May is Mental Health Awareness Month! This year’s theme nationwide is “Take the Moment.” At BAMS, students and staff are finding moments throughout the month to check in with their own mental health and spread kindness and positivity to others.
This month, we also want to Take the Moment to highlight the resources below. We encourage everyone in the community to make a note of them and share the information with family, friends, and neighbors. Staying aware and informed is one of the best ways we can support each other - in school, out of school, and everywhere!
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - 988
Center for Community Resources (24/7 local crisis support)
Call 1-800-643-5432
Text 63288
Visit 2100 E College Ave.
Approximately one third of Americans struggle to pay for basic necessities. This is a chronic stressor that can significantly impact our mental and physical health. For information and assistance regarding basic necessities, please “Take the Moment” to explore these Pennsylvania-specific resources:
PA 211 (Call 211, or visit the website pa211.org)
Finding Your Way in PA (Download the app)
If you have questions regarding local or national resources, please reach out to your school counselors and school social workers!
Jamiana Miller, School Counselor - jmiller5@basd.net
Sara Neild, School Counselor - sneild@basd.net
Maria McClatchey, School Social Worker - mmcclatchey@basd.net
Jessica Irwin, School Social Worker - jirwin@basd.net
Bellefonte Area High School principal, Mr. Mike Fedisson, was honored with winning the the PA Secondary Principal of the Year. This award is given annually by the PA Principals Association. This is our third district winner since the program as started. A huge honor and well deserved!
To read more about Mr. Fedisson's award, please read the following press release provided by the Pennsylvania Principals Association: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:31aa384f-5be1-4419-8dfe-2af882260f5e
Happy Worker Wednesday!
BASD is looking to hire! A few positions currently listed are:
1. Itinerant Emotional Support/Elementary Gifted Teacher - District Wide
2. Band and Music Teacher - BAHS
3. Itinerant Emotional Support Teacher - BAMS
4. 2 Elementary Teacher Positions - Bellefonte Elementary
5. 2 Learning Support Teacher Positions - BES and BAMS
6. School Secretary - Bellefonte Elementary
There are many more other positions available too! Please share with your friends and family members. A great staff provides the best opportunities for our students!
Check out the Employment Opportunities website for more information:
https://bellefonte.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
Today is National Principal Appreciation Day! Our principals are an integral part of our leadership throughout the district and we appreciate everything that they do!
On Friday, April 19th, students in the life skills program attended Kent’s Fest at Lock Haven University campus. This year’s theme was “Battle of the Bands” and students created and performed selections in front of those that attended. Kent’s Fest is a free and public event that allows children and adults with exceptional needs a chance to participate in a music talent show. This year was the 20th celebration of this event. Our BASD students did a wonderful job and absolutely enjoyed their time there!
During the month of March, shoppers at the local Giant store could round up their purchases or simply donate money to the“Feeding School Kids” program with BASD as the recipient. The funds must be used to help feed kids in our district and must align with the goals of the Giant program. Over $5800 was donated to our district this year. We will use the funds to supplement student accounts. A huge thank you to those that shopped at Giant during the month of March and to Giant for sponsoring this program!
May is Mental Health Awareness month and Bellefonte Area High School will be participating in a month-long set of activities in partnership with the Jana Marie Foundation. The first activity begins on Wednesday, May 1st. See the flyer for more information!
In Mrs. Kerr’s 6th grade classroom, students learned about the rich history, culture, and achievements of Mesopotamia. They learned the ancient writing system of cuneiform and actually made their own cuneiform tablets! The students also created storyboards to illustrate main accomplishments of the Mesopotamian empires!
Today is Administrative Professionals' Day! We would like to recognize and thank all of our administrative professionals team that work to keep our district running smoothly. Thank you for your efforts, every day!
Happy Worker Wednesday!
BASD is looking to hire! A few positions currently listed are:
1. Elementary Teacher - 2 positions available - Bellefonte Elementary
2. Learning Support Teacher - Bellefonte Elementary
3. Learning Support Teacher - Middle School
4. Middle School Guidance Secretary
5. Attendance Clerk - Bellefonte Elementary
There are many more other positions available too! Please share with your friends and family members. A great staff provides the best opportunities for our students!
Check out the Employment Opportunities website for more information:
https://bellefonte.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
Today is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! We are very grateful for our school bus drivers and appreciate their care for our children. Thank you bus drivers!
Former BAHS alumni, Alicia Allen, guest spoke in Mr. Weigold’s Personal Finance class and Mr. Myers’ Investing class to discuss the importance of budgeting/setting financial goals, bank accounts, and credit. This is part of Alicia’s goal as a local Edward Jones Financial Advisor to help her community better understand finances, especially at an earlier age.
Last week, Mr. Rager’s Life Skills students participated in the annual Special Olympics Centre County Geri Ryan track event held at Penn State University. The students had a tremendous time!
Students at Pleasant Gap Elementary were challenged to read 1000 books in March. At each 100 mark, a staff member would get slimed. If they reached 1000, Dr. Besch would also be slimed! And they met their challenge!
After the spring break, Pleasant Gap held a full school assembly and slimed 10 staff members - including Dr. Besch! It was a messy great time! Congratulations to the school for reading +1000 books during the month of March!
Last week, the following Bellefonte Area High School students finished second in the state at the FBLA State Conference in Banking and Financial Systems: Morgan Besecker, Carley Clarkson, and Jacob Corman. This qualified them to attend the National Conference in Orlando, FL this June!
Two other students also finished within the top 10 of their events: Madisyn Breon earned 6th place in Data Analysis and Amelia Harrington earned 8th place in Impromptu Speaking. An incredible job well done by all of these students!
During the month of March, Mr. Bates from Bellefonte Elementary, organized a basketball March Madness bracket in which teachers and students were paired with one another. Each person shot 5 baskets at a time and the total between the pair were added together. Whichever pair had the most total baskets moved on to the next round. At the beginning of April, Mr. Bates held a Final Four event, in which the final four partners competed against each other in front of a full school assembly! Mr. Cipro and third grader Geno Diguardi were the winners!
Mr. Klein MC’d the event, there were disco lights, confetti cannons, a 3 pointer challenge, and a staff basketball game that both Mr. Baughman and Mr White competed head on. A great time for everyone!
Congratulations to Alyssa Hopkins for being chosen as the BAHS April ELKS Teen of the Month! Alyssa has remarkable dedication, enthusiasm, and overall academic excellence. Her strong work ethic and natural leadership skills allow her to be a leader in our school and community. Congratulations, Alyssa!
The Bellefonte Area Middle School monthly newsletter is available for its April edition! Check out the great activities and information that the BAMS staff has provided for the month of April.
To view the newsletter, click here: https://sites.google.com/basd.net/april24/home
Last week in Mr. Freidhoff’s AP Biology class, students dissected chicken wings. This lab centers around the concept of homologous structures and how the "one bone, two bone, many bone" is similar in all tetrapods.
Happy Thursday!
BASD is looking to hire! A few positions currently listed are:
1. Middle School Guidance Secretary
2. Cafeteria Worker - Bellefonte Elementary
3. JH Boys' Soccer Coaches - Head Coach and Assistant
4. Middle School Learning Support Teacher
5. School Police Officer
There are many more other positions available too! Please share with your friends and family members. A great staff provides the best opportunities for our students!
Check out the Employment Opportunities website for more information:
https://bellefonte.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
