News from the Nest
Cardinal Pride in the Upper Dublin School District
September 16, 2019
Superintendent's Message
The Upper Dublin School District is committed to the success of every student and to achieving our vision of ensuring that all students realize success with equitable educational opportunities. We believe that the responsibility for student success is broadly shared by District administrators, faculty, families, and the community.
We are committed to sustaining a learning community that provides equitable opportunities for all students. Additionally, we believe that it is the right of every student to have an equitable educational experience within the Upper Dublin School District. We firmly believe that all students can and will achieve at high levels when given the opportunity to do so. That is why, as a District, we are currently identifying opportunity gaps in Upper Dublin. We remain committed to closing opportunity gaps - and ensuring the very best educational opportunities for every student!
The concept of educational equity requires that each student receives what they need to succeed. Educational equity benefits all students, and our entire community. Recently, we released a vision document that captures what we will do as a District to empower every student. Empowerment for all students includes:
- High academic achievement and growth
- Equitable physical access and inclusion
- Equitable treatment for all
- Equitable opportunity to learn
- Equitable allocation of resources
- Accountability for all
To learn more about our Vision for Empowering All Students through Equitable Practices, click here.
My best to you now and always,
Steve Yanni
Vaping - What Parents and Guardians Need to Know
Although vaping is not a new phenomenon, our nation's attention to it has increased due to a number of deaths reported by news outlets in recent weeks. Six people have reportedly died from a lung disease linked to vaping, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 380 “confirmed and probable” cases have been identified across 36 states and the US Virgin Islands. More than 450 possible cases have been investigated. The exact cause of the disease is unclear — some reports have blamed illegally modified cannabis vapes, but health officials haven’t ruled out a threat from legal nicotine e-cigarettes either. The CDC and American Medical Association have urged people to refrain from vaping altogether.
Our students receive instruction on tobacco, e-cigarettes, and vaping in grades 3-5, 6, 8, and 10. Stay tuned for more information from the District about additional opportunities for our students and the community to learn more about the harmful effects of vaping.
UDHS - One of the Top 40 Schools in the 'City and Suburbs'
Philadelphia Magazine has “crunched the numbers on academic performance and learning environments” and has identified the Top 40 High Schools in the City and Suburbs. We are honored to have Upper Dublin High School included on the list! We are proud of our students and staff and ever-thankful to our supportive community.
Upper Dublin High School Principal Mr. Robert Schultz commented on the good news by calling this honor “a tribute to the excellence of our students and staff." To see the full list of the top 40 schools in the city and suburbs, please click here.
Sandy Run Middle School Groundbreaking
The demolition of the Annex will occur in the coming months and the new Sandy Run Middle School will begin to emerge. The new school will boast such features as large-group collaboration spaces, an auxiliary gymnasium, and a planetarium. A state of the art auditorium and an artificial field are also part of the new Sandy Run Middle School.
The District will provide regular updates regarding the construction of the new Sandy Run Middle School via the "Building our Future" page. Click here to access updated information!
Looking Ahead: Parent/Guardian Conferences (K-8)
In a few short months, it will be conference time! Starting this year the District will offer evening fall conferences. Further, instead of identifying conference times at Back-to-School Nights, we will use an electronic system for scheduling. We will share scheduling information in the coming weeks.
Conference Schedule Overview
Sandy Run Middle School
- November 25th - afternoon
- November 26th - afternoon and evening (5:30-7:30)
Elementary Schools
- December 12th - afternoon and evening (5:30-7:30)
- December 13th - afternoon
Reminders
- Health & Safety Tips for Parents/Guardians and Families - Please take a few moments to review some health and safety information. Click here to access the document.
- Talking about Transportation - Chris Robbins (Director of Transportation) and Phil Vinogradov (Director of Innovation & Technology) will co-moderate a Town Hall this evening focused on transportation. The Town Hall will be held in the UDHS Cardinal Room at 6PM. The event will be recorded, and follow-up information will be shared with the community.
- Steps of Communication - To enhance communication in the Upper Dublin School District, especially when trying to answer questions or resolve problems, it is important to follow our “Steps of Communication.” Directing questions or concerns to the appropriate person(s) encourages greater collaboration and streamlines the process of answering questions, alleviating concerns, and ensuring that we are all on the same page. Click here for our Steps of Communication document.
Upcoming Events
Please bookmark our District calendar to stay up to date on the many exciting events taking place in Upper Dublin!
Upper Dublin School District
Email: syanni@udsd.org
Website: www.udsd.org
Location: 1580 Fort Washington Avenue Maple Glen, PA 19002
Phone: (215) 643-8800
Facebook: facebook.com/UpperDublinSchoolDistrict
Twitter: @UpperDubSuper