Dear Middle School Community,

As we journey through this academic year, it is my pleasure to share with you some exciting developments regarding our school's commitment to enriching the educational experience for our students.

At the heart of our educational philosophy lies the belief that learning extends beyond the confines of our classrooms. To this end, we have always recognized the immense value that field trips bring in providing hands-on, immersive experiences that complement and enhance our curriculum. I am happy to share that this year, we are not only continuing our tradition of offering engaging field trips but are also actively exploring additional opportunities that promise to be both educational and inspirational for our students. These outings will expose our young learners to new environments, cultures, histories, and real-world applications of the knowledge they gain in class. I’d like to share a couple of recent experiences:

PA Renaissance Faire

Thank you to 7^th grade Social Studies teacher, Ms. Lori Balmer for her impeccable organization and coordination of our 7^th grade field trip to the PA Renaissance Faire.  This wasn’t just a one-day experience, but instead the students spent a couple of weeks collaborating and working together to create banners that included specific criteria within each finished product. The criteria included our buildings 3 R’s, our Profile of a Graduate theme, and curriculum specific items. 

The feedback from the trip was overwhelmingly positive. This trip provided our students with an immersive experience into the historical period, enabling them to better appreciate and understand the curriculum. This type of hands-on learning is invaluable and provides a lasting impact. 

Thank you to Lori Balmer and the entire 7^th grade team for making the experience possible!

French Field Trip - C'est La Vie French Bakery & Cafe

World Language teacher, Mrs. Kristin Vath recently walked our French students to another immersive and authentic cultural experience at C'est La Vie French Bakery & Cafe in downtown New Hope. This trip located so close, allows for the curriculum to come alive for our students and this is a testament to Kristin’s dedication to offering our students practical exposure to the French culture and language.

Engaging with the language in a real-world context not only reinforces the lessons taught but also sparks enthusiasm and passion in our students. Unfortunately, this location will soon no longer be a part of our New Hope community, so we are on the lookout for another experience for our world language students in the future.  Thank you, Mrs. Vath!

I firmly believe that such experiences help in shaping a well-rounded perspective, nurturing curiosity, and fostering lifelong learning. As we finalize the details of these upcoming excursions, we look forward to sharing more with you and ensuring our students make the most of these wonderful opportunities.

Warm Regards,

Dr. Pedersen

Middle School Principal

Erik Pedersen, Ed.D.

Middle School Principal

184 West Bridge Street | New Hope, PA 18938

(215) 862-0608  | epedersen@nhsd.org

www.nhsd.org