Bobcat Blast

Dear Bethany Families,

We had 31 people in attendance at our PTO Meeting last night on Zoom! Thank you to everyone who was able to join and we would love to see more of you at next month's meeting on October 8th at 7 pm. Don't worry...we will remind you several times in the Bobcat Blast! 😉

Tomorrow we will have our first assembly of the year to kick-off the Jog-a-thon. Look for the beautifully designed brochure (thank you April Matthews and Emily Logue) in your child's backpack for all of the information you need to know. The event itself is on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th. We would love for you to volunteer or cheer on the kids. This is such a special day for our school community. You won't want to miss it.

Lastly, I want to give a big shout out to our AMAZING office staff, Darla Beuving and Sue Kropilak. They are two of the most dedicated, skilled, efficient, POSITIVE, wonderful secretaries; and I don't know what we would do without them. They are the friendly voices on the phone, the ones welcoming parents in the office, taking care of students in the health room, and doing countless tasks behind-the-scenes to keep our school running so beautifully. Every day is a good day with this power team!

With Gratitude~

Ms. Rosenquist 🌹

September

15 - Suicide Prevention Info Night (More info later)

22 - No School. (Staff Development)

26 - Jog-A-Thon

29 - Vision Screening. (K-5)

Printable 2025-26 Yearly Calendar

Tomorrow is our official jog-a-thon kick-off assembly. We are going to be raffling off some prizes and getting the kids excited for why we raise money and how to get involved!

Your student(s) will be bringing home a flyer tomorrow that will give you all of the information you need to get started. Please help your student(s) set up their Pledgestar fundraising page as soon as possible. Starting next week, anyone who simply sets up their fundraising account/page will be entered into our weekly raffle for a chance to win King Pins arcade cards, art classes, Piccolo Mondo gift cards and more!

For more information, you can visit www.bspto.org/jogathon or visit our pledgestar page for the event and get started today: https://bspto.pledgestar.com/Welcome.html

We are still seeking many volunteers for the day of so please take a moment to review the different areas we still need help by clicking HERE. If you would like a description of the different volunteer opportunities please click HERE

Lastly, we are still seeking a few borrowed items for the day of the jog-a-thon including tents and bubble machines. Please take a look at what is outstanding and sign up for what you can lend!

A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who has already signed up!

Volunteer System Needed to Attend Jog-A-Thon

If you would like to help or just come to cheer on your child, you will need to have your background check completed. There will be a Spectator Area this year, but it will not be close enough to interact personally with the runners as they go by. If you want to High Five runners you will need to have done your background check. Do not wait until the week before the event and then be disappointed when you can not go outside and watch.

Please see below for the link to the Volunteer Application.

Date: Monday September 15, 2025

Time: 6:00-7:30PM

Location: Bethany Elementary Library

Cost: Free

Limited Number of Spaces, Sign up HERE

Adults Only

Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to Question, Persuade, and Refer someone to help. Each year thousands of people, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a child, friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.

As a QPR-trained Gatekeeper you will learn to:

Recognize the warning signs of suicide in your students and others
Know how to offer hope
Know how to get help and save a life

Who needs training?

In short, the more people trained in QPR, the more lives saved. Because of the nature of suicidal warning signs, who is most likely to recognize and respond to them, and that suicides happen in families – where emergency interventions are more likely to take place — it is recommended that at least one person per family unit should be trained in QPR.

Check out this cool video of Mr. Stewart's 5th graders in Mrs. Lee's classroom. This was shared throughout the district for staff to be inspired by content-embedded inquiry practices.

Content Area: 🖍️ Early Learning

Video: Leticia Lee Barrios at Bethany Elementary took a real-life experience from the first week of school and explicitly linked it to the Social Science Curriculum and the Content Embedded Inquiry cards to demonstrate how to use both in action.

What a beautiful way to introduce the very concept of a democratic process by asking the students about the space, then incorporating their ideas into the redesign. A literal microcosm of "by the people, for the people." Perfect alignment to 5th grade Social Science learning standards.” -Wednesday Inquiry Zoom attendee Jessica Voodre, High School Social Science TOSA-

Oregon, schools must provide students with the opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at least once a week, but students are not required to participate. Federal law prohibits forcing students to salute the flag or recite the pledge, a rule upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. (Reciting the pledge each week is an area where we have been out of compliance at Bethany 😬). Starting this week, students will be provided the opportunity to recite the Pledge each week in their classrooms as part of the Weekly Announcements.

The key components of the law

Opportunity to recite: Oregon Revised Statutes § 339.875 requires that each school district "Provide students with the opportunity to salute the United States flag at least once each week of the school year by reciting" the Pledge.
No mandatory participation: Students cannot be compelled to say the Pledge or even stand. Federal court rulings based on the First Amendment's protection of free speech and religion prevent mandatory participation.
Maintain respectful silence: For students who choose not to participate, Oregon law requires that they "maintain a respectful silence during the salute".
First Amendment protections: The right to refuse to participate is based on the First Amendment, which protects students from being forced to express a viewpoint with which they do not agree. School staff are also protected by these rights.
District and school practices: While the law sets a weekly minimum, individual districts and schools may choose to recite the Pledge more often. Some schools have revised their protocols to explicitly inform students that participation is optional.

It is REALLY DANGEROUS to cross our school driveway entrance. Cars are pulling in and out and we do not have an adult to safely cross students. Our crossing guard is on 174th Ave to cross the street with the added protection of the blinking lights. If your child or family is coming to Bethany on the school-side of the road we ask that you walk down Ashland Avenue to the cul-de-sac and enter through the pathway that comes out near the portables. That is a MUCH SAFER route for children who walk or bike to school from that direction. We appreciate your cooperation. See photos below.

Don't Cross Here

Use this Path From

Ashland Avenue instead

During the school year we have outside organizations that will offer classes at Bethany, after school. The classes will begin in October, and we will list their information each week.

We encourage you to click on the flyers below to find out more information.

Play Fit Fun

Play.Fit.Fun. is like PE that has crashed into field day and then bumped into team building! Activities are organized, uplifting, empowering and 100% focused on the kids! Fun, Organized, ACTIVE Play is what we do.

Days: Monday

Fall Term: October 6th - December 15th

Times: 2:20 - 3:30

Cost: $175.00

Register at Playfitfun.com

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Art Enrichment

In each session, students in grades K–5 dive into the elements of art: line, shape, form, color, value, texture and perspective. They’ll also learn about influential artists and art movements, both past and present.

Days: Mondays

Fall Session: October 6th - December 15th

Time: 2:20 - 3:10pm

Cost: $225.00

Register at www.whimsywees.com/enrichment-art

We love having families involved at school, and volunteering is a great way to connect and support our students and staff. To help keep everyone safe, all volunteers need to complete an application through our district’s volunteer system, Raptor, and pass an Oregon criminal background check. Once you're approved, you'll get a confirmation email.

Update: If you were in the system last year, you are still approved.

Volunteer Information and Application

Thanks so much for your support—we couldn’t do it without you!

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As was announced at the end of last school year, the BSD is transitioning from using the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) to the Naglieri General Abilities Tests (NGATs). This decision aligns with the BSD’s commitment to meet the needs of all students as described in our strategic plan.

In October 2025, BSD 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students will be screened for giftedness in their classrooms using one of three NGATs, unless families choose to request their children to be given the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT).

3rd grade students will take the Naglieri General Ability Test - Nonverbal.
4th grade students will take the Naglieri General Ability Test - Verbal
5th grade students will take the Naglieri General Ability Test - Quantitative

During this school year (2025-26), families who want to request that their student take the CogAT must complete this google form link. Requests must be submitted by September 22nd. Please remember, students cannot be tested with the CogAT in consecutive years, so if your child took the CogAT during the 2024-25 school year, they will not be allowed to take the CogAT again this year. As of the 2026-27 school year, the district will only use NGATs.

If your student is on vacation or ill when their class takes the NGAT, we will have a make-up day for all tests missed at the school. If your student misses the make-up test, they will not be tested this year. Exceptions may be made for 5th graders upon the discretion of the District TAG Coordinator.

Please pack a snack with your student

Most classes have a designated snack time. It is helpful if families send a healthy snack to school each day. We understand that some families may not be able to provide additional food, and if this is the case, we will provide a snack, so no child goes without. We have a limited budget to purchase snacks. Families are welcome to donate snacks to their classrooms (ask your teacher for suggestions). You can also donate to the general school supply by bringing snacks to the office. All snacks need to be individually wrapped. It would be safest for children with food allergies or dietary needs to bring a snack from home (or let us know if you need assistance). Thank you! 💗

Vision screening will be conducted by the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation, for all of our students on Monday 9/29/25. Students who wear glasses should wear their glasses for the screening. Parents will only be notified if follow up care is recommended based on vision screening results.

Please notify Esperanza Pietrok at esperanza_pietrok@beaverton.k12.or.us if you prefer that your child not participate in this vision screening. Students who are absent during school screenings will be screened individually with a parent request.

Know the Facts about E-Bikes ad E-Scooters

Electric bicycles and scooters are becoming increasingly popular. In the state of Oregon, children under the age of 16 are not allowed to ride any class of electric bike or scooter.

We strongly encourage all students and adults to wear a helmet when riding any set of wheels, motorized or not. If you are under the age of 16, you must wear a helmet when biking, scootering, or skating.

Know the facts, follow safety laws, and stay safe!

Fan Expectations

As fall sports kick off at the high school level, Metro League Principals would like to remind our community, especially families with K-8 students about fan expectations during Friday night football games. Please click here for a letter from the Principals. Metro League Fan Letter

New Device Policy

In alignment with Governor Tina Kotek’s executive order, the district has made adjustments to the personal electronic device policy. All personal devices — including cell phones, earbuds, headphones and smartwatches — must be stored in backpacks during the school day, including restroom breaks and lunchtime. Students with IEPs or 504 plans that include device-related accommodations are exempt. If you need to get an urgent message to your child during the school day, please call the main office.

Please take a moment to review this policy with your child

to ensure a smooth start to the school year.