Asa Packer News

Please see below for this week's news.

Parent/Teacher conference sign-ups will be done through ClassDojo. Sign-ups are now open for all classrooms. Conferences will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026, and Friday, April 17, 2026.

Parents requesting a time to meet with one of our specialist teachers should contact them directly either through Class Dojo or at their email address below.

Art - jsesposito@basdschools.org

Digital Literacy - jmertz@basdschools.org

Music - mogden@basdschools.org

Physical Education - afelt@basdschools.org

Spanish - rlwilson@basdschools.org

Instrumental Music - sconrad@basdschools.org

Reading Specialist - jdacosta@basdschools.org

Teachers are always available to discuss any questions/issues throughout the school year. We look forward to meeting with you and discussing your child's educational progress, strengths, and needs.

PTA BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2026/27 SCHOOL YEAR:

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate individuals for the board and who attended Tuesday night’s meeting to vote on the new Executive PTA Board for the 2026–2027 school year.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who accepted nominations and stepped into these important roles, as well as to those who continue to support Asa Packer and make it such a wonderful place for students, teachers, staff, and families. Your dedication and involvement make all of this possible.

A special thank you to Megan Firman and Lauren Whitty for their hard work and commitment as the nomination committee.

Congratulations to our new and returning board members:

• President: Karen Berkenstock
• Vice President: Dawn Henshaw
• Treasurer: Tyler Long
• 1st Fundraiser: Kelsey Long
• 2nd Fundraiser: Kaitlyn VanWhy
• Recording Secretary: Jen Black
• Membership Secretary: Amanda Evans

ROLL INTO FUN WITH THE ASA PACKER PTA

Our PTA-hosted event, generously sponsored by Patient First at Whitehall Skateaway on April 9th, was an incredible night of fun for everyone who attended! Students and families enjoyed an evening filled with skating, games, laughter, and plenty of snacks to keep the energy going.

It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces out on the rink, as kids and parents alike joined in the fun and created lasting memories together. Events like this truly highlight the strong sense of community that makes Asa Packer such a special place.

The PTA would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our Asa Packer families for their continued support and fundraising efforts. Your contributions make it possible to host events like this and provide meaningful experiences for our students. We couldn’t do it without you!

PTA PATIO PARTY PLANNING:

Thank you to everyone who has joined the Patio Party planning committee! This team has been hard at work making sure the evening is filled with fun, great food, and lasting memories.

There is still time to get involved—we would love your help! If you’re interested in volunteering before or on the day of the event, please reach out to us at asapackerpta@gmail.com. We truly appreciate any time you can give to help make this event as spectacular as always.

We are currently looking for volunteers to assist with:

• Making calls to request donations for raffle baskets
• Picking up raffle prizes from local businesses
• Helping with planning and activities for the day of the Patio Party
• Volunteering at various stations during the event
• Assisting with setup and cleanup

The Patio Party is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, and we need your support to keep it a favorite for our students. Your time and effort make a meaningful difference!

HELP US TREAT OUR TEACHER & STAFF:

Our amazing teachers do so much for our students and school every single day, and we want to show them just how much we appreciate ALL they do!

We’re putting together a Build-Your-Own Trail Mix Bar so teachers can create their perfect snack mix. To make it happen, we’re asking our wonderful parent community to help by donating items or offering a small donation through Venmo.

Every donation helps us create a fun and delicious way to say THANK YOU to the people who give so much to our kids each day.

If you’re able to contribute an item, we’d be so grateful. Together we can make this a sweet (and crunchy!) surprise for our teachers!

Thank you for helping us show our appreciation!

Please use the SignUpGenius below to sign up to show your appreciation:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E4FADAB2DA1F94-62907728-3rdquarter#/

SPRING EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS!

The PTA has many exciting events planned for the spring — and we need your help to make them happen!

If you’d like to get more involved in your student’s elementary experience and help the PTA create lasting memories, we’d love to hear from you.

Please reach out to us at asapackerpta@gmail.com or send us a message on Facebook. We have volunteer opportunities for all comfort levels and time commitments.

Volunteering is always a rewarding experience — and there’s nothing better than seeing students enjoying special moments at school and beyond!

• Upcoming Events Include:
• Patio Party – May 8th
• Spring Scholastic Book Fair – May 18th–22nd
• Field Day – May 26th (Rain Date: May 27th)
• …and more!

We welcome all volunteers — whether you have a little time or a lot, your support makes these events possible. Keep an eye out for sign-ups and help us make this spring one to remember!

Questions? Feel free to reach out via email- asapackerpta@gmail.com

Kindergarten Registration for the upcoming year (2026-2027) is now open. Registration is done online through Registration Gateway - New Student Portal.

Below is the link to the Kindergarten Registration Page.

https://www.basdschools.org/for-families/kindergarten

Who: Students in Grades K-7

When: June 15-17

Details: Our annual camp is back! Please note that we are hosting only one week of camp this year, and spots are expected to fill quickly.

Registration: Parents can scan the QR code on the attached flyer or use this Google Form Registration Link.

Cost: Pricing details are available via the registration link. Reduced cost is available for families who qualify for free/reduced lunch.

Looking for a summer filled with STEM, splash zones, and field trips? We have a few spots remaining for our BASD Summer 2026 Child Care Happenings!

How to Register: Check out the attached flyer for the full schedule! For more information or to secure your spot, please contact Judy Becker at jbecker@basdschools.org or call 610-868-8501. You can also reach out to the child care office at your child’s school.

We can’t wait to see your children there!

Students participating in before-school activities should arrive no earlier than five minutes prior to the start of their activity. Students will not be let into the building if arriving before that time.

We are continuing our efforts this school year to support families in need of assistance with food, clothing, and other essential items. This may include Thanksgiving turkeys, holiday gifts around Christmas, and gift cards to local supermarkets.

If your family could benefit from this support, please scan the QR code below to complete a short, confidential Google Form. All information shared will be kept private and used only to provide appropriate assistance.

We’re here for you.. please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can help in any way!

https://forms.gle/f7SN4Xnd53BXyiRt8

Attached are the attendance procedures. Please review these documents.

In the event of an absence, a parent or Dr. note is required. Absence notes may be emailed directly to the office at asapackerattendance@basdschools.org. If you are sending the teacher a Dojo message, an email message to this address should also be completed.

If you forget to send a note about a change of pickup or an early pickup, please call the office. This way we can be sure the teacher gets notified. Do not send a Dojo message or email the teacher during the day as the message may not be seen until a later time.

Any questions pertaining to transportation should be directed to that particular office. Information regarding district transportation for the 2024-2025 school year will be mailed to your home directly from the Transportation Office in mid-August. The Transportation Department can be reached at 610-861-0360.

Please Review and Follow the Procedures Below to Ensure Student Safety at All Times

To help maintain a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal process, we kindly ask all families to follow these important guidelines:

Drop-Off & Pick-Up Reminders:

• You may either:

  • Park in the lot and walk your child across the bus lane using the crosswalk, or

  • Use the student drop-off lane, allowing your child to exit the car and walk along the sidewalk to the building.

• If you need to get out of your car to assist your child, please park in a designated parking spot. Do not stop or leave your vehicle in the drop-off lane.

Safety Guidelines:

• Always use crosswalks—both students and adults.

• Cars are not permitted in the bus lane at any time.

• Only park in designated parking spaces—do not park or idle along curbs.

• When picking up your child early or at dismissal, please walk to the building to meet them.

• Do not leave children unattended outside the building before or after school hours.

• Follow all posted signs—these procedures are enforced for everyone’s safety.

• No pets are allowed on school property at any time.

• Please do not block access to the handicap parking spaces during drop-off. We have families who rely on those spaces, and at times, they are unable to pull in due to vehicles obstructing the area.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation in keeping our students safe!

• Grade K , Grade 1 and Grade 2 students will enter/dismiss through the Primary doors.
• Grade 3, Grade 4, and Grade 5 students will enter/dismiss through the Intermediate doors.
• Bus students will enter through the appropriate Primary and Intermediate doors. They will be dismissed one bus at a time after the walkers have entered the building.
• If you are escorting your child to the door, please park in the lot. Please use your good judgement and keep safety the highest priority.

• Teachers will communicate to guardians about their “Quiet hours” procedures.
  
• Teachers will respond to emails/messages within 24 hours during the work week.
• Weekend/holiday messages will be responded to by the end of the next school day.

Email: jchorvath@basdschools.org
Website: https://basdwpweb.beth.k12.pa.us/asapacker/
Location: 1650 Kenwood Drive, Bethlehem, PA, USA
Phone: 610-865-0660
Twitter: @AsaPackerBASD