Burgettstown Area School District

A look back at the week that was, and a peek at the week ahead. #True2theBlue

• November 26, 27, 28: Thanksgiving Break
• December 1: Act 80 Full Day (no school)

Burgettstown teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators "kicked off" November’s inservice day with an energetic and inspiring professional learning session: “Teach Like Lasso,” presented in partnership with Thriving YOUniversity. Centered on Ted Lasso’s trademark optimism, relationship-building, and team-first mindset, the workshop challenged our staff to rethink school culture, connection, and purpose—through the lens of kindness, trust, and intentionality.

To keep the spirit of the theme alive, teachers were encouraged to attend in practice wear or workout clothes, embracing the fun and camaraderie of the day in exchange for a goodwill donation. In true Burgettstown fashion, they went above and beyond—raising over $450 in goodwill donations for the local food pantries.

The session concluded with the creation of a "Burgettstown One-Word Word Cloud," created from staff-selected words that capture the spirit of the day's message. Words like inspire, connect, intentional, persevere, and growth filled the screen and set the tone for what became a meaningful, community-building experience.

Together, we learned, laughed, reflected—and hopefully strengthened the Blue Devil culture that makes Burgettstown such a special place to work and grow.

The Burgettstown Area Elementary Center proudly honored our nation’s heroes during this year’s Veterans Day Program, a beloved tradition that brings together students, families, and community members in gratitude and respect.

Veterans who are family members of our elementary students were welcomed with a patriotic parade through the parking lot, escorted by the children who were eager to walk beside their loved ones. Smiles, small American flags, and proud families lined the route, creating a moment our students will remember for years to come.

The ceremony continued with the raising of the U.S. flag, and patriotic selections sang by Mrs. Betschart. Serving as Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Rendulic guided the program with sincerity and appreciation, ensuring each veteran felt the gratitude of our school community.

To conclude the morning, all attendees were invited inside for a reception held in their honor, complete with refreshments and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. It was a heartfelt opportunity for students to connect with the veterans in their lives and for our district to express its appreciation to those who have served.

Burgettstown is proud to celebrate our veterans—and even prouder of the students who helped make this day meaningful.

On the evening of November 13, our fourth- and fifth-grade students packed the gym and cafeteria for an unforgettable night of food, music, fun, and friendly competition at the CHAMPS-sponsored Cornhole Tournament and Social!

Students kicked off the night with a cornhole competition, complete with cheering sections, close matches, and plenty of high-fives. Finalists proudly posed with their prizes, and the crowd showed incredible sportsmanship from start to finish.

The fun continued as students headed to the cafeteria for a school social filled with music and dancing. Friends shared snacks, played games, and enjoyed a chance to unwind together in a positive, upbeat environment—all thanks to the work of our CHAMPS character education committee, whose efforts make events like this possible.

It was an evening full of laughter, teamwork, and great memories—proof that when our students come together, good times always win the day.

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. After last year's Commencement, we informed the management at Star Lake that our preferred date for this year's Commencement is June 5, 2026. 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.