Superintendent's Newsletter
May 2021
Message from the Superintendent
It is my pleasure to present the May edition of the Lower Moreland Township School District Superintendent’s Newsletter. I hope this letter finds you and your family healthy and well. As we enter the last five weeks of the 2020-2021 school year, I would like to sincerely thank all stakeholders for your support in assisting the district to focus on our students’ academic success and emotional well-being. Understandably, this was not an easy school year for students, teachers and families; however, the flexibility and resolve shown by all is to be commended.
Please be reminded about our End-of-Year celebrations that are scheduled in early June and find the many virtual concerts and performances scheduled in May.
Lastly, this week we honor all teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week. On behalf of LMTSD and the Board of School Directors, we thank all LMTSD teachers and staff for their hard work and commitment to our students. This school year has created unprecedented circumstances for our teachers and they have responded with determination and compassion.
Scott Davidheiser, Ed.D.
Superintendent
LMHS was named to the U.S. News & World Report's "Best High School 2021" List
Business Office (Mark McGuinn, Business Manager)
Murray Avenue Student Victoria Prybyslavskyy was the winner in Pennsylvania of the SIFMA Foundation's InvestWrite Eassy Competition
Curriculum and Instruction (Julien Drennan, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Prof. Dev.)
Even though the school year has not yet concluded, the district administrators are looking ahead and planning for the 2021-2022 school year. Like last year, the planning process proves to be challenging due to the large number of unknown factors. We anticipate that the closer we get to the opening of school, the more information we will have. We will create plans that will allow us to pivot based on the expectations at that time. One thing we know for certain, however, is that we desire to provide 5 full days of in-person instruction for students in grades K-12. At this time, and in light of Governor Wolf's recent communication about relaxing many of the COVID-19 related restrictions, we are hopeful that we will be able to achieve this. We recognize, however, that some families may continue to need a virtual schooling option, due to personal circumstances.
There have been many lessons learned this year. One of the biggest lessons is that instructing on a dual platform is extremely difficult. While our teachers have risen to the challenge, we have determined that in the upcoming year, it will be better for students to have teachers whose focus is on one group of students, rather than splitting their focus between the remote and in-classroom environments. In order to accommodate the need for remote instruction, the district plans to secure a third-party provider to facilitate online learning for grades 6-12. Please note that this is a slight change from the presentation that was made for the Board on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. The complexity of secondary scheduling, individual student requests, time constraints, and anticipated low enrollment make it difficult to staff such a program with our own teachers. The virtual program for grades K-5 is anticipated to be staffed with Lower Moreland teachers who are assigned to virtual classes. More information on virtual learning and the associated programming will be available in June.
In late June, families will be surveyed to determine what learning location they desire for their students for the entire 2021-2022 school year. Due to the challenges associated with scheduling and enrollment in a virtual program, families will not have the opportunity to change their selection as they did this past school year. We hope that the creation of a separate virtual academy will allow all students, including those in the classroom and those learning remotely, to feel well supported in their schooling experience next year. We look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead in 2021-2022.
Lower Moreland Competed Against Upper Dublin SD in a Special Olympic's Unified Sports Track & Field Meet
Human Resources/Public Relations (Cheryl Galdo, Esq., Dir. of HR/PR)
In May, the Lower Moreland Drama Club is releasing a virtual show, entitled, "Working: The Musical (2012 Revised Edition)." The musical is based on the work of novelist Studs Terkel, who interviewed Americans from all walks of life about what they did for a living and how they felt about it. Thus, “Working” the musical is a collage of personal monologues, both spoken and sung, in which characters come briefly, but vividly to life. Songwriting contributors include James Taylor and Lin-Manuel Miranda in this spirited show about the hopes and dreams of everyday people. The show is a testament to the hopes, dignity, and sense of purpose shared by each one of us.
The virtual show will be released May 13th and will remain open until May 16th. It is a pay-per-view event through ShowTix4U, a third-party provider. All links and information are on the LMHS Drama Club website.
Technology (Jason Hilt, Ed.D., Director of Technology)
The Technology Department supports information technology systems and instructional technology programs and practices in the district. This month, our instructional coaches share some useful tips for students and families on managing tabs and using the Chromebook Simulator. Click HERE to share an idea for a future tech tip!
Student Services (Frank Giordano, Director of Special Education and Student Services)
The Office of Student Services would like to congratulate the Lower Moreland Unified Track Team on their recent performances in two competitions. On April 19th they participated in a meet at Methacton High School and on April 26th they competed at Lower Moreland High School. Up next they head to the Regional Meet at Spring-Ford Area High School on May 10th, which will be their final meet of the season. Congratulations to the students and coaches for all of their hard work and dedication to making this venture a successful one! We look forward to continuing and expanding the program next year.
Lower Moreland Township School District
Superintendent
Email: sdavidheiser@lmtsd.org
Website: www.lmtsd.org
Location: 2551 Murray Avenue, Huntingdon Valley, PA, USA
Phone: 215-928-0272
Twitter: @LMTSD