Save the Date - STEAM - April 23, 2025

If you have professional experience in a STEAM-related field and would like to provide specific feedback to students on their projects during the STEAM EXPO, then please complete this  GOOGLE FORM K-5 website   https://sites.google.com/bethel.k12.ct.us/k5stem/home 6-8 Website  https://sites.google.com/bethel.k12.ct.us/stemfair/steam-expo

Tuesday, Mar 25 2025

Bethel Public Schools Newsletter 3-21-25

Bethel Public Schools Superintendent's Weekly Newsletter March 21, 2025 Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center Bethel Board of Education 1 School Street Bethel, CT 06801 (203) 794-8601 www.bethel.k12.ct.us     Administration Offices Office Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (203) 794-8601 Business Office Office Hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (203) 794-8604   District Calendars / Schedules   Dr. Carver's Message Christine Carver, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools Bethel Public Schools 2025 Connecticut Superintendent of the Year carverc@bethel.k12.ct.us   Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members, First, I would like to thank all of you who came out to the Public Hearing this week to provide feedback, either in person or via email, to the proposed budget. Yesterday, the Board of Finance restored $250,000 to the budget based on that feedback. I have said several times, the development of a budget is a process and is influenced by a lot of factors. One of those factors, which happens every year, is a shift in health care (as they review more recent claims). In addition to the restoration of funds, we did receive a positive update that we can reduce the health line by approximately $250,000. This means that we will still need to make additional reductions, but we are in a better position than we were last week.  Your voice is critical in our Town’s process. The next budget milestone will be the Town Meeting on April 2, 2025, at 7:00 PM at Bethel High School. Babysitting will be provided. The town meeting is for registered Bethel voters. At this meeting, the registered body of Bethel voters votes to move the budget to a referendum or voting. By charter, any resident from the floor can make a recommendation from the floor to reduce any aspect of the budget, and the voters present vote on the motion. There are three votes at this meeting, the town budget, the school budget, and if applicable any capital budget items.  We hope that you continue to participate in the process, as it is critical for both the Town and Board of Education.    One of the biggest factors that could influence potential reductions is related to state funding, which we will not fully know until the end of the session. At the Public Hearing, I relayed how important it is to advocate to our Bethel delegation and Governor Lamont on issues related to state funding, while they are developing the state biennial budget. Specifically, we need to advocate to increase funding in two areas: Education Cost Sharing (ECS) and  Excess Cost Grant.   I also stated that I would provide you with talking points, which can be adapted and personalized.    I am writing to express my strong support for SB 1511, An Act Concerning Disconnected Youth. This bill is a crucial step toward ensuring equitable education funding in Connecticut by increasing the foundation amount for equalization aid grants or Education Cost Sharing grant (ECS) and adding weighted funding for students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, multilingual learners, and children requiring special education. This will provide our community with much-needed funding for programs that are vital to our students. By increasing the foundation amount and implementing a needs-based weighted funding model, this legislation will help mitigate the extreme reductions that our district is facing.   We appreciate the legislature taking leadership in allocating $43 million dollars to support districts across Connecticut for the Excess Cost Grant. This reimbursement for special education services not only supports our children with disabilities but helps to preserve regular education programs that benefit all students. We ask that you continue to pursue full funding of the Excess Cost Grant. This state obligation will ensure that we have consistency in funding to support all of our children. We need the legislature to implement full funding of the Excess Cost Grant for the 2025-2026 school year.    Here are the email addresses of the delegates:   Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan - Raghib.Allie-Brennan@cga.ct.gov Representative Marty Foncello - Martin.Foncello@housegop.ct.gov Senator Eric Berthel - Eric.Berthel@cga.ct.gov Senator Tony Hwang - Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov  Governor Ned Lamont At the Public Hearing, I stated that I would not recommend to the Board of Education any additional reductions until we have a full picture of funding, both in terms of the operating budget (approved referendum) and state funding, which likely will be in early May. I would encourage you, if you have any questions, to reach out to me directly. Please do not use any social media platform as your source of information, as there is misinformation being relayed.   2025-2026 Education Budget Process Annual Town Meeting on the Town and School Budgets - April 2nd Next step - Annual Town Meeting - April 2nd at 7 PM in the BHS Auditorium. Babysitting will be provided.   All of our Board of Education budget information can be found on our District Financial Dashboard. Scroll down, all 2025-2026 budget information is at the bottom of the web page.  On that dashboard, you can find accurate information on our proposed budget including all presentations, documents (including the BOE questions and answers in budget workshops), and videos of presentations. We caution you NOT to use social media as your information source, as there is a lot of false information being circulated.   We want to hear your opinion and for you to be engaged in the process. If you have feedback, we highly encourage you to attend Board of Education meetings. If you are unable to attend, you can always communicate your feedback through email. You can communicate to the Board of Education directly at boe@bethel.k12.ct.us. Or email me at carverc@bethel.k12.ct.us and I will ensure the Board receives your correspondence.  Town Budget Dates April 2nd - Annual Town Meeting at 7 PM in the BHS Auditorium April 22nd - Tentative Town Referendum   If you have professional experience in a STEAM related field and would like to provide specific feedback to students on their projects during the STEAM EXPO, then please complete this GOOGLE FORM K-5 website  https://sites.google.com/bethel.k12.ct.us/k5stem/home 6-8 Website https://sites.google.com/bethel.k12.ct.us/stemfair/steam-expo   BPS District Dashboard Upcoming Calendar Events April 14-18- Spring Recess News & Reminders   Help Bethel Winter Guard on the Road to Dayton - Online Fundraiser   Community members/parents have asked, “How do I get copies of fliers, notices, etc.? How do I know what is going on?” All of the information previously distributed by paper in backpacks is provided to parents via email in the weekly newsletters (school and district). Making copies is not environmentally or fiscally responsible. If you cannot read the entire newsletter, I highly encourage you to read the Principal or my letter as it often contains the most up-to-date information.    Parents receive the school and district newsletters automatically using the email contact information in PowerSchool. If you know of a community member interested in opting-in to receive this newsletter, they can sign up using the link on the main page of our website at www.bethel.k12.ct.us or directly at Join a BPS Community Group   2025-2026 Kindergarten Registration Attention Families!!! Do you have children who will be 5 on or before September 1, 2025, and ready to join the Bethel Public Schools family?     If the answer is yes, please complete the registration process for your child to attend kindergarten in the fall.  Please see the info below for our process.  Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open! To access the kindergarten registration site, go to our district website, www.bethel.k12.ct.us, scroll down, and click on the “Registration Information & Procedures” quicklink in the center of the page (in the blue box). Click on the link BPS Pre-Registration Form K-12. There you will fill out and submit a short form to begin the online process to formally register your child for kindergarten. Please be sure to choose the 2025-2026 school year. At the completion of your online registration, an email will be sent to confirm that the parent portal account has been created AND all of the online enrollment forms have been filled out. At this time, we anticipate that in-person appointments will take place in March & April (no registration appointments will take place until all of the online registration is complete). This appointment will take approximately 15 minutes as long as all of the required paperwork is provided. Students do not need to attend this appointment with their parents. Parents/guardians will be contacted using the email provided during online registration to make a kindergarten screening appointment, which usually takes place at the end of May. More information will follow on this step of the process. If you are a parent of a current Circle of Friends student, you do not need to complete the online registration. Kindergarten registration instructions will be sent home with your child.  If you have any questions about the process or need help, please contact the District Registrar at (203) 830-7355. 2025-2026 How to Register for Kindergarten     BPS Instagram BPS Facebook   Schools & Community Bethel Public Schools Flyers Bethel Community Flyers   Non-Discrimination Statement

Friday, Mar 21 2025

Bethel Public Schools Newsletter 3-14-25

​ ​ Bethel Public Schools Superintendent's Weekly Newsletter March 14, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center ​ Bethel Board of Education 1 School Street Bethel, CT 06801 (203) 794-8601 www.bethel.k12.ct.us ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Administration Offices Office Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (203) 794-8601 Business Office Office Hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (203) 794-8604 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ District Calendars / Schedules ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Carver's Message ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Christine Carver, Ed.D. ​ Superintendent of Schools Bethel Public Schools 2025 Connecticut Superintendent of the Year carverc@bethel.k12.ct.us ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - LET'S GO WILDCATS!!!! ​ Come out and cheer on the Lady Wildcats! We are thrilled that our Lady Wildcats have made the state championship for the first time ever! In addition our Unified Sports athletes will be playing during the half time show. We encourage you to come out and see this historic game! STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BHS Girls Basketball vs. Northwest Catholic Saturday, March 15th, 6:15pm - Mohegan Sun  https://am.ticketmaster.com/mohegan/buy/CIAC ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Championship Game Fan Bus - Thank you! ​ Thank you for the incredible outpouring of support from the community, over 100 donations, and local businesses in getting our fans to the Championship game tomorrow! Thank you Putnam House Restaurant for sponsoring a student fan bus to the championship game, and Terzian & Son General Contracting for sponsoring the student tickets. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Teacher, Rookie, Pillar of the Year, CHAMP, and Friends of Bethel Award Winners ​ Each year our schools and the district award a Teacher of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Pillar of the Year.  In addition the district awards the Friend of Bethel and CHAMP award to individuals who have significantly impacted our schools and programs. Please see the recipients below! Congratulations to all! 2025 Pillars of Year Bethel High School – Kristan Giroux Bethel Middle School – Danelle Egan, Ralph M.T. Johnson School - Julia Malota Frank A. Berry School – Bernadette Apellaniz-Bryant Anna H. Rockwell School – Dr. Carolyn Keller Bethel Public Schools –  Michael Tonucci Cyndi Giordano-Donati Lindsay Jankun-Harsch Brittany Pizzano 2025 Rookie Teachers of the Year Bethel High School – Lori Spero Bethel Middle School – Brianna Ferraro Ralph M.T. Johnson School - Nicole Bentson Frank A. Berry School – Kayleigh Murphy Anna H. Rockwell School – Noemi Gristina 2025 Teachers of the Year Bethel High School – Dr. Reine Issa Bethel Middle School –Marie Jowdy Ralph M.T. Johnson School - Gregory Reid Frank A. Berry School - Aimee Bajor Anna H. Rockwell School – Elaine O'Keeffe ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025 Friends of Bethel Award Greg Henry, Parent, All Sports Booster Club President & School Volunteer 2025 CHAMP Award Brandon Husvar, Network Administrator ​ ​ ​ ​ Creativity, Innovation, & Excellence Recognition 2025 ​ We give recognition to staff members who demonstrate creativity & innovation for the students in the Bethel Public Schools, aligned to our mission, core beliefs, and strategic focus areas. Aimee Bajor Diana Bernardo Christy Bibb Zachary Craybas Irene Drake Melissa Dube Catherine Emerick Heather Farisello Robyn Gerety Danielle Legnard Sheila Levine Sabrina Luis Danielle Lynch Taryn McCormick Gina McKenzie Laura Montero Jeff Moscowitz Kelly Muckell Kit Nielsen Joe Perreault Donna Rick Debbie Tierney Samatha Tisi Danielle Troetti Kim Trombetto ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025-2026 Education Budget Process ​ ​ ​ ​ Public Hearing on the Town and School Budgets - March 19th ​ Public Hearing on the Budget - Wednesday, March 19th at 7:00 PM in the BHS Auditorium. Babysitting will be provided.   If you are unable to attend and would like to comment, comments on the budget for FY 25 - 26 can be sent to: budget@bethel-ct.gov or by mail addressed to the First Selectman's Office, Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center, 1 School Street, Bethel, CT. 06801. Please be sure to include your address when you submit your comments!  ​ ​ ​ ​ All of our Board of Education budget information can be found on our District Financial Dashboard. Scroll down, all 2025-2026 budget information is at the bottom of the web page.  On that dashboard, you can find accurate information on our proposed budget including all presentations, documents (including the BOE questions and answers in budget workshops), and videos of presentations. We caution you NOT to use social media as your information source, as there is a lot of false information being circulated.   ​ ​ ​ ​ We want to hear your opinion and for you to be engaged in the process. If you have feedback, we highly encourage you to attend Board of Education meetings. If you are unable to attend, you can always communicate your feedback through email. You can communicate to the Board of Education directly at boe@bethel.k12.ct.us. Or email me at carverc@bethel.k12.ct.us and I will ensure the Board receives your correspondence.  ​ ​ ​ ​ Town Budget Dates ​ Wednesday, March 19th at 7:00 PM in the BHS Auditorium - Town Public Hearing April 2nd - Annual Town Meeting  April 22nd - Tentative Town Referendum ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ If you have professional experience in a STEAM related field and would like to provide specific feedback to students on their projects during the STEAM EXPO, then please complete this GOOGLE FORM K-5 website  https://sites.google.com/bethel.k12.ct.us/k5stem/home 6-8 Website https://sites.google.com/bethel.k12.ct.us/stemfair/steam-expo ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ BPS District Dashboard ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming Calendar Events ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ March 19, 20, 21 - Conference Day - Early Dismissal - K-8 March 19 - SAT/PSAT & Prof. Learning - Early Dismissal - BHS March 20 - Conference Day (Evening) & Prof. Learning - Early Dismissal - BHS March 21 - Conference Day - Early Dismissal - BHS ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ News & Reminders ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Help Bethel Winter Guard on the Road to Dayton - Online Fundraiser ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Community members/parents have asked, “How do I get copies of fliers, notices, etc.? How do I know what is going on?” ​ All of the information previously distributed by paper in backpacks is provided to parents via email in the weekly newsletters (school and district). Making copies is not environmentally or fiscally responsible. If you cannot read the entire newsletter, I highly encourage you to read the Principal or my letter as it often contains the most up-to-date information.    Parents receive the school and district newsletters automatically using the email contact information in PowerSchool. If you know of a community member interested in opting-in to receive this newsletter, they can sign up using the link on the main page of our website at www.bethel.k12.ct.us or directly at Join a BPS Community Group ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025-2026 Kindergarten Registration ​ Attention Families!!! Do you have children who will be 5 on or before September 1, 2025, and ready to join the Bethel Public Schools family?     If the answer is yes, please complete the registration process for your child to attend kindergarten in the fall.  Please see the info below for our process.  Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open! To access the kindergarten registration site, go to our district website, www.bethel.k12.ct.us, scroll down, and click on the “Registration Information & Procedures” quicklink in the center of the page (in the blue box). Click on the link BPS Pre-Registration Form K-12. There you will fill out and submit a short form to begin the online process to formally register your child for kindergarten. Please be sure to choose the 2025-2026 school year. At the completion of your online registration, an email will be sent to confirm that the parent portal account has been created AND all of the online enrollment forms have been filled out. At this time, we anticipate that in-person appointments will take place in March & April (no registration appointments will take place until all of the online registration is complete). This appointment will take approximately 15 minutes as long as all of the required paperwork is provided. Students do not need to attend this appointment with their parents. Parents/guardians will be contacted using the email provided during online registration to make a kindergarten screening appointment, which usually takes place at the end of May. More information will follow on this step of the process. If you are a parent of a current Circle of Friends student, you do not need to complete the online registration. Kindergarten registration instructions will be sent home with your child.  If you have any questions about the process or need help, please contact the District Registrar at (203) 830-7355. 2025-2026 How to Register for Kindergarten ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ BPS Instagram ​ ​ ​ ​ BPS Facebook ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Celebrate & Recognize ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ National Merit Scholarship Finalist! ​ Please join us in congratulating Chiru Akkili for being named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist! He is one of only 15,000 in the nation to receive this honor! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ National Champion & CT State Champion ​ CONGRATULATIONS!!!  Adhwaitha Devasani was awarded National Champion award in Karate Traditional forms kata and CT State Champion award for point fighting in the age category of 14-16 years ​ ​ ​ ​ Schools & Community ​ ​ ​ ​ Bethel Public Schools Flyers ​ ​ ​ ​ Bethel Community Flyers ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Non-Discrimination Statement ​ ​

Friday, Mar 14 2025

Bethel Public Schools Newsletter 3-7-25

​ ​ Bethel Public Schools Superintendent's Weekly Newsletter March 7, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center ​ Bethel Board of Education 1 School Street Bethel, CT 06801 (203) 794-8601 www.bethel.k12.ct.us ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Administration Offices Office Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (203) 794-8601 Business Office Office Hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (203) 794-8604 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ District Calendars / Schedules ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Carver's Message ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Christine Carver, Ed.D. ​ Superintendent of Schools Bethel Public Schools 2025 Connecticut Superintendent of the Year carverc@bethel.k12.ct.us ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ CABE Board Member Appreciation Month ​ The Month of March is Connecticut Board of Education Appreciation Month. We would like to take this opportunity to say "thank you" to our hardworking and dedicated board members.   Scott Clayton, Chair Kara DiBartolo, Vice Chair Jen Larsen, Secretary Jennifer Ackerman Anthony Cassio Bill Foster Courtney Martin Pat Rist Jeffrey Spies We thank you for the time and effort you devote to board business to assure that our schools are providing the best education possible for our community’s children! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Budget Update ​ We want to share a critical update regarding the recent budget reductions proposed by the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance. These reductions total $1,250,000 and will significantly impact our schools.  Unfortunately, these cuts will directly affect after-school and extracurricular programs, administration, athletics, NJROTC, additional teaching positions, and support staff. We recognize that these programs and services are vital to our students’ education, personal growth, and overall well-being. Our staff is deeply committed to supporting every child, and these reductions place an added strain on their ability to maintain the high level of instruction and support our community values. The Board of Finance will hold a public hearing on these budget reductions on March 19th at 7:00 PM at Bethel High School. This is the final opportunity to make your voices heard, regardless of your perspective, before decisions are finalized and the budget is moved forward to the Town Meeting. Babysitting services will be provided to assist families who may need babysitting in order to attend and participate.   If you are unable to attend, we strongly encourage you to share your thoughts by emailing the Board of Finance at budget@bethel-ct.gov. Please include your name and address in your message so that your feedback is appropriately recorded. Your voice is crucial in determining the final budget recommendation. Thank you for your continued support, and we hope to see you at the public hearing. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025-2026 Education Budget Process ​ ​ ​ ​ Public Hearing on the Town and School Budgets - March 19th ​ Public Hearing on the Budget - Wednesday, March 19th at 7:00 PM in the BHS Auditorium. Babysitting will be provided.   If you are unable to attend and would like to comment, comments on the budget for FY 25 - 26 can be sent to: budget@bethel-ct.gov or by mail addressed to the First Selectman's Office, Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center, 1 School Street, Bethel, CT. 06801. Please be sure to include your address when you submit your comments!  ​ ​ ​ ​ All of our Board of Education budget information can be found on our District Financial Dashboard. Scroll down, all 2025-2026 budget information is at the bottom of the web page.  On that dashboard, you can find accurate information on our proposed budget including all presentations, documents (including the BOE questions and answers in budget workshops), and videos of presentations. We caution you NOT to use social media as your information source, as there is a lot of false information being circulated.   ​ ​ ​ ​ We want to hear your opinion and for you to be engaged in the process. If you have feedback, we highly encourage you to attend Board of Education meetings. If you are unable to attend, you can always communicate your feedback through email. You can communicate to the Board of Education directly at boe@bethel.k12.ct.us. Or email me at carverc@bethel.k12.ct.us and I will ensure the Board receives your correspondence.  ​ ​ ​ ​ Town Budget Dates ​ Wednesday, March 19th at 7:00 PM in the BHS Auditorium - Town Public Hearing April 2nd - Annual Town Meeting  April 22nd - Tentative Town Referendum ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ If you have professional experience in a STEAM related field and would like to provide specific feedback to students on their projects during the STEAM EXPO, then please complete this GOOGLE FORM K-5 website  https://sites.google.com/bethel.k12.ct.us/k5stem/home 6-8 Website https://sites.google.com/bethel.k12.ct.us/stemfair/steam-expo ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ BPS District Dashboard ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming Calendar Events ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ March 19, 20, 21 - Conference Day - Early Dismissal - K-8 March 19 - SAT/PSAT & Prof. Learning - Early Dismissal - BHS March 20 - Conference Day (Evening) & Prof. Learning - Early Dismissal - BHS March 21 - Conference Day - Early Dismissal - BHS ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ News & Reminders ​ ​ ​ ​ Bethel Winter Guard Friends and Family Show TONIGHT- Free Event ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Community members/parents have asked, “How do I get copies of fliers, notices, etc.? How do I know what is going on?” ​ All of the information previously distributed by paper in backpacks is provided to parents via email in the weekly newsletters (school and district). Making copies is not environmentally or fiscally responsible. If you cannot read the entire newsletter, I highly encourage you to read the Principal or my letter as it often contains the most up-to-date information.    Parents receive the school and district newsletters automatically using the email contact information in PowerSchool. If you know of a community member interested in opting-in to receive this newsletter, they can sign up using the link on the main page of our website at www.bethel.k12.ct.us or directly at Join a BPS Community Group ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025-2026 Kindergarten Registration ​ Attention Families!!! Do you have children who will be 5 on or before September 1, 2025, and ready to join the Bethel Public Schools family?     If the answer is yes, please complete the registration process for your child to attend kindergarten in the fall.  Please see the info below for our process.  Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open! To access the kindergarten registration site, go to our district website, www.bethel.k12.ct.us, scroll down, and click on the “Registration Information & Procedures” quicklink in the center of the page (in the blue box). Click on the link BPS Pre-Registration Form K-12. There you will fill out and submit a short form to begin the online process to formally register your child for kindergarten. Please be sure to choose the 2025-2026 school year. At the completion of your online registration, an email will be sent to confirm that the parent portal account has been created AND all of the online enrollment forms have been filled out. At this time, we anticipate that in-person appointments will take place in March & April (no registration appointments will take place until all of the online registration is complete). This appointment will take approximately 15 minutes as long as all of the required paperwork is provided. Students do not need to attend this appointment with their parents. Parents/guardians will be contacted using the email provided during online registration to make a kindergarten screening appointment, which usually takes place at the end of May. More information will follow on this step of the process. If you are a parent of a current Circle of Friends student, you do not need to complete the online registration. Kindergarten registration instructions will be sent home with your child.  If you have any questions about the process or need help, please contact the District Registrar at (203) 830-7355. 2025-2026 How to Register for Kindergarten ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ BPS Instagram ​ ​ ​ ​ BPS Facebook ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Schools & Community ​ ​ ​ ​ Bethel Public Schools Flyers ​ ​ ​ ​ Bethel Community Flyers ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Non-Discrimination Statement ​ ​

Friday, Mar 07 2025

Bethel Public Schools Newsletter 2-28-25

​ ​ Bethel Public Schools Superintendent's Weekly Newsletter February 28, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center ​ Bethel Board of Education 1 School Street Bethel, CT 06801 (203) 794-8601 www.bethel.k12.ct.us ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Administration Offices Office Hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (203) 794-8601 Business Office Office Hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (203) 794-8604 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ District Calendars / Schedules ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Dr. Carver's Message ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Christine Carver, Ed.D. ​ Superintendent of Schools Bethel Public Schools 2025 Connecticut Superintendent of the Year carverc@bethel.k12.ct.us ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members, ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025-2026 Education Budget Update ​ This week the Board of Education presented its proposed 8.45% budget increase for 2025-2026 to the Board of Finance/Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, February 25th. You can view the recorded presentation here. After the presentation, the Board of Selectmen deliberated the Board's budget yesterday.  They reduced the 450 account (operating budget) by $500,000. While there was a reduction of $100,000 in the 460 or maintenance account, they assured us that they would support our maintenance work using other funding mechanisms.   As noted throughout the budget process, the 8.45% increase in spending is focused on maintaining all of our top-quality curricular and extracurricular programs.   Again, as I have expressed in previous communications, the high increase is due to three main factors: (1) health insurance, (2) contractual salaries, and (3) special education. This letter to families from February 6, 2025, outlines the complex issues that are unique to this year.    The Board of Finance will be deliberating on Monday, March 3rd at 7 PM. Hybrid Meeting Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center, MTG RM A, 1 School St., Bethel, CT or Use the Town's Google Meet Link for meeting access: Google Meet link for Meeting Access https://meet.google.com/rdy-oirs-vry All of our Board of Education budget information can be found on our District Financial Dashboard.  ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025-2026 Education Budget Process ​ ​ ​ ​ The district has a financial dashboard. Scroll down, all 2025-2026 information is at the bottom of the web page. On that dashboard, you can find accurate information on our proposed budget including all presentations, documents (including the BOE questions and answers in budget workshops), and videos of presentations. We caution you NOT to use social media as your information source, as there is a lot of false information being circulated.   ​ ​ ​ ​ We want to hear your opinion and for you to be engaged in the process. If you have feedback, we highly encourage you to attend Board of Education meetings. If you are unable to attend, you can always communicate your feedback through email. You can communicate to the Board of Education directly at boe@bethel.k12.ct.us. Or email me at carverc@bethel.k12.ct.us and I will ensure the Board receives your correspondence.  ​ ​ ​ ​ Town Dates ​ Town Dates March 19th - Public Hearing  April 2nd - Annual Town Meeting  April 22nd - Tentative Town Referendum ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ If you have professional experience in a STEAM related field and would like to provide specific feedback to students on their projects during the STEAM EXPO, then please complete this GOOGLE FORM K-5 website  https://sites.google.com/bethel.k12.ct.us/k5stem/home 6-8 Website https://sites.google.com/bethel.k12.ct.us/stemfair/steam-expo ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ BPS District Dashboard ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming Calendar Events ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ March 19, 20, 21 - Conference Day - Early Dismissal - K-8 March 19 - SAT/PSAT & Prof. Learning - Early Dismissal - BHS March 20 - Conference Day (Evening) & Prof. Learning - Early Dismissal - BHS March 21 - Conference Day - Early Dismissal - BHS ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ News & Reminders ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Use this link to register (free): https://forms.gle/BtKzzAfhxRxCUdPf6 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Community members/parents have asked, “How do I get copies of fliers, notices, etc.? How do I know what is going on?” ​ All of the information previously distributed by paper in backpacks is provided to parents via email in the weekly newsletters (school and district). Making copies is not environmentally or fiscally responsible. If you cannot read the entire newsletter, I highly encourage you to read the Principal or my letter as it often contains the most up-to-date information.    Parents receive the school and district newsletters automatically using the email contact information in PowerSchool. If you know of a community member interested in opting-in to receive this newsletter, they can sign up using the link on the main page of our website at www.bethel.k12.ct.us or directly at Join a BPS Community Group ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2025-2026 Kindergarten Registration ​ Attention Families!!! Do you have children who will be 5 on or before September 1, 2025, and ready to join the Bethel Public Schools family?     If the answer is yes, please complete the registration process for your child to attend kindergarten in the fall.  Please see the info below for our process.  Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open! To access the kindergarten registration site, go to our district website, www.bethel.k12.ct.us, scroll down, and click on the “Registration Information & Procedures” quicklink in the center of the page (in the blue box). Click on the link BPS Pre-Registration Form K-12. There you will fill out and submit a short form to begin the online process to formally register your child for kindergarten. Please be sure to choose the 2025-2026 school year. At the completion of your online registration, an email will be sent to confirm that the parent portal account has been created AND all of the online enrollment forms have been filled out. At this time, we anticipate that in-person appointments will take place in March & April (no registration appointments will take place until all of the online registration is complete). This appointment will take approximately 15 minutes as long as all of the required paperwork is provided. Students do not need to attend this appointment with their parents. Parents/guardians will be contacted using the email provided during online registration to make a kindergarten screening appointment, which usually takes place at the end of May. More information will follow on this step of the process. If you are a parent of a current Circle of Friends student, you do not need to complete the online registration. Kindergarten registration instructions will be sent home with your child.  If you have any questions about the process or need help, please contact the District Registrar at (203) 830-7355. 2025-2026 How to Register for Kindergarten ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ BPS Instagram ​ ​ ​ ​ BPS Facebook ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Schools & Community ​ ​ ​ ​ Bethel Public Schools Flyers ​ ​ ​ ​ Bethel Community Flyers ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Non-Discrimination Statement ​ ​

Friday, Feb 28 2025