Brewing bubbles, daring dissections, shocking sights, and raving results- students are eagerly awaiting the new science lab.

            According to Mr. Matt Thomas, high school principal, the school is expecting to raise at least $20,000 from various fundraisers beginning this year. The  money will be used to build a new science lab for the students. Most of the money will be used to buy equipment such as new tables with fire-proof tops, new fire-proof cabinets, updated supplies and additional plumbing gas lines.

             On Sept. 4 the school fundraisers were kicked off when Pete Hembrick the “fundraiser guy” came to Bethel to promote the chocolate and catalog fundraiser.

            The “fundraiser guy” encouraged the students to sell chocolate and raise money for the school. The students were excited to see the wide variety of prizes they could win.

            Mr. Thomas stoked the competition when he told the junior high and high school students that whoever sold the most chocolate would win $50. The second-place person would receive $25, and the third-place person would receive $10.  The chocolate sale and the catalog fundraiser ended on Sept. 21 and results are pending.

            On Oct. 8 the Value Books fundraiser began and coupon books were sent out to all students. The cost per book is $20 with 20 percent going to the school. The book contains over 150 coupons for many different restaurants and retail stores such as Daphne’s Greek Cafe, Rainforest Cafe, Coco’s, Build-a-Bear Workshop and much more. 

            The school is also selling a larger book which costs $35 but contains many more discount offers including several fine dining choices.

            If each student and teacher in the school committed to sell at least two books, the school would receive well over $2,000 toward the new science lab. The Value Book fundraiser will end on Oct. 30.

             There will be upcoming fundraisers in the near future, including Christmas wreaths during the Christmas season and another chocolate fundraiser as well. The Bethel community is anticipating great involvement and significant results.

            Mrs. Courtney Bakan, science teacher, is hopeful that the lab will be ready to use by next year. She knows that the new science lab will benefit not only her by having everything in the same room, but also the students by enabling them to have a greater variety of hands-on experiences.