News from the Nest

Last week, I joined our environmental science students for an annual UD adventure: a kayaking trip to study water quality on the Schuylkill River. As you will see in the photo, I was the lucky paddler who took on a bit more water than planned! Soaked but still smiling at the end of our eight-mile journey, I was reminded that a steady, forward-moving paddle can make all the difference.

To Mr. Smith and the students with me on this trip: Thank you for allowing me to witness your curiosity, for paddling through the tired moments, and for reminding me why hands-on experiences are such a powerful part of learning.

Kind regards,

Dr. Laurie Smith
Superintendent

During a Special Legislative meeting this week, the Board of School Directors voted to appoint Dr. Joe Burdo to fill the vacancy on the board that occurred last month. Dr. Burdo currently serves as Head of Neuroscience at Selas Bio, a company developing innovative solutions for medical conditions affecting military service members and veterans. Previously, he worked as a data scientist and neuroscientist for RallyPoint, using machine learning to lead a team developing detection and treatment tools for military-related medical conditions. He also co-founded NeuroTinker, a STEM education company that developed tools to improve physiology and neuroscience education at the secondary ed and college levels. Dr. Burdo began his career in education, serving on the biology faculty at Boston College and Bridgewater State University. He holds a Ph.D. from Penn State College of Medicine and an MBA from Penn State Harrisburg. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Burdo to the School Board.

During this evening’s Finance Committee meeting, ICS Construction Management will share the proposed plans for the Jarrettown Elementary site layout. The presentation follows an extensive review of the property to determine buildable versus non-buildable areas. The plans aim to protect tree-covered areas, achieve a smaller footprint, and meet setback requirements so that the existing building can remain functional during construction of the new facility.

We invite the community to join the meeting in-person in the UDHS Cardinal Room or via livestream at 6:00PM. To stay up to date on the project, please visit our Jarrettown Planning website, which will be updated following the meeting.

Our district is committed to offering students innovative learning experiences—opportunities that challenge them to learn actively, think differently, and connect their learning to the real world. Upper Dublin High School AP Environmental Science students recently kayaked the Schuylkill River, testing water quality alongside Dr. Jon Hawkings of the University of Pennsylvania. By collecting real-world data on water quality, students engaged in authentic scientific investigation and drew their own conclusions about local ecosystem health.

Another example of an innovative experience was provided recently in the arts, where Upper Dublin High School music students participated in a clarinet masterclass with Dr. Amanda Morrison of Slippery Rock University. Working directly with a professional musician, students explored advanced tone production and refined their sound, applying their learning in ways that further inspire creativity and mastery.

The Upper Dublin Marching Band & Color Guard has been on a roll this season! Earlier this month at a competition hosted by Central Bucks South, the Cardinals won their class along with Best Percussion, Best Color Guard, and Best Overall Effect. This past weekend, they finished second at the North Penn competition—just 0.6 points from first place—and took home Best Music. Join them for a pre-championship send-off performance on Thursday, November 6, at approximately 8:00PM in the stadium. The event is open to the entire community—come cheer on the band as they head into the championship season!

Congratulations to UDHS world language teacher Alissa Hart (shown far right in photo), who has been selected as a Mentor by the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association (PSMLA). This statewide honor recognizes her expertise, leadership, and commitment to fostering effective, communicative language teaching. Ms. Hart will support novice world language teachers while continuing to model research-based best practices, further strengthening the language learning community across Pennsylvania.

We teamed up with the Upper Dublin Police Department, Upper Dublin Township, and a few student leaders from Fort Washington Elementary to film a video about the upcoming launch of BusPatrol for National School Bus Safety Week. Stay tuned for the video release!

We’re building community across UDSD! At Maple Glen Elementary, families and students came together for “Donuts with Grownups,” a fun morning designed to help families connect with one another and get to know their child’s school community. Meanwhile, at Jarrettown, students are learning about kindness and how they can help create a safe, happy school environment. Principal Mr. Ridout and Assistant Principal Mr. Laird shared a special video with students, including a few dragon effects, to support this important message.

High school German students enjoyed their annual Oktoberfest celebration at Robbins Park, bringing language and culture to life outside the classroom. The students sang traditional songs, prepared and watched short performances, sampled German cuisine, and immersed themselves in authentic traditions that highlight the joy of learning a world language.

Thomas Fitzwater third graders used the approaching spooky season as inspiration for their descriptive writing essays! Students examined a series of spooky images, discussing the setting, scene, and details they could bring to life in their writing. In celebration of National School Lunch Week, our cafeterias are serving up a globally inspired menu! Elementary students can also join in the fun by earning prizes like passports, flyer hats, and scratch-offs throughout the week.

Sandy Run students are working collaboratively with other local schools to support the Feeding Minds, Filling Bellies Campaign. SRMS National Junior Honor Society students have started by assembling the bags and making handmade cards. The community is invited to support them by donating a "Full Belly Bag" with designated non-perishable food items! See this flyer to make a donation during the week of October 21-24.

The Cardinals Boys Water Polo team advanced to Flight I of the Beast of the East Tournament — the largest on the East Coast — and finished 5th overall! The team also notched an eight-goal win over North Penn, marking six straight rivalry victories. Meanwhile, our Girls Flag Football team sharpened their skills at a clinic hosted at the Philadelphia Eagles’ NovaCare Center, joining athletes and coaches from across the region to grow the game and inspire future players.

Our school district’s planetarium is an extraordinary resource, and on Thursday, October 16, it will be open to the community for a special, immersive look at the night sky. Step inside and enjoy a full-dome view of stars, planets, and cosmic wonders—perfect for curious minds of all ages. The 6:30PM program is sold out. Please join us for:

@ 7:30 PM – Legends of the Night Sky: Perseus & Andromeda

Enjoy a lively retelling of this Greek adventure, complete with a tour of the winter night sky.

Join us at Cardinal Stadium this Friday, October 17 at 7:00PM to cheer for the Cards Football team as they take on Bensalem High School for our Homecoming Game. At halftime, we will introduce this year's Homecoming Court and feature a performance with the Marching Cardinals and Color Guard!

You can also support UDHS MiniTHON by joining them for a Homecoming Tailgate fundraiser from 5:30-7pm in the café parking lot. For just a $5 donation, enjoy food, music, and fun while supporting the fight against pediatric cancer. Enter for the chance to win the “Best Seat in the House,” watching the game right on the field with snacks!

The UDHS Sophisticated Strings will host a Halloween Concert event on Thursday, October 30 at 6:30pm at the UD Public Library. This is a fun, casual performance! Stop by for about 30 minutes of music followed by an instrument petting zoo and free candy. Come in costume and bring your own treat bag!

Finance Committee

Wednesday, October 15 @ 6:00PM

Legislative Meeting

Monday, October 27 @ 7:00PM

Meetings held in the Upper Dublin High School Cardinal Room

Agendas | Livestream | Public Participation

SpeakUp Virtual Parenting Session: The Social Media Generation

Wednesday, October 15

Scouting America Troop 541 & 542 Open House

Wednesday, October 15

MiniTHON Kids Night Out & Halloween Party

Friday, October 24

MiniTHON Send a Boo Fundraiser

Orders Due October 29

Girls Flag Football Tote Bag Fundraiser

Sales Close November 1

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