The Tigers Pride: Winter Edition

As the winter season arrives, I am happy to share the latest edition of The Tigers' Pride, celebrating the incredible achievements, creativity, and community spirit across the Marple Newtown School District. From championship wins by our Tiger Marching Band and outstanding student athletes to meaningful service projects, artistic accomplishments, and festive holiday events, our students and staff continue to inspire pride and joy in every corner of the district. This edition highlights the dedication, talent, and generosity that make our schools truly exceptional, and I hope it fills you with the same excitement and pride we feel every day.

Sincerely,

Tina M. Kane, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

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Culbertson Elementary School hosted a schoolwide food drive during the month of November to support families in need within the community. Students were encouraged to bring in nonperishable food items and canned goods, all of which were donated to local food banks. School staff noted that the drive provided a meaningful opportunity for students to give back while working together for an important cause, with over 3,500 items being donated to Kids Against Hunger, amazing job!

The annual Loomis Tiger Trot once again proved to be a highlight of the school year, bringing together students, staff, and families for a day of fitness, fun, and community. Thanks to the leadership of Physical Education Teacher, Mrs. McCarthy, along with the support of the Loomis PTO, parent volunteers, and the MNSD Operations Department, the event ran seamlessly from start to finish. Under crisp, sunny skies, all K–5 students took to the school yard, running laps with enthusiasm and teamwork to raise funds in support of Loomis. Their energy and school spirit made the day especially memorable.

Earlier in the week, the Kinder Tiger Trot delivered its own burst of joy and excitement. Mrs. McCarthy’s creative planning transformed the gym into an adventure course, using nearly every piece of equipment available to give Loomis’ littlest tigers an exhilarating experience. The Kinder Tiger Trot, like its K–5 counterpart, helps raise vital funds for the school, and the turnout was a testament to the strong support of the Loomis community.

Loomis Elementary once again proved the power of community generosity as its annual pajama drive collected an impressive 1,982 pairs of pajamas for children in need, supporting the nationwide mission of Beyond Bedtime, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that every child experiences comfort and care at bedtime.

The heartwarming event was highlighted on FOX 29, where Jenn Frederick joined former Loomis student and current Texas Tailgater, Joe Sperone, to reveal the final pajama count in a lively on-air celebration. Their enthusiasm helped shine a spotlight on the school’s commitment to giving back.

With community support and national partnerships, Beyond Bedtime and schools like Loomis Elementary continue to prove that small acts of kindness can grow into something extraordinary, one pair of pajamas at a time.

Students in Ms. Geckle’s 4th grade homeroom put on a lively and heartwarming performance of “Fly Eagles Fly” using American Sign Language (ASL). With energy and teamwork, they signed each part of the song proudly, showing off both their school spirit and their growing ASL skills. The room filled with excitement as their expressive motions brought the Eagles’ fight song to life in a whole new way.

Watch the performance below!

At Marple Newtown School District, each new school day begins with connection and purpose through Morning Meeting, a daily practice now implemented across all four elementary schools. This year, the district renewed its commitment to this approach as part of our effort to build strong classroom communities, support student well-being, and nurture the whole child.

Morning Meeting is more than a routine. It is a relationship-centered practice designed to help students feel safe, valued, and ready to learn. Each meeting includes a greeting, a share, an activity, and a brief morning message. Together, these components foster empathy, confidence, and belonging while promoting important social emotional skills such as collaboration, communication, and self-regulation. Research shows that strong teacher and student relationships are linked to academic success, and this daily ritual helps create that foundation.

To support this initiative, teachers participated in professional development on the Responsive Classroom model and received grade level planning tools and ideas for connecting Morning Meeting to social studies themes such as community and citizenship. Teachers report noticeable improvements in classroom culture, teamwork, and student engagement, which shows that a few intentional minutes each morning can have a lasting impact throughout the day.

In October and November, the Russell Elementary Boosterthon fundraiser energized the school with dynamic fitness challenges that encouraged students to stay active and have fun. Participants gathered pledges and took part in an exciting dance-a-thon, helping raise funds for upcoming school improvements. Beyond the fundraising success, the event strengthened community connections and brought students, staff, and families together in a spirit of enthusiasm and teamwork. As a reward, the students "pied" their teachers! The Teachers seemed to love it too! Thank you Mrs. Botos, Mrs. Partridge, Mrs. Westman, Mr. DiNicola, Mrs. Michiels and Mr. Thomas!

The Marple Newtown School District honored local heroes with heartfelt Veterans Day ceremonies at Worrall and Russell Elementary Schools. Worrall students learned all the military branch songs, while Fifth Graders presented a script featuring each branch’s creed. The schools proudly welcomed veterans, each individually recognized, and honored those unable to attend with a large flag collage, offering a small token of gratitude for a debt that can never be fully repaid. At Russell Elementary, second grade students performed a touching Veterans Day concert, using song and reflection to show their appreciation for the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans.

Worrall Elementary kicked off a new tradition this year with its first Bring a Book, Take a Book event, a schoolwide book swap organized as the inaugural service project for the fall Fifth Grade Student Leaders under the guidance of the school counselor, Dr. Cahill. Students were invited to bring in gently used books to donate and were then welcomed to browse the swap tables for a new title that sparked their interest.

The generosity didn’t stop there. By the end of the event, an impressive number of books remained. The Fifth Grade Student Leaders stepped in once again, packing up the extra donations and preparing them for delivery to Cradles to Crayons, extending the impact of the event beyond the school walls.

With its strong participation, community spirit, and clear love of reading, the Book Swap proved to be an overwhelming success. Worrall plans to make it an annual tradition, because at Worrall, readers are leaders!

The Worrall PTO’s inaugural Boosterthon fundraiser proved to be an overwhelming success, far surpassing expectations and energizing the entire school community. With an original goal of $10,000 to support individual teacher grants, students embraced the challenge while participating in a weeklong program that blended character education with a space travel theme. Throughout the event, students worked toward individual, class, and grade-level incentives, including prizes, games, special announcements, extra recess, and even the chance to serve as Principal for the Day. Their hard work paid off as the school soared past its goal, raising an impressive $21,577, allowing each teacher to receive a $450 grant. The fundraiser concluded with a spirited Fun Run that brought smiles and excitement to students across all grades. School leaders expressed deep gratitude for the generous support of the Worrall community, whose involvement made the initiative such a standout success.

Paxon Hollow Middle School hosted another memorable Talent Show, celebrating the creativity, confidence, and school spirit of its students and staff. The event featured an impressive lineup of performances, with singers, dancers, and even the school’s own mummer lighting up the stage. One of the evening’s standout moments came from a show-stopping Wicked performance by Mrs. Kaiser, which drew enthusiastic applause from the crowd.

The excitement continued as staff members upheld tradition with a lively teachers-only dance, earning cheers from students throughout the auditorium.

School officials extended their congratulations to every performer for sharing their talents and contributing to the show’s success. A special acknowledgment was also given to the Student Council for sponsoring the beloved annual event and helping ensure that the magic of the Talent Show continues year after year.

PHMS is proud to recognize Luke Bilker, Colby Goldman, Emma Smith, Eleni Kelly, Bria Redding, and Leeann Eury as this fall season’s “Tiger’s Lair” award recipients. These students were nominated by their fall sport coaches for exemplifying the values of Respect, Responsibility, Citizenship, Sportsmanship, Hard Work, and Integrity, both on and off the athletic field. These student athletes truly represent the best of Paxon Hollow Middle School!

This fall, the Marple Newtown School District celebrated the artistic talents of its students during two Superintendent Art Recognition Night events. The season kicked off with Marple Newtown High School, artists proudly displaying their artwork and engaging in thoughtful conversations about their creative process with Superintendent, Dr. Tina Kane.

Following the high school event, an evening showcasing the work of Paxon Hollow Middle School students allowed the community to appreciate the emerging talents of younger artists. Attendees had the opportunity to view a wide variety of pieces, from paintings and drawings to mixed-media creations, and to discuss the inspiration behind the work directly with the student artists and Dr. Kane.

Both events highlighted the creativity, dedication, and passion of the District’s student artists, providing a meaningful platform for recognition and dialogue about the arts. The Superintendent’s Art Recognition Nights continue to celebrate and inspire students at every level, reinforcing the importance of creativity and expression within the District.

The MN Tiger Marching Band delivered an extraordinary performance at the USBands 3A Championship, earning 1st place with an impressive score of 93.5 for their 2025 production, Hunting Wabbits. Along with securing the championship title, the ensemble swept key caption awards, receiving Best Visual, Best Overall Effect, Best Colorguard, and Best Percussion. This achievement reflects the dedication and talent of every member of the Tiger Band, from the precision of the Battery and Front Ensemble to the artistry of the award-winning Colorguard and the commitment of the winds and student leaders. This championship marks the program’s first title in nine years and the first under the leadership of Director Dr. Jake Olimpi, whose vision and guidance have already inspired remarkable growth.

The District joins our students, families, and staff in expressing gratitude to the many individuals and departments whose support made this season possible, including our parent volunteers, band staff, the Operations and Transportation Departments, and all who contributed behind the scenes. The celebratory escort back to campus provided by the Marple and Newtown Square Fire Departments and local police created an unforgettable moment. The Board of School Directors also honored the ensemble for this remarkable accomplishment, recognizing the dedication and excellence that define the MN Tiger Marching Band.

Congratulations to all Tiger Band members on this outstanding accomplishment!

In addition to their championship success, the MN Drumline had the opportunity to participate in The Preston and Steve Show’s Camp Out for Hunger event, which raises food and funds to support food insecurity initiatives throughout our region. The drumline marched both into and out of the event in full performance, showcasing their energy and talent to a wide audience. Director Dr. Jake Olimpi was interviewed during the broadcast, offering a moment of well deserved recognition for the ensemble. It was a proud day for the entire MNSD community and a meaningful way for our students to contribute to an important cause. See their performance here!

The Marple Newtown Best Buddies program is off to an exciting start for the 2025–2026 school year. With 14 meetings already held and more than 10 new members welcomed, the group continues to thrive, drawing weekly attendance in the mid-eighties. So far, students have participated in a wide range of activities, including kickball, giant bubble-making, slime creation, pumpkin decorating, scavenger hunts, trivia contests, and crafting holiday cards for the elderly. Looking ahead, the Buddies are planning their annual holiday party and a community service project to make 150 lunches for The Unforgotten Haven, a local charity supporting the homeless. In recognition of their dedication to inclusion, the Marple Newtown High School Best Buddies recently earned a “No Place for Hate” designation from the Anti Defamation League, highlighting their positive impact on school culture.

Marple Newtown High School is proud to celebrate 16 students who earned the prestigious AP Capstone Diploma, a recognition awarded by the College Board for exceptional achievement in advanced coursework. To receive this honor, students must score a 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and four additional AP Exams, demonstrating remarkable dedication and strong college ready skills.

The AP Capstone Program, built around its two core courses, emphasizes research, critical thinking, collaboration, and academic writing skills that prepare students for success beyond high school. This year’s recipients were notified of their accomplishment over the summer and can view their award through the AP Scores website.

This achievement highlights the growing strength of the AP Capstone Program at MNHS and the readiness of our students to excel in rigorous academic pathways. Congratulations to our 16 awardees on this outstanding accomplishment!

Marple Newtown High School students recently came together for a spirited community event known as Can Jam. With each participant contributing 30 canned goods, the school collected an impressive amount of food for a local Delaware County pantry. The atmosphere was filled with pride as students united around a shared purpose that extended far beyond the school walls. Their efforts demonstrated a deep sense of responsibility and compassion, showing how meaningful change can begin with simple actions. The event highlighted the strength of the Marple Newtown community and the positive influence students can have when they work together in support of others.

It was a remarkable day for Marple Newtown at the PIAA State Cross Country Championships in Hershey, as both Sloane Smith and Julian Bothma delivered outstanding performances on one of the toughest courses in Pennsylvania.

The girls’ race kicked off the day, and all eyes were on Sloane Smith, Marple’s standout distance runner. Facing the most challenging terrain of the season, Smith rose to the occasion, running her strongest race yet. In a thrilling performance, she finished 4th overall, earning herself the title of state medalist — the first for Marple Newtown in years.

On the boys’ side, Julian Bothma made his own mark in school history. Running in his first state championship appearance, Bothma crossed the finish line with an impressive 17:42, securing 149th place in a field of 252 elite runners. His qualification alone was historic — it’s been nearly 25 years since a Marple Newtown boy competed at the state level.

As the season concludes, both Smith and Bothma leave Hershey with well-earned pride. The Marple Newtown Board of School Directors honored both athletes for their achievements, recognizing their dedication, competitive spirit, and the pride they bring to the community.

Congratulations to Sloane and Julian on an unforgettable day at Hershey!

Girls Team: The girls finished the season 2nd in the Central Athletic League, earning Co-Sportsmanship honors and capturing the Tennent Team Championship. They were runner-up at the Kutztown Invite and placed 12th at the District Championships out of 40 teams.

Standout performances included Sloane Smith, who earned 1st Team All-Delco and 1st Team All-CAL honors. She placed 3rd at Districts and 4th at the State Championships, becoming the only Delco girl to medal at state and achieving the highest finish in program history with a school record time of 17:39. Jess DeMaio and Avery DeCecco were named 2nd Team All-CAL and Honorable Mention All-Delco, with Avery finishing just one place shy of state qualifying and Jess four places out of state qualifying.

Boys Team: The boys were recognized for their sportsmanship, finishing 2nd in league sportsmanship voting. Notable individual accomplishments included Julian Bothma, named 2nd Team All-CAL and Honorable Mention All-Delco and qualifying for state for the first time, and Theo Albanese, who became the Delco Novice Champion. Team Captains: Jonica Wark, Kerrilyn Cunningham, Erin Patterson, Cole Broomall, Cole Wozniak, and Jake Figueroa provided strong leadership both on and off the course throughout the season.

The MN Field Hockey team finished the season with a 9–10 record, earning a 15th seed in the District 2A bracket and making the playoffs, bouncing back strongly after last year’s challenges. The team recorded several notable wins, including Bonner Prendie (2–0), Radnor (2–0), WC Rustin in overtime (3–2), and Merion Mercy (4–3).

Senior Riley Mattson concluded her four-year varsity career with 38 goals and 12 assists, leaving an incredible legacy. Sophomore goalkeeper had a phenomenal season, saving 175 of 206 shots on goal for an 85% save percentage.

All-Central League honors went to: Riley Mattson (First Team), Julia McMenamin (Second Team), and Brynn Battersby, Gina DiRocco, Angelina Welde, and Amelia Drake (Honorable Mentions).

The boys soccer team finished with a 10–8–0 record, qualifying for the District One Playoffs for the second consecutive season. Their 10 wins mark the first double-digit season since 2014 and the first back-to-back playoff appearances since 2016–2017.

Senior forward Benk Gahler earned First Team All–Central League honors, leading the CAL in total points with 23 goals, the second-most in a single season in program history, and a career total of 39 goals, just two shy of the school record. Senior midfielder Aran Trainor, named Second Team All–Central League, led the league in assists with 19 this season, setting a new single-season program record, and 31 career assists, the most by any player in program history. Senior defender and captain Nate Holt earned Second Team All–Central League, and fellow senior defender Ben Edwards was Honorable Mention All–Central League. The team scored 61 goals from 15 different players, one of the highest totals in school history.

For the fourth straight year the Girls soccer team qualified for District 1 playoffs. The team finished the season with a 10-5-3 record. In the first round of district 4A playoffs, the Tigers hosted Abington, winning 2-0. This was the first time in 14 years the program had a home playoff game. Amelia DiValerio was named First Team All Central League, Emily Kucera was named Second Team All Central League and Nicole Semerjian was named Honorable Mention All Central League.

The 2025 Volleyball team achieved remarkable success this season. Junior Gabrielle Sheridan became the first player in MNVB history to reach 1,000 career assists and is on track to challenge the program’s all-time record by her senior year. Four players earned All–Central League honors: Sophia Thiboutot (Second Team) and Gabrielle Sheridan, Lily Regnier, and Vivian Highland (Honorable Mention).

Several players ranked among the top five in league statistics: Thiboutot was 2nd in kills (239), 4th in aces (46), and 3rd in digs (249). Sheridan ranked 3rd with 481 assists, and Highland ranked 4th with 226 digs. It was a season of milestones, strong performances, and growth for the program.

The Girls Tennis team had another strong season, welcoming a record number of players and completing several competitive challenge matches that reshaped the singles and doubles ladders. The team finished 6–9, with several close matches coming down to a single court.

This season’s ten seniors provided exceptional leadership on and off the court. Although “Senior Night” was rained out, the celebration continued with energy and team spirit. MN was represented at the CAL district tournaments by two singles players and two doubles teams, all advancing through the first round. The season concluded with a team banquet celebrating accomplishments and camaraderie, followed by a fun Tennis Unite event with the boys’ team.

The Marple Newtown 2025 golf team enjoyed a strong season, highlighted by many close and competitive matches. The team finished with a record just shy of .500, a significant improvement over 2024. Team captains Mike Murray and Stavros Koulas provided exceptional leadership, guiding younger players and setting a positive example on and off the course. Jimmy Murphy had an outstanding season, qualifying for districts and contributing greatly to the team’s success. This year’s roster included seven graduating seniors, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

The MN Football team continued their tradition of excellence, qualifying for the playoffs for the 11th consecutive year. The season ended with a narrow 15–10 loss to 2-seed Chester, but the team’s effort and determination were on full display throughout the year. The senior class finished their careers with 23 wins over three seasons, ranking 4th all-time in program history.

Several players were recognized as Central Athletic League Players of the Week, highlighting standout performances during the season. Senior Brett Wolski capped an incredible career by finishing 2nd all-time in MNHS history with 51 touchdowns, 3,459 rushing yards, and 5,290 all-purpose yards. Senior Jack Dean also had a remarkable career, ranking 7th all-time with 1,059 career receiving yards. All-League and All-Delco honors for the season will be announced in the coming weeks.

At the December 2, 2025 Reorganization Meeting, the Marple Newtown School District proudly swore in newly elected School Board Director Kathleen Byrne. The District is pleased to welcome her to the Board and looks forward to the experience she will bring to her service on behalf of students, families, and the community.

Reelected Board Directors David Dezzi, Barbara S. Harvey, and Nicholas V. Siano were also sworn in. The District is grateful for their ongoing service and looks forward to the collective commitment of the Board as it continues to guide the District.

This photo captures the Marple Newtown High School Class of 1954 gathered on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., enjoying a moment of camaraderie during a class trip. Seated together on the grass with the iconic Capitol dome rising behind them, the students present a timeless scene of youthful excitement.

From January 1 through March 31, everyone who shops at GIANT, MARTIN’S, and GIANT Heirloom Market stores will be invited to “round up” their bill to the closest dollar. The round up funds raised will support Feeding School Kids. Customers can also give by converting their CHOICE Rewards Points to donations in the GIANT app. Last year, our local Giant store #6526 (4855 West Chester Pike, Newtown Sqaure), and our MNSD community, participated generously at checkout and helped raise $2,928.36 to support MNSD students in need. We look forward to another successful event!