February 6, 2023
THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES
THE KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION ONLINE PORTAL IS NOW OPEN
We are thrilled to announce that Kindergarten Registration for the 2023-2024 school year is officially open!
Click the link below to learn more about how you can enroll your future Black Hawk in our schools from the comfort of your own home.
http://bit.ly/3Rlbqhi
BPHS TO PRESENT ‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY:’ MARCH 15-18
BPHS will stage “The Addams Family,” March 15-18, at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets are $10 per ticket, plus fees, and will be sold exclusively through the school district’s website starting March 1. The school will sell all tickets in advance. The school will sell no tickets at the door. Click here for more information regarding this year’s musical.
“ON WEDNESDAYS, WE WEAR BLACK”
Show your support for this year’s musical, “The Addams Family,” by wearing black on Wednesdays. The online store, where you can purchase your official t-shirt, is expected to open soon.
ART CLASS “ADOPTS” LOCAL PETS
Painting 1 students at Bethel Park High School recently “adopted” a pet from the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh. The student-artists used a photograph and the grid method to draw out their subject on canvas boards. Then, the students could select what painting style they thought would best portray their subject.
FIRST-YEAR ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB ALREADY MAKING A HUGE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY
One of the newest student clubs at Bethel Park is the Environmental Club. The first-year organization, which now boasts more than 50 members, has already made an incredible impact. The Almanac recently ran a nice story on it.
COMPETITIVE CHEER SQUAD HOLDS FILL-THE-PANTRY PEP RALLY
On Sunday, BPHS’s Competitive Cheer Squad hosted their “Fill-the-Pantry Pep Rally” before the team heads to Orlando for the National UCA Cheer Championship.
The fun and dynamic showcase combined cheering with charity as the team collected non-perishable food items for the Greater Pittsburgh Area Community Food Bank.
SCHOOL BUS GARAGE CAMPUS BEFORE AND AFTER VIDEO
Check out this BPTV before and after video of BPSD's recently modernized school bus campus on Industrial Blvd. The $2M project features an improved water collection system, a repaved parking lot, diesel warming stations, and electric bus fittings.
VILLANI PROFILED BY PITT MAGAZINE
As part of its Winter '23 issue, Pitt Magazine is running a feature on BPHS Principal Mr. Joseph Villani. Liberty Ferda wrote the piece called "Flip the Field: Words of wisdom from football standout-turned-educator Joseph Villani."
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS CELEBRATE THE 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL
Students at all five elementary schools and its three secondary schools held events commemorating a significant milestone in the school year. Bethel Park School District students and staff recently celebrated the 100th day of the school year. The next day, the second grade classes at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School held a “101 Dalmations”-themed event.
GRADUATING SENIORS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR CAPS AND GOWNS INFORMATION FROM JOSTEN’S
Students graduating in June may have received an email from Josten's with different promotions for purchasing merchandise for graduation. Josten’s is the official ordering company for BPHS Caps and Gowns, Announcements, Yearbooks, and other Senior Accessories.
Throughout the year, they offer early incentive packages. If you have yet to order a cap and gown package, including the tassel, the current price is $45. The price will increase the longer you wait to order. For your convenience, here is Josten's website link to the BPHS store.
https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1045653/Bethel-Park-High-School/
You may also call 1-800-567-8367 to place an order. Please get in touch with the BPHS Main Office (412-854-8581) with questions.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Attention all Bethel Park High School graduating seniors! If you haven’t thought about applying for a scholarship yet, here is your sign! Here is why you should do it and how to do it.
IMS’ JOHNSON WINS PRESTIGIOUS BOXING MATCH, IMPROVES TO 4-0
IMS eighth grader Jack Johnson (4-0) recently defeated Damon Corley in a three-round bout at the Rumble in the Garden III at the North Side Athletic Club. Jack, who fights out of the Wolfpack Boxing Club in Carnegie, will compete in the Golden Gloves tournament next month.
ELSA STOPS BY FRANKLIN’S SNOWBALL
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School recently held a Snowball Dance, and a famous celebrity joined the festivities. Temps were in the mid-teens, but fortunately, the cold never bothered her anyway.
OSLEGER FAMILY FEATURED ON DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD (PBS)
Sam and Emily Osleger, students at Neil Armstrong Middle School and Washington Elementary School, were featured in a recent episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. The Osleger family appears at the 11-minute mark of the children's program.
BETHEL PARK AD, DAN SLOAN WEIGHS IN ON PROPOSED NEW LAW
A state senator from Lackawanna Co. has introduced a bill requiring coaches to be trained in AED usage. KDKA-TV recently interviewed Bethel Park AD Dan Sloan about the proposed legislation.
NEIL ARMSTRONG MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL DONATES WINTER WREATHS TO A LOCAL SENIOR CENTER
The Neil Armstrong Student Council made winter wreaths at their most recent meeting. The StuCo will donate them to a local nursing home, which will be used as prizes for their weekly Bingo games.
FOUR BPHS STUDENTS WERE RECOGNIZED AS FALL SEMESTER TOP-OF-THE-SHOP WINNERS BY STEEL CENTER CTE
Four BPHS and Steel Center CTE students have been named Top of the Shop winners for the first semester of the 2022-2023 school year.
The honorees include Nathan Stutzman (Diesel Technology), Meghan Rodgers (Health Assistance), Emma James (Cosmetology), and Hannah Stepke (Veterinary Assistant).
FIVE BPHS STUDENTS RECOGNIZED BY STEEL CENTER CTE
Last week, in an announcement, made at the school, five Bethel Park High School students were recognized as the February Students of the Month in their respective programs by the Steel Center for Career and Technical Education.
IMS STUDENTS HAVE QUALIFIED FOR SCHOLASTIC HARDEST MATH PROBLEM
The following Independence Middle School seventh grade students have successfully qualified for the final round of the Scholastic Hardest Math Problem: Patrick Gaefke, Ella Korb, Ciera Erbrecht, Eliza Sterbal, Magnolia Cavagnaro, and Charlotte Turka.
BETHEL PARK LIBRARY CARDS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-12 ARE NOW AVAILABLE
The Bethel Park School District and the Bethel Park Public Library are partnering to improve access to educational and recreational materials through the Student Library Card Initiative. An integral part of this program is for every student in grades 7-12 to obtain a public library card.
Each student will automatically receive a library card unless otherwise specified. If you don't want your child to have a library card, please return the attached form to Mrs. Jessica Schroeck in the high school's main office by noon, Feb. 7, 2023.
PAJAMA PALS AGAIN COLLECTING NIGHTTIME SLEEPWEAR FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH
Bethel Park seniors Meghan Krapp and Merris Gable are again trying to make a difference in children’s lives through an initiative they call Pajama Pals, now in its second year.
In December, they placed collection bins at various locations throughout the district, including each elementary school, high school, and some local businesses. They also recently collected for the event at a Hawks boys basketball game.
The young ladies ask that families donate new pajamas for children up to age 18. Pajama Pals cannot accept previously worn pajamas. If you have any questions, you can reach them via email at pajamapalscontact@gmail.com, or you can message them on Instagram at @pajamapals.
POLAR PLUNGE: FEB. 24
BPHS will participate in its first-ever Polar Plunge on Friday, Feb. 24, at Acrisure Stadium. Registration: $35 includes a free shirt and the chance to take the plunge! The group seeks to raise at least $2,500 for the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania.
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE TRIP
Bethel Park High School will send a delegation of students on an educational travel experience to Iceland & the Leadership Conference in Berlin, Germany, in the Summer of 2024!
Questions: firek.christine@bphawks.org
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Neil Armstrong Middle School fifth graders enjoy learning independently through their Project-Based Learning unit. The students were encouraged by their teacher, Mr. Stephen Yost, to pick a topic of interest and create a project to demonstrate what they’ve learned. The subjects were as varied and exciting as the students who made them. Here are a few examples of the students' creative creations.
THE BETHEL PARK MINUTE
Bethel Park School District Superintendent Dr. James Walsh regularly addresses timely or hot-button issues facing BPSD during video segments he calls “The Bethel Park Minute.” The informal videos are typically brief and a way for Dr. Walsh to answer questions he’s receiving and to address or dispel some of the misconceptions that may arise.
The most recent edition discusses Kindergarten Registration and a gentle reminder to ensure that your school has your family’s most up-to-date contact information in an emergency.
TECH TALKS: BUILDING DIGITAL HEALTH AT BETHEL PARK
In January, Bethel Park school director, and mother of five, Mrs. Gail Hoppe, is hosting free parent workshops to collaborate with parents and students to help build a digital world where kids can thrive. Sign up for the free workshops here.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
DISTRICT NEWS
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WEBSITE
Visit our new facilities microsite, http://bpsdbestinclass.org, for the latest developments and most accurate information regarding the ongoing construction projects at Independence Middle School and Bethel Park Elementary Center.
BETHEL PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT’S STRATEGIC PLAN
The district recently released its Strategic Plan (2021-2026), including its Comprehensive Plan (2021-2024) and its ongoing long-term Facilities Planning. See Superintendent Dr. James Walsh’s explanation of the plan. You can also see the district's Professional Development Plan and Induction Plan.
FIVE BPSD TEACHERS CHOSEN FOR THE TRANSFORMED TEACHER INNOVATION FELLOWSHIP
Five BPSD teachers have been selected for this year’s transformED Teacher Innovation Fellowship. They are Katelynn Heider, Jess Mahoney, Lynne Surrena, Melissa Toth, and Jenine Wessel.
DISTRICT CALENDAR
For the most -up-to-date information on events happening within the Bethel Park School District, please consult this daily View All Events Calendar. Residents can find the recently ratified 2023-2024 Yearly Calendar here.
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A REMOTE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY AND A SNOW DAY
Inclement weather can sometimes impact the operation of our schools, especially in the wintertime. Click here to review the procedures and schedules the district will follow in case of a school delay or closure.
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
The Bethel Park School District encourages the involvement of parents and guardians in our schools. Pennsylvania State Law requires every volunteer with direct contact with students must have clearances on file with the school district. The required clearances are the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151), Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (Act 34), and the FBI Federal Criminal History Record (Act 114). PA Clearances are free to volunteers, and the FBI Clearance is $22.60. Volunteers who have resided in Pennsylvania for the past 10 years and have never been convicted of a Disqualifying Offense can sign a waiver to eliminate the need for FBI Clearance.
Click here for complete details on how to become a volunteer in the Bethel Park School District. Please be sure to follow the checklist in the attached link.
IMS NEWS
SCHOOL BOARD NEWS
SCHOOL BOARD ACTION SUMMARIES
Bethel Park School District provides school board action summaries after each meeting. The summary includes a short description of the main topics and action items. These summaries are meant to supplement minutes, which are approved and posted after the next regularly scheduled meeting. We hope these summaries provide some basic information and context around the reports, presentations, and action items. Also, you can follow the agenda for the next school board meeting here and watch the school board meetings streamed live online or on-demand on the school district's YouTube channel.
SCHOOL BOARD 2023 MEETING CALENDAR
Bethel Park residents can find the school board’s current meeting calendar on our website. All school board meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are held in the Dr. Thomas A. Knight Memorial Community Room in the Bethel Park Administration Building unless otherwise noted. There are no school board meetings scheduled for July. If you cannot attend the school board meetings in person, know they will be live-streamed through the school district’s YouTube channel. Meeting dates and times are also available on the school district’s website.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS
BETHEL PARK PARTNERS WITH PEACHJAR E-FLIER SYSTEM
Bethel Park School District is partnering with Peachjar to provide an electronic alternative for distributing fliers.
Peachjar’s e-flier management system electronically approves fliers and emails them to parents and guardians. Parents can view e-fliers from their smartphones or computer. In addition, fliers are also posted on the school's website. Parents and guardians can find more information about Peachjar on their website.
The district is encouraging schools to use Peachjar because it saves time for school staff, it sends fliers directly to parents rather than using students as the distribution channel, and it saves paper.
EMPLOYMENT NEWS
Bethel Park School District is looking for bus drivers and aides. The benefits include a signing bonus, a competitive starting salary, health care coverage, and entrance into the state pension system. Interested applicants should visit the Employment section of the website or call 412.854.8414.
Metz Culinary Management is growing and is seeking Team Members for full and part-time roles in a busy Student Dining Services setting. Whether you enjoy cooking, serving, or customer relations, our Food Service Team comprises multi-talented individuals, all contributing to the Culinary and Hospitality services, ensuring our Students, Staff, and Guests enjoy a fantastic dining experience!
Metz Culinary Management offers flexible schedules, mostly daylight hours, competitive wages, benefits, and Career Growth in the Contract Dining Services Industry! Interested parties should reach out by calling 412.854.8754.
BLACK HAWKS ATHLETICS
For those unable to attend the games, Trib High School Sports Network often broadcasts our games live at https://tribhssn.triblive.com/broadcast-calendar/. The games are also often broadcast live on local radio stations.
The boys and girls swimming and diving teams are enjoying a terrific season. Many Hawks have already qualified for the 2023 WPIAL championships at Trees Hall in Oakland. Those student-athletes include:
Boys Relay Teams:
Trent Powell, Luke Kallaur, Nathan Stutzman, and Lenny DeMartino - 200 Freestyle Relay
Trent Powell, Luke Myers, Luke Kallaur, and Nathan Stutzman - 200 Medley Relay
Trent Powell, Luke Kallaur, Nathan Stutzman, and Lenny DeMartino - 400 Freestyle Relay
Boys Individual:
Luke Kallaur - 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, and 100 Butterfly
Luke Myers - 200 Individual Medley, 100 Breast
Lenny DeMartino - 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle
Nathan Stutzman - 50 Freestyle
Trent Powell - 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke, 100 Butterfly, and 200 Individual Medley
Jasper Harter Hughes - Diving
The Bethel Park girls tennis team will host its annual Chick-fil-A Team Spirit Day fundraiser [1620 Washington Rd., Pittsburgh, PA, 15241] on Thursday, Feb. 11, from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Please mention “Spirit Day” when ordering your food.
SPORTS SCHEDULES
Stay updated with the latest information and changes to the BPHS sports schedules at https://bpathletics.bigteams.com/main/calendar/. Get information on all Bethel Park sports teams or those you’re interested in. Sign up on the site to have updates and schedule changes emailed to you, so you will know if something is canceled due to inclement weather. It’s a great way to stay in touch with our athletic teams, mainly when unpredictable weather necessitates postponements and rescheduling! Go Hawks!
ALUMNI NEWS
BETHEL PARK’S BONACCORSI ‘17 HOPES TO WIN NATIONAL WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP AT PITT
A Bethel Park grad is ranked No. 2 in the NCAA at 197 pounds. The Pittsburgh Union Progress’ John Santa recently wrote an excellent piece on Bethel Park’s (and Pitt's) Nino Bonaccorsi, a two-time ACC champ who hopes to win his first national title.
BETHEL PARK’S DIRIENZO ‘20 NAMED AMCC BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tommy DiRienzo '20, a junior at Penn State-Behrend, has been named an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Men's Basketball Player of the Week. DiRienzo averaged 26 points and 7 rebounds last week for the Lions.
BETHEL PARK’S GOBBIE AND GOFF DOING WELL IN ARMED SERVICES
Congrats to BPHS alumni Sam Gobbie ‘17 and Alex Goff ‘18.
Gobbie is an intelligence officer in the US Air Force. Goff recently graduated from the Charlie Troop, 5-15 CAV 194th Armored Brigade. He is headed to the 101st Airborne Divisiion where he’ll be a Calvary Scout.
COMMUNITY NEWS
BETHEL PARK YOUTH LACROSSE ASSOCIATION REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
Bethel Park Youth Lacrosse registration for grades K-8 is OPEN until Feb. 13. www.BethelParkYouthLacrosse.com.
BETHEL PARK SOCCER ASSOCIATION FLIGHT REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
The groundhog may have said six more weeks of winter, but soccer is in the air! Flight Soccer is for boys and girls approximately 5-10 years old (birth years 2013 to 2017) who wish to experience soccer in a recreational setting.
The eight-week sessions begin in September for the fall season and April for the spring season. Teams are co-ed, and the families will be contacted by their respective coaches approximately two weeks before the start of the season.
Flight season begins April 1! Practices are held on Wednesday evenings, with the games being played on Saturdays!
To register: https://www.bpsoccer.org/Default.aspx?tabid=157368.
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram #bethelparksoccer. The Bethel Park Soccer Association will soon update its website.
Questions about travel soccer? Email: bethelparksoccer@gmail.com
2023 SPRING REC BASEBALL REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Registration is open now and will close on March 1. We need time to coordinate coaches, teams, and uniforms. Spring Rec Baseball is ages 4 to 14 (T-Ball to Pony!)! Please visit www.bethelparkbaseball.org to register today!
2023 JR. LEGION/COLT & LEGION REGISTRATION IS OPEN
For HS-age players interested in playing Jr. Legion / Legion baseball for the Spring/Summer 2023 season, we have opened registration on our website at www.bethelparkbaseball.org. Please sign up at your earliest convenience to book your spot. There will be a tryout in the spring—more details to follow.
YOUTH UMPIRES NEEDED FOR THE SPRING SEASON
Youth umpiring is for ages 12 and up. If your child is interested in umpiring this upcoming spring season, please email us at bethelparkbaseballinfo@gmail.com. We will add you to the list and be in contact in the spring for our umpire training! If you have any questions, just let us know.
BOY SCOUT TROUP 215 WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS
Want to join the Scouting community? Troop 215 from Bethel Park Presbyterian Church would love to welcome you! Troop 215 has been around for 100 years and is looking for new scouts to continue its legacy. If interested, please contact Scoutmaster Craig Blocklin (cblocklin@gmail.com) or Senior Patrol leader Nathan Disori (nated.sccr@gmail.com) for more information on how to join Scouting!
BETHEL PARK’S DANCHIK IS COLLECTING NECESSITIES FOR THE HOMELESS
Bethel Park sophomore George Danchick is working towards Eagle Scout status in a project with Red Door Ministries, which provides necessities for the area’s homeless.
George is looking for travel-size shampoo, soap bars, conditioner, body wash, razors, and deodorant for the cause. Look for donation boxes outside the Rite Aid and the Dollar Tree in the South Park Shops.
Danchik also accepts monetary donations via Venmo to buy products for those in need if you want to donate to his cause, Venmo George at @Toni-Danchik-1.
DR. FREDDIE FU SPORTS MEDICINE SCHOLARSHIP
UPMC Sports Medicine is proud to once again offer the Dr. Freddie Fu Sports Medicine Scholarship Program in 2023. UPMC developed the scholarship program to increase student interest in a career in sports medicine.
One scholarship for the amount of $2,000 will be awarded to a western Pennsylvania resident entering their senior year of high school in September 2023 in return for a six-week summer internship (30-40 hours per week for six weeks in a row) at the UPMC Freddie Fu Sports Medicine Complex and the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
The recipient will have the opportunity to observe patient evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation by physical therapists and athletic trainers, observe clients in the Sports Performance Department, and observe surgery with UPMC orthopedic surgeons.
FCC ANNOUNCES AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet service. This new benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for families on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 from purchasing a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.
Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail-in application.
You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting www.fcc.gov/ACP or calling 877-384-2575.
IMPORTANT LINKS
· Bethel Park School District: www.bpsd.org
· eSchoolPlus/PowerSchool Home Access Center Login:
https://bpkhac.eschoolplus.powerschool.com/HomeAccess/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2fHomeAccess
· Twitter: www.twitter.com/bpsdinfo
· Facebook: www.facebook.com
· Instagram: bethel_park_school_district
· YouTube: BETHEL_PARK_SCHOOL_DISTRICT
· Linked In: www.linkedin.com
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Bethel Park School District will not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual preference, disability, age, religion, ancestry, union membership, or any other legally protected classification.
The announcement of this policy is per state and federal laws, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Employees and participants who have an inquiry or complaint of harassment or discrimination or need information about accommodations for persons with disabilities should contact:
Dr. Zeb Jansante
Title IX Compliance Officer
301 Church Road
Bethel Park, PA 15102-1696
412.854.8420
412.854.8430 (fax)
jansante.zeb@bphawks.org
If you are receiving this newsletter in error, please email Mr. James Cromie at cromie.james@bphawks.org, and the district will promptly remove you from the list. Also, if someone you know is not getting this newsletter but would like to receive one, please encourage them to contact Mr. Cromie. Finally, all of this year’s email newsletters are posted on the district’s website, so you can go back and look at past editions if you’d like.