Haverford Middle School Newsletter

We spent this week preparing for our students’ return, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back on September 1st! The energy in the building was high as our staff reconnected, prepared classrooms, and planned for the year ahead, but HMS just isn’t the same without our students filling the hallways.

We know the start of middle school, or even the start of a new year in a familiar building, can bring a mix of excitement and nerves. Our goal is to make those first few days feel as comfortable and predictable as possible. To help answer some questions and ease those back-to-school nerves, we encourage you to review the information video shared in last week’s newsletter.

It was brought to my attention that the original video link had an issue with the audio. This link should work! I apologize for the inconvenience. We hope you will review the video before the first day of school and keep it as a reference throughout the year. It includes helpful information about:

• lockers
• buses
• grade-level entrances
• attendance procedures
• picture day...and more!

Thank you for your patience and partnership as we get ready for another great year at HMS. Look for a newsletter every Friday to stay connected to school. We are ready for our students, and we can’t wait to see them on September 1st!

For our full attendance policy please review policy 204 and its accompanying administrative regulations.

Late arrivals

• Students must report to the main office if they arrive after 7:50 AM to receive a late pass
• Students will provide a note to the main office when they enter school

Absences

• Email MS-attendance@haverfordsd.net and include the name of your child, grade, date of absence, and reason for absence within 3 days of the absence.
• Excused absences include illness, bereavement, medical or dental appointments, pre-approved religious instruction, pre approved educational travel, and others.
• Please be mindful of the 5 day maximum for pre-approved educational travel.
• Students may be excused from school when observing a bona fide religious holiday.

Early dismissal

• Early dismissal notes should be delivered by the student to the main office before they go to homeroom
• Please review your early dismissal plan with your child before they come to school
• Communicate in your note if your child has permission to leave school on their own
• We will give your child a note to check in at the main office before being picked-up or leaving school on their own

Self-Sign Out from School

I , parent/guardian, am allowing student and grade on date at time to sign themselves out and walk to location on their own. They will/will not return to school after the appointment.

Parent/guardian signature

As we plan for this year’s parent-teacher conferences, we are seeking input from our families to better understand your preferences and interests. We are exploring different conference formats, including student-led, traditional teacher-led, and hybrid conferences, and want to hear what would be most valuable to you. Your feedback will help us consider how we can make conferences meaningful, informative, and responsive to the needs of our students and families. Please take a few moments to complete the brief survey below and share your perspective.