Upcoming Community Events & Programs

Lower Merion School District's Information Services Department will be using the District's seven 3D printers to print headbands for face shields needed by medical personnel working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The District hopes to produce at least 70 headbands each week, once the all of the printers can safely be brought from the individual schools' maker spaces to the IS Department's offices.

The headbands will be delivered to a team of volunteers working at the Kohelet Yeshiva in Merion, where the plastic shields will be added. So far, the project has supplied shields to the following medical organizations:

• Abington Hospital
• Narberth Ambulance
• Lankenau Medical Center
• Penn Medicine
• Pennsylvania Hospital
• Paoli Hospital
• Doylestown Hospital
• Pottstown Hospital
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Jefferson Northeast
• Inglis House

To see some photos of the process, click the slide show below:

You can find out more about the project here.

Lower Merion School District staff have worked throughout the weekend on plans for remote learning during the COVID-19 school shutdown. You can expect to hear more from your teachers and principals Monday about Flexible Instruction Days, which will begin on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

We are also continuing collect information from families who will need access to the internet and devices in order for students to engage in online learning. If your family needs a device, please call 610-645-1910 and leave a message including the student's name, school, grade and your phone number, so that the District can work to provide your family with a device. Please call this number before midnight tonight.

In addition, we want to make you aware of an offer from Comcast. The company is offering families two months of free internet access through the Internet Essentials program. You can sign up for the program starting tomorrow, Monday, March 16, 2020, by calling 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376) or by going to https://internetessentials.com/

Next, we want you to know that the District is working on a plan to provide meals to students who depend on the free and reduced lunch programs. We hope to send you more information about how we will provide meals tomorrow and we hope to have the meals available starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

Finally, a reminder that the purpose of the school closure ordered by Governor Wolf is to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please follow the recommendations of the CDC, health care experts and Governor Wolf. By staying at home except for essential activities, we can protect our own health and minimize the spread of the virus. Hand washing and keeping a safe distance from others has never been so important.

If you feel ill, even with mild symptoms, you may have been exposed to the virus. Or, you may have the common cold, flu or allergies. If you are ill, avoid contact with others, stay at home and call your health care provider for more direction. If you experience severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call 911 or your health care provider. We can't prevent COVID-19, but we can slow the spread of the disease. A slower spread of the disease avoids overwhelming the health care system and other essential agencies and results in a smaller number of cases over time.

Thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation as we continue to work through this challenging time as a community.

In an effort to implement social distancing in light of COVID-19, community swim at the LMHS pool is canceled through Spring Break, April 12, 2020. Additional information about when and whether the pool will reopen will be determined at that time, according to the recommendations of public health officials.

The Lower Merion High School Flower Show Club earned a First Prize and near-perfect 99 out of 100 points in initial judging of the Arbor class at the 2020 Philadelphia Flower Show. And several students won ribbons for their botanical jewelry creations.

The Arbor display features a garden-to-table wedding theme using lemon trees and herbs. The club purchased the lemon trees from the Philadelphia Horticultural Society after the 2019 Flower Show and joined them together at the tops to form the shape of an Ace.

The club's ingenuity did not end there. When edible white blossoms they had hoped to use in the display were killed by insecticides at the PHS greenhouse, they quickly decided to substitute herbs.

There is another round of judging on Wednesday, but the Flower Show Club isn't resting on its laurels -- they're already meeting with advisor Lynne Freeland to begin planning next year's display.

The theme for the botanical jewelry competition was to create a beach-themed anklet. LMHS students took home first, second, third and honorable mention honors for their creations.

To see a slideshow of images of Lower Merion's Flower Show entries, please click below.

Dozens of LMSD students attended "Jazz and Friends," a family reading event to support trans and non-binary youth. The event took place at Gladwyne Elementary School on February 26, 2020.

Participating families shared dinner and time to socialize before joining to read books that feature gender expansive characters, including "I Am Jazz," "Julian is a Mermaid," "They She He Me: Free to Be!" "Jacob's Room to Choose" and "Red: A Crayon's Story."

Children's Book World provided copies of the books that families could purchase. Students from Harriton High School's GSA helped with the readings and also provided fun craft activities for the participants.

Jazz and Friends reading events are promoted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Welcoming Schools program and the National Education Association.

Lower Merion School District prides itself on Inclusivity and Belonging and was one of the first Districts to adopt a Policy on Gender Expansive and Transgender Students: Ensuring Equity and Nondiscrimination (Policy and Administrative Regulation 259).

To see a slide show of photos from the event, click below:

When Ryder and Cooper Fiske-Kneafsey awoke in the early morning hours of Dec. 28, 2019, they smelled and saw smoke. They immediately ran to awaken their father. When he told them it was probably just exhaust from the dryer vent, they insisted he get up to check it out.

When boys' suspicion was confirmed -- there was a fire in the basement of the family's Merion home -- they made sure that they, their parents and their dog, Sandy, all escaped the home and that the fire department was called.

The Lower Merion Fire Department honored Ryder, who is a fourth grader at Merion Elementary School, and Cooper, who is a sixth grader at Bala Cynwyd Middle School, for their quick thinking at a ceremony in Ryder's classroom on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020.

Lower Merion Chief Fire Officer Charles J. McGarvey Sr. praised the boys for remembering what they had learned during Fire Prevention Week. They got everyone out of the home, shutting doors behind them to stop the blaze's spread, and made sure the fire department was called quickly. In addition to giving them a written citation, McGarvey offered them scholarships to attend the LMFD Youth Firefighter Camp this summer.

The boys' parents, Amy Fiske and Dolan Kneafsey, had praise for their sons and also for the firefighters, who not only extinguished the blaze, but also calmed the family's fears and helped them through the aftermath. The family spent about five weeks after the fire in a hotel and is now living in an apartment, as they decide whether to rebuild their fire-damaged home or move elsewhere.

For a slide show of the recognition ceremony and some photos from the fire scene, please click below:

Bala Cynwyd Middle School's theatrical club, BC Applause, will stage "Imaginary," a new musical, March 5-7, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the school's Leonard G. Murphy Auditorium.

"Imaginary" is described as an exciting, funny and inspiring musical about the wonder of childhood, the power of imagination and what it means to grow up.

It tells the story of Milo and Sam, friends who spend all of their time together and use their imaginations to transform their world into a place of adventure and excitement.

Show tickets are available at bcapplause.com for $8 presale/$10 at the door.

Click below to watch a slideshow of photos from an "Imaginary" dress rehearsal.

Save the Date! Lower Merion School District will be hosting the 5th Annual Elementary Family STEM Night on April 16 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Lower Merion High School.

Please join us for a brand new format and lots of family fun! Registration details coming soon!

• You must be a current resident of LMSD
• Complete the online application (www.lmsd.org/register)
• Schedule an appointment with Central Registration

To be eligible for kindergarten, a child must be 5 years of age on or before September 1, 2020.

For children who will be entering a Lower Merion School District school for the first time in the fall of 2020 as a first grader, the child must be 6 years of age on or before September 1, 2020.

Students currently enrolled in a LMSD kindergarten program do not need to register again for 1st grade. Please visit the LMSD website for more information.

Phone Number: 610-658-3996

All registrations are by appointment only. Interpreter services are available upon request.

The students in Ms. MaryBeth Peterson's 7th grade social studies class at Welsh Valley Middle School didn't just read about the destruction that Hurricane Dorian brought to the Bahamas. They made a big difference for a family who moved to Philadelphia after losing their home and business in the storm.

The students decided that they wanted to help families who had lost so much on the islands where several of them had vacationed with their own families. At first, they thought they'd raise money to donate to the American Red Cross. But then, a representative from the Caribbean Community of Philadelphia and Bahamas Philadelphia Foundation helped them connect to the Simms family. The Simms chose Philadelphia to be near a family member who was already in the city, studying at the University of Pennsylvania.

The WVMS students sold hot cocoa and raffle tickets and held a walkathon to raise nearly $8000 for the Simms. When students learned that a child in the family was interested in science, they obtained passes to the Franklin Institute and donated a slime-making kit. They also collected gift cards, clothing and a big stuffed animal.

On Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019, the students finally met members of the family and presented them with the money and other gifts. 6abc Action News was at the presentation and is set to feature the students on the evening news. As a thank you, the Simms presented the students with a Bahamian flag.

In their interviews, the students said they didn't want to just collect money, but they also wanted their classmates to understand the longterm impact of the storm on the residents of the Bahamas. And they described how this philanthropic effort made them want to continue help others.

Members of the Simms family said they were not only thankful for the students' generosity, but also very impressed with how the students had organized the fundraisers themselves. And they invited the students to visit them once they are able to rebuild. The emotional presentation ended with a group hug among the students and the family.

To see photos from this memorable afternoon, you can click through the slide show below:

LMSD's Strategic Plan, "All Forward," provides a framework for a collective, intentional and positive approach to change. Its five aspirational pathways guide us toward continual innovation and transformation to further educational excellence for every student. The Welsh Valley students' fundraising work is a student-driven example of Strategic Pathway #5: A Spirit of Community. To learn more about #LMSDAllForward and the Strategic Pathways, click here.

Members of Harriton High School's National Honor Society are helping out some less fortunate families in our community by providing meals just in time for Thanksgiving.

On Monday, Nov. 24, 2019, the students presented 100 dinners along with 100 gift cards for turkeys and numerous boxes of additional food for families served by the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth.

Michele Kristofco explained that the families who will receive the donated items have been impacted by abuse, poverty and homelessness. She told the students how grateful the recipients are.

Also on hand for the donation were Robert Duarte, Program Office Administrator, and County Commissioner Joseph C. Gale, who also praised the students for their effort to help others.

The National Honor Society at Harriton High School has been running the food drive for many years. Each Advisory class is asked to donate $20 and collect specific non-perishable food items during the month of November.

To see more photos of the students making their donation, click through the slide show below:

LMSD's Strategic Plan, "All Forward," provides a framework for a collective, intentional and positive approach to change. Its five aspirational pathways guide us toward continual innovation and transformation to further educational excellence for every student. The Harriton NHS food drive is a student-driven example of Strategic Pathway #5: A Spirit of Community. To learn more about #LMSDAllForward and the Strategic Pathways, click here.

Ten students from Bala Cynwyd Middle School volunteered at the Special Olympics 5v5 soccer matches this weekend at Villanova University's 31st Annual Fall Festival. Fall Festival is the largest student-run Special Olympics event in the world.

Ms. Baranik, a teacher and soccer coach at the BCMS, said, "During the event, I was especially proud with how the students initiated meeting some of the other athletes. Each student represented BC in a positive manner and several students were complimented for their kindness. it was a wonderful morning."

Great job by our student athletes, embodying our District motto, "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve."

LMSD's Strategic Plan, "All Forward," provides a framework for a collective, intentional and positive approach to change. Its five aspirational pathways guide us toward continual innovation and transformation to further educational excellence for every student. The BCMS students' work is an example of Strategic Pathway #5: A Spirit of Community. To learn more about #LMSDAllForward and the Strategic Pathways, click here.

Lower Merion High School's student body gathered in the Kobe Bryant Gymnasium this afternoon for the annual "Beat Radnor" pep rally, ahead of Saturday's rivalry football game at Radnor High School.

The pep rally featured the introduction of the football and soccer teams and performances by the cheerleaders, dance team, teachers' dance team, and drill team, along with the announcement of the Kings' and Queens' Court.

The pep rally capped off a full week of Spirit activities. The 123rd annual LM/Radnor football game kicks off Saturday, October 12, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.

Click through the slide show below for photos from the pep rally.

Lower Merion High School recently welcomed Remy Duncombe, a representative from the Caribbean Community in Philadelphia (CCP) and native Bahamian, to speak with students about Hurricane Dorian and the catastrophic effects it had on his homeland when it made landfall last month.

Hurricane Dorian was the most powerful tropical cyclone on record to ever strike the Bahamas and is being considered one of the worst natural disasters in the country's history with wind speeds reaching upwards of 185 MPH, ultimately destroying countless homes and communities and displacing thousands of families.

In partnership with Duncombe and the team at CCP, with support from Culture Trust Greater Philadelphia, students at Lower Merion are organizing a Hurricane Dorian Relief Drive as they collect much needed items and donations, which will directly benefit relief efforts in the Bahamas.

Items of need are as follows: baby formula, diapers, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, medical kits, cleaning supplies, flashlights, batteries, insect repellent and feminine products. Donations can be dropped at one of two locations beginning Monday, September 16 through Friday, September 27. If you wish to contribute, items can be delivered to the locations below.

• Lower Merion High School Main Office (located at 315 E. Montgomery Avenue in Ardmore)
• Ardmore Toyota (located at 219 E. Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore)

To learn more about CCP and Culture Trust's Hurricane Dorian relief efforts, click here.

To view a PDF version of the flyer above, click here.