Campus News

Academy Park graduate and track and field coach Ron Hunter was hired as the next director of track and field at The Haverford School this week. Read the story in Delco Times >

The Haverford School has named Mark Fifer as Head of Upper School. Fifer served as the interim Head of Upper School from July to November 2020, with his tenure as Head of Upper School in effect from December 2020. In this role, Fifer oversees the operations of the Upper School division, which includes oversight of the academic program, leading Upper School faculty and staff, and serving as a liaison to other divisions and departments within the School.

Sobriety and second chances have buoyed the once-troubled Haverford School alum and former drug dealer. Read the full story in Main Line Today >

The senior cross country captain was undefeated in the Fords’ shortened Inter-Ac cross country season last fall, going 4-0 against Germantown Academy (twice), Springside Chestnut Hill and Episcopal Academy, with his best time on the season 17:12. Read the full story on PAPrepLive.com >

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of beloved teacher, coach and mentor, Mr. Michael F. Mayock. 

On Dec. 7, Brendon Jobs, the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The Haverford School, led a discussion about how to model and support boys’ development as upstanders in their communities as part of Haverford’s Best for Boys Speaker Series. 

Eighth grade students Ian Rosenzweig and Connor Simpkins were named a winner and a finalist, respectively, in the Global Oneness Project’s 2020 student photography contest. The theme of the contest was “The Artifacts in Our Lives: Document Your Place on the Planet,” and participants submitted a photograph and a 600-word essay of an artifact. 

Chris Sims, a senior co-captain and third-year starter at defensive back/wide receiver, has been called by Haverford head coach Brian Martin, “The heart and soul of our team." Read the full interview on PAPrepLive.com >

The Haverford School’s Diversity Alliance has organized a number of virtual student-centered dialogues and discussions this fall. As the School shifted extracurricular activities to the virtual world for safety reasons during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Diversity Alliance has worked to ensure students have spaces to discuss and debate issues and concerns. 

Two Black-owned breweries, Harris Family Brewery in Harrisburg and Two Locals in Philly, are in the works in Pennsylvania. (A third, Mack Brewing Co., is also percolating in West Philly.) As they raise funds and make plans, both outfits have been making collaboration beers with other local breweries. Read the full story in The Philadelphia Inquirer > 

On Friday, Nov. 13, World Kindness Day, Haverford’s Middle School community gathered virtually for a performance and question and answer session with Haverford alumnus and folk songwriter Chuck Brodsky ’78.

As part of the early signing period for Division I athletes, eight members of the Class of 2021 at The Haverford School have announced their decisions to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.

Upper School students of Haverford’s Service Board, led by Director of Service Learning Jini Loos, have organized a number of school-wide initiatives this fall, including a mask drive, National Denim Day, and a can drive.  

Ernst & Young LLP announced on Nov. 10 that Matt Gillin '85, CEO and co-founder of Relay Network, was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year^® 2020 Greater Philadelphia Award winner.

Democratic challenger John Hickenlooper has defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Cory Gardner in Colorado’s 2020 U.S. Senate race, CBS News projects. Read the full story from CBS Denver >

Haverford School's Kieran Bradley is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week. The senior defensive center back and co-captain is spearheading a Fords’ defense this fall that gave up the fewest goals in the Inter-Ac last year. Read the story >

The Haverford School Alumni Platform was launched on Tuesday, Oct. 20. It is designed to be the official networking platform for Haverford Alumni and a one-stop-shop for all Alumni and School-related news including profiles, updates, events, and gatherings.

Cyril Leahy, a senior, is The Haverford School’s Student Body President for the 2020-21 school year. He was named Main Line Student of the Week for the week of Oct. 19, 2020. 

Data compiler Niche.com has just released its list of 2021 Top Schools in America, and The Haverford School ranked as the No. 1 Best All-Boys High School in the state of Pennsylvania.  

City Love, a music and education group based out of Philadelphia, held virtual assemblies with Haverford’s Lower School students on Friday, Oct. 9.

James Gates, a III Former pianist, recently performed in The Philadelphia International Music Festival’s new PIMFOnline.org Master Class. Playing Chopin’s “Waltz Op 34 No 1 in A flat major Vivace,” James, who auditioned against students from around the world for this opportunity, brilliantly dazzled a global audience with his talents and spirit. 

Seven seniors at The Haverford School have been recognized as Semifinalists by the National Merit® Scholarship Program. Ten students were recognized as Commended Students. 

In late September, Peter Blynn ‘14 cycled 100 miles as part of the Bike to the Beach event to raise money for the Kip Taviano ‘13 Scholarship Fund. Blynn raised more than $8,000 for the fund, which provides tuition assistance to a deserving Haverford School student-athlete.

In early February, the Haverford School community hosted the Fords vs. Cancer event during a varsity basketball game against Germantown Academy. The event raised funds for the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania’s (CHOP). This summer, a check for $10,000 was delivered to CHOP with the intention of continuing research and the fight against Osteosarcoma, a type of cancer.

A part of the Middle School music curriculum for several years, all Form I and Form II boys are learning to play guitar this school year. Form II students are taking lessons this fall, and Form I boys will be learning about the instrument in the spring. Boys have music class three times a week.

The Haverford School marked the start of the 2020-21 school year with time-honored traditions on Sept. 9.

The Haverford School’s state-of-the-art Middle School was officially opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 8.

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Brendon Jobs was named a Top Teacher 2020 by Main Line Today. Read the full write-up >

This summer, The Haverford School soccer program partnered with the Starfinder Foundation, an organization that provides field space, training, and tutoring for children in the Philadelphia area. The team raised $1,750 for Philadelphia youth soccer players.

Upper School science teacher Kara Cleffi and science department chair Dr. Daniel Goduti presented a webinar to the Delhi Public School Society on Friday, Aug. 7. They spoke to more than 150 teachers about encouraging student interest in biology through teaching biotechnology and current research. 

The Pamela and Ajay Raju Foundation is working to distribute 100,000 face masks to a variety of super disseminators and community organizations in Philadelphia. Neetish Sharma '19 attained the masks for distribution through a Stanford contact. Sharma drove to New York City with Nick Chimicles '19 to pick up the masks and bring them back to Philly. 

James, a rising Third Former, returned to his hometown of Moville, Iowa during the recent COVID-19 outbreak. In an interview with KCAU 9 News, James explains how he has been using his incredible musical talents to uplift his community and "bring everyone together" during the pandemic.

Damien Blair is one of the area’s top college basketball coaches. He's been at the helm of the program at Division II West Chester University, his alma mater, for the last 12 seasons. Listen to the full interview on KYW Newsradio's 1-on-1 with Matt Leon >

The Haverford School has closed Character at Our Core, a comprehensive fundraising campaign designed to build upon the School’s expertise in the art and science of educating boys, complete a new Middle School building that supports 21st century pedagogy, and continue to build a diverse and inclusive community that is prepared to contribute to life beyond the School.

Chris Sims was All-Delco in track and field as a sophomore in 2019.

"When coronavirus hit, it felt wrong not having track season in the spring," said Sims, a rising senior at The Haverford School. "But in some ways, it was a blessing in disguise."

Read the full story in the Delco Times >

The Haverford School inducted 22 students into the Cum Laude Society in a virtual ceremony on May 27, 2020. This was the School’s 90th induction ceremony, and celebrates the School’s first and founding purpose: to educate young men in accordance with high standards of scholarship that will imbue them with an aspiration for and appreciation of intellectual excellence throughout their lives.

Upper School science teacher Will Leech shared various science experiments that can be done at home with products you may have on hand. Remember to use safety precautions where necessary, such as using googles and having an adult present.

More than two dozen Haverford School students will continue their athletic careers at their respective colleges and universities. Director of Athletics Michael Murphy hosted a virtual celebration to honor the boys’ commitment to their athletic careers and wish them well as they transition to their respective colleges and universities this fall.

The Haverford School has launched virtual Conservatory lessons in an effort to keep music an integral part of students' lives through the summer months. Lessons are offered in piano, violin and viola, cello, guitar, woodwind, brass, percussion and drums, voice, and trumpet.

Sixth grader Sam has put his creative skills to work to support the Providence Animal Center in Media, Pa. Sam is helping to raise money by drawing a picture of an owner’s dog when they make a donation to the organization. Sam asks for a small donation to the Providence Animal Shelter in exchange for a one-of-a-kind drawing of their dog. 

Two IV Formers in Kristin Brown’s photography class took part in the Lower Merion Conservancy Nature Photo Contest on Instagram. Joshua Ricefield received first place, while classmate Daniel Hou’s “spring” (pictured) earned third place in the contest. Both boys will receive a garden starter of plants native to Pennsylvania.

Pianist James Gates said practice doesn't only bring perfection. It can also bring permanence to music. "By practicing, I'm learning notes and chords, but I'm also following proper technique and understanding what the composers were experiencing when they were composing a piece," the Moville, Iowa, native explained. Read the story in the Sioux City Journal >
 

On May 8, The Haverford School celebrated the important connection between our boys and their grandparents and special friends.

WRT Design, the architectural firm selected for the forthcoming Middle School, has launched a virtual tour of the Commons, Makerspace, Learning Commons, classrooms, science labs, locker pods, and the green roof.

Boys in Mrs. Thorburn and Mrs. Heavey’s third grade classes virtually met Dr. Steve Phillips, an archeologist with vast experience working on sites in Egypt. Dr. Phillips, who serves as the Curatorial Research Coordinator for the Egypt Section at the Penn Museum, shared historical facts about ancient Egypt and described his many archeological digs in Egypt. 

Woodworking teachers Greg Ressler, Jill Sides, and Mark Thorburn have a unique opportunity in adapting their classes to Virtual Haverford. Their distance learning curriculum focuses on a key component of woodworking: design.