Superintendent
Chris Parra
Bethel Farm Welcomes Newest Family Members
Students get a close-up look at one of the two barn owls who have been given a new home in a special box high atop a pole at the Bethel Farm.
Ten weeks old and moving out on their own; that’s right on time for barn owls.
The Bethel Farm welcomed two young barn owls who had been rescued and rehabilitated by the Cascades Raptor Center.
Their new home is high on a pole in a freshly crafted owl box, built by students under the direction of Bethel Farm Manager Kyle Ryan.
Kids attending the Bethel Farm Camp witnessed the owl move-in.
The Farm’s vision of educating children matches that of the Raptor Center, making the owls’ move to their new home a natural fit.
Students attending future field trips to the Farm will learn about the benefits of owls, such as natural pest control.
But visitors will be encouraged to walk quietly near the owl box, as owls are busy at night and sleep all day.
Project Hope Tickets Available Now
The Project Hope Fair is August 26, 4:00–5:30 p.m. at Willamette High School (on the grass field near the gym.)
You can pick up tickets at your school.
- The fair is open to students in all grades
- Each student must have a ticket to attend
- All children must be accompanied by an adult
If you have students at multiple schools, you do not need to go to each school to pick up tickets. You may pick up tickets for all of your students at one pickup location. Use your ticket as your LTD bus pass to the event.
The Project Hope Fair is a partnership between local school districts and local nonprofits, churches, and businesses to provide lower-income students with access to new shoes, socks, backpacks, school supplies, and haircuts at the start of the school year.
Summer Camp Grows At The Bethel Farm
Bethel 4th and 5th graders grind wheat berries into flour for homemade pizza at the Bethel Farm Camp.
Gardening, cooking, arts and crafts, and enjoying fresh food.
It’s all part of the program at the Bethel Farm’s summer camp for 4th and 5th graders.
Bethel kids have helped harvest potatoes, onions, beans and beets. They’ve made natural dyes from vegetables.
Students grind their own flour for pizza created with ingredients harvested from the farm.
Bethel high school students serve as camp counselors, and partners from the OSU Extension Service lead nutrition and cooking classes.
Camp at the Bethel Farm ends with a family night, complete with a free Farmers Market.
St. Vinnies Withdraws Youth House Proposal
St. Vincent de Paul and Bethel School District listened to neighbors near Meadow View School and as a result, St. Vincent de Paul has decided to withdraw its plan to build a Youth House near Meadow View.
They will seek another site for a Youth House for students in the Eugene-Springfield community. The decision follows many hours of community input through group listening sessions.
Bethel School District supports the decision to search for another site for the house for homeless teenage boys. The District especially appreciates the dedication, honesty and candid feedback of Meadow View neighbors who took part in the listening sessions.
The problem of homelessness among students attending our schools remains. Nearly 10% of Bethel students experienced homelessness at some time during the last school year.
The Youth House siting process helped elevate awareness of the homelessness problem among Bethel students, and confirmed that our community is strong, engaged, and cares about its children.