Dear Abington School District Community,
As we close out the 2024-2025 school year, I want to express my gratitude for our teachers and staff, students, families, and the broader community. This year, more than ever, I have truly felt the strength of our deeply rooted school community as residents, from one corner of the District to the other, engaged in conversations and went to the polls to have a say in the future of our Middle School — and that of our Abington and Rockledge students for decades to come. Residents representing varying viewpoints were engaged with the process, and I am grateful that so many of you took the time to become invested in the future of Abington Schools.
I believe that at the heart of every strong community is a good school district, and likewise, a strong school district is not possible without the support of its surrounding community. THANK YOU!
Our students are an embodiment of this belief. Look no further than our Class of 2025, who I have no doubt will go on to achieve great things. They already have. From breaking fundraising and athletic records, to earning national accolades, to supporting their peers and demonstrating the Abington Pledge of Character traits, our students are driven, compassionate and prepared for their next chapter.
These students were the first to ever participate in what is now our annual Abington School District CommUNITY Day tradition, an event that our own students helped to establish through feedback they shared of wanting more opportunities while in elementary school to get to know their fellow classmates. In 2019, the first CommUNITY Day was held, a transition event that brings together an entire grade of students from all seven elementary schools before they move on to the Middle School. Just last week, those same students were celebrated at Commencement as the Class of 2025. I look forward to hearing where they will go next.
Have an enjoyable and safe summer, everyone! See you in September!
Regards,
Dr. Jeffrey S. Fecher
Superintendent of Schools
Referendum to Construct a New Middle School Approved
Voters in Abington Township and the Borough of Rockledge approved a bond referendum in May, authorizing Abington School District to invest $285 million to build a new Middle School.
Planning for the construction of the new Abington Middle School is underway. The proposed new building will feature a modern, flexible design that supports a close-knit school community while providing a safe, accessible, healthy, and energy-efficient environment – purposefully built to meet the needs of today’s students and generations to come. For a closer look at the educational benefits of a new Middle School, click here.
As the project moves forward into the design phase, the District will offer opportunities for teachers, staff, students, parents/guardians, and community members to provide input and feedback on the new Middle School. Details about these engagement opportunities will be shared through the District’s communication channels in the coming months.
The District will also share information about the Middle School construction process through its Community Listserv. This electronic mailing list provides subscribers with updates on general District information and events. You can sign up for the Community Listserv here.
Questions about this project can be directed to MiddleSchoolProject@abington.k12.pa.us.
Abington School District Receives National Recognition for Music Education Support
Abington School District has once again been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for outstanding support and commitment to music education. Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students.
Two awards are given each year: Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) for school districts and the Support Music Merit Award (SMMA) for individual school sites. Both reach K-12 schools and districts throughout the U.S. and offer opportunities to increase awareness and support for music programs. Over 1,000 districts and individual school sites (public, private, charter, parochial) were recognized for having the highest commitment to producing exceptional music programs.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Abington School District administrators answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were reviewed by the leading arts educational research firm, WolfBrown.
Maeve Hong, Valedictorian
Maeve Hong was the Class of 2025's valedictorian, heading to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) next year. She was also named a National Merit Scholar among a pool of 15,000 finalists nationwide. Maeve has been involved in various clubs, including DECA, UNICEF, and the National Honor Society, in addition to logging over 100 service hours, earning her the President's Bronze Service Award.
Anneka Anderson, Salutatorian
Anneka Anderson was this year's salutatorian, also having an opportunity to speak at Commencement on Wednesday, June 11. Over the past four years, Anneka has been dedicated to the Marching Band, serving as the Drum Major this school year. Beyond skillfully managing an 85-member ensemble and coordinating complex performances, she was also a first-chair flutist in the ASHS Symphonic Band, earning a spot in the Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association (PMEA) District 11 and Region 6 bands. She will be attending New York University (NYU) next year.
Bryson Edmonds, Student Council President
Noah Hellerslia, National Merit Scholarship Finalist
Noah Hellerslia, recognized as one of this year's National Merit Scholarship Finalists, was a valuable member of the Abington Senior High School Chess team, which competed at the U.S. Chess Federation's SuperNationals VIII in Orlando, Florida. His participation in the U1600 division led the team to place second in a field of 34 teams from across the country, while he placed no. 21 as an individual. Noah, who also served as the President of the Asian Students Association, plans to attend the University of Maryland in the fall.
First-ever Student School Board Member
Thank you to Abington Senior High School junior, Selina Wu, who is about to complete her term on the Board of School Directors as the District's first-ever Student School Board Member. Selina was selected by a designated committee at the high school and elected by a vote of her peers to serve in the non-voting capacity and provide a direct student voice during Board meetings.
Author and Illustrator Aram Kim visits Overlook
Roslyn Student Gets Published
Roslyn Elementary announced that 4th grader Doug Lindley is a published author! His scary story was submitted to Young Writers, with his parent's permission, and was included in the book, "Scary Tales."
Abington Educational Foundation Supports Outstanding Writers
At the June 3 Special Meeting of the Board of School Directors, Ms. Janine Sack, Supervisor of Literacy, presented the 2025 Literacy Achievement Awards, which included the Silver Pen Awards for elementary students in grade 5, and the Abington Middle School Writing Awards, for Abington Middle School students in grades 6-8. Both awards, sponsored annually by the Abington Educational Foundation (AEF), recognize students who have exhibited outstanding writing abilities through their submitted works, which are scored by a committee of administrators and teachers.
