News from the Nest
Cardinal Pride in the Upper Dublin School District
June 3, 2019
Superintendent's Message
It's hard to believe that the 2018-2019 school year is coming to an end! It has truly been a pleasure to serve as your Superintendent this year. As I reflect upon our first year together, I continually think about all of the wonderful aspects of our District and our community. To that end, I would like to share a "Top 10 List" of the best things Upper Dublin has to offer!
The Top 10 Best Things about Upper Dublin
- Outstanding students
- A dedicated staff committed to our community's children
- A supportive community that demands high-quality education
- A Board of School Directors that supports high-quality instruction for students
- Parent/guardian organizations that sponsor tremendous opportunities for our students
- The many UDSD traditions that make us unique (UD Medals, Alumni Hall of Fame)
- Countless volunteers who support teachers and students in their classrooms
- Local businesses who support our District
- The collaborative relationship we share with Upper Dublin Township
- The sense of community and belonging that makes UD special
We work hard on a daily basis to ensure that we provide the best education possible for ALL students. We are not a perfect District - no district is! As Ben Sweetland said, "Success is a journey - not a destination." As a collective community, we will continue to learn and grow as we provide a comprehensive education for our community's children. We will continue to celebrate our successes, learn from our challenges, and emerge time and again as a stronger and more united community working for the best interests of our students. Our students deserve nothing but our absolute best!
I wish everyone a wonderful summer filled with time to rest, relax, and recharge! When I was a child, summer seemed endless. We know all too well that summer will come and go quickly; enjoy every moment!
My best,
Steve Yanni
A Fond Farewell
- Joe Accetta (MGES/TFES Band)
- Kim Berezovske (Librarian/FWES)
- Mary Beury (School Nurse/UDHS)
- Joan Brown (Educational Assistant/JTES)
- Joanne D'Andrea (Secretary/UDHS)
- Theresa Daley (Grade 6 English Language Arts/SRMS)
- Jack Fuery (Counselor/UDHS)
- Susan Hertz (Office/Cafeteria/Playground Assistant/MGES)
- Candice Kashner (Educational Assistant/SRMS)
- Esther Miller (Grade 5/JTES)
- Lisa Ropski (Gifted Teacher/FWES)
- Melanie Rosenau (Secretary/UDHS)
- Donna Steck (Educational Assistant/UDHS)
- Cheryl Toler (Bus Driver)
- Lorraine Townsend (Custodian/SRMS)
- Patricia Tozzi (Grade 3/TFES)
- Barbara Turzer (Educational Assistant/TFES)
- Ryan White (Grade 4/FWES)
- Linda Woodland (SRMS Family & Consumer Science)
- Michael Zollo (Custodian/FWES)
Summer Work 2019
Keeping Cool - Window air conditioning units will be added in all classrooms/instructional spaces at Fort Washington, Jarrettown, and Thomas Fitzwater Elementary Schools this summer. This large project will allow us to maintain classrooms that are conducive to learning when the temperatures are high.
Building Our Future - There will be significant work completed at the SRMS site as we prepare for the installation of the modular classrooms that will be used during construction. Stay tuned for more updates on the new SRMS!
An Early Round of Applause - Please join us in thanking our custodial, maintenance, and grounds crews for their dedication to our District. The summer months mean a great deal of work lies ahead for these folks. We truly appreciate all of their efforts!
SRMS Project Update
Today marks another milestone for the Sandy Run Middle School project. Specifications for the new school will be released today, and potential bidders (contractors) will start reviewing the project to determine if they are interested in vying for the job. The design of the new Sandy Run Middle School has been a labor of love for many. We are confident that our new school will support 21st century learning for our students for years to come.
To ensure that factual information is conveyed to all stakeholders, please know that the District will receive contractors' bids on July 10, 2019. At that time, the sum total of the project will be assessed. Then - and only then - can decisions about alternates be made. The alternates, as previously discussed in public, are the auxiliary gymnasium, field grading, and the planetarium. Once the District receives bids and the total cost of the project is realized, the Board of School Directors will have the opportunity to accept or reject the bids and any alternates deemed necessary. Discussions about the total cost of the project and the alternates will take place in public at advertised meetings of the Board.
SANDY RUN TIMELINE
- June 3, 2019 - Specifications become available for contractors
- June 18, 2019 - Mandatory pre-bid meeting to be held for contractors
- July 10, 2019 - Bid opening to be held
- July 25, 2019 - Bid review with the Operations Committee
- July 29, 2019 - Bids to be presented to the Board of School Directors for action.
We will continue to keep the community informed of the progress being made at Sandy Run. We have created a page called Building our Future which will provide regular and ongoing construction updates. The community can also click here to see virtual walk-throughs of the new Sandy Run Middle School.
Reminders
- SY 2019-2020 Calendar - Please click here for the SY 2019-2020 calendar. School starts Tuesday, September 3, 2019.
- 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