District Newsletter
Greetings!
Now that October is rolling into November it is a good time to reflect on the positive and impactful work being done in our schools. We have celebrated accomplishments through school and district newsletters and celebrated student successes at Board of Education meetings.
It is always satisfying to celebrate the activities in our buildings and the successes on our fields, especially with our supportive families and community members. But I’d like to shine a light on something worth celebrating that happened behind the scenes.
In the early spring of 2023, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) posted a draft of proposed new NJSLS (New Jersey Student Learning Standards) in ELA and Mathematics. At this time, several of our ELA faculty gathered to review these proposed standards as part of their preparations for an internal audit of the ELA curriculum in Haddonfield.
On May 3, ELA specialists Kate Linnehan, Jess Plesniak, and Katy Roussos (now the Content Area Supervisor for ELA and Social Studies) attended the NJDOE Central Regional Public Testimony hearing. The purpose of this hearing was to gather input from stakeholders regarding the proposed revisions. Our Haddonfield ELA specialists came prepared with specific recommendations, informed by their careful review of the proposed standards and their particular expertise in literacy skills and child development.
The NJDOE later provided responses to all the suggestions made during these public hearings and officially adopted the new standards at a meeting on October 4th. Our Haddonfield specialists were pleased to discover that, thanks to their recommendations, several significant changes have been incorporated into the K-5 ELA NJSLS. You can review the suggestions made by the Haddonfield specialists and the NJDOE's responses here.
This is just one more example of the quality of our faculty and their dedication to our students. Simply put, they care. They keep up with educational trends, they pay attention to proposals that will affect their teaching, they share their voices when they have concerns or suggestions, and they actively pursue a better outcome.
We can all take pride in the contributions our team has made to these standards, which will have a positive impact on all students across the state of New Jersey. Thank you Kate, Jess and Katy for stepping up. And thank you to ALL of our faculty for all you do every day.
Chuck Klaus, Superintendent of Schools
Elementary School Calendars have been REVISED
In May, elementary parents and staff were surveyed about the schedule of fall parent-teacher conferences. After reviewing the opinions gathered, the administration made a recommendation to the Board to move elementary conferences from December to November, 2023.
On October 19, at the second reading of the recommendation, the Board voted to accept the new elementary conference schedule.
November 16: Evening Conferences
November 20: Afternoon Conferences (½ day elementary students, full day teachers)
November 21: Evening Conferences (½ day elementary students / teachers)
November 22: Morning Conferences (no school for elementary students; ½ day teachers)
Elementary principals have reached out to their parents to schedule conferences based on the November dates and times above.
REMINDER: The middle school / high school calendar has not changed.
HMHS Earns a Place on the AP School Honor Roll
In October, Haddonfield Memorial High School was notified that it has earned a place on the College Board's AP School Honor Roll for the 2022-23 school year!
The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that have done outstanding work to welcome more students into AP courses and support them on the path to college success. Research shows students who take AP courses and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time. The students who enter four-year colleges with credit from AP accelerate their path to graduation and build confidence for college success. And even for those who don’t earn college credit, AP coursework provides early exposure to college-level work and contributes to a college-going school culture.
"This recognition speaks to an increased number of students accessing courses with greater levels of academic intensity," said Dan Licata, HMHS Assistant Principal. "I credit our students for taking on appropriate challenges within the context of their entire course load and extracurricular activities and our staff for encouraging them to do so."
Schools Celebrated the Week of Respect
Haddonfield School District celebrated the Week of Respect from October 2 to 6. Throughout the week, students and staff recognized the World Day of Bullying Prevention, respected their differences, shared hopes and dreams about respectful communities, described how they want to feel at school, and honored their superheroes.
Above left, Central students rocked Blue Shirt Day!
Holocaust Speaker Addressed HMHS Students
On Thursday, October 5, HMHS teachers Laura Dabrowski and Cynthia Kolaski hosted a Holocaust speaker for their CP English 10 students who had been reading Elie Wiesel's memoir “Night.” Speaker Joan Rosen Bloch, who is a child of Holocaust survivors, developed a presentation about the experiences of her parents and other relatives during the Holocaust.
Bloch is a Professor Emeritus of Nursing at Drexel University and a resident of Cherry Hill. She presented her story in cooperation with the Esther Raab Holocaust Museum & Goodwin Education Center and the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill.
She created her presentation in order to keep alive the lessons of the Holocaust and to share her message:
- “Please be courageous to always be kind and helpful to others even when it may not be popular.”
- “Don’t hate.”
- “Celebrate life fully and cherish all the people in your life.”
Tatem Students Revel in Theater Club
A group of 12 second- and third-graders have been having a lot of fun in Tatem’s after-school theater club. Directed by former Tatem parent, actor and acting teacher Alicia Roper, the club met weekly and offered the children an opportunity to “pretend with a structure.” Roper and her HMHS assistants, Char Viola and Rebecca Seligman, led the children through exercises with physical and vocal elements that require imagination, reading, memorization, and collaboration. On Friday, October 27, the club met for the last time and performed several short plays for their parents. Bravo!
HMHS Students Recognized by the National Merit Corporation
Congratulations to HMHS students honored by the College Board in the National Recognition Programs (Black, Indigenous, Latino, and rural area students)! They are, left to right:
- Camila Manskopf -- National Hispanic Recognition Award
- Ana Bendesky -- National Hispanic Recognition Award
- (Principal Tammy McHale)
- Julian Butler-Galliera -- National African American Recognition Award
- Not pictured: Pia Gruebler -- National Hispanic Recognition Award
HMS School Play "A Recipe of Me" is November 16-17
Mark your calendar for the middle school play, "A Recipe of Me," on November 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8.
SYNOPSIS:
Once again, Leah and her siblings are stuck at the kids' table for Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Even worse, their phones have been taken away. Later, while searching the kitchen cupboards for snacks, they find Grandma Lucy’s secret "family recipe" box. Instead of finding some juicy gossip, they discover heartfelt family stories as told through recipes.
"A Recipe of Me" is a beautiful look into the world of a family rooted in love and food.
AUTHOR MEETING: A Special Treat!
Author Kate Kilpatrick will hold a GoogleMeeting with the cast and crew of "A Recipe of Me" on November 2 at 3:15 PM.
HET to Hold Rally in the Alley November 18
The Haddonfield Educational Trust (HET), a non-profit foundation dedicated to enhancing educational excellence of the Haddonfield Public Schools, invites guests age 21 and older to join the festivities at the Rally in the Alley, presented by Subaru and with the support of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, King’s Road Brewing Company, WineWorks and Inkwood Books. The event features food from local restaurants such as Sparrow's Snacks, CafeLift, Seashore Smoothies as well as live music from the Unstoppable Hack Beats.
This year's event will take place on November 18, 2023 from 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. on Mechanic Street in Haddonfield. Funds raised will benefit the Baker Track and HMHS Stadium.
Get your tickets now at https://tinyurl.com/HETRallyTickets
The 2022-2023 STEAM Tank Challenge Results are In!
In last month's district newsletter, we shared the news that two (then) eighth-graders, Hannah Cohen and Andrew Coleman, were among the top winners in the 2022-2023 STEAM Tank Challenge.
The original in-class challenge was to “improve an already existing invention,” and the team created “The Improved Bullet Staunch.”
Advancing in the competition, current ninth-grader Coleman made a presentation at the 2023 New Jersey School Boards Association Workshop in Atlantic City on October 25. We are delighted to announce that the invention earned second place and included a $1500 award. Well done!
Nominate a deserving HSD Educator for the Governor's Educator of the Year Program
Do you know a classroom teacher or educational services professional who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference? If so, please take the time to recommend this person for the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program by completing the online nomination form linked below.
The deadline is FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3 at noon.
Haddonfield School District has been honored recently with both a State Teacher of the Year award winner, Kim Dickstein Hughes (2019) and a County Teacher award winner, Ron Smith (2023).
Administrators, staff members, students, parents, and community members are encouraged to participate.
Take Advantage of ParentSquare, our School and District Communications App
Parents, we use ParentSquare to communicate with you via text or email.
We encourage you to download the app and register with ParentSquare so that you can take advantage of settings such as how and when you will receive school communications. For example, you may choose to receive them immediately or late in the day when you have time to digest the message.
Here are some helpful tips and instructions:
Click here to download the mobile app.
Click here for instructions how to register for PS from the app.
Watch the "getting started" video here.
Manage PS account settings here.
Thank you!
Playground Ambassadors Needed
We are looking for midday aides at two of our elementary schools! These important staff members assist on the playgrounds, in the cafeteria and in the auditorium.
Please take a look at the Playground Ambassadors flyer posted on our website. It includes all information you need as well as an "apply here" link.
These are part time, paid positions that follow the district calendar so parents and their children can be in school on the same schedule. Thank you for your consideration.
2023-24 Updated COVID-19 Guidelines
Due to an uptick in cases nationwide, we have posted updated COVID-19 guidelines to our website.
- Testing is recommended for students/staff with COVID-19 Symptoms.
- If you test positive for COVID-19, you are encouraged to contact your school nurse.
Specific information and more details can be found on this single-page document. Thank you!
