Dec/Jan 2025
BOND UPDATE
Expedition Elementary
NEW Bethel High School
ThankVoters!you,
Construction on our biggest bond-funded project began earlier this year and the building is now taking shape! Thanks to our voters, who approved the 2019 School Construction Bond, the new Bethel High is scheduled to be completed in 2026!
Students who will attend the new Bethel High School when it opens had the opportunity to sign their name on a metal beam that is now part of the new building!
The staff at Expedition Elementary recently welcomed families to officially dedicate their new school to the community. Expedition opened its doors at the start of this school year, thanks to funding from the voter-approved 2019 School Construction Bond. Though design work began in 2021, the process of securing the site started as far back as 2017.
That was some of the behind-the-scenes work that was recognized at the dedication ceremony. Among the many speakers was Expedition Principal Sara Olson, who led the Core Planning Team for the school, while she was still Principal at Clover Creek Elementary. “Her leadership, vision, and countless hours are reflected in this beautiful school,” said Deputy Superintendent Dr. David Hammond. But Olson didn’t do it alone. Hammond spoke fondly of the Core Planning Team, which worked hard determining what would be best for students. “I just don’t know how they did it,” he said. “They would work all day and then come at night and plan for the students in this school.”
Veronica Kaipainen, Expedition’s School Counselor, said the Core Team talked a lot about the school being the “heart” of the neighborhood. “We really put so much time and energy and thought into making sure that our students, our families, feel like this is their home,” she said. “If we did it right … you’ll feel it.”
Principal Olson said the school was being dedicated to the students and the community. And she had a special thanks for our voters. “This building would not be possible without the support of our voters. Thank you so much for coming out and making sure that we had a beautiful place for these students to attend school.”
Cedarcrest Middle School
Thanks to increased state funding, better-than-expected estimates, and responsible fiscal management, we are now able to proceed with building a new Cedarcrest Middle School instead of modernizing the existing one! More details to come on this project, but kudos to our Construction Team for their hard work ensuring our students and staff will have the best possible learning environment.
Evergreen Elementary
This school year, Evergreen Elementary staff and students are “glamping” at the old Naches Trail building, while Evergreen gets its extreme home makeover thanks to our voters! The much needed expansion of Evergreen Elementary will add 10,000 square feet to the school, which will include eight additional classrooms and a new commons.
CONDUCTING CREATIVITY
Shannon Bolen’s musical journey has taken her from London to Glasgow and all the way to Cougar Mountain Middle School, where she currently leads the school’s orchestra program. Bolen has learned a lot during her globetrotting education, but her biggest takeaway is a belief that music isn’t just about playing instruments— it’s about building skills that last a lifetime.
Bolen’s love of music is nothing new. She picked up her first violin at the age of four, and she hasn’t put down a musical instrument since.
“I was really fortunate to have some incredibly awesome music teachers growing up,” she said. “My music teachers really helped me feel valued and they believed that I could achieve anything I put my mind to.”
Now Bolen wants to give that feeling to her own students. While mastering
their instrument is the primary focus, Bolen believes studying music can teach students so much more than simply reading sheet music and playing an instrument. Most notably, she says it teaches them confidence in themselves.
“It’s a very powerful feeling to feel confident in yourself and finally be able to do the things you didn’t think were possible. And I want to help students do the same thing,” she said. “Confidence, to me, is one of the most transferable skills that any musician can gain.”
Extra confidence is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to skills these student-musicians are learning in orchestra. Violinist Melissa said she has gained a host of valuable skills while honing her music abilities.
“I think it teaches you how to work well with other people and hold
yourself accountable for practicing at home,” she said. “It also teaches you leadership and how to lead your section or group and your peers in the class.”
A great orchestra requires each and every musician to work in unison, so it’s no surprise that students say they’re also learning about responsibility and teamwork in class.
“Orchestra gives people a really strong sense of discipline and responsibility, because practicing at home is up to the musician,” said violinist Calem.
“It teaches a lot of accountability and it’s an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself.”
Our district’s music programs are supported by voter-approved school levies. Thank you, voters!
BUILDING BELONGING WITH MINUTE MEETINGS
When Camas Prairie Elementary School social worker Raquel Shoch meets a student for a “minute meeting,” it’s more than just a quick check-in—it’s an opportunity to show them that they matter, that their feelings are important, and that school is a place where they belong.
Shoch has been a social worker for 25 years, and she’s made it her life’s mission to ensure that the students she works with are prepared – both scholastically and emotionally – for their transition to middle school and beyond.
A recent survey of students found that roughly 70 percent of Camas Prairie’s third, fourth, and fifth graders feel like they belong at their school. That’s music to Shoch’s ears.
“We take great pride in that, and we’re not stopping there,” she said. “We want to increase that number, so I always ask our kids if they have a grownup they feel comfortable going to if they have a problem at school.”
One of the tools Shoch uses to make her students feel comfortable are what she calls “minute meetings.” These meetings, which sometimes take place in school hallways, give Shoch a chance to give her undivided attention to each and every student she works with.
“We know that if kids don’t feel like they belong somewhere, they don’t want to be there. Which is why we find it extremely important here at Camas Prairie to make our students feel like they belong. If they see school in a positive light, they’re going to want to keep coming,” she said.
Here in Bethel, we have a counselor or social worker at every elementary school and teams of them at our middle and high schools. Across the district, they focus on three key areas, Academics, College and Career Readiness, and Social Emotional Learning. While each of those three prongs is important, Shoch says everything comes after Social Emotional Learning is in place. She uses the metaphor of a meal, saying Social Emotional Learning is the plate that holds all the food children need.
“We’re not in the business of just raising scholars – just teaching them math, reading, science, history – we’re in the business of raising good human beings,” Shoch said. “When you think about it, you have to be able to build relationships, you have to be able to regulate your emotions in order to access academics, in order to be a good employee. You have to have those skills.”
SOCIAL WORKERS
ARE one of the positions that are supported by money from our local levy.
School levies are voted on every four years. The next time you’ll see a levy on the ballot will be 2026.
A HEART FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
teacher, is because she knows first hand the struggles students can face when it comes to learning.
“I was also in special education myself as a child, first grade through third grade,” she said recently on our district’s podcast. “It was a special education teacher in my third grade year who really, really took an interest in my struggles with accessing the curriculum.”
That teacher worked with Cara and eventually helped her to catch up to her peers and exit the program.
Today, Cara specializes in autism spectrum disorder and works at Frontier Middle School in the Structured program.
“The Structured program is designed to serve students who may be nonverbal, or have other significant communication disorders,” she said.
student learning.”
Not being able to effectively communicate is a huge barrier for students. So it’s a big part of Cara’s job. She uses a variety of methods and tools to help students express themselves, everything from simple sign language to augmentative communication devices on their iPads.
“In this program we focus on communication, we focus on academic skills, and we also focus on life skills,” she said. All things that will help prepare them for the future.
Cara doesn’t work alone. She has an incredible team of paraeducators who work alongside her. “I have seven, most wonderful adults in here that also teach with me. I cannot give enough credit to my team, every one of them goes over and beyond what is expected of them, and every one of them has a heart for these kids,” she
You can hear more from Cara in episode 103 of our district’s awardwinning podcast.
Special Education is one of the many programs that is supported by money from our local levy.
School levies are voted on every four years. The next time you’ll see a levy on the ballot will be 2026.
Left to Right: Avery Olson, Scott Munoz, Cara Eason, Kris Wightman, Julee Spalinger, Rylie McConnell
BHS HONORED AS DISTINGUISHED HIGH SCHOOL
Staff and students at Bethel High School have been recognized as a Distinguished School by Project Lead the Way.
“Project Lead the Way is the leading STEM organization providing curriculum across the nation,” said Bethel High’s biomedical science teacher Jennifer Morrison. “We’re actually the only one in Washington state that’s a distinguished school.”
PLTW’s Distinguished Program Recognition celebrates districts and schools committed to helping students own their education by increasing student access, engagement and achievement in their PLTW programs.
Bethel High currently offers three PLTW course pathways: Computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. Morrison said this gives students more choices in their own education.
“Our students can choose a more traditional pathway – biology, chemistry, physics – or they can
choose that through the biomedical pathway,” she said. “Almost half of our students choose the biomedical pathway to earn biology, chemistry, and physics credit.”
“As a student who is enrolled in PLTW, it offers a very wide variety of
“We’re actually the only one in Washington state that’s a distinguished school.”
~Jennifer Morrison
things, such as hands-on learning. It helps build critical thinking, problem solving skills, and it helps provide a foundation for the students here to
develop a love for the medical world,” said Lydia, a BHS junior.
When it comes to computer science, classes focused on cybersecurity are igniting students’ interest.
“From PLTW I learned about configuring firewalls and the underbelly of computer systems that I never would have known about otherwise,” said Lena, a BHS senior.
She went on to say her cybersecurity teacher has connected the students with the Ignite program, “an international program that connects young girls to professional women in the field encouraging those interested, such as myself, to pursue this field and this path.”
In order to be a distinguished school, BHS had to meet several markers, including ensuring they have effective strategies in place to support representation within the PLTW program with regards to race, ethnicity, poverty, and gender.
ADMINISTRATOR
AUDIOLOGIST
BUS ASSISTANT
BUS DRIVER
CHILD NUTRITION
CAMPUS SAFETY
CLERK
COACH
FIND YOUR NEXT JOB IN BETHEL!
*Words can go in any direction.
COUNSELOR
CUSTODIAN
EQUITY SPECIALIST
GROUNDSKEEPER
MAINTENANCE NURSE
PARAEDUCATOR PATHOLOGIST
*Words can share letters as they cross over each other.
PAYROLL PRINCIPAL
PSYCHOLOGIST
SECRETARY
SOCIAL WORKER
SUBSTITUTE
SUPERINTENDENT TEACHER
JOIN TEAM BETHEL!
Looking for a career that will help students, families, and YOUR community? The Bethel School District is one of the largest employers in Pierce County and we’d love to have you join Team Bethel!
It takes more than just teachers and principals to make a school district run smoothly. We are hiring for a wide variety of jobs, including some of the ones you’ll find in the word search!
Paraeducators and Student Supervisors
We’re hiring instructional paraeducators! Join our team to support teachers and students in special education classrooms. Responsibilities include assisting with classroom activities, working one-on-one or in small groups with students, and supervising student activities. These part-time roles are perfect for parents, grandparents and community members looking for work that aligns with school schedules. Enjoy working the same days students attend school, with the same breaks off, and make a difference in students’ lives.
Substitutes
More interested in working a flexible schedule? We have many substitute positions available, from teachers to custodians, campus safeties to child nutrition workers. Set your own schedule and work when it’s convenient for you. If you’re ready for a family-friendly job with purpose, we’d love to have you join our team! Scan the QR code below to learn more!
Bus Drivers and Bus Assistants
We are hiring! We’re looking for bus drivers and we provide FREE CDL training! We are also hiring bus assistants. If you have any questions, please call our Transportation Department at 253-800-5900.
We are hiring for all these positions, and more! Scan the QR code below, or visit jobs.bethelsd.org to see what’s available and to apply today!
Now Hiring: Special Education Paras
We’ll be hosting a Hiring Event geared towards Special Education Paraeducators, including 1:1 Instructional Paras
Location: Educational Service Center 516 176th St E, Spanaway, WA 98387
Date: January 23, 2025
Time: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Learn more by scanning the QR code!
Transportation Hiring Events
Thinking about a career with our amazing transportation Team? Come learn about what it’s like to be a Bus Driver and Bus Assistant at our next hiring event!
Location: Transportation Service Center 5625 192nd St E, Puyallup, WA 98375
Dates: 2/04/25, 3/04/25, 4/01/25
Time: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
There will be opportunities for on-the-spot Interviews and potential day-of job offers. We are proud to offer paid training, benefits, pension, and a schedule that matches students.
DISTRICT GRADUATION RATES NOW ABOVE 90%
Graduation rates are on the rise, and while it’s something to celebrate, there is also room to grow.
For comparison’s sake, one thing we always consider is the State’s overall graduation rate. For 2023 Washington state’s combined graduation rate is 83.6%. For 2024, Bethel is high above that now sitting at 90.1%.
4-year Graduation rates by school
Bethel High School: 92.1%
Bethel Virtual Academy: 79.6%
Challenger High School: 85.9%
Graham-Kapowsin High School: 92.6%
Spanaway Lake High School: 87.7%
While these numbers are trending upward, there are student groups that are falling below their peers. This includes students who are lower income, in special education, or are multilingual learners. Tracking that data helps us to focus on those groups and make improvements.
But graduation isn’t the end of the road. Our Strategic Plan calls for us to help all students to become College
What about PCSC?
and Career Ready. Learning those success skills happens all throughout a student’s educational career, from preschool to high school.
While 90% is a good graduation rate, the number of students that go on to attend four-year universities, two-year colleges, apprenticeships, trade schools, and the military is much lower.
“Every spring, the Educational Research and Data Center produces a study that looks at this very question across Washington state,” said Brian Loffer, Director of Assessment and Highly Capable. “The most recent data we have is for the class of 2022 … in our district 42% of that graduating class were enrolled in some postsecondary education after Bethel School District.”
That means less than half of the students who graduated went on to some meaningful post-secondary education.
Like graduation rates, there are
subgroups of students who aren’t even hitting that 42% mark.
“Other groups of note are bilingual, students in the free and reduced lunch program, male students – all had a lower percent of attendance and enrollment in post-secondary,” said Loffer.
“This just elevates the importance of the work that we’ve been doing the last couple years around College and Career Readiness,” said Chad Honig, Executive Director of Secondary Schools.
Ensuring that we’re preparing students for college and career success is a big job, and we are incredibly thankful for all our teachers and staff who are doing their part each and every day, looking for ways to improve and grow so we can continue to offer students the very best.
You can dig into the graduation rates and other data on our website: bethelsd.org/data.
The Pierce County Skills Center serves ten school districts. We are the host district and nearly 50% of the students at PCSC are from our high schools. This was the first year the state compiled and provided graduation rates to skills centers. We are excited to announce that not only is the PCSC above the state’s already high skills center average, but they’re almost at 100%. Wow!
Graduation Rates
Pierce County Skills Center: 98.2%
State average for all skills centers: 95.8%
WORKING WITH UNHOUSED STUDENTS
Not every student in our community has a stable place to call home.
Fortunately, Bethel has a team of people working hard to make sure all students—even those experiencing homelessness—have access to the resources they need to succeed. One of the main ways this happens is through the McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act. This federal law ensures that homeless children are enrolled in school right away and helps provide the stability they need to succeed. It also gives funding to local school districts to support programs that assist homeless students.
In Bethel, the Community Connections Department oversees these important services. The department has some very dedicated staff members like Toni Aukusitino, one of our McKinney-Vento Specialists, and Tammi Booth, our Unaccompanied Youth Navigator.
These women, along with their team, are committed to supporting students who are struggling with housing instability. They offer not only educational help but also connect students with services that meet their basic needs.
Aukusitino has personal experience with struggling financially. When she was a child, her family used many of the same services she now helps provide to families in Bethel. This makes her especially aware of how difficult it can be to live without a stable home.
“Housing is so terrible lately,” she said. “We’re seeing so many people living in cars and tents now because they’re
being evicted. Or they’re doubling up or tripling up with other family members, and you’ll see five kids in a bedroom.”
The number of students in need is growing every year. Last year, the McKinney-Vento team helped roughly 900 students. Of those, around 75 were considered “unaccompanied
assistance, healthcare, and school supplies. She also offers emotional support and guidance to help them stay focused on their education in order to reach the goal of graduating high school.
Both Aukusitino and Booth stress the importance of reaching out for help,
“I believe that every student in our district deserves the resources they need to graduate. Different kids are dealt different cards, so it’s harder for some.”
~Tammi Booth, Unaccompanied Youth Navigator
youth,” meaning they were living in shelters, cars, or sometimes even on the streets, without a parent or guardian.
Booth’s role as an Unaccompanied Youth Navigator is especially meaningful to her. She once opened her own home to an unaccompanied youth, so she understands firsthand how important it is for young people to have a safe, stable place to stay.
“I’ve always had that mentality that it takes a village,” she said. “I believe that every student in our district deserves the resources they need to graduate. Different kids are dealt different cards, so it’s harder for some.”
Booth works closely with these students, helping them connect to important services like food
even if it feels uncomfortable.
“People don’t want to call in because they’re embarrassed, or they don’t want to talk about it because it’s personal to them. And I understand that, but we’re here to help, and closed mouths don’t get fed,” Aukusitino said.
To hear more about this story, scan the QR code to listen to Episode 111 of our district podcast.
WALKING IN TWO WORLDS
We live in an area rich with cultural diversity, and that’s especially true for our district’s Native American population.
Our district covers 202 square miles, and is on land that was once shared between the Puyallup and Nisqually tribes. Today, our Title VI Native American Program works to support more than 500 students representing over 100 tribes from across the country.
Rachel Barger grew up in the Title VI program when she attended school here in Bethel. Now she is a Teacher on Special Assignment working in the program with Native students.
“We were signed up for the Native program from kindergarten on,” she said. “And so, the tribal identity part came a lot from my own personal investigations into it and then also thankfully for the Title VI program and
the teachers that I had that were my mentors as well.”
Now Barger is a mentor to the next generation.
“Around elementary school I got involved with the Native American Club thanks to Mrs. Barger,” said Ava, a Bethel High student. “She’s been a really big help with learning about my native heritage.”
“I hadn’t really met any type of native mentors, besides like my grandma, my mom, and all my aunties,” said Imani, a Bethel High student. “So she [Barger] really helped me tap more into my culture and learn a lot about a lot of things about my native culture.”
Our Title VI Native American Program works to increase students’ attendance, academics, cultural identity and post secondary opportunities. One of the ways they’re
doing that is with the Native American Youth Leadership Academy. Twentytwo students in 8th to 12th grade were selected to join the approximately 175 Native American students from 12 school districts.
“We focus on building up the abilities of our native kids to be leaders within their schools,” said Barger. “To be able to have your voice be heard and feel confident and knowing that they are in a safe space to be able to do that – that way they can help be those changes within our district.”
There’s also a version of the Leadership Academy for elementary students as well, helping to create student leaders at an early age. This is just one of the incredible opportunities the Title VI program brings to students, preschool to 12th grade. From family gatherings to field trips, assemblies to heritage fairs, and even the South Sound Pow Wow.
Staff and students at Elk Plain School of Choice got a special treat when indigenous storyteller Dan Nanamkin led the school’s first assembly of the year. Nanamkin, who is a member of the Chief Joseph Band Of Wallowa, Nez Perce, and Colville Confederated Tribes of Washington State, spoke about the power of sharing history through storytelling.
FROM PARAEDUCATOR TO PRINCIPAL
Brenda Thompson never imagined her career would take her from working one-on-one with students as a paraeducator to helping lead a school as an assistant principal—but that’s exactly what hard work and determination have made possible.
Thompson, who became Assistant Principal at Thompson Elementary this fall, began her career in Bethel in 2002 as a para. Over the better part of the next decade, Thompson worked with students at the Transition Lab, as well as at Naches Trail, Graham, Clover Creek, and Kapowsin elementaries.
Working in Bethel has been especially meaningful for Thompson because she was a student in our district, and it was here that she made the decision to become a teacher. She credits her second grade teacher for inspiring her love of education.
“I really fell in love with education and I really fell in love with how she made me feel,” Thompson said. “I told her, I want to be a teacher, just like you. And that’s what started my journey and it has never faltered. I’ve always, always wanted to be a teacher.”
Thompson’s road to becoming a teacher wasn’t an easy one but, thanks to lots of hard work and dedication, Thompson completed her education and began her teaching career. She loved her new position, but she never forgot about her decade of work as a paraeducator. She called paras the “unsung heroes” of education.
“Paras are essential,” she said. “They are the backbone of our buildings and our district. Our paras are the ones who see our kids maybe the most. They’re the ones who get to know our kids and spend the most time with them, instructionally and personally.”
After years in the classroom as a teacher and a para, Thompson was ready for a new challenge and, earlier this year, became the Assistant Principal at Thompson Elementary. It’s an exciting role for her, and Thompson wants everyone to know that no matter where you start in life, you should always strive to reach your goals.
“Find the people that you need who will surround you and support you and move forward,” she said. “It might not be in a straight line, but continue on that drive. You might have a few hiccups, and that’s okay, just continue to do what you want to do and find those people who are going to support you and raise you up and push you.”
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Bethel School District
December 4 at 9:56 am
Bethel School District •••
December 4 at 2:54 pm •
Spanaway Lake Boys Basketball kicked off their season against St. Edmund’s College from Canberra, Australia on Dec. 2nd. The game was part of a yearly trip for St. Edmund’s students during which they experience and learn about American culture across the country. All teams from both... See more
This past Saturday the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated, Zeta Phi Sigma Alumnae Chapter delivered a generous donation to the Bethel Family Center to support our students. They worked with the community to provide teen hygiene and transitional housing... See More
Bethel School District
November 19 at 8:07 am •
Congratulations to Jennifer Christian and her Kapowsin Elementary kindergarten class for being named one of this year’s J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.’s Adopt-a-Classes! Once a year, J.B. Hunt allows its drivers and managers to nominate their child’s class... See more
SUPERINTENDENT&SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTORS
Bethel Pride is produced by the Bethel School District’s Communications Department.
Bethel Schools
516 176th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387
Phone: 253.800.2000
Email: communications@bethelsd.org Website: bethelsd.org
TheBethelPrideisintendedtoinformthecommunityatlargeaboutgoingsoninthedistrict.Becauseweusebulkmailing, individualaddressescannotberemovedfromthemailinglist.
Bethel School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Compliance / Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator, Debbie Carlman, dcarlman@bethelsd.org, 253.800.2019; Title IX Coordinator, Bryan Streleski, bstreleski@bethelsd.org, 253.800.4302; and 504 Coordinator, Melissa Munson-Merritt, mmunsonmer@bethelsd.org, 253.800.2301. All individuals may be reached at this address: 516 176th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387. Title IX inquiries may also be directed toward the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR): https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html. Information about the nondiscrimination and sex-based discrimination policies and grievance procedures, and how to report a concern or complaint: bethelsd.org.
El Distrito Escolar de Bethel no discrimina en sus programas o actividades por motivos de sexo, raza, credo, religión, color, nacionalidad, edad, condición de veterano de guerra o grado militar, orientación sexual, expresión de género o identidad, discapacidad o por el uso de perro guía entrenado o animal de servicio; además ofrece igualdad de acceso a los Boy Scouts y a otros grupos de jóvenes especificados. Los siguientes empleados han sido designados para atender consultas y quejas de supuesta discriminación: Cumplimiento de los Derechos Civiles/Coordinadora Escolar de Inclusión de Género, Debbie Carlman, dcarlman@ bethelsd.org, 253.800.2019; Coordinador del Título IX, Bryan Streleski, bstreleski@bethelsd.org, 253.800.4302 y Coordinadora 504, Melissa Munson-Merritt, mmunsonmer@bethelsd.org, 253.800.2301. Todas las personas pueden ser localizadas en esta dirección 516 176th Street East, Spanaway, WA 98387. Las consultas sobre el Título IX también pueden dirigirse a la Oficina de Derechos Civiles (OCR) del Departamento de Educación de EE.UU.: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html. Para más información sobre las políticas de no discriminación y discriminación por razón de sexo; los procedimientos de reclamación y sobre cómo comunicar una preocupación o queja visite: www.bethelsd.org.
Bethel School District No. 403
516 176th St. E., Spanaway, WA 98387-8335
(253) 800-2000 | www.bethelsd.org
TECHNOLOGY & ART FAIR
February 22, 2025
10 am - 2 pm Spanaway lake