District News

Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is thrilled to announce that we have been recognized as a 2023 Best School District by Niche! This year, UCFSD ranked #7 out of 495 school districts in Pennsylvania and #97 out of 10,751 in America!

UCFSD earned this ranking by scoring highly in many factors that aim to capture what it’s really like to attend our schools. While we’ve always known that our schools are wonderful places to learn and grow, we’re so proud of our students and staff for earning this national distinction.

You can check out our district's profile and see the full list of 2023 rankings, methodologies, and data sources over at https://www.niche.com/.

Thank you to our staff, students, and community for working hard every day to make Unionville-Chadds Ford worthy of national attention.

Unionville-Chadds Ford School District (UCFSD) recently inducted four new members to the UCFSD Wall of Honor. Jamie Bartholomew Aller from the Class of 1998, Charlie Ferron from the Class of 1958 (honored posthumously), Rick McFeely from the Class of 1980, and Robert Pearson from the Class of 1967 were inducted during a Wall of Honor Celebration on September 30, 2022 at Unionville High School. Earlier that day, they visited Unionville High School students in their classes. This was an incredible opportunity for students to hear firsthand from the inductees and learn about their journey and success. The inductees were also recognized later that evening on the field at halftime during Unionville’s Homecoming football game.

To uphold the District’s mission of empowering students to succeed in life and contribute to society, and to inspire current students and the community, Unionville-Chadds Ford selects alumni each year whose lives reflect the values of our mission for recognition on the UCFSD Wall of Honor. This prestigious award recognizes exceptional alumni who have achieved great success and contributed so much to society since graduating from Unionville High School. Those who are inducted into the Wall of Honor have had significant accomplishments in their personal and professional lives through community and humanitarian service and/or have exhibited a lifelong commitment to educational excellence. Since 2008, the District has inducted 35 alumni into our Wall of Honor.

Each year there is a call for Wall of Honor nominations from the community. A nomination committee consisting of district administrators, board members and teachers reviews the nominations and identifies finalists, who are then reviewed by the selection committee. The selection committee, consisting of district staff, students, parents, community members and former Wall of Honor Inductees, judges each nominee to determine our inductees for the year. There were several outstanding candidates and the four inductees selected this year rose to the top.

At the celebration, Aller, McFeely, Pearson, and representatives from the Ferron family each received a commemorative star to mark the occasion. They were each introduced by a student leader from the high school, after which they shared remarks about their journey and accomplishments since graduating from Unionville. The event concluded at the physical Wall of Honor located in the high school, where the inductees' plaques were on display and will remain on display for one year after which they will be included on a perpetual plaque recognizing all of the District’s past Wall of Honor inductees.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR INDUCTEES AND THE WALL OF HONOR CELEBRATION

On Saturday, October 22, the Unionville High School Marching Band placed 1st in the Group IV Open Division in the USBands PA State Championships. Divisions (I-V) are determined by the size of the band while classifications (A and Open) are determined by the level of the ensemble. Group IV is the second largest division and Open is the most advanced classification.

Unionville finished with a score of 91.1 to earn the marching band its first state championship in the history of the school! This is a big step for Unionville's marching band since USBands is a national circuit.

Unionville will move on to the Mid-Atlantic Championships in Camp Hill, PA on October 29 and then to USBands National Championships at Metlife Stadium on November 5.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation recently announced that 15 Unionville High School students have been named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.

“We are so proud of the 15 students who have been recognized as National Merit Semifinalists,” stated Dr. Amy Jenkins, Unionville High School Principal. “Through their efforts and hard work, these students have distinguished themselves as exceptional academic leaders at Unionville High School. Their families and the entire community should be proud of their accomplishments and for representing the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District so well.”

Approximately 16,000 Semifinalists were named in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,050 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $35 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships in which students are entered by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) - one that serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year from about 21,000 high schools.

Finalists typically represent 1% of the total initial entrants and are chosen based on their test scores, academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, and honors and awards received.

Congratulations to all of this year’s semifinalists:

Elias Bomberger, Thomaz Bonato, David Chai, Clifford Han, Aydan Heilman, Maggie Liu, Madelyn Lowe, Suhan Neema, Ryan O’Leary, Akash Patel, Ria Saxena, Pranavh Vallabhaneni, Jyostna Venkatesh, Daniel Zhu, Aria Zutshi

We also recognize and congratulate the National Merit Commended Students from Unionville High School:

Aryan Abbaraju, Ellen C Almeida, Dimitrios M Angelakos, Riley W Angstadt, Aidan A Azar, Katrina A Banardi, Celeste K Butler, Edison F Dewilde, Sarah A Eginton, Samantha G Ellis, Armon M Ganjavian, Angelina Jia, Sriraj Kallat, Mason L Kolman, Rikhil J Kumar, Kaitlyn B Limbaugh, Joanna Y Lin, Michael P Pomianowski, Owen D Prysock, Winston Qiu, Luscinia M Quance, Mirielle G Sherman, Eric Steuber, Elissa I Stoop, Kevin W Sun, Paulina M Tesoroni, Allison J Van, Phillis C Wan, Jeffrey Yao, and Ella B Zucchero

Nowhere is longevity more valued than in coaching. Over the course of 19 years, Coach Clark has led approximately 475 young athletes out onto the field at Unionville Stadium for Friday night lights to play a game, a game that many would learn was just one piece of the overall experience you get playing for Coach Clark. Respect, integrity, leadership, hard work, compassion, and character are all part of the magic formula used by Coach Clark to create championship teams, but more importantly his legacy as a respected mentor whose leadership prepares his players for success in life.

Coach Clark began his career as Unionville Football Head Coach in 2004. As a young English teacher at the high school, Clark would transition from the classroom to the field every fall and during the off-season to prepare his team. Just last year, Clark was selected as one of the new assistant principals for Unionville High School, which led to a tough realization; becoming assistant principal meant that this season would be his final season.

Along the way, Clark’s teams won a lot of football games. Unionville was district one runner-up in 2005. In 2017, his team won the district championship and went on to the state semi-finals. He led Unionville to eight league titles and 15 playoff appearances, heading into the 2022-23 season with a total of 142 wins!

Just as important as the game wins, were the wins off the field, at practice and on the sidelines. He used every outcome as a teachable moment. He reinforced responsibility, reminding his players that school and family always come first. He cared about the well-being of each and every one of his players. Simply put, he loved his players and it made a difference.

“During his 19 seasons as head coach, Coach Clark’s remarkable commitment to leading his team and mentoring his players to become young men of character has made him a role model well beyond the football field,” said Tucker Opdhal, senior at Unionville.

Quintan Boyle, a senior at Unionville and one of four Boyle brothers to play for Coach Clark said, “Coach Clark has helped us become more than just great athletes. The life lessons and the bonds we’ve gained from Coach’s leadership will stay with us for long after we’ve played our final game. His commitment and love for his players are greater than I’ve seen from any coach before.”

At his final homecoming game on September 30 this year, Unionville Football alumni were invited to join Coach Clark and the current team on the field at the end of the game. Former players traveled from as far as Texas to be there to honor their coach who meant so much to them. Following the game, the football boosters hosted a reception in the school where alumni and current players shared stories and expressed their appreciation for Coach Clark. If you talk to any of Clark’s former players, they are eager to share the impact that he had on their lives and the cherished memories he helped make.

“It was a pleasure to play for Coach Clark during my four years in high school,” said Alex Gorgone, Unionville Class of 2018. “He is a role model to all of his players, made sure to keep us in check, and always knew how to get the most out of each player on and off the field. From caveman workouts to mulching, to team dinners, coach Clark created many fond memories that all of his players will never forget. I always appreciated how coach Clark led with integrity and never strayed away from who he is. He won a lot of football games that way!”

Elan Nash, 1stLt USMC and former Navy Football captain from the Unionville Class of 2016 shared, “Coach Clark played a pivotal role in my development as a football player and a man. From leading me and many of my teammates' first exposure to football at Unionville Youth Football Camp to coaching us through senior year, Coach Clark was exemplary in demanding the most out of us while creating a culture of brotherhood and respect. Coach’s leadership set us up for success on and off the field, for life.”

As this season comes to an end, we congratulate Coach Clark on 19 outstanding seasons with Unionville Football. While many may remember him for his impressive record with the team, most will remember him for his incredible commitment to his players and to this community. Thank you, Coach Clark.

Congratulations to Unionville High School's Ms. Natalie Carter on receiving a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program Award! Ms. Carter was selected for her academic merit and outstanding leadership potential. As a Fulbright recipient, she will share knowledge and foster meaningful connections across communities in the United States and abroad.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Congratulations to Unionville High School senior Madeleine Day for earning the Congressional Award Gold Medal. The Congressional Award was created to honor, encourage, and inspire America’s youth.

To earn the Gold Medal, each participant must complete at least 400 hours of Voluntary Public Service, which means sharing their time and talent for the betterment of the community, 200 hours of Personal Development, which can include developing social and life skills as well as interests, and 200 hours of Physical Fitness, spent in any way that improves their health and quality of life. Additionally, they must spend at least four consecutive overnights exploring a new environment or culture. Madeleine has been consistently working to achieve this award for over twenty-four months, the minimum time frame to earn the Gold Medal.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

The Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) recently elected Dr. John Sanville, from the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District (UCFSD), and Dr. George F. Fiore, from the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU), as president and president-elect, respectively. Prior to his role as president, Sanville served as president-elect from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022. Both Sanville and Fiore will serve a one-year term in their respective roles, after which Fiore will succeed Sanville in the role of president.

Sanville has been the superintendent at UCFSD for the past 12 years. In his leadership role with PASA, Sanville advocates for students and educational leaders across the state. He has met with state legislators on several issues facing education over the last two years and recently provided testimony on the current teacher shortage for the House Education Committee Hearing in Harrisburg.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

On September 22, the Unionville High School Chorale, under the direction of Mr. Jason Throne, performed the National Anthem at Citizens Bank Park. This was an exciting opportunity for our students to stand on the field and share their talent with thousands of Phillies fans!

WATCH THE PERFORMANCE HERE

Kindness was in the air as students across the district recognized Start With Hello week. There were many different opportunities to promote kindness at Hillendale Elementary School. Students and staff promoted inclusivity by all wearing green (the color of inclusion). Huskies also came together to the “HELLO” photo booth wall to form the letter H with a partner.

Charles F. Patton Middle School also participated in Start With Hello week with a schedule full of activities and opportunities for the Hawks to promote a welcoming spirit and show kindness throughout the middle school. A Kindness wall was hung in the cafeteria for students to write random acts of kindness they either witnessed or completed themselves.

UCFSD Food Services is implementing a new initiative this school year: “Learning about World Cultures through Food.” During a number of taste tests and special menu item days, students will have the opportunity to try traditional food items eaten during holidays and events celebrated in our community.

In September, our elementary school students sampled apples and honey, a traditional food pairing enjoyed during Rosh Hashanah. They also learned about the significance of Rosh Hashanah and why sweet foods are eaten during that holiday. In October, all UCFSD schools offered Chana Masala and lemon rice the Friday before Diwali. The lemon rice recipe was provided by the Buddha family from UCFSD!

These events will continue throughout the entire school year following our DEI calendar. If you would like to provide recipe ideas for other holidays, please contact dsundberg@ucfsd.net or slampert@ucfsd.net.

All four of our elementary schools joined forces to collect food and support KACS! Together, all four elementary schools collected 4,405 lbs. of items and helped fill the shelves at KACS.

Congratulations to Chadds Ford Elementary for collecting the most items at 2,686 lbs!

This was a wonderful collaboration by our students, staff and families working together to support our community.

A huge shoutout to our PTOs for coordinating this event and delivering the food to KACS.

The Chadds Ford Chargers sported green on October 6 in support of World Cerebral Palsy Day!

Unionville Elementary School hosted the October School Board Meeting and shared some of the impressive work UE Stars have accomplished so far this year! Bio-poems, artwork, geography projects, and short stories were on display for attendees to view as they entered the auditorium. The highlight of the evening was when the stage curtains opened to reveal a group of UE 5th graders ready to share their coding skills! Board Members and Dr. Sanville joined the students on stage to participate in a variety of coding exercises. The students did an excellent job guiding the activity and sharing what they learned about coding.

The Pocopson PTO hosted a Fall Family Fun Night at Ramsey's Farm earlier this month where Pocopson families enjoyed a hayride, corn maze, bonfire and s'mores!

UCFSD elementary students were treated to some Unionville Fair Fun on Friday, September 30. They enjoyed storytime, a BMX bike show, close-up interactions with a variety of animals, and visiting the exhibitions. The Unionville Community Fair never disappoints! We are incredibly lucky that our community continues to offer this wonderful tradition to our students and families. Thank you to the Unionville Community Fair coordinators for their hard work to make this event possible.

In honor of National School Lunch Week, the UCFSD Food Services department asked Patton Hawks to create and submit posters celebrating the diversity & nutrition of school lunches. Congratulations to the winning 6th grade student-artists:

1st Place - Shriram Manivannan

2nd Place - Aray Garg

3rd Place (tie) - Quinlan Hendrickson and Carly DelCampo

The staff in-service day on October 24 gave our staff an opportunity to focus on their well-being at the UCF Staff Wellness Conference. The morning kicked off at Unionville High School with an empowering keynote presentation given by nationally-recognized motivational speaker and educational consultant Thom Stecher. The day was filled with a variety of exciting sessions and activities from visiting with therapy dogs to cooking demonstrations to workout classes. The sessions were presented by wellness experts who volunteered their time to create this special day for our staff. The conference also included a vendor fair where several area businesses and organizations shared information on health and wellness services. Thank you to our sponsors for making this wonderful event possible. Our staff had a wonderful wellness-filled day!

It's been an exciting season for UCFSD Athletics! Congratulations to all of our fall student-athletes and coaches on an all-around exciting season! A huge shout out to the following teams for finishing their regular season undefeated:

Stay tuned for more post-season competitions with Unionville Girls Volleyball competing in the playoffs starting October 27 and Unionville's Girls Tennis Team competing in the PIAA State Quarter-finals on October 28 in Hershey. Best of luck to both teams!

The District is currently accepting submissions for our annual Holiday Card Design Contest! We are looking for holiday/winter-themed original pieces of artwork created by our talented students. The winning artwork will be featured on the District’s official 2022 holiday cards! The contest is open to all UCFSD students - Kindergarten through 12th grade.

The deadline to submit your artwork is Monday, November 28, 2022 by the end of the day! So spend some time this Thanksgiving break getting creative!

Hard copy/paper submissions may be sent to the District Office: Attention: Communications Department, 740 Unionville Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348. Students may also drop off hard-copy submissions at their school's main office. Digital submissions may be sent to ucfsdcommunications@ucfsd.net. If submitting digitally, please provide a high-quality digital photo of the artwork. (All submissions should include the student-artist's full name, grade and school.)

Check out the flyer and don't forget to be creative and have fun!

Email: ucfsdcommunications@ucfsd.net
Website: https://www.ucfsd.org/
Location: 740 Unionville Road, Kennett Square, PA, USA
Phone: 610-347-0970
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Unionville-Chadds-Ford-School-District/111053388940053?sk=wall
Twitter: @ucfsd