UMIS Principal
Dr. Joseph Waters

From the Principal
On the last Monday of May we celebrate a special holiday known as Memorial Day.  During the Civil War many people died on each side and sometimes families were even divided, with part fighting for the North and part fighting for the South.  When families and wives and children and even the other soldiers remembered their friends and relatives who had died in the Civil War, there was a deep sense of loss and a desire to somehow honor those who had given all they had to fight for that which they believed so deeply.

That was why General George McClelland, a great Union general of that war, set aside one day as being very special.  On that day soldiers and civilians alike were to decorate the graves of their fallen friends and relatives and do them special honor.  The designated day was May 30th.  It soon became known as “Decoration Day” due to the decorating of the graves with flags and flowers.  In the Twentieth Century, “Decoration Day” was changed to “Memorial Day” and the date was changed to the last Monday in the month of May.  That is the day we celebrate and the reason your students will have a brief time out from school. 

When the name and the exact date of the holiday changed, however, the purpose of the day did not change.  Some families will spend part of  the upcoming holiday placing flowers or other remembrances on the graves of the relatives who have died or attending religious services to remember them.  Others may go to see some veterans organization present a special program or parade to remember and honor those who have died in war. 

This time of remembrance also calls us to reflect on the contributions made by many in our Upper Moreland School family.  We are blessed with talented and motivated students.  Our teachers are highly qualified and work tirelessly to provide excellent instructional experiences for our children each and every day.  Our parents are supportive and very generous with their time and talents.  Through the generosity of our community we have a beautiful, state of the art building.  As we approach the final months of school, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all the support that you provide our students, staff and administration here at the Intermediate School.  I am honored to serve you and your children as principal and promise to work with our Upper Moreland Intermediate School learning community to provide a quality education for your child.   

Sincerely,

Dr. Joseph M. Waters
Principal