The Phoenix Flame: Family Edition
A weekly newsletter that will light your way.

10 • 19 • 2026
Happy Friday!
Open House CHANGE IN LOCATION!! We hope to see all of you this Wednesday! We will have cookies for sale, and a coffee cart. In addition you'll get a BINGO card to fill out, and prizes! Plus you can get some halloween candy. School photos will be taken, and all students can get their student ID card, which is important to have as identification!
- Where: 18117 A Street South, Spanaway WA 98387
- When: Oct. 21, 2026 from 3:00 - 6:00
- What: School Pictures! Come get your photo taken, and an ID card made.
Picture Information: Our photo company Premium Pics has sent us a flyer (linked below) so you will have information on photo packages. Please remember you will get your student ID card at the event, and at no cost. Everyone should get their picture taken and their ID card. Follow this link if you'd like to pay for pics ahead of time.
Conference week: (Oct. 26 - Oct. 30.) All students should have a conference with their classroom/advisory teacher. Secondary students have a slide template they should have prepared, which advisory teachers have been prepping during advisory.
- Teachers may be less responsive for email/phone calls due to being in conference zooms.
- The schedule will not include drop in support sessions, nor full class Advisory.
- Your conference is how you get counted present for attendance.
- Pacing guides continue this week because these are all still school days, though for elementary 1/2 days, and secondary 1/2 day for Wed 29, Thurs. 30, Fri 31.
Upcoming Dates:
October 21 - Picture Day/Open House from 3:00 - 6:00
October 26 - October 30 - Conferences week
November 11 - Veterans Day, No School
November 24 - 27th Thanksgiving break (Nov. 24 is a half day the other days are no school).
NEW ADVISORY SCHEDULE
We have a bunch more Character Strong, and high school and beyond requirements, so we will be having regular Advisory both Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00. You are expected to attend both days unless your teacher says otherwise.
* If you know you are:
- Not attending the first day
- Moving schools
Please reach out to your teacher and/or our front office at 253-800-3100 or bva_office@bethelsd.org. Our first four day counts are really important to have accurate! Thanks!
Update from MAP, which drives Goal 2!
• BSD NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATION PROGRAM •
Your child may be entitled to participate in the Bethel School District Native American Education Program. For each child who is registered on a 506 Eligibility Certification Form, the district receives Federal Title VI funds to pay for academic assistance for Native American children. In order to be counted as part of this program, a 506 form must be filled out by a parent/guardian of the Native American child. When filling out the form, all parts must be completed. It is not required that a student be enrolled in a tribe if the parents or grandparents are registered.
This 506 Form needs to be filled out only one time as long as your child attends Bethel schools. We will keep all information confidential.
Forms are available via the link below, on the Title VI website, or by calling Rachael Barger at 253-800-2394 or Grace Leatham at 253-800-2393.
Weekly Academic Contact [10/5 - 10/9]
- Elementary - 96%
- Middle School - 97%
- High School - 89%
- BOL - 92%
- BVA Total - 92%
Stories of the Week
Spanaway Lake Craft Fair: November 7-8
The annual Craft Fair at SLHS will be held on November 7th and 8th Details at
https://www.facebook.com/slhscraftfair
Coffee with the Superintendent: November 10
Our next Coffee with the Superintendent event will be November 10 from 12 to 1 p.m. at the Educational Service Center (516 176th St. E, Spanaway, WA 98387). We will also be hosting another event in March. Invite your neighbors! Everyone is welcome.
Transportation Hiring Event: November 10
We are looking for bus drivers and bus assistants to join our amazing Transportation team! Our next hiring event will be on November 10, from 2 to 6 p.m. at our Transportation Service Center (5625 192nd St E, Puyallup, WA 98375). At these events there are opportunities for on-the-spot interviews and potential day-of job offers. We hope to see you there!
Upcoming School Board Meetings
School Board meetings begin at 7 p.m. and will be held at Bethel School District's Educational Service Center (ESC), 516 176th St. E., Spanaway, WA 98387 unless otherwise noted. The public is welcome! To join via Zoom, visit https://bethelsd.diligent.community/portal/
October 27: School Board Meeting
November 17: School Board Meeting
December 15: School Board Meeting
ADMIN OFFICE HOURS
Make an Appointment with Mrs. Shobe