June 17, 2022

Dear Staff and Families,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. It has been three weeks since my last communication, and there are so many celebratory activities and events that have taken place in the meantime. June indeed gives us bragging rights as it is the month of pride and celebration. Wrapping up the school year comes with its own challenges that, on a personal level, disrupted my established routines.

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, Flag Day, Juneteenth, and Father’s Day are some of the acknowledgments and recognitions this month, but our biggest celebration is our end-of-year traditions as we close out the school year.   

On June 10, we honored the class of 2022 at Neumann College, where we celebrated and said goodbye to 322 Haven seniors. Today we applauded our 8th-grade students during the “Bridge Crossing” ceremony as they bid farewell to their middle school years to officially become the high school class of 2026. Last, but not least, our fifth-grade students participated in their moving-up ceremonies on June 16, and they were very excited to become middle schoolers. Indeed, June is the time of pride and celebration!  

The expression “In the blink of an eye” sums up the month of June and is also fitting for this entire calendar school year. Now that we are at the finish line, I cannot believe how fast the race came to an end. It seems like yesterday when I came to the district and filled out the registration packet information for Cheyanne to enter sixth grade at SHMS. I “blinked”; Now she is officially a seventh-grader. Where did the time go?  Through all the excitement, the lows, and the highs, I have come to the realization that what really matters is that we experienced this time together and we are so much better for it.  What matters is the time we have with each other because it goes by “in the blink of an eye.” I spoke with a parent last night who shared her story of “Time at WSSD” that echoed exactly this sentiment and told me how her children’s years at WSSD flew by.

As we end the 2022-2022 school year and look forward to the summer months, we are also preparing and gearing up for the challenges and opportunities for the 2022-2023 year.  We have gathered a plethora of rich information from our Equity Audit, Curriculum Audit, and our soon-to-be-released Communications Audit.  These three seminal documents, along with other data points we have collected, will launch our long-term vision and strategic planning for the Fall of 2022.  Please review our presentations of the Equity Audit findings and the preliminary Curriculum Audit results presented at the Educational Affairs Committee held on June 14. We will share the comprehensive Curriculum Audit report in the fall. In addition, here is the April 6 Educational Affairs presentation with additional district data.

Though today is the last day for students, our staff will be with us for an additional two days to close out their school year on June 22.  I cannot say enough how appreciative and proud I am of our faculty and staff. I am extremely excited for next year and all that I know we will accomplish together.

Our last Regular Board meeting for this school year is scheduled for June 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the SHMS library. After that, our next Regular Board Meeting will be on August 22. Please note that there is no meeting in July.

At the June 27th meeting, we will present our 2022-2023 final budget. At the Facilities and Finance meeting on June 15, I proposed some revisions to our proposed final budget that would shift our original tax increase of 2.4% to 3.06%. This is due to the number of personnel needed in grades K-12 to support and enhance our safety and security efforts.  

We have a number of gaps within our safety protocols that we need to address, and, as a result, I will be asking for a School Safety and Security Coordinator, as per PA school code (School Safety and Security Committee) and the amendments to Act 19 of 2019.  This is a position that should have been filled many years ago but was not.  In addition, I have asked for a number of full- and part-time campus safety and security aides who will be led by the School Safety and Security Coordinator.  Our Safety and Security aides will play a vital role in maintaining a healthy school climate and culture as they will fulfill a myriad of duties such as, but not limited to: 

1. Support in the monitoring arrival/dismissal and support traffic patterns on district property

2. Support and monitor the implementation of district and building safety plans

3. Monitor school hallways, locker rooms, restrooms, athletic facilities, recess, lunch, after-school programs, etc.

4. Monitor students’ behavior and prevent violations of student code of conduct

5. Support building administration in investigating disciplinary incidences

6. Support non-employee visitors upon arrival to campus and provide guidance

7. Support in the implementation of PBIS (be safe, be respectful, be kind)   

8. Support staff with safety incidences or violations of the school code of conduct

9. Support with fire and emergency drills

10. Support in creating a welcoming, respectful and inclusive environment by building positive relationships with students, staff, and the community. 

These individuals are not School Resource Officers and are not armed guards. They will serve as an additional set of eyes and helping hands for our teachers and administrators in the appropriate supervision of our campus/students and adherence to our building and district safety plans.  They will alleviate some of the pressure we have seen in the monitoring of students at arrival/dismissal, lunch rooms, recess, hallways, and other activities that bring students and staff together, including evening functions. In many cases, we have been using instructional aides in this capacity when they are best served in the classroom, supporting teachers and students. 

I understand the tax burden this puts on this community as I, too, am a resident, and I understand there are other needs that I wish I could fill simultaneously. However, safety and security continue to be at the top of my mind, not just now but ever since my arrival to the district.  Now is the time to implement this.

Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

• June 18 - Media Youth Council Juneteenth Celebration, 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. in Heritage Park, Media

• June 22 - Policy Committee meeting, 7 p.m. in Room B-226 at SHMS

• June 27 - Regular School Board meeting, 7 p.m. in the SHMS library

Have a wonderful summer, and I look forward to seeing you all again in September.  If you are around this summer and would like to schedule a meeting with me, please reach out to my executive assistant.  

Stay safe,

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.

 

May 27, 2022

Dear Staff and Families,

As we close out this week, we continue to process the tragic loss of innocent lives of children and staff at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. My heart goes out to those who are grieving and impacted by this devastating incident. Coming to an agreement on how to best protect the lives of young children from gun violence should not be subject to political debate or become slogans for political campaigns. We all want our children to be safe, and there is an expectation that when they arrive at the schoolhouse door they will return safely to their homes. The level of gun violence in the United States continues to outpace any other industrialized country in the world. If we can come together to share our condolences, then we can also come together to solve these systemic challenges.

I would like to express my gratitude to our school counselors and staff for their resiliency as they continue to support one another and our students during these horrific times. I am thankful for the brave and safe spaces they have created for students, staff, and families. 

No one can ever be prepared to face tragic events such as what occurred in Uvalde, Texas. However, the district is committed to the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Earlier this calendar year, at our November 8 board meeting, we approved a contract with Cardinal Point Security Group to assist the district in reviewing and evaluating its all-hazards plan. 

At our February 28 board meeting, Cardinal Point Security, provided a high-level review of their findings and recommendations moving forward. In their presentation, Cardinal Points highlighted strengths, areas of improvement, and next steps. Since then, the district, in addition to building-level Emergency Teams, has been working to effectively implement these recommendations. We are very fortunate for the support of Chief Splain and Chief Stufflet and their participation and leadership during Emergency Team meetings. Together, we are working to strengthen the safety measures in our school district. I have consistently advocated for stronger supervision of students, and, in the 2022-2023 Proposed Final Budget, I have earmarked funds that will allow for additional staffing to supervise our campuses and hallways.

At the monthly School Board meeting on Monday, May 23, the 2022-2023 Proposed Final Budget was presented by Mary Martin, our Business Manager.  Much of the presentation centered around a recommended debt restructure that addresses the district’s ongoing structural deficit. The need for this restructure was explained and illustrated with an exhibit showing that the high levels of debt service will become sharply reduced around 2028-2029.  The proposed restructuring would level out the payments providing near term relief.  Of the $50 million existing debt, approximately $14 million would be restructured. Additionally, an overview of the proposed final budget was presented, showing a 2.4% tax increase, which is lower than the Act 1 index of 3.4%. The final budget will be presented at the regularly scheduled school board meeting on June 27, 2022.

The two additional focus topics at the board meeting were a presentation by Dr. Savage that showcased the highlights of Wallingford Elementary School, and a recognition of the twenty-three retirees, who, combined, have provided 473 years of service to the students and families of WSSD. We wish them all the best in their retirement.

At the Policy Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 24, the committee considered a number of policies specific to the Office of Student Services including a second reading of Policy 218 pertaining to student discipline. The following policies were considered for a first reading: 247 (Hazing), 248 (Unlawful Harassment), 249 (Bullying, 218.1 (Prohibition of Weapons), 218.2 (Terroristic Threats Acts), 226 (New; Student Searches), and 237 (New; Electronic Devices).

Last night, I attended the Academic Awards Ceremony at Strath Haven High School where seniors were acknowledged for their leadership, academic excellence and growth, community service, and contribution to the school community. Students were also recognized for their Advanced Placement and National Merit honors, and a number of community awards and scholarships were also announced. Congratulations to all of the recipients.

As we enjoy time with family this Memorial Day weekend, let’s not forget to reflect and honor those who have served and lost their lives for our country.  

Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

• May 30      Memorial Day (District closed)

• June 1     WSSD Jazz Night at Media’s “Dining Under the Stars” @ 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

• June 14    Educational Affairs Committee Meeting @ SHMS Room B226 @ 7 p.m.

Stay safe, 

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.

 

Dear Staff and Families, 

This evening, like many of you, I am shocked to the core at the tragedy that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. I cannot put into words the magnitude of such a horrific act of violence that will undoubtedly impact us all personally and in different ways.  Our deepest condolences to the families and community members who lost loved ones.

As we continue to process the events of this evening and as they continue to evolve, we know that many will be looking for meaning and comfort during this difficult time.  Our counseling staff will be available tomorrow and in the coming days to assist you and our students. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to process what has happened, but we can provide some resources to help you navigate the conversations that will undoubtedly emerge. This resource from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers some guidance. 

Children, adolescents, and adults all need comfort and reassurance in response to tragedies such as this:  Young children will process and respond to events in unique ways. Therefore, it is important not to assume that children’s concerns are the same as those of adults.

 Adolescents benefit when adults simply take time to listen, without judgment, to their thoughts and feelings about the event. Parents and caregivers should be mindful to focus on how children are feeling rather than discussing details of the shooting. 

As always, we continue to find strength in our commitment to support each other as a community.

In unity with Uvalde. 

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D. 

 

Dear Staff and Families,

Last evening the community level of COVID-19 for Delaware County moved from low to high. Per our Health and Safety Plan and in guidance with Delaware County Department of Health and the CDC , the district strongly recommends that students and staff mask while indoors in district buildings and on district transportation.

Per CDC: 

We appreciate your cooperation. 

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

 

Dear Staff and Families,

I am sending you this communication as I continue to process the horrific act of hate and violence that occurred in Buffalo, New York. The loss of the ten individuals who were killed is immeasurable. Like many of you, I am sending my deepest condolences to the families and hoping that they may find some peace and comfort with the support of their community.  I can’t help but think about the many heroes and first responders who were at the scene, providing assistance and comfort selflessly; I thank you.

When these acts of violence perpetrated under racist ideology shock and disturb all of us, we are reminded of our duty in developing and supporting young minds. Hate is a learned behavior. Our shared commitment to cultural proficiency, equity, inclusion, and belonging is reaffirmed because these lenses provide our students with the tools and resources to navigate the world, to be leaders and change agents. 

These acts undoubtedly creep their way into our classrooms and will most likely spark conversations among classmates. I invite you, whether at school or at home, to create spaces to listen and to allow students to voice their thoughts and concerns. As always, our counselors remain vigilant in supporting our students and staff. Please do not hesitate to contact the school principal and/or school counselor for help and resources.

With thoughts and prayers 

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.

May 6, 2022

Dear staff and families,

I hope this email finds you in good health and spirits.  There are only six weeks left in the school calendar year and the month of May is filled with many activities, celebrations and recognitions. First and foremost, I want to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers and those who are mother figures.

Throughout this Teacher Appreciation Week, we recognized teachers and their tireless commitment to our students and families. I was impressed to see the myriad of ways our students and families celebrated our teachers.  Thank you, teachers for all that you do and thank you, families for honoring their passion and commitment.  

There are other celebratory recognitions during the Month of May. Though too many to identify, I would like to acknowledge that May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Asian American Pacific Islander Month, and Jewish American Heritage Month. Please visit the 2022 ADL calendar that is one resource that lists observances throughout the Month.   

The Educational Affairs Committee Meeting was held on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 to present the WSSD Comprehensive Plan, a requirement of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The plan was approved by the committee for a 28-day posting on the district webpage and hard copies will be made available for viewing at the Helen Kate Furness Library and the Swarthmore Public Library. Comments can be made via email during the review period after which the school board will vote to approve the plan before submitting the document to the state. The document is a product of several robust discussions that parents, families, teachers, administrators and community members engaged in around continuous improvement of key areas of the school district, such as and not limited to, leadership, instruction and learning. The WSSD Comprehensive Plan will help inform the work of the Strategic Plan, set to launch in the 2022-2023 school year.

SHHS kicked off the spring concert season with WSSD Jazz Night on April 27th, and all of our schools have concerts scheduled during the month of May to showcase the talent and creativity of our students. I am truly amazed at the dedication and hard work of our students and teachers to create such incredible music. I encourage you to come out and support our young artists.

Please mark your calendars for the following events:

• May 9 - Special School Board meeting at 7 p.m. in the library of SHMS

• May 17 - K-8 Teacher In-service Day (schools closed for K-8 students)

• May 18 - Facilities and Finance Committee Meeting at 7 p.m. in Room B-226 at SHMS

• May 23 - Regular Meeting of the Board of School Directors, 7 p.m. in the library at SHMS 

• May 25 - Policy Committee Meeting at 7 p.m. in Room B226 at SHMS

Stay safe,

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.

April 28, 2022

Dear families, 

I hope this letter finds you and your family healthy and safe. I would like to provide an update regarding COVID-19, our mitigation strategies, and our Health & Safety Plan.

To recap our path over the past few months, on January 28th the District moved towards a metric that supported data specific to our community as opposed to continued reliance upon county-wide data less reflective of our schools. We moved towards going mask-optional in our school buildings when the incidence rate maintained a 2% or lower incidence rate for 14 consecutive days. Subsequent to this change in protocol, all of our schools pivoted to mask-optional at different times.

Since then, the landscape has changed. In my regularly scheduled meeting with Superintendents across the county, we had the opportunity to be joined with medical professionals who provided national and local data on COVID-19.

Effective Friday, April 29, we are moving from Mask Optional/Required  to Mask Recommended to align our Health and Safety Plan with the Delaware County Department of Health’s guidance. We continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated and maintain up-to-date vaccination status based on the current CDC guidelines.

The District will continue to provide Test to Stay to families who are listed as close contacts through the end of the school year. Contact tracing will also remain in place through the end of the school year. The District will continue to monitor data so that it can respond to emerging changes where they might occur. 

Stay safe,

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.

April 22, 2022 

Dear staff and families,

I hope this email finds you in good health and good spirits as we conclude our first week back from a much needed spring break. I hope you had time to spend with family and friends and to recharge your batteries. Author Tom Roth in “Are You Fully Charged?” identifies three keys to be fully charged: 

1. Meaning: doing something that benefits another person 

2. Interactions: creating far more positive than negative 

3. Energy: making choices that improve your mental and physical health

I wish you were able to at least experience one of the three during the break. Many of you are familiar with the term “it's a small world”. Well, I experienced something similar during my break. The family and I had a chance to spend time in Montego Bay, Jamaica during the break and we had a wonderful experience. Monakee, Cheyanne, and I arrived at the resort and checked in.  Since our room was not ready, we decided to grab some lunch at one of the restaurants on the property while waiting for our room. As we sat there enjoying our lunch overlooking the ocean, we began having this lovely conversation with a family who was sitting next to us. While talking, we learned we were both from Pennsylvania and, lo and behold, they are residents of Wallingford-Swarthmore with children at WES and SHHS. What are the odds that our families would connect in Montego Bay, Jamaica in the same resort. I want to send a shout out to the Jenkins family, Parker, Caroline, and Charlotte for hanging out, eating, laughing, and relaxing with the Marseille family.  

The Facilities and Finance Committee meeting was held at SHMS on Wednesday April 20. The Facilities committee shared an update on a number of projects such as but not limited to, the Trinity Day Care roof and windows replacements, hot water heater replacements, athletic fields, WES partial roof replacement, HS swimming scoreboard, and future projects. Please find the presentation here. We then moved to the Finance Committee meeting where an update was provided on the 2022-2023 budget. We also spent time discussing a proposed debt restructuring and project funding. As part of our commitment towards maintaining a balanced budget, we have identified several ongoing financial challenges to our District. 

One of the challenges identified is the relatively high annual debt service. This situation is not due to an overextension of credit but is attributable to our relatively ambitious repayment schedule. This rapid repayment will provide long term benefits for our schools and taxpayers.  However, we believe that we must balance this benefit with the current needs of the District along with the tax burden to our residents. We have been exploring the possibility of restructuring a portion of our debt to improve the balance of these competing goals. At our Board meeting on Monday, April 25, there will be a motion to proceed with restructuring a portion of our outstanding debt.   

I want to thank all of the families who came out to the Mental Health Resource Night on April 18. There was a lot of important information shared by various experts in their fields. Numerous hand-outs and brochures were made available to families, so they are aware of existing resources and how to access them. Thank you to the Student Services team for planning the event, and we intend to make this a yearly occurrence. For additional information, please click here to see our quarterly newsletter, “Behavioral Health in our Schools”.

During spring break, the Strath Haven HS Silvertones traveled to Italy to tour and perform. Our music program offers many opportunities for students to grow as musicians and performers, and I want to thank our music teachers for their impact on our students and program. It is a fitting time to have also received notice that WSSD, for the 10th year in a row, is recognized as a NAMM Foundation Best Communities for Music Education. We are one of 102 Pennsylvania school districts and 738 nation-wide school districts to receive this honor for demonstrating an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education. 

 To continue in the award winning vein, WSSD has recently earned several other accolades.

• Mr. Dan Shaffer was honored at the FMFCU Foundation Celebration where he received an Excellence in Teaching Award and an FMFCU Foundation grant for SHMS and his classroom. Mr. Shaffer has been teaching and coaching in WSSD for 34 years, and his award is well-deserved.

• The SHHS World Languages Department was recognized with the Golden Globe award by the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association.  

• At the PMEA All-State Festival, Ms. Jane Urban received a Citation of Excellence for her music education work at NPE.

We encourage you to visit our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) and website to keep abreast of all of our district activities and highlights. 

Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

• April 25 - Regular School Board meeting @ 7 p.m. (SHMS Library)

• April 27 - Policy Committee @ 7 p.m. (Room B226)

• April 27 - WSSD Jazz Night @ 7 p.m. (SHHS auditorium)

Stay safe,

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.

 

April 8, 2022

Dear staff and families, 

I hope this letter finds you in good health and good spirits. After four days of confirmation hearings, the Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court yesterday. Of the 115 justices that have served on the court, Judge Brown becomes the sixth woman and the first African-American woman to serve on the court.  

The Educational Affairs Committee meeting was held in the library of SHMS on April 6. The administrative team shared a presentation on students’ academic achievement and growth, based on PSSA and Keystones scores spanning the last five years. We also showed a county-wide comparison of students’ performance on the PSSAs. This comprehensive collection of data also incorporated information on students’ performance that was imported to the Hanover Research data dashboard for the purpose of the Equity audit conducted for the school district. We did a comparative analysis of the performance of sub-groups of students based on race, socio-economic status, and IEP (Individualized Education Program) identification.

In acknowledgment of Autism month, we would like to recognize the hard work that our students and teachers have done throughout this school year and beyond. This month, as well as throughout the year, it is important to focus on the inclusion and understanding of all individuals and to celebrate neurodiversity.

Please mark your calendars and plan on joining us for the Mental Health Resource Night on April 18 at SHMS from 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. There will be a plethora of resources and information available as well as various sessions for parents, caregivers, and students in grades 8-12. We hope to see you there. 

Thank you to all those who supported the vaccination clinic held on Tuesday, April 5. As we head into spring break, the COVID-19 incidence rates have been low in our buildings. When we return on April 18, we will look at the 14-day data to determine where we are as a district and to determine if we can shift some of the mitigation strategies in our Health and Safety Plan. This was discussed during the presentation at the Board meeting on March 25th.

Thank you so much to everyone who completed the communication audit surveys already. The links will remain live during spring break, so if you haven’t had a chance to provide feedback yet, please consider doing so. Your participation is greatly appreciated.

• Family survey

• Staff survey

• Community survey

I would like to share several experiences that highlight our students and staff:

• For spring break, the SHHS Silvertones are touring and performing in southern Italy, and many of our SHHS French language students are on a study abroad trip in France. We wish them all safe travels and an enriching experience.

• The spring sports season is underway, and I look forward to cheering on our Haven teams. Congratulations to SHHS junior Alexa Brown for breaking the school shot put record at the Haverford Invitational this past weekend with a throw of 42-8. The girls track & field team is off to a strong start overall as they extended their dual meet victory streak to 116 in a row this week. Also, well done to the varsity boys ultimate frisbee team for winning the Radnor Invitational this past weekend.

• SHHS has sent three musicians to the 2022 PMEA All-State Festival. Congratulations to Gavin John '23, horn (symphony orchestra), Dae Taylor '22, alto saxophone (concert band), and Henry Stockman '22, euphonium (wind ensemble). 

• This week, Mrs. Gaur’s pretzel and lemonade stand raised over $3,000 for Ukrainian refugees through Holy Myrrh-Bearers Ukrainian Catholic Church in Swarthmore.Thank you to everyone who showed their support.

• SHHS Mini-Thon recently held an event to raise funds for pediatric cancer through their very entertaining event, Haven Heartthrob. Students competed by sharing their talents and answering questions while the audience voted for the winner. Congratulations to Zach Suico for winning the title! I was really happy that I had the opportunity to attend this event and see many of our high school students participate in a very fun evening.

Can you believe it? Upon our return from spring break, we begin another countdown with less than 50 days left in the calendar school year. We only have 43 days left of school, and 38 days for our seniors. There will be a lot going on, so please mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

• April 18 - Mental Health Resource Night @ Strath Haven Middle School, 6 - 8:30 p.m.

• April 20 - Facilities and Finance Committee @ 7 p.m. (Room B226)

• April 21 - Botvin Life Skills Parent Training, Grades 3-5 @ 6 p.m. (Zoom)

• April 25 - Regular School Board meeting @ 7 p.m. (SHMS Library)

• April 27 - Policy Committee @ 7 p.m. (Room B226)

• April 27 - WSSD Jazz Night @ 7 p.m. (SHHS auditorium)

We wish everyone a wonderful spring break and acknowledge our families who are observing Passover, Easter and Ramadan.

Stay safe,

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.

April 1, 2022

Dear staff and families,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. As we close another week, I can’t help but think about my official countdown to Spring break. Only five more school days left until we all take a well-deserved break, an opportunity to recharge, reflect and relax.

As we engage in the 3Rs, let’s make sure we do that in a safe and healthy way. We are all aware of the cyclical nature of COVID and the spike in cases after an extended break. So let us have fun but continue to be mindful of mitigation factors.

Yesterday I shared with you an open invitation to participate in our communication audit survey that will serve to better evaluate the effectiveness of our communication with staff, parents/families, and the greater community. Your voice matters and will play an integral part in our strategic planning. The survey window will be open until April 9 and can be accessed through these links: Family/Guardian Survey     Staff Survey

At our Monday, March 28, regular school board meeting, we shared with you another presentation from Hanover Research highlighting key findings of our equity audit. The conclusions of the equity audit can be identified within three main overarching themes:

• Academic outcomes and access

• Cultural proficiency, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

• Professional Learning and Leadership

The data suggest we are at a crossroads. We must draw a line in the sand and have an unwavering commitment to eradicating inequities that have too long impacted our students. Especially those students with IEPs (Individualized Education Program), economically disadvantaged students, and our Black/African American students. These challenges, however, present opportunities to think anew and build stronger communities. We look forward to your energy, commitment, and ideas towards the development of our five-year strategic plan. I encourage you to view the presentation.

I  would like to share several experiences that highlight our students and staff:

• Congrats to Ned Glasson, Darwin Murley, Ella Newton, and Leo Schiffino from NPE, who won the Creativity Award at the STEM DCIU K’nex Challenge. Thanks to Mr. Mendell for his work preparing them for the competition.

• NPE held their annual STEAM Night on March 28, and hundreds of families came out to enjoy an evening of hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math activities. Thanks to all the parents and community volunteers who organized and ran the event, especially the SHHS National Honors Society students. 

• Student representatives from SRS and SHMS sold baked goods and rainbow loom bracelets, raising over $700 for Ukrainian relief efforts, which they delivered to Holy Myrrh-Bearers Ukrainian Catholic Church in Swarthmore.

• SHHS held their first annual International Day Showcase on March 24, where students highlighted their cultures and traditions through music, dance, and presentations. This event grew from an idea by seniors Joyce Huang and Zach Suico to a tremendous, upbeat celebration that created an amazing shared experience for our high school community. I was honored to be there and am excited to see this student-led event continue and grow in the future.

• SHMS’s annual Black History Celebration Assembly took place on March 25. Great job to Mrs. Cobb and the middle and high school students who organized and performed.

• The Art of WSSD, an exhibition featuring our student artwork from grades K-12, was hosted at the Community Arts Center (CAC) on March 27. I would like to recognize the dedication and creativity of our students and staff. The exhibit runs through April 29.

• Also running through April 29 at the CAC is the George Slick Fellowship art exhibition featuring the work of Gabriel Lawson ‘22. Thank you to everyone who came out to support and celebrate him at his reception on March 29.  

Mark your calendar:

• Vaccination Clinic - Tuesday, April 5, from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (ages 5+ who are receiving their second shot from the March clinic or those who would like a booster shot)

• Committee Meetings

  • April 6 - Educational Affairs at 7: 00 p.m. in the library of SHMS

  • April 20 - Finance and Facilities at 7: 00 p.m. in B-226 at SHMS

  • April 27 - Policy at 7: 00 p.m. in B-226 at SHMS

• Spring Break: Monday, April 11 - Friday, April 15 

• Mental Health Resource Night: Monday, April 18 at 6:00 pm at SHMS 

As we continue to strengthen and celebrate the beautiful diversity of our community, April brings the observation and recognition of the holy month of Ramadan, the holy week of Easter, and other observances such as and not limited to National Genocide Awareness Month, National Poetry Month and Earth Day on April 22.

Stay safe.

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.

March 18, 2022

Dear staff and families,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. 

The Facilities Committee meeting was held on Wednesday, March 16 where Mr. Klabunde, the Director of Operations, provided a number of updates on the current projects taking place across the district. In addition, Mr. Klabunde shared the progress of some pending capital projects such as the Wallingford Elementary School roof repairs, the SHHS swimming scoreboard, and the Solar Panel Project in the Pit/snack bar at King Field. Please access the presentation to review the other topics such as upcoming capital projects and current research on alternative funding resources to support district projects. 

The Finance Committee meeting, also held on March 16, was led by Ms. Martin, the Business Manager, who provided a five-year forecasting of the district’s expenditures and revenue. The sample scenarios provided better clarity to the long-term strategic planning that will be needed as our expenses continue to outpace our revenues. Please access the presentation to review additional topics such as fund balance analysis, the district's financial health rating, and the Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU) 2022-2023 proposed budget.  

Today, 250 members of the SHHS marching band and orchestra traveled to Florida early this morning to perform at the Kennedy Space Center and Universal Studios Orlando. They will also have time to enjoy the amusement park and have fun with friends. I wish them safe travels and hope they return with memorable experiences.  

Though I was unable to attend the Winter Concert as a result of our scheduled Finance and Facilities meetings, I heard rave reviews about the program. Congratulations to Mr. Pignataro and our students on their wonderful return to the stage as it was the first time the symphonic band and wind ensemble performed in 1,030 days. Bravo to all!

In other musical news, I would like to recognize SHHS senior Elle Gordon who recently placed first in the upper high school musical theater division at the Eastern Region of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition at Temple University and will advance to nationals.

The SHHS Speech and Debate team won the District Championship for the second year in a row, and the following students have qualified to compete in the national championships:

• National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) Grand Nationals,Washington, DC, May 27-29
  Harry Yu, Michelle Ding, Ava Manaker, Justin Bi, Dania Maqbool, Aashna Pandey, Jason Hu, Aditi Halpe, Jillian Thomas, Supraja Sudarsan, Emily Shor, Meredith Seidman, Arohi Patil

• National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Speech and Debate Tournament, Louisville, KY, June 12-17
  Ava Manaker, Justin Bi, Dania Maqbool, Jason Hu (Strath Haven's 2nd ever 4-time qualifier!), Lydia Pita, Supraja Sudarsan, Jillian Thomas, Arohi Patil, Aditi Halpe, Emily Shor (also recognized as the District Student of the Year) 

Four members of the Strath Haven HS yearbook staff qualified for the upcoming Pennsylvania School Press Association Student Journalism Competitions at Penn State on March 30th. Good luck to Joyce Huang, Charlotte Horetsky, Bailey Hansen, and Kai Lincke.

I am looking forward to Strath Haven High School’s International Day Showcase on March 24th, a student-initiated, school-wide event that will feature music, song, dance, and more. Students, teachers, and staff are encouraged to wear traditional clothing from their own backgrounds and cultures. They hope to make this an annual event.

Although the spring sport season began on March 11th, our state qualifiers from the winter wrapped up their seasons with outstanding results.

• Hannah Spielman placed third at the PA Girls Wrestling State Championship. She finishes an outstanding high school career as a four-time state qualifier and medalist, and her participation has helped grow the girls wrestling division in Pennsylvania. 

• Chase Barlow placed 5th at the PIAA Wrestling State Championships. He set a record for the most wins in school history and was a four-time Central League champion and state qualifier and a two-time state medalist. Juniors Ben Farabaugh and Sam Milligan both finished with 2-2 records at States, and senior co-captain Kelton Brunner graduates as a state qualifier with 96 career wins. 

• Sydney Bergstrom completed her storied swimming career at Strath Haven with a 5th place in the 500 free and a 12th in the 200 free at the PIAA Swimming Championships. I wish her luck as she will continue to compete at the University of Pennsylvania. 

I want to thank my students for reminding me that today is Holi, the Hindu Festival of Color that also heralds the arrival of Spring. 

Reminders:

March 19 - April 29 - The Art of WSSD K-12 Art Show, Wallingford Community Arts Center 

(Sunday, March 27, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Reception and The George Slick Fellowship Art Exhibition featuring Gabriel Lawson ‘22)

March 21 - Rock Your Socks Day

(Everyone is encouraged to wear colorful, mismatched socks to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. March 21 is symbolic because people with Down syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome.)

Week of March 21 - East Possum Hollow Sidewalk Project begins
(East Possum Hollow Road will convert to one-way travel. Traffic will proceed eastbound from Providence Road towards the train station. This construction is anticipated to be completed in mid-May.)

March 23 - Policy Committee meeting at 7 p.m  in Room B-226 at SHMS

March 28 - Regular School Board Meeting at 7 p.m. in the library of SHMS

April 5 - Vaccination Clinic 4:30 - 6 at SHHS

April 6 - Educational Affairs Committee meeting at 7 p.m. in B-226 at SHMS

 

Stay safe,

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.

March 11, 2022

Dear staff and families,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. 

Last October, the district launched one of three comprehensive audits scheduled for this calendar year: the equity audit. On March 2, these findings were presented at the Educational Affairs meetings and were shared in my previous communication to you. Please click on the link if you have not had the opportunity to review the equity audit presentation. Representatives from Hanover will facilitate another presentation at the regular school board meeting on March 28. 

This week Curriculum Management Solutions, Inc (CMSi) spent three days in the district collecting, observing, and analyzing district practices. At the conclusion of their visit, the auditors gave a high-level overview of the curriculum audit process and presented some of the overarching themes to the administrative team:

1. Organizational structure and school board policy

2. Curriculum management/assessment design

3. Equity

4. Planning and visionary process

5. Classroom instruction

6. Gifted education

7. Budgetary and facilities constraints

8. Student achievement data

I would like to thank students, faculty, administration, families, and school board members who gave their voice through interviews, surveys, and focus groups. We look forward to sharing the comprehensive findings of the curriculum audit with you.

This week we began the preliminary stages of our Communications Audit that will be facilitated by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). The communication audit will assess the effectiveness of current communication efforts related to strategic planning goals and objectives, including public relations, public engagement, marketing initiatives, and other activities. NSPRA will conduct interviews, focus groups and administer a survey to faculty, families, and administrators. We anticipate surveys to be administered from March 21 to April 1 and for focus groups to be scheduled soon after.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

• Vaccination clinic - Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at SHHS 4:30-6:30 p.m.

• Facilities and Finance Committee Meeting - Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at SHMS 7:00 p.m.

• Policy Committee Meeting - Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at SHMS 7:00 p.m.

Stay safe.

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D. 

March 4, 2022

Dear staff and families,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and good spirits. 

As we enter the month of March and begin to see the first signs of spring, there are a number of cultural celebrations for us to acknowledge, including but not limited to Women’s History Month, Irish American Month, Social Workers’ Month, and Music in our Schools Month.

This week, our elementary buildings celebrated Read Across America Week. National Read Across America Day was recognized on March 2nd in our elementary schools, and this year, the focus was to encourage students to "Read Across the Diverse Regions of America."  Three years ago, the National Education Association (NEA) shifted the focus of Read Across America to “Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers” to honor the diversity that makes our country what it is through books and reading, and to convey to students that they belong in the world and the world belongs to them. I had the pleasure of reading one of my favorite books, The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein to Ms. Sheintoch’s first grade class at SRS. I thoroughly enjoyed my discussions of kindness with the students, and they invited me to return to their classroom in April to share their poems with me. I look forward to thanking the students personally for sending me heartfelt thank you notes.

On March 3, SRS joined the rest of the schools in WSSD with a shift to mask-optional as they met the 14-day below 2% incidence rate. Also of note is that WSSD transportation switched to mask-optional on the same day. WSSD continues to provide opportunities for families who wish to get vaccinated. As such, we are working with our medical partners to host another community vaccination clinic. Please visit the district's dashboard for the latest information.

On October 11, the district began its first phase of our equity audit by launching three platforms (data analysis, surveys and focus groups) in collecting district information that would culminate in a comprehensive report. At the Educational Affairs Committee meeting on March 2, we presented the findings of our equity audit. I want to thank those who attended the meeting, and the over 2,500 participants who shared their voice, perspective and stories through surveys and focus groups. Please click here to access the presentation. 

At the Educational Affairs Committee, Dr. Ragone and Dr. Nuland from Hanover Research presented the findings of the Equity Audit. The equity audit was completed through three concurrent research projects and findings were based on a triangulation of three data sources: data analysis, surveys, and focus groups. The major themes and key findings spanned three major areas, and each area is further broken down into specific components:

1. Equity of access for academic programs

• Academic tracking 

• Advanced coursework

• Barriers to parent involvement

2. The district’s efforts to provide an equitable and welcoming learning environment for students

• Disproportionality in discipline

• Intolerance and poor handling of cultural matters

• Impunity for bigoted behaviors

3. The district’s efforts to provide an equitable and welcoming work environment for teachers and staff

• Professional development to support DEI

• Strategies to address DEI-related matters

• Staff diversity

This comprehensive document and digital dashboards are layered in complexity and are rich in data. This is not work that can be done overnight, nor is it incumbent upon one or two individuals to take on this work. Rather it requires a collective commitment and ownership from everyone - community members, parents/guardians, board members, students, teachers, staff, and administrators. My goal is to build a sustainable ecosystem founded on cultural competency, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging that involves and impacts every facet of WSSD. To that effect, we look forward to working with everyone, specifically our Cultural Proficiency Equity Teacher Leaders and district partners, to begin developing and implementing short- and long-term objectives and goals.

In the coming weeks, we look forward to sharing with you the full report of the research findings as well as a synopsis. The community will have another opportunity to hear from the Hanover Research representatives at the next school board meeting on March 28 at 7 p.m. in the Strath Haven Middle School library. I encourage you to attend the meeting.

Also, the Facilities and Finance meeting will be held on March 16, and the Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for March 23. Both meetings will be held at 7 p.m. in Room B-226 at Strath Haven Middle School, and I hope you will be able to join us.

I am looking forward to seeing Into the Woods at Strath Haven HS this weekend. I have heard rave reviews already and I want to offer my kudos to Mr. Shankweiler and the very talented cast and crew on their creativity, dedication, and perseverance. The final performances are tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.  

Congratulations to Strath Haven HS students Winnie Kenney, Hannah Wible, Anna Falk, and Sarah Peyman who had their artwork included in the Regional High School Art Exhibition at Delaware County Community College. Winnie also received first place in the Wharton Esherick Museum’s 14th Annual Imprint Exhibition and Competition.

The end of the winter sports season brings with it more well-earned honors for Strath Haven.  

• Unified Bocce placed second at the Delco Championships and have qualified for the Interscholastic Unified Bocce State Championships.

• At the PTFCA state track & field championships, Teghan Sydnor placed second in the 60m hurdles and set a new school record. Alexa Brown was third in the shot put, and the distance medley relay of Rowe Crawford, Marin Faggioli, Casey Conway, and Hannah Prokup finished 8th in the distance medley relay.

• Wrestling won their first-ever District title led by five gold medalists: Ben Milligan, Kelton Brunner, Chase Barlow, Sam Milligan, and Anthony Crawford. Eight wrestlers qualified for the 3A Southeast Regional Tournament this weekend.

• Congratulations to swimmer Sydney Bergstrom for finishing 4th in the 500 yard free and 7th in the 200 yard free at Districts.  

Stay safe,

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.

 

February 25, 2022

Dear Staff and Families,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and good spirits. As we come to the end of February and the celebration of Black History Month, I want to thank and recognize our staff and students who participated in a myriad of activities that elevated and honored the lives and achievements of countless African-American that have influenced our history and who continue to shape our present. It is in these moments that as a district, we renew our commitment to equity, inclusion and belonging, and that we become more intentional in highlighting the diversity of all of our students throughout the school year and not just one moment in time. I look forward to working with you in making this a reality.

On February 22nd, the Young Activists Coalition (YAC) presented the third annual Black History Month Assembly at Strath Haven High School. The theme was "We Strive, We Thrive" and was centered around artistic expression and passion, as well as mental health and wellness for African Americans. The students conveyed these themes in a variety of ways, such as music, dance and poetry. The assembly concluded with a video featuring interviews of Black students at Haven and how they express their creative passions. Great job to everyone who planned the assembly, performed in it, and provided technical and creative support. It was a true team effort with a powerful impact. Well done!

Since our transition to mask-optional on February 7th at SHHS, and subsequent transition at WES, NPE and SHMS, rates across these buildings have remained below 0.2% to a high of 0.5%.

• Strath Haven High School is in its third week of mask-optional and is currently under 0.25% incidence rate.

• Nether Providence Elementary is in its second week and is currently under 0.4%.

• Wallingford Elementary is in its second week and is currently under 0.35%.  

• Strath Haven Middle School is in its first week of mask-optional and is currently at 0.5%

• Swarthmore-Rutledge is currently at 1.10% and has been below 2% for 9 days.

As of February 25th, the incidence rate of COVID positive cases at Swarthmore-Rutledge Elementary School has been under the 2% threshold. If we maintain this trend, SRS is scheduled to move to mask-optional on March 3rd. 

For updated information please access the dashboard located on our website. Incidence rates may change periodically as a result of testing lags and reporting. Once received, the district will update the dashboard to reflect these cases.

As always, we support staff and student/parental (guardian) choice to remain masked during this mask-optional phase. For those families who would like to continue to follow the CDC’s recommendation for masking, please see the CDC guidelines for best fit and mask selection.

I would like to thank all of you who have shared your vaccination status with us. This is very helpful information that contributes to our decision-making process regarding mitigation strategies. If you have not done so already, please update your vaccination status with the school district. Below are ways to share that information with Administration:

1. In person - Please notify the staff in the main office at your student(s)'s school. You will need to show their vaccination card.

2. Via email - Take a photo of or scan your vaccination card, and send to dsweeney@wssd.org. 

3. Upload into PowerSchool

• Log in to PowerSchool and click on Forms on the left-hand side.

• Scroll down to "Health" and click on COVID-19 Vaccination Information

• You will need to include the dates of vaccination and upload an image of your vaccination card.

In addition, please note the district is planning an additional vaccination clinic in conjunction with Springfield Pharmacy. We are currently coordinating with our vaccine provider to schedule the event and identify the best date for all those involved. The clinic will happen prior to spring break. Our lead COVID nurse, Deb Sweeney, will send out the clinic details shortly. 

This week we held our Policy Meeting meeting and presented to the board first and second readings of the following policies:

1. Presentation and Discussion of Policies for First Reading

• Policy 108 - Adoption of Textbooks

• Policy 109 - Resource Materials

2. Presentation and Discussion of Policies for Second (Final) Reading

• Policy 239 - International Students (Programs)

• Policy 239.1 - Educational Programs for Non-Resident Students (Recommendation for Repeal)

• Policy 104 - Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices

Furthermore, the committee engaged in conversation to reflect on the district’s practice on cell phone usage, screen time, social media and the impact these have on students’ well-being.

The monthly legislative school board meeting will be held in the library of Strath Haven Middle School on Monday February 28th. The Educational Affairs Committee meeting will be held on March 2nd in Room B-226 at 7 p.m. and will highlight findings of the equity audit presented by representatives from Hanover Research. The outcomes of this audit will shape our multi-year strategic plan in the areas of equity, inclusion and belonging in our school district. I recognize and appreciate families’ busy schedules, but I hope you can join us to review these important findings.

Our elementary school community came together to participate in International Night at WES on February 23. Families from WES, NPE, and SRS showcased 20 different countries, highlighting their history, traditions, and culture. I am grateful to those who hosted a table and those who came to support the event .I had a great time talking with students and families and learning about their cultures, and I am looking forward to more district-wide programs and events in the future. 

Good luck to our Strath Haven HS athletes who are in action this weekend. The wrestling and swim teams will compete in their respective District 1 championships, and the track team will compete in the PIAA state championships. Coming up on March 1st, the unified bocce team will participate in the Delco Playoffs .

Tonight is the opening night of Into the Woods at Strath Haven High School at 7:30 p.m. Good luck to the cast and crew. I am looking forward to the show, which I am sure will be spectacular.

Stay safe,

Wagner Marseille, Ed.D.

Dear WSSD Families,

I hope this communication finds you in good health and good spirits. Since joining the Wallingford-Swarthmore staff this past summer, I have had the pleasure of learning extensively about the District, our school community’s hopes and expectations, and areas in which there is need for improvement. From small group meetings, focus groups, and individual conversations in addition to rigorous data analysis, I have learned that there is tremendous joy and pride in our District and our students. However, there is also consensus for a new model of thinking and operating, as well as making investments in our long-term strategic work, to better support our students.

With this in mind, I will be making a recommendation to our Board of School District at the Regular Meeting on Monday, February 28 for a district office administrative reorganization, with the goal of better supporting student learning.

In summary, the feedback I have heard and the data analyzed shows:

1. A need to increase our curricular programming, innovation and rigor with the goal of creating multiple career pathways for all students.
2. A need to more deliberately address the challenges of diversity, equity, cultural proficiency, inclusion and belonging.
3. A need to strengthen and improve counseling services and support our students’ mental and emotional health, as well as continue supporting our trauma-informed practices.
4. A need for significant improvement in student outcomes, especially for those in historically underperforming, marginalized subgroups (students of color, special education students, and economically disadvantaged students).
5. A need to provide increased support to our staff/teachers so they can best help our students and strengthen family partnerships.

The administrative organization of any school system is the foundation on which our work is conceived, organized, and accomplished.

As such, I am recommending a district office administrative reorganization that replaces several of our existing positions with new ones, creates two entirely new positions, and makes some adjustments to the job descriptions of several existing positions, effective July 1, 2022.

The goals of these changes include:

• Aligning our work to ensure each department is fulfilling its educational mission, and creating a stronger structure to help us implement the goals and objectives of our strategic plan.
• Providing a clear hierarchy of responsibilities and communication, along with more clearly defined roles.
• Providing more cohesiveness and collaboration (eliminating the ‘silo’ approach to our operations) as we work to address programmatic and educational challenges.
• Accelerating student achievement, narrowing outcome gaps, and better leveraging the district’s strengths.
• Building and strengthening an aligned, consistent, high-quality, equitable curriculum and school community.

After months of study, I feel very strongly that an administrative reorganization will help to strengthen and better align departments, particularly in academic and student support programming. I believe it will allow for a more direct, ongoing monitoring of the district’s K-12 instructional program; an emphasis on achievement for all students; development of a comprehensive, cohesive professional development program that supports for our staff; and provides for greater accountability as we emerge from the stressors of a worldwide pandemic. There is no additional cost to this proposed reorganization plan; rather it has the potential to save about $70,000.                                          

I am very sensitive to the fact that change, even when it leads to positive outcomes, can be difficult. This proposed reorganization directly impacts several of our district administrators. Under this plan, three full-time district office positions have been eliminated or consolidated. We have met with these administrators to explain the need for this change. We are very grateful for their service in the district, and they are welcome to apply for the new roles when they are posted.

Our district will so or, in some cases already begun, significant, districtwide audits conducted by national firms: an Equity Audit by Hanover Research; a Curriculum Audit by Curriculum Management Services; and a communications audit. I am looking forward to reviewing the results of these audits this spring and summer with our administrators, school-based staff, and community. I believe these are critical in helping guide the important work of strengthening our school district.

Please see the attachment Reorganization for details on this proposed administrative reorganization. I am happy to answer questions or have a conversation with any community member who would like to discuss the benefits that I believe these changes will bring to our students. I am very optimistic about the ways in which I feel we can strengthen our district.

Sincerely,

Dr. Wagner Marseille, Superintendent