#ThisIsCheltenham
Sunday, Nov. 3
In this week's edition of #ThisIsCheltenham, WISE explores renewable energy, Wyncote hosts character parade, CC runners qualify for states, Myers hosts Glow dance party and Jump Rope for Heart at EP. "In the News" includes a video about seniors winning a math wish of their dreams from TI. "Need to Know Info" features calendar reminders, committee report, school start times workshops, upcoming meetings and events and this week's flyers.
Women in Science and Engineering Club Explores Renewable Energy
The Cheltenham High School Women in Science and Engineering club, led by juniors Lisa Lam, Rose Fevrier, Mia Weisman and Venus Agbadan, rolled up their collective sleeves this past week to make MudWatts, which utilize the microbes in compost to create energy and eventually become a fully functional battery. The project was made possible through an innovation grant from the Cheltenham School District Foundation. Read more>
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Wyncote Hosts Annual Character Parade
The rain couldn’t dampen any spirits (or ghouls, ninjas or dinosaurs either, for that matter) at Thursday’s Character Parade at Wyncote Elementary. Students from every grade paraded around the Wyncote hallways in their Halloween costumes while parents lined the walls and cheered and took pictures. Many students dressed as characters from their favorite books like “Big Nate in a Class by Himself” and “Judy Moody Saves the World” and carried those books with them during the parade. Other students dressed in a wide array of creative costumes, including old school outfits like Dorothy from the “Wizard of Oz” and Philadelphia athletes, and new school getups like video game and Harry Potter characters.Teachers even got into the act, with most of them dressing as Care Bears, while Principal Crystal Clark dressed as the Queen of Hearts.
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Cross Country Runners Qualify for States
At District 1 Cross Country Championships at Lehigh on Friday, Oct. 25, Cheltenham seniors Janelle Williams and Kylan Willis and sophomore Zoe Matsinger all ran fast enough times to qualify for the state championship. Fresh off winning her second consecutive Suburban One League American Conference championship, Williams finished seventh at districts in 18.26.40, exceeding her 2018 finish by six places and nearly 20 seconds. Matsinger finished 44th in 19:44, an improvement of 91 places and nearly a minute over her 2018 effort. In the boys race, Willis finished 22nd in 16:08, a marked improvement over his 2018 race wherein he finished 56th in 16:23.40.
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Myers Students, Staff Glow Up at Dance Party
Amid red and green rotating lights, energetic tunes and Fortnight-inspired dance moves, students and staff at Myers Elementary enjoyed a Glow dance party Wednesday, Oct. 30 as part of the school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) program. Students received the reward for being safe, respectful and responsible. A commitment to addressing student behavior through systems change, PBIS is an evidence-based three-tiered framework for improving and integrating all of the data, systems, and practices affecting student outcomes every day. PBIS is a way to support everyone – especially students with disabilities – to create the kinds of schools where all students are successful. When implemented well, students achieve improved social and academic outcomes, schools experience reduced exclusionary discipline practices and school personnel feel more effective.
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Jump Rope for Heart at EP
Calendar Reminders
Schools are closed on Tuesday, Nov. 5 for Election Day.
Monthly early dismissals are generally the second Wednesday of the month. In November, however, the District has early dismissal on Wednesday, Nov. 13. 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.
K-8 schools have early dismissal on Monday, Nov. 25 for parent-teacher conferences. Schools will dismiss at the following times:
- Cedarbrook Middle School | Noon
- K-6 schools | 1 p.m.
K-8 schools have no classes on Tuesday, Nov. 26 for parent-teacher conferences.
CSD has no classes on Wednesday, Nov. 27 for parent-teacher conferences.
All District schools and offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28 and 29 for Thanksgiving break.
For more events, visit the Cheltenham School District Calendar>
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Stay Informed: October Policy Committee Meeting
The policy committee convened on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, and recommended four policies for adoption at the Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, legislative board meeting: Policy 713 Commercial Advertising (New), Policy 211 Student Accident Insurance, Policy 212 Assessment and Reporting of Student Progress and Policy 308 Employment Contract/Board Resolution. Several policies and administrative regulations were reviewed and the following policies will be recommended for “First Read” at the next legislative board meeting: 301 Creating a Position, 314 Medical Examination, 106 Guides for Planned Instruction rename “Course Guides and Planned Instruction” (merge 106 and 107). The next Policy Committee meeting will convene on Wednesday, Nov 20, 2019, at 8 a.m. in room 119 at the Administration Building. Read more>
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Start School Later Workshop Spots Still Available
The national nonprofit Start School Later is holding workshops to assist school districts with developing strategies for implementing the change to healthy start times for secondary schools. Discussions will include the science of sleep and its connection to school start times, as well as strategies for making change: How to generate optimum community support and work through implementation challenges such as bus routes, athletics and more. As recently noted by the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission: “Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents: The Case for Delaying Secondary School Start Times,” the most salient recommendation is that Pennsylvania’s school districts should consider studying the advisability of changing their secondary school start times to improve the health and welfare of their students.” Register>
815 Pottstown Pike, Exton, PA 19341
Thursday, Nov. 14, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Facilities/Financial Affairs Meeting
This meeting is open to all Cheltenham Township residents and tax payers. Click for more information>
Wednesday, Nov 6, 2019, 07:00 PM
2000 Ashbourne Road, Elkins Park, PA, USA
SEAC Meeting | Deep Dive Into IEPs: A Parent Workshop
Thursday, Nov 7, 2019, 06:30 PM
300 Longfellow Road, Wyncote, PA, USA
UPG Leadership Circle
Monday, Nov 11, 2019, 07:00 PM
2000 Ashbourne Road, Elkins Park, PA, USA
Regular Legislative Board Meeting
Tuesday, Nov 12, 2019, 07:00 PM
2000 Ashbourne Road, Elkins Park, PA, USA
Educational Affairs Meeting
This meeting is open to all Cheltenham Township residents and tax payers. Click for more information>
Tuesday, Nov 19, 2019, 06:30 PM
2000 Ashbourne Road, Elkins Park, PA, USA
Policy Committee Meeting
Wednesday, Nov 20, 2019, 08:00 AM
2000 Ashbourne Road, Elkins Park, PA, USA
Communications Committee Meeting
This meeting is open to all Cheltenham residents and taxpayers. Click for more information>