Haverford Happenings

A select group of students nationwide is honored each year as National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists or Commended students. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition among high school students for recognition and college undergraduate scholarships Out of the 1.5 million students who take the PSAT/NMSQT® tests, about 16,000 qualified as Semi-Finalists across the country and are in the top 1% of test-takers in their state and 34,000 students who score in the top 2–4% of PSAT/NMSQT takers are named Commended Scholars. We are very proud of our scholars!

Semi-Finalists: Maxwell Fischer, Lucas Gillihan, Eli Miller, Michael Swann, and Wren White.

Commended Scholars: Cole Bannister, Brian Bausman, Lucas Brannen, Thomas Foster, Dylan Khan, Zachary Kraut, Nils McCallion, Eli Miller, Hannah Nelson-Poteet, Erica Persch, Benjamin Quinn, Carissa Uy, Oliver Van Batavia, Mia Verges, and Grace Walsh.

Each year, thousands of high school students across the country submit their portfolios for the Advanced Placement (AP) Art and Design exams. But only a few earn the exceptional distinction of a perfect score, an achievement that showcases outstanding creativity, technical skill, and dedication. Haverford HS had two students reach this level, Annie Fenton and Abby Simpson.

A perfect score on an AP Art exam means that a student’s portfolio earned the maximum possible points from every evaluator. The AP Art and Design program, encompassing 2-D Design, 3-D Design, and Drawing, requires students to submit a portfolio that showcases both sustained investigation and selected works, revealing their personal vision and mastery of artistic techniques.

Students who earn perfect scores stand out for their ability to combine originality with rigorous artistic process. Their work often reflects months (or years) of experimentation, critique, and revision. Teachers play a crucial role, guiding students through exploration and helping them refine their artistic voice.

Check out their designs work! Abby Simpson's portfolio and Annie Fenton's portfolio.

As shared during the June 5, 2025, School Board meeting, the School District of Haverford Township will no longer level English Language Arts (ELA) classes in 4th and 5th grade. Leveling is a practice where students are divided into two sets of classes based on academic performance criteria. This change reflects our district’s continued commitment to educational equity and our belief in maintaining high expectations for all students. For more information, you can view the full School Board presentation using this link.

Teachers will provide differentiated instruction within the classroom to meet individual learning needs while ensuring that every student engages with rich, grade-level content. Gifted, Individualized Education Plans, and 504 agreements will continue to be implemented as written and determined by the appropriate team.

We are grateful for your continued partnership in providing meaningful, rigorous, and inclusive learning experiences for all students.

Executive Functioning training provided to all staff this summer highlighted the importance of incorporating executive functioning (EF) skills into everyday teaching practices to help students develop into more reflective, organized, and independent learners. Adapted from Executive Skills in Adolescents by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare, the training encouraged educators to use common language around EF skills, such as planning, organization, time management, and self-regulation, and to intentionally name and reinforce these skills through classroom routines and activities. It highlighted that teachers already incorporate EF skills naturally, but can strengthen student outcomes by explicitly connecting these behaviors to learning goals, thereby improving communication with both students and parents and fostering more effective, objective, and supportive learning environments.

Thanks to the generous support of the Haverford Education Foundation, Lynnewood Elementary School celebrated the Grand Opening of its new StoryWalk on September 15th.

A StoryWalk is an innovative approach to literacy that combines reading and outdoor activity. Pages from a children’s picture book are mounted along a walking path, allowing readers to move from page to page while enjoying the outdoors. This engaging concept promotes literacy, physical activity, and community connection.

The Lynnewood StoryWalk is available for classes and community members to enjoy year-round. A rotating selection of picture books will be featured throughout the year, curated in collaboration with the school’s Student Ambassadors.

The annual Haverford High School Activities Fair brought energy and excitement to the gymnasium last week as students explored the wide variety of clubs, sports, and organizations available to them. From robotics to theater, environmental advocacy to debate, there was something for every interest and curiosity.

Tables lined the gymnasium as over 90 club leaders proudly shared information, displayed projects, and encouraged new members to get involved. Whether students were drawn to academic competitions, artistic expression, community service, or leadership opportunities, the fair offered a firsthand look at the many ways to connect beyond the classroom.

The School Meals Report Card survey will provide valuable insights into satisfaction and preferences at both local and national levels. This feedback will enable us to make meaningful improvements to our meal programs, ensuring they better meet the needs of the School District of Haverford Township and the community, and ultimately enhancing K-12 school meal programs nationwide.

The success of this initiative depends on participation. The survey will be available to SDHT families from October 13 to November 7, 2025. Please check your email for the survey.

Your child(ren) may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals.

APPLY ONLINE: Click here to complete the online application: https://www.schoolcafe.com/

INSTRUCTIONS: Click here for School Cafe instructions or watch this video for instructions on using School Cafe.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: Please review the eligibility information for your household here.

APPLY PAPER:

• 2025-2026 PA Free & Reduced Price Meals/Special Milk Household Application (paper) - English
  
• 2025-2026 PA Free & Reduced Price Meals/Special Milk Household Application (paper) - Spanish
  
• Free & Reduced Application Translations

The National School Lunch and Breakfast Program (NSLBP) is a federally assisted service that helps schools provide meals in over 100,000 public and non-profit private schools, as well as residential child care institutions.

If you have any questions, please contact Donna Miles or (610) 853-5900 x7142.

This year, community members age 65 or older and/or military personnel can receive a “Golden Ticket” for free entry into HHS Athletic games by emailing rdunlavy@haverfordsd.net and scheduling an appointment. After October 13th, community members can also pick one up at the reception area in the Oakmont Administration Building.

*THE TICKET DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TO THANKSGIVING DAY OR PIAA PLAYOFF GAMES.

In order to further inclusive practices and increase community engagement and board cohesion, we are moving to a “two board meetings a month” process in which we will engage in one board work session and one board action meeting.

The Board work session will be the first meeting of the month and will have some limited agenda items to conduct routine business, such as personnel matters, financial approvals, and pupil service matters that may need consideration before the second meeting. The majority of the board work session will consist of presentations from the administration and our consultants, with discussion amongst the Board more similar to what previously occurred in our committee meetings. No official action will be taken during the work portion of the meeting.

The second meeting of the month will be the Board action meeting, where official action by vote will be taken on items after a chance for Board member deliberations. We intend to use a consent agenda process at the action meeting each month to streamline the process of approving items that have been considered and discussed thoroughly during the work portion of prior meetings. We will continue to hold two public comment sections at each meeting.

Both meetings work in tandem to ensure a strategic decision-making process that is student-centered, inclusive of, and transparent with our community members. We believe this approach is aligned with our district goals of Belonging, civic Pride, and Community Engagement and will allow for collective, informed, and inclusive decision-making practices.

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.

Board Meetings will be held at the Oakmont Administration Building.

Upcoming Meetings:

• October 9: School Board Work Session 7:00 PM @Haverford High School
• October 23: School Board Action Meeting 7:30 PM
• November 6: School Board Work Session 7:00 PM
• November 20: School Board Action Meeting 7:30 PM
  
• December 1: Reorganization Meeting 6:00 PM (Monday)

All presentations and videos can be found on BoardDocs.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communites beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more.

The month of October is dedicated to recognizing the contributions and achievements of Italian immigrants and their descendants in the United States.

The Americas are named for an Italian Merchant and Explorer.

• ​Amerigo Vespucci, who explored the east coast of South America between 1499 and 1502, is the source of the name "America."

The Declaration of Independence has Italian inspiration.

• Filippo Mazzei, a physician and promoter of liberty, was a close friend and confidant of Thomas Jefferson. He published a pamphlet containing the phrase "All men are by nature equally free and independent."

Polish American Heritage Month is observed annually in the United States during October to honor the significant contributions of Polish Americans in various fields, including the arts, sciences, and military service. The month marks the arrival of the first Polish settlers in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1608.

The District calendar has been updated to reschedule an in-service day from May 12th to May 19th to accommodate the local primary elections.

Oct. 31 In-service (early dismissal for all students)
Nov. 4 Teacher In-service Day (no school for students)
Nov. 24, 25, 26 Middle School parent conferences (early dismissal for middle school students)

Nov. 24, 25, 26 Elementary School parent conferences (early dismissal for elementary school students)
Nov. 26 HHS Teacher In-service Day (early dismissal for high school students)
Nov. 27 & 28 Thanksgiving Holiday (schools & offices closed)

2025-2026 Calendar (At a Glance)

Join our team! Click the link to view available positions across the District and how to apply.

We are hiring Cafeteria/Recess Monitors @ 15.25/hr

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