ASD Highlights & Happenings
Winter 2023 Edition
Dear Abington School District Community,
This December, our Abington Pledge of Character theme was gratitude, and I certainly felt that trait throughout our District over the past several weeks. Students in our schools raised money for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, collected toys through Toys for Tots, and participated in countless other initiatives to support those around them during the holiday season. As we get ready to say goodbye to 2023, I could not close out the year without reflecting on how grateful I am for our teachers and staff who create opportunities for our students to contribute positively to our schools and the community as a whole.
I also thank our Abington School District educators for working diligently on developing and implementing our school improvement plans as we continue to work toward ensuring all our students are reaching key benchmarks. They continue to analyze student progress and develop tailored approaches and solutions to ensure our students are performing their best academically.
As we look ahead to the new year, we will be engaged in addressing our District facilities needs and creating plans for ASD buildings and properties, both short-term and long-term.
We have a lot to look forward to in the next calendar year for Abington School District, our staff, students and their families! We wish you a restful and restorative break, and urge you to take time as families to enjoy each other and share moments to treasure. Happy New Year to all as we wish for peace on Earth and best wishes for 2024!
Regards,
Jeffrey S. Fecher, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
What's Happening
Abington Pledge of Character
November: Responsibility
In November, the theme was "Responsibility," with students pledging to be responsible for their actions. As November is when Non-Violent Conflict Resolution Week is also observed, students in Overlook Elementary School's Anti-Bullying Committee created a No Place for Hate collage in their school to display how they can act as allies to their peers.
October: Respect
October's theme of "Respect," involved students pledging to respect the people around them. At Rydal Elementary School, staff kicked off the month with a fun performance, which was followed by schoolwide lessons on how students can demonstrate respect throughout the building and on the playground.
September: Inclusion
There's no better time to focus on the theme of inclusion than at the start of the school year, when schools across Abington School District typically observe Start with Hello Week, an initiative from Sandy Hook Promise. At Abington Middle School, events and activities were scheduled every morning during arrival to welcome students to the building and help them feel a part of the school community.
Bullying Prevention Month
Additionally, October marked the observance of Bullying Prevention Month, when several schools recognized Unity Day, which aims to promote kindness and inclusion for all by bringing together school communities across the nation with the message that bullying is not acceptable. At Roslyn Elementary School, teachers and staff all wore matching orange shirts to spread the Unity Day message.
Embodying the Abington Pledge of Character
Congratulations to the Abington Senior High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team, who recently received the 2023 Outstanding Sportsmanship Award from the Suburban Philadelphia Soccer Officials Association. Led by Coach Randy Garber, the team not only had a tremendous season, making it all the way to the District finals, but they accomplished it with good sportsmanship and positive team spirit.
Facilities Planning: Stay Tuned for Updates!
As the District continues planning for the future of our school facilities, including buildings and grounds, there will be several opportunities in the coming weeks for families and the broader community to learn more and share feedback. Abington School District will launch a new website in early January, OneASDOneFuture.org, which will include an overview of our facility challenges, the steps the School Board has taken in the facility planning process so far, answers to frequently asked questions, and a place to submit comments and questions. In addition, the District will conduct an online community survey that will be open to all residents of Abington Township and the Borough of Rockledge. Feedback from the community will be critical as the District moves forward with facilities planning, so stay tuned for more information!
Tech Tip: Using the Events Calendar on the ASD Mobile App
Need to look ahead on the District or school calendar? Open the ASD mobile app, and under the Events section, click the calendar icon in the top right corner of the screen to see a monthly view of upcoming events. If you click on a specific date on the calendar, a list of that day's events will appear below. For more tech tips and tutorials, visit our website.
Round Up at the Register at GIANT in 2024!
Abington School District is proud to again be a part of The GIANT Company’s Feeding School Kids initiative, which is back for a longer period of time in 2024.
For the last three years, the program has supported public school districts in addressing childhood hunger throughout the communities it serves. Beginning January 1, and running through March 31, The GIANT Company invites customers to join in supporting Feeding School Kids by rounding up the dollar amount of their grocery bills at the register, which will be donated back to Abington students. Customers can also give by converting their CHOICE Rewards Points to donations in the GIANT app or purchasing a reusable bag. The only participating location that benefits Abington students is the GIANT store located on Susquehanna Road in Roslyn.
Through this same initiative in 2023, Abington School District received more than $7,847, which was used to purchase $50 GIANT gift cards that were distributed among our families in need. In 2024, join us as we round up to fight hunger and provide support that directly benefits children in our community.
In Case You Missed It
New Career Center on the ASD Website
As our student population increases, so does our need for additional teachers and staff! To help make the job search and application process more efficient, this fall the Human Resources Department debuted a new Career Center webpage for job-seekers, where they can not only find a list of openings, but also apply for those jobs via the same online portal.
Elementary Track & Field Meet
In November, student athletes from across Abington School District's seven elementary schools gathered at Schwarzman Stadium to compete in the annual track and field meet. The event serves as a fun way to bring students together from all seven of the elementary buildings.
Holocaust Education at ASHS
Abington Senior High School commemorated the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht with a visit from Holocaust survivor Pete Stern, on behalf of the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center (HAMEC). Mr. Stern spoke with students enrolled in the high school's Holocaust, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity classes.
Elementary School Author Visits
School Board Reorganization
On December 4, 2023, three new Board members—Ms. Elizabeth Eisenhart, Mrs. Rachel Hartman and Ms. Cathy D. Spaulding—and two incumbent members, Mrs. Shameeka Browne and Dr. Melissa Mowry, took oaths of office at the reorganization meeting to serve four-year terms on the Board of School Directors of the Abington School District. Mrs. Browne and Dr. Mowry were re-elected as President and Vice President, respectively.
K-5 Illustrative Mathematics is Abington School District's new elementary math program. This comprehensive program is standards-aligned, problem-based, and focused on student thinking through mathematical discourse. The program materials and content support classrooms as mathematical communities by encouraging collective learning.
On Friday, November 10, 2023, Abington Senior High School observed Veterans Day with a special edition Veterans Day Career Chatter in the Black Box Theater. Teachers, alumni and community members who are Veterans participated in a panel discussion sharing their experiences and talking about their paths from military service to careers, and how the skills they learned in the armed forces have helped them in their current roles.
Join us for the inaugural Governor's School Breakfast Challenge for the 2023-2024 school year! The School Breakfast Program is a federal program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, which allows all students in participating schools to have access to a school breakfast. There is a long list of benefits when students eat breakfast and have their brains and bodies well nourished, such as better academic performance, test scores, and attentiveness, and fewer nurse visits for stomach issues, just to name a few. Visit our website for breakfast menus!
ASD in the News
Good to Know
Save the Date!
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 6-7 p.m., ASHS Auditorium
Meet and Greet for Abington Senior High School families with newly appointed principal, Dr. Alice Swift, hosted by Abington School District and the ASHS PTO. There will be a presentation and Q&A, followed by an opportunity for introductions. Dr. Swift is set to officially begin her new position on Tuesday, Jan. 30. For more information about her background and career experience, please click here.
Viva Las AEF!
Fundraising Event for the Abington Educational Foundation
Friday, January 26, 7:30 p.m., at the Abington Club
Enjoy a night of games, prizes, hors d'oeuvres, music, and dancing in support of Abington students! Prizes include weekend getaways, dinner and theater packages, ASD experiences, and much more. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the AEF website.
Upcoming Key Dates
- Friday, Dec. 22 - Early Dismissal (Senior High - 11:00 a.m.; Middle School - 11:30 a.m.; Elementary Schools - 12:20 p.m.)
- Monday, Dec. 25 - Monday, Jan.1 - Winter Recess
- Tuesday, Jan. 9 - Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
- Monday, Jan. 15 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Schools and Offices Closed)
- Tuesday, Jan. 23 - Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 25 - Second Marking Period Ends (Secondary)
- Tuesday, Jan. 30 - Arts in ASD Parent Group Meeting, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Little Theater at Abington Middle School
- Monday, Feb. 5 - Gifted Education Parent Advisory Council Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Library at Copper Beech Elementary School
- Monday, Feb. 12 - Special Education Parent Advisory Council Meeting, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, Feb. 7 - Kindergarten Registration Opens for 2024-2025 School Year
- Tuesday, Feb. 13 - Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Feb. 16 - Professional Development Day (No Classes)
- Monday, Feb. 19 - Presidents' Day (Schools and Offices Closed)
- Tuesday, Feb. 27 - Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 29 - Saturday, March 2 - ASHS Spring Musical "Fiddler on the Roof" (7:00 p.m. nightly; 2:00 p.m. Saturday matinee), Auditorium at Abington Senior High School
- Thursday, March 7 - ASHS College & Career Fair/ASD Wellness Fair, 6:00-7:00 p.m., Abington Senior High School
Abington School District is committed to complying fully with all Federal and state laws banning discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or religion with regard to instructional programs, extracurricular activities, and employment practices. For more information, see the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act at the following: PHRC Website.
Any person who believes they are a victim of discrimination by the school district should refer the matter to the attention of the building principal and/or area supervisor. If the matter is not resolved satisfactorily, it should be brought to the attention of the Superintendent of Schools. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies:
Director of Human Resources; 970 Highland Avenue, Abington, PA 19001; 215-881-2509; hr@abington.k12.pa.us
Director of Pupil Services; 970 Highland Avenue, Abington, PA 19001; 215-881-2505; studentservices@abington.k12.pa.us