Dr. Yanni's Blog
News and Notes from Your Superintendent
Budget Town Hall Reminder!
Mark Your Calendars!
News from the Nest
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 27, 2020 - The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this annual day of commemoration, the UN urges every member state to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism.
UDSD Preliminary Budget for SY 2020-2021
Please remember that this presentation is about the preliminary budget. Much work is still needed throughout the winter and spring before the Board approves the final budget in June 2020.
The New SRMS is Taking Shape
UDHS Course Selection
Click here to view the presentation.
Sharing as a Reminder!
- Teaching and Learning
- Setting and Maintaining High Expectations for Students and Staff
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Communication Structures
- District Finances and Operations
Our District's Leadership Team used the results of this survey to plan goals for the 2020-2021 school year. Some folks have asked if I could share the survey results again, and I am happy to oblige. Click here for the survey results!
Happy Holidays!
Will my child be able to take Calculus?
Below is a chart that shows the pathways students can take through mathematics instruction. During this school year, we eliminated the lowest level math class in 6th grade. We will do the same in 7th grade for SY 20-21 and in 8th grade in SY 21-22. Additionally, we eliminated the lowest level Algebra track at UDHS during this school year. We will eliminate the lowest level Algebra II track at UDHS in SY 20-21 and continue eliminating low-level classes moving forward.
As we support all students in rigorous courses, we will continue to offer Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors (H) classes. The significant change will be to stop having multiple tracks within Academic level classes.
Celebrating Our Scholars
Semifinalists in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program include Andrew Chen, Annie Cheng, Caleb Cho, Amy Gong, Daniel Kaplan, Ryan Lim, Frank Wang, Jeffrey Xu. Commended students in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program include Sara Bachman, Christopher Choo, Katherine Hong, Christopher Kenney, Hannah Kieserman, and Franklin She.
We Are Celebrating Inclusive Schools ALL YEAR long!
December 2, 2019 - Each year, during the first full week of December, schools across the nation take a moment to celebrate their progress in inclusive practices. Schools focus on their growth in promoting welcoming K-12 communities, embracing all students, and ensuring every student has an opportunity to learn, participate and contribute.
The week is also an opportunity for school communities to challenge ourselves to continue to study, implement and reflect on best practices that are essential to success of students in our diverse classrooms.
In Upper Dublin we are expanding this celebration for the remainder of this year! What are we doing to celebrate our inclusive schools you ask? Let me share...
- December - Student Focus Groups - What does inclusion mean to us? How we do make everyone feel truly accepted?
- January - Equity and Empowerment Meeting - Creating Policies that Support Inclusion, Acceptance, and Empowerment
- February - Celebrating Student Mentor Relationships
- March - Equity and Empowerment Meeting - Student Celebrations
- April - World Cafe Community Event
- May - Reflections on the School Year - Student and staff focus groups: What are our strengths? What are our areas for growth?
Information about our Celebration of Inclusive Schools will be shared monthly in our eNewsletter, News from the Nest.
Winter Weather - Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful!
December Is Here!
Superintendent's Report Presented at November Legislative Meeting
SRMS Update - Classroom Wing Footers are Being Poured!
American Education Week
Our Students are Outstanding!
State Officials Visit UDHS to Discuss Safe2Say
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late. With Safe2Say Something, it’s easy and confidential to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies.
Here’s how it works:
- Submit an anonymous tip report through the Safe2SaySomething system
- Crisis center reviews, assesses and processes all submissions
- Crisis center sends all submissions to school administration and/or law enforcement for intervention
- If needed, crisis center may contact tipster anonymously through the app
Schedule Reminders
An End to Keystone Exams? Not So Fast, Says PDE!
Pennsylvania Secretary of Education has responded with a letter to educators explaining why such a change is not yet possible. For the time being - and for the foreseeable future - the Keystone Exams will remain in place.
The Keystones are considered "end of course" exams that students take following their completion of Algebra I, Biology, and English Literature 10. We will continue to monitor developments and keep the community informed if these accountability measures change.
Summer Work Continues...
- Air conditioning units have been installed in classrooms at TFES, and the work has started at JTES. Soon work will begin at FWES to install air conditioning in that building.
- New windows have been installed in the two story wing at FWES. The new windows are energy efficient.
- SRMS construction continues with the modular classrooms now in place. Work now is focused on the interior of the units to ready them for students and teachers.
- All of our buildings are being cleaned and prepped for the new year!
We wish everyone continued joy throughout the summer!
Building Our Future: The New SRMS Updates
SRMS Update
Expression of Great Sadness
Please click here to read a letter sent from the District to the MGES community. The Park family remains in our thoughts at this difficult time.
SRMS Update - Rain - Rain - Go Away!
That's a Wrap!
A Perfect Evening for Graduation!
Rain on Graduation Day?
SRMS Construction - The Latest Update
Also, please be aware that all of the contractors who spend time on our site have been vetted with the same background checks our staff are required to have. This measure protects the safety of our students and staff.
Congratulations!
May 21, 2019 - Once again, our budding young scientists, engineers, and mathematicians have made us proud! Twenty-eight of our future STEM leaders excelled at the 84th annual state meeting of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Monday morning held at Penn State University Campus, University Park. Our students earned 7 second places and 21 first places, two of whom received perfect scores! Please click here to learn more!
Superintendent's Report
Sandy Run Middle School National Spanish Exam
Please join us in congratulating the following Sandy Run Middle School students who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2019 National Spanish Examinations!
Abraham N. - Gold (97%)
Ben S. - Silver (92%)
Alex C. - Silver (90%)
Scott S. - Silver (88%)
Sofia F. - Silver (86%)
Shane F. - Silver (85%)
Hannah G. - Silver (85%)
Emeline B. - Bronze (84%)
Lia S. - Bronze (82%)
Nathan F. - Bronze (81%)
Paige F. - Bronze (80%)
Catherine P. - Honorable Mention
Gabrielle B. - Honorable Mention
Kaylee F. - Honorable Mention
Pablo M. - Honorable Mention
Daniel G. - Honorable Mention
Joseph R. - Honorable Mention
Ben B. - Honorable Mention
Isabella C. - Honorable Mention
Sarah O. - Honorable Mention
Ava T. - Honorable Mention
Lucy R. - Honorable Mention
Elias A. - Honorable Mention
Maisie M. - Honorable Mention
Grace G. - Honorable Mention
Sophie P. - Honorable Mention
“Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious,” says Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, “because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States with over 146,000 students participating in 2019.”
Making Memories - Ensuring a Quality Middle Level Experience
As previously shared in communication from our Board of School Directors, moving forward students' curricular experiences will not change as a result of the Consent Decree. This includes assemblies, field trips, and other fun events. Great care is being taken to host these special events in areas of the school (and in other locations) that are accessible for all students!
Additionally, the District is working with counsel to provide an outdoor option for students during construction, specifically for break time after lunch. The District believes we have found space outdoors, in addition to the patio, that can be accessed by all students. We hope to share some updates soon. We plan to provide meaningful access to all students.
Finally, if you have not already viewed it, we have created a document that shows the locations for sports practices and games for SY 2019-2020. With virtually the entirety of the SRMS under construction, alternate locations have been identified for sports practices and games.
Strategic Action Planning Updates
The purpose of this process is to develop goals that will serve as road maps for decisions as we continue to move the District forward. Additionally, please join me in thanking the list of dedicated volunteers who have given their time and expertise in our strategic action planning meetings.
SRMS Construction Updates
Thank You Representative Sanchez!
SRMS Sports (Practices & Games) - Locations for SY 2019-2020
May 2, 2019 - In early April we released this information; however, it's worth sharing again! During construction, outdoor sports practices and games will not take place at SRMS. A big thank you to Mr. Steve Pickford (SRMS Assistant Principal/AD) and Mr. Chris Robbins (Director of Transportation) for ensuring that our students' athletics opportunities remain strong during construction.
Arbor Day Program and Tree Planting at JTES
Even though it was a bit rainy, we had a great time. In addition to our students and JTES staff, Dr. Art Levinowtiz (UDSD School Board President) and Dr. Gary Scarpello (UD Township Commissioner) participated in the event. Also in attendance were Michelle Wallace (PA Bureau of Forestry) and Ron Ayers (UD Township Shade Tree Commission). JTES and UDSD thank everyone involved in making the event possible!
Environmentally Speaking
Strategic Action Planning
Monday Morning Messages
Join Us at the Greenfield Youth Film Festival
To learn more about the Greenfield Youth Film Festival, click here!
UDSD - A District Committed to Excellence in Music Education
Spring Break Information
SRMS Sports: Locations for Practices and Games During SY 2019-2020
Click here to view a list of locations for SRMS sports - both practices and games.
Elementary Reading Pilot to Start in SY 2019-2020
April 10, 2019 - Fountas & Pinnell Classroom™ (FPC) is a cohesive, multi-text approach to literacy instruction for all students in grades PreK–6. The System is designed to support whole-group, small-group and independent learning opportunities including: interactive read-aloud, reading mini lessons, shared reading, phonics/spelling/word study lessons, guided reading, book clubs, and independent reading collections. Fountas & Pinnell Classroom™ is rich with authentic texts, lessons or conferring cards, mini lessons and professional tools and learning for a systematic, transformative approach to literacy instruction.
The Million Word Gap
"So what's it like being a superintendent?" - 4th grader at TFES
Today I had the privilege of attending an incredible art gallery opening at SRMS. Our students have many gifts, and as I walked around the art gallery today I felt a sense of pride! I am so proud of these talented SRMS artists!
From Megan Selinger, SRMS Art Educator: Adaptive Art Class came to life as a concept last school year out of a desire to provide a more meaningful and personal experience for our students. An individualized curriculum was developed through collaboration and planning, and projects were linked to other curricula (library, reading, social skills, science, and the planetarium to name a few). The students gained so much throughout the year, and the idea of sharing their success in the format of an art show came to mind. We structured it as a gallery show complete with an official art opening which included refreshments and live music. Before the show, each child chose a favorite project, and 'conversation cards' were made to encourage a dialogue with visitors. We also provided post-its and markers so that visitors could share comments about the pieces that they really liked. We were so happy to celebrate these artists and their work.
UDSD Awarded Alternate Clean Energy (ACE) Grant
April 2, 2019 - Several months ago the District embarked on a grant process to ensure that the new Sandy Run Middle School is energy efficient! As part of the Alternate Clean Energy (ACE) grant process, the District has been awarded approximately $1.3M to complete work that will ensure we achieve the goal of energy efficiency.
The current Sandy Run Middle School will be demolished, and the new "high performance" school will be built to LEED gold certification standards. Some of the features of the building will include LED lighting systems, an energy efficient HVAC system, water conservation fixtures, and a solar array of 215 kilowatts. We have been told by officials that we can expect the new building will bring a 42 percent reduction in energy usage, and a 30 percent reduction in water usage.