Haverford Happenings

Please read the latest publication on Academic Achievements in the District.

The Future Educator’s Academy is an exciting program facilitated by the Delaware County Intermediate Unit providing interested high school students the opportunity to explore education as a potential career. Students engage with education professionals from across Delaware County while developing their philosophy of education. Their work will culminate in a spring showcase of their learning at the April symposium.

"Teaching is an inspirational and honorable profession in which individuals have the opportunity to prepare students with the skills necessary to create a better world. The impact of a passionate and effective educator can last a lifetime. I am honored to work with this exceptional group of students as they learn more about the field of education, and potentially return one day to our district to help shape future generations of Havertown students," says Leon Smith, HHS History Teacher.

Chestnutwold Elementary recently kicked off its "Caught Spreading Sunshine" campaign. Students were caught by others engaging in kind acts during Kindness Week. Winners received a car magnet that reads, "I was caught being kind at Chestnutwold" (donated by the PTO). Students reported these observed/experienced kind acts by filling out a slip and placing it in their classroom collection box. This campaign will continue after Kindness Week ends, with bi-weekly drawings. All collected slips will also be sent home with the students as a reminder of their kind acts. The hope is that these kind acts it will continue to grow the community and a sense of belonging at Chestnutwold.

National School Counseling Week is February 5-9, 2024. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Our Elementary Counselor's Connection is an exceptional source for a variety of resources and is published monthly to help navigate school and life. The 2024 theme is "School Counseling: Standards-Based, Student-Focused."

As a reminder, students may be excused from school when observing a religious holiday, which is observed by a bona fide religious group, upon prior written notice from the parent/guardian. Please communicate upcoming absences to your building secretary so that they may be reviewed and recorded appropriately in our student information system.

Other excused absences include bereavement, medical or dental appointments, pre-approved religious instruction, pre-approved educational travel, and others. For our full attendance policy, please review Policy 204 and its accompanying administrative regulations.

The School District of Haverford Township requires verification of continued residency in the township and confirmation of contact information for students in fifth (5th) and eighth (8th) grade who plan to attend Haverford Middle School and Haverford High School in September 2024. In accordance with Board policy #200, Enrollment of Students, the District requires each student’s residency to be verified by parents/guardians or other adults with whom the student resides prior to June 30, 2024.

Families can submit their verification documents through their PowerSchool parent account (PowerSchool Parent Accounts) starting March 1, 2024.

Each student verification requires two (2) acceptable documents, as outlined in the policy, in their entirety with the address and name(s) clearly indicated. Examples of acceptable documents include:

• Deed

• Settlement Statement

• Current Lease Agreement

• Current Property Tax Bill

• Current Utility Bill

• Current Credit Card Bill

• PennDOT Identification Card

Documentation submitted by families will be reviewed for authenticity and accuracy beginning in May and continuing through June. Once your child’s documents have been verified, confirmation will be communicated through your PowerSchool parent/guardian account. Failure to verify residency and contact information by June 30th may result in the initiation of a nonresident student removal proceeding in accordance with Board Policy 202.

If you encounter a problem during the process please contact your building administrative assistant.

The DCIU is pleased to provide our community with information and resources to help bring awareness to various topics around mental health literacy.

Your Mind Matters: Prioritizing Mental Health

Taking care of your mental health is not just about seeking help when you're not feeling well; it's

also about maintaining your overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

• CDC: About Mental Health

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

Research has shown that physical activity has a positive effect on mental health. Physical activity can impact mental health, behavior, attention and academic performance, and cognitive development.

• Benefits of Physical Activity

Please join our district speech therapists to learn about augmentative and alternative communication.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

6:00 - 7:00 PM

Haverford Middle School Library

Congratulations to Janiene Kwoczak, Haverford Middle School's art teacher, for receiving a $500 mini-grant from the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union Foundation The grant will be used to fund the purchase of two Inventables, kid-safe cardboard-cutting power tools that will be used for their STEAM cardboard units.

Congratulations to Lucy Fleischauer, Keira Hornung, Max Keating, Norah Kneafsey, Ava Miller, Emilio Ovalle, and Annie Thompson who were chosen to represent Haverford High School and perform at the PMEA 2024 (Pennsylvania Music Educators Association) District 12 Chorus Festival. David Fernandes is their Choir Director at Haverford High School.

The Haverford Middle School Drama Club is pleased to present

Ronald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr.

Thurs. Feb. 29th & Friday March 1st, 7:00 pm

Saturday March 2nd 2:00pm & 7:00pm

Haverford Middle School Auditorium

Families across the district actively engaged in service and learning activities to commemorate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. We extend our gratitude to our Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs) for their hard work in organizing these events.

This month's Cultural Connection is presented by the HHS No Place for Hate Club.

Black History Month

People to Know:

1. Ruby Bridges was one of the first and one of the youngest children to desegregate the school system. At age 6, Bridges formally attended a white school in New Orleans, making history following the decision of Brown vs. Board of Education.

2. Malcolm X was one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and a Muslim activist. Known for his violent and unique views, Malcolm spoke out for people across the globe and for government reform.

3. Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman to serve in Congress. She represented New York’s 12th district and made many strides for economic, social, and political equality during her seven terms in the House of Representatives.

Word/Phrases to Learn:

1. “Equality Versus Equity” -Equality is giving people equal resources and opportunities regardless of background and origin, whereas equity is about giving people what they need to have the same opportunity to succeed, even if this means that they do not receive the same resources or opportunities as others.
   

2. Intersectionality: Inclusion that overlaps across groups. The way of understanding how different identities can impact experiences and can influence discrimination.

On days when it snows, our Facilities and Maintenance staff work hard to remove snow from all our buildings. This ensures that the sidewalks and parking lots are safe for both students and staff.

We are lucky to have several schools with excellent hills for sledding, and we are happy to see them used when it snows. We kindly request that parents and guardians move their parked vehicles when our staff arrives to clear snow. We are not asking you to leave the sledding hill, but to please move your vehicles to allow our team to do their work. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter of safety.

The Haverford community is invited to the second informal chat with some school board members at the Community Conversation February 29th at Lynnewood Elementary School.

The School District of Haverford Township utilizes BoardDocs, an online, paperless resource for all school board meetings. Here you can find the agenda, meeting minutes, video replay, and board policies. The meetings are live-streamed on YouTube.

Regular and Committee Board Meetings will be held at Oakmont Administration Building.

*NOTE NEW TIMES FOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Upcoming Meetings:

• February 8: Finance & Facilities Committee Meeting at 6:30 PM
• February 8: Curriculum and Pupil Services Committee Meeting 7:15 PM
• February 15: Regular School Board Meeting
• February 22: Policy Committee Meeting at 6:30 PM
• March 7: Regular School Board Meeting

All presentations and videos can be found on BoardDocs.

Lynnewood Elementary School, Kath Elko, Abbie Spardaro, Jaimi White, and Jillian McGillvery shared highlights of Special Programs, including Autistic Support, Life Skills Support, and Emotional Support, at the board meeting with the Board and community.

You can view the presentation here.

February 7: High School Bands/Jazz Winter Concert at 7:00PM HHS Auditorium

February 16: Early dismissal for all students

February 19: Presidents’ Day Holiday (schools & offices closed)

February 29: Community Conversation at 7:00 PM Lynnewood Elementary School

March 25-29: Spring Vacation

April 1: Teacher In-Service -no school for students

2024-2025 Calendar (At a Glance)

Do you or someone you know need a job? Look no further.

You can find full and part-time employment opportunities on our website.

The mission of the School District of Haverford Township is to educate and to inspire a community of lifelong learners who become well-rounded global citizens.

Website: https://www.haverford.k12.pa.us/
Location: 50 East Eagle Road, Havertown, PA, USA
Phone: 610-853-5900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haverfordsd.net
Twitter: @haverfordsd