The Haverford School Upper School
Aug. 17, 2023
Dear Upper School Families, 
It is a pleasure to officially welcome you to the 2023-24 school year. I hope that you and your son have enjoyed the recreational and restorative opportunities that summer often provides and are excited for another school year of learning and growth. Though the halls of the Upper School have certainly been quiet over the last few months, we have been eagerly preparing for your son’s arrival in September. For our dedicated faculty members this means reading up on the latest developments in their fields, fine tuning courses to optimize student learning and engagement, and attending a variety of professional development workshops. For the Upper School office team composed of myself, Ms. Corey Revoir and Mr. Luqman Kolade this means building the requisite infrastructure for the upcoming year so that your son is best positioned to hit the ground running in September. 
We once again enter the year with a steadfast commitment to our primary objective - to make sure that each boy has a healthy and enriching school experience. An important part of this work is making sure that community expectations and norms of engagement are clear so that the boys are best positioned to align their behavior with core institutional values. In the hallways, on the stage, and on the fields this means promoting practices that encourage the boys to be fully present with one another and amplifying behaviors that make all community members feel valued and connected. In the classrooms, this means making sure that each boy is pushed to meet the established learning goals through a combination of self-discipline, individual effort, collaboration and support.  
We will continue to encourage the boys to “opt in'' and participate in the various extracurricular opportunities that exist in our program - clubs, interscholastic sports, productions, school publications, musical ensembles and other student organizations. For some this might mean maintaining participation in an activity from last year, while others will forge new connections through engagement with a new activity. Regardless, we firmly believe that active participation in the life of the school community complements the important work that is done in our classrooms and allows our boys to cultivate the relationships that support connection and a firm sense of belonging.  
One of the principles inscribed on Haverford’s Walk of Virtues is courage, a value that will serve as our virtue of the year and one that will help to ground our interactions with one another throughout the coming months. Individual acts of courage are an essential foundation of strong and healthy communities because they inspire action for the greater good and reflect the moral strength needed to interrupt moments in which others are being treated unfairly. Throughout the year we will remind the boys of the courage required to be a good friend, to be open to new learnings and insights, to remain steadfast in the face of adversity, to humbly put others before self and to have the discipline to consistently choose the hard right over the easy wrong.
Please read below for several back to school reminders and updates that merit special attention. You may also click HERE for a centralized location on our website that contains Upper School specific back to school information and resources. I appreciate you taking the time to read this note given the amount of information included. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. 
Finally, thank you for your continued partnership as we work together on behalf of the boys to create a community of responsibility, engagement and support. I feel fortunate to work each and every day with all of the people - faculty, staff, parents and students - who bring to life the school’s mission to develop young men of integrity, intellect and compassion.  Enjoy these last few days of summer and see you in September!
Take care,
Mark Fifer
Head of Upper School
Student Class Schedules
Individual student class schedules are currently available in MyBackPack by clicking on the “Student Schedule” link.  The 2023-2024 academic calendar is HERE.
You will also find your son’s advisor listed in the “Student” tab.  For Fourth Form students every effort was made to make a placement with an individual on their preferred list.  In some cases this was not possible based on the number of students in existing groups. 
Finally, given the inherent challenges that come with building a schedule for more than 450 students and working diligently to meet as many student scheduling requests as possible, it is the school’s policy not to accept student or parent requests for particular teachers. 
Daily Class Schedule and Rotation Calendar
The daily class schedule can be accessed HERE.  We will stage a variety of community programming (assemblies, clubs, form meetings, advisory, etc) during the designated community block. The built in academic support block (ASB) is in place to ensure shared free time between teacher and student and provide flexible time that can be used to schedule meetings, allow for collaboration and support individual work completion.  Unless otherwise communicated, attendance at ASB is required and students will be expected to use this time to engage in academic work.  
The rotation calendar may be accessed HERE.  Please note that there is a designated exam period at the end of the spring semester during which courses will stage cumulative assessments.
Adding/Dropping Courses
While there will be an add/drop period through the first two weeks of the first semester and first full week of the second semester, adding courses (particularly elective courses) during this period is not guaranteed and depends upon course availability and coordination with the student’s existing free period(s).  Limitations on class size are in place in order to ensure a student to teacher ratio that allows learning objectives to be met. 
For honors courses, unless extenuating circumstances arise, enrollment is an indication of a commitment to remain in the course for the full year.  Level changes between an honors level course and its standard counterpart after the class has commenced will be reviewed on an individual basis. A change in a level may result in adjusting other parts of the student's schedule in order to accommodate the level change and should be initiated as early in the add/drop process as possible.  Level changes after the Add/Drop period is discouraged and may not be accommodated unless initiated by the teacher and/or extenuating circumstances exist.  After a quarter of the semester is complete, level changes will result in grades carrying over between courses and the grade being determined at the discretion of the two teachers with guidance from the Department Chair. 
Students who would like to add or drop a course will need to do so with the approval of their advisor, parent, college counselor (Sixth Form only) and Upper School Office.   Students requesting to drop a visual or performing arts class must stay in the course for the first full week of the semester before the drop will be processed. The add/drop process will be managed via email; questions about adding or dropping a course can be directed to Karen Skidmore at kskidmore@haverford.org.  Inquiries about placement level may go to the respective Department Chair.
New Faculty
Click HERE to access some biographical information about each new teacher in the Upper School this year.
Student and Parent Handbook & Policies of Note
Please access the Upper School Parent and Student Handbook HERE to learn more about the policies and procedures that will govern your son’s daily life in the Upper School.  See below for a few policies of note:
  • Cell Phones: Student use of electronic devices during the school day is at the discretion of teachers and staff members and is expected to be in support of educational activities and healthy community engagement.  Unless permission is granted by the teacher, cell phones should not be visible in the classroom and should be placed in the designated location as instructed by the teacher.  Students using their cell phones in class without permission are subject to having them confiscated.   When seated in common spaces during free periods, students may check their phones. They should refrain, however, from talking, texting, or otherwise using their phone while walking through the hallways. Cell phones are not permitted to be visible or used during community programming such as advisory, full school assemblies and form meetings.
  • Dress Code: Click HERE for the Haverford dress code policy
  • Communication: If a parent has a specific question or concern about their son’s work in an individual class their first contact should be the teacher of the class.  Questions about class placement or curriculum may be first directed to the respective department chair.  Broad questions about the overall Upper School program (academic and non-academic) may be directed to the Upper School Office. 
  • Attendance: If a student does not have an obligation (class, club/organization meeting, study hall, meeting with a teacher, study/work session, etc) he is permitted to arrive no later than 9:30 a.m.   If a student does not have an obligation or afterschool activity they are permitted to leave campus no earlier than 2:00 p.m.  The Upper School Building is open to students from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m and students are encouraged to plan their time outside of school scheduled programming in a way that supports their academic and community engagement.  
  • Off-Campus: Third, Fourth and Fifth Form students are not permitted off campus during the school day. 
  • Sixth Form Off-Campus Privilege: Sixth Formers may leave campus so long as they remain in good academic and disciplinary standing.  Sixth Form parents who would like to opt out of their son having off campus privilege should contact the Upper School Office.  
Activity Requirement & Student Life 
Students will receive information during the opening weeks of school about how to get involved in various clubs, activities and organizations that are signature elements of a Haverford experience.  Please also note that students need to make a plan to fulfill the extracurricular activity requirement that is in place to support community engagement and foster connection.  Additional information on this requirement is HERE.
Third Form Orientation and Family Breakfast : Tuesday, Sept. 5
A reminder to Third Form families that on Tuesday, Sept. 5 there is a family breakfast and student orientation program. Third Form students and parents are invited to join faculty and staff for breakfast in the Field House at 8:30 a.m. where there will be an opportunity to meet your son’s advisor and hear from a few key people important to your son’s transition to the Upper School. After the breakfast, the Third Form boys will remain until 1:15 p.m. during which they will proceed through an orientation program that will allow them to meet their teachers, advisors and student leaders and learn more about the Upper School program.  Please click HERE for additional information on this program.
New students entering an upper form (IV, V or VI) should look for a forthcoming invitation from their advisor to come to campus on the morning of Sept. 5 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. for a meeting, review of their schedule and tour of the building.  
Sixth Form Dinner: Tuesday, Sept 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Sixth Form students are invited to gather for a casual dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 5. We are looking forward to bringing the entire Sixth Form together on the eve of the first day of school to discuss how we can leverage their leadership to set the stage for a terrific year together. 
Opening Week Schedule
Click HERE to view the schedule for the opening days of school including the all school opening assembly scheduled for Monday, Sept. 11. 
Third Form Overnight Trip
Additional information will be provided in a forthcoming communication about a two day, one night Third Form trip to a local camp scheduled for Sept. 28 and Sept. 29.
Health Services
The Haverford School health requirements for the 2023-24 school year were due on August 1st, 2023 to allow for participation in all school activities and are currently being reviewed.  All Health and Wellness policies and forms can be accessed on our website HERE and via your Magnus Health account.  
The Haverford School uses Magnus Health for all health information collection and management.  It offers continuous access to your son’s health record as well as the ability to make updates when needed.  You can access the Magnus Health site HERE.  Your MyBackpack credentials are the same login credentials for Magnus Health.
All sections of your Requirement Library in your Magnus Health account are to be completed including a current physical assessment which requires physician clearance for participation in school activities, field trips, and sports for all students.  You may access the Physical Assessment Form HERE). 
If you are unable to access your account please contact the parent support line directly at Magnus Health for immediate assistance at 1-877-461-6831.
Our Health Services Department staff returns to campus Aug. 28 and will be available to address specific questions via email at healthservices@haverford.org or phone at 484-417-2714
Meal Plan
If you have not yet signed up for the Meal Plan, we have extended the sale through Aug. 23. Please complete the form HERE and send in your payment to the business office. For additional information on menus and meal plans visit this section of the school’s website HERE.
You may reach out to Director of Dining Kim Sprangers at ksprangers@haverford.org with any questions. 
Books and Supplies
As in years’ past, the School will provide many, but not all, of the student’s books. Textbooks, both online and hardcopy, will be purchased by the School and provided to the boys by their teachers, with the expectation that the books will be returned in reasonable shape at the end of the course.
There are other books, primarily paperbacks and workbooks, which need to be purchased by families. A complete list of the books and supplies that families are responsible for purchasing is available HERE. 
Individual classes may ask students to purchase a few basic items for their respective class. If so,  the teacher of the class will comunicate this in the opening days of school.
Students will once again be expected to bring a laptop computer with them to school each day for use in the classroom.  Please click HERE for more information on our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. 
Please begin the process of securing all necessary supplies as soon as possible – some books or supplies may take some time to arrive.  If purchasing supplies presents a hardship for your family, please contact Ms. Corey Revoir at crevoir@haverford.org.
Fords Store - Back to School Sale
The Fords Store is having a 15% off everything sale from Aug. 30-Sept. 13. The sale will be available in store and online. Use the promo code: School when you visit FordsStore.com to save online.
Email Lona at alamaj@haverford.org for any questions
Opening week store hours:
Aug. 30 to Sept. 5 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The store is closed on Labor Day.
Sept. 6 (regular hours) 9-11 a.m. and from 2:30-5 p.m.
Summer Reading and Work
A reminder that there is an expectation to complete summer work in many courses.  You can find this work broken down by form HERE. This work should be completed prior to the first day of classes on Sept. 6.
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