The Weekly Update #4
February 8th, 2024
A Message From Our Superintendent
Welcome to the spring edition of The Tigers' Pride. This issue focuses on the many great successes and accomplishments we have experienced within our school district since our last issue. From academic achievements to artistic triumphs, athletic victories to community service initiatives, our schools have been busy with activity and achievement. Our students have showcased their talents in various competitions, debates, performances, earning accolades and recognitions. As we welcome the spring season of renewal and growth, let us carry forward the momentum of our successes and continue to inspire one another to show their Tiger Pride!
Sincerely,
Tina M. Kane, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Upcoming Important Dates
March 25 - 29, Spring Recess
April 22, PSSAs Begin
April 23, Schools Closed
April 25 - 26, Elementary Only Conferences Half-Days
April 25, Elementary Evening Conferences
May 17, Half-Day All Students, Teacher In-Service
May 24, Half-Day All Students
May 27, Schools Closed
June 12, Half-Day Grades 6 - 12
June 13, Half Day/Last Day for All Students
For School Specific Events Check Your School Calendar:
Culbertson Elementary
Loomis Elementary
Russell Elementary
Worrall Elementary
A New Era In Learning: Culbertson Elementary Expansion
On March 12th, our Board of School Directors, Administration, Teachers, Architect, and Construction Project Manager, gathered for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting event, marking the official opening of Culbertson Elementary School's new wing. Board President Matt Bilker opened the ceremony by sharing his gratitude and thanking all who were instrumental in getting this project to the finish line.
Board Directors and Culbertson parents, Lisa S. Pacell and Dana Altobelli, had the honor of cutting the ribbon during this significant occasion. The new space has added four 5th-grade classrooms, two special education classrooms, an English Language Learner classroom, and a reading specialist room, as well as storage. This event is a milestone in the ongoing journey of Culbertson Elementary School's commitment to providing an enriched learning environment for all its students.
Culbertson Reads for "The House"
In February, Culbertson Elementary School partnered with the Ronald McDonald House. Students took part in an initiative called "Read for the House," where they read to raise funds in support of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Last year, they nearly reached $8,000, and this year, their target was to hit that mark. Culbertson is thrilled to share that as of this publication the students have raised $14,000.35! Congratulations to all Culbertson students and families for supporting this wonderful cause.
Rhyme Time: Second Grade Poetry Celebration
The Culbertson Elementary School 2nd grade students have been working diligently to learn what it takes to write poetry. Over the course of the last month, the students began to write, rewrite, edit, and finalize their poetry pieces. This experience has taught the children a valuable lesson in writing, that is, your first draft is never your final draft. After weeks of editing and revising, the students gathered together to celebrate everyone’s poetry piece. The children had the opportunity to take turns to share and answer questions about their final work. The students were also taught the important skill of how to provide valuable feedback to our young writers in the form of complements. The faculty and students are very proud of their work.
Loomis Rings in the Lunar New Year🎉
Loomis recently hosted a school assembly highlighting the Lunar New Year traditions. Over 50 students performed for the assembly demonstrating customs as well as dances. The performers enjoyed working together as a team to bring the bright costumes to life.
100 Days Older, Brighter & Stronger!
Loomis Elementary School first graders are 100 days brighter!! They celebrated the 100th day of school with glowing learning adventures! Our adorable 100 year-old (third grade) Loomis students enjoyed learning about life 100 years ago!
It was a great 100th day in Kindergarten at Russell Elementary School! There were 10 Challenge Stations that the students had to complete. They had 100 seconds for each station. See for yourself how much fun the students had in the below video.
MNSD Represents at PMEA District 12 Chorus Fest
Join us in congratulating our students on their outstanding performances at the PMEA District 12 Chorus Fest events. These talented students dedicated themselves to months of diligent preparation and their commitment shone brightly. Their hard work, enthusiasm, and musical talent were truly showcased bringing pride to our community and joy to all who witnessed their performances. Well done!
Worrall Jump Rope for Heart Breaks Record 💟
Worrall’s annual Jump Rope for Heart in February was a huge success this year! Each year, students have the chance to fundraise for the American Heart Association and earn tiers of thank you gifts. The culminating event is a fun day of jump-roping, hula-hooping, and focusing on heart health. The school’s goal for 2024 was $5,000, and the students exceeded their goal by raising a total of $8,701! This was a new record for Worrall, we are so appreciative of our families’ generosity and support. One hard-working Second Grader, Peyton Hartley, even raised $1,000 on her own, earning special recognition from the American Heart Association. Way to go, Worrall and Peyton!
Worrall’s Readers are Tomorrow’s Leaders!
Each year, Worrall students are presented with a new Reading Incentive Challenge. This year’s Reading Incentive is being coordinated by Mrs. Barbuto and Mrs. Dragonetti, with ample help from our Fifth Grade leaders. As students complete a book, they record the title and a brief summary on a special slip to be displayed. This year’s school-wide goal is 1500 books by the Spring in order to win a special grand prize. Students are additionally engaged in a friendly competition with other grade levels, with recognition going to the grade level who reads the most. Our Worrall students already earned their first prize of a cozy pajama party with a book buddy this winter, and they are well on their way to earning additional prizes. Our total so far is at the 1,000 mark, so it is looking good for meeting our ending goal. Today’s readers are tomorrow’s leaders, and Worrall students love reading!
PHMS Students Participate in Future Cities Competition
This year’s 2024 Future City Challenge was to design and create a future city that is 100% electric. The PHMS Tiger Team members submitted five deliverables – a city essay, a project plan, a scale model of their city (built with recycled materials), a budget, a 7-minute presentation, and a Q and A session with a panel of judges. The city was to be powered with energy generated from sources that keep its citizens and the environment healthy and safe. The Paxon students used the engineering design process and project management skills when working together to create their city.
Our Paxon Tigers received the Spark of Innovation Award from Drexel University College of Engineering and the Best Land and Surveying Practices Award from the National Council for Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Team Members were Rebecca Bogutz, Joseph Chiliberti, Leftherios Dimos, Charles Hall, Michaela Hall, Zoi Kirtiktsi, Ryu Lam, Rainna Nguyen, and Angela Zheng collaborated with mentor Mr. James Clark, and teacher Dr. Elise Miranda-Martin.
Honors Band Festival
Eleven students from the Paxon Hollow Middle School band program were selected to participate in the annual Delaware County Middle School Honors Band Festival at E. T. Richardson Middle School. The concert was held on Friday, February 23rd. Congratulations on a wonderful performance!
Front Row (left to right): Lewis Onimus, Mark Krikourian, Timothy Kurtynets, Connor Witzel, Zachary Guillemin
Back Row (left to right): Layla Shifflet, Angela Zheng, Elizabeth Morrone, Vivian Zheng, Madeleine Ziegler, Matteo Sannes
Honk Jr.: A Feathered Tale Soars at Paxon Hollow Middle School
On March 1-2, the Paxon Hollow Middle School auditorium was packed with family, friends, and community to enjoy the tale of the ugly duckling in Honk Jr. Students from all grades flocked together on stage to bring this feathered tale to life under the direction of Georgia La Rue. Students danced on stage with the help of April Massi from Loomis Elementary and delivered theatrical and comedic moments aided by Alison Rollo at Paxon. It was truly a performance to crow about.
Delco Hi-Q: Celebrating Academic Excellence and Team Achievement
Delco Hi-Q is the nation’s longest continuously running academic quiz competition for high school students. Twenty-one Delaware County high schools participate in Hi-Q. Each team competes in three regular season contests where students answer questions prepared from fourteen academic categories, and the teams’ cumulative total points determine playoff positions. This year, the Marple Newtown Hi-Q team finished the regular season in 2nd place, just 1 point behind the team from Garnet Valley and was invited to host a playoff competition. We are so proud of our students, especially the seven graduating seniors who will be greatly missed, and their advisor Mrs. Liz Landes. The remainder of the team looks forward to riding this momentum into the next season.
Uniting for a Cause: MNHS Mini-Thon Success
Mini-THON is one of Marple Newtown High School's biggest philanthropic events. Students participate in an annual 7-hour dance party to raise money to help join the fight to defeat pediatric cancer. Associated with Penn State's THON, the money MNHS raises goes directly to Four Diamonds to conquer childhood cancer. This cause unites the high school students as they work together to raise as much money as possible and create an unforgettable event. For the 2024 Mini-THON, the Executive Board is comprised of five student leaders: Madi Coll, Ellie DiBona, Allison Collins, Feona Kochumuttom, and Lizzie Getz. There is also a board of 26 Committee Heads that work on specific tasks throughout the year to contribute to the success of the event. This student-led club is advised by MNHS teachers Courtney Gibbons, Riley McSorley, and Shannon Blessington. This year, the event raised $52,406.07. Overall, throughout the seven years of supporting this cause, MNHS has raised a total of $298,463.24 For the Kids!
It's Cool to be Kind 😎
Loomis Kindness Walks
The Loomis Community is a wonderful place to live! As a way to say thank you to our community and let them know we appreciate them as neighbors, we wanted to teach students to recognize others kindness in their community and reciprocate by creating cards for our residents.
Each year, Loomis students create beautifully decorated cards and write positive sayings or little notes of appreciation inside. The students then distribute anonymous cards to homes within the Loomis Community during their annual Kindness Walk in February. We created this activity to promote and teach about the ripple effects of a random act of kindness.
This initiative began five years ago with our fifth-grade students and has grown a little each year to now include our second through fifth grade students. Engaging in acts of kindness helps children learn about social responsibility and their role in making the world a better place.
Paxon Hollow Service Squad
The PHMS Service Squad made birthday cards for a World War II veteran who recently celebrated his 103rd birthday. In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Service Squad partnering with Kids Against Hunger, an organization whose goal is to provide fully nutritious food to impoverished children and families around the world, and around the corner by packing meals. This club has been doing a tremendous job giving back to the community.
Russell's 5th Grade Packs Over 7,000 Meals for Kids Against Hunger
On January 12th, Russell Elementary’s 5th graders teamed up with Kids Against Hunger in Broomall for their annual service project. Last year, students and teachers worked together in an assembly line to pack 6,800 meals for local families in need. This year their goal was 7,000 meals. We are proud to report that the students packed over 7,600 meals! This project is funded by Russell families with their contributions during the Penny War fundraiser. This year the students raised $2,300 during the Penny Wars!
Fostering Compassion and Camaraderie at Russell
Kindness Week at Russell was filled with spirit and goodwill. Each day featured a unique spirit theme, culminating in the Rusty Roundup on Friday, a celebration of the impact of kindness. Throughout the week, students were encouraged to perform various acts of kindness, including greeting new people, inviting classmates to play, sharing school supplies, expressing gratitude to staff, maintaining cleanliness in classrooms and hallways, sending positive notes, offering compliments, thanking crossing guards and bus drivers, providing assistance to peers, and crafting "Kindness Matters" posters to promote the importance of kindness. These initiatives fostered a culture of compassion and camaraderie within the school community, emphasizing the significance of spreading kindness in daily interactions.
Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union: Excellence in Teaching Nominees
The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes 20 outstanding and dedicated teachers in our area. Local teachers can be nominated to receive $1,000 grants towards educational expenses and $1,000 for their school. This year, there were six Marple Newtown School District teachers nominated. Those teachers were recognized by the Board of School Directors at the February 27, 2024 Regular Board Meeting:
Jaime Reilly, Culbertson Elementary School
Jena Foley, Loomis Elementary School
Colleen Harley, Russell Elementary School
Lauren Kobylarz, Worrall Elementary School
Teacher, Paxon Hollow Middle School (Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient, 2024)
Shannon Blessington, Marple Newtown High School
Also recognized at the February 27 ,2024 Regular Board Meeting was Marple Newtown Education Association Teacher of the Year, Noelle Newton-Meehan. Join us in congratulating all of our wonderful teachers on their outstanding achievements!
MNHS Mock Trial: Best Season in Team History
Congratulations to the MNHS Mock Trial team led by their advisor Dr. Michael Karpyn, for completing its most successful season in team history! Mock Trial is a statewide competition sponsored by the Young Lawyer’s Division of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Beginning in November, the team members began to prepare the criminal case of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Addison Booker, developed by the attorneys from the Bar Association. This preparation required students to take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses, analyzing witness statements and evidence, writing direct and cross examinations and readying each side of the case for courtroom trials against other local high school schools at the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in Media. Mr. Matthew Bilker, the team’s Advising Attorney, provided countless hours of expert guidance on the legal and evidentiary issues in the case and courtroom strategies as the team prepared for competition.
In February, the team won both of its regular season matches and advanced to the county playoffs for the first time in team history. The Commonwealth team defeated Upper Darby, 3-0, with Maura Pumphrey and Gia Kardon being recognized as the Best Attorney and Best Witness. The Defense team then defeated Ridley 3-0, with Kayley Brown and Emily Wechter recognized at the Best Attorney and Best Witness. The team’s season ended with a tightly contested 3-2 loss to county finalist Delco Christian. Lexi Montelone and Gracy Kaur took the honors as Best Attorney and Best Witness for MNHS.
The team poses with Delaware County Magisterial District Jack D. Lippart after their win against Upper Darby on February 20th at the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in Media. Bottom Row left to right: Maura Pumphrey, Lexi Monteleone, Sophia Favretto, Kayley Brown, Gia Kardon, Gregory George, Dillan Golbon, Bethany Campanella, Gracy Kaur. Top Row left to right: Honorable Jack. D. Lippart, Emily Wechter, Dr. Karpyn (Faculty Advisor), Mr. Matthew J. Bilker (Advising Attorney)
Spotlight on Young Artists: Culbertson & Loomis Elementary
During the months of January and February, the exceptional talents of young artists from Culbertson Elementary and Loomis Elementary were spotlighted during the Superintendent's Art Recognition Nights. At these events, participating students engaged in discussions with Dr. Tina Kane about their unique art pieces and received certificates in recognition of their achievements. The impressive artworks created by these students were proudly exhibited in the Boardroom of the Administrative Building throughout the month corresponding to their school's recognition. We eagerly anticipate celebrating the outstanding artists from Russell Elementary and Worrall Elementary in March and April.
Culbertson Artists
Loomis Artists
Sarah Koh: National Merit Scholarship Finalist and Community Leader
We are proud to announce that Sarah Koh, one of our exceptional students at Marple Newtown High School, has been named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist! This prestigious accolade reflects Sarah’s outstanding academic abilities and dedication to excellence. Sarah’s impact extends far beyond the classroom. She generously volunteers her time throughout our community, embodying the spirit of service and compassion. Additionally, Sarah is deeply involved in various school-related activities, contributing her talents and leadership skills to enrich our school community. Join us in applauding Sarah for her outstanding achievements, both academically and in service to others. She truly exemplifies the values of dedication, leadership, and kindness. Way to go, Sarah!
Mamma Mia! MN Drama Takes the Stage with Disco Fever
From March 7-9th MN Drama performed Mamma Mia! Under the direction of Mr. Brian Walden, Ms. Bridget Thompson, Ms. Nora McDonnell, Mr. Pete Rice, Mr. Matt Zelonka, Ms. Rachael Basescu, and Ms. Tiffany Caprice, the 56 person cast, 49 person stage crew, and 14 person pit orchestra, dazzled audiences with disco fever! MN Drama is an award winning theater program that does two main stage shows a year (Fall Play and Spring Musical) they also do other events such as murder mystery dinner theater and cabarets! Congratulations to our student actors, technicians, and musicians!
2023-2024 Season
As the winter season draws to a close, we reflect on the achievements and memorable moments of our talented athletes. From games on the court to impressive feats on the ice, our student-athletes have showcased dedication, skill, and sportsmanship throughout the season. Join us as we celebrate their successes and highlight the pride and spirit of the Marple Newtown community.
Cheerleading
Cheerleading wrapped up their season at the UCA Nationals in February. They competed in the small varsity division and advanced to the second round for the first time since 2020. The cheerleaders won UCA Regionals in December and placed 3rd place out of 19 other teams at the PIAA District 1 competition. Our Cheerleaders are ready to get back in the gym to work toward their 2024-2025 goals.
Girls Indoor Track 2023-2024 Season Highlights
Coaches Award: Angelina Welde, Keira Bethke
MVP: Justine Rimple
Captains: Riley Fox, Abby Brasch, Mary Goldbeck, Madi Impriano, Margo Gebey, Briana Kochumuttom, and Liya Giby
Meet of Champs Qualifiers (provisional and participated in meet):
- 60 hurdles: Gabby Nelson
- Mile: Allie Pavone and Chey McCarthy (medaled 5th in the mile)
- 4x800: Allie Pavone, Lizzie Getz, Madi Impriano, Margo Gebey
- 4x200: Gabby Nelson, Ryan McGowan, Jaylen Tyler, Justine Rimple, (Mary Goldbeck)
- DMR: Allie Pavone, Briana Kochumuttom, Margo Gebey, Lizzie Getz (Jonica Wark, Briana, Erin Patterson, Chey McCarthy)
- High Jump: Justine Rimple
School Records:
- High Jump: Justine Rimple 4-11
- Long Jump: Justine Rimple 15-08.5
- Triple Jump: Keira Bethke 31-8.5
- 4x200: Gabby Nelson, Ryan McGowan, Jaylen Tyler, Justine Rimple 1:51.39
- 4x800: Allie Pavone, Lizzie Getz, Madi Impriano, Margo Gebey 10:07.2
- SMR: Mary Goldbeck, Justine Rimple, Margo Gebey, Lizzie Getz 4:32.0
- 60 Hurdles: Gabby Nelson 10.09
- Shuttle Hurdles: Abby Brasch, Catie McDevitt, Devin Sliman, Jessie Baumeister 49.09
Boys Indoor Track
Boys indoor track had great season, making new school records for the sixth year in a row, winning over 40 awards, and qualifying for five events in the Meet of Champions, where AJ Mauldin recorded his personal record, Luke Moyer finished 16th in the 60 dash and Ricky Lee won sixth place honors in the 800m run in 2:00.01 It was an outstanding season for Boys track in PA as indicated by the fact that Ricky broke the required time for States in the 800, but narrowly missed selection for inclusion.
One of our top meets was at the Prestigious Brudette Classic at Lehigh University running against 62 top schools, The Tigers recorded 18 personal best performances, including season’s best by two relays: Our young sprint medley relay of Alex Williams, Nate Jolly, Aaden Tep, and Nick Naughton; and our 4x8 of: Cole Wozniak, Jimmy Murphy, Karam Dababneh, and Julian Bothma! MNHS recorded a new school record in the 200m dash by Luke Moyer!
Season highlights for the Tigers also included at the Armory in NYC, where we had strong showings by our two relays: Our 4x2 of: Dean Andreadis, Justin DiSantis, Chris Reynolds, and Alex Williams set a new school record of 1:37.33. We recorded our new season’s best by our 4x8 of Cole Wozniak, Landon Hartwell, Jimmy Murphy, and Donovan Carmichael in 9:02.37. Tyler Carlson took 10th in high jump!
Bocce
The 2023-2024 Bocce Team battled hard. Team Orange, led by captains Madeleine Hough and Anthony Maggitti, came in 4th in the Delaware County bracket. We were one game away from advancing to the finals, ending their season with a 4-4 record. Team Orange is ready for next season, there will be no stopping them! Team Black led by captains Bella Graci and Alex Stafford, came in 7th in the Delaware County bracket. They ended the season with a 2-6 records. Team black was full of heart and committed to doing their best all the way to the end of their season.
Varsity Ice Hockey
Marple Newtown Varsity Ice Hockey finished the Central League regular season in 2nd place with a 12-6 record. They entered the Flyers Cup A Division as a 4th seed with a first round bye. A 9-4 win in the Quarterfinals moves them on to the Semifinals in their quest for the Flyers Cup.
Boys Basketball
Boys’ basketball finished their season with an overall record of 13-12 and a league record of 10-6. The team returned to the District playoffs for the fifth year in a row and made the Central League playoffs for just the second time in school history. The Tigers won their first round Central League playoff game vs. Garnet Valley before falling to the eventual champs, Lower Merion. This was an exciting season overall with 12 of our games decided by two possessions or less, including multiple buzzer beating plays. Matt Gardler was the Central Athletic League MVP and 1st team. PJ Espostio and Ryan Keating were Honorable Mention CAL.
Last but not least, Congratulations to Matt Gardler for scoring his 1,000 point as well as hitting a buzzer beater to win in the Central league playoffs!
Girls Basketball
The girls basketball team finished with a 10-12 record. One win shy of making the playoffs! We are graduating 6 seniors this year and excited about the future of our young program. Freshmen Olivia Gicking was Honorable Mention Central Athletic League.
Wrestling
Wrestling finished 3rd in the regular season in the CAL, with many wrestlers representing MNSD in districts. The team finished with a record of 6-2 in the CAL, nice work!
Swimming
The 2023-2024 season was met with a lot of success! Pat Droesser broke the 50 freestyle and the 49-year-old 100 freestyle team records. Both he and Kaden Bothma represented MNHS at District Championships turning in strong swims. Overall, the hard work put in by the boys paid off with all achieving personal best times. The girls swim team had four swimmers compete at the Central league Championship: Nangsa Z’ningray, Ava Droesser, Katie Snyder, and Sophie Yacoubian. Katie and Sophie continued onto District Championships.
Diving
The MN divers had a successful 2023-2024 season. First year divers, Stavros Koulas and Reed Pennington, along with captain Logan Leach, all had personal best scores during the season. Juniors, Dayton Fasbinder and Alex Koulas both qualified and competed at District 1 Diving Championships for the first time. Senior, Captain Kierstyn Finn consistently scored points for the team and finished the season in 15th place in a deep Central League field. Delaney Behl had her best 11 dive meet season and placed 8th at Central League Championships and 16th at District 1 Diving Championships.
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