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Class of 2020: Ready to change the world

By Rachel Bonnet, President, Haddonfield Memorial High School Class of 2020

Good evening to my fellow classmates, friends, families, teachers and administrators. I hope you have all been safe and healthy during these unprecedented times. A special thank you to all of you who serve as front line and essential workers. I would like to begin by thanking my classmates. The relationships and experiences  we have all shared throughout our many years together have been incredible and I am so proud to have grown up beside each of you and call you my friends. Secondly, I would like to thank our teachers, administrators, coaches,  the Haddonfield community and our families for all your support and guidance and for providing our class with such a rich and rewarding experience. You have helped us grow in so many ways to become the people we are today.

This certainly is not the ending to our Haddonfield educational experience anyone could have imagined.  When we left school on March 13, we did not expect it would be our last day together at HMHS. It ended far sooner than we would have liked, in the midst of a global pandemic which continues to impact our lives. Our class was not able to enjoy so many senior year experiences that would have brought us even closer together, such as our Disney trip, Prom, spring sports, Arts in the Courtyard, performing arts exhibitions and as you can see even a normal graduation. We did not get a chance to say proper goodbyes and thank yous to one another and to our amazing teachers. However, this pandemic has required everyone to make sacrifices, and one of ours was the end of our senior year. We understand we had an important role to play in reducing the spread of Covid-19 by social distancing which meant foregoing all of the wonderful events that were planned at the end of our senior year. By doing this we helped to save many lives! While it saddens all of us that we weren’t able to laugh together, hug each other and enjoy the end of our senior year together, our class will move forward beyond this pandemic and continue to grow together even as we go our separate ways. 

This global pandemic has become part of our class’s identity, however it will not define us. Our class is so incredible and our contribution, impact and participation in our community is too great to be overlooked. 

Before the pandemic arrived, our identity as a class had already been forged. We are a class reflecting so many abilities and strengths, interests, and passions. Our character embodies honesty, integrity, goodness and commitment to others. We have experienced and grown so much together. We have laughed and cried together, we have celebrated and grieved together, we have succeeded and failed together, and we have grown to become a remarkable family together. We have brought our spirit, collective abilities and energy to enhance the culture of the HMHS community as our class raised and contributed almost $23,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation over our four years of spirit week successes. We have committed ourselves to service in so many ways. We have participated in mission trips and have supported people and communities within Haddonfield, the surrounding communities and villages overseas. We have worked on environmental initiatives, fed those who are hungry, built homes for those without shelter, and engaged with our senior citizen community in many supportive and rewarding ways. Haddonfield has nurtured us and guided us to become successful students, artists, musicians, actors, debaters, athletes, leaders, gamers, app-builders, environmentalists, social justice advocates and community service providers. Our incredible class spirit reflected how much we enjoyed coming together and celebrating each other. In just the last month of school, the gym was packed for exciting late season basketball games and wrestling matches, many sectional and state titles were won, and the drama club entertained us with an amazing performance of Hello Dolly. Our class is incredibly multidimensional;and has truly left its mark. We have shared a great experience at HMHS and we have so much to share with, and learn from the world as we move forward.

Together, we have accomplished so much. We are strong and capable people, with the ability to do whatever we set our minds to. As we move into the world, we need to make it a better place. We have a responsibility to learn and understand and then to act to effect positive change. A few weeks ago, the world witnessed George Floyd murdered at the hands of a police officer. Systemic racism and injustice continue to be prevalent in the United States. People should not be advantaged or disadvantaged based on the color of their skin. We must fight for equality. 

In addition to advancing systemic and structural social justice reforms, we need to care more about our planet. We must learn how to live sustainably and to address the steadily increasing temperatures of the earth. Informed by science, we need to act on behalf of our planet, ourselves and future generations. 

Our lives must be informed by truth. It is our responsibility to be informed by truth, to promote truth and make decisions based on truth. 

We have an obligation to stand up and to speak up — to use our voices to make our country the place that we want it to be. It may seem as though individually, our voice is small, but we can not underestimate how far our voices can carry and the incredible change that we can make.

To bring about change, we now have a responsibility to make our voices heard. We need to vote. Vote locally, vote in state elections, VOTE in the presidential election.

The Haddonfield Memorial class of 2020 steps beyond these walls with hope, excited to embrace an uncertain future. We remain resilient and optimistic, understanding we are prepared and ready to change the world. The future looks bright!

Congratulations Haddonfield Memorial Class of 2020!

School Board filing deadline: July 27

Haddonfield residents interested in serving on the Board of Education have just a few days to collect the required number of signatures for their petition. The filing deadline is 4pm on Monday, July 27.

Three seats will be in play, each with a three-year term. The incumbents are Lynn Hoag, Heather Paoli, and Thomas Vecchio.

The election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, the date of the general election.

On July 1, 2020, Governor Murphy signed into law A-4037 that would require an electronic process for the collection of petition signatures and their submission for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

For information, go HERE. The petition is available HERE.

The New Jersey School Boards Association has an online video series for school board candidates,“Ten Things Every School Board Candidate Should Know before Taking Office”. The series contains important information for candidates and newly elected board members.

NJ to permit all-remote learning

NJ Gov. Phil Murphy announced today that parents who have concerns about sending their children back to school during the COVID-19 pandemic will have the option to choose all-remote learning.

He said the Department of Education will release details later this week.

This news comes as the Haddonfield School District is soliciting feedback from parents, teachers, and members of the community on its draft plan for school in the fall.

Titled “On the Road Back,” the draft plan details two options:

  • Model 1 is based on 100% capacity
  • Model 2 is based on 50% capacity.

The basis for the two models is the District’s belief that schools and education are essential:

  • We value the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff
  • Children benefit from being physically present in school — Learning — Achievement — Socially

The district’s goal is to develop a plan for a September return to school that balances and maximizes those factors.

Read the draft plan HERE.

Submit comments HERE.

Based on feedback and continued research, the district’s Leadership Team will prepare a new model and present it during the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, July 28.

A video of Chuck Klaus’s presentation to the July 16 Board of Education meeting may be viewed HERE.

Draft plan for reopening schools

During the Board of Education meeting on July 16, 2020, Superintendent Chuck Klaus presented the School District’s draft plan for reopening the public schools in the fall.

The district is now soliciting feedback from parents, teachers, and members of the community on the draft plan.

Titled “On the Road Back,” the draft plan details two options:

  • Model 1 is based on 100% capacity
  • Model 2 is based on 50% capacity.

The basis for the two models is the District’s belief that schools and education are essential:

  • We value the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff
  • Children benefit from being physically present in school — Learning — Achievement — Socially

The district’s goal is to develop a plan for a September return to school that balances and maximizes those factors.

Read the draft plan HERE.

Submit comments HERE. Those interested in commenting should note that time is of the essence.

Based on feedback and continued research, the district’s Leadership Team will prepare a new model and present it during the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, July 28.

A video of Chuck Klaus’s presentation to the July 16 Board of Education meeting may be viewed HERE.

Video: Racism in Education (a town hall)

On June 29, 2020, the Haddonfield School District hosted an online Town Hall on Racism in Education – how race affects the experience of students (current and alumni), faculty, staff, and community members in Haddonfield schools.

The district’s goal was to hear about the experiences of the community, and ask questions that will guide the district in its future work. 

The meeting was led by Dr. Shelley Zion, Professor of Urban Education at Rowan University. Dr. Zion has been working with district administrators, teachers, and staff for two years.

More than 100 people attended the online meeting, a video of which may be viewed on the School District’s YouTube site, HERE.

Black Lives Matter speeches

A newly formed coalition of high school student leaders from Haddonfield, Collingswood, Woodlynne, Pennsauken, and Haddon Heights held a stand-in, march, and vigil in Haddonfield on Wednesday, June 24.

The activity, sponsored by SJ Students for Black Lives, had three components:

  • A stand-in (4 to 4:30pm) – with posters, signs, and artwork mourning Black lives lost to police brutality, and demanding justice for Black citizens — along sidewalks on Kings Highway East, from the PATCO line to Haddon Avenue.
  • A unity march (4:30pm to 5pm) along Kings Highway East from Haddon Avenue to the High School.
  • A gathering (5 to 6pm) at the High School, with speakers, poetry, song, and an 8:46 period of silence in honor of George Floyd.

Here are links to speeches given by some of the speakers at the High School:

Message from the superintendent

OFFICIAL, from Incoming Superintendent of Schools Chuck Klaus

As I write this, we are closing in on the final hours of the extraordinary 2019-2020 school year. Putting it mildly, this year has stretched many of us to our limits.

Here in Haddonfield, we have made the best of a challenging situation, not just for our schools, but for our entire community. I am proud of the way we all adapted to unexpected, and frankly abrupt, changes from in-person to at-home schooling. THANK YOU to everyone on the staff, to all of our students, and to the families who supported these changes with good humor and great care. Thank you.

Today, two topics weigh heavily on my mind.

First … In the aftermath of the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, Board members and administrators have received communication from a group of alumni and community members concerned about how Haddonfield has approached equity, inclusive curriculum, anti-racism education, and diverse hiring practices.

I am not at all surprised and am honestly proud that Haddonfield alumni, parents, and community members have strong feelings on these topics. Board President Adam Sangillo penned this letter to those who reached out. In it, Mr. Sangillo points out what has been done, what is being done now and what is planned for the future; however, we are at a point where looking at what we have done and are doing is not enough. We must take a fresh look at our goals and programs with a lens focused on equity and a promise that the work we are doing is designed not to simply address and reduce racism, but that is proactively anti-racist. We don’t have all the answers on how to achieve this goal, but we are committed to work actively to grow and promote this stance. We are committed to providing our students with the avenues and opportunities to become allies and accomplices in developing a proactively anti-racist environment.

To this end, we are redoubling our efforts by scheduling a “town hall meeting” planned for June 29th at 6:00 p.m. led by Dr. Shelley Zion, Executive Director of Rowan University’s Center for Access, Success and Equity. District administrators, staff, and interested community members will be available to discuss concerns and a vision for the future. Details of the meeting format will be emailed and will be posted on the HSD website in the near future.

While we still have far to travel, we have started on this journey. In January and February of 2019, we launched the district’s Long-Range Strategic Plan (LRSP). One of the three major goals is Cultural Competence. We have worked hard to improve our curriculum, our professional development and our overarching awareness of many issues related to equity and racism. Please feel free to examine what we have posted online on this subject. I welcome your input, and I encourage you to participate in the process. I look forward to hearing from you on June 29th.

Second … what’s next? The uncertainty of what school will look like in September looms large. We have already started discussing how to prepare for what may lie ahead. The short, immediate and truthful answer is that we simply don’t know. All New Jersey districts are looking to the Governor and to the state Department of Education for guidance so that we can prepare, but as of this date, we have little information. I can tell you that we are trying to make plans, and we are hoping that state guidance will come sooner rather than later.

This week, I began to form committees to attempt to make reasonable plans for the options for fall 2020 that we can currently imagine. These committees include teachers, administrators, parents, and community members. The committees are:

  • Instruction – how do we best deliver instruction in the event we must continue distant or blended learning?
  • Social and Emotional Learning – we must put supports in place for students and staff who have suffered anxiety, trauma or loss during this time.
  • Facilities – how buildings and classrooms might be used effectively and safely; what does hygiene look like in September?
  • Communication – keeping staff, students, families, county and state offices and the community well-informed.
  • Health – what precautions and accommodations will be required in the fall if we return to the classrooms?

The chair of each committee has started the process of developing his/her Action Teams to address each area of focus.

As we work through different scenarios and make appropriate plans, we will keep all school families informed. Thank you for your confidence and your patience!

Rowan, Delaware are grads’ top choices

Members of the Haddonfield Memorial High School Class of 2020 plan to attend more than 100 different universities and colleges in the fall.

The top choices?

  • 9 students each — Rowan University, University of Delaware
  • 7 students — Rutgers University – Camden
  • 6 students — Temple University
  • 5 students — Gettysburg College, Saint Joseph’s University, Stockton University
  • 4 students — Catholic University of America, College of Charleston, Drexel University, James Madison University, University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University