In December, both first grades at Benner Elementary and at Pleasant Gap worked together with Ms. D’Ambrosia by completing an integrated day of learning about natural and manmade resources. The classes started off with reading the Lorax, then planted seeds on their farm. After that the students learned about different resources, how they are harvested, and what they are used for. The students then harvested the resources and graphed what was picked. Lastly, they collected different resources to create products to take to a celebration. The students learned that if they take too many resources, there won’t be enough left!
Good evening!
Our area is to anticipate some extreme low temperatures next week. With the very low temperatures predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday, Dr. Rakszawski will consider several factors for those days. BASD's current Administrative Regulation cites a wind chill of -20 degrees as criteria for closing. However, other factors may come into play, like the ability to keep buses running in those temperatures as well as building HVAC systems ability to provide a safe learning environment for all. Come Monday evening, Dr. Rakszawski will do his best to consider all factors and make the best decision for all.
At this time, the district anticipates our schools opening as usual on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please encourage your children to dressed appropriately as they leave the house. In the event that our buildings cannot open on Tuesday and/or Wednesday, those would be FID days.
Stay warm, be safe, and be kind.
At Bellefonte Elementary, students in Miss Metric’s class had a great time at their holiday party before break. They played a candy cane game in which they tossed a candy cane fishing hook at a bucket of candy canes to try and hook them just as if they were fishing! The students had a great time. This activity was a parent’s idea and Miss Metric, along with all of the teachers, very much appreciate the parent volunteers that help make our children's daily experiences even better.
The Jana Marie Foundation was at the high school for monthly Wellness Friday in January. The activity offered was setting intentions for the New Year. Students really enjoyed creating these affirmations!
For Your Calendars:
BAHS Student Council is sponsoring a Mini-THON Dine in/out night at the Bellefonte Hofbrau on Monday, January 20th! A portion of the proceeds will go to the high school's Mini-THON program.
The BAMS Library is hosting a new reading incentive called Reading Dragons!
Reading Dragons is a card collecting, dragon evolving adventure - with over 60 different dragons to evolve. Evolving dragons and earning special characters will make reading an even more exciting adventure!
The Bellefonte Area School District is hiring!
Listed below are some of the highlighted positions:
1. Cafeteria Aide - PG Elementary
2. JV Assistant Baseball Coach
3. JV Assistant Softball Coach
4. Junior High Head Girls' Soccer Coach
5. Classroom Paraeducator - Benner 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!
Allies in Action is a program designed for students in grades 10-12 to facilitate conversations with students in 6th grade about bullying prevention, allyship, and promoting positive peer relationships. Specific lessons in the 4-week program include impact and speech, power and respect, difference and value, and ally and act. The Friends of Rachel Club members volunteered for this program.
Allies in Action can help students prevent bullying and promote healthy peer and community relationships by promoting allyship and fostering a culture of respect, empathy, and acceptance. The high school volunteers are role models to their younger schoolmates, which helps create a positive, community-oriented learning environment.
Good morning!
Please enjoy today's Snapshot Tuesday newsletter for January 14th.
Have a great day!
Bellefonte Area High School FFA News:
FFA Students Earn Their Jackets:
At this year's Mid-Winter Convention at the PA Farm Show, three Bellefonte FFA members received their FFA jackets. Emma Walizer, Sophie Smith, and Reagan Vanderhoof were selected to receive them at the convention. Reese Manning and Charity Loesch will also be receiving their jackets through local sponsors.
Students Show Their Animals at the Farm Show:
Kimber Hough, Harper Waite, and Alayna Martin all showed animals this year at Farm Show and had great success. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication to their animals, Bellefonte FFA, and the agriculture industry.
Pictures in order: Emma with jackets, Kimber with steer, Alayna with purple ribbon, Harper with blue ribbon
At all of the elementary schools during technology class, Officer Gaus, Officer Luse, and Officer Lyons taught 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade students about Internet Safety.
The month of January is School Board Appreciation Month. Thank you to our school board members that donate their time to dedicate efforts in making our district a great place to be!
A day late, but not an appreciation short! Yesterday, was Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. We have many members within our district community that are law enforcement professionals and we appreciate the work that you do every day to keep our communities safe!
Now through March 31st, The GIANT Company invites customers to join in supporting Feeding School Kids by rounding up at the register. The GIANT Company will directly support customers’ generosity by matching all donations up to $100,000. Bellefonte Area School District is included as a beneficiary of this initiative with the goal of enhancing our district’s efforts to eliminate childhood hunger. We ask for your help in rounding up the next time you are at the cash register at Giant or Martin’s!
The Bellefonte Area School District is hiring!
Listed below are some of the highlighted positions:
1. JV Head Baseball Coach
2. Head Varsity Cross Country Coach
3. Assistant Varsity Cross Country Coach
4. Cafeteria Worker - High School
5. Cafeteria Cashier - Bellefonte 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!
The next Board of Directors Meeting will be on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at the Bellefonte Area Middle School Cafeteria. The meeting will begin at 7:00PM and the public is encouraged to attend. The second January meeting will occur on January 21st.
If you would like to see the upcoming agenda, please click on the following link:
https://go.boarddocs.com/pa/bellasd/Board.nsf/Public
The Bellefonte Area School District will be closed on Monday, January 6, 2025. It is NOT a Flexible Instruction Day. The school day will be made up later in the calendar year. Please be safe in the potential upcoming bad weather. We look forward to seeing your children tomorrow!
Bellefonte Area School District wishes our families a happy new year! Looking forward to a fantastic 2025!
Hannah from the Jana Marie Foundation was at the high school for monthly Wellness Friday in December. She brought supplies for Gelli printing to make holiday cards and students could enter in their name for a chance to win a cozy winter basket.
In November, Officer Shawn Luse (one of our school resource officers) was working a Penn State football game when an older man suddenly collapsed. State Troopers rushed to the scene and Officer Luse, understanding the situation, rushed to retrieve an AED and extra EMS personnel. The man had fallen into cardiac arrest and the AED brought him back to consciousness. Officer Luse’s quick actions helped to save this man’s life. Thank you, Officer Luse, for your service! We are proud to have you as part of our district!
