Highland+Park


 * 2012 Update: **

Highland Park Happenings
The last year can be summed up in one word; change. Marge Brennan and Ann Pagano changed their status from active to retired. Both are enjoying life after HP. Rita Fullerton came back to us from Kelly school to teach first grade. Welcome back, Rita. Joining our family was Marianne Anestad coming from the high school to fifth grade, Lin Laim from BH, and Lisa Leach from Kelly School both joined fourth grade. Our reading team was cut in half. Kelly Udovich, Kristen O’Neill and Rosemarie Gregitis all moved to Kelly School and Paula Cascarina moved back to BH. Finally, Kelly Manzaridis moved to Bywood, and Kathy Daly came from Aronimink to our ELL department

Last Spring HP instituted a wonderful new initiative. TEACH (Teachers Enhancing A Child’s Home) through Reading saw a majority of HP teachers visit the homes of first grade students. Supported by a grant from the Rotary Club, a core group of teachers developed and organized the visits of teachers who spent time reading to first graders in their homes. This well received endeavor is quickly becoming a Highland Park tradition, as both a fall and spring visit were planned for this year. First graders were thrilled to have the teachers in their homes, and a bond between student and teacher/reader has been created which has lasted well into the school year.

While many things change, thankfully, many stay the same. Fifth grade still goes camping, Hawk Day is still in May, the Winter and Spring concerts always feature the Faculty Ensemble, and the Good News club still meets in the Library. The kids still write Young Authors’ stories and give out silver packages right before the holiday sing-a-long. Bingo night, McDonald’s night and the holiday shop are all alive and well. Third, fourth and fifth graders still play the recorders, first grade still visits the apple farm and Barb and Sharon are still in second grade. We continue to have our own Souper Bowl to collect supplies for the food pantry and breakfast still happens in the Library on non-pay Friday. Feel free to join us for a bagel, sweets and some coffee!

This last year, as always, HP has seen many good friends come and go. We bitter sweetly celebrated the retirements of Noreen Conley, George Byrnes, and the iconic Gail Capaldi. We offered our best wishes to Lisa Pajak-Cox as she moved on to Lower Merion School District and Beth Marro as she assumed the role of full-time mommy. Filling the shoes of these folks were Kelly Miller (5th grade), Kelly Mantzaridis (4th grade), Leanna Chrisidis (3rd grade), and Suzanne Barrett (1st grade). Returning from maternity leaves were Michelle Augustine-May (Rdg. Specialist) and Christine Spellacy (ELL). We also experienced a blast from the past with the return of Maria Uranko Sciocchetti (4th grade).
 * 2011 Update: **

Next time you stop in for a visit you many notice a few changes. First, our lobby has a new look. We now display a huge fresh water fish tank containing many colorful and interesting fish, and a flat screen TV, which provides updates on the goings-on in our building. Next, the entrance to the gym has become the home of the HP Sports Wall of Fame and Athlete Alley. These exhibits include photos and short biographies of former HP students who have excelled in various athletic endeavors. Check out our web page to nominate someone you’d like to see included. Finally, notice the newly painted cafeteria, hallways and select classrooms. We’ve added a splash of color on the walls and installed new tile flooring to brighten up the place. With the addition of many spring flowers planted by last year’s third grade and the beautiful tile mosaic created by art teacher Lauren Fattori and the art club, the outside of the school is looking good too.

We fondly remember each and every one of you and want to thank you for the contributions you made that make us the vibrant, energetic, high-quality school we are today. //We are but// // dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giant. //