The Tigers' Pride - Summer Edition

As we come to the close of another outstanding school year, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the extraordinary students, staff, families, and community members who make the Marple Newtown School District so special. Throughout the spring, we have celebrated inspiring artistic performances, academic achievements, acts of inclusion and service, athletic success, and so many moments that reflect the talent, dedication, and spirit of Marple Newtown. This newsletter offers just a glimpse of the many ways our students have learned, grown, and shined throughout the year.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in making these meaningful experiences possible.

I wish all of our students and families an enjoyable summer together.

Sincerely,

Tina M. Kane, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

This spring, Culbertson Elementary was transformed into a vibrant celebration of creativity, literacy, and the arts during our 2026 Evening of the Arts.

Visitors enjoyed an impressive collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and mixed-media projects displayed throughout the building. To make the experience even more engaging, Ms. Bialy created a scavenger hunt for students and families to enjoy as they explored the exhibits. Fifth-grade students also played an important role in the event by designing photo booth props and creating colorful tissue-paper flowers that welcomed guests to the show.

As part of the evening’s festivities, families also enjoyed our Book Fair Family Night. The event was filled with excitement as students and their families browsed books together, celebrated the joy of reading, and supported our school library. The Book Fair served as a wonderful reminder of the important role literacy plays in connecting our school community and inspiring lifelong readers.

To round out the evening, select fourth and fifth grade instrumentalists and the fourth-grade choir delighted a packed audience with outstanding musical performances. Their talent and dedication provided a memorable finale to a night dedicated to celebrating the many ways our students learn, create, and shine.

Congratulations to all of our student artists, musicians, and performers for making the 2026 Evening of the Arts such a tremendous success. Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped make this special night possible.

Throughout the school year, we celebrate student creativity and achievement through the Superintendent’s Art Recognition Nights. The final two events of the 2025–2026 school year were recently held at the Administration Building and showcased the talents of students from Worrall and Russell Elementary Schools. These special evenings highlight the creativity, dedication, and passion of the District’s young artists while also providing a meaningful opportunity for recognition and conversation about the importance of the arts in education.

Loomis Elementary students rolled out the red carpet for a Hollywood-themed Field Day that was truly worthy of an Emmy! Students were divided into star-studded teams, including the Oscars and Grammys, and participated in creative activities inspired by favorite movies and characters.

Under the creativity of Mrs. McCarthy, students enjoyed a variety of engaging stations, including matching movie characters, digging for gingerbread men in the sand, racing to put Olaf back together before he melted in the sun, and conquering an inflatable slide. Laughter, teamwork, and school spirit filled the day from start to finish.

A special thank you goes to the Loomis PTO, our dedicated staff, and parent volunteers for helping create a safe, memorable, and fun-filled experience for all students.

Loomis Elementary School's fourth and fifth grade students recently showcased their musical talents during the annual Spring Concert under the direction of Mr. Dan Peters.

The performance featured the fourth and fifth grade choir, Orff ensemble, and Ukulele Club, providing students with opportunities to demonstrate their hard work, creativity, and growth as musicians. Families and community members filled the audience to support the performers and celebrate the arts.

The evening highlighted not only students' musical achievements, but also the confidence, teamwork, and dedication required to prepare for a successful performance. Congratulations to all of the student musicians and a special thank you to Mr. Peters for inspiring a love of music in our students each day.

The Marple Newtown School District is grateful to receive a $3,024.34 donation through The GIANT Company’s annual Feeding School Kids initiative, a customer-driven program dedicated to combating childhood hunger in local school districts. Running from January through March, the program invites customers to round up their purchases to support school food programs, with funds helping provide resources such as school pantries, weekend food packs, and meal debt relief. Over the past four years, Feeding School Kids has raised more than $7.5 million, making a meaningful impact on students and families across the communities it serves. This generous contribution will help ensure our students have access to the nutritious support they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

Marple Newtown School District is proud to recognize the students who participated in the Delaware County Bar Association’s annual Law Day Poster Contest, which encourages young learners to reflect on important civic values such as the Constitution, the Rule of Law, fairness, justice, and opportunity. This year’s contest invited students to design posters showing what the American Dream means to them, giving students a meaningful opportunity to express their understanding through creativity and art.

Marple Newtown was well represented in this year’s competition, with student winners from across the District. Maeliana Wang, a first grader from Culbertson Elementary, Alessandra Sioutis, a fifth grader from Loomis Elementary, Lillian Soung, a fourth grader from Russell Elementary, and Collins DeLiberty, a fourth grader from Worrall Elementary were all recognized for their outstanding work which earned them a win in their respective age group categories. The students were honored at the Delaware County Courthouse in Media , where winners were recognized by the Delaware County Bar Association and the Court.

MNSD congratulates Maeliana, Alessandra, Lillian, and Collins, on this wonderful achievement. Their posters reflect artistic talent and a thoughtful understanding of the ideals that shape our communities and our country.

Russell Elementary celebrated Inclusion Week with activities and events centered on kindness, acceptance, and ensuring that everyone feels valued and included. Organized by the dedicated Life Skills Team, the week encouraged students and staff to celebrate all individuals. Students participated in a fun spirit week, meaningful Morning Meeting discussions, poster and essay contests, and activities that promoted empathy and understanding throughout our school community. Festivities wrapped up with the annual Bubble Walk, filling the afternoon with smiles, bubbles, and school spirit.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make Inclusion Week such a meaningful experience for our students and staff. At Russell, we are stronger when everyone feels they belong!

Russell Elementary fifth students brought history to life as they researched famous figures from Colonial America and the Revolutionary War, created informative trifold displays, dressed in costume, and presented as their historical figures. From inventors and soldiers to leaders and spies, students worked hard to become experts on their chosen person and share their knowledge with visitors.

This exciting project tied in perfectly with the end of their Social Studies unit on Colonial America and the Revolutionary War and connected beautifully to the students recent field trip to the Thomas Massey House. It was amazing to see students make real-world connections between what they learned in class and the colonial history they explored firsthand.

We are so proud of the hard work, creativity, and confidence our 5th graders showed during this memorable experience!

Each year, Worrall celebrates Earth Day with fun whole-school activities. This year, students enjoyed a scavenger hunt, with younger students paired with older students to guide them. We made use of our entire campus, including the adjacent woods. Students hunted out all sorts flora, fauna and natural phenomena, checking each off their lists. They also got to enjoy the recycled art displayed outdoors they previously created in Art class. At the end of the event, we all relaxed outdoors and read our favorite books together. Thanks to all the teachers who made this special event happen!

Marple Newtown School District is proud to recognize those who were honored at the Delaware County Right to Education Local Task Force’s Making a Difference Awards in May.

These annual awards celebrate individuals who support and promote inclusion for students with disabilities, helping create school communities where every student feels valued and empowered to succeed.

Congratulations to this year’s Marple Newtown honorees:

• Mrs. Chelsea Hanrahan, Teacher and her 4th grade class, Russell Elementary
• Lauren McAleer, Student, Marple Newtown High School Student
• Ms. Victoria Messina, Teacher, Culbertson Elementary Teacher
• Mrs. Kathryn Fleming, Teacher, Culbertson Elementary Teacher

We are proud of these recipients for their compassion, leadership, and commitment to making a difference every day!

Race for the Record brought together the top runners in grades 3, 4, and 5 from all four elementary schools in the Marple Newtown School District for an exciting districtwide competition. Representing their schools with pride, students raced against one another to earn the fastest times while dressed in their school’s designated team color. The event showcased not only speed and determination, but also school spirit, sportsmanship, and the strong sense of community shared across our elementary schools.

1st Place Overall: Julian Sofield Culbertson 4th Grade

2nd Place Overall: Rowan Wright Culbertson 4th Grade

3rd Place Overall: Soutiri Sapnas Loomis 3rd Grade

3rd Grade Top Runner: Soutiri Sapnas Loomis

4th Grade Top Runner: Julian Sofield Culbertson

5th Grade Top Runner: Courtney Grob Loomis

Female Top Runner: Courtney Grob Loomis 5th Grade

Top Male Runner: Julian Sofield Culbertson 4th Grade

Paxon Hollow Middle School and Haverford Middle School came together this spring for the annual Potter Cup, raising more than $30,000 to support childhood cancer research and families impacted by childhood cancer.

Despite rainy weather throughout the day, student enthusiasm remained strong. Participants enjoyed rides and inflatables, danced with friends, and cheered on classmates during competitions in lacrosse, softball, baseball, and track and field. The event once again highlighted the power of collaboration, school spirit, and generosity.

The Potter Cup continues to be a meaningful tradition for both school communities, giving students an opportunity to come together in support of an important cause while creating lasting memories.

Paxon Hollow Middle School gifted students in grades 6, 7, and 8, had an unforgettable day at the James A. Byrne Courthouse in Philadelphia. Taking on the roles of lawyers, witnesses, and jurors, they gained a deeper understanding of the legal system while strengthening their critical thinking, public speaking, and teamwork skills. From nervous beginnings to confident performances, these students showed they can argue a case and think on their feet. It was a great example of the power of hands-on learning.

Paxon Hollow Middle School’s music students had an outstanding spring season, earning impressive ratings at the High Note Festival after months of dedicated practice and preparation.

Students performed for adjudicators, who evaluated each ensemble based on musicianship and performance quality. Following the festival, students also enjoyed a field trip to Dorney Park to celebrate their hard work and accomplishments.

Paxon Hollow earned the following ratings:

• 6th Grade Orchestra – Excellent

• 6th Grade Band – Excellent

• 6th Grade Chorus – Superior

• Tiger Tones Select Chorus – Superior

• 7th Grade Band – Superior

• 7/8 Grade Orchestra – Excellent

• 8th Grade Band – Superior

• 7/8 Grade Chorus – Superior

These achievements reflect the talent, dedication, and commitment of Paxon Hollow’s student musicians and music staff.

Paxon Hollow Middle School is proud to recognize a team of 7th grade students who earned the Fire Protection Engineering Award at the Future City Competition held in January. The Future City Competition is a nationally recognized STEM program that challenges students to imagine, research, design, and build cities of the future while addressing real-world engineering challenges. Through this experience, students develop skills in collaboration, problem-solving, communication, and engineering design.

This year's award-winning team included Danica Manion, Violet McCunney, Alessia Szurek, Chloe Tascione, Jack Duranti, Alfie Kleiner, Pia Marino, Bridget Moruzzi, Ella Pinto, Apostolia Serevetas, Anusha Shah, and Olivia Tien.

The team's project was recognized for its outstanding application of fire protection engineering principles in city design. In recognition of their achievement, the team was awarded a $225 prize. We congratulate these students on their outstanding accomplishment and thank them for representing Marple Newtown with creativity, innovation, and excellence.

Marple Newtown’s Hi-Q team was recognized at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg for an outstanding 2025–2026 season. Invited by State Representatives Lisa Borowski and Jennifer O’Mara, the team attended a session of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where they were honored from the gallery by the Speaker of the House. During a recess, team members were welcomed onto the House floor, providing a unique opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments.

The recognition highlighted the team’s remarkable achievement of winning both the Delco Hi-Q Championship and the National Hi-Q Championship. The visit served as a fitting tribute to the students’ dedication, academic excellence, and outstanding representation of Marple Newtown on both the local and national stage.

Pictured (L-R): State Representative Jennifer O’Mara, Faculty Advisor Liz Landes, Riley Carmichael, Hailey Kwon, Ryu Lam, Quynh Le, Nangsa Z’Ningray, Garcy Kaur, Diljit Singh, Elaine Varughese, Tristan Lowe, Evelyn Alen, Kevin Callahan Jr., Ted Dong, High School Principal John Beltrante, and State Representative Lisa Borowski

This year, the baseball team competed in a tough Central League schedule and finished 10–10. We played strong baseball throughout the season and were in every game except one, with five losses coming by just one or two runs.

Our players showed up, worked hard, stayed positive, and gave great effort all season. We also went 4–0 in non-conference games, though those did not count toward playoff points. A season highlight was our win at Wilmington Blue Rocks Stadium against one of Delaware’s top teams, giving our players a memorable experience in a minor league setting. We also had a successful Spring Training trip to Florida with 23 players in attendance.

Our camp and clinic participation continues to grow, and fundraising has increased in each of the last four years. Team captains were Jackson Burger, Sean Grogan, Aidin Curran, and Kevin Wigo.

Senior Jackson Burger and sophomore Kevin Agger were both named All-Central League Second Team Outfield. Jackson Burger and John Matthews were also finalists for the Barrett Memorial Scholarship.

This year, girls track had an outstanding season. After Indoor Nationals, the team never missed a beat.

Justine Rimple led the way, qualifying for Districts in the 100, 200, and 400 while breaking school records in all three events. She also helped Daisy Edelman, Jewel Byju, and Brynn Binder set a school record in the 4x200, becoming the first Marple relay team to run under 1:50. Justine won the 200 at Delcos, placed second in the 100, earned first- and second-place finishes at CAL Championships, and finished her season by placing fifth at Districts and competing at the State Championships. She was named First Team All-Delco and First Team All-CAL.

The 4x800 team of Jess DeMaio, Avery DeCecco, Lex Massey, and Daisy Edelman broke a 31-year-old school record with a 9:37.74 and became the first Marple 4x800 relay team to qualify for Districts. Avery qualified for Districts in the 1600 and 3200, while Jess qualified in the 800, 1600, and 3200, becoming the first Marple distance runner to qualify for all three events at Districts. Both earned Second Team All-Delco and Second Team All-CAL honors.

This season marked the most girls and events our program has ever qualified for at the District Championships.

The MNHS Boys Track & Field team had one of the best seasons in school history, excelling in both league and invitational meets. The team finished fourth in the Central League regular season with an 8–3 record and placed sixth overall in the league after the Central League Championships.

The season included several school records. The District-qualifying 4x100 relay team of Ryan Wise, Chris Reynolds, Carmine Fante, Isaac Tran, and Garrett Dhunjisha set multiple records. The 4x400 team of Nate Holt, Garrett Dhunjisha, Chris Reynolds, and Alex Williams set a school record at the Penn Relays while earning medals. The District-qualifying 4x800 team of Jacob Albanese, Julian Bothma, Cole Wozniak, and Jim Murphy also set a new school record. Reed Pennington, coming off a state indoor silver medal, set a school record in the pole vault at 15 feet.Alex Williams led the way in the 400, winning Delco and Central League titles, earning a seventh-place medal at Districts, and placing eighth at States as Delaware County’s top finisher while setting a school record of 48.80.

Despite a losing record, our 2026 flag football team showed determination, resilience, and steady improvement all season. The players competed hard every week, and several games came down to the final moments, with just a few plays separating us from victory.

Our non-league schedule was especially challenging, and this was a rebuilding year after graduating several key contributors from last season. Even so, the experience gained, growth shown, and competitive spirit displayed by our players built a strong foundation for the future. The team’s effort, attitude, and commitment are something everyone can be proud of, and the girls are already looking forward to next season.

We also had several players earn All-Central honors: Hanna Lin (DB), First Team; Gabby Kristo (Center) and Julian Ribeiro (DB), Second Team; and Angel Nguyen (DB), Sarah McCarthy (WR), Leah Edelman (LB), and Elyza Moore (LB), Honorable Mention.

The varsity girls lacrosse team finished an outstanding season with a 15–3 regular-season record and a 16–5 mark overall. We opened the year with statement Central League wins over Garnet Valley, Ridley, and Radnor, and earned the No. 5 seed in the District 1 playoffs, receiving a first-round bye. In the postseason, we defeated Upper Dublin before falling to Avon Grove in the third round.

This team’s dedication and unity defined the season and led to several individual milestones. Rowan Hilden reached both 500 and 600 career saves, Riley Mattson recorded 300 career points, Jonica Wark reached 100 ground balls, Olivia Gicking collected 100 draw controls, Amelia DiValerio scored her 100th career goal, and Ryan McGowan reached 100 caused turnovers.

Amelia DiValerio, Riley Mattson, and Rowan Hilden earned First Team All-Central honors. Olivia Gicking was named Second Team All-Central, while Ryan McGowan, Jonica Wark, and Lizzie Murray received Honorable Mention. Amelia DiValerio was also recognized as a USA Lacrosse All-Academic selection, and Ryan McGowan, Brynn Battersby, and Riley Mattson were named to the PASLA All-Academic Team.

MN softball was 12-8 in the regular season. Big wins against Springfield, Conestoga and Strath Haven helped earn the 7 seed in district playoffs. The first round was a home playoff game against Unionville, and we won 9-2. We lost in the 2nd round to Springfield.

We had 6 All-Central selections.

2 for 1st team - Siena Adams, Kirsten Adams.

2 for 2nd team - Nicole Semerjian and Claire Maholick

2 for Honorable Mention - Brooklyn Basile and Alexa Nefferdorf.

The Boys Tennis team opened the season with tryouts and challenge matches to establish a new singles and doubles ladder. Despite cold, windy conditions early in the year, the team competed hard and adjusted well.

Eight seniors provided strong leadership on and off the court. Ben Edwards and Yianni Gouvias represented MNHS at the Central Athletic League Singles Tournament. In doubles, Noah Saal and Chris Lee competed as Doubles 1, while Shane Eynard and Sean Eynard represented the team as Doubles 2 at the Central Athletic League Doubles Tournament.

The season concluded with a team banquet featuring games, awards, and team gifts. In the postseason, we also held our third semiannual “MN Tennis Unite” event, bringing together the boys and girls teams for a day of fun competition, relays, and point play.

The Boys lacrosse team had a good year finishing at 14-6 and losing in the second round of the District playoffs. The success we have achieved over the past 4-5 years has opened the door for national power teams to come to Marple to compete. In addition to our normal central league schedule, we hosted perennial Ohio powerhouse Worthington Kilbourne and a very good Northern New Jersey team in St Joseph's Metuchen this year. The boys worked hard all year and although we didn't make it to the State championship as we have in each of the previous 4 years, the boys fought hard through multiple injuries to key players through the season and entered the playoffs as the #1 seed. We are very proud of these young men and what they have accomplished, especially our seniors who have participated and won 3 state championships during their 4 years here.

Player Accolades:

• Evan Kostack: All American, All State, 1st team All league, broke the Programs All-Time points record
• Jace Kostack: All State, 1st team All league, Moved into 2nd All time in the programs history for Assists
• Brett Wolski: All State, 1st team All league, broke the Programs All-Time ground ball record
• Liam Merchant: Academic All American
• Henry Benner: Honorable Mention All Central