BASD: A letter from Dr. Joseph Roy

Dear BASD Community,

Welcome to the 2017 - 2018 school year!

Our district is committed to providing a well-rounded education to each of our nearly 14,000 students. This commitment starts with full day kindergarten and our Reading by Grade 3 Initiative to make sure all students have a positive start to their school careers and are on track to be successful readers in future years. Our focus remains on developing student talents in the elementary level through programs such as the Leader in Me, as well as through many artistic and musical opportunities.

At the middle school level, we are excited to open our state-of-the-art new Nitschmann Middle School this year. All of our middle school student-teacher teams provide a nurturing and stimulating learning environment for our early adolescent students. A commitment to strong academics combined with service learning, the arts and athletics, allows our middle school students to grow as both students and young citizens. Both at the middle school and high school levels, our commitment to constant instructional improvement is reflected in our hybrid learning initiative where the best of direct instruction, team learning, and instructional technologies combine to challenge and engage students.

Our high schools offer an amazing array of courses from Advanced Placement to college dual enrollment to Project Lead the Way Pre-Engineering to performing arts and business electives. Our innovate College and Career Pathways help students choose courses that best fit their interests and career aspirations. Additionally, our dozens of extra-curricular clubs and athletic teams offer unique growth opportunities for students.

We have an incredible range of community partnerships that open up new learning opportunities for students including partners such as the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, St. Luke’s University Health Network, ArtsQuest, Touchtone Theatre, the Bach Choir, the Pennsylvania Philhamonic, Moravian College, Lehigh University, Northampton Community College, Just Born, Air Products and the Foundation for the Bethlehem Area School District.

Finally, our parents and families serve as our strongest and most important partners. Together, we are proud to educate the youth of our community.

Best wishes for a wonderful school year!

Sincerely,

Joseph J. Roy, Ed.D

Superintendent of Schools

Charter Arts: Open house Oct. 24

There will be admissions open houses at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 and Nov. 4, and Jan.10, 2018 at the Lehigh Valley Charter HS for the Arts, 321 E. Third St. Tours begin at 5:30 p.m. There will be a presentation by school administers at 6:30 p.m. prompt. No reservations are is necessary. Visit www.CharterArts.org.