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Attention parents of students who have medication in the health room- Please pick up your student's medication from the health room no later than 12:55 pm on Thursday June 13th. Medications will not be sent home with students. An adult must pick them up. Please contact the health room at 240-204-5305 or Michelle_B_Neary@mcpsmd.org and Shannon_A_King@mcpsmd.org with any questions.

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See the upcoming events section for more information about specific important dates

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See the upcoming events section for more information about specific important dates

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6/12 - 5th grade promotion

6/13 - Last Day of School

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Social Emotional Learning Book check-out

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Social Emotional Learning Book check-out

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Bethesda Elementary has a great selection of Social Emotional Learning books that were donated by parents. These books are available to check out for 1 week. If you are interested, please use this signup form to select a book and Mrs. Moreland will put it in your child's backpack. The parent will send the book back within a week. You are welcome to repeat this process after the book has been returned.

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Every month starting in March students who attend 90% or more of the school days for the month will receive a lottery ticket. A drawing will be held in each homeroom class. Remember Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

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ATTENDANCE REWARDS!! Every month this school year starting in March there will be an attendance lottery. All students who attend 90% or more of the school days for the month will receive a lottery ticket at the end of the month. At the end of the month, winners will be chosen randomly and receive...

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What Can Parents Do to Keep Students Safe in School

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What Can Parents Do to Keep Students Safe in School

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WHAT CAN PARENTS DO TO KEEP STUDENTS SAFE

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MCPS Alerts:  Sign up now!   Alert MCPS is a way that you can receive text messages or e-mail from Montgomery County Public Schools during weather-related emergencies and other major events that impact school system operations.  Alert MCPS is administered by Montgomery County Public Schools and is part of the Montgomery County Alert System.

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Spanish

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School Closing and Other Emergency Procedures - Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, MD | Montgomery County Public Schools | Rockville, MD

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Emergency Information → Emergency Closure of Schools

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Check e-mail ePayStub español | 中文 | français | tiếng Việt | 한국어 | አማርኛ

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MCPS Waymaking is a video series that highlights mental health and well-being resources for staff and students as families adapt to the evolving changes in d...

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MCPS Parent Academy TO GO is designed to inform and empower families as advocates and partners in their children's education. Workshops provide families with...

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ELD Resources Bethesda Elementary 2023-2024 Petrossian

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Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event

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Your comfort and support can help children cope with trauma. Advice from the Child Mind Institute on how to what to do and what to look out for.

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Bethesda Elementary School VOLUNTEER Training September 13, 2023

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Please consider contributing to the BE Food Pantry. We will be stocking items to provide snacks and weekend meals for our students. Unfortunately, the Weekend Meal Program that provided food to our student in the past has ended due to funding. However, we still want to support our students! Thank you in advance for your generosity.

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Our Children's Bereavement Services help children explore their feelings, develop healthy coping strategies, and find comfort and safety in learning that they are not alone.

Children often grieve differently from adults. When a loved one dies, it is often a child's first experience with death. Our grief support services for children, which are offered free of charge, are facilitated by trained staff and volunteers in group environments where they can meet peers who have suffered similar losses.

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CaringMatters' programs for grieving children include:

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Camp Erin© Montgomery County for Children
This overnight weekend camp for grieving children is part

of a national network of Camp Erin programs. It serves children

and teens ages 6-17 and offers age-appropriate discussions

and creative, fun-filled activities designed to help children share

their feelings with peers who have had similar experiences.

Camp Erin Montgomery County is a partnership between

CaringMatters, the Bar-T, Eluna Network , and the

Dick and Jody Vilardo Foundation.

Good Grief Clubs for Children
This award-winning, seven-week bereavement program for children in grades K-12 is held in schools throughout Montgomery County, MD. Each group is co-facilitated by a trained CaringMatters volunteer and a school counselor who encourage the children to explore their feelings, develop healthy coping strategies, and find comfort and safety in learning that they are not alone.

Family Nights
Holidays and other special days can be especially challenging for grieving children. Anticipating and acknowledging these days can be a helpful way to promote sharing and communication. CaringMatters' Family Nights are designed for families who have experienced the death of a loved one. Each workshop is held approximately one week prior to a major holiday, so that families can learn coping tools, plan for how they will handle celebrations, and mark the absence of their loved one(s). Activities facilitated by trained volunteers encourage parents and children to create something together to take home, as a way to continue conversations about their loved ones and to help keep their memories alive. Each workshop is designed to be independent of the others, so that families can come to one or more as they choose. ​Appropriate for families with children ages 5-18. Registration is required.

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Para obtener más información sobre Good Grief Clubs o Family Nights, comuníquese con Mabilia Rastello, 717-800-1631 mabiliar@caringmatters.org

Parenting While Grieving: Supporting a Child Grieving the Death of a Parent - FREE Workshop Series

During these interactive meetings, we will explore the impact of the loss on children; developmental reactions to the grief process; and strategies for dealing with the challenges of parenting while grieving. The workshops will include practice of the essential parenting skills of listening, expressing, problem-solving, and setting limits within the context of a grieving family. The series will be facilitated online by CaringMatters' trained staff on Wednesday evenings, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm. The series is offered free of charge, but space is limited. Registrants are expected to make a commitment to attend all seven sessions, as each week's theme builds on the next week's theme.

For more information on the Parenting While Grieving Online Workshop Series, contact Mabilia Rastello, mabiliar@caringmatters.org or 717-800-1631

WEBINAR

The Power of Children's Storytelling: A Therapeutic Tool for
Supporting Grieving Children During Physical Distancing

Aired Live November 18, 2020

For School Counselors & Allied Mental Health Professionals
Working with Grieving Students

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Presenter: Amanda Seyderhelm , Founder of Helping Children Smile Again, Play and Creative Arts Therapy and Training for Children, Families and Professionals

Moderator: Gilly Cannon, Director of Children's Bereavement Services, CaringMatters

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AARP Maryland's Lunch & Learn Series

August 13, 2020, Children and Grief,

featuring Gilly Cannon, CaringMatters' Director of Children's Bereavement

CaringMatters has developed other useful video and printed resources on children's grief.

Click HERE to view and download resources.

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Children's Grief Support | CaringMatters

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Free weekend grief camp, clubs and resources to help children grieving the loss of a loved one in Montgomery County, MD.

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Community Resource for lunch: Lunch is provided right across from B.E. Monday – Friday at 12:30 pm at the back entrance of the Church in Bethesda 5033 Wilson Lane.

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With kids heading back to school, here are some ways you can help stay healthy, happy and thrive.

1. Prioritize the basics: sleep, exercise & nutrition

Begin with the basics, ensuring that students get nutritious meals, sufficient sleep and physical activity. All of these are key to academic and social success. Studies show that children who eat a nutritious breakfast function better at school, for example. Many children qualify for free or reduced-price food at school, including breakfast. The forms for these services can be completed at the school office.

Getting enough sleep is also critical to staying healthy and thriving at school. Not getting enough sleep can affect memory, concentration, creativity and learning. In fact, lack of sleep is linked with lower academic performance, school attendance and tardiness.

2. Stay up to date on checkups & immunizations

If your child has not had a well-child checkup in the last year, schedule a back-to-school physical which will include any needed vaccinations. If they will be playing a sport, be sure to get a pre-participation(sports) exam. Your pediatrician can help you update any forms your child's school may need in case of a medical emergency.

The single most effective way to protect children as they return to school is to make sure they are up-to-date on all of their immunizations. We've seen a decline in vaccination rates nationally and are concerned about potential outbreaks of life-threatening diseases. A recent case of polio reported in New York reminds us that we cannot let down our guard. We also know that people vaccinated against viruses such as COVID and influenza (flu) are much less likely to have a severe illness or be hospitalized if they do get sick, compared with those who are unvaccinated.

If you have health insurance coverage through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), check that your contact information is up to date with your state Medicaid agency. This will ensure you get timely updates about your health coverage so you can avoid any gaps in coverage.

3. Tune in to your child's mental health

Many children and teens have experienced mental health struggles over the past few years. Let your child know it's OK to talk about how they're feeling, and make it safe for them to discuss tough issues with you. Kids often avoid talking about touchy subjects, especially if they expect to be judged, lectured or punished. If you haven't already made this clear, affirm that your child can tell you anything. Emphasize that these conversations will take place in a judgment-free zone and really listen to what your child is saying.

Stay on the lookout for any changes in behavior that worry you or any signs of anxiety, depression or distress. If you have a firearm in your home, make sure to lock it up and store the ammunition separately. The increased risk of suicide is higher for children and teens who live in a home where guns are stored loaded or unlocked.

Try to prioritize family meals and self-care breaks, like taking walks together. These can be great opportunities to talk. Ask your pediatrician if you are unsure if your child needs help or how to start a discussion. Schools may also offer sources of mental health support.

4. Talk about racism, bullying & kindness

Talk with your child about racism and hate. Encourage children to seek help from a trusted adult if they are discriminated against or witness an act of bullying or discrimination against others. Emphasize the value of treating others with respect and how simple acts of kindness can make a big difference. In fact, research shows that kindness can reduce stress and offer health benefits for everyone.

5. Plan for mindful media use

The change in routine is a good time to create or update your family media plan so you can help your child balance screen time with sleep, exercise and other healthy activities. Help your children choose high-quality programs or games and help them recognize sites that that promote false information.

This is also a good time to engage in conversations with your child about if and how they use social media, which can be beneficial but also problematic for some. We are still learning about the ways social media can affect human health, especially among children and teens. (See "Social Media & Mental Health.")

Children are resilient and can overcome many challenges with the help of trusted adults around them. Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns about your child, including changes in mental or behavioral health. Look for any notable changes in sleep, weight, eating habits or other everyday patterns. Your pediatrician is here to help!

More information

American Academy of Pediatrics Council on School Health (Copyright © 2023​)

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back to school 2022; school health; back to school tips; covid; mental health; immunizations; vaccines; covid-19; media use; family media plan; nutrition; sleep

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5 Ways to Help Your Kids Have a Healthy School Year

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Children are more likely to learn, thrive and develop appropriately when attending school in-person, alongside their peers. As classrooms reopen this fall, families can take steps to help keep students healthy and in school. Find tips here.

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At Home Request for Chromebook Flyer (English)

At Home Request for Chromebook Flyer (Spanish)

Chromebook Form to Distribute to Families

Student MiFi Request Collection Form

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To access the Bethesda Elementary PTA AtoZ Connect site (used for many things including PTA and room parent communications) you will visit http://bepta.membershiptoolkit.com/.

RETURNING FAMILIES: Please update your student(s)'s grade and teacher info to reactivate your account.

NEW FAMILIES: Please follow the link and create your family account in the system.

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All MCPS families are encouraged to sign up for a ParentVUE account and ensure your contact information is up-to-date. ParentVUE, an online parent portal, is the primary way  schools share information regarding grades, attendance, scheduling, access to myMCPS Classroom and more. ParentVUE also allows access to Canvas/MyMCPSClassroom, a digital learning platform. Parents and guardians can view instructional information and resources, and get alerts about assignments and grades.

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Open House Slides