August '24 Superintendent Update

I look forward to welcoming our students back to school!

Sincerely,

Dr. Sue Elliott

Superintendent of Schools

On Monday afternoon, August 26, 2024 our Home Access Center (HAC) opened to families. You will find information about your child’s schedule, teacher assignments and transportation information. To access HAC please click here.

If you have issues accessing the HAC, please contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@umtsd.org

If you have questions about your child’s schedule or assignments, please contact your child’s school office.

As we prepare for the start of the school year, please take a minute to update important student contact information. You should have received an email in August from the Upper Moreland Township School District (noreplyregistration@umtsd.org) with the subject of “Upper Moreland Township School District Student Information Update 24-25”.This email contained a link to our enrollment tool, allowing you to update important student contact information review the code of conduct as well as other related start-of-the-year information.

Thank you for taking the time to update student contact information.

• BREAKFAST and LUNCH MENUS
• Breakfast is FREE for ALL Students
• Lunches are at cost.
  Visit our website for meals and snacks price list.
• Free / Reduced Meals information and application
  is available on our website.

In March 2024, we transitioned to a new website and mobile app. With the app, you have important dates and information at your fingertips including lunch menus and a calendar of events. If you haven’t explored our new website or downloaded our new mobile app, now is a great time to do it. Start the year by staying updated with us!

We've prepared detailed instructions for both the website and app to help you navigate:

• Website Navigation Guide

• App Navigation Guide

You can also check out the instructional video below to see our app in action! Visit the iOS App Store or Android Play Store and search for "Upper Moreland School District."

Upper Moreland School District Mobile App

If you need further assistance or encounter any broken links or pages, please contact the Help Desk by emailing helpdesk@umtsd.org

Student safety and security remains a top priority for our Upper Moreland students. We continue to work to improve our climate to ensure students and staff are safe. One area that has presented challenges is the school bus as students ride to and from school. In particular, some of our elementary students forget to practice the respectful and safe behavior expectations on the bus.

To further enhance our efforts to ensure safety and respect on our buses, we will implement two main changes this year. First, we will add audio recording on our buses to complement video recording. The addition of audio recording will help administrators manage and respond to behavior challenges on the bus. It may also help deter some behaviors when students know they are being recorded. All buses will include a sign to remind students they are being
recorded with video and audio.

Second, we will utilize elementary recess and cafeteria aids to periodically ride buses after elementary dismissal to help students practice safe and respectful behavior on the bus. The aids will target buses where students on the bus have struggled to implement the expected behaviors they have been taught by principals, counselors and their teachers.

Thank you for your partnership and support as you help remind students of the importance of following the expected behaviors on the bus.

Schools across the United States have struggled with the distraction smartphones cause during the school day–particularly in middle and high school. Rather than focus their attention on learning during their classes, students are drawn to their phones to listen to music, interact on social media, respond to notifications, or text friends and family members.

Recent work by our state legislators and governor have highlighted the challenges smart phones cause in schools. And several states including New York, Ohio, Indiana and Florida have banned cell phone use in schools. Although smartphones have become a valuable tool to make our lives easier and provide instant access to a wealth of information and apps, research also points to the negative effects smartphones have on students’ academic performance and emotional well-being.

At Upper Moreland, Board Policy 235.3 and the accompanying administrative regulation, Prohibited Behaviors and Actions, outline the restrictions of cell phone use in schools. Specifically,

1. The use of cell phones is prohibited by elementary students while in buildings.

2. The use of cell phones is prohibited by middle school students while in buildings. Students can use phones when their coach or activity advisor permits them to contact parents.

3. The use of cell phones is prohibited by high school students during academic or instructional times. Periodically, a classroom teacher may permit students to use their phones during class time to support instruction or independent work.

We emphasize and enforce the importance of these cell phone guidelines with students. But we need your partnership to ensure that smartphones are less distracting in our schools. If your child has a smartphone, please encourage them to keep the phone off and away during the school day.

Thank you for your assistance in reducing the distraction that smartphones cause in our secondary schools.

This year, our goals as a District will continue to focus on two key areas supporting student success: Climate and Culture and Student Success and Well-being. At each building, goals will relate to these two key areas.

We continue to emphasize creating a school climate and culture that is safe, respectful and productive and that ensures every student, family and staff member feels safe, valued and heard. To support this goal, we will continue to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusionary practices, which value all students and staff and seek to increase belongingness in the school community. This will include staff training on equity and the establishment of DEIB committees at each building. We will also focus on implementing a districtwide multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) with tiered levels of instruction and intervention targeting behavior and academic learning at the elementary level. A priority of our MTSS focus will be on core instruction in language arts and math as well as implementing a new universal screener, Acadience, in kindergarten through eighth grades.

We also continue to focus on student success and well-being. We will continue work to align curriculum, assessment, and instruction in all subject areas to increase student achievement. This will include structured literacy training, department work on aligning practices, and continued review of our special education programming. Additionally, we will embed strategies, practices, resources, and programming which target student social and emotional well-being. This will include continued trauma-informed training and updating current practices of our building safety teams to be responsive to potential crisis situations.

In April 2024, the Board of School Directors approved the completion of a comprehensive facilities study to evaluate the health of our District facilities and grounds and to provide options in response to identified areas of need across the District.

KCBA Architects and D’Huy Engineering gathered feedback from families, staff, and students. They also visited each building and space to understand the current and future needs.

On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, representatives from KCBA and D’Huy will present their comprehensive report to the Board at the Committee of the Whole Meeting. The Board and the administration will use this information to inform capital priorities and long range planning for the District as part of strategic planning. The Board will not take any action related to the comprehensive facilities plan at the September meeting.

The community is invited to attend the meeting on September 10th or watch it via live stream to listen to the presentation of the comprehensive facilities plan. The meeting will begin at 6:30pm.

Upper Moreland Township School District values the contributions of our volunteers and appreciates the time and effort you dedicate to supporting our students and staff. We're excited to announce that we have transitioned to a new and easier to use volunteer platform, Compliance Tracker, to process new applications and renewals.

New volunteers can get more information about obtaining clearances and start their application process here: Volunteering in UMTSD. Follow this Volunteer Guide to complete the process.

Current registered and approved volunteers are already included in our new system. You do not need to take action until your next renewal. When your clearances are ready to be renewed, you will receive reminder emails and instructions from Compliance Tracker 120 days before your clearances expire.

Legislation in Pennsylvania requires all community members and parents/guardians to obtain clearances to volunteer in our schools. Please refer to District Policy 916 for details on volunteer requirements. For assistance with the online volunteer registration, contact Human Resources Specialist, Matthew Mastrogiovanni, at mmastrogiovanni@umtsd.org.

Would you like to join our team and serve the students and families of Upper Moreland? There are various positions open. Consider submitting an application for one of our available positions.

Click on the image to the right to view our open positions.

Each month, upcoming events are highlighted in this newsletter. You will also find a calendar on our website and app to stay up to date on important dates and events across the District. Additionally, each family will receive a traditional printed District calendar to post in your home. If you need an additional calendar, please contact your child’s school office.

We are excited to welcome close to 40 new members to our Upper Moreland community. This year, new staff include classroom teachers, instructional assistants, coaches, bus drivers, building secretary, custodial staff and an assistant principal. Our new staff attended orientation meetings and trainings to prepare them for the start of the school year. Their orientation also included a bus tour of Upper Moreland schools and various community locations.

Welcome to Upper Moreland! We are excited to have you here!

Every summer, our facilities crew works diligently to update, maintain and clean our buildings in preparation for the upcoming school year. The work this summer included updated and more energy efficient lighting at UMPS and UMIS, the reconfiguration of furniture in the UMMS library, updates to our HVAC systems, the installation of a new scoreboard at UMHS, and repair of the UMHS Turf #2. Also, the addition of the three small classrooms at the intermediate school will provide space for small group instruction for students.

Our transportation department has cleaned and given a tune up to our bus and van fleet. They have also hired and trained new staff to ensure we have drivers for every bus.

In August, all staff returned to prepare classrooms to welcome students. Staff also participated in professional development focused on various topics including the Science of Reading, training with Acadience, the new universal screener for grades K through 8, and sessions on belonging and equity with Living Strong, LLC. Staff also attended a Kick Off event at the high school to reconnect and celebrate the accomplishments of their colleagues.

Upper Moreland Township School District has earned the Great Pennsylvania Schools (GPS) designation by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. This esteemed recognition highlights our district’s commitment to providing students with a rigorous and engaging curriculum, fostering a strong sense of community, maintaining financial stability, and demonstrating resilience in the face of challenges.

As a Great Pennsylvania School, our district excels in creating an academically rigorous environment where students are both challenged and supported daily, promoting a deep understanding of fundamental concepts driven by curiosity. We also prioritize a community-centric approach, ensuring students feel safe, valued, and connected within their learning environment. Our financial health is carefully managed through strategic budgeting and compliance practices, which support our successful academic programs. Additionally, our resilience is evident in our comprehensive emergency preparedness and mental health support systems, reflecting our ability to effectively navigate and overcome adversity.

This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of our students, staff, and community in creating an exceptional educational experience. We celebrate this milestone with pride and remain committed to building on our success to further enhance the educational experience for every student. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to making Upper Moreland Township School District a Great Pennsylvana School.

20 Years of Service:
UMMS Instructional Paraprofessional Florence Bishop; UMHS Special Education Teacher Aimee Boles; UMPS ELD Teacher Lisa Buzgon; UMPS Principal Dena Criss; UMHS Special Education Teacher Jennifer George; UMMS Science Teacher Megan Grant; UMHS Science Teacher Jillian Klock; UMMS World Language Teacher Yvonne Leistrum; UMPS Instructional Paraprofessional Joan Temler; UMMS Science Teacher Karen Westmoreland.

30 Years of Service:
UMPS Kindergarten Teacher Kolleen Bell; UMMS Social Studies Teacher Adam Feldman.

For the second year in a row, Kim Frantz, UMHS Head Coach for Girls’ Lacrosse, was named the Courier Times High School Girls’ Lacrosse Coach of the year for the Bucks County area. In both her seventh and now eighth seasons as the head coach for Upper Moreland, Coach Frantz has led the team to being a top contender in the Suburban One League, district, and state levels – earning a place in state playoffs in both 2023 and 2024.

In addition to building their lacrosse skills and strategy, Coach Frantz teaches the student athletes teamwork, dedication, confidence and persistence. She makes a difference in their lives both on and off the field. When she is not on the lacrosse field, Coach Frantz teaches at the Upper Moreland Middle School.

Congratulations Coach Frantz! We are very #UMProud of you and grateful for all you do for Upper Moreland students!

Upper Moreland Senior, Charleis Fayall received the Silver AmeriCorp Presidential Service Award. This award recognizes volunteers for their contributions to their communities. Charleis served as an intern in Representative Nancy Guenst’s office over the past year volunteering 175 hours of service. She assisted with daily constituent work as well as several events hosted by Representative Guenst’s office. According to Representative Guenst’s office, Charleis “embodies the ideals and values of a volunteer. Improving her community by giving her time and service to better those around her and to leave it better than where she found it.”

Congratulations Charleis and thank you for your service to our community!