Bethany Public
School District______________________
Office of the Superintendent
SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE
Welcome to the Bethany Public School District!
The Bethany Public School District serves approximately five hundred and twenty students from preschool through grade six in Bethany Community School. Also, more than five hundred Bethany students in grades seven through twelve attend Amity Regional School District #5 at the Amity Regional Middle School – Bethany Campus and at Amity High School in Woodbridge. The district’s educational facilities are located in several buildings on a beautiful campus setting surrounded by trees and recreational fields in the center of Bethany. The Bethany school district is governed by a nine member Board of Education whose members are elected for staggered six year terms. The Board appoints a Superintendent of Schools as the chief executive officer of the district. The Bethany Community School is organized into two “houses” or schools within a school. The School Leadership Team encompasses three key areas, administration, curriculum, and special education. Mr. Robert Spino is the Housemaster (Principal) of the Lower School (grades PreK-2). Mrs. Mary Federico is the Housemaster (Principal) for the Upper School (grades 3-6). In addition to the school administration, Mrs. Maureen Galla, as the Coordinator of Curriculum, provides leadership and support to the district in the areas of curriculum, enrichment, professional development, student assessment, remedial education and the Teacher Educator And Mentoring (TEAM) program, the new state induction program for beginning teachers. Mr. Timothy Charron provides leadership in the education of students with disabilities through his role as the Coordinator of Special Education.
The Bethany Community School offers a comprehensive elementary education program beginning in kindergarten that includes all core academic areas of study as well as World Language (Spanish), Physical Education, Health, Art, Music and Information Technology education. Students have access to multiple computer laboratories, mobile word processing labs, computers in each classroom, and a closed circuit television network staffed by students providing cable broadcasts accessible in each classroom. In addition new technology available to students and teachers includes interactive white boards in selected regular classrooms and special area classrooms as well as mobile computer labs housed in the fifth and sixth grade annex buildings. An improved sound system serves to enhance and support the many student performances and activities held throughout the school year. Bethany is one of only five districts nationally who were recently awarded a prestigious Technology Integration Partnership Grant. School personnel worked with members of several nationally prominent research agencies in an effort to support and improve the performance of students with disabilities through the use of technology.
Bethany’s school facilities are extremely well maintained, clean, well equipped, and provide a pleasant learning environment. Planning is currently under way to address identified facility and related programmatic issues and concerns. The core facilities include a library-media center, an athletic facility/gymnasium that also serves as an auditorium/music center and a cafeteria that seats two hundred and twenty-five individuals. A beautiful new state of the art playground was installed in August of 2008, the result of cooperative efforts by the administration and the PTO in grant writing and fundraising. A well developed technology infrastructure continues to be expanded and to provide access to the school district computer network, the World Wide Web, the internet and email communications via connection to the state funded Connecticut Education Network.
A broad range of student support services are provided in the areas of school health services, guidance, counseling, school psychological services, special education and related special education services (such as speech and language therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy). A school-wide Supplemental Skills Program assists students experiencing delays in academic achievement to meet State and District educational goals. Enrichment opportunities occur at all grade levels through classroom-based activities as well as through on and off campus learning experiences. The new and evolving Enrichment program will provide individual and group learning opportunities for students in need of a more challenging academic experience and will facilitate the growth of a school-wide enrichment model. Special programs, field trips, and cultural exchanges offer other opportunities for students to explore their interests, abilities, and talents.
A very successful and comprehensive Pre-Kindergarten program is provided without charge for children with identified special needs beginning at age three. Children without special needs are invited to enroll in the program on a tuition basis and serve as peer role models. Enrollment is limited due to space constraints.
The school lunch program is provided through a contract with Chartwells Dining Services and offers the opportunity for students to purchase healthy and nutritionally balanced lunches in the school cafeteria. A Wellness Committee consisting of Board members, faculty, staff, administration, parents and Chartwells personnel provides support, information, and oversight to the school lunch program.
School transportation services are available to Bethany students. School bus transportation is provided by the district through a unique arrangement between the districts of Bethany, Orange, Woodbridge and Amity (BOWA) consisting of contracted services with individual owner-operators and somewhat larger school transportation service providers. This system has proven to be safe, cost effective, and reliable. Local contractors work with the BOWA districts to provide a comprehensive network of bus routes throughout the town. Bus routes are published annually in August on the District website.
Child care is available before and after school on the school campus each day and during school vacation periods through the “Kid’s Club” Program operated under contract with the Greater New Haven Jewish Community Center”. The program is staffed and administered by the Jewish Community Center.
A “Summer-Skills” program offers students the opportunity to continue their learning experiences through the acquisition of essential academic skills during the summer recess. The core program focuses on academic skills such as reading and math. Enrichment opportunities for students are offered as appropriate. A Kindergarten readiness opportunity is available within the “Summer-Skills” program for children entering Kindergarten. All programs offered within the Summer Skills sessions are tuition based.
Co-curricular and service oriented activities have begun to blossom at Bethany Community School. Many students participate throughout the year in the Student Leadership Council which engages in philanthropic activities. The opportunity for students in grades 4, 5, and 6 to participate in school sponsored Band and Chorus was initiated in the 2008-09 school year. Participation was extremely high and even greater numbers of students are expected to participate in the programs in the future. An additional opportunity to participate in the performing arts is provided through the introduction of Color Guard, a group of students who perform in their own right and in concert with the band. In addition, many students enjoy the opportunity to participate in the Invention Convention. Bethany students represented the school and their community in the state-wide Invention Convention winning several awards.
Bethany School facilities provide a safe, secure, and comfortable atmosphere for students, staff, and guests. The security system on the campus has been enhanced and all doors to school buildings are locked at all times during the school day. Guests are asked to enter only through the main entrance where they will be admitted by security greeters, asked for appropriate identification and issued a Visitor’s Badge for access to the facilities. The school campus is monitored by closed circuit television cameras and a constantly monitored alarm system.
Parent and community involvement in the school is strongly encouraged. The Bethany Parent Teacher Organization is a dynamic and supportive group of dedicated parents who provide significant assistance to the school in the form of volunteer hours, special programs and planning. Additionally, there are numerous opportunities for other community members to volunteer at the school.
The Bethany School District offers an outstanding educational opportunity for all children. The District is committed to a process of continuous curriculum and program evaluation and renewal to ensure that the children of the community are provided with an educational experience, which will serve them for a lifetime.
The faculty and staff at Bethany Community School are caring and dedicated professionals. We are all dedicated to providing the children of this community with best education possible.
Timothy F. Connellan
Superintendent of Schools
