District Newsletter
Mark Your Calendars
The next Board Meeting is December 8, 2022
7:00 p.m. in the Haddonfield Memorial High School library
Board meetings are open to the public. There are no limits to the number of people who may attend in person, and masks are optional.
Board meetings will continue to be live-streamed as well, but there will be no call-in comments or questions.
Link to Live-Streamed Meetings
Presentations from Recent Board Meetings:
MESSAGE from the SUPERINTENDENT
Greetings!
One of the district’s most significant recent projects has been slowly but steadily developing over the last ten months. Committee work associated with the Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) and the potential for a bond referendum in the fall of 2023 has been gradually advancing, focused on gathering as much information as possible to develop the best scope of work to benefit our students.
The process to gather community input included 15 “visioning sessions” with students, staff, district parents and community members in general. Input was solicited from all central and building-level administration. A survey was presented and its data analyzed. Based on this information, two final, topic-focused charrettes occurred, one addressing potential uses for the Hopkins parcel and needs of our athletic programs, and a second centered on instructional areas and auditoriums.
A crucial feature of this process is ensuring the priority of capital maintenance. The $35 million 2016 bond referendum focused almost exclusively on infrastructure that would keep our buildings standing and keep them dry in the rain. The upcoming plan will address work that was not included in 2016 and will combine the items left on the table in 2016 and other projects identified by Brightly Dude Solutions, a software program that monitors and tracks all aspects of our buildings' wellness and equipment. Tim McFerrin, the Director of Facilities, will play an essential role in identifying these needs.
A recent announcement of the availability of the Kingsway Learning Center has added a new possibility to our LRFP, and we are in active discussions with the owner to investigate acquiring that building. If we were to successfully purchase that building, many of the conversations we are having right now would shift. In particular, the possibility of using the Hopkins parcel for an early childhood center would be replaced by other, as yet to be determined, options.
Keep in mind that regular capital maintenance is ongoing, regardless of LRFPs or referendums. For example, the renovation of all school bathrooms is a current project, paid for by ESSER funds, the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020. We are also replacing a 50-year-old elevator in the high school, paid for with money from the capital reserve fund. With five buildings and numerous fields, we are continuously working on maintaining or improving our physical plant.
What’s next? Our architects from LAN Associates will finalize the scope of work, taking into account the feedback from all the stakeholders mentioned above. We hope to share that scope of work early in the new year, giving us sufficient time to meet and discuss with committee members the process and decision-making that went into this final version of the LRFP.
Thank you for sharing your voice as part of this process.
Chuck Klaus,
Superintendent of Schools
DISTRICT NEWS
Building Communities that are Kinder, More Inclusive and Accepting for ALL
At Haddonfield Public School District, we believe every student deserves a safe space for learning and self-expression. In October, we recognize National Bullying Prevention Month to highlight the importance of fostering a community of inclusion, safety, and respect.
Bullying isn’t a childhood rite of passage; it has real implications for a child’s education, health, and safety today and into their future. Bullying can leave devastating and often long-term effects such as a loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety, and depression for all involved. When one out of every five students report being bullied each year, we aim to work together towards change.
This month is a time to unite nationally to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention. We invite you to join us in raising awareness in our schools and community as we work toward our shared goal of inclusion, support, and respect for all.
Below are resources at school and in our community for anyone affected by bullying or exclusion:
Our School District has partnered with STOPit, anonymous reporting software – Click here for more information.
Click here to document an anonymous HIB allegation on "STOPit!".
You will need the "STOPit!" access code for your school:
- Central 3123456
- Haddon 1123456
- Tatem 2123456
- HMS 4123456
- HMHS 5123456
Click here to access a HIB Report Form to fill out, save, then email to your school Principal and Anti-Bullying Coordinator.
Your District Anti-Bullying Coordinator is Mrs. Sandra Horwitz, 1 Lincoln Ave. Haddonfield, NJ 08033, 856-429-4130 ext. 6207
The School-Based Anti-Bullying Specialists for 2022-23 are:
Central Elementary - Brielle Alexander – 856-429-5851, ext 3220
Principal - Shannon Simkus
Haddon Elementary - Diane Wallace – 856-429-0811, ext. 4301
Principal, Gerry Bissinger
Tatem Elementary - Jessica Plesniak – 856-429-0902, ext. 5102
Principal, Donnetta Beatty
Middle School - Emme Probst – 856-429-5851, ext. 2222
Principal, Hamisi Tarrant
Memorial High School - Colleen Gaspari – 856-429-3960, ext. 1103
Principal, Tammy McHale
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Care Solace
Haddonfield Public School District partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of students, staff, and their family members. Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service that can help you quickly find mental health or substance use treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of circumstance. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:
Call 888-515-0595, available 24/7/365 in any language
Visit www.caresolace.com/haddonfield and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
Together, we can create healthy and safe learning environments for all students to thrive.
HMHS Affinity Groups Foster a Sense of Belonging
In the Haddonfield School District, we aim to nurture a sense of belonging. Creating safe spaces for the exchange of ideas and the exploration of one’s sense of self is an important part of this goal.
Over the years, the community at Haddonfield Memorial High School has supported the creation of affinity groups such as the Asian American Cultural Club, the Black Student Union and the Jewish American Cultural Club, to name a few.
In the next several (monthly) issues of the district newsletter, we will highlight one of these groups.
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The Asian American Cultural Club (AACC) was born, in part, from world-wide incidents of “Asian hate” that came to light during the pandemic and continue today. Club Advisor and School Psychologist Alice Lee reflected on the growth of the organization since 2020.
“In the first year, we had about 10 students in the group,” she said. “We held a rally in May 2021 to recognize AAPI Heritage Month (Asian American Pacific Islander), collecting donations for “Stop AAPI Hate” a national coalition that tracks and responds to incidents of hate, violence and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.”
The rally included students from other area schools, and the group’s message of support seemed to grow in breadth and importance.
AACC expanded its activities in the 2021-22 school year to include movie night, a dine-and-donate event and a book club in which adults and students were invited to read “Crying in H Mart,” a memoir by Korean American Michelle Zauner.
For the 2022-23 school year, the group held its first meeting. In addition to repeating some of the popular activities from the last two years, the students plan to host a potluck meal to which they will bring their favorite Asian meals from home.
They also set goals for the year aligned to the group’s mission statement:
“The purpose of the Asian American Cultural Club is to engage with students of all races to celebrate, embrace, and expand their knowledge of various Asian cultures. Our goal is to provide social support while fostering student development and success through cultural awareness, leadership, philanthropy, and community service. Each meeting provides students with a safe place to talk about and share personal experiences as well as address and discuss the cultural and social issues surrounding Asian Americans in our country. The club is open to all HMHS students who are interested in engaging in cross-cultural understanding, promoting the unity, culture, and heritage of Asian students, as well as discussing the challenges that may be experienced coming from an Asian background.”
“I am very proud of the student members of AACC,” said Lee. “The group has more than doubled in size, and the students are making it their own.”
As the group has grown, its importance to the greater school community has become more evident.
“Groups like the AACC provide a safe environment for us to open up conversations, to develop understanding and to increase feelings of belonging,” Lee said. “It has been important to me personally, and I believe that the students and adults who have become involved have also benefited from the expansion of their awareness of Asian American culture. I encourage new student members to come and see what we’re all about!”
School Lunch Reminders
Please bookmark the payment portal for school meals. It can be found on our websites under "PARENTS." Here is the link.
Also, please consider applying for free and reduced lunch. The application and information about qualifications can be found on our website here.
Environmental Science Club Tip
WORTH REPEATING:
We are in the heart of the season of falling leaves. For many, this will be followed by fall leaf clean-up. Join the HMHS Environmental Club and members of the Invertebrate Conservation Organization Xerces Society in a campaign to "Leave the Leaves."
Keeping leaf litter present in your garden will add nutrients to the soil, provide habitat and food for many beneficial insects and other invertebrates, and can help retain soil moisture and protect delicate seeds.
THANK YOU to all who brought their electronic waste to the high school last week. The Environmental Club collected four enormous boxes of old laptops, phones, batteries and other eWaste.
Tell a Friend about HSD Employment
SCHOOL STORIES
Central Students Take Sculpture Tour
Central School second graders recently took a walking tour of downtown sculptures in Haddonfield. They enjoyed looking at the sculptures and learning about them from their guide, Mr. Stuart (Stuart Harting, founder and chair of HOST, The Haddonfield Outdoor Sculpture Trust).
Rays of Respect Celebration
Students from preschool through 5th grade in all three elementary schools helped to create a "Radiating Respect" bulletin board during the Week of Respect, October 17-21. The image below is from Elizabeth Haddon.
Classroom teachers worked with their students to make a "Ray of Respect" to add to the joint project. Each ray includes one example of how people can show respect to one another. The rays were collected and put together to create the huge, school-wide demonstration of respect.
The theme of "respect" continued through October to highlight National Bullying Prevention Month and to reinforce themes of respect, peace, inclusion, and kindness.
Tatem Students Build Communities
Tatem students in Ms. Lampman's second grade are collaborating in small groups to design their own communities as they finish a unit in Social Studies.
Working with the understanding that a community has places to live, places to work, places to play and places to solve problems, these city planners lay out buildings, streets, rivers and other structural elements. Then they add what their town needs (parks, pools, schools, drug stores, coffee shops), beautifications such as fountains, and finally people, vehicles and pets. Great job to all!
HMS Peer Leaders Spread Message of Drug-Free Living
HMS Peer Leaders are spreading a message this week to all students in grades 6, 7 and 8: Celebrate Life: Live Drug Free! Based on Red Ribbon Week, the Peer Leaders shared a presentation (student-created) during the Bulldawg Block. To add a little fun to their message, they assigned daily attire themes for the week: Peace Out to Drugs (wear tie dye), Lei Off Drugs (Hawaiian leis and shirts), Too Bright for Drugs (wear neon), Team Up Against Drugs (wear sports jerseys), and Put Drugs to Sleep (wear pajamas).
Great job to all!
HMHS Students Celebrate National Day on Writing
IN THE LOOP
District Twitter: @HaddonSchools
District Facebook: @HaddonfieldSchoolDistrict
SAC Corner: the October issue SAC = Student Assistance Counselor.
Central Elementary School ELA newsletter
Look for your school's Twitter feed.
Your student's team or club may also tweet.