Bethany Charter School
11824 Hazelgreen Road NE, Silverton, OR 97381 (503) 873-4300
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Greetings to our Bobcat Community,
 
January has flown by. Students, teachers and our instructional assistants continue to work hard on their standards course of study. Teachers have been meeting to discuss common assessments and strategies for ensuring all students receive the help (either remediation or acceleration) that they need. We know that every day is important in the overall accomplishment of each student, and we know that you as parents are continuing to stress that your children come to school every day ready and eager to be the best they can be. For that, I thank you.
 
“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.”
            William Arthur Ward                Dakota Parmely
 
I want to thank all of the parents who take their responsibility seriously to give service to the school. We have a PRIDE of parents who continue to show up and commit to being partners in the education journey. What they do for us is so important. I know how hard it is for many of you to give such service but continue to encourage you to find a way to be a part of Bethany Charter School and offer your talents to our children. This is the Bobcat spirit-we give back what has been given to us. Your child is getting a wonderful education at Bethany Charter School. Thanks to you who are showing your appreciation by giving back to the school. The Carnival is the perfect opportunity to take up your responsibility of service to the school. 
 
Our fourth and seventh graders will be taking the State writing test in February. The teachers and students have been working very hard to improve writing skills. At the home front, be sure to encourage writing practices at all ages. The world of technology has delivered the computer but the computer can only write as good as the operator. Writing to communicate is not going to leave us. It is a necessary to be able to get your message across clearly. The better your writing skills are, the better the impression you’ll make on the people around you.
 
Make February a heart warming month to be a Bobcat!
 
Mrs. Frank
Bethany Charter School Administrator
 
 
 

     Bethany School is one of Silverton area's community-heritage schools; still serving families of K-8 students in a building whose history stretches back over a century.
     Records first mention Bethany holding school in 1854, apparently in four different places: It met in the home of Elias and Lucia Cox, influential and generous settlers, perhaps until the Bethany Christian Church building was built in 1858 on land the Coxes had donated. (The Bethany cemetery remains on the church land, but the beautiful white building, which stood at the east end, was demolished in 1946). The school met in the church building and also, with a teacher named Fones Wilbur, in Thomas Shaw's store building. (Thomas Shaw was in the Gilliam party that discovered Minto Pass).
     In 1865, as the Civil War ended, the community met at the church to organise a school district. In 1868 they rented a building from Dr. Hutton; and by 1869, $96.50 of the necessary $100 had been raised and a new school building was completed to the west of the existing one. (Characteristically, Mr. Cox said he'd wait for the rest of the money.) Enrollment was 45; average attendance 18 ½.
     In 1886, Mr. Cox (again) donated land, and, in 1890 , 31 years after the first school was built, the initial part of the present building was constructed. It boasted a bell, a woodshed for the woodstove, a teacher's desk on a platform, and a hand dug well with a dipper. Paper was scarce, so slates were used.
     Additions over the years, starting in 1910 with a second room on the west, a playshed (added during the Depression), an "auditorium" in 1948, and extensive later additions,transformed the facade to a modern looking exterior.
     One early teacher deserves special mention: Peter Burnett. His uncle, Peter H. Burnett, who came to Oregon in 1843, became the first Governor of California!
     On June 14, 2004 the Charter application was approved and signed.

STRATEGIC/LONG-TERM GOALS FOR BCS
 
1.  Increase student level of mastery of reading, writing and math at all grade levels with the intent of increasing the number of students meeting and exceeding the Oregon State assessment Standards in Reading/Literature and Mathematics.
 
2.  Enhance and improve technology use and instruction at BCS with the idea of incorporating as many various types and styles of technology as feasible. Use of technology in as many subjects as possible is encouraged. Implement the technology standards at each grade level.
 
3.  Tap into our local businesses and come up with a two year rotation plan for visiting and learning about the businesses.
 
4.  Natural Science is a piece of our mission at Bethany. Work to integrate the sciences with our agriculture program.
 
5.  Continue to enhance school appearance and safety in both buildings and grounds to provide a more interesting, safe and enjoyable learning environment. Encourage more use of school facilities by community.
 
6.  Implement an all school approach to instructing writing. This approach will lead to improved State writing results and all around better writers.

Kindergarten

• 1 box pencils—#2 wooden
• 1 pkg. cap erasers
• 1 box Crayola or Prang crayons (24 pack)
• 1 water colors—Crayola, 8 colors
• 1 pkg. washable Crayola Markers
• 2 spiral notebooks
• 5 bottom pocket folders (plain colored)
• 5 glue sticks
• 1 bottle white glue
• 1 box facial tissues
• 1 pkg. disenfecting wipes
• 1 pump bottle of hand sanitizer
• book bag or backpack
• 1 Fiskar scissors (good quality, & lefty if needed)

** Some supplies will be used and shared with our classroom community.
1st/2nd Grade

• 1 large white glue
• pencil box
• 1 pkg. glue sticks (no colored glue please)
• 2 boxes #2 pencils (no pens please!)
• 1 large box of tissue
• 1 12-inch ruler w/centimeters & inches
• 1 Fiskar scissors (good quality)
• 1 box of 24 crayons
• 1 box colored markers (wide or thin)
• 1 box colored pencils
• 2 wide-ruled spiral notebooks (at least 70 count)
• 1 pink eraser
• 1 watercolor paints—(Crayola, 8 colors)
• 3-5 bottom pocket folders (no Trapper Keepers or 3-ring binders please!)
• 2 fine-point permanent markers (like Sharpie)
• Hand wipes or sanitizer
• 1 ream of 96 bright 20#white computer paper

**Some supplies will be used and shared in our classroom community.
3rd/4th Grade

• 24 box wooden #2 pencils (bring 5 at a time)
• 20 pencil cap erasers
• 1 pink pearl eraser
• 1 ruler, wooden/standard & metric
• 1 pair Friskars kid scissors (pointed adult scissors ONLY if they are comfortable using them)
• 2 pkg. wide-ruled notebook paper (200-300 ct.)
• 4 folder—yellow/red/blue/green (plain—no peechees, please) to hold 8.5x11 paper
• 1 composition book (black and white specks— smaller than 8.5 x 11)
• 2 box facial tissues
• 4 glue sticks
• 1 box 24 crayons
• 1 box 12 colored pencils
• 1 pencil box to store small items in desk
• backpack to hang behind a chair or hook
• 1 pkg. notebook paper, wide-ruled
• 1 pkg. graph paper

5th/6th Grade

• 5 boxes wooden #2 pencils or #2 mechanical pencils with lead
• 1 pkg. blue or black pens
• 1 pink pencil top erasers
• 1 plastic shatterproof ruler- standard and metric
• 1 pair scissors
• 3 pkg. college-ruled notebook paper
• 1 two or three inch 3-ring binder
• zippered view binder
• 5 Mead 100 sheet composition book (or similar)
• 1 pkg. graph paper 
• 1 protractor and compass
• 1 pkg. gluesticks
• 1 pkg. colored pencils
• 1 bottle white glue
• 1 Scientific calculator—Texas Instrument 30xIIS (must have)
• Multi colored markers 
• USB Flash drive or memory stick
• 1 backpack or book bag
• **The following items will be kept in a classroom box for “community use”.**

• 3 boxes of facial tissues
• 1 pump bottle of hand sanitizer
• 1 ream of 96 bright 20# white computer paper

 
7th/8th Grade

• 5 boxes wooden #2 pencils
• 1 pkg. blue or black pens
• 1 pink pearl eraser
• 1 ruler—standard & metric
• 1 pair scissors
• 3 pkg. college-ruled notebook paper
• Zippered view binder
• 1-1inch white binder ( must have)
• 1 Scientific calculator—Texas Instrument 30xa (must have)
• 1 pkg. ¼” graph paper
• 1 pkg. red correcting pens
• 1 backpack or book bag
• Pen box for locker
• USB Flash drive or memory stick (optional)

**The following items will be kept in a classroom box for “community use”.**

• 1 protractor and compass
• 1 box facial tissues
• 1 pkg. glue sticks
• 1 pkg. colored pencils
• 1 ream of white copy paper

Bethany Charter School Year At a Glance 

FALL TERM 2009/2010

September

Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Faculty Orientation

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Faculty Orientation

Thursday, September 3, 2009
Faculty Orientation

Monday, September 7, 2009
Labor Day Holiday -No School

Tuesday, September 8, 2009
First Day of Fall Term School

Thursday, September 17, 2009
Constitution Day

Monday, September 21, 2009
Early Release @12:30

Monday, September 21, 2009
Open House @6:30
10:45 Pride/Harvey assembly!

October

Monday, October 5, 2009
Early Release @12:30

Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Picture Day

Friday, October 9, 2009
State Wide School Inservice Day-No School

Thursday, October 15, 2009
Mid-Term Reports Due

Friday, October 16, 2009
Grade Day-No School

Monday, October 19, 2009
Parent Teacher Conferences-No School

Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Parent Teacher Conferences-No School

Thursday, October 22, 2009
Agriculture Day

Saturday, October 24, 2009
Bethany Charter School Auction @ 6:00 pm.

Monday, October 26, 2009
Early Release @12:30

November

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Election Day

Tuesday, November 19, 2009
Picture Retake Day

Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Veteran 's Day Holiday-No School

Monday, November 16, 2009
Early Release @12:30

Wednesday, Novemeber 25, 2009
Thanksgiving Feast 

Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving Holiday-No School

Friday, November 27, 2009
Thanksgiving Holiday-No School

December

Friday, December 4, 2009
Grades/Report Card Preparation- No School

Monday, December 7, 2009 
Early Release@12:30

Monday, December 7, 2009-Friday, December 11, 2009
Book Fair Week-Tentative

Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Trimester 1 Awards Assembly @10:15

Thursday, December 10, 2009
Christmas Program @6:30 pm.

Thursday, December 17, 2009
Craft Day

Monday, December 21, 2009-Friday, January 2, 2010
Winter Vacation-No School

January

Monday, Janurary 4, 2010
First Day of School in 2010-Happy New Year

Monday, January 11, 2010
Early Release@12:30

Monday, January 18, 2010
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday-No School

Thursday, January 28, 2010
Mid-Term Reports Due

Winter Term 2009/2010

February

Monday, February 1, 2010
Early Release@12:30

Monday, February 15, 2010
President's Day Holiday-No School

Thursday, February 18, 2010
Agriculture Day

Monday, February 22, 2010
Early Release@12:30

Saturday, February 27, 2010
Bethany Charter School Carnival

March

Monday, March 8, 2010
Early Release@12:30

Friday, March 12, 2010
Grades/Report Card Preparation- No School

Monday, March 15, 2010
Parent Teacher Conferences-No School

Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Parent Teacher Conferences-No School

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Trimester 2 Awards Assembly @10:15

Thursday, March 18, 2010
Agriculture Day

Monday, March 22, 2010-Friday, March 26, 2010
Spring Vacation-No School

Spring Term 2009/2010

April

Monday, April 12, 2010
Early Release@12:30

Thursday, April 15, 2010
Agriculture Day

Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Administrative Secretary Day

Thursday, April 22, 2010
Take our Daughters & Sons to Work Day

Thursday, April 22, 2010
Ice-Cream & The Art's Night

Thursday, April 29, 2010
Grandparent's Lunch

Friday, April 30, 2010
Mid-Term Grades Due

May

Tuesday, May 4, 2010
National Teacher Day

Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mother's Day

Thursday, May 20, 2010
Agriculture Day/Campus Clean up Day

Monday, May 24, 2010
Early Release @ 12:30

Thursday, May 27, 2010
Volunteer Appreciation Brunch @10:30

June

Tuesday, June 1, 2010 -Friday, June 4, 2010
Science Fair Week

Monday, June 14, 2010
Flag Day

Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Last Day of School for Eighth Graders

Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Eighth Grade Promotion @ 6:30

Wednesday, June 16, 2010
End of the year Awards Assembly @8:30

Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Kindergarten Graduation @ 10:30

Thursday, June 17, 2010
Last Day of School-Early Release @ 12:00

     Over the summer, Bethany Charter hosted a summer Lego Camp to great applause. Coaches Kim Merklin and Mr. Brown lead the group of 14 kids ages 9-14 in the first year of the new summer program. They met daily to build Lego NXT robots and learn how to program them using Lego NXT software.  The goal was to tailor the camp to all ability levels from beginners to advanced.  A strong emphasis was be placed on teamwork and completing fun and interesting tasks with robotics.
     The new team will be starting the challenge, "Smart Move" when school starts. Contact coach Merklin at (503) 390-6229 or toddmerklin@msn.com to register.