Skip To Main Content

Penn-Delco Kicks Off 2026-27 School Year With “All-Stars Everywhere”

Penn-Delco Kicks Off 2026-27 School Year With “All-Stars Everywhere”

Penn-Delco School District officially welcomed staff back for the 2026-27 school year on Thursday, September 3, with a baseball-themed Opening Day celebration at Sun Valley High School. With the theme All-Stars Everywhere, the event celebrated the people who make up the Penn-Delco team and set the tone for a new school year.

The morning brought the energy of a ballpark to Penn-Delco, with Sun Valley Assistant Principal Joseph Peleckis serving as the event’s stadium announcer.

Sun Valley students Lucy Esposito and Amaya Howard opened the celebration with the National Anthem, followed by remarks from Board President Leon Armour, PDEA President Keith Henning and Superintendent Dr. George Steinhoff. Dr. Steinhoff shared a collection of words of wisdom from baseball legend Yogi Berra, using Berra’s memorable observations to offer perspective and encouragement for the school year ahead.

One of the morning’s highlights was the ceremonial first pitch, thrown by Natalie Hosterman of Aston Elementary, the longest-serving member of the Penn-Delco Education Association. Hosterman was recognized for her years of dedication to Penn-Delco students and colleagues before taking the mound to officially throw out the first pitch.

The celebration also welcomed the district’s newest employees, recognizing those beginning their first year as members of the Penn-Delco team.

Staff members celebrating significant years of service were recognized as well. Each honoree received a service pin and a custom Penn-Delco trading card commemorating their years of service.

The morning also featured keynote speaker Dave Raymond, entrepreneur, original Phillie Phanatic and creator of The Power of Fun. Raymond brought his trademark energy and message about the importance of fun, connection and positive experiences to the Penn-Delco team.

The event concluded with some friendly competition and a little nostalgia during a Wii Baseball Home Run Derby. With one staff member from each building stepping up to the plate, Sun Valley’s Adria Bondanza emerged as the winner and took home the 2026-27 Wii Home Run Derby title.

Opening Day was a chance to celebrate the start of a new school year while recognizing the people who make Penn-Delco what it is. From the newest members of the team to those who have dedicated decades to the district, the morning was a reminder that All-Stars are everywhere across Penn-Delco.

 

A group of cheerleaders in navy and gold uniforms with pom-poms stand in two lines in a hallway with glass doors and brick accents.
Illuminated %222026%22 numbers and a baseball glove sit on a table covered with a baseball-themed cloth, with a dark, out-of-focus background.
A man in a blue suit and a white shirt with blue trim speaks at a podium with the Sun Valley High School logo, against a dark background.
Two young women sing into microphones on a stage with the NBC Sports Philadelphia logo in the background.
A smiling woman in a %22Penn-Delco%22 shirt holds a baseball and glove in the foreground, while a man stands behind a podium with a %22Sun Valley High School%22 logo in the background.
A man stands on a stage in front of a large screen displaying cartoon characters, with balloon sculptures of baseballs in the foreground.
A man in a Penn-Delco shirt gestures with his hands on a dark stage.
A man in a blue and white baseball shirt stands at a podium with the Sun Valley High School logo, speaking in front of a dark background.
In the foreground, a crowd of people are looking towards the background where three individuals in matching blue and white shirts stand on a raised platform in front of a wooden wall.
A crowd of people in penguin hats and blue shirts cheer with flags and signs in a room with acoustic paneling on the walls.
Two women in penguin hats smile at a man in the foreground, while a crowd of people in similar hats fills the background.
Three smiling women in matching Penn-Delco shirts are seated in an auditorium with other spectators in the background.
A man in a blue and white shirt stands at a podium with a school logo, speaking into a microphone against a dark background.
A group of eight people stand on a stage in front of a screen displaying %2210 YEARS OF SERVICE%22 and framed pictures, with a pile of baseballs and balloons to their right.
Five adults stand on a stage in front of a black curtain with a %2220 Years of%22 banner, while balloons and a green surface are visible at their feet.
A group of eight adults in matching %22Penn Oaks%22 shirts stand on a stage in front of a banner that reads %22OF SERVICE,%22 with baseballs and bats decorating the foreground.
Four people stand on a stage with baseball-themed decorations in the foreground, while a large screen in the background displays %22Penn Delco School District 30 Years of Service%22 and images of cartoon characters.
Two men in matching %22Penn-Delco%22 shirts stand in front of a purple background with white text.
A young woman is being lifted by a crowd in the foreground, while a dark wall with a wooden trim forms the background.
Four people stand on a stage in front of a large screen displaying a baseball video game, with four balloon sculptures of baseballs in the foreground.
Three smiling men in matching %22Penn-Delco%22 shirts pose in the foreground, with a blurred crowd and convention hall in the background.

More News

No post to display.