Proud to Be WSSD: News & Highlights

Following the two snow days we experienced this week, I want to share an update on how the district will make up the required instructional time and what this means for our calendar moving forward.

Our school calendar included one built‑in snow day, which means we only need to make up one additional day of instruction. To address this, we will repurpose the professional development day scheduled for Friday, March 20th. On that day, students will attend a half day of school, and staff will participate in professional development for the remainder of the day.

If we experience another snow day later this year, we plan to repurpose the final professional development day on June 12th. The professional development day scheduled for May 19th cannot be used for this purpose because it falls on election day.

We have carefully considered our options to minimize disruption for students, families, and staff, and we appreciate everyone’s flexibility as we work to meet our instructional requirements.

I want to provide an update on our budget planning for the upcoming school year. While the District is not currently facing a deficit, our financial projections for fiscal year 2026-27 and beyond show that we will need to make adjustments to remain fiscally sound. Taking a proactive approach now allows us to plan responsibly, align our resources with District priorities, and make thoughtful decisions that support students, staff, and programs over time.

As part of this planning, we are reviewing operational efficiencies and considering a reorganization of administrative structures. I plan to share a draft reorganization plan at the Finance Committee on February 17th and then continue the discussion during our full board meeting on February 23rd. Budget conversations will continue through March, with a proposed budget anticipated in April and final Board consideration in May.

Throughout this process, we have discussed potential transportation changes for the next school year. I want to be clear that there are no proposed changes to kindergarten transportation, and existing services for kindergarten students will remain in place. During the Policy Committee meeting scheduled for February 3rd, we will present proposed clarifications to before‑ and after‑school pickup and drop‑off procedures, and I welcome continued input on this topic as we review our transportation practices.

I will continue to share updates and provide opportunities for input as we move forward with budget development and long‑range planning in the months ahead. The next Community Conversation on our budget development is scheduled for February 26th at 9 AM and 6 PM in Room B226 at Strath Haven Middle School.

Members of the Strath Haven Unified Basketball Team will enjoy a special experience on February 7th as they attend the Villanova Women’s Basketball game against Georgetown. As part of the day, Unified Athletes will have the opportunity to go on the court and high-five the Villanova team.

Sparkle, the Strath Haven High School Unified Cheer Team, wrapped up their season with their final competition performance this past Saturday at Garnet Valley High School!

The Office of Student Services is proud to present our Parent Training Series, designed to strengthen the partnership between families and schools in supporting student success and well-being. The 2025-2026 series brings parents and caregivers together with experts to explore three timely and important topics that impact today’s children: neurodiversity, drug and alcohol prevention, electronic devices & digital balance.

Upcoming in February:

Using a Trauma-Informed Lens to Better Understand Neurodiversity: This session helps parents understand how using a trauma-informed lens can support and strengthen relationships with neurodivergent children. It clarifies the difference between “big T” Trauma—major, life-altering events—and “little t” trauma, which can arise from repeated experiences of stress, misunderstanding, or exclusion. Parents will learn how neurodivergent children may interpret and feel events more deeply, sometimes processing them as trauma even when they don’t seem significant to others. The session offers practical ways to respond with empathy, build safety and trust, and nurture emotional resilience at home. Presenter: Josh MacNeill, InMind Services.

February 9th, 2026 | 6PM-8PM | SHMS B226

Register Here

Power of Play (K-5): Discover the power of play. Engaging in play improves communication skills between parents/caregivers and their children, and it promotes bonding. Beyond the fun and games, play is essential to your child's health and development. Play helps build important social-emotional, cognitive, language, and self-regulation skills. Learn how you can create a more playful, less tech-dependent environment at home.

February 24th, 2026 | 6PM-7PM | WES Library

Register Here

On January 16, our staff participated in a Cultural Proficiency Professional Development that focused on strengthening inclusive practices and ensuring every student feels a sense of belonging. The day was guided by the work of the Cultural Proficiency and Equity Teacher Leaders (CPETL) and included ideas from their ongoing book studies, Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching and Learning, and Creating Equitable Practices in PBIS. While the books were not individual sessions, their ideas and frameworks helped shape the learning experiences throughout the day. Staff also had the opportunity to hear directly from their peers involved in CPETL, highlighting classroom-based perspectives and shared learning.

Throughout the morning, teachers participated in professional learning focused on recognizing and responding to bias, understanding culture, and using appropriate strategies in different situations. Staff reviewed the Educate and Heal modules, which outline how to respond to bias incidents both immediately and through more structured protocols when needed. Collaborative workshops highlighted culturally and linguistically responsive practices already in place and introduced new, practical strategies that can be used in classrooms. At the high school level, teachers explored culturally responsive teaching in action and left with lesson ideas and tools to support student engagement and inclusivity.

By the end of the day, teams across buildings developed brief, actionable plans outlining specific strategies to strengthen a sense of belonging for all students. These plans identified current practices, highlighted students or groups who may be missing or underserved, and outlined clear next steps aligned to instructional practices and PBIS. Educators also planned for upcoming holidays and celebrations to incorporate into their classrooms and shared resources with their colleagues.

On the afternoon of January 16, elementary teachers continued their work with Arts & Letters, the district’s new K–5 literacy curriculum. The session focused on how the curriculum aligns with key shifts in the Pennsylvania State Standards, including the gradual progression of skills from grade to grade, the use of text-based responses, and writing from sources. Teachers explored how students are taught to use facts and evidence from texts to inform ideas, make arguments, and respond thoughtfully to what they read.

Working collaboratively in grade-level teams, teachers reviewed student writing samples from kindergarten through fifth grade. This process allowed them to identify evidence of these instructional shifts in action and better understand how student writing develops and strengthens year to year, helping ensure consistent expectations and support across all grade levels.

We’re proud to celebrate ten Strath Haven High School students for earning a spot in the 2026 PMEA District 12 Band Festival! This achievement reflects their dedication, talent, and commitment to music. Students earned their spots through competitive auditions held this past November as part of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) statewide festival system, which provides rigorous and meaningful musical experiences for student musicians.

The selected students represent a wide range of instruments, including percussion, oboe, trumpet, tuba, clarinet, and alto saxophone.

District 12 includes schools from Philadelphia, Delaware, and Chester Counties and is part of PMEA, an affiliate of the National Association for Music Education. This year’s festival is led by guest conductor Captain Darren Y. Lin, Associate Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.

Participation in the District Band is the first step in a multi-level process. Students will have the opportunity to re-audition for the PMEA Region 6 Band, which includes Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester Counties. Region Band members may then audition for the PMEA All-State Band.

The PMEA District 12 Band concert will be held at Strath Haven High School on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public, as guest conductor Captain Darren Lin is an active-duty member of the United States Marine Band, whose policy ensures that all performances by its members are offered at no cost. In the event of a federal government shutdown, Captain Lin would still conduct the festival in a civilian capacity, and festival materials would not reference his active-duty status.

PMEA encourages audience members to arrive by 6:30 p.m. to secure general admission seating.

We are proud of all our Strath Haven students who have recently participated in PMEA District 12 music festivals and represented Haven with incredible talent and dedication.

Students took part in the PMEA District 12 Chorus and District Jazz festivals, delivering beautiful performances and showcasing their musical skills. The choral concert featured 12 student vocalists, all members of the Silvertones, and several students earned advancement to the PMEA Regions level. The District Jazz concert was filled with lively music and included standout solo performances by Strath Haven students.

Our musicians also performed at the PMEA District 12 Orchestra concert, where 11 Strath Haven students participated after hours of intensive rehearsal. Their performance, including a powerful rendition of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, was outstanding, and multiple students advanced to the Regional Orchestra.

We are incredibly proud of all of our student musicians for their hard work, commitment, and achievement. Thank you as well to our music educators for their continued support and leadership, and for helping our students reach such a high level of excellence in the performing arts.

The spring athletic season begins on March 2, 2026. Registration for the spring sports season opens on January 13, 2026. Registration is being used for athletic registrations. See below for registration deadlines and instructions.

Note: The doctor’s physical (section 6) must be dated on or after

May 1, 2025, include clearance status and the physician’s signature.

Strath Haven High School:

Registration opens on Monday, January 13, at 12:00 AM

Registration closes on Sunday, March 1, at 11:00 PM

Strath Haven High School Spring Registration

Strath Haven Middle School:

Registration opens on Monday, January 13, at 12:00 AM

Registration closes on Sunday, March 1, at 11:00 PM

Strath Haven Middle School Spring Registration

A completed and approved Registration form is required for participation in tryouts. Any student without an approved form by the due date will NOT be permitted to participate.

As we prepare for the winter months, we want to ensure you have the information you need regarding our district’s inclement weather protocols. While we hope for a smooth season, there may be times when weather conditions require us to close schools or adjust schedules. These decisions are made in collaboration with the National Weather Service, Departments of Safety & Security, Operations, and Transportation, as well as county and local officials.

Inclement Weather Scenarios

Here are the possible adjustments during inclement weather:

• Snow Day
  If weather conditions warrant, the district may declare a snow day. This decision will be communicated as early as possible.

• Two-Hour Delay
  Schools may operate on a two-hour delay. Families can find their school’s delay schedule on our website.

• Early Dismissal
  If weather conditions worsen during the day, an early dismissal schedule may be implemented.

• After-School Activities
  On snow days, all after-school activities will be canceled. If weather conditions deteriorate during a regular school day, after-school activities may also be canceled. Families will be notified in advance.

To ensure timely and reliable communication, the district uses SchoolMessenger through PowerSchool to notify families via email, text, and phone. In the event of a closure or schedule change, we will notify you through these channels as early as possible. We encourage you to make sure your information is updated in PowerSchool to receive updates.

Additionally, the WSSD website will serve as a key resource. Weather-related announcements will be posted prominently on the district homepage and each school’s webpage.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we navigate the winter season. Please rest assured that we are committed to making informed decisions with the safety of our students and staff as our priority.

Are you 62 years or older? The Strath Haven High School Silver Card offers you free admission to all school-sponsored events and activities for life! Whether it’s cheering on our teams, enjoying captivating performances, or attending special school programs, the Silver Card is your all-access pass to staying connected with our school community.

To apply for your Silver Card, reach out to our Athletics Department or

Communication Department.

We value our senior community members and look forward to seeing you at our events!

Website: wssd.org
Phone: 610-892-3470
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WallingfordSwarthmoreSchools/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wsschools/

Twitter: @WSSchools