read more than 100 words per minute! The Bethel Summer Reading Program is proving that early intervention works . With continued summer support for K-3 students, more students will be on track to meet critical reading benchmarks by the end of 3rd grade, setting them up for lifelong success. Thanks to Bethel’s strong foundation in summer learning, our district has been awarded more than $730,000 to support this year’s Summer Reading Program! With this legislative support, we can expand this proven program and ensure every child—regardless of background—has the opportunity to become a confident, proficient reader. We’re so proud of Sofía and all of our students who are thriving thanks to this program. With HB 2007, sustainable funding for summer learning is now secured through 2027, ensuring even more success for Oregon students!
Wednesday, Apr 30 2025
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Happening this week: WHS Theatre proudly presents-Se...
WHS Theatre proudly presents… Seussical Jr.! When: 7 p.m. May 1-3 Where: Powers Auditorium at Willamette High School 1801 Echo Hollow Road Tickets : $6 students/staff; $8 general admission – available at the door or online at willamettehs.booktix.com Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in Seussical Jr in this fantastical musical extravaganza. Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. Horton must protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, and he must also guard an abandoned egg that's been left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant!
Monday, Apr 28 2025
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Early Release Wednesdays & Expanded After-School Car...
Dear Bethel Families, We’re excited to share that the 2025–26 school year calendar has officially been approved by the Bethel School Board. We believe that this calendar will greatly benefit both staff and students by supporting collaboration, planning, and strong instruction. The finalized calendar is attached to this message - happy planning! A few things to note: 90-minute early release on Wednesdays This calendar includes the addition of a 90-minute early release every Wednesday for every school in Bethel , beginning in September 2025. This dedicated time will allow teachers and staff to collaborate, plan instruction, and analyze student data to help drive student success. After-school care expanded across Bethel In response to the proposed early-release calendar, families shared clear concerns about after-school care and transportation. In response, we’ve worked hard to expand after-school programming and transportation across the district so that families have more accessible, affordable, and enriching options. Here’s what’s new and expanded, beginning next school year Boys & Girls Club Expansion The Boys & Girls Club will be moving from Prairie Mountain to the soon-to-be Clear Lake Community Center, a new hub for children, families, and residents across Bethel . This move will allow the Boys & Girls Club to expand capacity to serve up to 120 students in first through ninth grade. Financial assistance is available for both summer and afterschool programs. Summer camp runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday from June 23–August 15. Registration for summer camp begins today, April 24 . Learn more here: www.bgcev.org/summer-camp-at-bethel After-school care (2025-26) : The Boys & Girls Club will also operate during the school year, beginning the first day of school. Daily programming will be available from school dismissal to 6:30 p.m., with busing available from all Bethel elementary schools to Clear Lake. Cost: $40/month per child or $60/month per family. Registration for after-school programming will take place over the summer. YMCA YMCA is expanding to offer care at Meadow View and a new program at the Fairfield Annex . The programs run from dismissal to 6 p.m., offering snacks, STEAM activities, crafts, and physical play. Registration begins May 2 at eugeneymca.org . Financial assistance is available. Adventure Club Adventure Club is relocating to Danebo Elementary beginning June 16 to increase capacity and access. Adventure Club is Currently accepting students from all Bethel elementary schools for next school year, with transportation from Meadow View, Prairie Mountain, and Fairfield. For more information or to apply, call Lolita at 541-870-6348. After School Club at Irving Elementary will continue to serve preschool through 5th grade students, with care available until 6 p.m. They currently have availability in both the K-5 and preschool programs beginning in the fall. For more information visit theafterschoolclubeugene.com More about the Clear Lake Community Center We’re also thrilled to share that Clear Lake Elementary will soon become the Clear Lake Community Center (CLCC)—a new hub for children, families, and residents across Bethel. Launching this summer, the CLCC will offer high-quality preschool, youth and adult programming, family services, and inclusive spaces for community events. This is a true community effort, supported by Lane County, United Way, the Eugene-Springfield NAACP, and many others. We’re excited to bring this vibrant new resource to the heart of Bethel— learn more about the CLCC here . Thanks to our community partners, we’re proud to offer more support for families alongside this new schedule. The additional time for staff collaboration will support better instruction and stronger student outcomes—and we’ve worked hard to ensure that families have the tools they need to help make this a success. Please see the attached 2025–26 calendar for full details. We’ll share more updates about exact dismissal times and transportation logistics as the new school year approaches. Thank you for your continued support and partnership - feel free to reach out with questions! Alisha Dodds Community Relations & Communications Director Bethel School District 541-607-1416 she/her/hers
Thursday, Apr 24 2025
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Save the Date: Clear Lake Farewell Celebration!
You're Invited: Clear Lake Farewell Celebration Thursday, May 22 | 4:30–7:00 PM Clear Lake Elementary After decades of memories, learning, and community, it’s time to give Clear Lake Elementary the send-off it deserves. All current and former Clear Lake families, staff, and alumni are invited to join us for one final celebration of this beloved school. 🎉 Event Schedule 🕟 4:30–5:30 PM – Self-guided open house through the school building 🎈 5:00–7:00 PM – Outdoor Party with food, music, bounce house, face painting, crafts, memorabilia, and more! This is a special opportunity to walk the halls one last time, reconnect with familiar faces, and celebrate the Clear Lake community together. We hope to see you there! Video Submission As part of the Clear Lake Farewell Celebration, we’re creating a special tribute video featuring memories from students, staff, alumni, and community members. We’d love for you to be part of it! Please record a short (30 seconds or less) video sharing your favorite Clear Lake memory or what made the school special to you. Submit your video (landscape orientation, please!) to Alisha Dodds at Alisha.dodds@bethel.k12.or.us Let’s honor the legacy of Clear Lake together—thank you for helping us celebrate!
Wednesday, Apr 23 2025