Students
Oregon Battle of the Books
Getting ready for the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB)?
Kids in the 3rd to 5th Grade Division: come test your knowledge with a quiz game at the
Eugene Public Library!
Call 541-682-8316 to sign up in advance; sign up begins one week before each session.
Sessions will be held at: 
-Bethel Branch:
Friday, January 11, 4:00 p.m.
Friday, January 25, 4:00 p.m.
– Sheldon Branch:
Monday, January 14, 4:00 p.m.
Monday, January 28, 4:00 p.m.
– Downtown Library:
Wednesday, January 16, 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 30, 4:00 p.m.
Cold and Flu Season Has Arrived
We are experiencing a high number of absences due to students being ill.
If your child is sick, the following will help you and help prevent others from getting sick:
- Stay at home for 24 hours until after fever has resolved without the aid of fever reducing medicines (e.g., Advil or Tylenol)
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when sick. Maintain distance from other people to prevent the spread of illness.
- Wash hands often with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also helpful in reducing the spread of the flu.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the elbow. Wash hands after blowing the nose or coughing into a tissue and dispose of tissues after use.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth to prevent the spread of germs.
- Get the flu vaccine! The flu vaccine is the best way to prevent seasonal flu.
The Bethel Health Center is a full service medical clinic located at 1525 Echo Hollow Rd Suite A (Cascade Middle School) Open Mon-Thurs during the school year.
Call for appointment 541-607-1430.
Meet Me at the PTO Winter Bazaar!
The big day is just around the corner! Please make plans to come to our school this Friday and Saturday for PM PTO’s Winter Bazaar. We have dozens and dozens of amazing vendors lined up who will be selling a wide array of terrific products. There will absolutely be something for everyone. There is no admittance charge, so come one come all, and bring a friend! Thank you for supporting our amazing hard working Prairie Mountain PTO. For all the details, check out this Winter Bazaar (PDF) flyer.
Friday December 6th: 4:00-7:00
Saturday December 7th : 9:00-3:00
Everyone is Welcome at PTO
Prairie Mountain Families,
I would just like to thank all of our families who came out for our December PTO meeting this week. It is always so great to see you and to get together to talk about the amazing things we have going on for our students. If you have not yet come to one of our PTO meetings, we would encourage you to come. I promise our meetings are fun, student focused, and informative. We provide yummy snacks, childcare, and translation services. Thank you again for all that you do for Prairie Mountain. We can’t do it without you.
Take care,
RW
State Testing Approaches
Here is some important information about this school year’s state tests.
Each spring, Oregon students in grades 3-8 and 11 participate in state assessments in English Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science. Rather than multiple-choice questions, today’s tests ask students to explain their reasoning and, often, write out their answers. The new assessments measure more complex skills such as critical-thinking, writing, and problem solving so that schools and parents can assess whether children are on-track to graduate high school ready for college or a career.
Students will take the state tests again this coming spring. While the tests cannot tell us everything about your child’s academic progress, the results do act as a snapshot of your child’s strengths and areas for improvement in those subject areas. The tests help Bethel School District get a more complete and accurate picture of how all Bethel students are performing, as we assess curriculum, review instructional strategies, distribute resources, and continue to improve our educational system.
Bethel has always had a high participation rate on state assessments as both parents and staff have found value in this “point-in-time” check on the progress of our students and our educational system. However, parents in Oregon have the option to opt their children out of the state assessments. Here is the ELA and Math form and further information (PDF) that explains how you can opt your child(ren) out of state assessments this spring. Here is the Science, and English Language Proficiency Assessment form and further information (PDF). Should you wish to opt your child out, please read the information carefully then print, complete, and return the form to our school’s main office by January 6th, 2020.
If you have any questions feel free to contact me.
Jill RW, Principal
Enfoques de prueba del estado
Aquí se presenta información importante sobre las pruebas escolares estatales de este año.
Cada primavera, los estudiantes de Oregón en los grados 3 a 8 y 11 participan en evaluaciones estatales en Artes de la lengua inglesa, Matemáticas, y Ciencias. En lugar de preguntas de opción múltiple, la prueba de hoy les pide a los estudiantes que expliquen su razonamiento y, a menudo, que escriban sus respuestas. Las nuevas evaluaciones miden habilidades más complejas como el pensamiento crítico, la escritura y la resolución de problemas, de manera que las escuelas y los padres puedan evaluar si sus niños están en buen camino para graduarse de la secundaria, están listos para la universidad o una carrera profesional.
Los estudiantes tomarán las pruebas estatales nuevamente la próxima primavera. A pesar de que las pruebas no nos dicen todo sobre el progreso académico de su hijo, los resultados funcionan como una instantánea de las fortalezas y áreas de mejora de su hijo en esas materias. Las pruebas ayudan al Distrito Escolar de Bethel a tener una imagen más completa y precisa de cuán bien se desempeñan los estudiantes de Bethel, ya que evaluamos el plan de estudios, revisamos las estrategias institucionales, distribuimos recursos y seguimos mejorando nuestro sistema educativo.
Bethel siempre ha tenido una alta tasa de participación en las evaluaciones estatales, ya que tanto los padres como el personal han encontrado valor en esta verificación del “punto en el tiempo” del progreso de nuestros estudiantes y nuestro sistema educativo. Sin embargo, los padres en Oregón tiene la opción de elegir que sus hijos no participen en las evaluaciones del estado. Aquí hay un formulario y más información (PDF) que le explica cómo puede elegir que su(s) hijo(s) no tome las evaluaciones estatales esta primavera. Aquí está el formulario de Ciencia y Evaluación del dominio del idioma ingles e información adicional (PDF). Si desea elegir que su hijo no participe, lea cuidadosamente la información y luego imprima, complete y envíe el formulario a la oficina principal de nuestra escuela antes del 6 de enero de 2020.