Darby Township School

Attention basketball fans! 🏀 There have been some changes to this week’s basketball games schedule due to yesterday’s Flexible Instructional Day. ➡️ Girls Basketball Senior Night vs. Chichester (Home) – Friday, February 7 at 6:00pm ➡️ Boys JV Basketball vs. Chichester (Away) – Friday, February 7 at 5:30pm ➡️ Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Chichester (Away) – Friday, February 7 at 7:00pm Don’t miss the chance to cheer on our teams! 👏

We’re celebrating National School Counseling Week! 🎉 Our counselors help create a safe, nurturing environment for all students. Join us as we thank them for all they do! 🫶

The Southeast Delco School District will operate on a two-hour delay on Monday, February 10. Let’s all enjoy cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night and ensure we arrive at school safely and on time the next day! All students and staff should report to school two hours later than their normal start times: 🕝Kindergarten: 11:10am 🕝Grades 1-8: 10:40am 🕝Academy Park High School: 9:35am Bus routes will remain the same, but buses will pick up students two hours later than usual. All other district transportation, including buses serving out-of-district schools, will also operate on a two-hour delay. Dismissal times will not be affected and will remain as scheduled.

Stay connected on-the-go with the Southeast Delco mobile app! Receive important updates, event notifications, and more—right at your fingertips. 📱Download for Android: https://aptg.co/RvmTxK 📱Download for iOS: https://aptg.co/DvcblT Don’t miss a moment—download today! ✨

The countdown is on for our 50th anniversary spring musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! 🎭🎶 For the past month, our students have been pouring their hearts into singing, dancing, and acting. What can the community expect from this year’s show? 💥Stunts! 💥Special effects! 💥Fantastical sets and props! Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the big reveal. You won’t want to miss this!

Black History Month offers us the opportunity to reflect on the remarkable contributions and milestones that have shaped our country. Let’s celebrate these voices, achievements, and lessons that continue to inspire progress and hope for generations to come.

The Southeast Delco School Board business meeting will take place Thursday, January 23, at 7:00pm. The meeting will be held in the Academy Park High School Auditorium.

Have you downloaded the new Southeast Delco mobile app? You can access key documents, events, news updates, and even emergency notifications. It’s everything SED, in your pocket! 📲 Download for Android https://aptg.co/RvmTxK 📲 Download for iPhone https://aptg.co/DvcblT

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we celebrate the historic Civil Rights leader’s commitment to equality and justice. Let’s continue his work by embracing diversity and building understanding throughout our school community and beyond. ❤️

Welcome Message from Principal Hope: Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, and Staff, It is with great enthusiasm that I introduce myself to the Darby Township School community as your new principal. I am incredibly excited to assume this role after spending the past two and a half years as the assistant principal of Delcroft School. Prior to my tenure in Southeast Delco School District, I served as a high school assistant principal, central office data specialist, middle school mathematics and social studies teacher, and teacher leader. As I transition into my role at Darby Township School, I wanted to thank Mr. Austerberry for his leadership over the last couple of years. Mr. Austerberry has installed numerous systems to drive high quality instruction and strong student incentive programs that have positively impacted the instructional and social-emotional growth of our students and overall school community. I am excited to continue with these successful initiatives and wish Mr. Austerberry the absolute best in his next role. This week, I have engaged in structured meetings with community partners, staff, students, and parents as I learn what makes Darby Township School great, what needs to be reinforced, and what we need to revisit and plan to adjust in the future. As I continue to learn more about our school, I encourage all stakeholders to reach out even if just to say hello and continue to share what makes our school and community special. Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge our dynamic teaching team, amazing students, and fantastic support staff who have been so welcoming this week. I am looking forward to partnering with everyone to continue growing our school into the best elementary school in Delaware County. It has become abundantly clear to me that the collective dedication of the staff, students, and community has made this an institution with a proud history of academic performance and intense school pride. I look forward to working closely with Assistant Principal Camile Jackson to continue fostering a culture of excellent student outcomes, positive school/community relationships, and an intense focus on data-driven instructional best practices to ensure our school continues to grow. I thank you all for your support and for welcoming me so warmly into the Darby Township School family. Sincerely, Maura L. Hope Principal Darby Township School mhope@sedelco.org

In honor of School Director Recognition Month, we’re highlighting Board Member John Lafferty! 🌟 With one year of board service completed, Mr. Lafferty enjoys communicating with students and helping solve their problems and meet their needs. Join us in thanking Mr. Lafferty for his dedicated service to our students and schools!

In honor of School Director Recognition Month, we’re shining a spotlight on each member of the Southeast Delco School Board! 🌟 Meet Michele McGowan, an APHS alum and proud member of our board. Mrs. McGowan has one child currently attending and three children who also graduated from Academy Park! Mrs. McGowan’s priorities as a board member include parent and student advocacy, family engagement, and enhancing the arts in schools. Fun fact! Mrs. McGowan met her husband on the Academy Park High School stage during play rehearsal. They’ve been together for 29 years! Join us in thanking Mrs. McGowan for her service to our schools!

Reminder: There will be no school on Monday, January 20, in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. ✍️

We’re recognizing Sheree Monroe Whitsett, President of the Southeast Delco School Board! 🌟 Ms. Monroe Whitsett is dedicated to providing students with educational opportunities and ensuring the district’s fiscal responsibility. She is a community advocate for postsecondary opportunities for students, including entering the trades or attending college. Outside of her school board responsibilities, Ms. Monroe Whitsett enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors. Join us in thanking Ms. Monoroe Whitsett for her dedication to our schools and students!

Join the Southeast Delco School District and make a difference in the lives of our students every day. We have a variety of rewarding opportunities available! 🌟 Browse open positions and apply: https://sedelco.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

This week, principals and directors from the Southeast Delco School District visited the Reading School District as part of a unique professional development exchange program. 🏫 Our administrators were able to learn from other professionals through a job shadowing experience and facilitated discussions. The visit was a great opportunity for both districts to learn practical insights and best practices to benefit our schools and students!

We’re shining a spotlight on Cynthia Woodfolk, Vice President of the Southeast Delco School Board! 🌟 As a board member, Ms. Woodfolk is committed to providing a quality education for all children. She said she enjoys engaging with others through smiles and laughter! Join us in thanking Ms. Woodfolk during School Director Recognition Month!

The Southeast Delco School Board Committee of the Whole Meeting, will take place Thursday, January 16, at 6:00pm. The meeting will be held at Academy Park High School.

Have you downloaded the new Southeast Delco mobile app? Through the app, you can access documents, events, news updates, and even emergency notifications. It’s everything Southeast Delco, in your pocket! 📲 Download for Android https://aptg.co/RvmTxK 📲 Download for iPhone https://aptg.co/DvcblT

We’ve had great conversations with parents, students, and staff about the proposed school uniform policy over the past few months. There are still a few more student meetings coming up! A group of students at each school will be randomly selected to attend these meetings. Thank you to everyone who has already attended a meeting to share your thoughts and learn more about the proposed policy!