Haverford Middle School Newsletter

Clubs and activities have officially begun, and we are excited that HMS students have so many opportunities to find something that interests them!

Getting involved is about much more than filling time after school. Research suggests that participation in extracurricular activities during the middle school years is associated with stronger feelings of belonging, greater school engagement and academic motivation, and positive academic outcomes. These opportunities give students another place to build relationships, discover new interests, develop skills, and feel connected to their school community.

Middle school is a time when students are figuring out who they are and where they belong. Sometimes, a club, team, activity, or group is where a student finds their people and their place.

We encourage every student to explore the opportunities available at HMS and find something that makes them excited to get involved!

I hope everyone has a great weekend. To those who observe Yom Kippur, have an easy fast.

Our Back-to-School Night is an open-house format designed to give families a chance to experience HMS! Both students and their grownups are invited to attend their grade-level evening, visit classrooms, meet teachers, and get a feel for what middle school is like.

There are no formal presentations, so families are welcome to move throughout the building during the hour. Before attending, we encourage families to view our staff videos to learn more about your child’s teachers and courses. These videos can be watched at your convenience before the Open House.

Grade-level Open Houses will take place from 5:30–6:30 p.m.:

• 6th Grade: September 22
• 7th Grade: September 23
• 8th Grade: September 24

And there’s a little extra incentive for our students to join us! Students who attend Back-to-School Night will be entered into a drawing to win one of nine free HMS yearbooks!

We look forward to welcoming you to HMS and giving our students the chance to show their grownups around their school!

Staff from the Haverford Township Free Library are joining us in the HMS Library during all three Back to School Nights. Stop by to sign up for a library card and grab flyers detailing upcoming youth programs and events.

A library card unlocks access to the entire Haverford Township Library system for your student. To apply, adults simply need to present a valid photo ID showing their current home address.

Eighth grade is an important year for building independence and preparing for the transition to high school. We know that students are still developing the organizational and time-management skills needed to manage multiple classes, assignments, and deadlines. Our goal is to work together to help students take ownership of their learning while providing the support they need to be successful. Please see the file below from the 8th grade teams.

For our full attendance policy please review policy 204 and its accompanying administrative regulations.

Late arrivals

• Students must report to the main office if they arrive after 7:50 AM to receive a late pass
• Students will provide a note to the main office when they enter school

Absences

• Email MS-attendance@haverfordsd.net and include the name of your child, grade, date of absence, and reason for absence within 3 days of the absence.
• Excused absences include illness, bereavement, medical or dental appointments, pre-approved religious instruction, pre approved educational travel, and others.
• Please be mindful of the 5 day maximum for pre-approved educational travel.
• Students may be excused from school when observing a bona fide religious holiday.

Early dismissal

• Early dismissal notes should be delivered by the student to the main office before they go to homeroom
• Please review your early dismissal plan with your child before they come to school
• Communicate in your note if your child has permission to leave school on their own
• We will give your child a note to check in at the main office before being picked-up or leaving school on their own

Self-Sign Out from School

If your student needs to leave the building for an appointment and plans to walk, this is an example of the email or letter that should be sent.

I , parent/guardian, am allowing student and grade on date at time to sign themselves out and walk to location on their own. They will/will not return to school after the appointment.

Parent/guardian signature

Eighth grade athletes, please see the notice below about the Haverford High School Athletics Open House on October 1st at 6:00.

We are excited to introduce our clubs and activities for the 2026–2027 school year! Getting involved is a great way for students to meet new people, explore their interests, try something new, and feel connected to the HMS community.

This week, we are sharing two resources to help students and families learn about the opportunities available:

Clubs and Activities Slide Show
This presentation provides an overview and description of the many clubs and activities offered at HMS.

Clubs and Activities Schedule
This is a live document that will be updated weekly with club and activity meeting dates. Meeting information will also be shared with students during morning announcements.

Clubs and activities may begin as early as September 14, so we encourage students to start exploring their options!

Both resources will continue to be updated throughout the school year and will remain available on the Clubs and Activities page of the HMS website.

It is time for our fall spirit wear sale. Please find the flyer and link below. All orders should be placed by September 28th.