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The Online Student Newspaper of Bethel High School, Hampton, VA 23666

Bear Facts News

The Online Student Newspaper of Bethel High School, Hampton, VA 23666

Bear Facts News

The Online Student Newspaper of Bethel High School, Hampton, VA 23666

Bear Facts News

Ms. Woodruff stands in front of Bethel High School, where she has served as an educator for many years.

From Worksheets to Wisdom: Woodruff earns Teacher of the Year after 22 years of service

River Almond April 3, 2025

After 22 years of inspiring students and making a lasting impact with Hampton City Schools, Heather Woodruff, a dedicated and passionate educator, has been honored with her first Teacher of the Year award. Woodruff...

Bethel students that were admitted into HU joining the current HU students on stage.

HU X Bethel High School presents a D9 Invasion

Xavier Tisdale April 1, 2025

Hampton University presented and performed for Bethel juniors and seniors in the auditorium last week, sharing more about the university. During this event, graduating seniors from Bethel who have...

Purple is the color adopted by campaigns to raise awareness and prevent violence against women.

Breaking the silence on violence against women

Kaela Jordan and River Almond March 15, 2025

The awareness of violence against women continues to be a conversation worldwide. Women have faced inequality for their gender since America was formed. Even after eras, movements, and passed laws,...

Photo generated via Canva

Black History Month more important than ever

Kylee Hopkins and Caleb Hubbard February 26, 2025

Does Black History Month still matter? What does Black History Month mean to students and faculty? We ventured into the halls of Bethel to learn more and discovered that not only does this month...

Editorial: How vaping harms our mental and physical health

Editorial: How vaping harms our mental and physical health

A long, shrill beep sounds throughout the halls, signaling the end of a class period. Some students head towards the bathroom, only to be greeted by a familiar, frustrating sight: an overcrowded space,...

Investigative Report: Vaping more popular than ever among Hampton teens

Investigative Report: Vaping more popular than ever among Hampton teens

JaMya Ribbon, Julian Torres, and River Almond February 7, 2025

With reports of students using vape pens in bathrooms and hallways rising, many fear the impact this practice could have on themselves and their peers. In Hampton schools, vaping has become commonplace,...

Teens' growing reliance on AI raises alarm bells

Teens’ growing reliance on AI raises alarm bells

Maia Hart January 31, 2025

AI has been around for many years, but the increased use of generative AI by teens has sparked a lot of controversy.  While AI has some hardcore supporters, others are concerned about how AI will impact...

"Off & Away": students weigh in on Virginia's bell-to-bell cell phone ban

“Off & Away”: students weigh in on Virginia’s bell-to-bell cell phone ban

Maia Hart, JaMya Ribbon, and Julian Torres December 10, 2024

A new cell phone ban that goes into effect after winter break has stirred up a lot of mixed reactions from students. While some see the benefit of banning cell phones during instructional time, others...

Bethel High experiences decline in fighting

Bethel High experiences decline in fighting

Jaylene Portalatin, Caleb Hubbard, and Ayana Barlow October 24, 2024

A throng of students crowd the halls, and everyone is holding up their phones and cheering loudly. Expecting something exciting, you push forward like everyone else. However, the disturbance turns out...

Candidates Dominick Barham, Cameron Love, and Kamiah Tisdale pose for a photo.

Bethel hosts historic 1st senior class presidential debate

JaMya Ribbon and Kaela Jordan October 24, 2024

Seniors witnessed Bethel’s very first SCA presidential debate in the school's cafeteria on October 2nd. While most seniors had no expectations before the debate began, they left the cafeteria fired...

Clock in the C hallway at the change to 3rd block

Bethel High School rolls out new attendance policy to curb late arrivals

Kaeleigh Ames, Kenyla Gray, and Julian Torres October 2, 2024

Most students are already very familiar this year with waiting in line to enter Bethel due to new heightened security measures, but very few are aware that our attendance policies have also been updated....

Photo courtesy of BSTN in collaboration with Reebok.

Unfounded threats of violence disrupt classes at Bethel

JaMya Ribbon and River Almond September 20, 2024

Bethel classes were disrupted this past Wednesday as fake social media rumors fueled fears that the school was being targeted in a calculated scheme. As students crowded around the security desk, parents...

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