Let's Talk Tuesdays
BASD - Home of the Bears

Tuesday, December 23, 2025
A Message from Dr. Davidheiser
BASD Students, Staff, Families, and Community,
Kennedy’s strong, vibrant, magical rendering of the classic nutcracker becomes the inspiration behind this year’s holiday greeting!
Allow your imagination to bring a most memorable holiday season to life!
Dr. Scott Davidheiser, Superintendent
Dr. Davidheiser visited Kennedy at MSW. He presented her with her framed artwork of a nutcracker and a special red, white, and black nutcracker keepsake. #MSWBEARProud
Winter Break Reminder
All BASD schools and offices are closed starting tomorrow, December 24th, through January 4th for Winter Break. All staff and students will return to school on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Enjoy the break!
We Missed A Story...and We Sincerely Apologize!
When we released our November 18th newsletter, we failed to mention perhaps our BIGGEST Veterans Day Celebration of 2025. Thank you to everyone who brought the oversight to our attention and gave us an opportunity to correct our mistake.
EES Honors Our Veterans!
A Message from Mrs. Franco, EES Principal:
On Wednesday, November 12, Earl Elementary School celebrated Veterans’ Day with a schoolwide assembly. All students and staff worked collaboratively to prepare for the event. Banners were made by each homeroom to honor all branches of the US Military.
Our program began with our Kindergarten students leading the Pledge of Allegiance and reciting their Poppy poem. Next, our Vocal Ensemble performed the National Anthem and the song “Brave.”
Mr. Shawn Sterner, Navy Veteran and husband of EES teacher Mrs. Sterner, gave the keynote address to students, detailing his time in the Navy on the USS Saratoga. He connected his experiences to our EarlStrong themes: Be Kind, Be Helpful, and Be Respectful. Fifth graders also presented powerful verbs that described what our armed service members do for our country.
After the special presentations, we recognized 16 veterans of current Earl students. Each came to the stage with their student family member(s), received a flag, and got their picture taken. Eighteen family members of the Earl staff were also honored in the presentation.
In addition to the assembly, Earl Elementary, led by our 5th-grade Student Council, collected an outstanding 173 lbs. of Halloween candy and 534 food items in just 5 days to send to our troops through the Blue Star Mothers of America organization.
I am so proud of the staff and students at Earl for working together to honor our veterans!
BASD extends our sincerest apologies for our oversight! Our congratulations to the students and staff at EES on a job well done!! And our gratitude to our veterans for their service!!!
#EESBEARProud #EARLStrong
WES Walk-a-Thon Raises...
An Amount so Historic
They Needed an Assembly to Celebrate!!
❗❗🏫🍎 During the November You Matter assembly, students arrived on the stage
one-by-one for the BIG reveal! ❗❗🏫🍎
Submitted by Lisa DeRenzo, Principal
Washington Elementary’s Fall Festival and annual Walk-a-Thon have quickly become one of our most exciting days of the school year, bringing students and staff together for fun and fitness, while raising money along the way.
The Fall Festival provided a festive opportunity for students to enjoy games, activities, and time together. Our Walk-a-Thon, a newer beloved PTO tradition, encouraged students to stay active while supporting our school in a meaningful way.
PTO President Kevin Kessler shared that "the Fall Fest and Washington Walk have become our favorite day of the school year. All students and staff come together for a full day of Fall Fest fun. Our Washington Pride swells when we announce that our Walk has been our most successful fundraiser ever. The PTO of Washington is so grateful for the WES staff who helped our kids get excited, the generosity of our Washington Families and all those who cared enough about our kids to donate.”
Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of our families and community, we far surpassed our fundraising goal—raising an incredible $30,799. Proceeds from the event directly support classroom resources, field trips, school assemblies, and other enriching opportunities for our students. We are deeply grateful to our PTO and families for making these events such a tremendous success!!
Wow. WOW. WOW!!! Congratulations to WES! #WESBEARProud #WESBEARPTOProud
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
A BASH Drama Club Production
Congratulations to the BASH Drama Club's entire cast and crew on their fall production of
The Mysterious Affair at Styles!
#BASHBEARTheaterProud
Six Seniors Participate in Senator Pennycuick's
Senator for a Day Event
Written by Danielle Snyder, BASH Youth and Government Advisor
On Friday, November 21st, 6 Youth and Government seniors, along with myself, travelled to Perkiomen School for Senator Pennycuick's Senator for a Day Event. Students joined committees and debated bills on communications and technology, education, judiciary, state government, and transportation. After, students participated in a mock legislative session where they presented, debated, and voted on the bills. Boyertown students were recognized by lobbyists working the events, standing out for their knowledge of parliamentary procedure and public speaking skills that they have built in the Youth and Government Program at BASH.
#BASHBEARProud
The picture above is from the day. From left to right: Senator Pennycuick, Jaylah Allen-Bates, Kaylene Wetzel, Michael Haydt, Alison Shapin, Aubrey Hartman, Ashley Gheer, and Danielle Snyder (teacher/advisor).
BASH Musicians Represent at
'26 PMEA District 10 Orchestra &
the Berks Senior County Orchestra
Ella Armstrong
12th Grade
Stephen Dudas
12th Grade
Elaina Hamarich
12th Grade
Gianna Martin
12th Grade
Valentino Piccione
10th Grade
Nicole rehrig
12th Grade
Written by Christopher Cinquini, Director of Orchestra
This past month, Boyertown sent a group of string players from BASH to audition for the 2026 PMEA District 10 Orchestra and the Berks Sr. County Orchestra. Hundreds of musicians from almost 65 school districts from Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, and Schuylkill counties auditioned for a panel of judges for a very limited number of available spots in the group (especially the PMEA District 10 orchestra). Of the 33 school districts with students accepted into District Orchestra, Boyertown had the 4th-highest number of students representing their school.
We will be very well represented at the festival this year by the following students:
PMEA District 10 Orchestra:
Stephen Dudas - Violin - Grade 12
Mairead Larkin - Violin - Grade 9
Ella Armstrong - Violin - Grade 12
Peyton Thomas - Violin - Grade 12
Jessica Smith - Viola - Grade 12
Sadie Hanish - Cello - Grade 12
Valentino Piccione - Cello - Grade 10
Berks Senior County Orchestra:
Stephen Dudas - Violin - Grade 12
Ella Armstrong - Violin - Grade 12
Peyton Thomas - Violin - Grade 12
Elaina Hamarich - Violin - Grade 12
Nicole Rehrig - Violin - Grade 12
Gianna Martin - Viola - Grade 12
Jessica Smith - Viola - Grade 12
Sadie Hanish - Cello - Grade 12
Valentino Piccione - Cello - Grade 10
The District 10 orchestra festival runs from January 22-24 at Bethlehem Catholic HS, and the Sr. County Orchestra festival is on January 12th and 17th at Muhlenberg High School. I am very proud of all of the students and their hard work and dedication! I have a fantastic group of seniors this year!
Congratulations to all! #BASHBEAROrchestraProud
BES Focuses on GENEROSITY
Submitted by Julia Sharer, BES 1st Grade Teacher
BES focused on GENEROSITY during the month of November. In October, BES teachers and staff participated in a Pumpkin decorating event. The pumpkins were displayed in the lobby, and students voted for their favorite display by donating change. On November 20, the students and staff at BES participated in a Turkey Trot. Students were challenged to donate non-perishable items in support of this event. Representatives from Multi-Service attended our November BEARS assembly, during which we highlighted the importance of generosity. Diana Hamer, Director of Case Management, and Robert Varga, Executive Director, accepted our donation. BES collected $350 and 390 pounds of food! We are so proud of the generosity of our BES students, families and staff!
#BESBEARProud #BESBEARGenerous
BCTC Student Winners $10K Scholarship
at Penn School of Technology Competition
Three students from BCTC's Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology programs showcased their technical expertise at the Penn College of Technology Diesel Competition held December 12–13, 2025. After excelling in a rigorous online qualifying exam, the students advanced to the on-campus event, where they demonstrated their skills across 10 industry-sponsored stations alongside top competitors from across the region.
Elliot Waidell, a Diesel Technology student from Boyertown, emerged as the overall contest winner, earning a $10,000 scholarship to Penn College of Technology. Elliot’s standout performance included a 1st-place finish in engine liner height, along with 2nd-place finishes in sealants and wiring schematic interpretation...
The students’ success reflects BCTC’s commitment to high-quality career and technical education and its strong alignment with industry standards and workforce needs. Read more about the contest here.
Congratulations to Elliot! #BASHBCTCBEARProud
Check Out What's Happening at BCTC!
EES and CES Band Members Welcome Fellow Students with Holiday Cheer
Senior band students at Earl Elementary spread some holiday cheer last Wednesday morning as their fellow students were arriving at school!
Students at CES were greeted with holiday music from their classmates
as they arrived at school on Thursday!
#EESBEARProud #CESBEARProud #BASDBEARSCreateBeautifulMusic
BASH Show choir Performs at Ed Center
Last Thursday, the BASH Show choir performed for our team at the Education Center. The choir performed numbers in preparation for their spring trip to France, as well as holiday tunes. They even managed to squeeze in a dance routine or two. What a treat!!
After their performance, the choir spent the day spreading
holiday cheer to locations throughout our community.
Their voices create a beautiful celebration of the season!
Thank you to all! #BASHBEARSCanSing
Gingerbread Houses for Sale!
Contact Your Favorite MSE 7th-Grader for Details
Submitted by Karen Monz, MSE ELA Teacher
The seventh-grade hallway at Middle School East transformed into the town of Winter Park. Teachers bought student-made houses and enjoyed a transformed hallway which included reindeer stables and even a hockey game!
#MSEBEARProud
The Holiday Spirit is Alive and Well
on the Walls and in the Halls at CES!!!
Kindergarten Registration for 2026-2027
New for 2026-2027:
Kindergarten registration information will be EMAILED to families on January 2, 2026. Families MUST complete the form linked below to receive the email.
Raising children today comes with new challenges—and new opportunities. Join us for an engaging parent night designed to provide practical tools, resources, and guidance to support your child’s growth at every stage. Child care will be provided for school-age students so that parents/guardians are free to participate in sessions of interest.
Families will have the opportunity to attend sessions focused on:
- Positive Behavior Support – strategies to support behavior at home and school
- Focus & Organization – helping children manage time, attention, and responsibilities
- Escaping Vaping – understanding risks and how to talk with children and teens
- Families & Technology – navigating screen time, social media, and digital wellness
- Supporting Early Reading – building strong literacy skills from the start
- Full-Day Kindergarten Input Session – share your thoughts and help inform future planning
This evening is designed to be informative, supportive, and collaborative. We look forward to partnering with families as we work together to support the well-being and success of our students. More information will be sent out after the Winter Break.
BASH Proudly Presents The Drowsy Chaperone
Tickets on Sale Now!
Save the Date!
Mark Your Calendars! The 2025-2026 Boyertown Middle School East Musical will be Anything Goes (Youth Edition), presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC (www.concordtheatricals.com). Show Dates are: Friday, March 20 & Saturday, March 21 at 7 pm, and Sunday, March 22 at 2 pm. Tickets will go on sale closer to the show dates. Stay tuned for more details. Thanks for your support!
Strong Schools Strengthen Our Communities!
The Foundation for Boyertown Education
We foster enriched educational experiences for the students of the Boyertown Area School District by providing grants and enhanced learning opportunities.
FBE Sponsors IMPACT Day 2025 at BASH
Written by Lucie Bergeyova, BASH Impact Club Advisor
BASH Impact Day 2025 - Building Connections
The BASH Impact Day held on December 4th was a great success, highlighted by an incredible atmosphere of friendship and connection among students and staff. It was truly inspiring to witness the dedicated staff and enthusiastic students working side-by-side throughout the day.
The activities, facilitated by Thom Stecher and Associates, focused on meaningful dialogue and invitations to action. The day began with Impact Club members leading the engaging "I Like People Who" activity. Participants then explored the vital principles of belonging and discussed the positive labels associated with the BASH family.
After a successful morning, the Impact Club provided a delicious pizza lunch, funded by their club fundraisers. The afternoon reconvened with the insightful "Bridging vs. Bonding" activity. The day culminated in a powerful action planning session, where students eagerly brainstormed initiatives to further improve the BASH culture and environment.
We extend gratitude to the presenters from Thom Stecher and Associates and especially thank the Foundation for Boyertown Education for providing the crucial funding that made this successful and IMPACTful day possible!
#BASHBEARGrateful #BASHBEARProud
Many of the clipart images used throughout this newsletter were purchased through canstockphoto.com before the company went out of business.
This picture is a modified version of our BASD logo.
The BASD logo is protected under copyright law.
(C) This is the official BASD bear logo. This logo is protected under copyright law.
Freepik.com and Canva.com are also used in the creation of this newsletter.
Any additional applicable copyright information for items used throughout this newsletter
will be provided on a use-by-use basis.
Boyertown Area School District
Education Center
911 Montgomery Avenue
Boyertown, PA 19512
(610) 367-6031

