2022-2023 Annual School Calendar
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District Superintendent Director of Business Operations
Dear Bensalem Community:
Weather emergencies are all very different and we do our best to handle the situation appropriately; student safety is always our main concern, as well as communicating effectively with our school community.
Please make sure to monitor our official communication portals: TalkingPoints, the School District Website, Facebook: BensalemTownshipSchoolDistrict, Twitter: @BensalemSchools. We will also send a message via our Sapphire Notification System and School News App. If you do not have our App, please click here to sign up today.
We have a Weather Emergency Team that assembles during these events. This team consists of key Bensalem Township administrative, facilities and technology/communications staff. During a typical overnight weather event, we will begin our work at 4:00AM, consulting with other school administrators and local authorities about weather and road conditions. We do our best to make our decision by 5:00AM and begin communicating that decision to the community through our official communication portals. I realize that is early in the morning to receive phone calls; however, our transportation team is on the road by 5:30AM, the high school begins at 7:21AM and we have many employees who have significant commutes to work.
A 2-hour delayed opening will be called if there is a strong belief that weather and travel conditions will improve significantly throughout the morning. We like to make delayed opening announcements as soon as possible, as we know that it has a big impact on a working family’s morning arrangements. We strive to avoid early dismissals as we recognize that it is not an ideal situation to have students coming home before their parents. Sometimes this is unavoidable, especially in rapidly deteriorating conditions when it looks like things will be far worse at the end of the regular school day.
The Bensalem Township School District received permission from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to have 5 Flexible Instruction Days, also known as Remote Learning Days, that will count toward the 180-day mandated minimum of school. Since BTSD does not build weather emergency days into the calendar, if there is severe weather, unless there is a strong possibility of power outages or other issues that could impact the effectiveness of a Remote Day, the school district will move to a Remote Learning Day.
This is what a Remote Learning Day will look like for your child:
Elementary Level (Grades 1-6):
1. Asynchronous Instruction available via Google Classroom
2. Attendance will be taken by completing a Google form in your child’s Google Classroom
3. Activities and Support Sessions will be posted by your child’s classroom teacher by 9:00AM. 4. Teachers will schedule two (2) support sessions where your child can Zoom with their teacher for assistance
1. Asynchronous Instruction available via Schoology
2. Attendance is recorded automatically when logging in to Schoology
3. Activities and Support Sessions will be posted by your child’s teachers by 9:00AM.
4. Teachers will schedule two (2) support sessions where your child can Zoom with their teacher(s) for assistance
Best wishes for a happy, safe and joyful holiday season.
August 25, 2022
Dear BTSD Families:
We are pleased to inform you that Bensalem Township School District (BTSD) will be implementing a new provision known as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2022-2023 school year. This program is available to schools and districts that are participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
All BTSD enrolled students are eligible to receive a nutritional breakfast and lunch each school day at no charge to your household. No further action is required. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without paying a fee or submitting an application. NOTE: There is a charge for any snack or a la carte item.
While there is no charge for both breakfast and lunch for all BTSD students this year, families are encouraged to apply for the Free/Reduced Meal Program. Approval for the program may allow you to qualify for possible additional P-EBT benefits from the state, fee waivers for college applications and fee waivers for certain testing, i.e. SAT’s. Please apply for the Free/Reduced Meal Program at www.schoolcafe.com.
If we can be of further assistance, please contact BTSD Food Services Department at 215-750-2800 ext. 4080.
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- Monday, August 29: First day of school for students in Grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12. These students do not attend on Tuesday.
- Tuesday, August 30: First day of school for students in Grades Kindergarten, 1, 7 and 9.
- Wednesday, August 31: All students K-12 report to school.
NEW SCHOOL HOURS:
High School 7:21 am to 2:11 pm
Middle Schools 8:10 am to 2:56 pm
Elementary Schools 8:55 am to 3:41 pm
- View Transportation information on Sapphire Community Portal (SCP) on August 22.
- Bus information can be found under "Student Information" in the student's SCP login. It is not under the parent login.
- As of 1 PM on 8/24, bus information has been temporarily closed. Stay tuned for updates.
- Updated transportation information is once again available on SCP.
NOTE: If you cannot access SCP, please contact your child’s school.
- Bensalem students attending BCTHS, non-public, parochial and charter schools can contact their school for transportation information after August 15.
- View Elementary class assignments on SCP beginning at noon on August 22.
- Shafer and Snyder Middle School students can view their schedule on SCP beginning at noon on August 22. Students will receive a printed schedule on the first day of school.
- Bensalem High School students can view their schedule on SCP beginning August 22. If you do not have access to CWP, please e-mail your guidance counselor by clicking on their name below.
Counselor Student Last Name begins with
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A - Cok |
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Col - Go |
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Gp - Lin |
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Lio - Pas |
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Pat - Sb |
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Sc - Z |
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Counseling Secretary |
We look forward to welcoming your children for another successful year!
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Universal Free Meals Ended June 30
Dear Bensalem Families:
School breakfast and lunch has been available for Bensalem Township School District students at no cost since March 2020. Reimbursement for the cost of providing these meals has come through a United States Department of Agriculture Waiver issued to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This waiver suspended free and reduced lunch eligibility requirements, allowing for universal participation in the National School Lunch Program. The waiver expired at the end of June 2022.
Students may purchase breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria. Listed below is the meal pricing:
Breakfast available in all schools - $1.75
Reduced Priced Breakfast - $.30
Milk - $.50
Elementary Lunch - $3.00
Secondary Lunch - $3.50
Reduced Priced Lunch - $.40
In order for any student to be considered for free or reduced price meals for the 2022-23 school year, an application must be completed to determine eligibility. The on-line application is safe, secure and private. To apply, visit www.schoolcafe.com. All children in households eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits do not need to apply and will receive a confirmation letter from the district by mid-August.
If you have any questions about your family’s eligibility, please e-mail Mrs. Kesselman at [email protected] or call 215-750-2800, ext. 4080. NOTE: Offices are open Monday to Thursday during the summer. Additional information is available on our website in the Food Services section at https://www.bensalemsd.org/apps/pages/foodserviceinfo.
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Back to School Nights 2022
All Back to School Nights begin at 6:30 PM, unless noted below.
Belmont Hills Elementary School - Thursday, September 8
Cornwells Elementary School - Wednesday, September 7
Samuel K. Faust Elementary School - Monday, September 19
Benjamin Rush Elementary School - Thursday, September 29 at 6:00 PM
Russell C. Struble Elementary School - Wednesday, September 14
Valley Elementary School - Thursday, September 15
Robert K. Shafer Middle School - Tuesday, September 13
Cecelia Snyder Middle School - Thursday, September 22
Bensalem High School - Tuesday, September 20
Posted 7/19/22
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Important Information for 2022-2023 Kindergarten Families
This will allow their teacher time to plan how to best support your child starting on the very first day of school. Your child will spend approximately 10 minutes with a teacher to complete the kindergarten screening.
All screenings will take place at Bensalem High School in the school library.
Monday, August 1st: Struble Elementary School
Tuesday, August 2nd: Belmont Elementary School
Wednesday, August 3rd: Valley Elementary School
Thursday, August 4th: Rush Elementary School
Monday, August 8th: Cornwells Elementary School
Tuesday, August 9th: Faust Elementary School
We recommend signing up for a time slot on the date your child’s school will be represented; however, you can sign up for any of the 6 days if your school’s date does not work for your family.
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Student Arrival and Dismissal Times for the 2022-2023 School Year
High School 7:21 am to 2:11 pm
Middle Schools 8:10 am to 2:56 pm
Elementary Schools 8:55 am to 3:41 pm
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