Everything your family needs to get off to a great start at Bethel Park Elementary School is right here in one place. From key opening dates, kindergarten orientation, and Walk Your Schedule details to cafeteria information, school bus tracking, arrival and dismissal procedures, and medication drop-off instructions, we have put together a comprehensive collection of resources designed to make the transition to our brand-new school as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Families can also find information on Open House dates, how to set up your ParentSquare account for district communications, and a warm welcome letter from Principal Mrs. Lisa Miracle-Volpe. Whether you are a returning Bethel Park family or joining us for the first time, everything you need to hit the ground running on Sept. 3 is right at your fingertips.
Opening Guide
Provides key dates and information for BPES's opening, including the first days of school, kindergarten’s staggered start, Walk Your Schedule, and Kindergarten Orientation.
Principal's Welcome Letter
The grade-level principals and the building principal at Bethel Park Elementary School each sent personal welcome letters to families, sharing important information and guidance to help ensure a smooth, successful start to the new school year. Links to all of the letters are available below.
- Lisa Miracle (Building Principal)
- Teresa Doumont (Principal, Grades K-1)
- Fred Pearson (Principal, Grades 2-3)
- Jay Johnson (Principal, Grades 4-5)
Kindergarten Open House
Kindergarten Orientation is Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 9-11 a.m. Incoming students and their families will explore classrooms, meet staff, learn about school routines and expectations, and take a bus ride — a wonderful first step into life at Bethel Park Elementary School.
Walk Your Schedule (Grades 1-5)
Walk Your Schedule is a free, open building event for registered students and families at Bethel Park Elementary School. During your scheduled one-hour visit, you will receive your child's schedule, locate classrooms and key areas of the building, and get a feel for the flow of a typical school day. Events are scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 1 from 4-8 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 2 from noon to 3 p.m. Here is a link to the maps you might follow. Click the link below to register for your one-hour time slot — we can't wait to see you there! Register here for the event.
Food Services (Metz Culinary Management)
Bethel Park School District partners with Metz Culinary Management to provide high-quality meals for students across all three schools. The Food Services page on the district website includes everything families need to know about the 2026-27 cafeteria program, including meal prices, free breakfast, monthly menus, PaySchools account setup, and free/reduced meal applications.
Reviews cafeteria information for the 2026–27 school year, including meal prices, free breakfast, menus, PaySchools accounts, and free/reduced meal applications.
Student Information System (Focus)
Bethel Park School District uses Focus as its Student Information System and is now in its second year of use across the district. Focus serves as the central hub for student data, allowing families to access important information including grades, attendance, schedules, bus routes, and report cards through the Focus Parent Portal. The system also drives the district's communication platform, ParentSquare, through a nightly data sync — meaning accurate contact information in Focus is essential to receiving district communications. Families can access the Focus Parent Portal by clicking this link.
School-to-Home Communication (ParentSquare)
Bethel Park School District uses ParentSquare to deliver district-wide announcements, school updates, event reminders, and emergency alerts through email, text message, and the ParentSquare app.
The system syncs nightly with Focus, the school district's student information system. If you ARE receiving messages from the district, you don't need to take any further action. If you believe you ARE NOT receiving district communications, please contact your child's school to ensure your information is accurate in Focus.
Open House Schedule
Bethel Park School District will host grade-level Open Houses at all three schools throughout September, with events scheduled at Bethel Park High School on Sept. 9, Independence Middle School on Sept. 10, and Bethel Park Elementary School on Sept. 14 (grades K-1), Sept. 16 (grades 2-3), and Sept. 17 (grades 4-5), all from 6-8 p.m. The district has also announced a community-wide Ribbon-Cutting ceremony and Open House at Bethel Park Elementary School at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19.
School Bus Tracking App (BusBoss)
Bethel Park School District is introducing the BusBoss PARENTpatrol Mobile App for the 2026-27 school year, replacing the BusWhere app with a real-time GPS tracking system that uses the same technology as Uber—showing families the exact location of their child's bus, estimated arrival times, and stop countdowns. Families are encouraged to download the app before the school year begins and to arrive at bus stops at least 10 minutes early as a safety precaution.
Arrival and Dismissal Times and Procedures
We have shared two important communications through ParentSquare outlining arrival and dismissal procedures for Bethel Park Elementary School. The arrival communication details where and how students will enter the building each morning, along with key expectations for families, while the dismissal communication walks families through procedures for bus riders, car riders, and all other dismissal arrangements. This link has all of that information.
Immunization Requirements
All Bethel Park students must meet Pennsylvania's immunization requirements by Aug. 25 — visit www.health.pa.gov for a complete list of required vaccines by grade level. Additionally, the district sent home a communication explaining that kindergarten or first grade students (not both) must submit a physical exam and dental exam completed within the past 12 months; third grade students must also submit a dental exam.
Medication Drop-Off Procedures
Families who need to drop off medication for their child at Bethel Park Elementary School may do so during the following windows:
- Tuesday, Sept. 1: during Walk Your Schedule, 4-8 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 2: during Walk Your Schedule and normal school hours, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Once school begins, you can drop off medication during normal school hours. Please contact the school nurse at 412-854-8660 with any questions or to make alternate arrangements. Click here for more information on proper medication administration at school.
Volunteering at Bethel Park
Pennsylvania State Law (Act 15) requires all volunteers who have direct contact with students — including field trip chaperones, classroom party helpers, and club competition escorts — to have the necessary clearances on file with the district before volunteering. Clearances are not required for parents attending school events as spectators, such as Open House, the Talent Show, or Special Person's Breakfast. Families can find more information on obtaining clearances in the Volunteer Information section of the district website.
Elementary School Handbook & Code of Conduct
The official Bethel Park Elementary School Student Handbook and Code of Conduct provides the framework that ensures a positive experience for all students. The policies, procedures, and recommendations aim to build respect for everyone who attends our schools and provide equitable ways to resolve issues that may occasionally arise.