The Dragon Digest

This past week gave us one of those really nice reminders of what school can and should feel like.

Our students’ artwork was on display at the Allied Arts Show at Upper Dublin High School, showcased gallery-style alongside peers from across the district. There’s something powerful about seeing our kids’ work presented that way—framed, thoughtfully displayed, and treated with the same care you’d see in any gallery—because that’s exactly what it deserves. Our students weren’t just participating…they were contributing to something bigger, and it showed.

Back here at Jarrettown, we also hosted the Monster Meet Up, which was every bit as joyful and creative as it sounds. Our kindergarten students designed their own wonderfully imaginative monsters—full of personality, color, and just the right amount of chaos. Those designs were then handed off to high school art students, who took on the challenge of bringing them to life as sculptures.

On Friday, those young designers met the artists who built their monsters, and it was a really special moment. You could see it in their faces—kindergartners realizing their ideas had been taken seriously, and high school students clearly proud of the responsibility they’d been given. It was creative work, but it was also connection, mentorship, and a shared sense of pride across grade levels.

What I keep coming back to is the timing of all of this. These experiences happened right in the middle of PSSA season.

The PSSAs matter. They give us important information and help us reflect on how we’re doing instructionally. We take them seriously. But they are not the end all and be all. They are not the full picture of who our students are, or what it means to grow and learn.

This week, Upper Dublin made that point pretty clearly.

In between testing sessions, our students were imagining, creating, collaborating, and seeing their ideas come to life. They were solving problems, taking risks, and experiencing the kind of joy that comes from making something that didn’t exist before. They were being kids. They were being artists. They were learning in ways that don’t always show up in a data report—but absolutely shape who they become.

That balance isn’t accidental. It’s a choice.

And weeks like this remind us that when we make space for both—high expectations and human experiences—we get something pretty special.

That’s the kind of learning environment we’re committed to building here at Jarrettown, and it makes me proud to be a Dragon. It makes me proud to be a Cardinal.

Together,

We’ve got some very cool news to share—and it comes with a soundtrack.

Thanks to Theo Johnson, Jarrettown is the proud recipient of a $1,000 Bookshop gift card for new books! Theo took home the 2025 Grand Prize in this year’s Book Song Challenge, a creative (and honestly pretty impressive) competition where students write and perform songs about their favorite books.

And here’s the part that really gets me—this is Theo’s third Grand Prize win. Third! At this point, it might be time for the rest of us to just accept that we’re witnessing greatness in real time.

Theo (along with sister Josie) represented Jarrettown in this year’s challenge, and as always, our students showed up with creativity, energy, and a real love of reading. If you haven’t seen Theo’s winning performance yet, it’s worth a watch—head over to @WayPastBooks on Instagram and check it out.

We’ve also included a flier with more information about the Book Song Challenge, and I’d really encourage you to take a look. It’s such a fun way for students to connect reading, creativity, and a little bit of performance. No recording contract required—just a willingness to give it a shot.

Who knows…we may already have next year’s winner walking our halls.

Way to go, Theo—and thanks for helping us add some great new books to our shelves!

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Mrs. Richter needs volunteers to help run each game station. If you are willing and able to volunteer your time (even one session is a huge help!) please click here and complete the necessary information.

Please Note: Pennsylvania state law now requires all school volunteers to have their Level I clearances in order to work directly with students. Obtaining the clearances is a very quick process. They must be turned into the HR department on Ft. Washington Avenue prior to Field Day, at which time you will receive a District Tier 1 Volunteer card. The clearances will be good for any school activity for 5 years.

Please use the following link to obtain your Volunteer Clearances.

Dear Parent/Guardian:

In planning for our upcoming Field Day celebration on May 22nd, I am requesting your help. I am planning an underwater theme for this year, complete with an opening ceremony!

Mrs. Farrell has graciously agreed to help me by allowing the students to draw their team’s sea creature on a tee shirt in art class. If you could please send in a white tee shirt the week of May 11th during your child’s scheduled art day that would be great!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I may be reached at krichter@udsd.org. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kristy Richter

Health and Physical Education Teacher

Jarrettown Elementary School

krichter@udsd.org

Next month, we will host orientations for parents and guardians of incoming kindergarteners for the 2026–2027 school year. These sessions provide a valuable opportunity to meet our team, learn what to expect next year, and have your questions answered. Please note that orientations are open to families of registered students only, so be sure your child is enrolled.

JTES Kindergarten Orientation Date (For Parents Only)

May 27 @ 9:30AM

Enroll Now

The theme of UDSD’s upcoming Employee Appreciation Week is Growing Greatness. We are proud to recognize all members of our Cardinal team for their dedication to supporting student growth and helping every learner reach their potential. To share your appreciation, we invite all members of our school community to print and cut out the leaf design (linked below), write a note of gratitude, and deliver it during the week of May 4–8.

Printable Leaf Note

We are excited to host our district’s Celebration of Cultures on Monday, May 11 at 5:30PM in the UDHS Cafeteria. This is a special evening to share traditions, connect, and celebrate the diversity of our community. Join us to enjoy traditional foods, cultural displays, and/or hands-on activities like crafts or dance, all facilitated by UDSD students, staff, and families.

Join us in honoring all of the recipients at the 42nd Annual Upper Dublin Medals program on Wednesday, May 20. Presented by Upper Dublin Township, the Upper Dublin School District, and the Upper Dublin Education Foundation, this inspiring evening brings us together to celebrate exceptional members of our community.

UD Medals Tickets

The Keystone Scholars Program is a statewide initiative that provides a $100 scholarship for every child born to a Pennsylvania family beginning in 2019 to support future postsecondary education expenses. Families may use these funds between ages 18–29 for technical programs, college, apprenticeships, and credentialing opportunities.

Keystone Scholars