As previously announced, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has decreed that all school breakfasts for qualifying School Breakfast sites will be free starting October 1, 2022. For the Lower Moreland Township School District, this will begin on 10/3/22 and will continue for the remainder of the 2022/23 school year. As of the date of this newsletter, there has been no movement to extend that program further, although there have been talks on the federal level to expand the free meals programs. The School District will certainly keep everyone informed if there are any further changes.

Please note that this will be for breakfasts only and that school lunches will continue to operate on a free or reduced or paid basis based on the classification of the student(s). The District is strongly encouraging families to fill out the Free and Reduced Applications if you believe your family will qualify.

It is the expectation that all charges incurred by students be paid on a timely basis. This can be done via cash, check, or credit card payments via MySchoolBucks which is an online payment system. Information on payments, free/reduced information as well as any other food service questions can be located at: https://www.lmtsd.org/domain/60.

If there are any questions, please feel free to contact our District Food Service Manager, Logan Myers at lmyers@lmtsd.org or at (215) 938-0270 ext 6214.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires that school districts administer a test of civics knowledge to students at least once in grades 7-12. Students in Lower Moreland complete this exam in coordination with the following courses: AP U.S. Government and Politics, U.S. Government and Civics or Introduction to Government and Economics. Last year 210 exams were given and four students achieved a score of 100%. These students were awarded a certificate from PDE in recognition of their accomplishments. Information about the exam, as well as, practice materials are posted on the district website.

The Technology Department supports information technology systems and instructional technology programs and practices in the district. Each month, we highlight how our students and teachers engage in 21st Century learning activities. We also share updates on new initiatives and tips and tricks related to devices and technology tools used in the district.

Last month, our tech tool spotlight focused on Chromebook accessibility features. Here is a link to the accessibility features in case you want a refresher: Chromebook accessibility. This month, our featured technology tool is Google Translate. This powerful tool allows users to translate text, handwritten notes, and conversations from one language to another. The translation tool can help students who are learning English better communicate with teachers and classmates. Google Translate is available on Chromebooks and can be installed on mobile devices. Here is a link to a Common Sense Media for Families video highlighting the many features of this technology tool: https://youtu.be/XaBrwzPQbhM.

Students in Ted Miller’s Broadcast Journalism and Production class used WeVideo to create commercials promoting a classmate to be a news anchor for ESPN. Since students were using WeVideo for the first time, Mr. Miller created this open-ended project based upon student interest. First, students posted a mini biography about themselves on a discussion board. Then, they used the information to conduct classmate interviews. Students used WeVideo Classroom to create a video that included the use of transitions, stock images and videos, and voiceover. Using WeVideo Classroom, Mr. Miller was able to create the assignment, monitor student progress, and give feedback in real-time. Once production was complete, students viewed each video and reflected on the creative process. One student noted the fulfilling feeling of starting from scratch and ending with a video. You can check out one of the videos here.

Community Resources

In order to assist families with obtaining much-needed, and often hard-to-find, resources for mental and behavioral health needs outside of the school environment, the Office of Student Services and Special Education maintains a list of local resources that can be shared with parents upon request. The list is shared with our School Counselors, School Psychologists, and Principals and is ever-changing. It is updated as the resources in our community change, as new resources become available, and as our office is made aware of them. If you feel your child is in need of outside resources and don’t know where to turn, you can contact the appropriate School Counselor who will provide you with contact information for an appropriate resource based on your child’s needs.