Dear Bethany Families,
I hope your family is settling well into the new school year and finding joy in the rhythms of learning, friendship, and community that are already taking shape. As I mentioned in my welcome letter, I want to share some background on our Student–Parent Handbook and highlight a few important updates.
The handbook is a living document—updated periodically to reflect clarity, best practices, and the most current guidance for our school community. While small clarifications may occur during the year, significant changes will only be made at semester or year-end, and we will always let you know when a policy changes.
Last winter, we engaged the nationally recognized law firm Fisher-Phillips, LLP to review our policies, followed by input from the local firm Warrick & Boyn to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, and alignment with common practices in our region. This process ensures that Bethany remains current with legislation and evolving best practices for independent schools. You can find the Student-Parent Handbook in the “Family Portal” section of our website. Here are the key updates:
- Wireless Communications Devices (p.64) – Revised by our faculty led Student Wellness Committee, informed by research on cell phone use and last year’s ban in academic spaces. Parents, teachers, and students all had the opportunity to contribute.
- Academic Integrity & Artificial Intelligence (p.10) – Updated guidelines to address AI’s rapidly changing role in education.
- Attendance (p.21) – Clarifies how attendance impacts graduation honors, course credit, and enrollment status. The state defines chronic absence as missing more than 10% of school days (18 days), not 10 days as previously stated. Policies were recently modified to align with the state definition of chronic absenteeism.
- Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (p.26) – Expanded for greater detail and clarity.
- Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct, Harassment, and Title IX (p.31) – Expanded sections for clarity, transparency, and alignment with federal guidance.
- Student Record & Privacy - FERPA (p.66) – Added information on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
The Student–Parent Handbook is more than a list of rules—it’s one way we ensure a safe, respectful, and thriving environment for every student. I’m grateful for the careful work of our faculty, staff, and legal partners in keeping our policies strong and mission-focused. If you have questions, please reach out to me, Lower School Principal Juanita Hershberger, or Upper School Principal Lisa Melendez.
Thank you for being active partners in this work. Together, we carry forward a tradition of care, responsibility, and shared commitment to preparing students to participate in God’s work in the world.
With appreciation,
Tim Lehman, Ed.D.
Head of School