Bethlehem Area School District

COVID-19 COVID-19 Notification Process

The notification of students being identified as positive or a close contact may occur through the parent or district health services. The following processes will assist the district’s efficiency and accuracy in providing direction to parents.

Parent Notification Process of Positive or Close Contact: Parents should notify the district of their child being identified as positive or an outside close contact at home/community through an automated communication process via the BASD Parent COVID Reporting Form. Please call or email the school (office, nurse or teacher). ‘Thank you for contacting the school informing us that your child(ren) have tested positive or are considered a close contact. Our priority is for the safety and welfare of our students and staff. In order to provide you with the most efficient and current information, complete the “BASD Parent COVID Reporting Form” by visiting https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjB5TB1MyXaNMrfc6QalHK16GTLbISvBb-BD-_iqmj1qHxPw/viewform. If a parent does not have internet access readily available, call Ms. Lorisamar Rivera at 610-297-2035 to assist with completion of the form between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Data from “BASD Parent Covid Reporting Form ‘’ will populate the information into a spreadsheet and provide a calculated return to school date with directions to the parent via an automated email.

A phone call may be made by the COVID Response Team at their discretion upon review of information.

State of the Schools report March 15

Student Opportunity and Diversity in BASD with Dr. Joseph Roy, BASD superintendent. 7:30 to 9 a.m., Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University. RSVP: brittney@lehighvalleychamber.org.

Perfect ACT score

Liberty HS junior Christopher Giannaris earned a perfect score on the ACT test. He participates in band, orchestra, tennis, chess team, math team and Scholastic Scrimmage.

#BASDProud recipient

Joanne Kilpatrick, Freedom HS secretary, has been recognized by the staff and students for going above and beyond in what she does, and for her compassion and grace. She is appreciated for all she does for BASD.

MS band concert on YouTube

The 2022 Middle School All City Band Concert, with Broughal, East Hills, Northeast and Nitschmann school students, is available for viewing on YouTube or by visiting https://express.adobe.com/page/TDXtG5qfhrRUv/

Food program benefit

ROUND UP at the Giant stores registers through Feb. 28 to benefit BASD food programs.

Pop-up prom shop March 5

POP-UP PROM SHOP for HS juniors and seniors will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 5 at ArtsQuest, 1 Founders Way. Bring school ID and one adult guest for entry. LGBT friendly. For details, visit ywcabethlehem.org.

Freedom BB booster bingo Feb. 27

FHS BASBALL BOOSTER CLUB cash bingo. Doors open: noon; bingo at 1 p.m. Feb. 27. Snow date: March 27. School cafeteria, 3149 Chester Ave. Tickets: call 610-462-9528 or email patesbaseball@gmail.com.

Clearview ES blood drive Feb. 26

BLOOD DRIVE through Feb. 26. Call 800-223-6667, ext. 2 (mention group ID 6891) or GIVEaPINT.org (under Adopt-A-Day). Miller -Keystone Blood Centers, 1465 Valley Center Parkway, Bethlehem; or 2925 William Penn Hightway, Suite 105, Easton.

Communities in Schools

Local chapter gets $3.3M grant

President and CEO of Communities In Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania (CISEasternPA) Tim Mulligan announced that the local affiliate is one of 40 in the Communities In Schools network to receive funding from the lauded philanthropist, Mackenzie Scott. The latest round of resources from the author and former wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos comes at a time when many area nonprofits face budget concerns in the midst of a global pandemic.

Locally, CISEasternPA received $3.3 million. While plans are far from finalized, the goal of the organization is to grow operational excellence to better build sustainable systems inside schools, conduct effective advocacy, and empower more students to move beyond the barriers they face in school and out.

For more information about CISEasternPA, visit: https://www.ciseasternpa.org

Pennsylvania Bar Association

Mock trail competition opens

This month, 250 teams from 203 high schools across Pennsylvania will be competing in a virtual setting in district and regional levels of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Statewide High School Mock Trial Competition sponsored by the association’s Young Lawyers Division.

Now in its 39th year, Pennsylvania’s mock trial program is one of the largest in the nation.

The district and regional levels of the competition will continue throughout February and March. At the conclusion of the local competitions, 16 high school mock trial teams will advance to the PBA Statewide Mock Trial Championships, March 25 and 26.

The winning team of the state championship will represent Pennsylvania in the national mock trial finals to be held virtually May 12-14.

This year’s hypothetical case is a criminal trial to determine whether the defendant is guilty of murdering a man of great wealth who was a former critical player in the horse-racing industry with an extensive list of connections.

Teams participating from the Lehigh Valley include Allentown Central Catholic, Bethlehem Catholic. Easton Area. Emmaus, Nazareth Area, Notre Dame and Parkland.

For more information about the 2022 PBA Statewide Mock Trial Championships and to read this year’s case, visit https://www.pabar.org/site/For-the-Public/Mock-Trial-Competition. Interested volunteers should contact the PBA’s Maria Engles at 800-932-0311, extension 2223.

Pa. State Police

Camp Cadet registration ends Feb. 28

Pennsylvania State Police Troop M will again host the annual Pennsylvania State Police Camp Cadet program at Camp Fowler, 5851 Horseshoe Road, Orefield.

Camp will take place June 5 to 10. Registration is open through Feb. 28.

Camp Cadet is an overnight summer camp for boys and girls 12 to 15 years old. The goal of the camp is to introduce campers to the criminal justice system and establish a positive relationship between law enforcement and youth, while living in an atmosphere similar to an actual Pennsylvania State Police Academy.

Registration is available online at https://www.troopmcampcadet.org/. Space is limited.

The camp stresses teamwork, honesty and integrity, while developing discipline and self-esteem, which will promote good decision making.

Presentations at the camp will include various municipal, state and federal law enforcement agencies.