Centre County Favorites
Every year, the Centre Daily Times newspaper hosts a Centre County Favorites contest. People all over Centre County, the State, and the Nation can vote on their favorite Centre County establishments. Categories include Restaurants, Services, Motor Companies, Real Estate, Shopping, and many more. One of these categories is Education, and all facets of education can be voted upon. Bellefonte Area School District earned gold and bronze medals in three of these Education categories! The Bellefonte Area High School earned gold, the Bellefonte Area Middle School earned bronze, and Bellefonte Elementary earned bronze. The district is so excited that the community has recognized the amazing work that our educators and staff are producing for our incredible students.
At the High School, head principal Mr. Michael Fedisson, expressed his gratitude and appreciation towards his staff, “As principal, I am proud to witness the dedication of our staff, support from our families, and the remarkable perseverance of our students, whose collective efforts shine through in every accomplishment we celebrate.” The building provides opportunities such as international travel, 20 Advanced Placement courses, 20 College to High School courses, students in grades 9-12 ability to attend Central Pennsylvania Institute (CPI), and over 50 different extra-curricular activities.
Dr. Sommer Garman, the head principal of Bellefonte Area Middle School (BAMS), could not contain her excitement about her building winning the bronze medal. She enthusiastically expressed, “It is an absolute honor to be recognized as one of the top middle schools in our county. This achievement is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of our amazing students, our incredible faculty and staff, and our supportive families. This recognition is truly a shared accomplishment, and it is an honor to be a part of the BAMS family!” BAMS offers students both athletic and academic extracurricular opportunities including Art Club, Chain Reaction Club, Destination Imagination, Drama Club, and Snow Sports Club. Students have the options to learn a new language, engage in STEAM activities, and work to help serve their peers through Student Council and the Yearbook Club. The staff there work tirelessly to help mentor, guide, and teach the middle school students through their growing years of life.
Out of the district’s four elementary schools, Bellefonte Elementary School (BES) received the bronze medal for Centre County Favorites and the staff there were thrilled to learn those results! Brooke Knight, school counselor, stated, “I absolutely LOVE working at Bellefonte Elementary. The building feels like a family; the students are resilient and loving, and I’m surrounded by co-workers who pour their hearts into the lives of our students and our community each day. What a blessing it is to be at BES!” The atmosphere of family and community amongst its students and staff is a common theme within BES. Lauren Fisher, second grade teacher, confirmed this feeling, “The best thing about working at Bellefonte Elementary is our sense of belonging and family. We support each other, make each other laugh, and help each other to be at our best so that we can give our best to the kids. I believe we have a really good attitude that combines grit and grace to best serve our students and families.”
Bellefonte Area School District is grateful for these achievements and for its community! We continue to look forward to our school year and the amazing work that our students and staff will accomplish.
