The Tigers' Pride: Spring Edition

As we move through another exciting season in the Marple Newtown School District, let us be inspired by the energy, creativity, and accomplishments of our students and staff. This edition of The Tigers' Pride captures so many of the moments that make our schools such special places to learn and grow, from special celebrations in our elementary classrooms to outstanding achievements in academics, the arts, and athletics across all grade levels.

Throughout this newsletter, you will see countless examples of student success and community connection. Whether it is students coming together to celebrate a love of reading, showcasing their creativity through art and music, engaging in meaningful service, or achieving recognition at regional and state levels, each story reflects our shared commitment to excellence and our TIGER PRIDE in action.

Thank you for your continued support of the Marple Newtown School District.

Sincerely,

Tina M. Kane, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Our kindergarten students celebrated the 100th day of school with big smiles and even bigger excitement as they marked 100 days of learning, growing, and making new friends! Classrooms were filled with creative “100” collections. From colorful sticker charts to towers built with 100 cups, and students proudly showed off their decorated shirts covered in 100 sparkly items. There were counting games, special crafts, and lots of giggles as everyone reflected on how much they have learned since the very first day. The children are one hundred days smarter and still shining bright!

Students at Culbertson Elementary celebrated Read Across America Week with a colorful display of school spirit and a shared love of reading. Throughout the week, students dressed in different colors each day while participating in activities that highlighted the excitement and importance of literacy. The celebration concluded with a special visit from Marple Newtown High School students, who joined classrooms to read aloud with younger learners. This meaningful activity brought the school together, giving students the opportunity to connect with older reading role models and making the week a memorable celebration of books, learning, and literacy.

Culbertson Elementary is proud to recognize fifth grader, Jack Tascione, who was named a winner in the American History Essay Contest hosted by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Jack earned first place at the local chapter level and went on to place second in the state competition.

This year’s theme, “Lunch with a Signer,” challenged students to imagine meeting one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence and explain their impact on American independence. Jack was honored at a recent chapter ceremony, where he read his winning essay.

Congratulations to Jack on this outstanding accomplishment!

Excitement is building in the Culbertson March Madness Book Tournament! What began as a bracket of 16 outstanding titles has been narrowed to the Elite 8, the Final 4, and now the championship round. Students across the school have been casting their votes and cheering on their favorite books, with each round bringing tough matchups, surprising upsets, and plenty of lively debate about which stories deserve to advance.

Adding to the excitement, the tournament trophy recently received a major upgrade, now featuring a brand-new plaque that proudly displays the names of past championship winners. Soon, another title will earn its place on the trophy and in tournament history.

This year’s finalists are Be Quiet! by Ryan T. Higgins and Mr. Fox’s Game of “NO!” by David LaRochelle. The winner will be announced on Friday, March 27.

At Culbertson Elementary, art teacher Ms. Jill Bialy is bringing creativity and innovation together by incorporating her YouTube channel into classroom instruction. What began in 2020 as a way to stay connected with students during remote learning has evolved into a meaningful tool that continues to support student success today.

This school year, Ms. Bialy reintroduced instructional videos as part of her art curriculum, particularly with a multi-step fifth grade project. By pairing her in-class demonstrations with recorded lessons, students are able to revisit directions, pause when needed, and work at a pace that best supports their individual learning. This approach builds independence and helps reduce confusion, keeping students engaged throughout the creative process. An added benefit of this approach is that students who are absent can easily access the lesson and stay on track, ensuring all learners have the opportunity to succeed.

Ms. Bialy has already begun expanding her collection of videos across multiple grade levels and looks forward to continuing this work. Her dedication to blending creativity with innovative instructional practices is a wonderful example of how Culbertson teachers are enhancing learning experiences for all students.

Our second grade Loomis students proudly wrote about their hobbies and talents and shared them on display for grownups, siblings, and fellow students to enjoy. The encouragement of all that attended made the event extra special for our young learners. What a fun way to learn about one another!

Fourth and fifth grade Loomis students welcomed the Year of the Horse by participating in a joyful Lunar New Year Festival after school. This parent-led, voluntary initiative gave students the opportunity to learn about Lunar New Year traditions while celebrating culture through movement, music, and teamwork. Student performers taught their peers about the symbolism of dragons and lions, which represent strength, good luck, and protection, as well as the meaning behind Lunar New Year celebrations. The festival featured fan dancers, lion dances, and a dragon performance, creating a meaningful and memorable cultural experience for all who attended.

Loomis first graders arrived to quite the surprise on St. Patrick’s Day, with leprechaun mischief everywhere! Classrooms were in disarray and tiny footprints were spotted throughout the rooms. After days of creating and building leprechaun traps at home with their families, students brought them in hoping to catch the culprit. But once again, the tricky leprechauns escaped!

Russell fifth graders shined at the Reading Fair. Each student created a trifold display about a book they selected and proudly presented their work to classmates and visitors. Their displays included detailed summaries, character analysis, favorite quotes, and creative visuals. The displays highlighted both their understanding of the books and the effort they put into their projects. The students showed impressive confidence while speaking about their books and answering questions.

We are very proud of their creativity, hard work, and love of reading. It was a wonderful way to celebrate literacy and the growth they have made throughout the year!

Marple Newtown School District participated in the annual PMEA 5/6 Chorus Fest at Springton Lake Middle School. Under the direction of Larysa Dragonetti, Alex Dragonetti, Daniel Peters, Jonathan Ruths, and Georgia La Rue, students prepared for the festival through dedicated rehearsals leading up to the event.

Festival conductor Nathan Wadley, Training Director for the American Boychoir School and founder of the Philadelphia Girls Choir, led the students in rehearsals and guided them in a beautiful and artistic performance.

Congratulations to the following elementary students named to PMEA 5/6 Delco Band Fest Honor Band. This band features the best 5th and 6th grade band students from across Delaware County. These students worked with Dr. Hannah Morrison from West Chester University to perform a concert at Drexel Hill Middle School on March 19th:

Culbertson: Reed Warner, Charlie Madrak, Joey Pinto, Frankie Ghobrial

Loomis: Ari Angelakos, Miles Chachula, Penelope Kwoczak

Russell: Melody Buonadonna, Charlotte Mercer, Holden DiCaprio, Sam McGill

Worrall: Justin Jung, Bryce Bowman, Lacey McDermott, Fox Goldman

Congratulations to the following elementary students named to the PMEA 5/6 String Fest Honor Orchestra which features the best 5th and 6th grade string students from across Delaware, Chester, and Philadelphia Counties. They will will work with Ms. Adriana Linares from West Chester University and perform a concert at Owen J. Roberts High School on Thursday, April 9th:

Culbertson: Lucy Junod

Loomis: Kayla Zhang

Russell: Maisie Wang

Worrall: Natalie Kelly

The Marple Newtown High School Concert Choir performed at the State Capitol on Friday, March 20. Here is a great post shared by Senator Tim Kearney on Instagram highlighting their visit.

Following their performance, students traveled to Messiah University, where they participated in a full day of learning and collaboration with professors and guest artists. Highlights of the visit included a choral workshop with Dr. Joy Meade, a voice masterclass with soprano Othalie Graham, where MN’s own Kayden Braegger had the opportunity to perform, and a behind the scenes tour of the opera stage with Dr. Damian Savarino.

Worrall students have been hard at work making a positive impact through two exciting and meaningful fundraisers. Their recent Coin Olympics pop-up event brought the whole school together, with each grade level representing a different country and competing in a friendly challenge to raise funds. Along the way, students learned about their assigned countries while practicing teamwork and school spirit. A portion of the proceeds was donated to the Special Olympics, supporting athletes of all abilities. Congratulations to our first grade students for taking home the win!

Worrall also showed incredible generosity during their annual Jump Rope for Heart event in support of the American Heart Association. In the weeks leading up to the big day, families and students contributed to the cause, building excitement for the high-energy celebration. When the event arrived, the gym was filled with enthusiasm as students jumped, cheered, and supported heart health. Thanks to the amazing support of our school community, Worrall raised over $9,400 this year. We are so grateful to everyone who helped make both of these events such a success!

Each year, Worrall Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade Students participate in Party Like a Penguin to highlight the winter season. This interdisciplinary event allows students to enjoy learning about penguins in ELA and Science, with tie-ins for all their Unified Arts classes. All K-2 students and staff are encouraged to dress like a penguin, and they all looked great!

The culmination of this learning is the chance for the entire grade level to enter a winter wonderland, where they can “skate” around a pond, sing songs, dance, hear poems, and have a generally good time! Thanks to all the teachers who make this special community building time possible for our youngest students.

At the March 24, 2026 Regular Board Meeting, the Marple Newtown School District Board of School Directors proudly celebrated the excellence of its award-winning educators.

Music teacher Dan Peters of Loomis Elementary was named the 2025–2026 MNEA Teacher of the Year by the Marple Newtown Education Association in recognition of his outstanding dedication to the music program. Jenna Foley, a teacher at Loomis Elementary, was selected as a recipient of the Delaware Valley Excellence in Teaching Award, presented by the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union Foundation. This honor recognizes 20 exceptional educators across the Philadelphia region for their innovation and impact.

Also honored for winning their schools nomination for this prestigious award were Kate Fleming (Culbertson Elementary), Michele Dougherty (Russell Elementary), Neve Marino (Worrall Elementary), Lindsay Toriello-Uliasz (Paxon Hollow Middle School), and Kerri Confora (Marple Newtown High School).

In addition, Lindsay Toriello-Uliasz, a Life Skills teacher at Paxon Hollow Middle School, received the Citadel Heart of Learning Award from Citadel Credit Union, which recognizes outstanding educators across the Greater Philadelphia area.

Together, these educators represent the passion, leadership, and commitment that make Marple Newtown exceptional.

Marple Newtown elementary students recently showcased their creativity and engineering skills at the DCIU K’Nex STEM Challenge, where teams from across the region are given a theme and tasked with designing and building an object using K’Nex building materials. This year’s theme, “Eco-Factory: Building Sustainable Production Machines,” encouraged students to think creatively about how engineering and innovation can support a more sustainable future. Working in teams, more than 320 students from across Delaware County designed and built machines that demonstrated how products can be produced efficiently while reducing waste and conserving energy. Competing against 63 teams, our Marple Newtown students delivered an outstanding performance. Culbertson Elementary earned a first-place finish, Worrall Elementary captured third place, and a Loomis Elementary team was recognized for the quality of their engineering journal work.

A special congratulations goes to Team AI Data Architects, Alanna and William Grier-Roddy and Lucy Junod, who earned 1st place for their impressive project, “Sustainable AI Data Center of the Future.” Their innovative design and strong presentation will now advance them to the State Competition at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, where they will represent Marple Newtown among the top teams in Pennsylvania.

In early March, Paxon Hollow Middle School kicked off a new tradition with its first Alex’s Lemonade Fun Day, an evening full of energy, fun, and community spirit. With more than 300 students in attendance, the event brought together grades 6–8 for a night to remember.

The highlight of the evening was a 36-team volleyball tournament, where students competed in custom-designed t-shirts and filled the gym with excitement. Beyond the courts, smiles and laughter could be found everywhere as students took on the “Meltdown” bounce house, raced on the bungee run, danced to great music, enjoyed food and drinks run by Student Council, or simply spent time with friends. Most importantly, the event united the Paxon Hollow community in support of the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, raising over $2,400 for pediatric cancer research.

A big thank you to our students, staff, and community members for making this first Fun Day such a tremendous success, proving that a fun night can also make a meaningful impact.

The Paxon Hollow Drama League delivered a terrific performance during the final weekend of February with its dazzling production of Meredith Willson’s, The Music Man. Under the direction of Paxon Hollow music teacher and Drama League advisor Georgia La Rue, the show brought to life the story created by Meredith Willson following Harold Hill’s scheme to swindle River City, Iowa while unexpectedly falling in love with the one woman determined to expose him. The production featured energetic singing and dancing set to beloved numbers including Seventy-Six Trombones, The Wells Fargo Wagon, and Shipoopi.

Mrs. La Rue’s program focuses on providing students with meaningful opportunities to take the stage as they prepare for the high school’s esteemed drama program. The collaborative process behind the production allows students to explore acting, singing, dancing, set design, and the technical elements of lighting and sound, creating a well-rounded and uniquely engaging experience that connects students to something truly special.

Performing before a sold-out audience, Jude Ruf and Ella Pinto led the cast as Professor Harold Hill and Marian “the Librarian” Paroo. The production showcased the power of community, highlighting the dedication of student performers, the guidance of teachers, and the strong support of families and community members. Together, they made this classic piece of American theatre a memorable moment for the entire Paxon Hollow community.

Marple Newtown’s Hi-Q team won the Delco Hi-Q Championship, earning the prestigious Donna Zerby trophy and returning to cheers and applause from hundreds of students gathered in the high school main lobby. In the team’s second consecutive championship appearance, Marple Newtown delivered an impressive performance, defeating Radnor and Upper Darby with a final score of 58–53–35. This victory marks the program’s sixth Delco Hi-Q title, and its first championship win since 2008. Delco Hi-Q, now in its 78th season, is the nation’s longest continuously running academic quiz competition, featuring 21 Delaware County teams. With this accomplishment, the team will advance to represent Delaware County at the national level.

The girls’ indoor track season was marked by tremendous success. Justine Rimple had another standout year, setting new school records in the 60m, 200m, 400m, long jump, 4x200 relay, and distance medley relay (DMR). Her achievements earned numerous meet medals and the title of All-Delco Field Athlete of the Year, her third All-Delco honor.

Sloane Smith also had an exceptional season, setting four school records and ranking in the top 10 in the state in multiple events. She became the third female track athlete in school history to medal at the PIAA State Championships, earning 8th place and securing All-Delco recognition. Avery Dececco was also named All-Delco after running a 5:20 mile and playing a key role on the top-ranked DMR team in the county. Talia Croy broke a shot put record that had stood for nearly 15 years, while Gabby Nelson broke her own hurdle record before contributing to the record-breaking 4x200 relay.

As a team, the girls made history by qualifying for the Meet of Champions in every relay for the first time ever, with multiple athletes and relays earning medals. The team also had its largest group of competitors ever at the Meet of Champions, including Daisy Edelman, Lex Massey, Jewel Byju, Justine Rimple, Keira Bethke, Talia Croy, Avery Dececco, Sloane Smith, Gabby Nelson, Jessica DeMaio, Brooke Davis, Julia Lee, Kamryn Smith, Olivia Gorski, and Ryan McGowan.The season concluded with a trip to Boston to compete at the National Championships, marking the first time Marple Newtown athletes have reached this level of competition. The DMR team of Avery Dececco, Justine Rimple, Jessica DeMaio, and Sloane Smith broke their own school record, placing 2nd in their heat and 21st overall out of 65 teams. Justine also competed in the open 200m during the national meet, capping off an extraordinary season.

Step back to the yearbook of 1938, where snapshots of school life at Marple Newtown High School capture friendship and fun. From students forming human pyramids and riding bikes to hosting 25-cent chicken dinners, these memories remind us that while times may change, the joy of growing up together in Marple Newtown remains timeless.