District Newsletter
Mark Your Calendars
The next Board meeting is April 20, 2023.
The April 27th Board meeting is the public hearing for the 2023-24 budget.
All Board meetings are at 7 p.m. in the Haddonfield Memorial High School library and are open to the public. There are no limits to the number of people who may attend in person, and masks are optional.
Board meetings will continue to be live-streamed as well,
but there will be no call-in comments or questions.
Link to Live-Streamed Meetings
Presentations from Recent Board Meetings:
MESSAGE from the SUPERINTENDENT
Greetings!
As April is around the corner, and the district is finalizing its budget for the 2023–24 school year, it is time to reflect on what we value.
A school district's budget sends a clear message about the district's values. The largest part of our budget provides salaries and benefits for our staff. The teachers and support staff are the backbone of our institution and arguably the most significant reason for our success. They certainly deserve the lion's share of funding.
Looking deeper into the budget, one sees additional areas in which we invest, sending a message about what else we value. The Haddonfield School District spends over $1 million each year supporting extracurricular activities; this includes staff stipends, equipment, supplies and more. Delivered thoughtfully and intentionally, these activities provide the perfect opportunity to extend learning experiences outside of the school day and to expose students to life skills and to lessons of responsibility.
Some of these offerings are well known. Every fall, the middle school and high school students stage plays, and our winter calendars are populated with concerts and other performances. In the spring, high school and middle school students present musicals, and, at year’s end, our celebratory ceremonies are enhanced by musical interludes showcasing our students’ passion for the performing arts.
Athletics are another well-known and established extracurricular opportunity. Haddonfield athletics support varsity, junior varsity, freshman, and middle school interscholastic teams, providing another dimension of education. Each program strives to develop students’ positive values and habits and to encourage personal growth and development. Preparing students to succeed as adults is a priority of the athletic program. Averaging more than 1,400 high school and middle school participants during the school year, many students participate in multiple seasons.
But many people may not know that beyond performances and sports there lies a rich and varied number of other opportunities. Nearly 150 clubs and activities exist for student participation, offering extracurricular experiences in academics, arts, community service, and general interests at all three school levels. Consistent across all schools are those opportunities that encourage participation in the school process, such as student council, student voice groups, and Peer Leadership. These groups allow our students to grow as they come to understand the power of involvement, leadership, and advocacy.
Elementary students can select from dozens of clubs or activities ranging from academics, to Battle of the Books, to fitness, to interest clubs, as well as those that teach interpersonal skills and responsibility such as safety patrol. We are fortunate to have support from the PTA for some groups, and one of our newer offerings, yoga, is subsidized in part by the Rotary Club.
In middle school, the number of opportunities rises. Here students can choose to participate in academic clubs, such as the SeaPerch team, and service clubs such as Paws for Peace and Bulldawg Buddies.
Once a student arrives at high school, the number of offerings expands to almost 70 clubs and activities outside of athletics and the arts. They include interest groups, service clubs, academic/co-curricular clubs, honor societies, affinity groups, and many more.
The allocation of funds to support these activities is not frivolous. Student engagement in school culture and climate adds to student engagement in the classroom. With participation in extracurriculars above 90% in HMHS, this is a solid investment in helping our students grow.
Chuck Klaus,
Superintendent of Schools
DISTRICT NEWS
Summer Enrichment News
REMINDER: This information was emailed to all current HSD families on March 20, 2023
HSD will again offer a summer enrichment program for summer 2023.
This tuition-free summer program is open to any current K-12 Haddonfield student. Class sessions are designed to provide participants with various fun, engaging enrichment opportunities via hands-on, interactive, project-based learning activities.
Space is limited, so sign up today! Registration deadline is April 18 at 5 PM.
Please note that the successful completion of the registration form does not confirm a roster spot. Confirmation will be sent under separate cover and will be determined by the following:
- Date/Time of submission
- Commitment to the program (e.g., a student who plans to make all sessions will have priority over a student who can only commit to partial participation).
- We will attempt to provide students with their first choice selection; at the same time, priority will be given to offering at least one course for all who apply.
- A lottery will be considered for oversubscribed courses
Students may only be enrolled in one of the two offered sessions for a particular course. For example, if a student is interested in Adventures in Art, they may list Session A as the first choice and Session B as the second choice; however, they cannot enroll in both Session A and Session B.
Program confirmation will be emailed on/around Friday, May 5, 2023.
Please click here for the Summer 2023 Enrichment Program homepage, which includes the following:
- Program Overview
- Contact Information
- Course Descriptions
- Registration
HMHS Students Presented Research on Haddonfield in WWII
Advanced Placement U.S. History students led a panel on Haddonfield during WWII on Wednesday evening, March 29th. The students presented their research on the community, The Haddon Gazette, and the letters of soldiers to Principal William "Bull" Reynolds during WWII. They answered questions from appreciative community members and faculty members who attended. Well done!
Students Celebrate Women's History Month
March brought our students the opportunity to explore Women's History. Here are just a few examples of their projects:
Central fifth-graders (Bellagamba) researched famous women and then created paper dolls to represent that person.
At HMHS, Michelle Pracher's Multivariable Calculus class created a bulletin board for Women’s History Month featuring women in STEM.
Students in HMHS Graphics I (Bannett) are making pop art portraits of non-western women of interest, using Ji Yeo as their exemplar. One half of the project includes a quote and a QR code that links to a research document. Students used Adobe Illustrator and You I Draw software.
Information about and doll representing Marie Antoinette.
Calculus class with a bulletin board of women in STEM.
Pop art portraits of famous women.
Don't Miss HMS "Xanadu JR"
The HMS Drama Club continues the theme of Greek Mythology, but they’re bringing it to the 1980s!
Xanadu JR. is inspired by the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical and the Universal Pictures' cult classic movie that starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. Xanadu JR. is a moving, electrifying tale of endless fun that will keep audiences in stitches while the original, legendary chart-topping tunes lift them out of their seats.
There's one performance left, tonight (Friday, March 31st at 7:30 p.m.) in the HMS auditorium. Tickets are $8 at the door.
HMHS Senior Art Show and NAHS Induction
Don't miss this free community event!
The Senior Art Show will open Saturday, April 1 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Markheim Arts Center, 104 Lincoln Avenue, Haddonfield. Student art will be displayed and for sale.
The NAHS induction ceremony will be 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, followed immediately by a closing reception, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
HMHS Environmental Science Club Tip
Plant Native in your garden!
When you landscape with native plants, not only are you likely to save money and resources by using less fertilizer, soil additives, and water, you are also helping to strengthen the complex web of connections linking native species and ecological processes in your local ecosystem.
The Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) will hold its spring Native Plants sale on April 21st and 22nd. Learn more about PPA and the plant sale on their website, or visit your local nursery.
WORTH REPEATING
Child Find
“Child Find” is a legal requirement by which Local Education Agencies (LEA) identify all children who have disabilities and who may be entitled to special education services. Once identified, these children ages 3 through 21 may receive services provided by our public schools and their Child Study Teams.
Please read the attached letter and submit a referral if you know a student who may qualify.
School Lunch Reminder
Please bookmark the payment portal for school meals. It can be found on our websites under "PARENTS." Here is the link.
Also, please consider applying for free and reduced lunch. The application and information about qualifications can be found on our website here.
Tell a Friend about HSD Employment
SCHOOL STORIES
Central First-Graders Buddy Up for Ocean Unit
First-graders at Central School are learning a lot about ocean life. Last week they started their study of various types of penguins, working with their fourth-grade "buddies." Students teamed up to research facts about a particular species of penguin and will translate this newly acquired knowledge to a poster. The conclusion of the ocean unit is the much-anticipated trip to the Camden Aquarium on April 5th!
Fourth-grade student assists first-grader in online research.
Fourth-grade buddy and his first-grade partner research their penguin.
Elizabeth Haddon Fourth-Graders Study the American Revolution
Students in fourth grade have been learning about the causes of the American Revolution, including the French and Indian War, the Proclamation of 1763, the Quartering Act and many others. After studying these factors, students created triaramas illustrating four of the major causes in a visual format. Student work was assessed using a rubric that included creativity and historical accuracy, along with a written caption card. Great job to all!
Tatem Third-Graders Learn about Electricity, Insulators, Conductors
J.F. Tatem third-grade students began their PBL (project-based learning) STEAM Unit utilizing a Makey Makey kit. The unit kicks off with experiments that demonstrate what conductors and insulators of electricity are and what they do. The learning targets focus on innovation-through-design challenges. Students learned that we are all conductors of electricity as are many other materials.
Testing Banana Piano and Model Magic bongos: both are conductors of electricity.
Students demonstrate that we are all conductors of electricity. Creating a human chain, the electricity passes through each one of them to music on piano keys made out of Play-Doh.
Mrs. Strohmeyer and Mrs. Lloyd experiment with different materials to create music using the circuit board.
HMS Brings Back in-Person Wellness Day
Staff and students at Haddonfield Middle School have been excited to plan their first in-person Wellness Day since October 2019.
"None of the current HMS students experienced our last in-person Wellness Day, so this has been extra special for all of us!" said event organizer and French teacher, Sharon Verdeur.
Held today, March 31st, the entire HMS community had opportunities to participate in sessions that emphasized mental, emotional and physical health, including but not limited to:
- health walk
- yoga
- meditation
- dance
- chiropractic
- nutrition
- sports injuries/therapy
- skin care
A new concluding event wowed the audience as a professional troupe of wheelchair dancers performed for the entire community, expanding awareness of what it means to have a physical disability but also of how much people can accomplish with those disabilities.
HMHS Students Inducted into World Language Honor Societies
World Language students, their families and teachers celebrated their induction into the World Language Honor Society on Tuesday, March 21st.
The memorable ceremony was held in the HMHS auditorium for the first time since the pandemic. Senior Tina Tian played various international pieces on piano as each Honor Society processed in, and other world language students ran the entire ceremony. Seniors Ian Talty and Helene Usher were opening and closing ceremony hosts. They introduced guest speaker Muriel Dahn who spoke about her experiences leaving a small town in Germany to work as an au pair in Haddonfield.
Other portions of the ceremony were led by officers of the German, French, and Spanish Honor Societies: Chloe Genzel and Sophia LaPointe; Charlie Webb, Rania Kolluri, and Sophie Levine; and Rex Cottone and Lilliana Kimball. New inductees recited a pledge in their particular language as current members gathered around them in support. There were 79 current members and 92 new inductees.
Following the ceremony, students and their families enjoyed a reception that included international desserts and other foods made by the new inductees.
You may view a folder of photos here.
IN THE LOOP
District Twitter: @HaddonSchools
District Facebook: @HaddonfieldSchoolDistrict
SAC Corner the March issue (SAC = Student Assistance Counselor)
The latest HMHS Bulldawg Bulletin
Look for your school's Twitter feed. Your student's team or club may also tweet.