Bethany Charter School Mission Statement
Bethany Charter School is a K-8 public school chartered by the Silver Falls School District. Our curriculum focuses on natural sciences and technology, enriched with art, physical education and music in a small school atmosphere. We promote academic excellence, fostering respect and a love for learning with strong family and community support.
BCS Vision Statements
STUDENT VISION
BCS aims to support and develop students who are lifelong learners with a passion for inquiry and exploration. An ideal student will be well-rounded, curious and free-thinking, recognizing that there are many different ways to approach a problem and many different ways to see the world. They are patient and supportive of their fellow learners, pursuing knowledge and mastery of skills with humility, rigor, respect for traditions and institutional knowledge and a willingness to explore new possibilities and challenge assumptions and standards. Above all, BCS hopes to foster in our students both kindness and responsibility for the care-taking of the self, of others, of the broader community, and the planet.
TEACHER VISION
A great teacher is a passionate, life-long learner who embraces multi-disciplinary, passion-based learning opportunities for students, focusing on the unique strengths and quirks of every child. A great teacher understands the complex dynamics at play in each individual student’s life and learning and strives to honor that complexity with patience and care. A great teacher approaches curriculum broadly, with flexibility and will look for ways to engage student interests and imagination to help guide the classroom lessons. A great teacher fosters their students’ growth as free-thinkers, welcoming creativity and challenges to their authority as a necessary part of the learning process. A great teacher, like a great student is open to new ideas and approaches to teaching and assessing skills. A great teacher celebrates mistakes as opportunities for growth. A great teacher nurtures social dynamics in the classroom, modeling healthy communication, problem-solving, independence, and grace.
SCHOOL CULTURE VISION
BCS strives to establish a school culture rooted in integrity, responsibility, empathy, and acceptance. We recognize that all individuals thrive in an environment where they can be authentic, feel appreciated, and have fun. We believe that the school should act as a laboratory wherein students learn through exploration, pushing themselves beyond their perceived limitations, making mistakes, and collaborating with each other and with staff. Our school culture should foster leadership through service and responsibility, encouraging students, staff, and the broader community to constantly seek out opportunities to make a positive difference in all we do. We believe that healthy, respectful debate that celebrates different ideas and perspectives is necessary for the development of good citizens and friendships. We understand that adults have a responsibility to model kindness, healthy communication, inclusion, and respect and must hold themselves to this high standard.
RIGOR AND RELEVANCE
BCS offers an academically rigorous learning environment in which children have the opportunity and support from their teacher to achieve academic goals and standards. The focus on academic rigor and relevancy of learning should be working with all children in a manner that addresses the whole child through hands-on learning experiences that “challenge the mind” and “connect learning to real world context”, utilizing developmentally appropriate practice and by promoting instruction that focuses on the growth and learning of individual children across all developmental domains in a manner that addresses “the social and cultural contexts” in which they live. Academically rigorous, developmentally appropriate learning environments are those in which teachers provide children with multiple learning opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for success at Bethany Charter School and beyond.
Bethany Charter School Nondiscrimination Statement
Bethany Charter School does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
STUDENT VISION
BCS aims to support and develop students who are lifelong learners with a passion for inquiry and exploration. An ideal student will be well-rounded, curious and free-thinking, recognizing that there are many different ways to approach a problem and many different ways to see the world. They are patient and supportive of their fellow learners, pursuing knowledge and mastery of skills with humility, rigor, respect for traditions and institutional knowledge and a willingness to explore new possibilities and challenge assumptions and standards. Above all, BCS hopes to foster in our students both kindness and responsibility for the care-taking of the self, of others, of the broader community, and the planet.
TEACHER VISION
A great teacher is a passionate, life-long learner who embraces multi-disciplinary, passion-based learning opportunities for students, focusing on the unique strengths and quirks of every child. A great teacher understands the complex dynamics at play in each individual student’s life and learning and strives to honor that complexity with patience and care. A great teacher approaches curriculum broadly, with flexibility and will look for ways to engage student interests and imagination to help guide the classroom lessons. A great teacher fosters their students’ growth as free-thinkers, welcoming creativity and challenges to their authority as a necessary part of the learning process. A great teacher, like a great student is open to new ideas and approaches to teaching and assessing skills. A great teacher celebrates mistakes as opportunities for growth. A great teacher nurtures social dynamics in the classroom, modeling healthy communication, problem-solving, independence, and grace.
SCHOOL CULTURE VISION
BCS strives to establish a school culture rooted in integrity, responsibility, empathy, and acceptance. We recognize that all individuals thrive in an environment where they can be authentic, feel appreciated, and have fun. We believe that the school should act as a laboratory wherein students learn through exploration, pushing themselves beyond their perceived limitations, making mistakes, and collaborating with each other and with staff. Our school culture should foster leadership through service and responsibility, encouraging students, staff, and the broader community to constantly seek out opportunities to make a positive difference in all we do. We believe that healthy, respectful debate that celebrates different ideas and perspectives is necessary for the development of good citizens and friendships. We understand that adults have a responsibility to model kindness, healthy communication, inclusion, and respect and must hold themselves to this high standard.
RIGOR AND RELEVANCE
BCS offers an academically rigorous learning environment in which children have the opportunity and support from their teacher to achieve academic goals and standards. The focus on academic rigor and relevancy of learning should be working with all children in a manner that addresses the whole child through hands-on learning experiences that “challenge the mind” and “connect learning to real world context”, utilizing developmentally appropriate practice and by promoting instruction that focuses on the growth and learning of individual children across all developmental domains in a manner that addresses “the social and cultural contexts” in which they live. Academically rigorous, developmentally appropriate learning environments are those in which teachers provide children with multiple learning opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for success at Bethany Charter School and beyond.
Bethany Charter School Nondiscrimination Statement
Bethany Charter School does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.