Community Conversations

At Methacton School District, we take pride in providing all students with not only a high-quality academic education, but also with services that support their social and emotional well-being. In today's world, the urgency to address student mental health concerns has never been greater. National data is sobering: one in five students experiences a mental health disorder each year, and half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14. This statistic is one of many that speak to the need to continue building comprehensive, systems of care in our schools.

As Superintendent, I want to remind you about the robust supports we have in place here at Methacton to meet the mental health needs of our students. You can see the overview of resources on the graphic below, or in the presentation that our Pupil Services director gave at the Board of School Directors Meeting on March 25, here.

At Methacton, we use a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) and teams of specialized professionals that include school counselors, psychologists, nurses, mental health counselors, administrators, and social workers, all working together to identify student needs early, intervene appropriately, and escalate care when necessary.

Methacton has 14 school counselors—strategically placed in every school— to provide academic planning, crisis intervention, advocacy, and developmental lessons. These individuals are often the first line of defense, trusted by students and families. We also have a Core Team, MTSS, and Child Study to evaluate student well-being and determine the next steps - whether that be short-term strategies or a referral to outside providers that bring targeted supports into the building. These outside providers assist with care such as drug and alcohol counseling.

While these services are available to all students in need, special education students benefit from integrated mental health counseling written directly into their Individualized Education Program (IEPs). Students with more complex matters leverage our REACH program that provides one-on-one and group therapy. When support needs go beyond what we can offer in-district, we coordinate access to outside services—always keeping the student’s well-being and dignity front and center.

Statistics show that more than 70% of youth who receive mental health services receive them from their school. Without these services, students with untreated mental health challenges are three times more likely to be suspended and twice as likely to drop out. At Methacton, our comprehensive mental health services keep students in school by providing the support they need to continue learning, growing, and achieving. We see mental health services as a strategic priority woven into the fabric of our educational mission. We remain committed to investing in evidence-based practices, leveraging innovative partnerships, and expanding access to comprehensive supports that empower every student to thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally.

This month's Alumni Spotlight features Sandy Fischer, Class of 1992. From her vibrant high school days, filled with sports and leadership, to her impactful career, Sandy's journey is truly remarkable. Inspired by her mother, a dedicated educator, she herself has become a dynamic force in Methacton's early childhood education, passionately nurturing young minds and actively collaborating in district-wide early elementary education initiatives. Learn more about her contributions to Methacton here.

Sincerely,

Dr. David Zerbe

Superintendent of Schools

Now let’s take a look at some of the events and achievements

that took place across the district in March...

From March 17 to March 21, Arrowhead participated in a Penny Wars fundraiser as part of the Philadelphia Eagles Autism Challenge. Students added pennies to their grade’s jar to earn points for their grade. Every penny was worth one point, while nickels, dimes and quarters deducted points. Students competed with other grades by dropping other coins in their jars! The grade with the most points won Eagles-themed prizes. By the end of the week, Arrowhead raised $1,863 for Autism research. Great job, Arrowhead!

Eagleville students and staff embraced "Music In Our Schools Month" with a spirit wear week that encouraged students to wear outfits that represent different musical genres, like tie dye for rock and roll and jeans and flannel for country. Music teacher Ms. Nugent also created a video that highlights the musical programs at Eagleville, which now includes brand new xylophones that were gifted by the Methacton Education Foundation. You can see these xylophones in action for yourself at the upcoming spring concert next month!

The Woodland Variety Show was a fantastic display of hard work and dedication, as students put in countless hours practicing their performances. From singing and dancing to comedic acts and playing instruments, the show provided a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their many talents and diverse cultures. Each performance was a reflection of the unique backgrounds and creativity that make the Woodland school community so special. A heartfelt thank you goes to the amazing committee volunteers, whose time and effort made this event possible! Their support and dedication ensured that the variety show was a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Worcester had some special visitors this month to help the students develop a love for reading and improve their literacy. 14 residents from Meadowood Senior Living joined students in Kindergarten through second grade to read aloud and bring stories to life. The Meadowood readers are planning another visit before the school year ends!

Congratulations to the four students from Skyview who performed at the District 11 Elementary PMEA Band Fest in Levittown, Pennsylvania! PMEA is a nationally sponsored organization that hosts events like the Band Fest to honor exceptional young musicians. The District 11 Band Fest included 5th and 6th graders from Bucks and Montgomery Counties who were nominated for their hard work, dedication and talent. Representing Skyview was Mila Salotti, Maci Reynolds, Isla Chapman, and Daniela Velazquez. A special shout out to band teacher Traci Bugosh for her educational excellence in teaching and inspiring these young musicians!

Arcola students celebrated the annual STEAM Career Day on Friday, March 21. The day is dedicated to exploring a variety of careers in the science, technology, engineering, arts and math fields. Students heard from nurses from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, learned about entomology and chemistry, and even got to meet some seeing eye dogs in training. The day also included a keynote speech and concert by electric violinist Brian Fitzy, who explained how music and technology work together.

All 7 of the Methacton High School semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship have advanced to FINALIST status, placing them among the elite few vying for these prestigious awards. Roughly half of all finalists nationwide will receive a National Merit Scholarship. More than 1.3 million students entered this prestigious academic competition, and only 6,870 will receive scholarships worth over $26 million!

Congratulations to our Methacton finalists:

• Amanda Chesney
• Matthew Chung
• Varsha Iyengar
• My-Lan T. Pham
• Aadi D. Shah
• Dylan Wen
• Max Wu

Methacton High School's annual Spring Blood Drive was a success, with more than 120 donors providing 105 pints of blood. That can save up to 315 lives! Of those, more than a dozen were 'power red' donors, which means they were able to donate two units of concentrated red blood cells at once, doubling their impact. Thank you to the American Red Cross and our Methacton nurses for organizing this impactful event!

Email: information@methacton.org
Website: www.methacton.org
Location: 1001 Kriebel Mill Road, Eagleville, PA, USA
Phone: 6104895000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MethactonSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @Methacton