This exciting, enrichment program encourages students to develop leadership skills and understand what it is to be a contributor to their community. Students learn how to make good decisions, express their ideas, understand the concept of student government, and the importance of being a good role model for their peers. The sub committees of Leadership Council are: Hospitality, Fund Raising, Publicity, Community Outreach, Garden Club, Talent Show, and Safety Patrol. The students meet once a month after school for an hour where they plan and work on the activity for the month. The Leadership Council will be led by an advisory panel of facilitators, which may consist of the Upper Housemaster, Parent Volunteers and Teachers. We encourage students who would like to participate to fill out an application with parent and teacher recommendations. This program is open to all students in grades 4-6.
CYBER CREW
Students in grades 3-6 who are interested in making a contribution to our media center and school are welcome to join this program. Students should be dedicated, trustworthy, and have the desire to learn more about technology and how to set up and work with various audio visual materials. Some of the responsibilities will include: evaluating websites and software. Updating and checking Web page links, installing software, upkeep of printers-changing cartridges, paper, etc., and setting up labs for class visits. Students must fill out an application to participate. The Information Technology Teacher is the coordinator of this program.
WBCS Kids’ News is an enrichment program that exposes students to various aspects of a live and pre-recorded television newscast. The mission of the broadcast is to report to the student body an assortment of school-wide/ local events and the many activities our school offers in an easy to understand manner. Positions within the WBCS staff include (but not limited to) are: main anchor, producer, camera operator, soundboard technician, reporter, and segment anchor. The WBCS Kids’ News encourages all students in grade 5 – 6 to participate. The program airs Tuesday-Friday from 8:40-8:50 am on the school’s closed-circuit television network.
BCS BAND
Band is open to all 4th, 5th, & 6th graders. Instrument Lessons and Full Band Rehearsals are of no charge to students. Parents are only responsible for providing an instrument and lesson book for their child. There is an instrument representative who visits BCS every Tuesday to handle repairs and instruments. The Band will perform in a Spring Concert and Memorial Day Parade, as well as any other activities within the school year that would be appropriate. Lessons and Full Band meet before and after school.
BCS CHORUS
Students in grades 4, 5 and 6 are invited to participate in the BCS Chorus. Practices are after school. Some of the activities the chorus will participate in (but not limited to) are: singing for the Bethany Senior Citizen Holiday Luncheon in Dec., Winter Festival in December, and Spring Concert.
Colorguard is a type of performing arts combining choreographed routines to music using flags or other equipment. Students will accompany the BCS Band in their performances. Students in grades 5-6 are invited to join this special program. Practice is one hour a week after school, or more when there is an upcoming performance.
BETHANY BULLDOG BOTZ ROBOTICS
BCS Robotics is an exciting and fun program that ignites an enthusiasm for discovery, science, and technology for students in 4th, 5th and 6th grade.
No matter what the child’s subject interest, robotics offers an opportunity for engagement. Whether it is by creativity, technology, or research, robotics dares kids to test, explore, expand, or completely change thoughts and approaches for different sciences each year.
The team meets twice a week during the season from September through December with optional post season meetings for January through June.
Each year the Ct. Library association and the Ct. Educational Media Association sponsor the Nutmeg Children’s Book award. This program encourages children in grades 3-6 to read quality literature and choose their favorites from nominated titles. The books nominated are all works of fiction. Students can obtain these books from the BCS Media/Library. In January the Librarian will sponsor a reception where children will have a book discussion and vote for their favorite book. The totals will be sent to the Nutmeg Committee where a tally of all the schools participating will determine which book will receive the Nutmeg Book Award. Students who have read all ten books will a special breakfast in their honor.
SCHOOLWIDE PROGRAMS
DOOR DECORATING CONTEST
Between the months of February and March the BCS Library Media Center and the BCS PTO promotes life long love of books and reading. Each classroom decorates their classroom door to represent a book of choice. When decorating their door they must follow the set criteria: student participation, creativity, application of book theme, originality, and curriculum ties. The panel of judges (administration, teachers, librarian and PTO members) will choose the best decorated door in accordance with the criterion – one classroom per grade level. The winning class will receive a special prize.
BOOK BLURB CONTEST
This language arts activity encourages every student in grades K-6 to create a book jacket of their favorite book. Their book jacket should promote the reader to want to read this book and learn more about the book. There is different criteria at each grade level. The panel of judges are the same as the Door Decorating Contest. The teacher will submit to the panel the top three book jackets from their room. One student per grade level will be chosen as the winner.
