Haverford Happenings

All registrations, Kindergarten and grades 1-12, are completed online. Please check our website for registration information. To register, a new student must be:

• A resident of the School District of Haverford Township (proofs of residency are required)
• Kindergarten students must be Five (5) years of age before September 1st of the school term
• First-grade students must be Six (6) years of age before September 1st of the school term

Families can now upload registration documents. While uploading these documents is not required for initial submission on Monday, these documents must be provided before your submission can be approved. You will continue to have access to the registration portal to upload documents at a later time.

If you have questions or require assistance, please contact the Registrar’s Office: Ms. Stacey Mattox, 610-853-5900 x7139, smattox@haverfordsd.net.

On January 8th, Haverford High School proudly welcomed the Class of 2029 for an informational evening and a guided building tour. This event showcased the wide range of opportunities and programs available to our future students. Be sure to check out the attached presentation to explore all the exciting offerings at Haverford High School!

Haverford Middle School Eighth-grade Latin 1 students showcased their creativity and knowledge through projects and presentations on topics from ancient Greece and Rome. Their work included a variety of mediums such as sculptures, drawings, 3D-printed reconstructions, and even an innovative video game inspired by the story of Orpheus. Selected projects will advance to the Philadelphia Classical Society competition, held at the Haverford School in February, where they will compete against entries from over two dozen local schools. Winners of the competition will be honored at an awards banquet at Drexelbrook in April.

Future Business Leaders of America is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational association of student members preparing for careers in business or who are 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.

The following Haverford HS students placed high enough in their events to advance to the state level during the FBLA Regional Leadership Conference!

Grace Hubbert - 1st Place, Accounting I, Chase Kurtz - 5th Place, Agribusiness, Jane Grey - 2nd Place, Business Communications, Everett Ingraffia - 4th Place, Business Law, Neil Bishop - 3rd Place, Economics, Lex Dalena - 1st Place, Intro to Financial Math, Adrian Rodriguez - 3rd Place, Intro to Marketing Concepts, Dash Smith - 4th Place, Intro to Marketing Concepts, Neilla Shonasaineva - 4th Place, Organizational Leadership, Nick Petrucci - 1st Place, Public Policy and Advocacy, Jack Baldwin - 4th Place, Public Policy and Advocacy, Molly Gibson - 5th Place, Public Policy and Advocacy, Maya Lewis - 2nd Place, Public Speaking, Cole Negley & Matilda Smith - Top 2 (awaiting final result), Sales Presentation, Will Walker - 1st Place, Sports & Entertainment Management, Jack Kovolski - 2nd Place, Sports & Entertainment Management

The follow students placed in the top 5 in their respective events and deserve honorable mention:

Madison Hahn & Julia Hobeika - 3rd Place, Hospitality Management, Rachel Bergin, Peyton Deignan & Nyah Walter - 4th Place, Marketing, Penny Jennings & Iris Simpkins - 3rd Place, Social Media Strategies, Katie Helfer - 5th Place, Social Media Strategies, Patrick Flynn - 3rd Place, Sports and Entertainment Management

Haverford High School students are making meaningful connections with seniors by participating in special luncheons through the Irish Diaspora Center designed to celebrate Irish heritage and foster a sense of community. These gatherings welcome everyone—whether you're an Irish-American looking to connect with your roots or simply seeking a warm and friendly environment to share a meal, a smile, and a story.

The luncheons offer seniors a chance to reconnect with old friends, form new friendships, and enjoy lively conversations with the younger generation. High school students bring energy and enthusiasm, enriching the experience for all participants while learning more about the traditions, stories, and lives of those they are connecting with over lunch.

In addition to fostering personal connections, the events also highlight the many services and benefits available to seniors. Through these gatherings, both generations find common ground, build relationships, and celebrate the rich culture that unites them. This month's presentation highlighted all Haverford HS has to offer to it's community.

Ava DiPlacido founded the Fords Honoring Veterans group in collaboration with the Wreaths Across America organization. This initiative aims to raise funds for decorated wreaths that are place on the graves of U.S. veterans. Their efforts successfully raised enough money to purchase 103 wreaths, which were placed at the Lower Merion Baptist Church. Students from Haverford High School, younger students in the District, and even past U.S. veterans participated in this effort.

During the ceremony, they paid tribute to veterans in several ways:

• A volunteer played Taps
• The church bells rang in honor of those who served
• A U.S. veteran delivered a moving speech

Finally, before placing wreaths on individual graves, all were encouraged to honor each veteran by saying their name aloud or in our hearts—a powerful moment of connection and remembrance.

This project was a meaningful way to reflect on the sacrifices of veterans and to bring our community together in their honor. The Fords Honoring Veterans looks forward to exploring more opportunities to support and give back to those who have served.

Student-Athletes: Evelyn Awad, Olivia Cieslak, Ryan Dankanis, Prudence Frein, Anastasia Harmon, Micah Haskins, Isabelle McDermott, and Camryn McGeehan

Coaches: Laura Clinton, Elizabeth Clinton, Matt Wells and Ryan Comstock

Season Accomplishments: Paul Short Run Champions , Delco Champions , Central League Champions, District 1 Runner Up , Qualified for States for the 4th year in a Row as a team, 2024 PIAA Girls AAA State Champions

Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association 2024 Girls Coach of the Year: Laura Clinton

All State Team:

1st Team: Olivia Cieslak

State Medalists

Olivia Cieslak- 5th (highest finish ever by a Haverford runner at the state meet), Camryn McGeehan- 16th

District Medalists

Olivia Cieslak- 6th, Camryn McGeehan- 7th, Micah Haskins- 15th

All Delco Team:

Girls Runner of the Year: Olivia Cieslak

1st Team: Camryn McGeehan, Olivia Cieslak, Micah Haskins

2nd Team: Ryan Dankanis

Honorable Mention: Evelyn Awad

All 7 girls made the All Central Team:

1st team- Olivia Cieslak, Camryn McGeehan, Micah Haskins

2nd team- Evelyn Awad, Ryan Dankanis

Honorable Mention- Pru Frein, Anastasia Harmon

What Are Flexible Instructional Days?

Flexible Instructional Days allow students to continue their education from home when school buildings are closed. Students engage with learning materials and complete assignments independently, ensuring progress without the need for makeup days.

You can find out more about Flexible Instruction Days on our website.

How to opt-in for text messages:

To comply with wireless carrier requirements and protect against unsolicited text messages, you must text YES to 67587 to opt-in to receive critical information from the district via SMS.

When school is closed, the work doesn't stop—

our Maintenance, Facilities, and Transportation teams clear the path for brighter days ahead!

See how they do it all!

The Superintendent search for the School District of Haverford Township is progressing smoothly.

On behalf of the School District of Haverford Township Board of Directors and the DCIU search consultants, we sincerely thank everyone who took the time to provide valuable feedback.

Read more about the comprehensive report summarizing the findings.

Overview of the Timeline

• January and February 2025: The School Board of Directors will conduct interviews with Superintendent candidates.

• Late February/Early March 2025: A community forum will introduce the final candidate for the Superintendent position. This forum provides stakeholders with an opportunity to engage in the selection process by reviewing the candidate's bio and contributing questions to gain insights. These questions will be organized into themes and presented during the forum. Following the forum, community members can meet and interact with the candidate in a more informal setting.

Link to the DCIU Website.

January is School Director Recognition Month, a time to honor and appreciate the invaluable contributions made by our dedicated school directors. As elected officials in our community, our board members devote countless hours to fulfilling their governing responsibilities. They serve as liaisons to county organizations, participate in committee meetings, and attend various events. Their unwavering commitment to students' academic success and well-being is truly commendable.

Our board members generously give their time and talents to our community, students, and the schools in our district. They strive to provide our children with the best educational opportunities possible, and for that, we extend our heartfelt "Thank You."

During the meeting on January 9, 2025, the board of school directors approved the Authorized Official Resolutions for the Solar For Schools Program Grant. This resolution designates the Board President and the Board Secretary as the officials responsible for executing all documents and agreements between the District and the Department of Community and Economic Development. Their role is to facilitate and assist in obtaining the requested grant or loan for Chatham Park and Lynnewood Elementary Schools.

Link to the Solar for School Resolution in Board Docs.

The Haverford community is invited to an informal chat with some school board members at the Community Conversation on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 7:00 PM in the Middle School Library.

The School District of Haverford Township utilizes BoardDocs, an online, paperless resource for all school board meetings. Here, you can find the agenda, meeting minutes, video replay, and board policies. The meetings are live-streamed on YouTube.

Regular and Committee Board Meetings will be held at the Oakmont Administration Building.

*NOTE TIMES FOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Upcoming Meetings:

• January 16: Curriculum and Pupil Services Committee Meeting 6:30 PM
• January 23: School Board Meeting
  
• February 6: School Board Meeting
• February 13: Finance & Facilities Committee Meeting 6:30 PM

All presentations and videos can be found on BoardDocs.

Monday, 1/20/25 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, was recognized as a federal holiday in 1983, with the first national observance occurring in 1986. On August 23, 1994, President Clinton signed the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday and Service Act (108 Stat. 1565), which expanded the holiday's mission to promote community service, interracial cooperation, and youth anti-violence initiatives. Each year, MLK Day has a theme or focus, and this year, in the Greater Philadelphia Area, the theme is the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

If you're looking for ways to participate in acts of service being hosted in our schools, you can visit our website. Alternatively, if you'd like to get involved in the Greater Philadelphia area, you can search for projects on the MLK Day of Service website (click here).

Monday, 1/27/25, INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

The internationally recognized date for Holocaust Remembrance Day corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. It marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Yom Hashoah. When the actual date of Yom Hashoah falls on a Friday, the state of Israel observes Yom Hashoah on the preceding Thursday. When it falls on a Sunday, Yom Hashoah is observed on the following Monday. In the United States, Days of Remembrance runs from the Sunday before Yom Hashoah through the following Sunday.

Wednesday, 1/29/25, LUNAR NEW YEAR
Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is the most important holiday in China, and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea, Vietnam, and countries with a significant overseas Chinese population. While the official dates encompassing the holiday vary by culture, those celebrating consider it the time of the year to reunite with immediate and extended family.

Commonly known as the Spring Festival in China, Lunar New Year is a fifteen-day celebration marked by many traditions.

Please check the District calendar for upcoming Winter Musical concerts throughout January.

Jan. 17: Teacher In-service (early dismissal for all students)

Jan. 20: Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday (schools & offices closed)
Jan. 22, 23: Finals - early dismissal for all high school students

Jan. 24: Transition day - Only Make up finals for high school students

Jan. 30: Community Conversation with the School Board

2024-2025 Calendar (At a Glance)

2025-2026 Calendar (At a Glance)

Join our team! Click the link to view available positions across the District and how to apply.

The mission of the School District of Haverford Township is to educate and to inspire a community of lifelong learners who become well-rounded global citizens.

Website: https://www.haverford.k12.pa.us/
Location: 50 East Eagle Road, Havertown, PA, USA
Phone: 610-853-5900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haverfordsd.net
Twitter: @haverfordsd