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Greetings from Bethany!

Welcome to our online resource for current parents, where we are gathering together important information, links, and updates for you.

You can find important information on this hub, including resources, contact information, recent news, calendar events and more.

Lower School
Middle School
Upper School
Athletics

Calendar adjustment

To help the Bethany community as a whole and parents of all grade levels, we decided to separate one calendar into two. All events are still available, but you may need to resubscribe.

Website calendar

To view calendar events online, select Calendar at the top of this page.

When you are on the calendar page, have a look at the right side of the screen. By default, below the monthly calendar, both Academics and Athletics should be checked. From there, it is up to you—select Academic, Athletics, or both.

Subscribing to the calendar

If you would like to sync the calendar to your own devices, select which calendar you want, then choose the 'Subscribe' link above the monthly calendar. When it is shared with your device, it would likely be named as 'Bethany Christian Schools -Academics' OR 'Athletics' OR 'Custom Calendar'.

We hope that this is helpful for you. You are welcome to send an email to [email protected] if you have any issues or questions.

Information and upcoming events

Chess Club
Chess Club begins tomorrow for any interested 2nd-12th graders who can play chess independently. Meet in Mr. Leaman’s room (111) from 3:15 to 4:15 each Tuesday. Email Mr. Leaman with questions!

PTO Kickoff
Our annual BCS Kickoff for all students and their families will be Monday, Sept. 8, 6–8 pm. This is a great opportunity to meet other families and teachers with special activities including a dunk tank and a bounce house. Additional information will be coming.

Free Concert Featuring The Soil and The Seed Project and students from BCS
On Wednesday, September 10 at 7pm, the founders of The Soil and The Seed Project and local musicians will give a concert in Sauder Concert Hall at Goshen College. This event is free and open to the public and features musicians from The Soil and The Seed Project, Bethany Christian Schools, Goshen High School, Goshen College, and the greater Elkhart County area. Come listen, sing along, and learn more about this exciting new initiative and get beautiful, free resources!

Free or Reduced Lunches
If you think you may qualify for free or reduced lunches, you may submit an application to the school. If you were approved last year, you must reapply for benefits each school year, unless you received notification from the school that your children are directly certified for this school year. Applications can be printed from the IDOE website or picked up in the office. Completed applications (and any questions) can be directed to Kevin Miller in the school office or via email.

Pesticide Registry
As part of state regulations regarding pesticide use, the school must give all parents, guardians, and staff the opportunity each year to be included on an advance notice registry. People on the advance notice registry will be given a 48-hour advance notice when pesticides are expected to be applied during a school day. If you wish to be included on this registry for 2025-26, email Kevin or call 574 534-2567.

School Picture Retake Day
ALL STUDENTS: Missed getting your school picture taken yesterday or don’t like your picture? School Picture Retake Day will be on September 23. You can still order pictures online at mylifetouch.com and use ID code: EVTCR3QNQ

Mealtime account
Parents wanting to set up a Mealtime account can do so by following the steps below (If you need your student's ID number, please email Betzy.

Go to mymealtime.com and click on the green "Register Now for your FREE account" button.
Enter the required personal information to create the account and click "Register"
On your new account page click on the green "Add Student" button and the. the blue "New" button
You will be prompted to enter your state and the school name. (Bethany Christian School will self populate as you begin to type it)
You will be prompted to enter your student's school ID Number and their Full First Name.
Select the green "Add" button and the student will be added to your account.

Text Alerts
If you wish to receive text alerts from Bethany (including weather delays/cancellations), opt in by texting “Y” to 67587 from the wireless device you wish to receive texts. In order to receive texts, you also must have the mobile device number on file with Bethany. If you have opted in and still do not receive the text from our next schoolwide broadcast, contact the technology director, Benji Hurst.

Previous and General Announcements

Drop off and pick up
Reminder, parents who are dropping off and picking up students in the south lot should NOT take a shortcut through the middle of the parking lot. Please drive along the outside and be patient as students are picked up. We appreciate your help in keeping all students safe.
Parents in Prayer
Parents in Prayer meets Friday morning (8:30) in the office conference room. Anyone is welcome to join. Prayers may be submitted using this form. For more information on Bethany’s PTO, calendar of events, and how you might get involved, click here.
Morning building access
Doors open at 7:15am instead of 6:45am. For students who arrive earlier, there are still two heated entryways available at the main office and cafeteria entrance, where they may wait until the school officially opens. If your student routinely needs to be dropped off before 7:45 a.m., please continue to notify the office so we can plan accordingly.
As we enter the winter season, and on days with the start of school delayed 90 minutes, please include extra travel time into your morning routine so that you can safely get to school on time.
BCS eLearning Day Expectations/Reminders
With winter weather again approaching, we wanted to send some reminders about days off and our eLearning Day expectations. Delay and cancellation information is available online.

We adhere to state guidelines and expectations relating to eLearning days. State guidelines allow for three asynchronous eLearning days where work can simply be posted, but no student/teacher interaction must occur. While we may utilize these asynchronous eLearning days for specific reasons, our normal eLearning day will involve teachers and students interacting and/or meeting virtually during the normal class schedule time. The following guidelines will be followed to help ensure a productive eLearning day:
- students will be reminded to take home necessary materials the day before when possible
- the normal class schedule will be followed for that specific day (schedule reminders will be sent home via email and text)
- attendance will be taken for each class
- teachers are encouraged to meet virtually (Google Meet, Zoom) to share information, explain the lesson, have discussions, etc.
- class information as well as links for Google Meet and Zoom will be posted on Google Classroom
While in person learning is always best, we are well positioned to offer a valuable eLearning day experience. We appreciate your efforts to help make learning continue when we are forced to cancel school.
Parents, please make sure to contact your students during the day through the office. Do not text or call students as they are not to be on their phones during most of the day. We appreciate your help!
With the new Indiana state law and Bethany expectations relating to technology (cell phone) use, we are asking that parents communicate with their student through the Bethany office during school hours. The office will communicate with students on your behalf. View the new technology policy in the Student-Parent Handbook that was emailed to all families.
If you know your student will have a planned absence, please notify the office as soon as possible so we can make teachers aware and can make academic preparations. If you have a student who is home ill or has a medical appointment, please notify the office as soon as possible that day. Contact the office at [email protected] or call 574-534-2567.
Parents who are not receiving text messages from the school and would like to, text Y to 67587. Parents who want to stop receiving messages need to opt out by texting Stop to the same number.

For more dates to remember, see the calendars in the upper right of this page.

Lower School

Class Newsletters (updated weekly by faculty)
Kindergarten	4th Grade
1st Grade	5th Grade
2nd Grade	6th Grade
3rd Grade

The lower school is looking to add new game options for students at recess. If you have any gently used tennis or pickleball rackets that are no longer being used at home, we could put them to good use. Donations can be dropped off during lower school drop-off/pick up or the main office. Thank you for helping make recess even more fun for our students.

Parents of Kindergarten–2nd grade
If your child packs a lunch, please provide food that does not need to be heated up at school. Hot items can be placed in a thermal food container at home. This will maximize your child's eating time, allow adults to focus on supporting students, and they will have more time to eat and visit with friends.

Tennis and Pickleball Rackets for lower school recess
The lower school is looking to add new game options for students at recess. If you have any gently used tennis or pickleball rackets that are no longer being used at home, we could put them to good use. Donations can be dropped off during lower school drop-off/pick up or the main office. Thank you for helping make recess even more fun for our students.

Middle School

Upper School

Seniors will be on senior trip Wednesday through Friday and grades 9-11 will have Service Day on Thursday and Day Away on Friday.

Athletics

Sports action tonight:

The middle school girls soccer team lost to Northridge last night while the boys A team won 5-1. Bruin scoring: (girls) Holland Wilken 1 goal; (boys) Jaden Espinoza Lopez 2 goals and 1 assist, Lewis Yoder 4 assists, and 1 goal each for Santiago Gonzalez, Jack Lanctot, and Santi Sosa. Both teams host Concord next Tuesday.