Last week, the Co-Ed Unified Bocce team competed against Bald Eagle Area. The scores were: Game 1: Bellefonte 8- BEA 6; Game 2: Bellefonte 3 - BEA 7; Gold Frame: Bellefonte 1 - BEA 0. The team also got to celebrate their sole senior, Mr. Evan Guebara!
Check out the Bellefonte Area Middle School newsletter for the month of February!
https://sites.google.com/basd.net/bamsnewsletterfebruary2026/home?authuser=0
In Mrs. Bucha’s 8th grade classes, students were given the opportunity in December to celebrate the season by creating Historical Holiday Sweaters! This project allowed them to blend their knowledge of historical figures with a bit of festive creativity! The students really enjoyed creating these for class.
Get ready to rock and roll with BAMS Drama Club as they present Grease: School Version later this month!
Set in the 1950s, this high-energy musical follows Sandy, Danny, and the Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys as they navigate friendships, romance, and the ups and downs of high school, all set to an unforgettable score. This School Version includes modified lyrics and content, making it family-friendly and rated G, so audiences of all ages can enjoy the fun, humor, and classic songs that have made Grease a favorite for generations!
Show dates are Thursday, February 26, Friday, February 27, and Saturday, February 28 at 7:00PM and Sunday, March 1 at 2:00PM.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at the link below! Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students/children and are reserved seating. We do not plan to sell tickets at the door.
https://cur8.com/23428/project/134972
We expect tickets to go fast, so don't delay to reserve your seats for this production!
Set in the 1950s, this high-energy musical follows Sandy, Danny, and the Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys as they navigate friendships, romance, and the ups and downs of high school, all set to an unforgettable score. This School Version includes modified lyrics and content, making it family-friendly and rated G, so audiences of all ages can enjoy the fun, humor, and classic songs that have made Grease a favorite for generations!
Show dates are Thursday, February 26, Friday, February 27, and Saturday, February 28 at 7:00PM and Sunday, March 1 at 2:00PM.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at the link below! Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students/children and are reserved seating. We do not plan to sell tickets at the door.
https://cur8.com/23428/project/134972
We expect tickets to go fast, so don't delay to reserve your seats for this production!
The 7th grade students in Ms. Szymkiewi’s classes completed a Traits and Reproduction Unit. The students learned about DNA and how it influences the proteins our bodies make and the traits that each of us have. The curriculum is focused on Darwin’s Bark Spiders. The students looked at simulations where they saw how different gene versions led to different shaped proteins in the spider's cells. The students also did a lab where they extracted DNA from strawberries. The students had a great time!
Please enjoy the Friday Coffee Break newsletter for January 30. A large feature is BAMS this week! Our Class of 2026 spotlight is Alexis Knudsen. Have a great weekend!
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members proudly represented BAHS at the Regional Leadership Conference held at South Hills School of Business & Technology on Jan. 9—and they delivered amazing results!
-20 total competitors
-11 Objective Test takers
-5 Performance Event participants
-4 State-Only event participants
-11 FBLA members qualified to advance to the State Leadership Conference, which will be held April 13–15 in Hershey, PA
We are so proud of our members’ hard work, professionalism, and dedication. Next stop: States!
#PAFBLA #FBLA #RLC #FutureBusinessLeaders #RoadToStates
-20 total competitors
-11 Objective Test takers
-5 Performance Event participants
-4 State-Only event participants
-11 FBLA members qualified to advance to the State Leadership Conference, which will be held April 13–15 in Hershey, PA
We are so proud of our members’ hard work, professionalism, and dedication. Next stop: States!
#PAFBLA #FBLA #RLC #FutureBusinessLeaders #RoadToStates
BASD is committed to supporting the well-being of our students and believes supporting mental health is an important part of overall student health. BASD has partnered with Cartwheel to provide teletherapy, family check-ins & guidance, and psychiatric care—all with licensed clinicians and no waitlists.
Cartwheel website: https://www.cartwheel.org/families
If you would like to learn more or request a referral for Cartwheel, contact your child's School Counselor, or our district's School Social Workers: Maria McClatchey (mmcclatchey@basd.net) & Jessica Irwin (jirwin@basd.net).
You can also fill out the Family Interest Form, and your request for care will be reviewed by a point of contact in our district: https://app.cartwheel.org/referrals/wizard/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IklqSTBNemhrTlRKbExUZGlaVEF0TkRZNFpDMWlZbUk0TFRVMll6TTFOV00zWXpKaU5TST0iLCJleHAiOm51bGwsInB1ciI6Im9yZ2FuaXphdGlvbi9yZWZlcnJhbC1mb3JtIn19--1b2883e90486556e42276d3a93da2f37ec981c08373e167e66a7dea4c901515d?source=family&step=referrer
This Cartwheel article is a great resource to determine when and how to seek mental health support for your child: https://www.cartwheel.org/resource/when-and-how-to-seek-mental-health-support-for-your-child
Cartwheel website: https://www.cartwheel.org/families
If you would like to learn more or request a referral for Cartwheel, contact your child's School Counselor, or our district's School Social Workers: Maria McClatchey (mmcclatchey@basd.net) & Jessica Irwin (jirwin@basd.net).
You can also fill out the Family Interest Form, and your request for care will be reviewed by a point of contact in our district: https://app.cartwheel.org/referrals/wizard/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IklqSTBNemhrTlRKbExUZGlaVEF0TkRZNFpDMWlZbUk0TFRVMll6TTFOV00zWXpKaU5TST0iLCJleHAiOm51bGwsInB1ciI6Im9yZ2FuaXphdGlvbi9yZWZlcnJhbC1mb3JtIn19--1b2883e90486556e42276d3a93da2f37ec981c08373e167e66a7dea4c901515d?source=family&step=referrer
This Cartwheel article is a great resource to determine when and how to seek mental health support for your child: https://www.cartwheel.org/resource/when-and-how-to-seek-mental-health-support-for-your-child
Check out Dr. Rakszawski's January Newsletter to Parents and Guardians:
https://app.smore.com/n/8hdmsy
https://app.smore.com/n/8hdmsy
BASD is hiring! We are looking for coaches, support staff, and substitutes!
A few highlighted positions include:
- Band Silks Coach
- Special Education Paraeducator
- Cafeteria Workers
- 2nd Shift Custodian
Please visit the Employment page for more available positions!
https://www.applitrack.com/basd/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1
A few highlighted positions include:
- Band Silks Coach
- Special Education Paraeducator
- Cafeteria Workers
- 2nd Shift Custodian
Please visit the Employment page for more available positions!
https://www.applitrack.com/basd/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1
Starting next month, the District will begin the process of creating a Portrait Of A Graduate document to explore the following questions:
1. What are the hopes, dreams, and aspirations that our community has for our graduates?
2. What are the skills and mindsets that our students need for success in this rapidly changing and complex world?
3. What are the implications for the design of the learning experiences we provide in our schools?
To make this a truly collaborative process, we invite all staff, students, and parents to participate in an engagement meeting on Thursday, February 19th from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at BAHS. If you are interested in attending, please click on the link to fill out the short form by this coming Sunday - February 1st:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhJI0SpeH1BZyq43NLf8j-dxYRr0EYzB-SyO3vDX_OvnfjGA/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawPm7wdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF4MHZMMGtXRjFNUmhMMEtEc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhlUhaeu1WUs6Wg1o9KHp3eIzrWDL-fjZGhdm0ypekO01m3joHima8zhg5EO_aem_BDONWY8HYReB9IPalYW-mA
1. What are the hopes, dreams, and aspirations that our community has for our graduates?
2. What are the skills and mindsets that our students need for success in this rapidly changing and complex world?
3. What are the implications for the design of the learning experiences we provide in our schools?
To make this a truly collaborative process, we invite all staff, students, and parents to participate in an engagement meeting on Thursday, February 19th from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at BAHS. If you are interested in attending, please click on the link to fill out the short form by this coming Sunday - February 1st:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhJI0SpeH1BZyq43NLf8j-dxYRr0EYzB-SyO3vDX_OvnfjGA/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawPm7wdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF4MHZMMGtXRjFNUmhMMEtEc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhlUhaeu1WUs6Wg1o9KHp3eIzrWDL-fjZGhdm0ypekO01m3joHima8zhg5EO_aem_BDONWY8HYReB9IPalYW-mA
Bellefonte's Co-ed Unified Bocce team has a match against BEA tomorrow (Wednesday) - January 28th at 4:00PM! The match will be played at the BAHS gym, and it is also their Senior Celebration! We hope to see you come out and support these student-athletes!
The Bellefonte Area School District would like to give a huge thank you to the Buildings and Grounds crew for working overtime to get our schools ready to open today!
The Bellefonte Area School District will be operating on a 2 Hour Delay for Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Please be careful out in the weather.
Due to inclement weather, all BASD schools and district offices will be closed tomorrow, Monday, January 26th. Stay warm and stay safe.
Happy Friday!
Please enjoy the Friday Coffee Break newsletter for January 23. Barbara Choma of Bellefonte Elementary is our staff spotlight and Grace Novosel is our Class of 2026 member highlight.
Have a great weekend, everyone! ❄️
Please enjoy the Friday Coffee Break newsletter for January 23. Barbara Choma of Bellefonte Elementary is our staff spotlight and Grace Novosel is our Class of 2026 member highlight.
Have a great weekend, everyone! ❄️
Students in Mrs. Kolivoski’s 11th grade Developmental Reading Class showcased their learning through a creative midterm project that combined choice, creativity, and peer engagement. Each student selected an independent reading book from the second quarter and chose their favorite book to highlight through a Google Slides presentation and a handmade poster. Emphasizing student choice, this project allowed learners to explore books that matched their interests while expressing their understanding in creative ways.
Students proudly presented their work to the class, sharing summaries, themes, and personal connections—often inspiring classmates to add new titles to their own reading lists. This midterm project celebrated students' reading motivation, creativity, and the power of peer recommendations.
Students proudly presented their work to the class, sharing summaries, themes, and personal connections—often inspiring classmates to add new titles to their own reading lists. This midterm project celebrated students' reading motivation, creativity, and the power of peer recommendations.
Last week, 7-9th grade orchestra students participated in the Keystone String Fest held at Richland High School. The festival is chance for students to perform beautiful music, but they also had to participate in rigorous blind auditions. BASD students competed against the top players from across the region, and several of our musicians earned distinguished placements:
-Reese Lakatosh, 8th grade, viola: 2nd Chair (Assistant Principal) — A nearly perfect audition score!
-Aaron Stewart, 9th grade, viola: 3rd Chair — An "Excellent/Advanced" rating across all categories.
-Emily Moretz, 9th grade, cello: 9th Chair — A top-ten finish in a highly competitive section.
-Mackenzie Dix, 9th grade, violin: 13th Chair — A courageous successful first-ever audition in the elite 1st Violin section (almost 20 students auditioned in this section!).
Beyond the rankings, Mrs. Renne wanted to extend a massive congratulations to every single student who participated.
8th grade:
-Peyton Gates, violin 1
-Allie Dix, viola
-Alissa Kyte-Yech, cello
7th grade:
-Ayla Hall, violin 2
-Tristan Long, violin 2
-Kathryn Huss, violin 2
-Maddie Claar, violin 2
-Landon Stewart, viola
Each student was an incredible ambassador for the school district, showing kindness to their peers and a deep respect for the craft. Wonderful job to all of these students!
-Reese Lakatosh, 8th grade, viola: 2nd Chair (Assistant Principal) — A nearly perfect audition score!
-Aaron Stewart, 9th grade, viola: 3rd Chair — An "Excellent/Advanced" rating across all categories.
-Emily Moretz, 9th grade, cello: 9th Chair — A top-ten finish in a highly competitive section.
-Mackenzie Dix, 9th grade, violin: 13th Chair — A courageous successful first-ever audition in the elite 1st Violin section (almost 20 students auditioned in this section!).
Beyond the rankings, Mrs. Renne wanted to extend a massive congratulations to every single student who participated.
8th grade:
-Peyton Gates, violin 1
-Allie Dix, viola
-Alissa Kyte-Yech, cello
7th grade:
-Ayla Hall, violin 2
-Tristan Long, violin 2
-Kathryn Huss, violin 2
-Maddie Claar, violin 2
-Landon Stewart, viola
Each student was an incredible ambassador for the school district, showing kindness to their peers and a deep respect for the craft. Wonderful job to all of these students!
The Foods Classes at BAHS held their annual Cupcake War this past week, and these young men displayed their incredible baking skills to win it! Great job to Tristan Liadis, Gavin Chalfa, Ian Valimont, and Nolan Weaver on winning the challenge!
BASD Announcement:
Due to inclement weather, all activities after 5:30PM are canceled for today - January 21, 2026.
Due to inclement weather, all activities after 5:30PM are canceled for today - January 21, 2026.
