Bethel Pride – Back to School

BETHEL

PRIDE AUGUST 2018

GEARING UP

A new school year is right around the corner

YEAR-ROUND SCHOOLS What you need to know

17 6

8 STOP

Proceed with caution

16

11 What's New 17 8

Roseanna Camacho Get to know Bethel's newest School Board member.

MS Curriculum Our School Board has approved an exciting new science curriculum for all Bethel middle schools.

Bond 4.0 4 7

Resolution 13

Back to School 8

Enrollment, Family Access

Year-round school. Reboundary.

Those are just some of the changes that could be coming.

10

Immunizations

Frequently Asked Questions

13

Daily Schedule

Will taxes go up with a new bond? Why is the state paying for new schools? Find out here!

16

When to Stop for a School Bus

On the cover: Washington State Patrol conducted its annual inspection of the districts school buses.

I’ve served as superintendent in Bethel since 2001 and safety and security have always been our top priority. This summer we made upgrades around the district to keep our staff and students safe, but some necessary improvements cannot be done until our voters pass a school construction and modernization bond.

Since our February bond failure, instead of building new schools, we have had to replace 40-year-old portables that are no longer serviceable. Bethel has 201 portable classrooms in use because our district is growing at such a rapid rate.

Despite this, we work hard to ensure Bethel remains a great place for our students and staff.

This year we are partnering with Madigan Army Medical Center to offer medical services to students at two of our schools. Further, Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare continues to provide services at 14 of our schools, and Pierce College continues to hold classes after the regular school day at GrahamKapowsin High School for both high school students and adults.

I hope you have a wonderful school year. Here’s to a great 2018/19!

Tom Seigel

Superintendent

SCHOOL BOARD

From the desk of...

John Manning President 253.655.5573 jmanning@bethelsd.org Brenda Rogers Vice President 360.893.5425 brogers@bethelsd.org

Roseanna Camacho 253.495.0096 rcamacho@bethelsd.org

Amy Pivetta 253.213.3767 apivetta@bethelsd.org

Marcus Young 253.439.7174 myoung@bethelsd.org

BETHEL PRIDE Bethel Pride is produced by the Bethel School District’s Communications Department.

Doug Boyles, Communications Director 253.683.6049; dboyles@bethelsd.org Conor Christofferson, Communications Manager 253.683.6966; cchristoff@bethelsd.org Timra Knox, Graphic Design Manager 253.683.6053; tknox@bethelsd.org Nicole Thompson, Secretary 253.683.6051; nthompson@bethelsd.org

Questions and feedback: 516 176th Street East Spanaway, WA 98387 Phone: 253.683.6000

Email: communications@bethelsd.org Website: www.bethelsd.org

Bethel School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all federal rules and regulations, including Title IX, RCW 28A.640, RCW 28A.642 and Section 504.

Bethel does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any disability, or use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Please contact Title IX officer Bryan Streleski, Director of Athletics and Security at 253.683.6055, Section 504 coordinators Lori Haugen (students), Executive Director of Special Education at 253.683.6920 or Todd Mitchell (staff), Executive Director of Human Resources at 253.683.6020 or Civil Rights coordinator Debbie Carlman, Director of Equity and Achievement at 253.683.6035 with any questions or complaints.

Big Changes Coming

The future of our district isn’t written in stone yet, but the hammer and chisel are now on the table.

Earlier this year, our School Board unanimously passed Resolution 13. The resolution allows administrators to begin planning ways to help our overcrowded schools if a voter-approved school construction bond is not passed in November. This includes planning to adjust the boundaries of all schools in the district in 2019, and a move to year-round schools starting in 2021.

Resolution 13 is a result of three recent bond failures that would have built new schools to reduce class sizes, alleviate overcrowded schools, improve security, and replace old and inefficient building systems.

Along with adjusting school attendance boundaries and year-round schools, Resolution 13 also gives other options for solving our overcrowding issues, including changing Elk Plain School of Choice back to a K-5 school and converting one middle school to an elementary school.

None of these options are 4

the district’s first choice.

We would much rather be

August 2018 Begin planning process for reboundary all schools July 2019 Implement district reboundary plan September 2020 Begin planning for yearround school September 2021 Implement year-round school

building new schools and fixing and expanding our old ones. But that requires bond money. So the future of this district is in the hands of our voters.

“We can’t stick our heads in the sand,” said School Board Director Brenda Rogers.

“We needed to set up a plan. This is going to impact everybody,” School Board President John Manning agreed.

Members of the School Board all insisted that the planning process for reboundary and year-round schools must involve many different voices, including parents, staff and the community.

Superintendent Tom Seigel said it normally takes three years to build an elementary school, but if a bond is passed in November, that timeline could be accelerated to avoid going to year-round schools in 2021.

“To the best of our knowledge, there are no districts in Washington that are operating as year-round schools,” said Seigel. “So we will be looking outside the state for guidance as the planning begins.”

Also consider the benefits/costs of: • Converting Elk Plain School of Choice back to a K-5 grade configuration • Converting one middle school to an elementary school • Adding portables to the maximum extent possible including sports field locations

Year-Round Schools 2021 If Bethel voters once again fail to pass a school construction bond this November, we may be forced to transition to year-round schools. If that happens, it won’t be the first time the district has taken extraordinary measures to combat overcrowding.

When yet another Bethel bond failed last February — the 16th such failure since 1980 — our

School Board was forced to act. The board passed Resolution 13, which set in motion the planning process for year-round schools to arrive in September 2021.

It would be a drastic measure, but it would be one that is familiar to some members of the Bethel community. Failing bonds and a rapidly growing community forced the district to implement year-round schools in 1974. That schedule continued until 1981 when

the district returned to a traditional calendar.

Our need for year-round schools is based solely on our lack of space. When Bethel adopted a year-round schedule in the 1970s, schools operated on a four-track system that went 45 days on and 15 days off. That helped ease overcrowding by staggering schedules so only 75 percent of the student population is in school at any given time.

Will history repeat itself in Bethel?

Traditional Calendar

Year-Round Calendar

Thanksgiving Break 3 Days Summer Vacation 60 Days

5 Days Off All Students

15 Days Off 45 Days in Class

70 Days in Class

40 Days in Class

15 Days in Class

45 Days in Class

15 Days Off 10 Days in Class

15 Days Off

10 Days Off 35 Days in Class

45 Days in Class 55 Days in Class

Spring Break 5 Days

15 Days Off

Winter Break 10 Days

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Election Day is NOVEMBER 6, 2018

This bond would build three new schools, modernize and expand old schools, and improve safety for our students.

PROJECTS • One new high school • Two new elementary schools • One new school building

• Five modernized schools • Safety & Security

To register to vote or for more information, visit

WWW.BETHELSD.ORG/BOND

BOND PROJECT MAP NEW SCHOOL

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MODERNIZATION/ EXPANSION

HEALTH & SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

Frequently Asked Questions Question: Isn't the state fully funding public education now?

Why are bonds needed?

Answer: HB 2242 (the bill that "solved" the funding problem of public education) had nothing to do with bonds. Local school districts and their voters are still responsible for the majority of the cost to build new schools and fix old ones.

Question: Why isn't my student's school getting something?

Answer: Every new school and expanded/modernized school will take the pressure off of the other schools which are overcrowded. Plus the new bond would fund security upgrades districtwide. And if the bond doesn't pass, year-round school will impact every student, in every building.

Question: Why do you keep passing bonds and then running more?

Answer: We haven't passed a bond since 2006. There is a lot of confusion over bonds and levies. Local school levies are on the ballot every four years. They require a simple majority of 50% +1. Bonds are only run when capital construction projects are needed, and they require a 60% supermajority. That's the reason it's so difficult to get school construction bonds passed, and why you've seen three on the ballot in the past two years. None of those has received the 60% needed to pass.

Question: Doesn't approving bonds cause taxes to go up?

Answer: We're happy to report that no, they won't. This is still a unique time in our state for funding education. The recent changes in state law have generated a more equitable funding model for districts throughout the state. This means that the state will now be collecting a tax to fund education, but that tax will actually be much lower than the amount we were authorized to collect in our previous maintenance and operations levies.

Our financial advisor still indicates that local school taxes will actually go down for our taxpayers in 2019, even if the levies are renewed and the new bond is approved.

Question: Didn't voters approve a pool in the 1980s and it was never built?

Answer: We hear this all the time, and it's simply not true. There has been a pool on Bethel bonds four times in the past: 1980, 1993 and twice in 2016. All four of those bonds failed. And just to be clear, there is NO pool on the November 2018 bond.

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B AC K TO

ENROLLMENT

Summer registration is underway through August 22nd!

Visit us online at bethelsd.org/enrollment or drop by Camas Prairie Elementary (320 176th St. E., Spanaway) to enroll for the 2018/19 school year. Registration will be open Mondays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Once summer enrollment closes, enrollment will take place at school offices.

The following documents are required for registration.

• Verification of Residency (ex. Utility bill, Renter's Insurance statement)

• Birth Certificate (Required for Kindergarten) • Report Card (Grades 1-8) or Transcript (Grades 9-12) • State Standardized Test Scores (Grades 9-12) • Certificate of Immunization (Shot Record) • Medication Form (if your student requires medication during the school day)

• Life Threatening Health Condition Packet (if applicable) • Evidence of Tribal Membership (if applicable) Questions? Please call 253.683.6734.

MEALS

Reduced price breakfast and lunch are available to students who qualify based on certain income requirements. A new application must be submitted each year to maintain this student benefit.

The annual Emeals application will be posted in late August at www. bethelsd.org. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Child Nutrition at 253.683.6912.

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FAMILY ACCESS

Parents must complete several online forms for each of their students in Family Access.

• EIS Student User Access Informed Consent (internet usage and email account) • Request to Prevent Disclosure of Student Information (This is an opt-out document. Annual submission is required.)

• Military Documentation: Military families must fill out this form for each student per state requirement.

To obtain your Family Access login and password stop by or call the office at your student's school.

ELEMENTARY SUPPLY LIST Please note that supply lists may vary by school, and items may need to be replenished throughout the school year.

• • • •

Backpack School Supply Box Headphones / Earbuds 3 Ring Binder (Grades 4-5 only)

All other supplies will be provided by the school

O SCHOOL

TRANSPORTATION LINK CREW & WEB DAY In late August, postcards will be sent to families detailing individualized bus route information for students. If you don't receive a card, or have questions, please call the Transportation office at 253.683.5900.

Families with children just beginning school, or who are new to the district, are encouraged to attend the Transportation Open House on August 30th. This annual event offers families the opportunity to ride on a school bus and get their questions answered. The Open House will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Transportation Center, located at 5625 192nd St. E., Puyallup, 98375.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST All students should attend each Core Class with the following materials every day. This list may need to be replenished throughout the year.

• Binder – 2 inches or larger • College-ruled notebook paper (2 packages minimum) • Dividers/pocket folders for each class • No. 2 Pencils • Pens (blue or black for writing) • 1 Red Pen (for correcting/editing) • 4 Composition Notebooks • 3" x 3" Sticky Notes (2 packages) • Pencil pouch • Highlighters – assorted colors • Colored pencils • Earbuds

The LINK Crew and WEB Day for secondary schools will be held on August 29th. This day allows incoming 6th and 9th grade students to connect and bond with upperclassmen and participate in orientation activities before the school year officially begins.

If your child has a life-threatening condition and is participating in the WEB and Link Crew days, medication or treatment orders, medications and/or treatment supplies, and a nursing care plan must be in place at your child’s school prior to August 29th.

iPADS This will be the second year of our voter-approved Digital Learning iPad Initiative at all 27 Bethel schools. To make the process more efficient, our schools will be distributing iPads during the regular school day, once classes resume on September 6th.

Students and parents will need to fill out paperwork for the devices online, including the Hold Harmless form and the iPad Coverage form. The coverage is optional but encouraged. You can find links to the forms at www.bethelsd. org.

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IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Life-Threatening Conditions In accordance with state law, the Bethel School District requires medical or treatment orders and nursing plans to be in place for the first day of school for ALL students who have lifethreatening conditions.

Examples of life-threatening conditions include, but are not limited to, severe allergies, 10

seizures, asthma, diabetes, as well as other health concerns that may put a child’s life at risk during the school day. Children with life-threatening food allergies are also required to have their health care provider complete a Diet Prescriptions for Meals at School form.

Packets of these required forms are being sent to affected

families this summer. If you do not receive one and need one for your child, please visit www.bethelsd.org/Page/2353, or contact your child’s school.

Forms must be completed and returned by September 6th, the first day of school. Upon receipt, the school nurse will contact parents to develop an appropriate nursing plan.

ATHLETICS The 2018/19 Athletic Registration forms are now available for grades 6 through 12. Parents can access the forms by logging into their Family Access accounts. A parent user name and password are required.

Once inside the Family Access portal, click on "District Links" in the top right hand corner, then choose the 2018/19 Athletic Forms for the school your child attends.

If you have questions, please contact the building athletic director at your child’s school.

Sports Requirements

for 6th Graders

To participate, students must have the following completed before tryouts:

Please note that 6th graders will be able to try out for all sports except for football. Track, wrestling and cross country are “no cut” sports. All other sports are tryout based, and students must make the cut to participate.

• Physical form, signed by a physician, good for 13 months from the date of the exam. The physical must be good for the entire sports season.

• Extracurricular Signature Approval form, Emergency Medical Treatment Authorization card, Sports Specific Warning and Safety Guideline forms, and a Concussion and Head Injury form.

All of these forms can be found in your student’s Family Access portal.

• Students must also pay for their ASB card and Pay to Participate fees.

Please note: Families can register for all sports seasons (fall, winter and spring) at the same time.

Just select the appropriate forms in Family Access.

SPORTS TRYOUT DATES The following is a list of fall 2018 sports tryout dates for high school and middle school students.

High School (Grades 9-12) August 15th – Football August 20th – Boys/Girls Golf, Girls Swim, Boys/ Girls Cross Country, Boys Tennis, Volleyball, Girls Soccer Middle School (Grades 6-8) September 6th – Baseball, Fastpitch and Track

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2018-2019 Daily Schedule High Schools: 9-12

Bethel Challenger AM Challenger PM Graham-Kapowsin PCSC AM PCSC PM Spanaway Lake

Middle Schools: 6-8 Bethel Cedarcrest Cougar Mountain Elk Plain (K-8) Frontier Liberty Spanaway

Elementary: K-5 Camas Prairie Centennial Clover Creek Elk Plain (K-8) Evergreen Frederickson Graham Kapowsin Naches Trail Nelson North Star Pioneer Valley Rocky Ridge Roy Shining Mountain Spanaway Thompson

Preschool/Early Ed* Elk Plain Preschool Elk Plain Headstart Frederickson Nelson Pioneer Valley Spanaway Thompson

Start

7:40 a.m.

7:55 a.m.

11:25 a.m.

7:40 a.m.

7:55 a.m.

11:15 a.m.

7:50 a.m.

Start

End

2:10 p.m.

10:55 a.m.

2:25 p.m.

2:10 p.m.

10:25 a.m.

1:45 p.m.

2:20 p.m.

9:40 a.m.

9:40 a.m.

9:50 a.m.

End

7:30 a.m.

7:15 a.m.

7:15 a.m.

7:40 a.m.

7:30 a.m.

7:15 a.m.

7:15 a.m.

2:00 p.m.

1:45 p.m.

1:45 p.m.

2:10 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

1:45 p.m.

1:45 p.m.

Start

End

8:30 a.m.

8:30 a.m.

8:30 a.m.

7:40 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

8:30 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

8:30 a.m.

8:30 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

8:30 a.m.

Late Start Early Dismissal

3:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

2:10 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

AM Start/End Times

8:40 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.

8:40 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.

8:40 a.m. - 11:40 am 8:40 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.

8:40 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.

8:40 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.

8:40 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.

Late Start Early Dismissal

9:30 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

9:40 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

10:10 a.m.

9:55 a.m.

9:55 a.m.

10:15 a.m.

10:10 a.m.

9:55 a.m.

9:55 a.m.

Late Start Early Dismissal

10:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

9:40 a.m.

11:15 a.m.

11:15 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:15 a.m.

11:15 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

11:15 a.m.

11:15 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:05 a.m.

11:05 a.m.

11:05 a.m.

10:15 a.m.

11:50 a.m.

11:50 a.m.

11:05 a.m.

11:35 a.m.

11:50 a.m.

11:50 a.m.

11:05 a.m.

11:05 a.m.

11:50 a.m.

11:35 a.m.

11:50 a.m.

11:50 a.m.

11:05 a.m.

PM Start/End Times

12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

N/A 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

*Preschool/Early Childhood Education programs run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.

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10:20 a.m.

10:20 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

STUDENT CALENDAR 2018-2019 3 - Labor Day 4 - Teacher / Principal Day 5 - Waiver Day #1 - No Students 6 - First Day of School 26 - Late Arrival

12 - Waiver Day #2 - No Students 17 - Late Arrival 26 - Elem/MS Grade Prep

M

(Early Dismissal 9-12)

12 - Veterans Day Observed - No School

21 - 23 - Thanksgiving Break 30 - MS End of 1st Trimester / Grade Prep (Early Dismissal 6-8) 5 - Late Arrival 24 - Jan 4 - Winter Break

No Students

(Early Dismissal K-5 & 9-12)

15 - Snow Make-Up Day or No School 18 - President’s Day - No School 19 - Waiver Day #3 - No Students

T

F

M

T

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

M

T

W

T

F

M

T

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

M

T

M

OCTOBER

4 5 11 12 18 19 25 26

NOVEMBER T

W

T

F

1

2 16 23 30

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

M

T

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

F

M

T

4 11 18 25

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

F

M

T

5

6

7

8

9

12 19 26

13 20 27

14 21 28

15 22 29

M

DECEMBER T

W

T

F

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

M

T

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

M

T

7 - Professional Learning Day 16 - Late Arrival 21 - M.L. King Day - No School 31 - Elem/HS End of 2nd Qtr / Grade Prep

W

3 10 17 24

1 8 (Early Dismissal K-8) 15 29 - Nov 2 - Elem Conference Week (Early Dismissal K-5) 22 31 - Nov 2 - Secondary Conferences (Early Dismissal 6-12) 29 7 - Late Arrival 9 - HS End of 1st Qtr/Grade Prep

SEPTEMBER

T

4 11 18 25

JANUARY W

T

2 3 9 10 16 17 23 24 30 31

FEBRUARY W

T

5 6 7 12 13 14 19 20 21 26 27 28

1 8 15 22

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

MARCH W

T

F

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

W

T

F

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

5 19 26

W

T

F

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

12

W

T

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

W

T

F

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

W

T

F

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

JULY

AUGUST

F

6 - Late Arrival 15 - MS End of 2nd Trimester / Grade Prep (Early Dismissal 6-8) 22 - Elem Grade Prep (Early Dismissal K-5)

25 - 29 - Elem Conference Week (Early Dismissal K-5)

1 - 5 - Spring Break 12 - HS End of 3rd Qtr / Grade Prep (Early Dismissal 9-12)

1 - Late Arrival 21 - 23 - Secondary Conferences (Early Dismissal 6-12)

24 - Snow Make-Up Day or No School 27 - Memorial Day - No School

5 - Late Arrival 7 - Elem/MS/HS Grade Prep (Early Dismissal K-12)

18 - Last Day of School

– KEY –

#

# #

Late Arrival Early Dismissal Elementary Early Dismissal Elem & MS Early Dismissal MS Early Dismissal MS & HS Early Dismissal for HS Early Dismissal All Grades Waiver Day / No School for students No School

Elementary = Grades K-5 Middle School = Grades 6-8 High School = Grades 9-12 Student Calendar = 177 school days for students and 3 waiver days for teachers.

Rev 3.16.18

Amped up: Board approves innovative middle school science program Our middle school students will soon begin an exciting new science curriculum that takes advantage of the district’s voter approved oneto-one iPad program.

The School Board voted unanimously this summer to adopt Amplify Science as Bethel’s new middle school science curriculum.

District leaders don’t take curriculum changes lightly, so before any decisions were made an adoption committee made up of science teachers and administrators met for nearly a year to vet a dozen different programs.

In the end, the committee

Students using Amplify Science investigated how altering protein molecules changed traits in spiders using their iPads.

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unanimously recommended Amplify Science, which was designed by UC Berkeley researchers to inspire students to “read, write and argue like scientists to gain a better understanding of the world.”

In its recommendation, the committee said Amplify offered strong teacher support, authentic student learning, and real-time tech support.

“It’s not giving students a bunch of facts to memorize,” said Loren Willson, Bethel’s Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning. “It’s giving them problems to solve or phenomenon to

explore and engage with.”

While everyone agreed that the Amplify program looked good on paper, teachers wanted to see how it worked in practice. Several teachers, including Chris Clark from Elk Plain School of Choice, brought the program into their classrooms last year to see how it performs with real students.

“It was fascinating to see the growth and depth of understanding they accumulated in three weeks,” said Clark. “It was astonishing. It was a fantastic program to run through with them.”

Could our high schools move to a five-period trimester schedule?

The Class of 2019 will be the first to graduate under the new 24 credit requirement, or “Core 24.”

Many high schools in the state, like ours, operate under a sixperiod day. But that can make graduating on time difficult for some students.

The math is simple: Four years of high school times six credits per year equals 24 credits.

Under this schedule there is no room for failure, no room for exploration, and extra stress placed on students throughout each year of their high school careers.

Since the Legislature passed a bill in 2014 increasing the graduation requirements for the class of 2019 to 24 credits, we have been trying different things to make sure the class of 2019 and beyond can get to the graduation stage on time, without lowering our

expectations as a district.

“We do a lot of work with our students to support them when they struggle academically,” said Jennifer Bethman, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools. “We have to hold kids accountable to these new standards, but we need to provide supports along the way.”

To come up with some new ideas, a study group was formed that included all the high school principals, certificated staff members from each building, and staff from the central office.

After looking at many different options, a new five-period trimester schedule is currently leading the pack because of the opportunities it will offer students and staff.

A trimester schedule would allow students to earn 7.5

credits per year instead of six.

This gives them the opportunity to repeat a class if necessary, and offers students more opportunities to explore their interests.

The committee reviewed the schedules looking at components such as the equity of the programs for students, the impact changes may have on teachers, as well as researching how it would impact students’ grades, course completion, and test scores.

If adopted, the earliest a change would be made would be the 2019/20 school year. This will allow sufficient time for planning.

“If we make a schedule change, we need to do it correctly, and not rush into anything,” said Bethman.

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THINKING OF PASSING A SCHOOL BUS WHEN ITS STOP PADDLE IS OUT?

DON'T.

STOP

STOP

1

2-lane road: both directions stop

IT PUTS OUR STUDENTS' LIVES AT RISK.

STOP

STOP

IT ENDANGERS YOUR FELLOW DRIVERS. THINK NOBODY DOES IT?

Proceed with caution

THINK AGAIN.

Proceed with caution

IT'S A $430 TICKET. 2

3+ lanes: stop if traveling same direction as bus

We have stop paddle cameras on 10 of our 216 school buses.

During the 2017/18 school year, those 10 cameras resulted in 1,042 citations.*

STOP

STOP

Help keep our students safe.

Know the laws about when you can and can't pass a school bus.

Proceed with caution

3

Turning lane: stop if traveling same direction as bus

*Revenue of $70,100 was generated from the tickets and goes into a special account that is used specifically to improve student safety in our district.

STOP M E D I A N

I S L A N D

Proceed with caution

4

Median: stop if traveling same direction as bus

Bethel welcomes new school board member Roseanna Camacho When you’ve kept critically ill patients alive while soaring 35,000 feet above the nearest hospital, there are few things in life that will rattle you.

Roseanna Camacho, Bethel’s newest School Board Member, has done just that. Camacho is now a nurse at a government hospital, but prior to that she spent time as the nurse manager at an Intensive Care Unit in Guam, a small United States territory in the western Pacific Ocean where Camacho was born and raised.

Because Guam isn’t equipped to handle certain surgeries and medical emergencies, some patients have to be flown to foreign hospitals for treatment. As a senior ICU nurse, it was Camacho’s job to accompany seriously sick or injured patients during those flights, which were often on commercial airlines full of passengers.

“It’s really nerve-racking,” Camacho said. “You have to have good skills to do it and you have to be confident in your ability.”

The experience taught her to remain calm in chaotic times and to trust her training and intuition.

While it certainly won’t be as high stakes as her time in the ICU, Camacho’s newest position as a Bethel School Board member will require her to use some of those same skills.

After graduating high school in Guam, Camacho moved to Pierce County to attend Pacific Lutheran University. She earned a degree in psychology, and later a master’s degree in business, but she always knew she had a calling to help people in need.

That idea led her to explore a career in the medical field.

She went back to school once again to become a nurse. Her first job was in a busy Intensive Care Unit, where she was immediately dealing with life-or-death situations.

To say it was an intimidating introduction to the profession would be an understatement.

“I was so scared!” Camacho said.

“I’m Catholic, so I would do my prayers before walking into the building: Please help me be a safe and prudent nurse and let me do the best that I can.”

In addition to her nursing career, Camacho is also mom to five children, all of whom are either in or have gone through the Bethel School District.

'I wanted to do something substantial, where I could actually help other people.’

When you have children with different needs and skills, you quickly learn what equity means in a school setting. Each child — even those raised in the same household —requires personalized attention.

When Camacho’s oldest daughter started at Centennial Elementary, she struggled in several areas and needed tutoring.

“She was a smart girl, but she just needed that extra focus,” Camacho said.

The tutoring worked, and the little girl who needed extra help went on to become Graham-Kapowsin’s freshman and sophomore class president and is now a mechanical engineer.

Each of her children received individualized support in school, and Camacho credits the district's diverse academic programs for helping her kids succeed.

It was that first-hand experience of what was working and what needed more attention in the school district that led Camacho to join the school board. She knows shaping Bethel’s future is a big job, but she believes her background and experiences will allow her to thrive in the position.

Camacho believes the district is heading in the right direction, but she says more can always be done to make children safer, healthier and more academically prepared in school. She’s especially interested in mental health, bullying, and school security.

She also plans on being active in the community so she can connect with Bethel families.

“I want to hear what people are concerned about,” she said. “We can all live in the same district, yet have drastically different experiences.”

BETHEL PRIDE

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in the

Spotlight

Bethel students and staff members are being recognized.

Here’s a look at what they’ve been up to.

Energy Management Did you know there are 234 thermostats in our district’s buildings and portable classrooms? Some of them are cost-saving Wi-Fi thermostats that are already paying for themselves. This is Paul Kilburn, our Mechanical Lead, who recently received $5,000 worth of rebate checks from local power companies. The rebate money will be used to buy even more Wi-Fi thermostats.

FCCLA Students Go Gold Congratulations to the Bethel and Spanaway Lake high school students who earned gold medals at this year’s FCCLA (Family Career Community Leaders of America) nationals in Atlanta! 4,000 students from around the country came to Atlanta earlier this summer to network with fellow members, attend FCCLA program workshops and leadership sessions, and take part in competitive events. SLHS and BHS students earned gold in STAR events, which stands for Students Taking Action with Recognition.

BOB the Bus rides again Dozens of kids and families welcomed the Bethel Outreach Bus to the Roy community! BOB, as the bus is lovingly known, recently visited Roy Elementary.

Kids enjoyed field games, face painting, bubbles, free school supplies, non-perishable food items, snack packs and more.

Jay Brower, Bethel’s Director of Community Connections, said he couldn’t have been happier with the turnout.

“They’re elated to be here,” he said. “The school supplies have been a real hit, and the kids love the books.”

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District Calendar october

september

november

6

First Day of School

9

School Board Meeting

1-2

Elementary Conferences

6

MS Sports begin

12

Waiver Day #2

1-2

Secondary Conferences

11

First Day of School

17

Late Arrival

7

Late Arrival

11

School Board Meeting

23

School Board Meeting

9

HS End of 1st Qtr

12

First Day of School

26

Elem/MS Grade Prep

12

Veterans Day observed

25

School Board Meeting

2931

Elementary Conferences

20

School Board Meeting

31

Secondary Conferences

2123

Thanksgiving Break

30

MS End of 1st Trimester

Grades 1-12

Kindergarten

7 p.m., ESC Preschool 7 p.m, TE

7 p.m., ESC

No Students

7 p.m., PVE

Early Dismissal, K-8

Early Dismissal, K-5

Early Dismissal, 6-12

Early Dismissal, K-5

Early Dismissal, 6-12

Early Dismissal, 9-12

No School

7 p..m., ESC

No School

Early Dismissal, 6-8

Online Enrollment

Bethel Schools

Enroll online at

bethelsd.org/enrollment or at Camas Prairie Elementary School 320 176th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387

July 12 – August 22 July

August

Tuesdays, 11 am – 6:30 pm Thursdays, 8 am – 3:30 pm

Mondays, 8 am – 3:30 pm Tuesdays, 11 am – 6:30 pm Thursdays, 11 am – 6:30 pm BETHEL PRIDE

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Non-profit org.

U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 56 Spanaway, WA 98387

Bethel School District No. 403

516 E. 176th St., Spanaway, WA 98387-8399 (253) 683-6000 | www.bethelsd.org

Bethel School District Resident