Bethel Park School District issued the following announcement.
The Bethel Park School District will be closed until further notice, following the orders of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, to help save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19. Here are some of the events that will be impacted:
SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
To help stop the spread of the Coronavirus, all Bethel Park School Board Meetings will be conducted virtually, with no members of the public in the audience, to ensure everyone's health and safety. The public can watch the meetings on Facebook live. BPTV will also record the meetings for re-broadcast on its cable TV and YouTube channels. Public comments will be accepted via email and called into the meeting at the appropriate times. The next School Board Meeting is the April Committee Meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 at 7 PM. We will provide specific information for how the public can view the meeting and share public comments closer to the meeting date.
INSTRUCTION DURING THIS TIME OF CLOSURE--UPDATED MARCH 26
The Bethel Park School District began its Continuity of Education Plan for all BPSD students (Grades K-12) the week of March 30.
The Continuity of Education Plan has been designed to be educational and engaging, but not overwhelming to students or families who may need to provide assistance to their children. Please click here to learn more.
Extensions will be provided on an individual basis for those students who are eligible or thought-to-be eligible for Section 504 Accommodations or IEP services. For further information or to discuss any concerns you may have about your child’s special education services, please contact Lori Sutton, Director of Special Education, at 412-854-8405, or by emailing sutton.lori@bphawks.org.
Because of the ever-changing complexity of this unprecedented issue, we are waiting for further clarification from the Pennsylvania Department of Education on a variety of issues. Answers to questions will be provided as quickly and effectively as possible.
We appreciate everyone's patience as we continue to work through the process to provide students with a meaningful education program until it is safe to resume traditional learning in our classrooms.
In addition to the lessons teachers will be providing, the District has established a list of helpful educational resources/links for students and families to use, should they want to avail themselves of this. These resources can be accessed by clicking here. We hope that this link will provide helpful educational resources for families to make the best of our current circumstances.
REVISIONS TO THE 2019-2020 CALENDAR--UPDATED APRIL 1
It is our intention at this time to keep the last day for students at Thursday, June 4, 2020. To provide as much instructional time as possible, here are the changes to the 2019-2020 calendar:
• The Third Nine-Week Grading Period will end on Thursday, April 9.
Students in grades 5-12--The abrupt school closure interrupted the end of our Third Grading Period. The decision has been made to allow students to complete and submit any outstanding work or assignments for credit. The last day to submit work for the Third Grading Period is Thursday, April 9. Teachers will accept any missing work from students that they did not complete or submit during the week leading up to the school closure on March 13. Any make-up work submitted can only benefit students or increase their grades; it will not impact them negatively. If no further work for the Third Grading Period is submitted by students, the Third Quarter Grade will be calculated as their grade to date, excluding the assignments they may have missed as a result of the school closure.
Elementary students will receive the grades for the Third Nine Weeks that they earned with the work they did up to the March 13 closure of school.
• Tuesday, April 14 will be a Teacher Records Day.
• Report Cards will be available in eSchoolPlus on Friday, April 17 for parents/guardians and students to review.
• The Fourth Nine Weeks will begin on Wednesday, April 15.
• The April 28 Inservice Day has been cancelled and will now count as a Student Day of School.
Please keep in mind that there may be future adjustments to the 2019-2020 calendar due to possible changing circumstances. We will continue to update this page if changes occur.
STATE TESTING
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced on March 19, 2020 the cancellation of all PSSA testing and Keystone exams for the 2019-20 school year as a result of COVID-19. This includes the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA). To read more, please click here.
FREE/REDUCED MEALS
The District is working with our food service management company to provide meals to those students who currently receive free/reduced meals in our cafeterias. During the District’s closure due to the Coronavirus, the Bethel Park School District will make breakfasts and lunches available to those students who are currently on the District’s Free/Reduced Meals Lists.
- A Breakfast meal will consist of cereal, juice and milk.
- A Lunch meal will consist of a sandwich, fruit, snack and milk.
Please click here to see a map of free Food Distribution Sites in the area, should your family need to avail themselves of this service.
ATHLETIC EVENTS
The District will be cancelling its participation in and practices for all WPIAL Athletic Events during the closure.
EVENING/WEEKEND ACTIVITIES
All evening/weekend activities for school and community groups that are held in the schools have been cancelled during the closure.
DISTRICT FACILITIES--UPDATED MARCH 30
To encourage the public to practice safe social distancing guidelines as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control, the PA Department of Health and other health organizations, Everyone is encouraged to practice safe social distancing to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus, and to help ensure as speedy a return to normal life as possible, all Bethel Park School District outdoor facilities have been CLOSED to the public, including but not limited to tracks, fields, playgrounds and tennis courts.
CLEANING/SANITIZING
The District continues to explore its options for ensuring that all schools are completely sanitized/disinfected prior to school resuming.
BETHEL PARK HIGH SCHOOL AND INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSICALS
We are disappointed to have to cancel this year’s production of “Guys and Dolls” at Bethel Park High School, as well as the remaining two nights of “Mary Poppins” at Independence Middle School. We are in the process of setting up a procedure for those who have already purchased tickets to get their money refunded. We will be sharing that information on our website, social media pages, information line and e-mail newsletters once the details are finalized for how refunds will be given.
INTERNET SERVICE
- Comcast (offering two months free internet to low income families)
- AT&T (waiving internet data overage fees)
- Spectrum (offering free internet services to students)
- The March 14 SAT and March 28 SAT Make-Up Day and May 2 SAT have been cancelled. Students are encouraged to register for the June 6 Exam.
- The April 2 Woodwind Day for Grades 6-12 has been cancelled, and hopefully can be rescheduled.
- The April 4 BPHS Music Department Hoagie Sale has been postponed indefinitely.
- The April 4 ACT has been cancelled. Students are encouraged to register for the July 13 or July 18 Exams.
- The Sixth and Eighth Grade Band performance of the National Anthem at the April 6 Pittsburgh Pirates Game has been cancelled.
- The BPHS Spring Music Trip to Disney World has been cancelled.
This prolonged state-wide closure is a unique situation for all Pennsylvania school districts, and we thank you for your understanding and patience as we continue to work through the details to answer all of your questions. We will continue to update you as necessary. Thank you for support and understanding that all decisions are made out of concern for the health and safety of our students, staff, and families.
Original source can be found here.
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