Every week is a great week in Blue Devil Country! Please scroll down to learn more. #True2theBlue

• March 18: Kindergarten Registration (A-M)
• March 19: Kindergarten Registration (N-Z)
• March 21: Act 80 1/2 day

Daylight savings time begins Sunday morning, so don't forget to spring ahead and set your clocks ahead one hour when you go to bed on Saturday night. Longer daylight hours will be a welcome change to the darkness that is the winter months.

Senior James Newark signed a Letter of Intent to continue his educational and athletic journey at Penn State Beaver next year! A soccer player, his accomplishments are impressive because as many know, Burgettstown does not have its own soccer team. Rather, we co-op with South Side. Prior to South Side, our co-op was with Washington. So, not only did Newark have to compete against other student athletes, he had to compete and earn the respect of players and coaches of another school. We are proud of you, J.T., and wish you success in all you do. Please click HERE

Members of the Lady Blue Devils travelled to Duquesne University last week to take in a Duquesne University women's basketball game.

Last month, our girls in coding class had an incredible time at TechWorks Adademy for the Girls Exploring Engineering Day with BotsIQ. The theme for 2025, "Design your future," truly resonated with our students. Students engaged in hands-on activities across various engineering fields, including mechanical, foundry, biomedical, and environmental engineering. They also explored fascinating exhibits featuring robotics, 3D printing, and so much more!

Our second grade students were busy rehearsing all week for Friday's family performance of The Lorax. Much talent was on display as the students memorized their lines, rehearsed their speaking parts, and learned what it takes to "perform" in front of a large group. Many thanks to the entire 2nd grade team and Mrs. Mankey for making this annual event happen again this year!

Please click on the button below to access the letter about kindergarten registration. We hope to have the majority of the students who will comprise the Class of 2038 register on March 18 and March 19.

Ms. Marshall worked with fourth grade students as they designed robots using the math concepts of area and perimeter.

Third grade students were excitedly discussing weather patterns and the seasons in Mrs. Baloga's science lesson this week.

The school counselors and administrators at the MSHS held a scheduling meeting with interested parents of students currently in Grade 8 and explained how the process goes, the accumulation of credits toward graduation in grades 9 through 12, and the various options that students will have as they transition to high school.

The school counselors at the MSHS spent time in the classrooms this week, meeting with students as they began the course selection process for next year.

There were many happenings this week at the elementary center as the students celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday, and participated in Read Across America events in honor of Dr. Seuss. The students pictured here all participated by dressing up in Seuss-themed attire.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education (BSE), monitors all school districts and charter schools in the state at least once every six years to ensure that they are complying with federal and state regulations for special education. The Burgettstown Area School District will be monitored this year. As part of this monitoring, the BSE is seeking parent opinions about the special education services being provided. In addition to surveying parents, they are also interested in hearing directly from students about their educational experience. If your child is 14 years of age or older, they invited to complete the student survey. Although parents and students 14 years of age or older are not required to participate in the survey, the BSE encourages them to do so. Click HERE for the complete letter from the Department of Education.

The monthly middle school peer jury was held in the auditorium this week.

School district librarian Mrs. Koratich organized and hosted a kleenex box decorating contest this week, in celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday and Read Across America.

Winners were:

• Maverick Henry (Kindergarten-Baby Shark)
• Luke Welch (1st Grade-Sponge Bob)
• Gracie Ray (2nd Grade-Thing 1 and Thing 2)
• Caden Robinson (3rd Grade- Sneezy Snowman)
• Carter Charlier (4th Grade- Magic Tree House)
• Abby Snyder and Emilia Derosky (5th Grade tie Wings of Fire/Speak Up)

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) establishes "testing windows" for Keystone and PSSA tests. These windows are blocks of time in which school districts may schedule their administration of the various assessments. Each of our schools consider events that are occurring within school during these dates and then determine the specific dates that are the most appropriate to use. Attendance at school, and participation in the assessments is important, so we are providing the testing windows that PDE established for 24-25, 25-26, and 26-26 so families may consider if planning vacations or other planned absences. KEYSTONE ASSESSEMNT NOTE: The Burgettstown Area School District does not typically participate in Summer Testing, and rarely utilizes the Winter Wave 1 window.

This year, the Burgettstown Athletic Department is introducing digital ticketing for regular season football, volleyball, girls and boys basketball, and wrestling. Though all fans may still purchase a ticket "at the gate," but those who wish to avoid lines and pre-purchase an electronic ticket may do so by accessing the digital ticketing feature on the Hudl Fan page. Single game regular season tickets for both students and adults are available. Also, for those who know that will likely attend all games in a particular season, a season pass can be purchased. Please note: there is a processing fee, per ticket. This fee does not go to the school district, it is a vendor fee in support of the electronic ticketing feature. Scan the QR code or the button below to access the Hudl Fan page.

We remind students, employees, parents, guardians, and community members that smoking, the possession or use of alcohol or other drugs, and the possession of weapons on school grounds, including outdoor athletic areas, by any individual, is prohibited. These acts are subject to police action and must also be reported to the Department of Education.

Our school community has embraced the uniqueness of conducting commencement exercises at Star Lake for decades. The various management groups throughout the years have supported this by donating the use of the facility and we are most appreciative. While it is early in the school year, we want to make note that in order to hold graduation at Star Lake, flexibility in planning is necessary. Believe it or not, the planning for the next year begins shortly after the school year ends. We notify Star Lake management of our desired date and it is recorded as a preferred date. There are no guarantees, and in the past several years, we have not been able to finalize the date until some point in April. We know this causes a bit of anxiousness on the part of our seniors and their families, but if we want to continue this fine tradition, we must remain flexible. This week, the members of the Class of 2025 were informed that Star Lake was contacted on May 31, 2024, and informed that our preferred date for this year's Commencement is June 5, 2025. While this is our preferred date, there is no guarantee that we will get it. As the months go by this year, the District will remain in contact with Star Lake management. When we know the confirmed date, we will communicate it to our students and families. Though graduation may be the last thing on anyone's mind this early in the school year, we wanted to communicate this information so there are no misunderstandings.

Student and employee safety is extremely important to us. We are constantly looking for ways to make our schools, school grounds, and property safe for all. Recently, we ordered signage that will be placed on all of our school busses, warning that unauthorized boarding will be subject to criminal prosecution. This is not something new, it is simply something we are creating a greater awareness of.

According to the Pennsylvania Crimes Code:

§ 5517. Unauthorized school bus entry. (a) Offense defined.--A person who enters a school bus without prior authorization of the driver or a school official with intent to commit a crime or disrupt or interfere with the driver or a person who enters a school bus without prior authorization of the driver or a school official who refuses to disembark after being ordered to do so by the driver commits a misdemeanor of the third degree. (b) Notice.--A school district may place a notice at the entrance of the school bus that warns against unauthorized entry.

Our school district prides itself on providing the best possible learning environment for our students, and school buildings and other facilities that can be a source of pride for the community. We are constantly monitoring the conditions of our schools, athletic complexes and other district-owned property but sometimes we miss things. You can help us by completing this form when you notice something that you think needs our attention. It can be something as basic as noticing that there is a light out in our parking areas, or that the trash receptacles at the baseball field need emptied. Just like you have for your home, we have a running list of items that need our attention. These items get prioritized and acted upon. We may already know about the issue you raise, but if we don't, we can't prioritize it until we do. We are all in this together and your input is greatly appreciated. Please click her to access this form: HERE

We know our families and our communities enjoy seeing the various photographs and related information about our students and their activities through the various social media platforms and other methods of communication from our school district. If a parent or guardian objects to the use of their child's image and related information, they must notify the school district. Please see the following document for more details.