June 7- 8th Grade Graduation (open to 8th graders and their families only due to social distancing restrictions) June 8-Last chapel service, “Back to the Future” event, School Memories Google Viewing Events June 9-“Materials Collection Day” #packupyourstuff June 10-“Materials Swap” for 1st-8th (final details TBD) June 11-K Graduation (final details TBD) in the morning Additional “Materials Swap” for 1st-8th in the afternoon? Sept. 1-First day of 2020-2021 school year

School Bulletin #37 June 2, 2020

I listened to a speaker recently who was discussing the topic of stress in light of COVID19. He was explaining what happens to our brains when circumstances are not “normal” and he used the example of walking across the living room. Usually we walk across the living room without thinking about it, but if the coffee table is out of place, our brains light up with activity and cortisol (the stress hormone) is released into our system. We’re on high alert so that we don’t bang our shins on the table! It’s a necessary state at the time, but it’s not meant to be lived long-term. We need to return to a state of “normal” and a state of peace. When the pandemic began, the coffee table was shoved out of place. Every. Single. Day. Every day brought new information and new worries. As the pandemic continued and we learned more about the virus, personally I was starting to settle into a “new normal” routine (I didn’t like it, but I did it!) and the coffee table was sliding into its new position in the living room. This past weekend the coffee table moved again for all of us as we watched peaceful protests turn violent and curfews were imposed across the nation. Once again, our systems are on high alert. Once again we desperately need/want to move that coffee table into place. Once again we need to return to a state of peace, recognizing that the coffee table is going to be in a new place. We can’t watch the events of this weekend unfold without making changes personally and nationally. We need another new normal. Where do we turn to find the strength and peace we need for this? We turn to the One who never changes and has promised to be our Prince of Peace. Again, I invite you to pray with me:

Gracious God our Father in heaven, You are the God of order and peace. By Your Word, You speak order to chaos, peace to warfare, light to darkness, life to death. In the cross of Your Son You reconciled this sin-disordered world to Yourself. Restore order to our streets, our communities, our homes, our minds and hearts. Let Your justice overflow, and bring healing to our madness. Restrain the forces of anarchy, violence, and destruction. Quench the fires of anger and rage that burn within us. Drive from our hearts the evil by which we dehumanize others. Restore the dignity of our humanity, won by Your Son, and teach us to embrace one another as He has embraced every nation, tribe, people, and language in His all-reconciling death. Have mercy upon us all, for the sake of your Son, the Prince of Peace and the world’s Redeemer. Amen. (author: Rev. William Cwirla)

Stay healthy. Be safe.

You are loved. Dr. Fink

Bear Facts The Weekly Newsletter of Bethany Lutheran School

Long Beach, CA www.bethanylutheran.org

Communication+Responsibility+Organization+Service+Sharing

Chapel We will post a chapel service each week on Wednesdays

so we can be united in worship! This week Pastor Kyle Blake will bring us the

message.

Bethany Parents, we know some of you have been affected financially by this crisis. Please reach out to Dr. Fink if you need to make any adjustments in your FACTS account

or are in need of any other kind of assistance. We are standing by ready to help as best we can!

Middle School Corner We are happy to announce the officers for Student Council 2020-2021!

The FISHin’ Hole Opportunities to Serve

Parents, of all the things to stress about right now, FISH Hours should

not be on your list. Please don’t give it a second thought.

PTL News

Normally you’d expect to see some words of encouragement from our PTL President in this column. (She’s a great writer!) But Dr. Fink is taking over this space this week! I want to give a big THANK YOU to the PTL Board and all the PTL members (that’s you, Bethany parents) for supporting our school. You’ve given unselfishly of your time, talent and treasure to support all the wonderful programs we have here at Bethany, and you’ve hosted fun events for our students and teachers. You’ve also raised a significant amount of money that’s been used to help students with camp expenses and added new sound systems to the gym, preschool and Freedom Square and so much more! I especially want to thank you for the decision you made last week to designate $10,000 toward the expenses of preparing our campus for return in the fall under the new COVID19 guidelines. Simply amazing.

It’s a privilege to partner with you! Dr. Fink

Bethany Lutheran Church Worship Our church services are pre-recorded and posted online…you can find the links on the Bethany website: www.bethanylutheran.org Are you in need of pastoral care? Please call the church office: 421-4711

Next week’s schedule: June 8: Final chapel service “Back to the Future” Google Meet with next year’s teacher Class viewing of “2020-2021 School Memories” video June 9: Virtual Field Trip Day Materials Collection Day! (a day for student to pack up their stuff and teachers to pack up students’ stuff here at school.) June 10: “Materials Swap”/Yearbook distribution for Grades 1-8 (watch for an email with details) June 11: Kindergarten Graduation/yearbooks/Materials Swap (watch for an email with details) Additional “Materials Swap” for 1st-8th (if needed)

Summer childcare registration is now open! Is your child missing social connections? Consider sending them to Bethany for a week or two of fun in the sun! Here is the link to register: bit.ly/BLSSummerCamp2020

Presenting more of our Class of 2020 8th Grade Graduates

Bethany Lutheran School announces the planned retirements of two of ourbeloved teachers:  Diana Orr (19 years of service) and Chris Boerrigter

(44 years of service, 19 of them at Bethany!) at the end of this school year.

Like the true professionals they are, Mrs. Orr and Mrs. Boerrigter have risento the challenges of remote teaching during this pandemic, certainly an

unexpected circumstance to end their careers. These faithful servants havebeen a vital part of our school staff and will be greatly missed, but we knowthey will continue to use their many gifts to serve the Lord in the future. 

We do not have a date yet to celebrate these two amazing educators, but weare collecting congratulations and memories from friends, former studentsand colleagues in preparation for the event.Would you take a moment to

help us celebrate their many years of service?

You may send your thoughts/memories by May 30 to Mary Fink: mfink@bethanylutheran.org and/or your congratulatory cards to the

teachers at this address:5100 E. Arbor Rd.

Long Beach, CA  90808Attn: Retirement

Well done, good and faithful servants.

Bethany Lutheran School 2020-2021 Supplies List

Kindergarten Headphones with a straight jack, not angled. 3-pack pink pearl erasers

2 packs of #2 pencils (no foil pencils) 1 bottle Elmer’s glue & 1 package of glue sticks 1 roll of paper towels & 1 large box tissues 1 box Crayons – 24 count Crayola washable Markers – 8 1 plastic pencil box (NO pencil bags..please label) Playdough (3 or 4 oz.) Backpack Scissors (Fiskar pointed, please label) Art shirt (large t-shirt to wear over clothes) A change of clothes (pants or shorts, underwear, socks & shirt) in a plastic bag and labeled. A blanket, twin size fitted sheet and pillow for rest time (these items need to fit in a box 10x5x7) 1 school logo shirt, available from Vicki Marsha.

Grade One 1 container diaper wipes (optional) 1 large box tissues 2 lower pocket folders (different colors/not plastic) 1 scissors-Fiskars only 24 sharpened #2 pencils (NO foil pencils) 1 bottle Elmer’s glue (not gel) 12 glue sticks 1 pink pearl eraser 1 plastic, not metal, pencil box (8x5x2-1/2) Crayola colored pencils (12 pack) (labeled with initials) Crayola classic markers (8 fat) (labeled with initials) Crayola crayons (24 count) 1 jumbo fabric bookcover 2 standard fabric bookcovers Art shirt (large t-shirt to wear over clothes) Simple headphones (NO ear buds) with a straight jack, not angled. 1 school logo shirt, available from Vicki Marsha. Please label all items except pencils and glue sticks. Please no rolling backpacks… .they are difficult to hang on our closet hooks. Thank You!

Grade Two 1 bottle white Elmer’s glue & 12 glue sticks 2 large box tissues 1 each green/red ballpoint pen 1 box Crayons (limit 24) 2 Yellow highlighters #2 pencils - 2 boxes of 12 (sharpened) 1 pink pearl eraser 1 pair sharp scissors Plastic pencil box 1 in. 3-ring view binder w/pockets 12 pack colored pencils (labeled with initials) 10 count thin markers (labeled with initials) In a container: 4 quarters, 5 dimes, 5 nickels, 5 pennies Headphones (NO ear buds) with a straight jack, not angled. 2 folders with lower pockets, three-hole punched Art shirt (large t-shirt to wear over clothes) 1 standard fabric book covers 1 school logo shirt, available from Vicki Marsha. Please label all items (except pencils) Grade Three 2 pink pearl erasers 1 bottle Elmer’s glue 4 glue sticks 1 large box tissues 1 box crayons, 16 or 24 count 1 box colored pencils (#12 or #24) 1” view binder 1 – 3 ring pencil pouch w/zipper 24 #2 pencils, sharpened 2 red pens 4 laminated lower pocket folders 1 pair sharp scissors 2 packages of notebook paper –wide rule only (No Spiral) 2 sets markers, Thin & Thick (not permanent) 3 highlighters (different colors) 2 sets headphones with a straight jack, not angled. 1 pencil box 8 plastic pocket dividers w/write tabs Container of baby wipes 3 x 5 Index Cards 4 jumbo fabric book covers 1 school logo shirt, available from Vicki Marsha. Please label all items.

Grade Four 3x5 index cards Sturdy inch/centimeter ruler 12 #2 pencils 2 ballpoint pens (blue or black) 1 bottle white glue 4 glue sticks 1 box crayons – 16 or 24 ct. (Not fluorescent) 2 sets markers-8-12 ct. – Thin & Thick (Not fluorescent) 1 box colored pencils - #12 to 24 3 highlighters – Different Colors 2 pink pearl erasers Notebook paper – wide rule only - no spiral Small sharp scissors - Fiskars type 1” view binder 8 plastic pocket dividers w/write on tabs Headphones with a straight jack, not angled. 3 wide rule spiral notebooks – Plain or colored cover 2 wide rule spiral notebooks – Can be printed/fun covers 2 boxes tissues 1 container baby wipes 3 pocket folders 1 pencil box 1 pack of 3x3 Post-its Faith Alive Bible (Received in Grade 1 or 3. New students will receive one at school.) 1 school logo shirt, available from Vicki Marsha. Please label items.

Grade Five 1 bottle glue (no blue glue) 2 glue sticks 1 box crayons, 24 count (not fluorescent) 1 highlighter Pencils, #2(mechanical OK) Pink Eraser 2 ballpoint pens, red or green 1 pair sharp scissors 1 packages colored pencils, 24 count 1 package colored markers, 12 count Pencil box (8-1/2”x5”) Wide Rule notebook paper 8 plastic pocket dividers with tabs 1 – 1-1/2” 3 ring notebook with front pocket 2 large boxes of tissues Headphones or ear buds 1 large container of baby wipes Faith Alive Bible (Received in Grade 1, 3 or 4. New students will receive one at school.) 1 school logo shirt, available from Vicki Marsha. Please label at items.

Middle School Basic Supplies (Grades 6-8) 2 or 2.5 inch 3-ring binder 3 jumbo bookcovers 1-subject spiral notebook (math) 8-tab plastic divider set 4 composition notebooks (1 science, 1 history, 2 English) 2 large boxes of tissues Plenty of #2 pencils w/erasers Ballpoint pens (black, blue, red) Colored pencils & markers Notebook filler paper – College Rule Graph paper Ruler (inches and metric markings) 2 glue sticks Scissors Zipper pouch(es) for storage (no pencil boxes) P.E. Uniform (available from Vicki Marsha website) 1 school logo shirt (available from Vicki Marsha website) Ear Buds (NO HEADPHONES) NO PERMANENT MARKERS, SHARPIES, OR LIQUID PAPER In Addition: Grade 6 and new students: Plastic Shoe Box