Fall 2025

In November, I am reminded of my gratitude for our Orchard Park community, a place defined by pride, service, and a shared commitment to our students’ success. This month reminds us to celebrate the many opportunities and achievements across our schools, from inspiring student performances and athletic accomplishments to the everyday dedication of our teachers, staff, and bus drivers. We also take time to honor our veterans, whose service and leadership continue to inspire us. Thank you to our families, students, and community partners for fostering a positive, supportive environment where learning, growth, and gratitude thrive all year long.

Our iConnect text alert phone number has changed. Text messages will now be received from
716-315-9239. We recommend saving it in your contacts as “OPCSD Alerts” so you always recognize messages from us.

Why the change?

Our mass communications vendor, Finalsite, is moving away from short codes in favor of local phone numbers, in line with industry best practices. Local numbers are more familiar and trusted by recipients, improving message delivery and recognition.

One important clarification:

• This change applies only to mass text messages

• Recorded voice messages (such as school closure alerts or attendance calls) will continue to come from our main school phone number, as they always have.

• While it might seem logical to use the same number for mass text and voice messages, federal regulations require separate numbers for each type of communication.
  
  

We’re committed to making sure you receive timely and clear communication from the Orchard Park Central School District. Thank you for staying connected with us.

The upcoming Orchard Park Middle School musical Beauty and the Beast features an incredibly talented cast of student performers who have been hard at work preparing for the show. Behind the scenes, an equally dedicated team of students is working to make the production possible and bring the story to life!

The props crew, under the guidance of Mrs. Fisher, has been working long and hard to create the set pieces audiences will see during the show, constructing, painting, and bringing each element to life. Together, these teams collaborate to create an unforgettable production experience.

Performances will take place on Thursday, November 20 at 7:00 PM, Friday, November 21 at 7:00 PM, and Saturday, November 22 at 2:00 PM. Those unable to attend in person can purchase tickets to view the livestream using the link provided here: https://cur8.com/projects/orchardparkmiddleschool

The OPHS Civil Engineering and Architecture class (CEA) went exploring Buffalo's rich historic architecture. They stopped at many of the grandest buildings in Buffalo. The class is pictured at the Darwin Martin house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

On Wednesday, nine Orchard Park High School seniors committed to playing their sports at the collegiate level! Congratulations Athletes!

Lainey B. will be playing Softball at Wofford College.🥎

Audrey C. will be playing Volleyball at SUNY Cortland.🏐

Isabella C. will be playing Softball at Caldwell Community College.🥎

Madison D. will be playing Softball at the University at Buffalo.🥎

Peyton D. will be playing Lacrosse at Clarkson University.🥍

Hannah P. will be playing Field Hockey at SUNY Oswego. 🏑

Sophia P. will be playing Volleyball at Buffalo State.🏐

Caleb O. will be playing Golf at Allegheny College.⛳

Owen W. will be playing Lacrosse at St. Bonaventure.🥍

Ellicott Elementary was recently recognized by the American Heart Association with the Recess Reboot Award. Tara Franklin from the AHA presented the award to honor the incredible efforts of Mrs. Mary Claire Vivian, Mrs. Erin Block, and many others who led the school’s Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser two years ago.

Tara nominated Ellicott for the award after sharing that she loved working with the school and was inspired by how much heart and enthusiasm went into the event.

As part of this recognition, Ellicott was given the opportunity to create a “dream list” of fitness, recess, and wellness-related items valued at about $1,000. The list includes a composter to support Mrs. Vivian's garden club and health initiatives, new recess equipment for all students, and additional materials for Pre-K PE classes, among others.

Orchard Park High School seniors recently spent time at Pickleball Island enjoying lively and competitive play. Pickleball Island, located in Grand Island, NY, is the largest dedicated indoor pickleball facility in New York State. The trip featured a round-robin tournament that brought out some serious competition and plenty of fun! This marks the third year that PE teacher Mrs. Carla Gibson has visited the facility with her senior classes.

Orchard Park has been honored with the Peggy Kubert Four Pillar Award from Erika’s Lighthouse, a national organization dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and education in schools.

This prestigious recognition celebrates the district’s excellence in implementing programs that strengthen education, student leadership, family engagement, and staff training with a focus on mental health. The award highlights Orchard Park’s ongoing efforts to build an inclusive school culture where students, staff, and families feel supported and connected.

A Peggy Kubert Model School excels at tier-one mental health programming by working within an effective multi-tiered system of support and by intentionally fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging for all members of the school community.

Receiving this award is a significant accomplishment that reflects Orchard Park’s deep commitment to promoting positive mental health through prevention, early identification, and collaboration—ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Halloween spirit could be found throughout the district all October long! From Trunk or Treat events and themed classroom lessons to festive costumes and activities, students and staff enjoyed celebrating the season together.

Schools across the district proudly honored Veterans Day with meaningful celebrations that recognized the courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country. Students and staff hosted a variety of events, including parades, breakfasts, assemblies, and classroom presentations, where veterans were welcomed and thanked by students and staff. Many classes also took time to learn about the history and significance of Veterans Day through lessons and projects that highlighted the importance of service and gratitude.

We are so thankful for our school nurses and all that they do. Each day, our nurses provide expert care and support to keep students and staff healthy, safe, and ready to learn. From responding to unexpected emergencies like allergic reactions, injuries, or sudden illnesses, to managing daily health routines such as medication administration and monitoring chronic conditions, they handle it all with calm professionalism.

Behind the scenes, our nurses stay busy updating physicals and immunization records, coordinating with families, and attending meetings to support students with medical needs. They also provide guidance to staff when health questions arise, helping ensure a safe and informed school environment.

No two days are ever the same, but our nurses bring compassion, knowledge, and organization to everything they do.

Parents & Guardians were invited into Mrs. Velasquez's 8th Grade Life & Careers Classes in October to share what they do for a living. Students learned about the education and skills needed and what a typical work day looks like. Presenters gave advice on what students can do if interested in their career. Students were able to participate in many hands-on and visual activities. These included listening to the heart rate of kitten, analyzing sample X-ray, MRI, and CT scans, and even watching how a nurse draws blood.

The Orchard Park High School Drama Club is proud to present its fall play, Never After Happily by Cindy Marcus. An enchanting comedy filled with familiar fairy-tale characters, the show features a talented cast of 25 students. After rehearsing since September, the cast is thrilled to share this production with the Orchard Park community.

Never After Happily opened Thursday, November 13, and continues with performances, Friday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, November 15 at 2:00 p.m. Directed by Maria Szczepanik, the production is staged at Orchard Park High School, 4040 Baker Road.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for senior citizens (age 62 and up). Tickets may be purchased at the door.

Join our team and make a positive impact in our community as a school bus driver! This rewarding position offers competitive pay, consistent hours, and the opportunity to build meaningful connections with students and families.

• Substitute and appointed positions available
• Flexible schedules include options for both morning and afternoon shifts.
• 10 month positions have summers off with an optional 6 weeks of summer work
• Starting pay:
  • $26.33/hour for appointed drivers
  • $25.00/hour for substitute drivers
• State benefits and state retirement system
• Family-friendly work environment
• Opportunity to be off work when your kids are out of school

Please submit a Google Form (click here) to express interest to the Transportation Department and we will follow up with you in a timely fashion.