Aronimink Elementary School
Aronimink Wednesday Folder Information, 10/14/26
This Week:
- Wednesday, October 14th
- Fall Community Read @ 7:00pm (See flyer above under District Communications)
Aronimink School Calendar/Letter Day Schedule
Aronimink Breakfast & Lunch Menus
October
🎵 Music Notes from Mr. LaBonde 🎵
Reminder to all Aronimink Band and Orchestra Parents
The instrumental recruitment period has come to an end. If your child wants to play an instrument, the next time to sign up will be the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. Band and orchestra parents should be on the lookout for future email updates from Mr. LaBonde with helpful resources for home practice.
Save the date for our Winter Concert, Thursday, December 10th @ 7PM.
We hope to see you there!
🩺 Notes from Nurse Betty 🩺
Hello Parents/Guardians,
Your child will be screened for vision and hearing starting October.
Please let me know if you wish to opt out of this screening by emailing: bkim@upperdarbsd.org
I will be mailing results home if there are any concerns with your child's vision or hearing.
In December, please look out for Salus Vision Van consent forms.
Free exams and glasses will be provided to those who have failed their vision screening. Space is limited.
Additionally, it looks like with the fall weather changes we are seeing more illnesses. Please keep your child at home if they have:
Fever, Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea ( (symptom free for 24 hours without medication before going back to school)
A rough night (for example, if your child was up all night coughing or having trouble breathing)
Listlessness, no appetite, lethargy and doesn't appear like themselves.
Thank you,
Nurse Betty
Save the Date! - Aronimink Family Heritage Night
Aronimink Home & School Updates
Fall Fundraiser Info
DISTRICT COMMUNICATIONS
Act 80/Section 133: District Updates and Opportunities to Participate
Message from Superintendent Dr. McGarry
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Dear Upper Darby School District Families,
The Upper Darby School District is committed to keeping our families and community informed about the ongoing exploration of Act 80/Section 133 and its potential implications for our schools, students, and staff.
Since January 2024, the District has discussed the possibility of exploring Section 133/Act 80 through numerous public forums and opportunities for engagement. These discussions have included information about instructional hours at each school level, required school days, and other relevant considerations.
Information has been shared through Superintendent’s Reports, District-Wide Home and School Association (HSA) Meetings, individual school HSA Meetings, Morning Coffee Conversations, Board Committee Meetings, and Regular Board Meetings.
In November 2025, the District held a public discussion regarding approval to form a committee to explore this topic. In December 2025, an invitation to participate in the committee was shared with our school community through the Wednesday Folder. The committee formation process was also revisited during the Superintendent’s Report in January 2026.
Most recently, the District provided an update in August 2026. Community engagement has continued into the fall through meetings with school communities and staff, Districtwide HSA Meetings offered during morning and evening hours, and Districtwide staff question-and-answer sessions. Act 80/Section 133 has been addressed with staff on multiple occasions as part of these ongoing conversations.
Following a recent District-Wide HSA Meeting, a parent expressed interest in receiving an email summarizing the District’s ongoing discussions and providing access to information shared publicly, including the District’s presentation available through BoardDocs. In response to this feedback, we are sharing this overview to help families access information about the topic and revisit materials presented during public meetings.
Review the District’s BoardDocs presentation:
Join the Act 80 Exploration Committee
As a follow-up to the invitation shared in December 2025, the Upper Darby School District is seeking additional parents and community members to join the ongoing Act 80 Exploration Committee, led by Dr. John Council, Assistant Superintendent of Recruitment, Retention, and Culture.
Your input is essential to ensuring that family needs, childcare considerations, student experiences, and community perspectives are included in the exploration process. We encourage interested parents and community members to participate and share their perspectives as the District continues this work.
If you are interested in participating, please click the link below and provide your contact information.
https://forms.gle/hmoKNPzedd6doRui9
Current Status of the Act 80 Exploration
The Act 80 Exploration Committee is part of the District’s ongoing exploration and information-gathering process. No decision has been made regarding the implementation of Act 80/Section 133. The purpose of this process is to examine the relevant considerations, gather input, and ensure that family needs, childcare considerations, student experiences, and community perspectives are taken into account as the District explores this option.
Future Updates
The District remains committed to transparency, open communication, and meaningful opportunities for our community to stay informed and engaged as we continue exploring this topic. We appreciate the interest our families and community members have demonstrated and encourage continued participation in these important conversations. We will keep you up to date as the exploration process continues and will provide an update at the March 2027 Board Committee meeting.
Other Considerations — AI and Screen Time
As artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology continue to shape education, the District is examining their impact on teaching and learning. While these tools can personalize instruction and address students’ diverse learning needs, it is equally important to consider their effects on student well-being and social development. The District seeks to balance meaningful, age-appropriate technology use with hands-on learning, discussion, collaboration, and movement.
To guide this work, the District has established a committee led by Dr. Christine Kelley, Director of Curriculum, and Daniel Kitchen, Director of Technology. The committee’s findings will inform the work of the Act 80 Exploration Committee. Please contact Dr. Kelley at ckelley@upperdarbysd.org if you are interested in joining the AI & Screentime Committee.
Thank you for your continued engagement and partnership in supporting our students and the Upper Darby School District community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Daniel McGarry
Superintendent of Schools
UDSD Fall Community Read
District Attendance Presentation October 19th
Equipping families with strategies to support children experiencing anxiety and barriers to regular school attendance
On October 19, 2026, Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard will be speaking to our families concerning supporting children who are experiencing anxiety and school avoidance behaviors. The event is taking place at Beverly Hill Middle School. We will have dinner for our families starting at 5:30 PM. Dr. Dahlsgaard’s presentation will begin at 6:30 PM. If you know someone who is struggling in these areas, you will definitely learn strategies that will help. This event is open to all Upper Darby School District families. If you would like to learn more about our speaker, please visit https://www.katherinedahlsgaard.com/about.
Unity Day, October 21st
Virtual Parent Information Night - November 2nd
😀 REMINDERS ON REPEAT 😀
School Information
Aronimink Elementary School
4611 Bond Avenue
Drexel Hill, PA 19026
(610) 853 4510 - Main Office
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
School Colors: Purple and Gold
School Mascot: Royals
School Administration
Dina Williams, Principal
Brian Walden, Assistant Principal
Secretaries
School Hours
School Hours: 8:45 AM (Arrival) – 3:15 PM (Dismissal)
Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Late Start Hours (2 HR Delay) – 10:45 AM – 3:15 PM
Early Dismissal – 8:45 AM – 12:30 PM (some instances 12:15 PM)
Kindergarten (Regular Day)
- AM - 8:45 - 11:30 AM
- PM - 12:35 - 3:15 PM
Kindergarten 12:15 Dismissal
- AM - 8:45 AM - 10:15 AM
- PM - 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Kindergarten 12:30 Dismissal
- AM - 8:45 AM - 10:20 AM
- PM - 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Kindergarten 2 Hr Late Arrival
- AM - 10:45 AM - 12:35 PM
- PM - 1:30 AM - 3:15 PM
Aronimink Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
To ensure a smooth and safe experience for all students and families, please adhere to the following arrival and dismissal procedures.
BEFORE SCHOOL PROCEDURES
Students should not arrive at school prior to 8:35 AM. The Aronimink doors will open at 8:35 AM to allow all students to safely enter the building and make their way to their designated space. Students will remain in their supervised assigned until the start of the school day at 8:45 am.
AFTER SCHOOL PROCEDURES
Teachers of children in Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades will walk their students to their designated exit area at dismissal. Parents should walk up to meet their child so that the teacher can see them and acknowledge the pick-up. It is essential that parents send changes in dismissal arrangements in the form of a note or email to the classroom teacher. For safety reasons, the school will request identification from the adult at the time of pick-up. If anyone other than the parent picks up the child, they must be listed on the emergency card and have photo identification.
Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 will be dismissed from their classrooms. Be sure to let your child’s teacher know about any concerns or alternate plans about dismissal. Also be sure to tell your child what to do if your dismissal plans change. ALL STUDENTS should know that they can immediately return to the school office to call home or wait safely for a ride.
Please see the detailed arrival and dismissal plans by clicking the links above.
Upper Darby School District 2026-2027 Calendar
Volunteers
If you are a VOLUNTEER or want to be a volunteer, please be sure to visit our website to review a full description of the requirements for a volunteer (https://www.upperdarbysd.org/departments12/human-resources/parent-community-volunteer-information). All parents interested in becoming volunteers must contact the principal to apply by completing a volunteer application that can be found on BoardDocs. We can also provide you with a paper application upon request. This process takes time, so I encourage you to get started by procuring your clearance as soon as possible. Our District’s website also provides instructions on how to obtain the three mandatory clearances under the Human Resources department.
Upcoming Events:
- Tuesday, October 20th
- Fall Picture Retake Day
- Wednesday, October 21
- Unity Day - Wear Orange!
- Fall Community Read @ 7:00pm (See flyer above under District Communications)
- Thursday, October 22nd
- Aronimink Family Heritage Night @ 6:30pm
- Friday, October 23rd
- Aronimink Home & School Bingo Night