Bethel Park School District will welcome students back to class Thursday, Sept. 3, marking the start of one of the most significant school years in the district's history with the opening of the new Bethel Park Elementary School.
The expansive $133 million facility at 5655 Kings School Road brings together students from five former elementary schools and some students from one of its two middle schools into a single building serving all 1,800 of the district's kindergarten through fifth grade students. Sixth graders will join their seventh and eighth grade counterparts at Independence Middle School for the first time in decades.
The district pushed its original Sept. 1 start date back two days to give teachers and staff at all levels additional time to review emergency procedures, verify safety equipment, and finalize arrival and dismissal routines. The schedule change did not shorten breaks or extend the school year.
Families can visit their child's school and meet teachers during the following Open House events:
- Bethel Park High School, 109 Church Road: 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 9
- Independence Middle School, 2807 Bethel Church Road: 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 10
- Bethel Park Elementary School, Grades K-1: 6-8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 14
- Bethel Park Elementary School, Grades 2-3: 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 16
- Bethel Park Elementary School, Grades 4-5: 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 17
All elementary Open Houses are at 5655 Kings School Road.
The district has also announced a community-wide Ribbon-Cutting ceremony and Open House at Bethel Park Elementary School beginning at 4 p.m., on Monday, Oct. 19.
"We encourage every family to attend their child's Open House," Superintendent Dr. Matthew Patterson said. "These events are a wonderful opportunity to meet teachers, explore the building, and set the stage for a strong start to the school year. We cannot wait to welcome our school community through our doors, and we are especially excited for our elementary families to experience that beautiful new school for the first time."