The first day of school for students in Baldwin-Whitehall School District is Sept. 3.
They will see some new faces as Heatherlyn Wessel begins the school year as principal at Whitehall Elementary School and Laurel Rader as principal and Adrienne Vallus serving as assistant principal at R.A. Lutz Elementary School.
In total, 27 new teachers have been hired for the school year, as well as a part-time science coach, Tina Gaser. Gaser will focus on helping the district’s science team pilot the implementation of STEELs, the state’s Science, Technology and Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Standards.
Also new this school year is an American Sign World Language class and club at Baldwin High School, according to district spokesperson Carrie Butler.
A focus this year for the district will be reimagining time and what the school day and school year look like.
“The district is taking advantage of changes to the PA instructional hour requirements to reimagine the school year and consider how various structures could enhance instruction at the secondary level — a step is being taken to change the structure of the student day by adding blocked courses and teaming,” Butler said.
