The Tigers' Pride

As we come to the end of another memorable school year, it is with Tiger Pride, that we reflect on the journey we have shared together. From the youngest learners taking their first steps into education to our graduating seniors, each of you has left an indelible mark on our school community.

To our graduating seniors, the Class of 2024, as you prepare to embark on the next chapter of your lives, we congratulate you and celebrate you for your success. Your accomplishments are a testament to your hard work and determination, and we are proud to have you as our youngest alumni.

We also extend our gratitude to our student families for your support throughout the year. Your partnership is invaluable to creating a nurturing environment where our students can thrive. A special thank you also goes out to our dedicated PTO members for their hard work, creativity, and consistent efforts in planning and executing various events and initiatives that enrich our school community. Your commitment to our students and our schools is truly appreciated.

As we bid farewell to our seniors, we also look ahead with excitement to welcoming the next generation of Tigers - the Class of 2037!

Wishing you all a wonderful summer break!

Sincerely,

Tina M. Kane, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

June 12 - Half Day Grades 6 - 12

First Author is a writing intervention program for our complex learners. This program utilizes a developmental writing scale and incorporates student's interest to encourage writing. The students within the Autistic Support programs at Culbertson Elementary School and Life Skills programs at Russell Elementary School piloted this program throughout this school year. Culbertson Elementary School held an Author Share event in which family and friends were invited to Culbertson to view each student's displayed writing from the entire school year. Students were able to share one piece of writing from this year and were given awards and certificates of recognition for all of their hard work.

We are excited about the incredible journey our Kindergarten and 1st Grade students have embarked upon with the help of their Beebot robots. These buzzing little robots have become part of our Design Thinking classrooms, changing the way our students learn and engage with core subjects such as literacy, mathematics, and art.

For our literacy focus, Beebots have become a useful tool in helping our students master tricky words. Through interactive activities, our young learners program their robots to navigate to blocks on a mat which display challenging words reinforcing their spelling and word recognition skills in a playful and memorable way.

Our Beebot lessons have also brought math to life. By incorporating numerical cards and grids into our activities, students use these robots to explore addition and subtraction in a hands-on manner. This approach encourages students to think algorithmically, break down problems, and find solutions in a step by step manner.

Kindergarten and 1st graders also unleashed their creativity while learning more about geometrical shapes. By attaching pencils to their Beebot robots, our students were able to experiment with shapes, patterns, and colors. The activity joins art and geometry in a way that is both innovative and inspiring. Students work throughout to connect the style of their pieces to the work of one of the pioneers of abstract art, Wassily Kandinsky.

Loomis 5th graders recently embarked on an insightful tour of Paxon Hollow Middle School, geared towards acquainting them with what lies ahead in the next academic year. During the tour, they engaged in meaningful conversations with school administrators, counselors, and fellow students, gaining valuable insights into their future educational journey. And to cap off the day, they enjoyed a fun-filled bowling session, adding a touch of excitement to their memorable day of exploration and preparation.

Loomis Kindergarten students participated in their annual Letter Person Parade!

Loomis Elementary School installed new lamppost banners which display their T.I.G.E.R.S character traits. Loomis students learn a new trait each month. Students from each homeroom that consistently display that character trait earn a T.I.G.E.R.S t-shirt to proudly wear around town!

Dash robots are not just tools for teaching our students block-based coding; they are also powerful aids in exploring mathematical concepts in a tangible and interactive way. Students in grades two through five are using them to assist in solving math problems. By programming Dash to move specific distances, turn precise angles, and calculate the area and perimeter of shapes, students gain a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts while honing their computational thinking skills.

Students then apply their engineering design skills by using Legos to create and attach a marker holder to their Dash robots. Through the process of drafting blueprints, building prototypes, and testing models, students design a tool that assists their Dash robots in creating original artwork.

Another remarkable aspect of using Dash robots in our Design Thinking classrooms is the level of engagement and collaboration observed among students. Whether they are working together to program a robot to complete a challenge or collaborating to solve a math problem, students are actively involved in the learning process, sharing ideas, problem solving, and celebrating their successes as a team. The excitement and sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing their code come to life in the form of a moving robot has been an enriching experience for students.

Stay tuned for more to come on how our students are taking things one step further using Micro:bit processors to code a device used for non-verbal communication, Makey-Makeys to create a musical instrument, and Lego robotics to design and code a working ferris wheel. Design Thinking is the place where our students are designing tomorrow, today!

The Russell Reading Olympics team, the Russell Radical Readers, brought home Blue Ribbons and scored a school record of 63 points! Congratulations to our talented and ambitious students for their outstanding performance. A heartfelt thank you to our Reading Olympics sponsors, Mr. DiNicola, Mrs. Westman, and Mrs. Partridge, for their guidance and support.

Throughout March and April, the remarkable skills of budding artists from Russell Elementary and Worrall Elementary took center stage at the Superintendent's Art Recognition Nights. Families joined participating students in lively discussions with Dr. Tina Kane, sharing insights into their artistic creations and receiving certificates honoring their talents. The stunning artwork created by these students was displayed in the Boardroom of the Administrative Building, showcasing their creativity for the entire month corresponding to their school's recognition.

Each year, Worrall holds a collection drive for Cradles to Crayons, a local non-profit organization that supports children with new and gently used clothing, school supplies, baby formula, and baby supplies. Worrall’s Fifth Grade Student Leaders and our Guidance Counselor, Dr. Cahill, coordinated this drive. This year’s collection was a great success! Our bins were overflowing onto the nearby floor and benches! Thanks so much to our Worrall community for their generosity.

Worrall celebrated Earth Day in a big way this year! There was a school-wide Earth Day event on Monday, April 22. The theme was Worrall vs. Plastics, with an accompanying presentation in all classes. Older students then paired with younger students to make bracelets out of over 1,200 single use plastic bags collected earlier from families. What a great way to reuse these bags and remind students to take care of the Earth! Worrall also had a Worrall vs Plastics art contest, with all submissions displayed in a pop-up art exhibit after school on Monday. The winners from each grade level had their artwork reproduced on t-shirts for the entire school, sponsored by the generosity of the PTO.

This Spring, Worrall’s STEM Team competed in the county-wide DCIU competition and won the “Best Teamwork” prize! We are so proud of our students who showed true collaboration, cooperation, and compromise from design drafting to finished product. Way to go, Marie W., Jack D., Ryder S., and Shane K.!

For the past 46 years, thousands of students in grades 1 through 8 have taken pen to paper to express themselves through the written word, using imagination and passion to create writing pieces that deserve to be read. This year, nearly 600 students across Delaware County public and nonpublic schools submitted pieces to the 2024 Young Authors’ Project, hosted by the Keystone State Literacy Association of Delaware County. At the April 24th Regular Board Meeting, these students were recognized by our Superintendent and Board of Directors. Culbertson students Vincent Dalton, Ryan Martini, Nikolay Gerov, Alanna Grier-Roddy, Norah Haas, Lucy Junod, Jack Tascione, Scarlett Dickinson and Georgina Ramoundos. Loomis student Sophia Nguyen, Russell student Apostolia Serevetas and PHMS students Evelyn Curley, Harjot Kataria, Michael McBride, Alexa Massey and Abigail Crowley.

At the May 28th Regular Board Meeting, our Superintendent and Board of Directors recognized 36 MNSD students for their participation & winning submissions in several contests and competitions throughout the county and commonwealth.

The Future Business Leaders of America organization (FBLA), aims to prepare young people for careers in business and related fields by providing hands-on experiences and mentorship. Our high school teachers, Anita Stum and Tyler Mertens have acted as advisors for the students, and have supported them along the way! Join us in celebrating the successes of seven of our talented FBLA competitors: Sarah Koh, Aila Lam, Emily Wechter, Maria Kaltsidis, Gregory George, Adam Simrell, and Aaron Dinh,. Sara, Aila, and Emily have been invited to move on to compete at nationals June 29-July 3rd in Orlando Florida!

This year, several of Mrs. Appleby’s students submitted entries to the Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research poster contest. The poster contest provides the opportunity for students to illustrate different aspects of biomedical research and science through art. The competition included students from several states including Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia. We have two award recipients (who just happen to be sisters): Zuzu Goldstein in 4th grade and Majd Goldstein in 2nd grade. Zuzu and Majd will each receive a $100 cash prize, a copy of the calendar featuring all the winning submissions, and an invitation to attend the Annual Awards Dinner at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, PA on Friday, June 14th.

The DCIU K’NEX STEM Design Challenge offers students in grades 4-8 the opportunity to engage in an exciting competition where they design, develop, and implement solutions to engineering problems. Participants are evaluated on creativity, teamwork, and the success of their design. This year's challenge involved assisting Pennsylvania farmers by creating agricultural robots or other high-tech farming equipment to enhance their operations. The 2nd Place Medal was awarded to the following students for their project titled “CFP”: Joseph Chiliberti, Eleftherios Dimos, Zoi Kirtiksi, and Chima Onyeachu. The 3rd Place Medal was awarded to the following students for their project titled “Stalk Surveillance”: Jaismeen Kaur, Vanessa Gavaghan, Lillianna Angelucci, and Maddy Ziegler.

Each year, the Delaware County Court and Bar Association celebrate Law Day. This year, the theme was “Voices of Democracy”. Students throughout the county are invited to enter the law day essay contest and poster contest. Several MNSD not only participated in this annual event, but won on many levels. Loomis students Jordan Tran won first place, and Grayson Lin won third place. Livia Holtsberg won first place, Danica Manion won third place, and Emmy Bilker won an Honorable Mention. Russell students Nate Clunis and Vaida DiGiacomo won second place. Oskar Hines won an Honorable Mention. Paxon students Nazani Baronian won third place, and Dimitris Gjergo won second place.

The 35th Annual Young Poets of Delaware County Poetry Contest, hosted by the Delaware County Libraries, had over 500 submissions this year from students across the County. MNSD students had several winning submissions. Our students with winning submissions are Bohdan Cherepanin grade 2 (Culbertson), Alanna Grier-Roddy, grade 3 (Culbertson), Colton Frese, grade 6 (PHMS), Denali Devonport, grade 9, Lianna Noll, grade 11, Serena Tang, grade 11, and Olia Dimou, grade 12.

Last but not least, Our Student Representatives, for their dedication and commitment to representing the Marple Newtown Student Body at the 2023-2024 Regular Board Meetings. Thank you, Kyria Brennan, a graduating Senior and Allison Collins, grade 11.

Marple Newtown School District has been recognized by the NAMM Foundation as one of the Best Communities in the nation for music education. The award program recognizes and celebrates outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. Designations are made to districts and schools that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education. Only 975 school districts in the United States have been recognized this year, and MNSD is proud to be a part of this remarkable group.

On Friday, May 31st, our elementary and middle school groups performed at the High Note Music Festival and Dorney Park trip. The adjudication showcased the incredible talent and musical growth of our students and resulted in impressive scores across our ensembles this year. Congratulations to all our MNSD musicians and their directors on an exceptional festival this year!

Elementary Select Ensembles

Tiger Band-Superior Rating

Select Strings-Excellent Rating

District Choir-Superior Rating

Paxon Hollow Ensembles

6th Grade Band-Superior Rating

7/8th Grade Band-Superior Rating

6th Grade Orchestra-Excellent Rating

7/8th Grade Orchestra-Superior Rating

6th Grade Chorus-Superior Rating

7/8th Grade Chorus-Superior Rating

Tiger Tones-Superior Rating

MNHS is honored to have two award winners in the annual Mordechai Anielewicz Creative Arts Competition! “Named in memory of the heroic young leader who organized Jewish resistance and gave his life fighting in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943, the Mordechai Anielewicz Creative Arts Competition invites students in grades 7 - 12 to learn about the Holocaust and respond by means of creative expression.”

This year Alison Mezer took 2nd place for her art submission titled “Taken.” She has won a $100 gift card and her work will be on display at the awards ceremony. Noah Abraham received an honorable mention for his poem “Freedom’s Cry.” He will receive a book about a Holocaust Survivor and the poem will be published in a booklet with all the winning written entries.

On April 8, 2024, Pennsylvania experienced a total solar eclipse, with much of our region in the path of partial totality. This was an exciting opportunity to learn about this uncommon celestial occurrence. To ensure safe viewing, all students and staff were equipped with solar eclipse glasses.

The Potter Cup 2024, hosted by Paxon Hollow Middle School at Marple Newtown High School, marked another successful year of raising funds for Alex’s Lemonade Stand. This annual event saw a remarkable achievement this year, with over $33,000 raised, contributing to a grand total of over $615,000 collected over 20 years. Joined by Haverford Middle School, the event brought together students from both schools for a day filled with excitement and camaraderie.

The fields buzzed with activity as students enjoyed numerous bouncy houses and indulged in delicious food and drinks. The highlight of the day was the spirited competition between Paxon Hollow and Haverford students across various sports including boys and girls lacrosse, track, baseball, and softball.

Despite the fierce competition, it was a close contest for the coveted Potter Cup trophy, ultimately claimed by Haverford Middle School. The event concluded with heartfelt gratitude extended to all the students and faculty members from both schools for making Potter Cup 2024 one of the most memorable editions yet.

On May 17th MN Drama celebrated a successful season at their annual MNNY's award show. The MNNY's is Marple Newtown's award show that highlights acting and technical excellence. This night offers the Cast and Crew a chance to walk the "red carpet" and celebrate all of their hard work throughout the year.

Future Business Leaders of America is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational association of student members preparing for careers in business or who are just simply interested in learning more about the free enterprise system. FBLA helps students develop leadership abilities, and prepare for entry into, and advancement within, a business or business-related occupation. Members learn how to engage in business enterprise, how to direct the affairs of a group, and how to compete honorably in competitive events. These activities help prepare students to be better employees and better citizens.

On January 9th, 2024, 22 Marple Newtown students attended the FBLA Regional Leadership Conference at Widener University. In between their competitive events, students attended workshops and networked with FBLA members from neighboring high schools. 13 MN FBLA students advanced from the regional competition to the state level.

From April 7th-10th, Marple’s state level qualifiers traveled to Hershey, PA, for the Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Conference. After a fun day at Hershey Park, students got down to business. They again competed in their events, but this time they were up against 5000 students from schools all over the state. Business workshops covered topics like resume writing, artificial intelligence, and the economics of Taylor Swift. Many of MN FBLA’s students placed highly in their competitive events:

Sarah Koh: 3rd Place in Word Processing

Aila Lam: 4th Place in Introduction to Public Speaking

Emily Wechter: 3rd Place in Impromptu Speaking

Maria Kaltsidis: 6th Place in Client Services

Gregory George and Adam Simrell: 12th Place in Entrepreneurship

Aaron Dinh: 16th Place in Supply Chain Management

By ranking in the top five in their events, Sarah, Aila, and Emily qualified to compete at the national level! This summer, the National Leadership Conference will be held in Orlando, FL. Best of luck to Sarah, Aila, and Emily!

Over the last four years, The GIANT Company’s Feeding School Kids Round Up Program has supported public school districts in addressing childhood hunger in local communities. To date, The GIANT Company and its customers have donated more than $6.1 million through the Feeding School Kids Round Up Program. From January 1, 2024 through March 31, 2024, our local Giant Store #6526 invited its customers to round up their grocery purchases to the nearest dollar or convert the CHPICE points into a donation to benefit MNSD students and families. On April 11, 2024, Associates of our local Giant Store #6526, visited our District offices to

$3,294.85. These funds will be used for various MNSD student and family needs.

Paxon Hollow had a stellar spring sports season! The 8th grade baseball and softball teams were undefeated for the second year in a row! Girls LAX had a memorable season finishing 6 and 5. Lacey Terra finishes the season scoring 39 Goals. She ties-Rachael Becker's goal record set in 1995.

Joey Yukenavitch scored his 200th goal on June 2nd, way to go!