Bellefonte Area School District

Next month, the BASD will be hosting its annual family STEAM Night. At this event, they like to give a free book to every child that attends. Please consider donating a new or gently use science or STEAM themed book or purchase a book from the Amazon Wishlist. Donations can be turned into the office of your child's school building. Family STEAM Night is November 6th! Amazon Book Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1B3WB266QP70C?ref_=wl_share

Dr. Roy Rakszawski introduces Bullying Prevention Spirit Week, which will occur October 14-18. BASD staff will be discussing this topic throughout the school year with students and will continue to update their resources about the topic. You can view the video here: https://youtu.be/swCqvLP8MDs

October is Bullying Prevention Month! Bullying Prevention Month is an important initiative in schools because it helps create awareness, educates students, promotes empathy, empowers bystanders, and contributes to developing safe and inclusive school environments. This month is a good time to focus on fostering a culture of respect and kindness. There will be a district wide spirit week to help us unite against bullying. On Monday, October 14th we are encouraging both the district and the community to wear orange to celebrate unity for kindness, inclusion, and acceptance. Please share these pictures with publicrelations@basd.net or hashtag them #basdpreventsbullying (with a public account) and we will create a slideshow that will be shared on our website and on social media. Please direct any questions to publicrelations@basd.net.

It's Worker Wednesday! The Bellefonte Area School District is hiring. Listed below are some of the highlighted positions: 1. JH Assistant Boys' Basketball Coach 2. Utility Assistant positions - MW Elementary, PG Elementary, and BAHS 3. Health Room Assistant/Special Education 4. Cafeteria Help at all Building Locations 5. Intervention Paraeducator - PG Elementary There are many more listed on our website, which can be viewed here: https://bellefonte.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx Please share with family and friends - a fully employed school district is what our children deserve!

Mary Kay Flynn Jones BHS 1939 - Vice President of the Class of 1939. Photographed with the current female presidents of each of the high school classes. Three cheers for our 1939 BHS alumna, Mary Kay Flynn Jones! Mrs Jones is an absolutely lovely lady. What a delightful conversation with this incredible 102 year old centenarian! Mrs Jones, was the Vice President of the BHS Class of 1939. She most likely would have secured the Presidency however, her classmate, Mr. Jim Craig informed her that women were not equipped to be “President!” (Nevertheless, Jim Craig told her she could serve as his Vice President! (We both had a roaring belly laugh about that.) Mary, reminisced of her BHS Senior Class trip weekend to Washington DC. Total cost for the Friday through Sunday proceedings… $13.00. Quite a bit of money back then! (Again we snickered at that!) Mary helped organize many of her BHS class reunions and wonders, if and where, any of her schoolmates may be! Yep, you can be sure Mary is up for a party! Please feel free to send Mary Kay Flynn Jones a message and well wishes following this post. Should you know the whereabouts of any living members, of this amazing group, whose experiences range from the Great Depression, the February 13, 1939 fire, which destroyed their high school building, the daily struggles and sacrifices of World War Two, and all that has followed, please let us know! Here’s to one remarkable Lady, Mrs. Vice President, Mary Kay Flynn Jones! “Fairest School All Hail to Thee!”

Bellefonte Area School District New Hire Spotlight: BASD welcomes Sheryl Marcase to our staff! Sheryl is a cafeteria worker at the Benner Elementary School. Below is a little questionnaire about her: ​What is something you are passionate about outside of work? I am passionate about my grandkids. Who would you choose if you could pick 1 person (living or not living) to have dinner with? I would like to have dinner with my mom. Using 3 different adjectives, describe yourself in 3 words. Lovable, unselfish, generous What is the best piece of advice someone has ever given you? Be who you are, don't try to be someone you're not. Why did you choose BASD? It is where I went to school, and I wanted to stay close to home. We hope that you enjoyed learning a little about Sheryl and are excited to have her on our staff!

Bellefonte Area School District New Hire Spotlight: BASD welcomes Jenny Deweese to our staff! Jenny is a Kindergarten Teacher at the Pleasant Gap Elementary School. Below is a little questionnaire about her: What is something you are passionate about outside of work? Running. I have been running for 33 years. I was a 2x track & field state champion (NC), ran Division 1 XC and track & field in college with Academic All-American status and then went on to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials post collegiate. Running is a part of my everyday life. Who would you choose if you could pick 1 person (living or not living) to have dinner with? Taylor Swift. I’m a Swifty. I love her poetic lyrics, her impact on others to be themselves, her willingness to stand up for her beliefs and her “Mastermind”. Using 3 different adjectives, describe yourself in 3 words. Determined, perfectionist, organized What is the best piece of advice someone has ever given you? To never, ever “quit”! My mother and father never let me quit anything that I started whether it was sports, playing a musical instrument, learning a new skill, etc. Why did you choose BASD? I have taught in 4 states and 5 districts and now have four children of my own. As a parent I want my children to experience a close-knit community where teachers consider individual student need and not a one-size fits all technique. BASD has welcomed my family making our move to PA a smooth transition. I am happy to be apart of BASD. We hope that you enjoyed learning a little about Jenny and are excited to have her on our staff!

Interested in watching the BASD Elementary Construction Site in real-time? We now have an Earth Cam available on the website under "New Elementary School Updates." The Earth Cam provides 4 different view points. Check it out today! https://www.basd.net/o/basd/page/elementary-building-project

Bellefonte Area School District New Hire Spotlight: BASD welcomes Lea McCartney to our staff! Lea is a First Grade Elementary Teacher at the Bellefonte Elementary School. Below is a little questionnaire about her: What is something you are passionate about outside of work? I'm passionate about competing and spending time outdoors. I enjoy playing sports like golf and basketball and hobbies like hiking and fishing. Who would you choose if you could pick 1 person (living or not living) to have dinner with? I would choose Julie Andrews. Mary Poppins is one of my favorite films. Using 3 different adjectives, describe yourself in 3 words. Creative, calm and empathetic. What is the best piece of advice someone has ever given you? "Nothing worth having comes easy." Why did you choose BASD? I grew up in Bellefonte. I decided to become a teacher because of the many amazing teachers I had when I was in BASD. I'm so excited to have the opportunity to teach and support students in our community. We hope that you enjoyed learning a little about Lea and are excited to have her on our staff!

Attention to the Residents of the Bellefonte Area School District: There is a Board of Directors Vacancy Please click the following link to fill out the application form: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:c06b0ae8-037b-48e7-a78a-fbe4c776ab30 Effective October 3, 2024, a vacancy exists on the nine-member Board of Directors of the Bellefonte Area School District. The Board intends to appoint an individual to fill this vacancy that expires in November 2025. Interested individuals must be at least 18 years of age and must have been a resident of the District for at least one year prior to the date of the appointment. Applications are due by noon on Friday, October 11, 2024. Letter of interest and resume are optional. Candidates will be interviewed on October 15, 2024, at the regular meeting of the Bellefonte Area School District Board of Directors at the Bellefonte Area Middle School. Application packets should be returned to: Mrs. Leslie Elder 318 N Allegheny Street Bellefonte, PA 16823 or by email to lelder@basd.net

Bellefonte Area School District New Hire Spotlight: BASD welcomes Cindy Rogers to our staff! Cindy is a paraeducator at the Marion-Walker Elementary School. Below is a little questionnaire about her: What is something you are passionate about outside of work? Something I am passionate about outside of work, is a program that is dear to my heart- Clinton County Camp Cadet and the Lacy Day Program. Lacy Day is a special needs camp for Children and Adults with special needs. Who would you choose if you could pick 1 person (living or not living) to have dinner with? My son, Timothy. Timothy was a special needs child that has gone to Heaven and I miss him very much. Using 3 different adjectives, describe yourself in 3 words. Caring, Curious, and Spontaneous. What is the best piece of advice someone has ever given you? When you fail in something in life, it is just a little hiccup. Why did you choose BASD? I have chosen BASD, for the learning support program. Since my son's passing, it has been a void in my life. I love working with children of special needs. We hope that you enjoyed learning a little about Cindy and are excited to have her on our staff!

Bellefonte Area School District New Hire Spotlight: BASD welcomes Preston Bradley to our staff! Preston is a paraeducator at the Bellefonte Area Middle School. Below is a little questionnaire about her: What is something you are passionate about outside of work? I would say that I am passionate about a lot of things outside of work! But if I had to narrow it down, I am most passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Self care is important for everyone! Who would you choose if you could pick 1 person (living or not living) to have dinner with? I would have to choose Michael Scott - not to be mistaken for Steve Carell - to have dinner with. Using 3 different adjectives, describe yourself in 3 words. Three words to describe myself would be honest, humorous, and dedicated. What is the best piece of advice someone has ever given you? I've been told by many people to turn hardships into meaningful experiences, as this is how one grows. In other words, turn a negative situation into something positive. Why did you choose BASD? I chose BASD because this is where I went to school and I wanted to give back to the community. Throughout my years at BASD, I crossed paths with many helpful educators and staff that I looked up to and I wanted to be that someone students can count on. ​ We hope that you enjoyed learning a little about Preston and are excited to have her on our staff!

On September 20th, Student Council sponsored a Gold Out game for the home football game against Penns Valley. They sold shirts prior to the game and canned at the game. In total, Student Council was able to raise $2,100 for Mini-THON from these activities! That is awesome!

It's Worker Wednesday! The Bellefonte Area School District is hiring. Listed below are some of the highlighted positions: 1. School Counselor - Bellefonte Elementary 2. Utility Assistant - Marion-Walker Elementary 3. Custodian, 2nd Shift - BAMS 4. Cafeteria Help at all Building Locations 5. Mechanic - BAHS There are many more listed on our website, which can be viewed here: https://bellefonte.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx Please share with family and friends - a fully employed school district is what our children deserve!

Today is National Custodian Appreciation Day! Thank you to our many custodians for the hard work put in every day to keep our facilities clean. We appreciate you!

Bellefonte Area School District New Hire Spotlight: BASD welcomes Marielle Fetterolf to our staff! Marielle is the technology education teacher at the Bellefonte Area Middle School. Below is a little questionnaire about her: What is something you are passionate about outside of work? Flower Gardening as well as gardening in general- I hope next year to have a flower stand! Who would you choose if you could pick 1 person (living or not living) to have dinner with? Ruth from the Bible, her story is so interesting I would just love to hear more from her. Using 3 different adjectives, describe yourself in 3 words. Funny, Empathetic, and hardworking What is the best piece of advice someone has ever given you? My husband always says that being flexible is too rigid, you need to be fluid... I think that applies really well working as a teacher. Why did you choose BASD? It had a middle school opening and I love teaching that age group, plus it was close to home and a nice sized district. We hope that you enjoyed learning a little about Marielle and are excited to have her on our staff!

Bellefonte Area School District New Hire Spotlight: BASD welcomes Melanie Schramm to our staff! Melanie is a second grade teacher at the Bellefonte Elementary School. Below is a little questionnaire about her: What is something you are passionate about outside of work? I am passionate about outdoor activities, especially running, skiing, and mountain biking. I love the sense of adventure while also staying healthy and active. Who would you choose if you could pick 1 person (living or not living) to have dinner with? I would love to meet Shel Silverstein, the poet, singer, and cartoonist. He brought light and humor to sensitive topics, drawing attention to things many people often avoid. Zany, creative, and eccentric, he had a unique perspective on the world and wasn't afraid to share it. That fearless authenticity is what I admire most about him. Using 3 different adjectives, describe yourself in 3 words: Driven, outgoing, and energetic What is the best piece of advice someone has ever given you? "Take a book wherever you go." Why did you choose BASD? I chose BASD because it was clear to me that BASD has strong community values and a commitment to student success, two aspects of education that are important to me. Additionally, my fiancé teaches here, and being a part of the same district allows us to support each other professionally while being involved in our community together. I have heard many positive things about BASD and am thrilled to be a part of it. We hope that you enjoyed learning a little about Melanie and are excited to have her on our staff!

The Tides Program provides in-school grief support groups for BASD students who have experienced the death of a loved one. Tides is a local grief support, awareness, and education program that has already run multiple groups for our district, and has a long history of caring for our local community outside of school, as well. We are excited to take advantage of their help and expertise for another year! School groups will start in different school buildings at different points during the year, but if you are interested, please sign your child(ren) up as soon as possible. To request a permission slip, email school social workers (Miss McClatchey mmcclatchey@basd.net and Miss Irwin jirwin@basd.net) and a slip will be sent home for you to sign and return to school. Permission forms have more detailed information that you can review. You can also visit tidesprogram.org to learn more about the organization and programming as a whole.

The Tides Program provides in-school grief support groups for BASD students who have experienced the death of a loved one. Tides is a local grief support, awareness, and education program that has already run multiple groups for our district, and has a long history of caring for our local community outside of school, as well. We are excited to take advantage of their help and expertise for another year! School groups will start in different school buildings at different points during the year, but if you are interested, please sign your child(ren) up as soon as possible. To request a permission slip, email school social workers (Miss McClatchey mmcclatchey@basd.net and Miss Irwin jirwin@basd.net) and a slip will be sent home for you to sign and return to school. Permission forms have more detailed information that you can review. You can also visit tidesprogram.org to learn more about the organization and programming as a whole.

Bellefonte Area High School’s Student Council would like to congratulate Annie Cernuska for earning the ELKS Teen of the Month Award for the month of September! Annie Cernuska is one of the most motivated and hard working students in our school. Annie combines natural talent with a tremendous work ethic to thrive academically. What truly distinguishes Annie, however, is her character. She embodies integrity, humility, and kindness in everything she does. Whether supporting her classmates or mentoring younger athletes, she is consistently generous with her time and talents. Her resilience, strong work ethic, and ability to remain calm under pressure make her an extraordinary young woman, capable of achieving greatness in whatever she sets her mind to.