Haverford Middle School Newsletter

The first days of school at HMS went off without a hitch! We welcomed nearly 550 new 6th graders, who spent Day 1 learning middle school routines and expectations, meeting their teachers, and getting to know HMS. On Day 2, they tackled their first regular bell schedule and did phenomenally!

Our 7th and 8th grade “upperclassmen” jumped right back into being Ready, Respectful, and Responsible, while reconnecting with friends and getting to know their new teachers and teams.

Our fall sports meeting on Wednesday afternoon drew quite a crowd, and athletics are just one of the many ways for students to get involved at HMS. Be sure to check out the clubs and activities information below to find even more opportunities to connect, participate, and try something new!

As a back-to-school reminder, please make sure that all required forms in PowerSchool have been reviewed and updated. Because we do not send paper forms home for completion, families are responsible for logging into PowerSchool, reviewing the information on file, and making any necessary updates.

It was a great first week at HMS! Thank you to our students, staff, and families for helping us start the year with such positive energy. We are excited for all that is ahead!

Our Back-to-School Night is an open-house format designed to give families a chance to experience HMS! Both students and their grownups are invited to attend their grade-level evening, visit classrooms, meet teachers, and get a feel for what middle school is like. There are no formal presentations, so families are welcome to move throughout the building during the hour. Next week, I will also share links to staff videos that you can view at your convenience to learn more about your child’s teachers and courses. Grade-level Open Houses will take place from 5:30–6:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• 6th grade September 22nd
• 7th grade September 23rd
• 8th grade September 24th

We look forward to seeing you!

Staff from the Haverford Township Free Library are joining us in the HMS Library during all three Back to School Nights. Stop by to sign up for a library card and grab flyers detailing upcoming youth programs and events.

A library card unlocks access to the entire Haverford Township Library system for your student. To apply, adults simply need to present a valid photo ID showing their current home address.

Athletic Sponsor Stephanie Viola

Athletic & Club Advisor Lindsey Smith

Field Hockey (8) Lauren Jordan

Field Hockey (7) Bella Buonanno

Football (Varsity) Kevin Scholla

Football (JV) Lawrence Armstrong

Football (Varsity) Jamar Cox

Football (JV) Silvino Alexander

Tennis (Girls 7/8) Suzanne Barr

Soccer (Boys-7) TBD

Soccer (Boys-8) Dylan Pompe

Soccer (Girls-7) Kelly Gustis

Soccer (Girls-8) Sheridan Hedrick

Volleyball (7) Lukasz Bogdanowicz

Volleyball (8) Aimee Diehl

Cheerleading Jenna Gaasche

We are excited to introduce our clubs and activities for the 2026–2027 school year! Getting involved is a great way for students to meet new people, explore their interests, try something new, and feel connected to the HMS community.

This week, we are sharing two resources to help students and families learn about the opportunities available:

Clubs and Activities Slide Show
This presentation provides an overview and description of the many clubs and activities offered at HMS.

Clubs and Activities Schedule
This is a live document that will be updated weekly with club and activity meeting dates. Meeting information will also be shared with students during morning announcements.

Clubs and activities may begin as early as September 14, so we encourage students to start exploring their options!

Both resources will continue to be updated throughout the school year and will remain available on the Clubs and Activities page of the HMS website.

A couple of quick reminders to help keep dismissal safe and running smoothly for everyone:

• Please do not drive down the bus lane during dismissal. This area is reserved for buses only.
• If you are parking on Golf Road, please be mindful of our staff parking areas and make sure vehicles are not blocked in at the end of the day.

We appreciate your cooperation and patience as we work together to keep dismissal safe and efficient. Thank you!

As a reminder, students are not permitted to carry cell phones with them during the school day. Cell phones should be turned off or silenced and stored securely in the student’s locker.

If a student is found with a cell phone during the school day, the phone will be collected and stored in the main office:

• First offense: The student may pick up the phone at the end of the school day.
• Additional offenses: A parent/guardian will be required to pick up the phone from the main office.

Smartwatches may be worn during the school day; however, if a watch is being used to call, text, or otherwise function as a phone, the student will be expected to store it in their locker as well.

Our goal is to keep students present, engaged, and focused on learning throughout the school day. We appreciate families reinforcing these expectations at home.

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.