The Dragon Digest

One of the quieter—but very real—upgrades happening around Jarrettown lately has been inside our classrooms. If you’ve heard your child mention new desks or chairs, there’s a good reason…they’re excited about them!

A huge thank you to Julian Drennan for spearheading the work to refresh elementary classroom furniture across the district. In more than a few rooms, we had desks and chairs that were older than the teachers using them—which made this update long overdue.

We’re also incredibly grateful to the Upper Dublin School District School Board for recognizing the need and making this investment in our students. The new furniture is more ergonomic, more comfortable, and better suited for the kind of flexible, collaborative learning we see every day in our classrooms. Additionally, the new chairs have anti-anxiety, "fidget-like" properties built in, from the bounce inherent to the chairs to the tactile calming strips on the edge of the seats.

And the kids have absolutely noticed. From traditional desks to more flexible seating options, students are already making the most of the new setups—settling in, getting comfortable, and focusing on their learning in ways that feel natural to them.

It’s one of those behind-the-scenes improvements that really does make a difference in the day-to-day experience for our students, and we’re thankful for the support that made it happen.

In partnership,

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 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.

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

A reminder that as we are in the middle of PSSAs, please remember that your student won't be bringing home a Chromebook this week, and note that no other electronic devices are allowed during testing - all phones and smart watches need to remain in student backpacks. You can support your child’s success by making sure they are well-rested and have a healthy breakfast each morning. See the PSSA letter below for more information.

PSSA Information

Just a reminder that Spring Fest is only two weeks away!

An email was sent home to parents last week, and our PTO still needs volunteers to help make this event amazing!!

Here’s the fun part—there’s a grade-level competition!

For every adult who signs up to volunteer, that child's grade earns a point.

The grade with the most points by next Friday, May 1st will win a special reward: Pajamas, Popsicles, and Playtime - extra recess!

Here are the results so far:

1st Place - Kindergarten (10 volunteers)

2nd Place- Second Grade (9 volunteers)

3rd Place- Fifth Grade (8 volunteers)

Help your student's class win and come join the fun!

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

Join us on Thursday, April 30 for the annual Allied & Performing Arts Show. Take a walk through the lobby and hallways of the Upper Dublin High School Performing Arts Center, transformed into a gallery featuring artwork by students in grades 4–12 from across the district. Food trucks will also be on site if you’d like to enjoy dinner.

Allied Arts Flyer

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.

The Upper Dublin Theatre Department proudly presents its Children’s Theatre production of "Tea for Two" on Saturday, May 2. There are two opportunities: 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM. This event will feature a host of characters you know and love, from princesses to monsters! There will be performances, as well as interactive activities such as coloring, planting, and learning proper manners while you have lemonade, iced tea, and cookies! Costumes for little ones are encouraged for photo opportunities with our characters!

Tickets here