2025-26 Annual Notifications

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Children need healthy meals to learn. LOWER MERION SCHOOL DISTRICT offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast is free for all Pennsylvania students. Elementary School lunch costs $3.50. Middle School lunch costs $4.25, $4.35. High School Lunch costs $4.40, $4.50. Your child(ren) may qualify for a free or for reduced-price lunch meals. Pennsylvania students identified as eligible for reduced-price lunches, will receive their meals free of charge during the 2025-2026 school year.

Please apply online at School Cafe and follow instructions. Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process.

1. WHO CAN GET FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS?
   • All children in households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly the Food Stamp Program) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits are eligible for free meals.
   • Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
   • Children participating in their school's Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
   • Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
   • Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household's income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.

    Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.

   Family Size	Annual	Monthly	Twice Per Month	Every Two Weeks	Weekly
   1	$28,953	$2,413	$1,207	$1,114	$557
   2	$39,128	$3,261	$1,631	$1,505	$753
   3	$49,303	$4,109	$2,055	$1,897	$949
   4	$59,478	$4,957	$2,479	$2,288	$1,144
   5	$69,653	$5,805	$2,903	$2,679	$1,340
   6	$79,828	$6,653	$3,327	$3,071	$1,536
   7	$90,003	$7,501	$3,751	$3,462	$1,731
   8	$100,178	$8,349	$4,175	$3,853	$1,927
   Each additional family member add:	+$10,175	+$848	+$424	+$392	+$196

2. Should I fill out an application if I received a Notice of Direct Certification letter this school year saying my children are already approved for free meals?
   No, but please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact Karen Pinardo at 610-645-1990 or pinardk@lmsd.org immediately
3. How do I know if my children qualify as homeless, migrant, or runaway?
   Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and haven't been told your children will get free meals, please call or email Marcie Monachello 610-645-1874 or monachm@lmsd.org
4. Do I need to fill out an application for each child?
   No. Use one Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. You may request a paper application by contacting Karen Pinardo at 610-645-1990 or pinardk@lmsd.org.
5. Can I apply online?
   Yes! You are encouraged to complete an online application instead of a paper application if you are able. The online application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application.
   Visit https://www.schoolcafe.com or visit the PA Department of Human Services website at www.compass.state.pa.us. to begin or to learn more about the online application process. Contact Karen Pinardo at 610-645-1990 or pinardk@lmsd.org if you have any questions about the online application.
6. My child's application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out a new one?
   Yes. Your child's application is only good for that school year and for the first 30 days of this school year, through 10/16/2025. You must complete a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year. If you do not complete a new application that is approved by the school or you have not been notified that your child is eligible for free meals, your child will be charged the full price for meals.
7. I get WIC. Can my children get free meals?
   Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please complete an application.
8. Will the information I give be checked?
   Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report.
9. If I don't qualify now, may I apply later?
   Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.
10. What if I disagree with the school's decision about my application?
    You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: Victor Orlando at 301 East Montgomery Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003 or (610) 645-1970.
11. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
    Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-price meals.
12. What if my income is not always the same?
    List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.
13. What if some household members have no income to report?
    Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application, or may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so.
14. We are in the military. Do we report our income differently?
    Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any
    cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.
15. My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for?
    To find out how to apply for SNAP or other assistance benefits, visit www.compass.state.pa.us, contact your local county assistance office, or call The Department of Human Services at 1-800-692-7462.

If you have other questions or need help, contact LMSD Nutritional Services at (610) 645-1990.

Disclaimer

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

(2) fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity Provider

RIGHTS PERTAINING TO STUDENT RECORDS; COLLECTION AND USE OF DIRECTORY INFORMATION AS WELL AS PHOTO AND VIDEO IMAGES

Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. Please refer to Board Policy 216 and its accompanying procedures (which are accessible at http://www.lmsd.org/departments/board/policies/index.aspx  or by contacting the District at the above address or phone number) for details regarding the District's procedures for the classification, maintenance and destruction of student records. A summary of these rights follows:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the District receives a request for access:  Parents/guardians or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent/guardian or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent/guardian or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading:  Parents/guardians or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should submit a written request to the school principal, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed and specifying why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent/guardian or eligible student, the District will notify the parent/guardian or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent/guardian or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent:  One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, professional, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.

   A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. The District also discloses educational records without consent to officials of other agencies or institutions that have requested the records and in which the student attends or seeks or intends to enroll.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

   Family Policy Compliance Office
   U.S. Department of Education
   400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
   Washington, D.C. 20202

Notice for Student Directory Information

The District may disclose the following types of information (known as "directory information") without your consent unless you notify your school principal in writing prior to October 1, 2024, that you do not want the District to disclose directory information from your child's educational records without your prior written consent.  Directory information includes the following information relating to a student: the student\family members' name(s), address, telephone number, District-provided electronic mail address, photograph, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, and other similar information. Directory information may be disclosed for purposes beneficial to the student and the District only with the approval of the District superintendent or his designee. Examples of such disclosures include: programs for musical or drama productions, annual yearbooks, honor roll or other recognition lists, graduation programs, and sports/activity rosters, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members.

Consent for Collection and Use of Student Photos/Video Images

From time to time, students may be involved in a wide variety of activities that may involve photo and/or video recording for the purpose of promoting their school, school-sponsored programs or activities, or the Lower Merion School District. It is an established practice to publicize and promote many of the positive and newsworthy activities that occur throughout the year. Publication of student photos and videos for public relations/promotional purposes could be in places such as, among others, the District calendar, the District website, District-sponsored social media, presentations to the Board of School Directors, and other promotional materials shared with the local community for the purposes stated above. The collection, use or sharing of any images/videos collected, used, or otherwise shared (which are not considered student records) will be done in a way that ensures that confidential information about your child's educational program is not revealed. If you do not consent to the use of your child's photographic or video images by the District as outlined above, you must indicate so in writing by October 1, 2025. Please send these requests to the attention of LMSD School and Community Relations at the address listed above or via email to info@lmsd.org and include your child's name, grade level and school.

To apply/renew coverage: CHIPcoversPAkids.com 800-986-KIDS

CHIP covers:

• Routine Check ups
• Prescriptions
• Hospitalization
• Dental
• Eye care
• Eyeglasses
• Behavioral care
• Specialty care
• More

CHIP covers uninsured kids up to age 19 in Pennsylvania. It doesn't matter why they don't have health coverage right now; CHIP may be able to help. Most kids receive CHIP for free. Others can get the same benefits at a low cost.

CHIP is brought to you by leading health insurance companies who offer quality comprehensive coverage.

There is no limit on income. If your income is below CHIP guidelines, your child may be enrolled in Medical Assistance.

Penn Valley and Penn Wynne Elementary Schools
Website posting: August 22, 2025 Building : October 1, October 29, 2025
Parent Right to Know Information as Required by the
Elementary and Secondary Education Assistance (ESEA) [Section 112(e)(1)(A)]
and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) [Section 112(3)91)(A)]

Dear Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s),

Your child attends a Title I school, which receives Federal Title I funds to assist students in meeting state achievement standards. Throughout the school year, we will be providing you with important information about this law and your child's education. This letter lets you know about your right to request information about the qualifications of the classroom staff working with your child.

At our Title I schools, we are very proud of our teachers. They are prepared to give your child a high-quality education. As a Title I school, we must meet federal regulations related to teacher qualifications as defined in ESEA. These regulations allow parents to learn more about your child's teachers' training and credentials. We are happy to provide this information to you. At any time, you may ask:

• Whether the teacher meets state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject he/she is teaching,
• Whether the teacher received an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived, and
• What undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which was signed into law in December 2015 and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1956 (ESEA) includes additional right to know requests. At any time, parents and family members can request:

• Information on policies regarding student participation in assessments and procedures for opting out, and
• Information on required assessments that include
  • subject matter tested,
  • purpose of the test,
  • amount of time it takes students to complete the test, and
  • time and format of disseminating results.

Our staff is committed to helping your child develop the academic knowledge and critical thinking he/she needs to succeed in school and beyond.

If you have any questions about your child's assignment to a teacher, please contact your school's principal:

Penn Valley Elementary
Mr. Scott Mitchell
Principal
610-645-1460
Mitches@lmsd.org

Penn Wynne Elementary
Mr. Shawn Bernatowicz
Principal
610-645-1450
Bernats@lmsd.org

Sincerely,
Dr. Dorie Martin-Pitone
Supervisor of Elementary Humanities and Federal Programs
Lower Merion School District

Dear LMSD Family,

Welcome to Lower Merion School District. This is a reminder to set up your PowerSchool Parent Portal account.

The PowerSchool Parent Portal is an extremely important resource for parents and guardians. It is how you will access necessary information and important permission forms, such as attendance records, bus information, eCollect Forms and assessment results (grades).

The PowerSchool Parent Portal is the only way to find out what bus your student(s) will take, where their bus stop is located and what time they need to be there.

To access the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please review the "Account Creation" instructions found here. To retrieve the Access ID and Access Password for your student, click the "Retrieve Access ID/PW" tab and enter the email address you provided the district when you registered your child(ren) for school.

Please note, the Access ID and Access Password are not account credentials. The Access ID and Access Password are used to link your student's information to your Parent Portal account. If you have more than one child attending Lower Merion School District schools, you can link all their information to this one account once the account is created. We recommend you create the parent portal account for one student then use the "Add Additional Students" instructions to add additional students to the account once logged in.

Thank you,
Robert Catalano
Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity

1 September 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The growing availability of web-based tools and applications is providing teachers with new and exciting methods to improve, enrich, and diversify the delivery of curriculum and instruction to students. Many web-based tools and applications use data to create access accounts and to customize the learning experience. The purpose of this letter is to explain what data will be provided to online educational service providers and parent/guardian rights in regard to the use of the online educational services.

Student data privacy continues to be a top priority when procuring and implementing online educational resources. Any time the District retains a third party vendor, or purchases technology or other products or resources that will have access to student information, the District conducts a thorough review to ensure its use of such vendors, technologies, or other products or resources are compliant with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other federal and state laws requiring the confidentiality of confidential student information.

Lower Merion School District makes every effort to select and implement products that protect the confidentiality of students' personally identifiable information and that avoid third party promotional marketing material. At the following link, you will find a list of online educational service providers used by the Lower Merion School District and their contact information, including the providers' website addresses and a link to their privacy policies: https://www.lmsd.org/oes.

As you will see the District typically places resources in one of three categories:

• Resources that the District acquires to perform functions that the District staff would otherwise perform, for which the vendor has signed the District's privacy addendum;
• Resources to which the District is permitted to give students access or for which the District can provision student accounts, provided that the District provides parents and guardians with notice of the resources, as well as each resource's privacy policy and terms of service; and
• Resources for which the law or the vendor requires affirmative consent of a parent or guardian before students are provided access.

We strive to be as transparent as possible regarding the District's use of online educational resources. The list below provides key points regarding the use of online educational service providers by the District:

• For some selected web-based tools and applications, it may be necessary for the District to provide student data.
• District policy requires that any disclosure of student data to online educational service providers comply with COPPA and FERPA. For more information regarding online educational services, please browse https://www.lmsd.org/oes.
• Online educational service providers may collect additional data using cookies, logs, and other Internet-based technologies. Service providers communicate important information about their collection, protection, use and disclosure of data through their own privacy policies.
• In some cases, providers may use certain data for their own internal marketing purposes. On occasion, providers will state that they provide data to third parties under certain circumstances such as to improve the performance of its website.
• Parents/guardians can request to review and have removed personal information that an online educational service provider has collected from the student. If a parent/guardian wishes to review or have removed the data provided to a provider by the District, a written request should be sent to the student's principal. In some instances, depending upon the nature of the request, the parent/guardian may be required to contact the provider directly.
• Some providers require affirmative parental consent before access can be permitted, such as Google for websites like YouTube. When affirmative consent is required, parents and guardians will be asked to submit a verification form in order for their student to be granted access to the identified online educational service.
• More information about COPPA.
• More information about FERPA.

If you have questions about the instructional use of online educational resources, please contact Dr. Jennifer Gaudioso, Director of Elementary Education, at GaudioJ@lmsd.org. If you have questions pertaining to Lower Merion School District policy, please contact Robert Catalano, Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity, at CatalaR@lmsd.org.

Jen Gaudioso, Ed.D
Director of Elementary Education

Robert Catalano
Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity

August 2025

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Welcome to the 2025-26 school year! Transportation information (bus stop, pickup time, bus #) for your child will be available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal the evening of August 22nd. Instructions to access PowerSchool can be found elsewhere in this packet.

Below are some common questions/concerns that arise each year – please read carefully before contacting the Transportation Department.

What do I do if I have questions about my child's transportation arrangements?
Please send a detailed email using the Information Request Form found on the Transportation page of the LMSD.org website. The Transportation Department will respond to your email usually within 5 business days. Please note that contacting us multiple times only serves to slow the process. The Transportation Department receives a large number of queries at the beginning of each school year and each one is very important – you will hear back from us.

When should my child go to their assigned bus stop?
Please have your child(ren) waiting at their assigned bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.

I have noticed that there are fluctuating drop-off times – is this common?
During the first several weeks of school, it is common to experience fluctuating drop-off times. Getting several hundred children organized and loaded on the correct bus takes extra time for the first several weeks. We appreciate your patience and understanding and you will find that after a few weeks or so, everything settles down into a predictable routine.

Can I tell the bus driver information regarding special arrangements for my child?
For the safety of your child, we ask that you communicate any issues or arrangements directly to our office (email: transportation@lmsd.org) and not through the bus drivers. We have occasionally encountered problems with parents and drivers that have made special arrangements where management was uninformed. The problem arises when the bus driver has a day off or is out sick and his/her route is covered by a substitute driver that is unaware of special arrangements. Confusion results and in some cases, children can be placed at risk. Also, drivers are not empowered to make any changes to their routes without prior authorization from the Transportation office.

Our goal is to provide safe and reliable transportation to and from school and to make it a positive and pleasant experience for your child. We urge you to contact us throughout the school year to report any issues of concern. Thank you in advance for your patience as we start a new school year.

Sincerely,
Uldis Vilcins
Supervisor of Transportation

Dear LMSD Families:

In this letter, I will be sharing important information and updates from our Transportation Department for the 2025-2026 school year.

What's staying the same: PowerSchool Parent Portal

The PowerSchool Parent Portal remains your primary source for the most up-to-date and accurate information about your student's bus number, bus stop location and pickup and drop-off times.

• Transportation assignments for the 2025-2026 school year will be available in the PowerSchool Parent Portal after 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 2025.
• Please be sure to check the PowerSchool Parent Portal regularly for the first several weeks of the school year.
  • We often make route adjustments at the start of the year to increase efficiency. While we make every effort to notify families about these changes, we know emails can be accidentally missed or deleted. Checking the Portal regularly during the first weeks of school will ensure you have the correct information about your students' transportation.

What's New: The StopFinder App

LMSD's Transportation Department is replacing the current BusStatus app with a new app called Stopfinder. Stopfinder is an all-in-one app where you will be able to:

• See your students' bus schedule.
• Receive push notifications about bus delays or substitutions.
• Create customized GeoAlerts to track when your student's bus is approaching and/or departing their bus stop or school. 
• Track multiple students' bus schedules, if your students ride different buses.
• Access bus information in multiple languages.

Important StopFinder Details:

• Only designated contacts listed in PowerSchool will have access to student transportation schedules in StopFinder.
• Once subscribed, these primary contacts can share schedule access with additional caregivers (sub-subscribers).
• If your child did not use LMSD Transportation for summer classes, you will receive a Stopfinder invitation via email on August 25, 2025, with instructions and a setup link.

Please note: If you ever find different information in StopFinder versus the PowerSchool Parent Portal about a bus stop, bus number or time, remember the PowerSchool Parent Portal is what you should rely on for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

This short video explains how to sign up for StopFinder and demonstrates some of its features.

You can download the StopFinder app from the AppStore or Google Play. The BusStatus app is no longer used by LMSD and should be removed from your device(s).

Sincerely,
Uldis Vilcins
LMSD Transportation Supervisor

August 2025

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The District has installed security cameras on all of our busses. These cameras have proven to be an effective tool for districts nationwide seeking to deter misconduct on buses and can provide critical information in situations when disciplinary action may be considered.

The Board of School Directors has approved the District's student transportation policy that establishes parameters for the implementation and use of security cameras and related audio/video recording on buses. To review the full Board Policy (Policy 810) along with administrative regulations regarding implementation and access, click here.

Please note that security cameras will not ensure the elimination of safety concerns on school buses, but we are hopeful that they can serve as an important tool. We encourage you to regularly review school bus safety guidelines with your child. These guidelines are available on the transportation page of our website, by clicking here.

Thank you for your cooperation and consideration.

Sincerely,
Uldis Vilcins
Supervisor of Transportation

Dear LMSD Families,

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year!

The Nutritional Services Department offers a variety of options for breakfast and lunch at all schools. Breakfast is free for all students and lunch is free for eligible students and available to purchase for all students.

Parents/guardians can go to https://www.schoolcafe.com/LMSD to view menu options and nutrition ( menus will be available online on 8/18/25), make deposits and manage funds, and apply for free/reduced meals.

Utilizing School Café is convenient for students and families, since it allows students to eat at school without handling cash or having to bring food from home.

Below is some information on School Cafe, more information can be found on https://www.lmsd.org/departments/nutritional

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need clarification.

How to access School Café for the first time:

• You can either visit the site at https://www.schoolcafe.com/LMSD on your laptop/desktop or download the app to a mobile device from the App Store or Google Play. Then, click on the link that says, "Set Up a New Account" and fill out the requested information.
• Click the "language" button on the upper right to change the site language if needed
• Add student(s) using their name, school, and student ID please remove the "S and 0" from the Student ID before entering.

Information regarding payments

• Money can be deposited into your child's account regardless of whether your child is eligible for free meals or a full-paying student. Money will be automatically deducted as the student uses their account
• There is a convenience fee for online payments. If you wish to avoid the fee, you may send a check with your student to their school cafeteria, please make sure to include the student ID in the check
• Also, to avoid paying the fee multiple times, families with multiple students may deposit the funds in one of the students' accounts then transfer to the siblings. 
• Unused funds at the end of the school year will be carried over to the next school year
• Students can use their student ID to get a free breakfast, even if you do not set up a School Café account

How will my students use the system to pay for the meals?

• After receiving their meals, students will enter their student ID at the register.
• School photo display that ensures the student is using their own account.
• The system is confidential; every student uses the system the same way, regardless of meal status of paid, reduced, or free. 

School Café has produced some informational videos to help you get started:

• How to Access Menus
• How to Make Payments and Check Balances
• How to Apply for Free/Reduced Meals

If you think your child may be eligible for free lunch meals, please apply online at https://www.schoolcafe.com/LMSD More information regarding the free lunch program can be found on the
Nutritional Services page on the LMSD website Free & Reduced Lunch FAQs

If you have any questions or concerns regarding payments or Free/Reduced applications, please contact Karen Pinardo at pinardk@lmsd.org or 610-645-1990

If you have any questions or concerns regarding menu options, please contact Kendall Stokes at stokesk@lmsd.org or 610-645-1991

Sincerely,
Mo Hussein
Director of Nutritional Services
husseim@lmsd.org 610-645-1934

July 28, 2025

Dear Parent, Guardian, or Employee:

We provide this information to you in order to comply with the requirement of the Integrated Pest Control Management Act, Act 35 of 2002, and the Pesticide Notification Act, Act 36 of 2002 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The intent of these laws is to minimize use of pesticides on school property through the use of modern pest control methods.

The Lower Merion School District uses an Integrated Pest management (IPM) approach for managing insects, rodents and weeds. Our goal is to protect every student from pesticide exposure by using an IPM approach to pest management. Our IPM approach focuses on making the school building and grounds an unfavorable habitat for these pests by removing food and water sources and eliminating their hiding and breeding places. We accomplish this through routine cleaning and maintenance. We monitor the school building and grounds to detect any pests that are present. The pest monitoring team consists of our building maintenance, office, and teaching staff and includes our students. Pest sightings are reported to our IPM Coordinator who evaluates the "pest problem" and determines the appropriate pest management techniques to address the problem. The techniques can include increased sanitation, modifying storage practices, sealing entry points, physically removing the pest, etc.

From time to time, it may be necessary to use control products to manage a pest problem. Control products will only be used when necessary, and will not be routinely applied. When control products are used, the school district will use the least toxic products possible. Applications will not be made when students and staff have access to the area(s) being treated. Notices will be posted in these areas 72 hours prior to a non-emergency application and for two days following the application.

Enclosed is a schedule of pest control inspections. Please retain this information for your reference. If you desire a list of pest control products that may be used and their EPA registration numbers, please submit your request in writing or via email to the Operations Department.

Parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school will be notified of any specific treatment applications made on the school grounds, including athletic fields and recreational areas.

If a control product application must be made to control an emergency pest problem, notice will be given. Exceptions to this notification include disinfectants and antimicrobial products; self-containerized baits placed in areas not accessible to students, and gel type baits placed in cracks, crevices or voids; and swimming pool maintenance products.

If you have any questions, please contact our IPM Coordinator at the Operations Department by telephoning 610-645-1980.

Sincerely,

Kenneth A. Pitts
Assistant Director of Operations

July 28, 2025

Dear Parent, Guardian, or Employee:

The Lower Merion School District is required by law to notify, at least once every year, occupants and parents of students in buildings that have asbestos containing building materials (ACBM). Most of the buildings in the School District are affected.

Inspections of all the School district's buildings were initially conducted in 1988 to locate and address the hazard potential of any ACBM. Currently existing asbestos containing material has been labeled and protected by wrapping or other covering. The School District's inspector conducts inspections every six months to insure materials do not deteriorate and become a safety hazard to students and staff.

The amount of ACBM has been significantly reduced since the early 1990's through the District's building renovation program. Most of the remaining suspected ACBM is behind walls, underground or otherwise encased. The high schools do not have any asbestos containing materials.

In addition to inspections, each affected building has a management plan that describes the location and condition of all ACBM. A copy of each management plan is available for public inspection or review on site at the main office of each school.

The Lower Merion School District Asbestos Coordinator is Mr. Ken Pitts. Please contact my office (610-645-1980 or via e-mail at PittsK@lmsd.org) with any questions or for more information.

Sincerely,

Kenneth A. Pitts
Assistant Director of Operations

July 28, 2025

Dear Parent, Guardian, or Employee:

In order to enhance the security of students, staff, visitors, and school district property, the District uses video surveillance devices. There are security cameras located at school building entrances, and at selected interior and exterior areas of schools and district support buildings. This is not a new program. The procedure for video monitoring of school entrances was first adopted by the School Board in 2002. Written notices as to the presence and possible activation of any video surveillance devices are posted in locations where video recording will take place. The video images recorded are exclusively within the control of the School District and are only used in connection with investigating misconduct, safeguarding district equipment, and assisting law enforcement. No audio recording is being used and all cameras are in plain view and located in public areas.

Thank you for your continued support in providing a safe learning environment for our children.

Sincerely,

Kenneth A. Pitts
Assistant Director of Operations

To request an excused absence for educational purposes, please log into the PowerSchool Parent Portal, complete and submit the Absence for Educational Purpose Form at least 14 days before the proposed absence. Please review the guidelines regarding Absences for Educational Purposes prior to submitting the form. For more information about accessing the PowerSchool Portal, visit the Portal FAQ page. If you experience a problem using the PowerSchool Portal, please contact the main office of your student's school. School contact information can be found here.

August 2025

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Lower Merion School District uses School Messenger, an automated phone, text and email system, to send you important information and emergency announcements. This system enables us to create and send messages to thousands of people quickly and in their preferred home language.

School Messenger uses up to six phone numbers stored in our PowerSchool student information system. The system will dial the first two ("primary") numbers listed as Emergency Contacts for most emergencies. If we need to share information more widely, the system will call all the numbers you provide. The system will dial the selected numbers until they connect with a person, voicemail or answering device. The system cannot send calls to numbers with extensions, so please include only direct lines.

If you have not already done so, please update your contact information as soon as possible. While you now have the option to update your contact information at any time during the school year, information that is in the system prior to noon on September 8, 2025, is what will be shared (with your permission) in the Home & School Association (HSA) directories.

1. Go to https://lmsd.powerschool.com/ and log into the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Click on the Year-Round Update button to review and update your contact information, including mobile numbers to receive text messages.
2. If you do not have a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, you will need to create an account.. Please follow the 'Account Creation Instructions PDF' instructions available at https://lmsd.powerschool.com/.

If you would like to receive messages in a language other than English, please send that request, including your student's name, to me at buckmaa@lmsd.org. If you do not have access to the internet, call Central Registration at 610-658-3996 for help.

Please note, emails sent by the District are in addition to emails sent by your school's HSA.

You can also keep up on news from LMSD by visiting our website (www.lmsd.org), watching Comcast Cable channel 22 and FiOS channel 36, and following our Facebook and Instagram pages. If you have any questions regarding communications, please call your school's main office or the Office of School and Community Relations at 610-645-1977.

Yours truly,
Amy Buckman
Director of School and Community Relations

Source of Competitive Food

Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 - Smart Snacks in Schools, July 2014

Competitive Foods are all foods and beverages sold (purchased) to students outside the school meal programs, on the school campus, and at any time during the school day. This includes items sold "a la carte", in vending machines, at school stores, during fundraisers, or at any other venue that sells food/beverages to students during the school day. The HHFKA considers the school day from midnight on the day of the sale until 30 minutes after the end of the official school day.

Refer to the USDA A Guide to Smart Snacks in Schools https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/tn/USDASmartSnacks.pdf

"A la" Carte Food/Snacks, Vending, and Fundraiser Nutritional Standards

The following standards apply to all foods offered a la carte:

All foods must meet ONE of the General Standards AND ALL the Food Specific Nutrient Standards below:

General Standards:

• Be a grain which contains 50% or more whole grains by weight or have whole grains as the first Ingredients; or
• Have as the first ingredient one of the non-grain main food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, or protein food (meat, beans, poultry, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds, etc.) or
• Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup fruit and/or vegetable

Food Specific Nutrient Standards:

The food must meet the nutrient standards for calories, sodium, sugar and fats

• Snack items and side dishes will provide ≤200 calories and ≤230mg sodium per item sold
• Entrée items (that DO NOT meet NSLP/SBP exemptions) will provide ≤350 calories and ≤480mg sodium per item sold
• Items will be packaged in single serving sizes
• A minimum of 3 fruits and 3 vegetables will be offered daily in the cafeteria (at least 1 of each being fresh/raw). A variety of fruits and vegetables will be offered from day to day
• No food will be on-site deep fat fried.

This does not include stir-fried or sautéed foods. Pre-fried or flash fried foods will not be offered more than 2 times per week. These 2 items are exempt from the total fat and saturated fat restrictions listed below.

 In addition, all food items will contain:

• ≤35% of calories from total fat (excluding nuts, seeds, nut butters, reduced fat cheeses and seafood)
• ≤10% of calories from saturated fat (excluding reduced fat cheeses)
• ≤35% sugar by weight (excluding naturally occurring sugars and low fat yogurts) and added sugar will not be listed as the first ingredient
• Minimal to no trans fatty acids

Marketing, pricing and nutrition education strategies will be used to encourage the selection of foods meeting these standards

K-5 will not offer more than 8 a la carte items (exclusive of fruits and vegetables). These items will not contain peanuts or tree nuts nor will they be produced in a plant known to manufacture peanuts or tree nuts.

Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (USDA regulation 7CFR210 and 220) will not be available anytime during the school day

Fundraisers

The Nutritional Standards listed above.

A fundraiser is considered an event that includes an activity where currency/token/tickets, etc. are exchanged for the sale/purchase of a product in support of school or school-related activities. Examples include bake sales, candy bar sales.

• These standards apply to fundraisers sold during the school day. School day is from midnight the night
  before to ½ hour after the end of the official school day
• Non-food fundraisers and food fundraisers that meet the requirements of the Smart Snack Standards do not
  require an exemption
  1. May be sold for fundraising purposes on the school campus during the school day without limit on frequency
• Exempt fundraisers:
  All requests for exempt fundraisers must be submitted in advance to the building Principal. All fundraisers must be approved in advance by the building Principal and may not exceed one school week in duration.
  1. May not be sold in the food service area during the meal period.
  2. Elementary and Middle Schools (per building) are allowed a maximum of 5 exempt fund raisers per year
  3. High Schools (per building) are allowed a maximum of ten exempt fundraisers per year

Classroom Parties/Holiday Celebrations

At the grade K-5 level, no food of any kind is permitted to be brought to school to be shared with students in connection with recognition of birthdays, celebrations such as Halloween, holidays, Valentine's Day, cultural events, and end-of-the-year festivities at the grades K-5 level. At the grade 6-12 level, food brought to school for recognition of birthdays, celebrations, cultural events and end-of-the-year festivities must be in compliance with the District's nutritional guidelines and procedures to maintain a safe environment for students with life threatening allergies and other serious health issues.

Grades 6-12 level:

Classroom parties will offer a minimal amount of food (maximum 2-3 items) that contain added sugar as the first ingredient and will provide the following:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Water, 100% fruit juice or milk

In addition, the Nutritional Services Department will offer party lists/menus that include food and beverage choices that:

• Are moderate in sodium content
• Provide minimal to no trans fatty acids
• Provide items that contain >2gm fiber per serving
• Offer fresh fruits and vegetables
• Offer water, 100% fruit juice or milk as the beverage choices
• Do not offer any Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (USDA regulation 7CFR 210 and 220)

Rewards

Food shall not be used as a reward for classroom or school activities unless the reward is an activity that promotes a positive nutrition message (i.e., guest chef, field trip to a farm or farmer's market etc.).

Food from Home

Homemade food is not permitted to be brought to school for the purpose of being shared during the school day with students either by other students, teachers or other staff, or other persons.

Parents/guardians will be encouraged to promote their child's participation in the school meal program or to provide school lunch and/or encourage the purchase of healthy alternatives.

All nutrition standards will be available to parents/guardians. Information regarding nutrition education and policies will be available on an ongoing basis. Nutrition education outreach may include newsletters, open house, back to school nights etc.

School Stores/Foods/Snack

School Stores: Food, snacks and beverages must comply with standards: Specific information available for School Stores.

Any foods and beverages marketed or promoted to students on the school campus during the school day shall meet or exceed the established federal nutrition standards (USDA Smart Snacks in School) and comply with established Board Policy and administrative regulations.

Exclusive competitive food and/or beverage contracts shall be approved by the Board, in accordance with the provisions of law. Existing contracts shall be reviewed and modified to the extent feasible to ensure compliance with established federal nutrition standards, including applicable marketing restrictions.

Faculty Lounges

Faculty is encouraged to set the example for students. Faculty is encouraged to model healthy nutrition and to avoid consuming foods and beverages that do not align with school policy in the presence of students

Other

Student Input: Students will be an active part of menu planning through regularly scheduled meetings and taste testing.

Vegetarian Options: Students will be surveyed yearly for their interest in vegetarian entrees as part of the reimbursable meal or a la carte. Efforts should be made to include appealing vegetarian choices.

Standardized Testing Schedule 2025-2026

Grade	Test	Dates
K	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	DIBELS	September 8 - October 30, 2025; January 5-23, 2026; May 4-22, 2026
1st	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	DIBELS	September 11 - October 9, 2025; January 6-23, 2026; May 4-22, 2026
2nd	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	DIBELS	September 11 - October 9, 2025; January 6-23, 2026; May 4-22, 2026
	Gifted Screening (Naglieri NNAT3)	March 2026
3rd	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	DIBELS	September 8-26, 2025; January 5-16, 2026; May 11-29, 2026
	PSSA: English Language Arts	April 20-24, 2026
	PSSA: Mathematics	April 27 - May 1, 2026
	PASA: English Language Arts & Mathematics	March 9 - May 1, 2026
4th	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	DIBELS	September 8-26, 2025; January 5-16, 2026; May 11-29, 2026
	PSSA: English Language Arts	April 20-24, 2026
	PSSA: Mathematics	April 27 - May 1, 2026
	PASA: English Language Arts & Mathematics	March 9 - May 1, 2026
5th	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	PSSA: English Language Arts	April 20-24, 2026
	PSSA: Mathematics & Science	April 27 - May 1, 2026
	PASA: English Language Arts, Mathematics & Science	March 9 - May 1, 2026
6th	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	PSSA: English Language Arts	April 20-24, 2026
	PSSA: Mathematics	April 27 - May 1, 2026
	PASA: English Language Arts & Mathematics	March 9 - May 1, 2026
7th	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	PSSA: English Language Arts	April 20-24, 2026
	PSSA: Mathematics	April 27 - May 1, 2026
	PASA: English Language Arts & Mathematics	March 9 - May 1, 2026
8th	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	PSSA: English Language Arts	April 20-24, 2026
	PSSA: Mathematics & Science	April 27 - May 1, 2026
	PASA: English Language Arts, Mathematics & Science	March 9 - May 1, 2026
9th	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	Keystone Exams (Algebra 1, Biology, Literature)	May 11 - 22, 2026
	Advanced Placement Testing (AP)	May 4 - 15, 2026
10th	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	Keystone Exams (Algebra 1, Biology & Literature)	May 11 - 22, 2026
	Advanced Placement Testing (AP)	May 4 - 15, 2026
	PSAT/NMSQT	October 9, 2025
11th	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	Keystone Exams (Algebra 1, Biology & Literature)	May 11 - 22, 2026
	PASA: English Language Arts, Mathematics & Science Advanced Placement Testing (AP)	March 9 - May 1, 2026
		May 4 - 15, 2026
	PSAT/NMSQT	October 9, 2025
	International Baccalaureate Exams (IB)	April 27 - May 20, 2026
12th	WIDA ACCESS testing for English Language Developers (ELD)	January 12 - February 13, 2026
	Advanced Placement Testing (AP)	May 4 - 15, 2026
	International Baccalaureate Exams (IB)	April 27 - May 20, 2026

*Students enrolled in Integrated Math 2 in any grade will take the Keystone Algebra 1 Exam during the December 3 - 17, 2025 testing window.

Curriculum-Based / Classroom Instruction Testing Schedule 2025-2026

Grade	Test	Dates
K	ELA Guided Reading - Reading Records	September 8 - October 3, 2025; January 5-30, 2026; April 27 - May 29, 2026
	ELA Interim Reading Assessments	November 3-7, 2025; February 17-27, 2026; May 18-22, 2026
	ELA Writing Assessments	February 9-20, 2026; May 4-8, 2026
	ELA Fundations Unit Assessments	December 19, 2025; January 30, 2026; March 19, 2026; April 24, 2026; June 6, 2026
	Math Benchmark Assessments	February 2025; May 2026
1st	ELA Guided Reading - Reading Records	September 11 - October 9, 2025; January 6-31, 2026; April 28 - May 29, 2026
	ELA Unit Assessments	October 20-24; November 19-25; January 12-16; February 2-6; March 15-20; May 18-22
	ELA Writing Assessments	October 27 - November 3, 2025; January 12-16, 2026; May 4-8, 2026
	ELA Fundations Unit Assessments	Sep 19; Oct 10 & 30; Nov 14 & 25; Dec 21; Jan 23; Feb 6 & 25; Mar 27; Apr 24; May 15; June 5
	Math Unit Assessments	October 14-17; December 3-8; January 13-16; February 10-13; March 24-27; April 21-24; June 2-5 & 11-14
2nd	ELA Guided Reading - Reading Records	September 11 - October 9, 2025; January 5-30, 2026; May 1-29, 2026
	ELA Unit Assessments	October 6-10; November 17-28; January 20-23; March 9-13; May 18-22; June 8-12
	ELA Writing Assessments	October 6 - November 10, 2025; December 22, 2025 - January 9, 2026; March 9-13, 2026; June 1-5, 2026
	ELA Fundations Unit Assessments	Sep 19; Oct 9 & 17; Nov 7 & 21; Dec 12; Jan 30; Feb 6 & 24; Mar 10 & 24; Apr 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8 & 27
	Math Unit Assessments	Oct 20-24; Nov 20-25; January 26-29; February 20-25; March 24-27; April 13-16; May 11-14; June 8-10
3rd	ELA Reading Benchmark Assessments	October 6-17, 2025; February 17-27, 2026; June 1-5, 2026
	ELA Guided Reading - Reading Records	September 8-26, 2025; December 1, 2025- January 16, 2026; May 19 - June 5, 2026
	ELA Unit Assessments	November 3-7. 2025; December 15-19, 2025; February 17-20, 2026; March 23-27, 2026
	ELA Writing Assessments	November 10-14, 2025; February 2-6, 2026; May 11-15, 2026
	Math Unit Assessments	October 20-24; December 1-5 & 18-22; February 16-20; March 23-26; April 27-May 1; June 1-5 & 10-12
4th	ELA Reading Benchmark Assessments	October 6-17, 2025; February 16-20, 2026; June 1-5, 2026
	ELA Guided Reading - Reading Records	September 8-26, 2025; December 4, 2025- January 15, 2026; May 19 - June 5, 2026
	ELA Unit Assessments	November 3-7; December 8-12; February 9-13; March 16-20 with TDA essay
	ELA Writing Assessments	October 27-31, 2025; January 9-23, 2026; March 23-27, 2026
	Math Unit Assessments	October 13-17; November 10-14; January 12-16; February 23-27; April 13-17; June 8-12
	Math Cumulative Assessments	January 2026; June 2026
5th	ELA Reading Benchmark Assessments	September 22-26, 2025; February 17-20, 2026; June 1-5, 2026
	ELA Summative Assessments	October 27-30, 2025 w/TDA Baseline; January 12-16, 2026 w/TDA; March 23-27, 2026
	ELA Personal Narrative Writing Sample	November 3-7, 2025
	ELA Informational Writing Sample	April 6-10, 2026
	Math Cumulative Assessments	December 2025; March 2026; May/June 2026
	Math IXL Diagnostics	September 2025; June 2026
6th	ELA Reading Benchmark Assessments	September 22-26, 2025; February 17-20, 2026; June 1-5, 2026
	ELA Summative Assessments	October 27-30, 2025 w/TDA Baseline; January 12-23, 2026; April 6-10, 2026 w/TDA
	ELA Narrative Writing Sample	November 3-7, 2025
	Social Studies Informational Writing Sample	April 2026
	Math Cumulative Assessments	December 2025; March 2026
	Math IXL Diagnostics	September 2025; June 2026
	Science Common Assessments	Closure Dates: November 21, 2025; February 20, 2026; May 29, 2026
7th	ELA Reading Benchmark Assessments	October 1-3, 2025; January 26-30, 2026; May 18-22, 2026
	ELA Summative Assessments	October 10-15, 2025 w/TDA Baseline; February 17-20, 2026 w/TDA
	ELA Literary Analysis	January 16-21, 2026
	ELA Argumentative Writing	April 13-17, 2026
	Social Studies Summative Assessment	January 5-13, 2026 for Semester 1; May 26 - June 5, 2026 for Semester 2
	Math Cumulative Assessment	December 2025; March 2026
	Math IXL Diagnostics	September 2025; June 2026
8th	ELA Reading Benchmark Assessments	September 22-26, 2025; February 17-20, 2026; June 1-5, 2026
	ELA Summative Assessments	October 13-17, 2025; December 1-5, 2025 w/TDA Baseline
	ELA Literary Analysis	January 5-9, 2026
	ELA Research Project	May 11-14, 2026
	Social Studies Summative Assessment	December 8-19, 2025 for Semester 1; May 4-15, 2026 for Semester 2
	Math Cumulative Assessments	December 2025; March 2026
	Math IXL Diagnostics	September 2025; June 2026
9th	ELA Reading Benchmark Assessments	October 6-10, 2025; January 20-23, 2026; June 1-5, 2026
	ELA Summative Assessments	November 3-7, 2025, January 19-23, 2026; April 6-10, 2026; May 26-29, 2026
	ELA Degrees of Reading Power (DRP) Assessment	September 29-October 3, 2025
	Biology Assessments	October 30, 2025; December 23, 2025; February 27, 2026; April 10, 2026; May 22, 2026
10th	ELA Reading Benchmark Assessments	October 6-10, 2025; January 20-23, 2026; April 13-17, 2026
	ELA Baseline Writing Sample	October 6-17, 2025
11th	ELA Baseline Writing Sample	October 6-17, 2025
12th	ELA Baseline Writing Sample	October 6-17, 2025
	Social Studies Assessment of Civics Knowledge	April 2026

Low-cost student accident coverage Optional coverage for students at low rates

Dear Parent or Guardian:

For your convenience the School District has again arranged for you to purchase student accident insurance for your child at a very low premium.  Below is a link from the insurance provider, K&K Insurance Group.  If your current health coverage consists of high deductibles and/or copayments, this coverage could be very valuable to you.

The website in the link below outlines the benefits offered by the plan, which provides a $25,000 maximum benefit per student injury.  There are low-option and high-option choices.  Coverage for both options is available on a school time only basis or on a 24-Hour basis as described in the brochure. 

If you are interested in learning more about this comprehensive coverage, it is available online at www.studentinsurance-kk.com

You can read a complete description of the coverage and purchase it online. The site should be available in August.

Rates	Low Option	High Option
School time only	$ 30.00	$ 38.00
24-Hour year-round	112.00	165.00
24-Hour summer only	39.00	51.00

This is voluntary coverage, excluding Interscholastic Athletics.  If you have any questions concerning the policy, application form, or claims process, please contact Trucordia Insurance at 610-687-5757.

Sincerely,

Victor Orlando
Business Manager