News & Announcements

Bethel Park School District's athletic programs will offer youth summer camps across more than a dozen sports from June through August 2026, giving young athletes the opportunity to train with Black Hawks coaches before the upcoming season.

Camps are scheduled in football, soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, swimming, lacrosse, golf, rifle, track and field, and cheer, with baseball, flag football, and cross country dates to be announced.

Bethel Park School District honored its Class of 2026 retirees at an annual luncheon on June 8, recognizing dozens of educators, administrators, support staff, and facilities personnel — including outgoing Superintendent Dr. James Walsh and William Penn Elementary Principal Brian Lenosky — whose combined service represents an extraordinary commitment to the students and families of Bethel Park.

Bethel Park School District's Music Department composed an original song, "Come Together As One," to commemorate the 2026 opening of Bethel Park Elementary School, celebrating community pride, honoring the history of 10 former elementary schools and incorporating a nod to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." The song made its live debut at the fourth-grade chorus concert on March 26, 2026, performed by all district fourth graders on the high school stage for the 17th consecutive year. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, all elementary students will learn and perform the song as a symbol of unity, with rising fifth graders taking a leadership role in guiding younger students at school events.

Independence Middle School honored its eighth-grade class June 2 during its annual awards ceremony, recognizing students for excellence in academics, the arts, athletics and character across more than a dozen award categories. Highlights included Christina Priore receiving the American Legion Award, Corey Gordon earning both the Outstanding Performance Recognition and the Suzanne Reid Music Award, and the Girls Basketball Team being named the IMS Athletic Academic Award recipient.

Independence Middle School held its annual Academic Excellence Recognition Program on June 2, honoring seventh- and eighth-grade students for outstanding academic achievement through Distinguished Honors awards and the Presidential Academic Excellence Award. Dozens of students were recognized across both grade levels, with eighth-grade Presidential Award recipients earning a national honor accompanied by a congratulatory letter from the White House.

Independence Middle School's National Junior Honor Society held its spring induction ceremony on June 1, welcoming 65 seventh-graders into the organization while recognizing eighth-grade members who collectively logged more than 1,000 hours of community service. Retiring Bethel Park School District Superintendent James Walsh delivered the keynote address, and eighth-graders Juliette Hall, Brielle Schafer, and Addisyn Voytko were honored as NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award winners.

Bethel Park High School welcomed its incoming freshman class during the annual Eighth Grade Move Up Day, giving rising ninth-graders a guided introduction to the building, its academic programs, and extracurricular offerings. The day included a Clubs and Activities Fair, student-led building tours, and a performance by Top 21, the school's student performance group.

Bethel Park School District is hosting a series of free "Final Bell Alumni Celebrations" in late May and early June for five retiring elementary schools and Neil Armstrong Middle School, before a new consolidated Bethel Park Elementary School opens in September 2026.

The events run from May 27 through June 3, with each school offering its own sendoff — ranging from open houses and self-guided tours to block parties with food trucks, memorabilia displays, and historical photos. All events are open to current and former students, staff, and community members, though classroom access will be limited district-wide as staff and students prepare for the transition.

The Bethel Park School District and the Bethel Park Federation of Teachers have ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement covering July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, that includes average annual salary increases of 3% and expanded professional development benefits.

The agreement was shaped by a collaborative negotiation process and includes new provisions supporting the opening of Bethel Park Elementary School, updated instructional language, and clarified expectations regarding scheduling and curriculum development. Both the school board and the teachers' federation have expressed confidence in the agreement as a foundation for long-term stability and student success during a period of significant transition for the district.

Tonight's two separate school board meetings will proceed as scheduled. The district will use a mobile hotspot to provide BoardDocs access for board members and a Zoom link for public attendees. The YouTube livestream may be delayed pending restoration of connectivity.