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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.

This is the new home of the Bruin Weekly.

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

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.

BCS calendar subscribing

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

Morning building access

There will be change to our morning building access time. Starting this coming Monday, February 24, Bethany will open its doors at 7:15 a.m. instead of 6:45 a.m. 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.

Classroom project request

Bethany’s Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) construction class is seeking small projects for students to build. Ideal projects are those that can be constructed at school and then delivered, such as small garden sheds. Students will provide the labor, while the recipient supplies the materials. Preference will be given to congregations or organizations that have identified needs within their community. If you have a project idea or would like more information, please contact Tim Lehman at [email protected] or Daniel Yoder at [email protected].

Handbook update

We wanted to inform you of some midyear updates to the Parent-Student Handbook, made in response to feedback from an outside reviewer. Specifically, we have revised the School-Wide Communication section (p. 6) and expanded the Discrimination and Harassment section (p. 21) to provide greater clarity and guidance. The updated handbook is now available online for your reference. Please take a moment to review these changes, and feel free to reach out with any questions.

Interterm II

For Interterm II, you can read over the information for each offering. Make sure to consider travel when registration is available.

MS Interterm offerings
HS Interterm offerings

From Admissions 
If your child currently attends BCS and you would like them to attend next year, you do NOT need to reapply for admission. We will automatically re-enroll your child unless a parent informs us they will be attending elsewhere.

Chess Club
Chess Club will meet and continue to meet Tuesdays 3:30-4:30 for all students on a tournament chess team.

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.

  • 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.
  • 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.

    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

Our Lower School teachers maintain a Google Site to share classroom updates and photos, keeping you connected with what’s happening in your child’s class. These sites are refreshed every Friday morning and are accessible We encourage you to check in each Friday to stay informed and enjoy a peek into your child's week!

Class Newsletters (updated weekly by faculty)
Kindergarten 4th Grade
1st Grade 5th Grade
2nd Grade 6th Grade
3rd Grade  
 
Parents/Guardians of lower school students, be sure your child comes to school every day with a warm coat (and a working zipper), gloves/mittens, hat/scarf, and warm boots. We will go outside every morning when it is 5 degrees or above. If you have extra winter gear you would like to donate, you may give to Juanita Hershberger when you drop off/pick up your child or take it to the front office.

Middle School

After School Math Study Table
Continuing each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Math Study Table is open to all Math 7, Math 8, and Algebra 1 students. Study table will be held in room 112 (Mr. Mast’s room) from 3:35-4:15. This is a great place for students to receive individualized assistance on assignments and test preparation.

Upper School

Sports Card Club
The sports card club, for interested students in grades 6–12, will meet most Wednesdays after school until 4:15. 

Study Abroad Opportunity
Bethany makes it possible for our students to travel and study abroad through the exchange program in Asunción Paraguay with Colegio Alemán Concordia a private K-12 Mennonite school founded in 1975 by German-speaking Mennonites, where classes are taught in German and Spanish. As a part of the exchange, two students from Bethany study in Paraguay during the Fall semester and we reciprocate the experience hosting two students from Paraguay during the Spring semester. The experiences that students on both ends acquire are enormous, and we are ready to start the selection process for the two students who will participate in the exchange program for the 2025 -2026 school year exchange. Learn about this opportunity and the application process.

Math Study Table
Continuing each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Math Study Table is open to all Math 7, Math 8, and Algebra 1 students. Study table will be held in room 112 (Mr. Mast’s room) from 3:35-4:15. This is a great place for students to receive individualized assistance on assignments and test preparation.

Athletics

Middle School Volleyball Clinics

Own Your Space Volleyball clinics are Saturday mornings at Bethany. The clinics are open to any 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students interested in volleyball. No experience needed. We will cover each aspect of the game of volleyball over the course of the 6 sessions. Through clear instruction, a lot of ball touches and individual feedback from coaches, our players will have the opportunity to grow in confidence both on and off the court. 

Own Your Space Volleyball 
Bethany Christian Schools Middle School Gym
Grades 4–8
Saturday mornings 9:30–11:30
January 18–February 22

Players need, shoes for the court and clothes you can move in, knee pads and a water bottle full of water, and a mind that is open and ready for anything. Reach out to Sara Chupp, Bethany's JV volleyball coach, at (574) 596-0776 for any questions. 

Academics

View All Academics

Athletics

View All Athletics

News & Announcements

Intro to Construction: Hands-On Learning and Service

Bethany launched a new course inspired by the principles of Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), providing students with a hands-on learning experience that bridges practical skills with faith, service, and community engagement.

Bethany Alumna are winners of Peace Oratorical Contest

Naomi Lapp Klassen ('21) wins contest and Peace Muhagachi ('20) places second in Goshen College's annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest.

High School Musical

The spring musical "The Secret Garden" will be February 27–March 2

View All News & Announcements