📆 BETHELEHEM AREA EVENTS

🏫🦅 BCHS WELCOMES A FAMILIAR FACE BACK HOME! ❤️👏

🔥🍫 CAMPFIRE CONNECTIONS RESCHEDULED TO MONDAY, MAY 18! 🌳🏕️

⚡🧙‍♂️ QUIDDITCH TAKES OVER MIDDLE SCHOOL! 🏆✨

🎭🗣️ 4RCS STUDENTS HELP LEAD IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS AT PROCTORS YOUTH SUMMIT ❤️👏

Introducing the Bethlehem Area Live Community Calendar

MAY 17th

MAY 18th

MAY 19th

MAY 20th

MAY 21st

🏫🦅 BCHS WELCOMES A FAMILIAR FACE BACK HOME! ❤️👏

Bethlehem Central is preparing to welcome back a familiar member of the BC family as Matthew Urban is expected to be appointed the next principal of Bethlehem Central High School at the Board of Education meeting on May 20. 🎉

Urban’s anticipated start date is July 1, and for many students, families, and staff, his return feels like a full-circle moment. 🏡🦅

Before serving as principal of Scott M. Ellis Elementary School in Greenville, Urban spent nearly a decade in Bethlehem schools, including:
📚 Special education teacher
🍎 4th & 5th grade classroom teacher at Eagle Elementary
❤️ Mentor and trusted educator to many BC students and families

Now, some of those same students he once taught at Eagle Elementary may soon see their former teacher walking the halls of BCHS as principal. 👏

Superintendent Jody Monroe praised Urban’s:
✅ Commitment to academics
✅ Focus on character and wellness
✅ Strong ties to the community
✅ Positive relationships with students and families

🏡 Deep Bethlehem roots

Urban’s connection to Bethlehem goes beyond the classroom:
❤️ His wife Katie is a Bethlehem graduate
👨‍👩‍👦 The couple currently has three sons attending BC schools

As he prepares to return, Urban says what excites him most is reconnecting with:
👩‍🏫 Faculty & staff
🎓 Students
🏡 The broader BC community

He also emphasized the importance of:
🤝 Building relationships
💬 Supporting student growth
🌟 Encouraging community-mindedness
❤️ Focusing on social-emotional wellness

Urban brings more than 23 years of educational experience and holds degrees from:
🎓 Providence College
🎓 Boston College
🎓 The College of St. Rose

For many in the Bethlehem community, this announcement represents both a homecoming and a new chapter for BCHS leadership. 🦅👏

🔗 Read more:
https://www.bethlehemschools.org/board-expected-to-appoint-matt-urban-principal-of-bchs/

#BethlehemCentral #BCHS #BethlehemNY #BCSD #CommunityStrong #EducationMatters #BethlehemLocalNews #CapitalRegionSchools #GoEagles 🦅📚❤️

🔥🍫 CAMPFIRE CONNECTIONS RESCHEDULED TO MONDAY, MAY 18! 🌳🏕️

Looking for a relaxing family-friendly evening in Bethlehem? Grab the kids, bring some friends, and head to Elm Avenue Park for a cozy night around the campfire! 🔥😊

🗓️ RESCHEDULED DATE:
Monday, May 18, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

📍 Elm Avenue Park
Small Pavilion A
(across from the playground)

Hosted by Bethlehem Parks & Recreation, Campfire Connections is a fun and casual community gathering where neighbors can:
🔥 Roast s’mores
💬 Chat with Parks & Rec staff
📅 Learn about upcoming programs & events
🏡 Connect with the community

Best of all…
✅ FREE to attend
✅ No registration required
✅ Just stop by and say hi!

Whether you stay for a few minutes or the whole evening, it’s a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with neighbors in a relaxed setting. ❤️

#BethlehemNY #ElmAvenuePark #CommunityConnections #BethlehemParksAndRec #FamilyFun #DelmarNY #CapitalRegionEvents #BethlehemLocalNews #SmoreFun 🔥🍫🏕️

⚡🧙‍♂️ QUIDDITCH TAKES OVER MIDDLE SCHOOL! 🏆✨

A little Hogwarts-style magic filled the gym at RCS Middle School last week as students in grades 6–8 competed in an exciting week-long Quidditch tournament during physical education classes! 🧹⚡

Students were sorted into their houses and battled it out throughout the week in a fast-paced competition full of:
🏃 Teamwork
🎯 Strategy
💪 Physical activity
🏆 School spirit
✨ Plenty of magical fun

Teachers and staff even joined the excitement by representing different houses and cheering students on as the standings shifted after every match! 👏🧙‍♀️

🏐 The adapted Quidditch games featured:
🟡 Chasers scoring with the “Quaffle”
🥎 Beaters launching “Bludgers”
🧤 Goalies protecting the hoops
✨ Seekers chasing the Golden Snitch

Students raced through the gym carrying pool noodles as “brooms” while trying to dodge Bludgers and score points for their houses. Catching the Golden Snitch earned an incredible 30 points and instantly ended the round! ⚡🏆

📊 FINAL HOUSE STANDINGS:
🟡 Hufflepuff — 427
🔵 Ravenclaw — 403
🔴 Gryffindor — 384
🟢 Slytherin — 279

🎉 Congratulations to Hufflepuff for winning the 2026 RCS Middle School Quidditch Championship! 🏆✨

More importantly, the event created an unforgettable experience that brought students together through creativity, friendly competition, and school pride. ❤️

Sounds like Quidditch Week cast quite the spell on RCS Middle School! 🧙‍♂️⚡

#RCS #RCSRavens #Quidditch #SchoolSpirit #MiddleSchoolFun #Hufflepuff #Gryffindor #Ravenclaw #Slytherin #CommunityStrong #BethlehemLocalNews #StudentLife ✨🏆🧹

💙🚓 BETHLEHEM POLICE EXPAND CARTER KIT PROGRAM TO EVERY PATROL CAR 🚓💙

A powerful act of kindness is helping make Bethlehem safer and more supportive for children with autism and sensory needs throughout our community. ❤️

The Bethlehem Police Department announced that every patrol vehicle is now equipped with a Carter Kit thanks to a generous donation of 16 kits from an anonymous local family. 👏

The family shared that they appreciated the initiative and the positive impact it can have for children and families during stressful situations.

🎒 Carter Kits are specially designed to help children on the autism spectrum or with sensory sensitivities during emergencies or difficult encounters. Each kit includes:
🧸 Fidget toys
🎧 Noise-canceling headphones
🕶 Sunglasses
🛏 Weighted blanket
🗂 Non-verbal cue cards

The department originally purchased two kits for school resource officers after learning about their success through the Slingerlands Fire Department. Officials had hoped to eventually expand the program to patrol vehicles as funding allowed — and now that vision has become reality. 💙

Other local agencies including Clifton Park & Halfmoon EMS and Greenport Rescue Squad have also adopted the program, showing how communities across the region are working to better support families with sensory-sensitive children.

The Carter Kit program began in Michigan in 2019 after a police detective recognized the need for better resources during emergency situations involving children with autism. Inspired by his son Carter and developed alongside a clinical neuropsychologist, the kits have since helped departments nationwide create calmer, safer interactions.

This is another example of how small acts of generosity can create a lasting impact throughout an entire community. ❤️👏

#BethlehemNY #BethlehemPolice #CommunityStrong #AutismAwareness #CarterKits #SensorySupport #Slingerlands #BethlehemLocalNews #MakingADifference #CommunityCare 🚓💙

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