Chaplain Kimberly Knight serves Bethany School as our Chaplain, Christian Education coordinator, and teaches Christian Education classes as well. She can be reached at extension 102 or via email at
knight@bethanyschool.org
Bethany School strives to develop the whole child in mind, body, and spirit. The spiritual aspect of the child is nurtured throughout the whole school, in the classroom and in various activities, by the caring of the teachers and staff in the children’s environment, in the way discipline is handled, and by the example of the teachers’ and staff members’ lives. In addition, we give a great deal of time to more formal Christian education in Chapel and in Christian education classes, which are taught by Sisters, the 
Chaplain and other teachers who have both background and interest in this area. Children of all faiths participate and find Chapel and the classes to be interesting and to contain much that they can apply to their own lives in their own traditions. Furthermore, children from other traditions have enriched our classes with their own faith’s insights.
The Bethany community is very diverse -- culturally, ethnically, and religiously -- as are most Episcopal schools. All of our children and faculty participate in Chapel each week;
say prayers in the classrooms and before / after meals; and at all school gatherings. In our Christian Education classes and chapel services, we are open to our belief that Jesus is the Savior. At the same time, we believe that God has called us to join the members of the Bethany community along their faith walk. This is a community called to nurture the whole child and to show them God's unending love without requiring them to believe in the doctrines of the Episcopal Church or any other church, denomination, or religion.
We take pride in how our openness teaches acceptance, tolerance, and celebration of the wonderful variety found in God's great world.
Kindergarten classes focus on God's love and how God is present everywhere and in all things and how His stories teach us how to live. These messages are taught through Old and New Testament stories as well as through music. Teachers teach the songs which are sung in Chapel to that they may fully participate.
A three year Bible based curriculum is in place for the 1st through 4th grades that combines the Godly-Play model of learning (a Montessori based program)
with the Episcopal Church Curriculum. Stories in the scripture are woven throughout the curriculum, focusing on God's love and covenant with His
children. Starting with creation, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jonah, we continue through the years focusing on New Testament stories of Jesus' life and ministry. The children learn about the 12 disciples as well. In the 3rd and 4th grades, Christian signs and symbols and Saints and Liturgy are explored.
In the Middle School, 5th graders study the spirituality of the Celtic people, the
Native Americans, and monastics. The 6th graders study four of the world
religions -- Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Church History, Service and Prayer dominate the 7th grade curriculum while the 8th graders study
Christian Ethics and Morality.
Eighth grade students study ethics as it relates to their everyday lives, and also to history and society in general. Part of the class trip to Washington, D.C. in the spring is designed to contribute to their study of ethics. The class visits Arlington Cemetery, the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the National Cathedral and the Holocaust Museum. The teachers spend some time in class before the Washington trip, preparing the class for their visits.