District Newsletter

From May 4 to May 8, we observed Teacher Appreciation Week—a special time to recognize the dedication and transformative contributions of our LMTSD educators. Their commitment ensures that every learner is supported every single day.

The passion our teachers bring to student success is exceptional. Even amidst the evolving challenges in public education, they consistently find innovative ways to inspire and connect with their students, reaffirming their pivotal role in our community.

Every LMTSD teacher brings our district’s vision to life: providing a nurturing and empowering environment where student growth is both celebrated and sustained. Their daily efforts turn this vision into a reality for our families.

On behalf of the administration, the Board of School Directors, and the LMTSD community, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all LMTSD teachers. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and for instilling a lifelong love of learning in our students.

Hello, Lower Moreland Community! We, the Student Representatives [Izabella Philip and Yuki Wu] for the 2025-2026 school year, are excited to share with you the School Climate updates for the month of May from Pine Road, the Middle School, Murray Avenue, and Lower Moreland High School.

At Pine Road, the building buzzed with excitement as they hosted its Annual Art Show, which again proved to be a resounding success. The event transformed our hallways into a vibrant gallery while simultaneously showcasing the diverse talents and hard work of the elementary school's student body. The Annual Art Show likewise helped boost student engagement as they took great pride in their art pieces while involving parents in their children’s artwork– ultimately fostering a sense of community and pride in the school’s art curriculum.

The school’s student ambassadors additionally took initiative in recognizing the essential work of the school’s transportation team. By distributing snacks and handwritten messages of gratitude to bus drivers, Pine Road’s student leaders fostered a positive school culture and taught the importance of community appreciation.

As for Murray Avenue, students similarly remained involved with school activities through their participation in spring sports and musical performances. From having different professional workshops to LionVoice’s various achievements (e.g. competing in their annual competition and bringing back awards!), Murray Avenue has been filled with joy and productivity!

Lower Moreland Middle School similarly had their “Decades Spirit Day” and their Spring Book Fair! Students were able to dress up in whatever decade they wanted– the 80’s seemingly being the most popular among them! To add onto this school fun, their student council organized a movie night on May 8th, where families are able to have fun together and relax! Even though they have PSSA Testing, they notably have had lots of fun!

Finally, students at Lower Moreland High School had an extremely busy month. Primarily, students a part of the Drama Club hosted their Spring Musical, where they put on an amazing performance of The Little Mermaid! With their amazing makeup, costumes, and singing voices, they amazed the crowd and were subsequently nominated for the Independence Awards! The students in the high school yet again displayed their amazing musical talents at their Band, Choir, and Orchestra concerts, where they performed with their seniors for the final time as well. Different clubs at the high school– among them the National Honors Society (NHS), the Interact Club, and the Asian Cultures Club– additionally gave back to the community through the NHS’s annual Blood Drive, Interact Club’s work with Make-A-Wish and the ASFP Suicide Prevention Walk, and Asian Culture’s Club embracement of Asian American Pacific Isalnder Month manifested in a trip to Philadelphia, Chinatown! Overall, this month has been filled with productivity, and we can’t wait to see what next month has in store!

The LMTSD Music Department received the 2026 Best Communities for Music Education Award from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 27th year, the program continues to spotlight and celebrate school districts and individual schools across the United States for their exemplary dedication to music education and their ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access to music learning as part of a well-rounded education.

Recipients of the 2026 BCME Awards were selected through a comprehensive application and review process that evaluates key indicators, including funding, instructional time, participation rates, facilities and community support. To uphold the program’s rigor and credibility, all applications were independently reviewed and verified by WolfBrown, a leading research and evaluation firm specializing in education and the arts.

The NAMM Foundation recognizes Lower Moreland for the outstanding efforts of teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who are making music part of a well-rounded education for every child in the community.

Adrienne Nicastro has been nominated for an Independence Award in two categories, Lead Actress and also Female Vocalist, for her role as Ariel in Lower Moreland High School's production of The Little Mermaid. Ria Koemets, who designed all the makeup looks for the whole cast, and her makeup team of Katelyn Haggerty and Mya Park, who helped to execute those looks, were also nominated in the Makeup Category.

The Independence Awards recognizes outstanding achievements in high school theater in the Philadelphia region. The awards ceremony will be held on May 19th at Miller Theater in Center City.

As technology evolves, our district is committed to ensuring our students and staff are prepared for the future. On April 20th, members of our district leadership team joined forces with county leaders for the latest session of the MCIU AI Think Tank.

This collaborative group brings together educational leaders from across the region to discuss the rapidly changing world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). While AI can be complex, these meetings are designed to help us turn big ideas into practical, everyday tools for our schools.

The spring session focused on four key areas to ensure responsible technology use:

• Ethics & Policy: Creating clear guidelines for how AI should and shouldn’t be used.

• Teaching & Learning: Finding ways AI can enhance the classroom experience for students.

• Privacy & Data: Making sure our students' information remains safe and secure.

• Efficiency: Using new tools to help our schools run more smoothly.}
  
  

The goal of this partnership is to move beyond technical conversations and focus on real-world classroom use. By participating in these regional discussions, we can learn from our neighbors and ensure our district remains a leader in responsible technology.

We are excited to announce that we have committed to continuing our partnership with the AI Think Tank through the 2026-2027 school year. As a participant of the the AI Think Tank, we are ensuring that our staff and students have the best support and resources available as we navigate the future of education together.

On Wednesday, April 29, the Lower Moreland Township School District was proud to host our Family Wellness and Prevention Night in the Lower Moreland High School Library. Organized by the LMTSD Wellness Committee in partnership with the Saint Joseph’s University (SJU) Prevention Academy, the evening was a dedicated space for families and caregivers of students in grades 7-12 to come together, learn, and discuss the vital role we all play in guiding our students through their adolescent years.

Funded through a generous grant from the Delaware County Opioid Settlement Fund, this partnership with the SJU Prevention Academy is deeply rooted in the philosophy of cura personalis—caring for the whole person. For our district, this means not only caring for today’s youth but also supporting and empowering the adults who care for them daily. The programming was designed to inspire health and wellness, encourage positive decision-making, and foster prosocial identity development among our students.

During the two-hour workshop, prevention specialists guided attendees through a wealth of critical information. Parents and caregivers explored current youth substance trends, unpacked social norms and misperceptions, and learned effective strategies for talking to teens about substance use. The presentation also tackled the pressing issues of stress and mental health, equipping families with protective parenting strategies and connecting them with valuable community resources. By providing these tools, we aim to build a strong bridge of communication and support between home and school.

Events like the Family Wellness and Prevention Night directly reflect our district's Strategic Plan Priority 4: Safety and Wellness. This priority affirms our commitment to ensuring a safe and supportive school environment by prioritizing the physical and mental well-being of our students and staff. We firmly believe that comprehensive health and safety initiatives must extend beyond the classroom and into the wider community. By arming our families with education and resources, we are working collaboratively to eliminate barriers to our students' success and well-being.

We want to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who attended, shared a meal with us beforehand, and participated in these important conversations. The Office of Teaching and Learning, alongside the LMTSD Wellness Committee, looks forward to continuing this vital partnership with the SJU Prevention Academy and offering more opportunities for community engagement in the future. Together, we are building a healthier, stronger, and more supportive Lower Moreland.

Each May, National Speech-Language-Hearing Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role that some of our more specialized staff members play in providing support to students with communication needs. These dedicated professionals work with students with speech, language or hearing needs to support the development of skills necessary for success in the school environment.

The Office of Student Services would like to highlight the importance of the services provided by our Speech Pathologists and Hearing Support Teacher. This team is responsible for screening, evaluating, and providing specially designed instruction to students who require support with articulation, expressive and receptive language, and hearing loss. Thank you to:

Speech Pathologists:

Courtney Benner

Maria Bishop

Danielle Koellner

Hearing Support Teacher:

Christina Stokes

Dennis H. Best, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Email: dbest@lmtsd.org
Website: www.lmtsd.org
Location: 2551 Murray Avenue, Huntingdon Valley, PA, USA
Phone: 215-928-0272