BASD: School-related volunteers

Gov. Tom Wolfe signed Act 153 of 2015 into law recently , which created changes for volunteer background checks/clearances.

All school volunteers who, through the course of their volunteer position, are responsible for the welfare of a child or have direct contact with children, are required to obtain and renew the state child abuse checks and both the state and the FBI criminal background checks.

There is no cost for Pennsylvania criminal and child abuse clearances; there is a cost for FBI fingerprinting. Renewal of clearances is now required every five years. For BASD specific information and forms, visit www.beth.k12.pa.us/assets/PublicForms/Volunteer_Packet.pdf.

BASD: Traditions hosts retiree breakfast

The Bethlehem Area Education Foundation will hold a complimentary back to school breakfast for Bethlehem Area School District retirees at 8 a.m. Oct. 1 at host location Traditions of Hanover, 5300 Northgate Drive.

There will be musical selections provided by BASD students. The speaker will be Dr. Joseph Roy, superintendent of schools, and information about the Bethlehem Area Education Foundation and their mission to support BASD.

The event is closed to the public. For information, call Traditions of Hanover at 610-882-0400 or Julie Bailey, executive director of the Bethlehem Area Education Foundation, at 610-861-0500, ext. 60255.

BASD: Local Merit finalists

Several local students have been named as 2016 National Merit Scholarship finalists. They seniors are Abigail P. Burnett and Ross M. Sonnerblick, Freedom HS; and Clarissa Grundstein, Milind Jagota, Benjamin W. Kussmaul and May M. Wai, Liberty HS.

BAPL: Homework tutoring offered

The Bethlehem Area Public Library has free homework help and tutoring, in any subject for any grade, after school at the Church Street main library and the Webster. Street branch. Visit www.bapl.org/youth/ysprograms/ys_homework15.html.

BASD: Zumba fundraiser Oct. 2

The Alison Perno Scholarship Fund Zumba fundraiser will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Bethlehem YMCA, 430 E. Broad St. Contact jyarko@ymcabeth.org or call 610-867-7588, ext. 133.

Becahi: Parent SAT session Oct. 14

There will be a parent information session about the upcoming March 2016 new SATs at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Bethlehem Catholic HS auditorium. A representative from Kaplan will be present to explain the changes and answer questions.

Gov. Wolf: PTA booksale under way

Gov. Wolf PTA is selling KidStuff books. Contact slsarkozy@ptd.net or call 610-691-1286. Local and out of town editions are available.

To get your news item in SCHOOL NOTES, send the information to George Taylor at gtaylor@tnonline.com or mail the information to SCHOOL NOTES, Bethlehem Press, 1633 N. 26th St., Allentown, PA 18104.