The Superintendent’s Newsletter

Dear Pennridge Families and Staff,

As we begin the 2026–2027 school year, I want to welcome our students, families, teachers, support staff, administrators, and community members back to Pennridge. Each new school year brings energy, possibility, and purpose, and I am excited for the next chapter of our work together.

This year, our focus is clear: High Expectations. Quality Instruction. Student Achievement. We will continue building on the progress and momentum across our district while staying focused on what matters most: helping students feel supported, challenged, connected, and prepared for the future. That work begins in many different ways. It begins with our youngest learners entering kindergarten, continues through the important middle school years, and extends to our high school students as they prepare for college, careers, military service, technical training, employment, and life beyond graduation.

Pennridge is a special community because of the people who make it strong. Our students bring curiosity, talent, and promise into our schools each day. Our staff members bring dedication, professionalism, and care to their work. Our families and community partners continue to support the experiences, traditions, and opportunities that help our students grow.

As the year begins, I look forward to celebrating the learning, achievements, relationships, and moments that make Pennridge such a meaningful place. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. I am excited for all that is ahead.

Every good wish to you,

Dr. Angelo Berrios

Superintendent of Schools

Pennridge welcomed students back for the first day of the 2026–2027 school year with excitement, energy, and many reminders of what makes our schools so special. Across the district, students returned to classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, buses, playgrounds, and learning spaces as staff helped make the first day feel welcoming, organized, and full of possibility.

One special moment took place at Bedminster Elementary, where Dr. Berrios was greeting students, families, and staff during arrival. A family stopped to introduce their kindergartner, Anthony, to Dr. Berrios, and Anthony’s dad, Stephen Skedzielwlewski, reintroduced himself as a former student from Dr. Berrios’ years as an educator in another regional school district. It was a meaningful full-circle moment and a beautiful reminder that the relationships built in schools can last for years.

Moments like this capture the heart of the first day of school. Our work is about strong instruction and student achievement, but it is also about helping every student feel known, welcomed, safe, connected, and ready to grow.

As students return for the new school year, families can use several district resources to find important information quickly. The Pennridge website includes direct links for student registration, lunch menus, event and game tickets, school newsletters, district updates, and Pennridge Cyber Learning Academy information. Families are also encouraged to follow the official Pennridge School District Facebook page and their child’s school Facebook page for timely photos, reminders, celebrations, and updates throughout the year.

As Pennridge begins the 2026–2027 school year, our district is moving forward with a clear focus: High Expectations. Quality Instruction. Student Achievement. These priorities will guide our work across all 11 schools as we continue building a strong, consistent, and connected K–12 experience for students.

This year’s goals focus on aligning instruction to standards, strengthening instructional strategies, and using consistent academic language across classrooms. Together, these efforts help ensure students receive clear expectations, strong instruction, and meaningful support no matter which Pennridge school they attend. Our work will also be supported by important district priorities, including MTSS, UDL, PBIS, Full-Day Kindergarten, common assessments, STEM + M, and college and career pathways. Each effort supports the same larger goal: helping students build strong foundations, feel connected and supported, and graduate prepared for the future.

To support this year’s district goals, Pennridge staff began the year with professional learning focused on the classroom practices, relationships, and systems that help students learn and grow. Convocation brought more than 1,000 staff members together to reconnect, celebrate the people who make our schools strong, and hear from keynote speaker Dr. Tracey Severns, founder of Teach4Results, whose message focused on student clarity, relationships, feedback, engagement, humor, and learning from mistakes. On the second day of professional learning, staff worked with Dr. Jenna Rufo, founder of empowerED School Solutions, on designing classrooms where students experience both high expectations and meaningful support. Her session focused on reducing barriers, supporting belonging, and giving students multiple ways to access learning, engage with content, and show what they know.

While students were away for the summer, important work continued across Pennridge to prepare our schools, buildings, buses, technology, classrooms, and programs for the return of staff and students. Custodial, grounds, transportation, technology, administrative, facilities, and support teams worked throughout the summer to make sure our schools were ready for a strong start. Summer also included student programs, camps, enrichment opportunities, extended school year services, preseason athletics, and band activities that kept learning, support, and school spirit moving forward. In addition, several major projects were completed or advanced, including the new Pennridge High School natatorium scoreboard installation, the Central Middle School roof project, STEM + M training and equipment installation, and many other behind-the-scenes efforts. Together, this work reflects the planning, teamwork, and care that help make the first days of school possible.

Pennridge was excited to welcome our newest teachers and professional staff members during New Teacher Induction. Throughout the program, new staff members had the opportunity to learn more about Pennridge, meet district leaders, connect with colleagues, and prepare for a strong start in their schools and classrooms. New Teacher Induction is an important part of helping staff feel supported, connected, and ready to serve students. We are grateful to welcome these new educators to the Pennridge team and look forward to the energy, talent, and care they will bring to our schools this year.

Each year, our "This Is Pennridge" digital magazine gives us the opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate the students, staff, families, programs, partnerships, and moments that make our district such a special place. I encourage you to take a few minutes to explore this year’s interactive annual report and see the many ways Pennridge students are learning, leading, serving, competing, performing, creating, and preparing for the future. You can view the full magazine by clicking below.

Pennridge High School has once again been recognized as a U.S. News & World Report Best High School, continuing its steady rise in statewide recognition. PHS is now ranked #150 in Pennsylvania, up from #165 last year and nearly 100 spots higher than its #247 ranking in 2021. This recognition reflects the hard work of Pennridge students, teachers, staff, administrators, families, and the broader school community. While rankings are only one measure of success, Pennridge High School’s continued growth highlights the district’s focus on academic achievement, expanded opportunities, college and career readiness, and helping students prepare for life beyond graduation.

Pennridge High School students continued to show strong achievement in Advanced Placement coursework, completing nearly 1,000 AP exams across 29 subjects. Overall, 91% of AP students earned a score of 3 or higher, a level that may qualify students for college credit or advanced placement depending on the college or university. Pennridge students also performed especially well across core academic areas, with results that exceeded state and global averages in English, math, science, and social studies. These outcomes reflect the hard work of students and teachers and continue to show the strength of Pennridge’s academic programs, advanced coursework, and college-readiness opportunities.

September 4 & 7

Labor Day Break- Schools and Offices Closed

September 21

Yom Kippur- Schools and Offices Closed

October 12

No Students- Staff In-Service

November 3

No Students- Staff In-Service

November 23 & 24

Early Dismissal for Students- Elementary Conferences

November 25

No Students- Staff In-Service

November 26-27

Thanksgiving Break- Schools and Offices Closed