Family

New Student Registration

Questions or problems? Contact Kristyn Brown, School Secretary at kbrown@bethany-ed.org or (203) 393-3350 x601.

Step 1
Complete the New Student Registration Request. You will receive a confirmation email that your request was submitted.

Students enrolling in the current school year will receive a second email from powerschool@bethany-ed.org with additional information and next steps within 1-2 business days.

Students enrolling in the next school year will receive a second email from powerschool@bethany-ed.org with additional information and next steps in the future.

Step 2
Please review and gather the following documentation, as applicable:

Status	Document
Required	Proofs of Residency Current Signed Lease or Mortgage Statement Current Utility Bill with the same name and address as Lease or Mortgage Statement
Required	Original Long Form Raised Seal Birth Certificate
Required	Transfer of Confidential Information
Required	Connecticut Health Assessment Form Birth to Age 5 Age 6+
If Applicable	Medication Administration Form
If Applicable	Custodial Documents
If Applicable	Student & Parent Living with Bethany Resident Affidavit #1 - Completed by Parent of Student Affidavit #3 - Completed by Bethany Resident The Bethany Resident must provide 2 proofs of acceptable residency indicated above along with both notarized affidavits.
If Applicable	Student Living with Bethany Resident Affidavit #2 - Completed by Parent of Student Affidavit #3 - Completed by Bethany Resident The Bethany Resident must provide 2 proofs of acceptable residency indicated above along with both notarized affidavits.

2020-2021 Kindergarten Information

Registration is now open for children who are Bethany residents and are 5 years old on or before January 1, 2021. If you have not already registered your child please REGISTER NOW.

Important Dates

Kindergarten Information Night, Thursday, April 2nd, 6:30-7:30 pm in the BCS Gymnasium
Kindergarten Screening, Tuesday, June 2nd you will be contacted to set up an appointment as long as you are pre-registered
Kindergarten Orientation, Wednesday, August 19th, 9:30-11:00 am

Free & Reduced Lunch Program

Have questions about Free & Reduced Lunch?
Contact Donna Ricciardi at dricciardi@bethany-ed.org or (203) 393-1170.

Nondiscrimination Statements

This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The Connecticut State Department of Education is committed to a policy of equal opportunity/affirmative action for all qualified persons. The Connecticut State Department of Education does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability (including, but not limited to, intellectual disability, past or present history of mental disorder, physical disability or learning disability), genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by Connecticut state and/or federal nondiscrimination laws. The Connecticut State Department of Education does not unlawfully discriminate in employment and licensing against qualified persons with a prior criminal conviction. Inquiries regarding the Connecticut State Department of Education’s nondiscrimination policies should be directed to: Levy Gillespie, Equal Employment Opportunity Director/Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator, Connecticut State Department of Education, 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 607, Hartford, CT 06103, 860-807-2071, Levy.Gillespie@ct.gov.

Lunch Advisory Council

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) requires that schools who participate in the program must create and maintain a School Lunch Advisory Board that meets twice per year to discuss school lunch meal planning. The BCS Advisory Board consists of the Superintendent, a school administrator, teachers, parents, students, and a representative from the food service program. The Advisory Board needs representation from students in grades 3 - 6, and parents at all grade levels to provide feedback on the school lunch program.

2018-2019 Lunch Advisory Board Members

Colleen Murray, Chair
Robert Davis, Principal
Donna Ricciardi, BOE Office Assistant
Peter Ferrara, Food Service Director
Dr. Namita Wijesekera, BOE Member & Medical Advisor
Jennifer Bobok, School Nurse
Andrea Hubbard, Teacher
Beth Sharkey, Teacher
Toni Green, Parent
Rajni Mehta, Parent
Marie Bartels, Parent
MaryGrace Crisci, Parent
Julia Nickle, Student
Matthew Crisci, Student
Phoebe Bartels, Student

Meetings

October 10, 2018	Agenda	Minutes
May 15, 2019	Agenda	Minutes

Newsletters

Mood Boost

2019-2020 Parent-Student Handbook

2019-2020 Bus Routes

The Bethany Community School Bus Routes are published below. Routes are subject to change as students move in and out of the district. Questions about your child's bus stop should be directed to Beth Cohen, Transportation Coordinator at beth@bandbtrans.com or (203) 393-9750.

2019-2020 School Bus rules & regulations brochure

BCS Transportation Committee Appeals
Please email written appeals to beth@bandbtrans.com and scarpenter@bethany-ed.org.
The subject line should state, "Appeal to BCS Transportation Committee."
They will notify the committee and convene a meeting. You will be notified in writing of the committee's determination.

Bus 1

First Pickup: 7:50 am
Bus Driver: Joe

59 Munson
21 Rainbow
54 Rainbow
610 Carrington
28 Woodcutters
Woodcutters and Amadeo
99 Woodcutters
Carrington and Brookwood
324 Wooding Hill
312 Wooding Hill
290 Wooding Hill
37 Carmel
Downs and Carmel
95 Hatfield Hill
179 Litchfield
Litchfield and Mountain View
264 Litchfield
5 Hatfield Hill

As of August 14, 2019

Bus 2

First Pickup: 7:50 a.m.
Bus Driver: Emily

443 Amity
48 Valley
60 Valley
182 Valley
285 Sperry
158 Sperry
117 Sperry
73 Hatfield Hill
Carrington and Tuttle
275 Carrington
539 Litchfield
648 Litchfield
693 Litchfield
Litchfield and Perkins
58 Perkins
Ann and Litchfield
161 Humiston
Ann and Humiston (125 Humiston)
Carrington and Woods
151 Hilldale

As of August 14, 2019

Bus 3

First Pickup: 7:50 a.m.
Bus Driver: Alex

132 Luke Hill
115 Luke Hill
Cul de sac at Green Hill
Luke Hill and Split Rock
10 Luke Hill
280 Amity
8 Dayton
341/345 Amity
239/243 Amity
233 Amity
Amity and Hamilton
58 Russell
67 Russell
102 Russell
172 Russell
Bethmour and Glenwood
419 Bethmour
Bethmour and Rolling Green
619 Bethmour

As of August 14, 2019

Bus 4

Bus 5

Bus 6

Bus 7

Bus 9

Bus 10

Homework

The purpose of homework is to help students become self-directed, independent learners. Good study habits should be initiated early and emphasized throughout the school years. Well-structured assignments, designed so that the child can complete them without the help of a parent, foster a positive self-image and develop a child’s sense of responsibility. Homework assignments vary in content, frequency and amount according to the student’s ability and grade level.

Specific homework assignments may:

Strengthen basic skills.
Extend classroom learning.
Stimulate interests outside the classroom.
Reinforce independent study skills.
Develop initiative, responsibility and self-direction.
Stimulate a worthwhile use of leisure time.
Acquaint parents with the student’s work in school.

If a student cannot complete homework assignments within a reasonable period of time, parents should contact the teacher who assigned the work to discuss the situation.

Parents can show their support by following theses homework tips:

Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework.
Avoid having your child do homework with the television on or in places with other distractions, such as people coming and going.
Make sure the materials your child needs, such as paper, pencils and a dictionary, are available.
Ask your child if special materials will be needed for some projects and get them in advance.
Help your child with time management.
Establish a set time each day for doing homework. Don't let your child leave homework until just before bedtime. Think about using a weekend morning or afternoon for working on big projects, especially if the project involves getting together with classmates.
Be positive about homework.
Tell your child how important school is. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires.
When your child does homework, you do homework.
Show your child that the skills they are learning are related to things you do as an adult. If your child is reading, you read too. If your child is doing math, balance your checkbook.
When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers.
Giving answers means your child will not learn the material. Too much help teaches your child that when the going gets rough, someone will do the work for him or her.
When the teacher asks that you play a role in homework, do it.
Cooperate with the teacher. It shows your child that the school and home are a team. Follow the directions given by the teacher.
If homework is meant to be done by your child alone, stay away.
Too much parent involvement can prevent homework from having some positive effects. Homework is a great way for kids to develop independent, lifelong learning skills.
Stay informed.
Talk with your child's teacher. Make sure you know the purpose of homework and what your child's class rules are.
Help your child figure out what is hard homework and what is easy homework.
Have your child do the hard work first. This will mean he will be most alert when facing the biggest challenges. Easy material will seem to go fast when fatigue begins to set in.
Watch your child for signs of failure and frustration.
Let your child take a short break if she is having trouble keeping her mind on an assignment.
Reward progress in homework.
If your child has been successful in homework completion and is working hard, celebrate that success with a special event (e.g., pizza, a walk, a trip to the park) to reinforce the positive effort.

Smarter Balanced Information

Bethany Community School students participate in standardized and benchmark testing at designated times during the school year. Individual and group testing results are used to assess student progress and to improve educational programs. Personally identifiable individual student test results are confidential and will be shared with parents. General test results, class data, etc. will be compiled for statistical purposes and program evaluation.

Currently, we give the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) to all grades 3 through 5 students. Students in grade 5 will still take the science subtest of the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) in the spring of 2015. We also give the Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) to students in grade 3 to determine academic strengths and weaknesses. We will give parents advance notice of the dates of these tests to ensure that children are prepared and well-rested. All SBAC, CMT and OLSAT test results will become a part of each child’s student record. Results of these tests will be given to parents.

What Parents and Students Should Know

BCS PTO

2019-2020 Volunteer Handbook

School Behavior

Suggested School Supplies

There are classroom "community" supplies available. If your child would like his/her own supplies, suggested items are listed below by grade level.

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Pencil box
24 pack of crayons
2 glue sticks
Scissors
24 sharpened pencils
1 pack of pencil top erasers and/or block erasers
2 highlighters (any color)
1 RED folder labeled "Reading"
1 GREEN folder labeled "Math"
1 YELLOW folder labeled "Writing"
1 free choice folder (extra)
4 packages of Post-it notes (any color)
1 black marble composition book
headphones

Updated August 16, 2018

Third Grade

Pencil box or zip case
1 pack of 24 count crayons
2 glue sticks - white only
1 pair children's safety scissors
24 pack #2 pencils, sharpened
12 count colored pencils
12 pencil cap erasers
1 single subject spiral notebook
4 packages Post-it notes (2" x 2" or larger)
6 two-pocket folders (one of each color please-red, blue, green, yellow, orange, 1 free choice)
4 highlighters
4 red pens
Small manual pencil sharpener
headphones

Please label the pencil box, colored pencils, pencils, glue sticks, highlighters and scissors individually.

Updated August 9, 2018

Fourth Grade

Pencil box (8.5" x 5.5" x 2.5")
1 pack of 24 count Crayola Crayons
4 Elmer's glue sticks
1 pair of scissors
24 #2 pencils
24 pencil cap erasers
12 count colored pencils
2 spiral notebooks
1 marble composition book
1 two-pocket folder (your choice of color or design)
1 YELLOW two-pocket folder
1 GREEN two-pocket folder
1 BLUE two-pocket folder
1 highlighter
Pencil sharpener with receptacle
2 packages of Post-It notes (3" x 3")
2 black dry erase markers
Headphones

Updated August 10, 2018

Fifth & Sixth Grade

TEAM Summit
Recommended Supply List

As 5th and 6th graders, it is time to start preparing and thinking like middle schoolers. As Team Summit, we will gradually transition our students into a middle school model. We will provide them with the necessary strategies and skills they need to be successful in this process. One of the most important aspects of middle school is rotating classes and teachers. Fifth and Sixth graders will be switching 5 times throughout the day. In order for this to run as smoothly as possible, we have created a recommended list of supplies.

All Subject Areas: (Students should plan on carrying the following supplies with them throughout the day, to all of their classes. Items can be kept in a pencil box/pouch.)

Headphones (no microphone)
Pencils
1 Pack of Colored Pencils
Highlighter
Post-it notes
Erasable Colored Pens (editing and revising)
1 Expandable, Five-pocket folder/organizer

Science:

Composition Notebook
1 Two-pocket Folder

Social Studies:

Composition Notebook

Math:

Composition Notebook
1 Two-pocket Folder

Writing:

1 Spiral Bound Writer’s Notebook

Reading:

Composition Notebook
1 Two-pocket Folder

Updated August 21, 2019

Students	$3.00
Adults	$4.00
Milk	$0.65
Reduced	$0.40

COVID-19 Information