Community Update May 2026

Rocket News & Updates May 7, 2026 Dear Rocket Families, Each year, our outstanding fifth grade artists create portraits of our staff which are then displyed during Staff Appreciation Week. Above is an excellent rendition of one of our fantastic teachers at Slippery Rock Area Elementary, Mrs. Dietrich! [NOTE: Permission was given by the artist to post this artwork.] Please enjoy a few pieces of news and updates from around the Slippery Rock Area School District as we hit the "one month to go" mark in the school year.   Updates Shark Tank Zach Out of 230 participants, statewide, SRHS senior, Zackary Morgan, earned Third Place in the Brighter Financial Futures "Dream Learn Pitch Rising Stars Challenge" with his business concept "The Donut Den". Demonstrating creativity, entrepreneurial initiative, professionalism, and strong communication skills throughout the competition process, Zachary earned a $500 award - along with an additional $150 teacher recognition prize. Mrs. Kara Trettel, high school technolgy and business education teacher, supported and encouraged Zachary's innovation and leadership. The Rising Stars Challenge exists to provide students with opportunities to think creatively, solve meaningful problems, and confidently present their ideas. Shareen Shines! Shareen Thangiah, one of our SRHS juniors, was selected as one of 72 students (575 applied) for the prestigious PA Governor's School for Science - a five-week long college experience at Carnegie Melon University! The PA Governor's School is an annual program that fosters scientific thinking, scholarly collaboration, and interpersonal connections in our society. Admittance to the program is based on merit and all program expenses are fully funded for all accepted students. Shareen will live and study on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University this summer. You can learn more about Shareen's PA Governor’s School scholarship HERE.  National Academic Games Congratulations to Slippery Rock Area Middle School students, Drake Beichner, Alex Tustin and Max Phillips! These three Rocket students all qualified for the National Academic Games held in Charlotte, North Carolina. The students won medals with Alex placing 8th in the Presidents competition (individual), 4th place in the Presidents (team), and 4th place in the Propaganda competition. Max received a 4th place team medal in Propaganda. Way to go, Drake, Max, and Alex! Thank you for representing the Slippery Rock Area School District so ably at the Nationals. Commander Gearhart School board member, Captain Katee Gearhart, recently took over as Company Commander of Army National Guard Charlie Signal Company, 876th Brigade Engineering Battalion. The unit is based out of Washington, PA. The photo shows CPT Gearhart taking part in the ceremony this past February to make her Commander of the Company. There certainly are noy many Pennsylvania citizens who are active military and serve their local school districts as a school board member. We are very proud of you, Captain Gearhart! Thank you for your service to our students and our country.   Reminder School is in session on Monday, May 11. Last Day of school fof students is Thursday, June 11 (half day).   Contact information Slippery Rock Area School District 724-794-2960 https://www.slipperyrock.k12.pa.us/

Saturday, May 09 2026

April 2026 Newsletter

Rocket News & Updates April 19, 2026 Dear Rocket Families, The arrival of Spring in the Slippery Rock Area School District means baseball, softball, track & field, a middle school trip to Washington, D.C., and state standardized testing. Please see below for some news and updates that you find useful.   Updates Welcome, Mrs. Underwood! After advertising for the positon of Accounts Payable Secretary for our school district offices, we were fortunate to have one of our Rocket parents and community members apply for the position. Mrs. Jackie Underwood, who has experience working as an adminsitrative assistant with our local intermediate unit in Grove City, was approved by the SRASD School Board at the April 23 meeting. We are fortunate to have soemone with Jackie's talent and expertise joining our team in the district office! Jackie will officially begin working with us on April 28. Spring Student Advisory Many might not know this, but our food service contractor, Metz Culinary Management, meets twice a year with with a group of our students at the middle and high school level to gather feedback. They gain information regarding what the students like and what areas they would like to see improvement. They are also asked for creative suggestions based upon offerings that aren't typically seen on the menu. All of our meal offerings must pass through strict nutritional and serving guidelines as outlind by the National School Lunch program. Good Neighbors Last week, we found ourselves in a bit of a bind involving our high school musical as we had some stage light bulbs that burned out close to performance time. Time was short and the particular bulbs we needed were difficult to find. Our maintenance department threw out a lifeline to the SRU Theater Department to see about assistance. Technical Director for SRU Performing Arts, Mr. Michael Boone, visited our site at the high school, determined the light bulbs that were needed, made them available to us and then delivered the bulbs from the University Theater Department. The bulbs were installed hours before for our performance of "Anastasia" last week. We are extremely thankful for the generosity and helpfulness of our partners in edcuation, Slippery Rock University. PSSAs In Pennsylvania, the PSSAs (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) are the standard annual assessment used to measure student proficiency. Rocket students in grades three through eight will begin testing for English Language Arts (ELA) and math starting this Tuesday, April 21. For the 2025–2026 school year, the testing breakdown is as follows: • English Language Arts (ELA): Tested in Grades 3 through 8. • Mathematics: Tested in Grades 3 through 8. • Science: Tested in Grades 5 and 8. Key Details for 2026 • Format Change: As of this year, the PSSAs have transitioned to a fully digital format, meaning students will take the tests on district-issued devices (Chromebooks) rather than using paper and pencil. • Science Update: Science is now strictly for 5th and 8th graders. Weeekend Food Program SRASD is deeply committed to supporting our students' education and overall well-being. Our district’s Weekend Food Program is designed to "Bridge the Hunger Gap." Many of our children rely on the school meals we provide during the week. However, for too many, when the final bell rings on Friday, they lose access to reliable sources of food. Our program fills that void, ensuring that no student should wonder if they will eat over the weekend. Our mission is simple: to make sure every child has the fuel they need to grow, thrive, and return to school on Monday ready to focus and learn. Now in its 12th year, it is a true testament to the "Community Spirit" of the Slippery Rock Area School District. The program is an efficient one, thanks to caring employees such as our school counselors and school nurses AND our Middle School Student Council. We distribute approximately 70 bags filled with shelf-stable food, district-wide, every week of the school year, from August through June. Our Weekend Food Program is 100% financed solely by private and corporate contributions. We use monetary donations to purchase food through the Feed My Sheep organization in the Slippery Rock Borough and the Pittsburgh Food Bank. This ensures that strict compliance with food safety standards and the highest quality for our students. If you or your employer are willing to contribute to the success of our Weekend Food porgram, please contact us using the information provided below. Thank you and Go Rockets! Contact information Slippery Rock Area School District 724-794-2960 https://www.slipperyrock.k12.pa.us/

Sunday, Apr 19 2026

Community Update March 2026

Rocket News & Updates March 23, 2026 Dear Rocket Families, Spring sports have begun. Our high school musical is right around the corner. State achievement testing will soon be starting and many other events, field trips, and activities signal that spring is here! Here are a few updates for you for March:   Updates Kyle Aiken The Butler County Vo Tech Student of the Month is Slippery Rock Area High School senior, Kyle Aiken! Kyle is a third year BCAVTS student in the welding program. His teacher, Mr. Petronellis, says that "Kyle just stands out. His production and quality are outstanding. He is always working to assist others and helps with many projects around the shop." Kyle is a member of SkillsUSA and the NTHS at the BCAVTS. He is also a member of 4H Sporting Clays and works for his family's farm. Following graduation, Kyle plans on continuing work on the family farm and exploring the Steamfitters, as well. Mobile Museum Between the hours of 10am and 5pm on March 27 and 28, there will be a mobile museum Freedom Truck parked in the parking lot behind the Thai restaurant in Slippery Rock! The mobile museum commemorates America's 250th anniversary. It is an incredible opportunity for our school community to learn more about how our country gained its independence. A one-minute video on the site gives you a glimpse of what the mobile museum entails. All of our middle school students will be taking a walking field trip to view this unique, mobile museum. Other students and families are welcome to visit after school hours, as well. Click HERE for more information. Anastasia! Slippery Rock Parks and Recreation will present "Anastasia" by the SRHS musical team to our community this April 10-12! Based on both a stage play and the 20th Century Fox animated film from 1997, "Anastasia" is a historical fiction that imagines what may have happened if the young Princess Anastasia Romanov survived the violent overthrow of the Russian royal family in 1918. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, our protagonist, Anya, enlists the aid of a conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s in a quest to help her find home, love and family. You can still purchase tickets by clicking HERE. We hope you’ll join us for this dazzling production full of hope, humor, and heart. It features a multitude of dance styles, musical numbers, and a multitude of talent brought by our sensational cast and crew. The performance is under the direction of Deanna Sparrow. Spring Sports! Our varsity winter sports wrapped up their seasons in basketball, swimming, and wrestling. Our Rockets saw much success with State Finalists in swimming (Jordan Eckenrode, Gianna Savannah, and Roan Stouffer) and State Finalist in wrestling (Zac Tuberville) and the girls' basketball team making the PIAA Playoffs. Our spring varsity sports include baseball, softball, and track & field. If you are interested in attending any games or meets, you can find their schedules HERE. Accounts Payable Interested in working with us in the SRASD District Office? The Accounts Payable position is currently open and we are accepting applications. A brief description: Professional position available for the 2025-26 school year. Proficiency in Microsoft computer office software, strong communication skills, ability to meet deadlines, perform repetitive tasks, and basic transaction skills required. SRASD values dignity, loyalty, responsibility, respect and a genuine interest in the outcome of its students. Send letter of interest, resume, PA Criminal Record Check, Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI fingerprinting clearance to: Mr. Regan Hess, 201 Kiester Road, Slippery Rock, PA 16057. regan_hess@slipperyrock.k12.pa.us  Applications accepted until position is filled. Electronical or hard-copy application materials accepted. EOE. Welcome, Mr. Hilton! Mr. Elliott Hilton will be our new food service director through our sub contractor, Metz Culinary Management. Mr. Hilton has experience working in a variety of food service organizations and also has experience in the restaurant industry. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Youngstown State University and a Master's in Business Administration from Waynesburg University. Mr. Hilton will spend most of this week getting acclimated to our school district through an orientation program. We feel fortunate to have someone with his knowledge and experience working with us! Reminder As you plan family vacations and activities for the 2026-27 school year, a reminder that our school district calendar for next school year can be found HERE. Also, there is NO SCHOOL for students or staff on Friday, April 3.   Contact information Slippery Rock Area School District 724-794-2960 https://www.slipperyrock.k12.pa.us/

Monday, Mar 23 2026

February 2026 Update

Rocket News & Updates February 15, 2026 Dear Rocket Families, We have quite a few interesting updates for you as we begin the second semester and watch the snow melt away. Our 100th day of school will be coming this week, also. Watch our social media accounts for great pics of our kindergarteners (and their teachers!) dressed up as 100-year-olds. Enjoy the rest of February as we spot robins returning and look forward to Spring!   Updates Mr. Paul Cessar Longtime SRASD business manager, Paul Cessar, will be retiring at the end of this month. Paul began his tenure with us in 1989 and shortly thereafter, he and his wife, Missy, moved the family to Slippery Rock where they raised four children in our school district. When you think about the excellent financial position our school district has enjoyed for the past 36 years, much of this success can be attributed to Paul's meticulous accounting and safeguarding of our taxpayers' money. Best of luck to you in retirement, Paul! Thank you for 36 years of dedicated service to our students, staff, families, and taxpayers. You will be missed. Girls Basketball - Undefeated Region Champs! Congratulations to our 2025-26 Girls Basketball Team! The Rockets finished the regular season undefeated in Region play and with an astounding 17-4 regular season record! Coach Steele will now lead our Rockets into the playoffs beginning this coming Saturday vs. Oil City. Good luck, girls! Rock Shop Our brand new Rock Shop is now open in our high school! Although outfitted to have the look of a modern coffee shop, the area is indeed an instructional space which is operated by our students and supervised by our teachers. Students in good standing may substitute their study hall time with a visit to the Rock Shop. The Rock Shop, along with our new music suite, administrative offices, cafeteria, kitchen, media center, and LGI, highlight the conclusion of our two-year high school renovation project. Meal Distribution Many thanks to our food service workers, several teachers, support staff, and administrators who helped to distribute 300 meals to families in our school district during the week of January 25. The snow kept students away that week, but we were able to still provide many with needed food.   Reminder No school for students on Monday, February 16. Contact information Slippery Rock Area School District 724-794-2960 https://www.slipperyrock.k12.pa.us/

Sunday, Feb 15 2026

January Update

Rocket News & Updates January 27, 2026 Dear Rocket Families, Our hope is to get our Rockets back in school and back to in-person learning as soon as possible. That is always our educational priority. Below are a few updates and pieces of information for our Rocket families.   Updates Snow Makeup Days We have now exhausted our four, original snow makeup days for the 2025-26 school year (see below). We may also be able to utilize instructional time our students have already spent in school to avoid adding time to the school day or days to the end of the school year. We will keep you posted on that possibility. Snow Makeup Day #1: We made up this day on January 19. Snow Makeup Day #2: We will make up this day on March 13. Snow Makeup Day #3: We will make up this day on April 2. Snow Makeup Day #4: We will make up this day on April 6. Since we have already utilized two flexible instruction days (FIDs) for one of our schools, we now only have three such days available for the remainder of the school year. If, for some reason, we use all of our PA Department of Education-allotted FIDs, we have the flexibility to provide a different modality of instruction (alternative learning day) that would look similar to a FID but still count as a day. Rest assured that we will look into all options available to us to deliver needed instruction to our Rockets. Kindergarten Registration The following dates are scheduled for our upcoming Kindergarten Registration: Moraine Elementary  Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Slippery Rock Area Elementary  Friday, March 6, 2026. Please contact the respective office to schedule a time: Moraine Elementary School: Mrs. Klingensmith 724-865-2010 x5002 Slippery Rock Area Elementary School: Mrs. Brochetti 724-794-2960 x4001 Age Requirement: Children must be five years of age by August 1. Documents Required: child's birth certificate, child's immunization record, proof of residency. 1,000 Points for Madison! Earlier this month, senior student-athlete, Madison Romanovich, scored the 1,000th point of her high school basketball career! Playing with an excellent team around her, Madison and the entire varsity basketball team are singularly motivated by much more than individual accomplishments, but we still celebrate this outstanding milestone for Madison! Go Rockets! You can check out the remaining schedule of all of our winter sports HERE.   Contact information Slippery Rock Area School District 724-794-2960 https://www.slipperyrock.k12.pa.us/

Tuesday, Jan 27 2026