Dear Abington School District Community,

As we close out the 2022-2023 school year and celebrate many meaningful milestones and rites of passage for our students, I am grateful that times like these help bring our community together.

I shared in a recent parent/guardian communication that our youth are facing many challenges and need support, not only from members of our Abington School District staff, but also from their families, neighbors, and the community at large. I am hopeful we can come together to benefit our Abington and Rockledge students in the months and year ahead.

As we work toward these goals, we will focus on long- and short-term plans. In this newsletter, I have included some of the immediate outcomes and long-term plans to help bridge the gap between school, home, and the community for the benefit of all our students.

I thank our educators and staff for all of their efforts for a successful school year. I appreciate the support and contributions of our family and community members focused on the ASD students. I hope that our entire ASD school community, including teachers and staff, students and their families have an enjoyable and safe summer 2023!

Regards,

Jeffrey S. Fecher, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

The Superintendent's Committee for Bullying Prevention met again on Wednesday, May 24, where attendees, consisting of teachers, staff, administrators, Board members, students, parents/guardians and community members, convened in small groups to review third-party definitions of bullying and what constitutes a bullying incident, providing feedback as to how these definitions could help strengthen Abington School District's definition. Additionally, a panel of secondary students shared their experiences, expressing areas of concern and potential recommendations for improvement. Conversation among attendees was so robust that an additional meeting of the Committee was added and held on Wednesday, May 31 to continue work on developing protocols for bullying incidents and also recommending prevention and intervention activities.

On May 17th and 31st, Dr. Fecher hosted Table Talk events with secondary and elementary parents/guardians, respectively. Topics were wide-ranging from the two sets of parent/guardian groups, but a few key themes emerged, including:

• COMMUNICATION - Families want better access to resources (e.g., how can students access school counselors and psychologists) and more streamlined and consistent communications from the District and school leaders, including alternative methods of communication as emails are overwhelming
• BULLYING - At many grade levels, incidents of bullying continue to be a prime area of concern
• STUDENT MISCONDUCT - At secondary schools, parents/guardians expressed concerns over vaping and the number of physical altercations occurring between students, and whether students are being disciplined appropriately
• FACILITIES - At all levels, parents/guardians were concerned about needed Facilities upgrades, specifically at the Middle School (including its size), but also on playgrounds at the elementary schools
• STAFFING - Especially at secondary levels, attendees were concerned about the number of job vacancies, and suggested that Administration increase salaries or benefits to make these positions more enticing
• ELEMENTARY CONSISTENCY - Parents/guardians wished there was more information sharing across schools to help establish consistency between activities, initiatives and curriculum
• SECONDARY SCHEDULES - Lunch feels rushed and chaotic at both secondary buildings, and Middle School parents/guardians would like more opportunities for their students to go outside

Short-Term

• COMMUNICATION - Student Table Talks have already been held at secondary buildings for small groups of students to gather their feedback and perspective
• COMMUNICATION - Redesigned website, new District app and improved messaging system are being launched (more info below)
• BULLYING - Promising/evidence-based practices are being identified that prevent incidences of bullying, and intervention and support for bullies and victims will be offered
  
• BULLYING / STUDENT MISCONDUCT - Relevant Board Policies and Superintendent’s Administrative Procedures are being revised with protocols and specifics outlined, including reporting, investigation, consequences, interventions, prevention and communication to those involved
• BULLYING / STUDENT MISCONDUCT - A community and schoolwide pledge with corresponding kick-off events will be rolled out for the start of the 2023-2024 school year
• STUDENT MISCONDUCT (Secondary) - More security guards will be hired to support hall aides in managing student behavior, and the amount of security cameras will be increased to expand visibility
  
• FACILITIES - A Feasibility Study for the Middle School will be presented at an upcoming meeting of the Board of School Directors; in the meantime, steps have been taken at the Middle School to help the building feel smaller (establishing teams)
• STAFFING - Administration will continue promoting open positions in an effort to fill vacancies and is surveying departing staff for insights to improve retention
• ELEMENTARY CONSISTENCY - Meetings with Elementary Principals have increased to establish consistency regarding big events and initiatives, and grade-level meetings occur regularly as part of Professional Development
  
• SECONDARY SCHEDULES - High School administration is gathering feedback from teacher/staff committee meetings held earlier this spring to evaluate the Lunch and Learn schedule and format; after recommendations are communicated with teachers/staff, implementation plans will be shared with families

Long-Term

• COMMUNICATION - Parent/Guardian Table Talks will continue in the 2023-2024 school year
• COMMUNICATION - Dr. Fecher will work with PTA/PTOs to be available for opportunities to speak at each building next school year
• BULLYING / STUDENT MISCONDUCT - Additional professional development will be provided to teachers/staff and security guards, and the District will work on strengthening restorative practices
  
• BULLYING / STUDENT MISCONDUCT - Each school will include school climate goals in their annual action plans
• FACILITIES - Improvements and upgrades will be made based on the Facilities Condition Assessment, which includes a school-by-school rollout of playground updates (with accessibility being a key focus)
• FACILITIES - A public meeting will be announced to review the Feasibility Study, which will discuss potential plans for Abington Middle School (Facilities renovations and/or upgrades could address some of these parent/guardian concerns, such as size, accessibility and outdoor areas for students)
• STAFFING - Administration will work with associations to enhance appeal of positions and will support legislation that helps bring more prospective candidates to the field of education

In April, more than 50 community leaders representing well over a dozen community organizations and nonprofits convened at Abington Senior High School to address collective concerns regarding our area’s youth and ways we can support them inside and outside of school. Presentations were given by Abington School District and the Abington Township Police Department, with time for discussion and idea sharing as to how all stakeholders can work together to support the youth of our community, the majority of whom are Abington School District students.

One of the outcomes of this meeting was a plan to host a similar forum for parents and guardians in Abington Township and the Borough of Rockledge, and to help bridge the gap between school and the community by assisting in connecting these families with the resources available to them in our area.

A Community Fair and Forum will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at Abington Senior High School.

• 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Community Organization Open House (organizations have been invited to host tables in the Auditorium Lobby)

• 7:00-8:00 p.m. – Presentation Summarizing the Community Leadership Meeting and Panel Discussion of Community Leaders in the Auditorium

In response to parent/guardian feedback, Abington School District is launching new family-facing communications tools for the 2023-2024 school year!

ASD WEBSITE AND MOBILE APP:

• New, shortened URL: www.abingtonsd.org
• Entirely new website for the District and schools with enhanced navigation and a more mobile-friendly, responsive design
• Brand new mobile app available for download on Apple/Android devices, with the ability to subscribe to push notifications by District and/or school building (this will replace the existing app, ASD ToGo)
  
• A revamped homepage Live Feed that will be highly visible on the website and app—a great source for updates and reminders
• Dedicated staff directory for Administration and each school building, making finding names and contact information more efficient on both the website and app
• Other website/app features include an easier-to-read digital calendar and a Documents center for easy access to resources

MESSAGING AND ALERTS SYSTEM:

• New provider for District/School-level emails and voice messaging (no action needed from parents/guardians with this migration as this new system will continue to pull from contact information in Skyward)
• Automatic enrollment in ASD text messaging alerts (parents/guardians will have the ability to opt-out, as opposed to our previous system of having to opt-in)

NEXT STEPS:

• Stay tuned for further communications about the website launch and how to download the app
• Once the website is complete, the old URL of www.abington.k12.pa.us will redirect visitors to the new homepage (Please note that ASD email addresses will remain @abington.k12.pa.us for now; the new website URL will not impact staff contact info)
• A test of the communication system will occur in the summer months to ensure it's ready to go for the return to school
• In the meantime, please ensure your contact information remains up-to-date in Skyward so you can continue staying informed

At the June 13, 2023, meeting of the Board of School Directors, Ms. Judy Bomze, Director of Student Services; Dr. Kristopher Brown, District Equity Officer; and Dr. Robert Rosenthal, Director of Pupil Services, provided a Board Orientation of the results of the Pennsylvania Department of Education School Climate Survey administered to students and parents/guardians, and the Psychological Sense of School Membership Survey administered to students in Grades 9-12. The presentation included next steps and how this data will be used to drive school improvement initiatives. To access the presentation, click here. For survey data and results, visit the Equitable Practices section of the ASD website.

This spring at Abington Middle School, 25 students participated in the Middle School Snack and Chat, which involved the students committing to four weekly conversations about the book, A Most Beautiful Thing. The students read the book independently before the weekly sessions, where they asked profound questions during the dialogue, with conversations led by school counselors Ms. Rochele Haynes and Mr. Nicholas Vouriotis. At the conclusion of Snack and Chat, the students had a special opportunity to join a virtual chat with the book's author, Arshay Cooper, on whom the book is based. A Most Beautiful Thing is a moving true story about Mr. Cooper's life growing up on Chicago’s West side, and involvement in the formation of the nation's first all-black high school rowing team.

• Monday, June 19 - Schools and Offices Closed (Juneteenth)
• Wednesday, June 21 - Foundation for Abington School District Board of Directors Meeting, 6 p.m.
  
• Thursday, June 22 - Community Leadership Fair and Forum, 6-8 p.m., at Abington Senior High School
• Tuesday, June 27 - Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 4 - Schools and Offices Closed (Independence Day)
• Monday, July 31 - National Pre-Night Out, 5-9 p.m., Abington Town Center (London & Old York roads/Target parking lot)
• Tuesday, August 8 - Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 22 - Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, August 31 - Back-to-School Event for Mental Health Resources and Supports, 6:30-8 p.m., at Abington Township Public Library
• Tuesday, September 5 - First Day of School (Grades K-6 and 9)
• Wednesday, September 6 - First Day of School (Grades 7-8 and 10-12)

For the Summer of 2023, Abington Twp. will provide free, grab-and-go lunches for all children (ages 18 and under) at the Crestmont Park Club House in Willow Grove. For more info visit: https://www.abington.k12.pa.us/e-fliers/download.php?id=1315

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Excellence is our standard, achievement is the result

Email: cr@abington.k12.pa.us
Location: 970 Highland Avenue, Abington, PA, USA
Phone: 215-884-4700
Facebook: www.facebook.com/abingtonsd
Twitter: @abingtonschools