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

• February 10: Act 80 Full Day- NO SCHOOL
• February 17: Snow Day Make-Up- SCHOOL IS IN SESSION
• February 28: Act 80 1/2 Day

Due to the cancellation of school for inclement weather on January 22, there will be classes on Monday, February 17th. This make-up day was built into the school calendar for this year.

Club Hope held another blood drive this week. 16 pre-registered donors as well as "walk ins" were able to donate!

Mr. Beltz's Physics students applied what they learned in class to build and test catapult devices.

While meeting

According to an inquiry in ChatGPT: "When learning about catapults in a high school physics class, students engage with multiple physics concepts through hands-on experimentation, problem-solving, and mathematical analysis. Here’s a breakdown of the key learning outcomes:

1. Mechanics and Motion

• Kinematics: Students analyze the projectile motion of objects launched by the catapult, measuring displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
• Newton’s Laws of Motion: They observe how forces act on the projectile and the catapult itself, applying Newton’s laws to explain motion.
• Energy Transfer: The conversion of potential energy (elastic, gravitational) into kinetic energy is examined.
• Momentum and Impulse: How the launch force affects the momentum of the projectile is explored.

2. Projectile Motion

• Horizontal & Vertical Components: Students break down the motion into x- and y-components to calculate range, time of flight, and height.
• Effects of Gravity: They explore how gravity influences the projectile's parabolic trajectory.
• Optimal Launch Angles: Experimentation with different angles helps students discover the theoretical and real-world best angles for maximum range.

3. Energy and Work

• Potential Energy: Stored energy in the catapult (elastic or gravitational) before release.
• Kinetic Energy: Energy of the moving projectile post-launch.
• Work and Power: How much work is done to launch the projectile and the power exerted.

4. Engineering and Problem-Solving

• Design and Optimization: Students might construct or modify catapults, applying engineering principles.
• Material Considerations: Understanding how different materials affect performance.
• Trial and Error: Data collection, analysis, and iterative design to improve accuracy and efficiency.

5. Real-World Applications

• Historical and Military Engineering: How catapults were used in warfare and their modern equivalents in mechanical launch systems.
• Sports Applications: Understanding projectile motion in activities like basketball, baseball, and golf.
• Space and Engineering Concepts: Similar principles apply to rocket launches and satellite trajectories.

6. Data Collection and Analysis

• Using Measurement Tools: Stopwatch, protractors, motion sensors, and photogates to track motion.
• Graphing and Interpretation: Plotting projectile motion graphs and analyzing trends.
• Error Analysis: Discussing sources of error in measurement and calculations.

On Wednesday, BAEC students in grades 3-5 participated in the school finals of the spelling bee. After competing by homeroom for a chance to be in the school finals, those who qualified participated in Wednesday's event. Their performance was Impressive. I M P R E S S S I V E. Impressive. Thank you to all of the elementary center teachers, and especially to Mrs. Read, for providing this event for our students.

A Backronym from ChatGPT that illustrates how Spelling Bees help with language skills, learning, and mental sharpness:

Sharpen
Precision
Enhance
Language
Learn
Improve
Nurture
Genius

Brainpower
Expression
Eloquence

Mr. Rendulic's class reviewed maps in social studies this week. They were learning about the French and Indian War using technology.

BMHS Senior Darius Simmons was working on brakes with this vehicle at Wally's Auto Repair in Burgettstown. Darius is a student in the WACTC Auto Mechanics and Co-op programs. We are fortunate that businesses within our school district partner with WACTC to provide opportunities for students.

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.

In a lesson in history and the concept of comparison, Mrs. Grubb's students made comparisons between pictures of Pittsburgh areas now and at different points in history. .

Students in Science 6 class participated in an exploratory lab; testing how apple slices react with different stimuli.

As their march toward a possible spot in the playoffs continues, our Lady Blue Devils took on rival Fort Cherry on Thursday evening.

This week, Mrs. Read's students read about rocks and minerals, and were fascinated by what they learned!

Sunday February 6th is Groundhog Day, and Mrs. Leonard's students made predictions on whether or not Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow. After the weather the past couple weeks, let's hope that we will have an early spring!

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.