posted Dec 17, 2012, 5:36 AM by Linda Mathes
[
updated Dec 17, 2012, 8:37 AM
]
We are saddened by the
events in Connecticut. It is important for our district and all of our
schools to continue to provide a safe learning environment for all students and
staff. I want to assure you that our staff will be diligent. Our
safety and security procedures continue to be followed with a heightened
awareness. We continue our ongoing partnership with local law
enforcement. The Administrative staff will meet on Monday to clarify and
discuss questions about the concerns from Friday and to assure that our
procedures remain current with optimal effectiveness.
It is always difficult to know what to say
regarding a tragedy like Sandy Hook. Keeping it simple is often the best
course of action. We offer these concise yet wise thoughts about what to
say to children –
HELPING CHILDREN COPE WITH
TRAGIC LOSS
by Robert Evans, Ed.D., psychologist and school consultant
Tragic loss of any kind, including large,
dramatic events reverberates throughout a school and a community. Like everyone
else, parents and teachers feel shock and disbelief, followed by immediate
concern about those who have been hurt and killed--and then by concern about
impact on their own children and students. All of us who are raising or working
with children worry about helping them understand how such a thing could
happen, especially when we ourselves cannot always make sense of it. We worry
about saying too much or too little, about not having enough information, about
saying the wrong thing. Though there is no perfect solution, there are five
guidelines that can often make a positive difference in talking with children.
• It is helpful not to
over-assume what the tragedy means to children. They react differently
depending on their age, their closeness to the situation, their own personalities,
what they hear and are told, and their family's pattern of communication. Some
may be deeply moved, others less so. Some may have many questions, others
fewer. Not all will be intensely affected. Showing little reaction does not
automatically mean a student is hiding or denying his or her feelings.
• Young people are
remarkably resilient. They may become quite upset, but given a chance to
express what they feel, they usually resume their normal lives--and often do so
more rapidly than we adults. Tragic deaths can actually hit adults harder than
they do teenagers or young children. Most young people do not benefit from
extensive, probing adult-led questioning about their reactions. They do profit
from simple, direct information and from adults being available to respond to
their questions and to listen.
• If you receive difficult
questions from children it can be useful to understand these before answering
them. Often a request for information is spurred not only by curiosity, but by
a feeling. Usually, the child already has some idea about this. We may be more
helpful if, rather than plunging into an immediate answer, we learn what
motivates the question. This is particularly true if the question is a
difficult one. Parents can say, "What made you think of that?" or
"Can you tell me what you were thinking about?" Also, it can be good
to ask "What ideas do you have?" Once you know the meaning of the
question, it is easier to answer effectively.
• There may be questions we
cannot answer, which can make us feel inadequate. But children and teenagers
are typically more comforted by straight talk than by false assurances. Rather
than to invent a response, it can be much more helpful to say, "I don't
know," or, "I'll try to find out."
• Coping with a tragedy is
not primarily a matter of technique, not something best handled by a
"strategy" that deviates sharply from a family's or a school's
familiar patterns of communication. The routines of school, for example, are
all by themselves a source of comforting continuity and assurance. Parents and
teachers both will rarely go wrong by relying on what is most basic between
them and children--caring and connection. At these times, even if everyone
feels deeply upset, your presence--your simply being with them, their knowing
that you are available--will be reassuring.
|
posted Sep 7, 2012, 6:46 AM by Linda Mathes
[
updated Oct 5, 2012, 12:08 PM by Matthew Newberry
]
The Bethel-Tate Local Schools represents an outstanding
district that serves the children of a wonderful community. Our District includes the village of Bethel
and and Tate Township. It is bordered by
the districts of Batavia, Williamsburg, Felicity, West Clermont and Western
Brown.
The District is comprised of four buildings - a high
school, middle school, intermediate school and primary school as well as a
maintenance building and central administration building. We also partner with the U.S. Grant Career
Center for educational programs, as well as partnering with the Clermont
Educational Service Center for additional services and programs.
We are thankful to be led by five dedicated residents who
have made a commitment to serve as members of our Board of Education. We are fortunate that these individuals,
different from one another in their backgrounds, beliefs, and personal and
professional interests are consistently united in their mission to insure that
every Board decision and action is based on what is in the best interest of the
Bethel-Tate students.
Bethel – Tate has approximately 200 staff members. This includes 107 teachers as well as
administrators, secretaries, maintenance, paraprofessionals, food service
workers, and other support staff members all of whom work cooperatively
together to provide a quality education for our 1,900 students. We benefit greatly from being able to count
on such a strong and talented group of employees who have demonstrated a vested
interest in our students and our District.
Bethel is a small suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio with a
distinctive small town atmosphere. Its
residents enjoy the benefit of living in a tight-knit community along with the
advantages offered by close proximity to the urban community of Cincinnati.
|
posted Jan 26, 2012, 5:26 AM by Linda Mathes
[
updated Jan 26, 2012, 5:32 AM
]
|
Board Recognition Month
by Melissa Kircher
Let’s say “thank you” to the Bethel-Tate Board of Education members during Board Recognition month this January. Being an effective school board member is no easy task, particularly in today’s climate of change and challenge. School board members need to be knowledgeable about many complex educational and social issues, and carry out initiatives and directives from both federal and state governments. To face these demands of governing our public schools, they give countless hours of personal time.
School board members serve the public interest in public education — and serve the needs of our kids. They ensure that decisions about public schools are made as close to the needs of our community as possible.
This January, we want to sincerely thank the Bethel-Tate Board of Education for their dedication— our locally elected citizens who make decisions that affect, influence and direct the education of our youth. |
posted Jan 9, 2012, 6:41 AM by Linda Mathes
[
updated Jan 17, 2012, 10:09 AM
]
Dear School Families,
As we approach the upcoming holidays and a long winter
recess, it is my wish that all of you
enjoy the many blessings of the season.
Our children enjoy this time of the year so much. It is rewarding for me as I visit classrooms and
attend holiday programs and concerts to see their joy and enthusiasm. It is also rewarding for me to the generosity
that comes out during this season as so many of our families, our staff, and
our students give of their time, talent, and treasures. I reminds me how fortunate I am to serve as
Superintendent of the Bethel-Tate Local Schools.
As winter approaches, please be aware that occasionally it
becomes necessary due to inclement weather to delay or cancel school. We use our One Call system as well as our
website and local news stations to communicate these changes. If you have a change in your phone number,
please contact your child’s school.
Enjoy this time with your family and friends. We look
forward to 2012 and all the challenges and opportunities of the New Year!
Melissa Kircher |
posted Mar 19, 2011, 5:55 AM by Matthew Newberry
[
updated Oct 31, 2011, 8:10 AM
]
Dear Bethel-Tate students, parents and community: On August 22nd, more than 1,900 students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade, walked through the front doors of their schools to begin the school year. In doing so, all of these students are taking advantage of a multitude of wonderful educational opportunities provided by the taxpayers in our district. This year, by virtue of our students’ outstanding academic success, the district has earned the distinction of being honored with the designation of Excellent with Distinction by the state of Ohio for the second year in a row. Bethel-Tate is one of only two districts in Clermont County to receive this designation in 2011. It is certainly a reason to celebrate. The Middle School was also named “Most Outstanding Middle School in Ohio” by Making Middle Grades Work of the High Schools at Work Association. The school was honored nationally in Tennessee this past summer for their achievement. The start of each school year is exciting because of the energy our students, staff, parents and community members bring to it — and all the possibilities that working together provides. Our school district excels above many others because our parents, teachers, staff and community do a remarkable job of supporting our students and setting high expectations. The school district’s commitment to the community we serve is to love and care about our students, and to do everything we can to ensure each student’s academic and extracurricular success. We want our students to know how much it matters to us that they possess character, integrity and purpose for their lives. We know that our students will someday graduate and leave our district. In doing so, we want to have confidence that we have prepared them well to be trustworthy, hard-working, wise and capable of honorable service to their family, community and nation. All the best as we begin a new school year! Melissa Kircher,
Superintendent of Schools |
|
