February 3, 2022 at 6:15 PM - Board of Education Curriculum, Assessment & Professional Practices Committee Meeting

• We are bringing forward the following music curricula for approval.

  • Ensembles Novice (Johnson)

  • Ensembles Intermediate (Bethel Middle School)

  • Ensembles Proficient (Bethel High School)

• Ensembles for band, chorus, and orchestra study posture and setup, tone production, rhythm and pulse accuracy, pitch and intonation accuracy, improvisation, composition, expressive qualities/stylistic interpretation, ensemble skills, historical cultural content, and solo performance

• These units spiral through a student’s education so they are revisited and improved over time.

• We are also bringing forward the Adaptive Music curriculum for approval.

  • Adaptive Music in Grades 6-12 is designed to meet the needs of students who need more time and practice with the music standards.

  • Units of study include steady beat/tempo, rhythm, pitch/singing, lyrics and songwriting, music technology, music genres, music history, music and visual art, music and movement, and performance.  

Key Points of the Briefing: 

• We have a process for Gifted identification in the Bethel Public Schools that includes multiple methods to identify students which is in compliance with the guidance from the CT Department of Education. 

• Methods we use include:

  • NWEA/PSAT- 90th percentile or higher

  • Nomination

  • OLSAT- ability test

  • Student work, observation

  • Rating scales for Giftedness and other cognitive evaluations as deemed necessary

• Although our formal process for identification begins in Grade 4, at any time during a students’ education, a teacher/administrator or parent can nominate a student for possible gifted identification.

• To support our work around equity, there are mechanisms to identify students with a disability and/or English Learners.

• Students are identified in Power School so that teachers/administration is aware and can plan for student needs.