#ThisIsCheltenham
Friday, May 3
In this week's edition of the #ThisIsCheltenham news share, top stories include CHS alumnus receiving honorary doctorate from Arcadia, seniors reading letters from their third grade selves, senior reps Cheltenham in Philly HS Fencing Championships, Glenside C.L.A.S.P. learns about STEM from Arcadia grad students, EP, CBK students participate in Hasbro National Scrabble Championship, and Decision Day 2019 wrap up video.
"Need to Know Info" contains CSD budget video presentation, calendar reminders, 2019 Voyage program "taking flight," kindergarten registration, committee reports, athletics schedules, upcoming meetings and events and this week's flyers.
Nobel Laureate, CHS Alumnus Dr. Michael Brown to Receive Honorary Degree from Arcadia, Deliver "How to Win a Nobel Prize" Lecture
A 1958 graduate of Cheltenham High School, Michael S. Brown, M.D., Nobel Prize Laureate and Regental Professor of molecular genetics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, will receive an honorary doctorate of science at Arcadia University’s 2019 undergraduate commencement ceremony on Friday, May 17.
Prior to commencement, on Thursday, May 16, Dr. Brown, who was inducted into the CHS Hall of Fame in 1987, will deliver “How to Win a Nobel Prize” to Arcadia and Cheltenham students in Arcadia’s Commons Great Room from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The talk is open to the public.
______________________________________________
Seniors Receive Letters From Their Third Grade Selves
On Thursday, April 25, 10 CHS seniors received a blast from the past in the form of letters they wrote themselves as Myers Elementary third graders in Ms. Erika Wimms’ class during the 2009-10 school year.
“It was overwhelming watching these kids open these letters that I watched them write a long time ago,” said Wimms, who has been carrying out this tradition for at least the past two decades. “But I felt so proud seeing all that they have achieved over the years.” Read more>
______________________________________________
Senior Afwé Griffin Reps for Cheltenham at Philly H.S. Fencing Championships
Donning blue and gold socks, senior Afwé Griffin will represent the Panthers in the inaugural Philadelphia Division High School Fencing Championships on Sunday, May 5 at 10 a.m. at Germantown Friends’ Scattergood Gymnasium. Griffin will take the strip to compete in the Junior Women’s Epee and Junior Women’s Saber divisions. More than 50 male and female fencers from area high schools are competing in one or more of six divisions. Read more>
______________________________________________
Glenside C.L.A.S.P. Students Learn STEM Lessons from Arcadia Grad Students
______________________________________________
EP, CBK Scrabble Players Putting Skills to the Test
For the past year, Elkins Park and Cedarbrook Scrabble Club members have been meeting at the Elkins Park Cosi on Sundays to develop their sixth sense of putting together tiles to create playable words where others would see a random collection of letters. The students’ hard work paid dividends at this past weekend’s Hasbro National Scrabble Championships at the Grand Ballrooms at Philadelphia Airport Marriott, where the students moved up a division to compete and did well. Read more>
______________________________________________
Decision Day 2019
______________________________________________
CSD Budget Presentation Video
In an effort to provide transparency with regard to the CSD budget, Superintendent Dr. Wagner Marseille and Business Manager Cara Michaels hosted a budget presentation at the Elkins Park Library in February. To provide further clarification, the pair has recorded a voice over accompaniment to the presentation.
Dr. Marseille sets the stage with an overview of district demographics and recent highlights and achievements. Ms. Michaels covers the budget timeline, how the budget is built, where the funds come from and where they go, how the Act 1 index impacts the taxes collected and the negative implications of dipping into fund balance. She explains challenges of balancing special education, transportation, debt service costs and benefits and salaries with the district’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.
The 27-minute video can be viewed at cheltenham.org/budgetvideo. All township residents are encouraged to attend this school year's final Financial Affairs meetings: Tuesday, May 7 and Tuesday, June 4 at the Administration immediately following the 7 p.m. Facilities Committee meeting. Watch below.
______________________________________________
Calendar Reminders
Monthly early dismissals have been moved from the third Wednesday of the month to the second Wednesday of the month. The District has early dismissal on Wednesday, May 8. Schools will dismiss at the following times:
- Cheltenham High School | 1:30 p.m.
- Cedarbrook Middle School | 2:10 p.m.
- Elkins Park School | 2:40 p.m.
- K – 4 Schools | 2:45 p.m.
______________________________________________
Keystone Testing Schedule at CHS: May 13 - 20
Keystone Testing at CHS runs Monday, May 13 through Monday, May 20, with the majority of testing taking place within the first four days. Read more>
______________________________________________
It's OFFICIAL ... End of the 2018-19 school year is set.
- Graduation is Thursday, June 6.
- Final student day is Thursday, June 13.
- Teachers have professional development on Friday, June 14, and an in-service day on Monday, June 17.
______________________________________________
Summer Voyage “Taking Flight”
Each week’s “Voyage” will include different design challenges and project themes, and students will showcase their projects with a public exhibition of learning at the end of each week. Students receive T-shirts, supplies and materials for projects, and access to iPads, Chromebooks, 3-D printers, virtual and augmented reality, robotics, drones, and programming and coding devices. The program will run in three one-week sessions, and students can register for any combination of the three weeks.
Who: Rising second through sixth graders
When: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., July 8 - 12, July 15 - 19 and July 22 - 26
Where: Cheltenham Elementary School
How Much? $220 per week / $550 for all three weeks
______________________________________________
Kindergarten Registration and Screening for the Class of 2032
Kindergarten registration and readiness screening for the 2019-20 school year will take place Monday, May 6 through Thursday, May 23 from 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Administration Building (2000 Ashbourne Rd., Elkins Park). Children must be a Cheltenham Township resident to register, and be 5-years-old on or before September 1, 2019, to attend kindergarten this coming school year. For questions or assistance scheduling an appointment, contact CSD Registrar Kate Shevlin at 215-881-6322.
______________________________________________
Stay Informed: Educational Affairs Committee Meetings
At the March meeting of the Educational Affairs Committee, the Office of Innovation presented some of the ways in which educational technology is making a positive impact on students. View the March presentation>
The April meeting covered progress made on curriculum writing. View the April presentation >
______________________________________________
Stay Informed: Communications Committee Meeting
The Communications Committee met on Thursday, April 25. Topics of discussion included texting as a communication tool in 2019-2020, branding survey demographics and participation overview, and budget process video. View presentation>
______________________________________________
Athletics Schedule
Friday, May 3
Girls Track & Field @ Hoka One One Henderson Invitational, WC Henderson
Boys Volleyball v. Bodine, 3:30 p.m.
Softball @ Springfield, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 4
Baseball v. Methacton, 10 a.m.
Boys Track & Field @ Lower Merion Invitational, Lower Merion, 1:30 p.m.
Monday, May 6
Boys Volleyball @ Neshaminy, 3:30 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse v. Plymouth Whitemarsh, 3:30 p.m.
Softball @ Souderton, 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, May 7
Softball @ Hatboro Horsham, 3:30 p.m.
Boys Track & Field v. Upper Moreland, 3:30 p.m.
Baseball v. Hatboro Horsham, 3:30 p.m.
Girls Track & Field v. Upper Moreland, 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 8
Girls Lacrosse @ Souderton, 3:30 p.m.
Boys Volleyball v. Bensalem, 3:30 p.m.
Unified Outdoor Track and Field @ Spring-Ford, 3:30 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse @ Souderton, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 9
Baseball @ Springfield, 3:30 p.m.
Softball @ Springfield, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, May 10
Boys / Girls Track & Field @ SOL American Championships, Plymouth Whitemarsh, 3 p.m.
Softball @ William Tennent, 3:45 p.mFacilities/Financial Affairs Committee Meeting
This meeting is open to all Cheltenham Township residents