September 21, 2007 — Marple Newtown High School has 4 National Merit Semifinalists ~~The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced the names of the individual students who show exceptional academic and potential for success in rigorous college studies. More than 1.4 million juniors in nearly 21,000 high schools entered the 2008 National Merit Program by taking the 2006 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. That represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

Marple Newtown High School is pleased to announce that four students of the Class of 2008 have been designated as National Merit Semifinalists. Congratulations are extended to Roashan I. Ayene of Newtown Square, Jennifer L. Dailey of Broomall, Joseph D. Mansky of Broomall, and Alexander J. Vigderman of Newtown Square. They are ranked in the top 16,000 students nationally. These students will be notified in February if they have advanced to the next level of competition and recognition, that of National Merit Finalist. We wish them well.

“Their outstanding performance is a tribute to the students themselves, their families and the fine work of the Marple Newtown faculty,” said Principal Mr. John Sanville.

September 4, 2007 -- High School Receives Classrooms for the Future Grant ~~ Governor Rendell announced late last week that our school district has received a Classrooms for the Future Grant award in the amount of $340,000.  This will help Marple Newtown High School students engage in learning on a new level, as we will be able to purchase laptop computers, as well as other high-technology tools, to improve instruction and learning and better prepare our students for future success.  Classrooms for the Future will increase student engagement and help our students connect their academic coursework to the real world, giving deeper meaning to what goes on both inside and outside the classroom.  This state-wide initiative includes substantial professional development to ensure that our teachers are prepared to integrate high-technology into classroom instruction and learning activities.  Congratulations to Joe Violanti, Stan Piecara and John Sanville who co-authored the grant and to all Marple Newtown High School staff who assisted them.  The entire high school community will reap the rewards of their efforts!

August 7, 2007 -- MNHS Students score 13 perfect SAT Scores! Marple Newtown High School has many students whose academic excellence is worth noting. This year there are 13 perfect SAT scores and 11 scores of 780 or above (which indicates only one missed question).  The superior scores reflect intellectual ability coupled with hard work and dedication.

These 24 perfect and near perfect results demonstrate a dramatic increase in scores over previous years. In fact the number of perfect SAT’s in 2007 is more than the previous five years combined. Mr. Sanville states, “This is proof positive that the new SAT prep program at Marple Newtown High School is exemplary!” Mr. Sanville credits the high school teaching and administrative staff for successfully implementing this new program. The achievement demonstrated by these young people is no surprise to Principal John Sanville.  “We have directed a lot of our energy and expertise into increased academic rigor throughout the school and our students have stepped up. These exceptional performances on the SATs are proof positive that MNHS offers the opportunity to excel. We are very proud of the scholarship shown by these students.”  The 2006 PSAT scores, which increased by 16%, also indicate that there is depth and breadth to the high school’s strategy.

The remarkable results are part of a concerted and comprehensive approach by Marple Newtown High School administrators and teachers to offer all students enhanced scholastic opportunities.  The increased emphasis on scholarship greatly augments the curriculum and is integral to all programs at Marple Newtown High School.  According to Mr. Sanville, “We look forward to the upcoming year and are devoted to providing our students with academic challenges in every class.”

August 17, 2007 -- Marple Newtown School District Welcomes New Principal --Dianne Smith, new principal at Russell Elementary School, is beginning her tenth year as an elementary principal. She has served as a principal in the West Chester Area School District and in the Upper Darby School District. Previous to that, she was the Assistant Director of Special Education for Upper Darby. Her experience includes teaching at the middle and elementary school levels in both regular and special education.

Mrs. Smith completed her undergraduate and graduate work at Pennsylvania State University as well as her Supervisory and Administrative Certification programs. Ongoing professional development includes a focus on data-driven instruction, Literacy and Math instruction and Character Education.

Mrs. Smith was a longtime resident of Marple Newtown and attended Marple Newtown schools from kindergarten through 12 th grade. She and her husband, David, have three grown children who also graduated from Marple Newtown and have three young grandchildren. Her father, David Paxson, retired from the Marple Newtown School District in 1990 after 35 years in the district. He had been principal at Worrall and Russell Elementary Schools.

Mrs. Smith is excited to be returning to the Marple Newtown School District. “I am proud of this district’s legacy, and I am committed to seeing that the children of Russell School receive an excellent education. I have been involved with Marple Newtown as a student, parent and, now, as an employee. I am proud to, once again, be a Marple Newtown Tiger!”