On Friday, Mar. 20, teachers and staff from the Bethlehem Central School District participated in the second annual Community Day as part of their Superintendent’s Conference Day agenda.
More than 600 individuals participated in various activities, including park and trail cleanups, organizing food pantries, preparing arts and recreation activities, and providing hands-on support for human service agencies and animal rescue groups.
The Mar. 20 Superintendent’s Conference Day, which was a day off for students, was designed to blend professional learning, wellness programs and community service for district staff. While the 34 individual community service projects primarily took place in the morning, faculty and staff had 77 professional learning modules to choose from throughout the day, as well as 32 wellness activities.
2nd annual BCSD Community Day
- Bethlehem Community Fund – A used book sale was organized by Glenmont staff to support the fund, which helps children, families, individuals and the elderly whose needs fall through the cracks of traditional programs.
- Bethlehem Food Pantry – The Food Service staff organized a food drive to support the Bethlehem Food Pantry.
- Bethlehem Tri Village Little League & Babe Ruth – A group of teachers helped prepare the concession stand and fields for the upcoming season.
- Capital City Rescue Mission – Approximately 80 staff members from the Transportation Department and Hamagrael Elementary School prepared hundreds of sandwiches that were delivered to the shelter in Albany.
- Community Hospice – Middle school staff created blankets (crochet & no-sew) to be donated to hospice patients.
- Delmar Center for Nursing – Elsmere staff created spring flower pots and gift bags for residents.
- Free To Be Me Rescue – The BCMS math department made dog toys out of old t-shirts/materials for donation the rescue.
- Karie Jean’s Closet – Staff members sorted donations and prepped inventory for the spring/summer season.
- Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disease at Albany Medical Center – Eagle staff created no-sew blankets to be donated to the center.
- Mohawk Hudson Humane Society – A group from Glenmont sorted bottles and cans used to support the shelter. Another group from the Special Education department crafted toys for dogs and cats.
- Peregrine Senior Living – School nurses spent the morning crafting and playing games, Bingo with residents.
- Pine Hollow Arboretum – A group of teachers, and BCMS principal Mike Klugman, cleared trees and built a natural fence at the much-loved nature spot.
- Public Art Plan for the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail – Members of the Art department created signs for the Helderberg to Hudson Half-Marathon. The signs are to promote public input about what people would like to see along the trail.
- Patroon Land Farm – District central staff planted thousands of beets and cabbages. The farm is run by the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.
- RISSE – Members of the World Language department organized supplies for a hygiene drive to support refugees and immigrants building new lives and in the Capital Region.
- Ronald McDonald House Charities – Transportation department staff baked cookies, cleaned, organized and did some outside maintenance at the Ronald McDonald House in Albany.
- Street Soldiers/Albany – Slingerlands staff made gallons of chili and dozens of sandwiches to be distributed by Street Soldiers in downtown Albany. The group also collected pantry items and self-care items for donation.
- Whiskers Cat Shelter – Music department staff cleaned and organized the shelter.
- Grassroots Givers – Elementary library staff organized a book donation for the organization.
- CD Latinos – World Language department staff cleaned and painted walls at the organization’s headquarters. CD Latinos provides a food pantry, vocational training, financial literacy, home ownership counseling, and employment placement.
- BCSD Beautification – Staff members across the district participated in a spring beautification project, planting flowers and preparing the schools for spring.
- Bethlehem Softball – BCHS staff members helped get the field and concession stand ready for the season.
Thank you to everyone who made the second annual BCSD Community Day, and Superintendent’s Conference Day, a great success!