Burgettstown Area School District

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

• February 20: Presidents Day-No School
• March 17: Act 80 1/2 Day
• March 20: Full Act 80 Day
• March 22: Kindergarten Registration (A to M)
• March 23: Kindergarten Registration (N to Z)
• March 24: End of Third Nine Weeks

Last weekend, at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science regional competition, our students' exciting projects brought home many awards! Deedra Closser earned a second place award in mathematics, Sean Yates earned a first place award in chemistry, Julia Smith earned a first place award in computer science AND the Junior Scholarship, and JT Newark earned a first place and exemplary award in mathematics. Congratulations to all of our participant on their amazing accomplishments.

The Burgettstown Area School District has an armed School Police Officer (SPO), NOT a School Resource Officer (SRO)? There is a difference.

Not only has Officer Fisher met the requirements above, but prior to arriving at Burgettstown, Officer Fisher spent 21 years as a Criminal Investigator for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For eight of those years, he was assigned to the Department of Corrections and Parole's Bureau of Investigation and Intelligence. He conducted criminal investigations, handled physical security and threat assessments. Prior to his time with the Commonwealth, he spent three and a half years with the U.S. Secret Service. Away from his role as our School Police Officer, he has been a PIAA wrestling official for the past 18 years. We are fortunate to have a school police officer as qualified, personable, and student-centered as Officer Fisher.

Students in all grade levels are able to receive a free school breakfast. This breakfast is not paid for by the school district, rather, it is an initiative of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We encourage students to start the day with the "most important meal!"

We continue to monitor student and staff COVID cases. We ask that you continue using preventive measures such as keeping your child or children home if they are experiencing symptoms of illness and/or if someone in your home is testing.

When to Quarantine?

According to the CDC, COVID Quarantine for illness or positive test:

• Isolate for 5 days. If no symptoms are present or symptoms are resolving (fever free 24 hrs without medication) on day 5, students may return to school on day 6 with mask wearing days 6-10.

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.

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