Bobcat Blast

Dear Bethany Families,

Thank you to everyone who attended our Back to School Night! It was a pleasure seeing so many of you on campus, and I hope you enjoyed the opportunity to meet your child's teacher(s), learn about the curriculum and ways to support your child at home. I heard from some folks that a couple of my videos in the principal message didn't have sound. I went back and double-checked, and it works on my end and it worked for Sue. I'm not quite sure how to fix that. My apologies!

For those who were unable to attend last night, please check your messages for information from teachers with what you missed. My hope for conferences in October is to have 100% participation. Mark your calendars now for October 22nd and 23rd. 😀

As we move forward, please remember that communication is key. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher, the front office, or to me with any questions or concerns. We are all here to support your child and ensure they have a successful and rewarding school year.

Thank you again for your partnership and your commitment to our school community. We look forward to a fantastic year of learning and growth together.

Sincerely,

Ms. Rosenquist

September

10 - PTO Meeting, 7:00pm

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

Believe You Matter Information

This year, BSD has launched a districtwide student mental health and well-being initiative called Believe You Matter. The focus area for the next few months will be suicide prevention. That may not seem like a relevant topic for elementary school students, but sadly, it is. Last year, about a third of the 651 suicide screenings done in the district involved elementary students — some as young as five years old.

We will be holding our Suicide Prevention Informational Night here at school on:

Monday, September 15th in the Library.

BSD staff will be sharing tools to help you support your child’s mental well-being.

Dear Parents

Just a heads up, we will officially kick-off the jog-a-thon with the students on September 12th but figured we'd get a heads up to parents since this time of year seems to be VERY FULL.

Please mark your calendars for September 26th. We are very excited to celebrate one of Bethany's most beloved events with you all. In the meantime, it is helpful to start talking to your student(s) about the jog-a-thon and what their goals are for the event. This can range from simply having fun, beating their previous lap count, running a lap with their favorite teacher, raising $$$ for their school, or earning prizes like 3d printed dragon, Kona Ice, or the all-time fan favorite: SUBS WITH MR. STOLLER.

In the interim, if you are interested in volunteering at the event, watch for an email TOMORROW. We will be sending out more information and a link to sign up to volunteer. You can also visit www.bspto.org/ where we will continue to provide information, resources, and updates on how to get involved. You can expect to see an email soon from our volunteer coordinator as well as continued updates here in the Bobcat Blast.

Please feel free to reach out to Emily Logue via email with specific questions or general jog-a-thon inquiries: emily@revelstrategies.com

We are still looking for 2-3 sponsors. If you own a local business that would like to sponsor the jog-a-thon, we have several sponsorship packages that we think will add great value! Please reach out today!

Volunteer System Needed to Attend Jog-A-Thon

We will need a lot of volunteers to cheer on children and help with their count cards. 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.

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.

We have noticed quite a few children sitting in the front seat of cars during our arrival and dismissal process. Oregon law (see below) does not prohibit children from sitting in the front seat, but it is not recommended for children under 13 years old, due to the danger of airbags.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommend that children stay in the back seat until they are 13 years old. Children should always use a seat belt that fits properly, and a rear-facing infant seat cannot be placed in a front seat with an airbag.

Safety Guidelines for the Front Seat

Back Seat is Safest:

All children under 13 should ride in the back seat for optimal protection.

Proper Belt Fit:

When a child is ready for the front seat, the adult lap and shoulder belt must fit correctly, which usually happens around age 13.

Child Restraint Laws:

Oregon law requires children to use a car seat or booster seat until they are age 8 or 4'9" tall, at which point they can use the adult seat belt. This reinforces the importance of the back seat for younger children.

State vs. Recommendations:

While Oregon law specifies minimum requirements for child restraints, expert recommendations go further for overall safety.

Airbags:
Airbags are designed for adults and can be dangerous for children, especially in the front seat, due to their underdeveloped bodies.

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.