#ThisIsCheltenham
Friday, September 7
In this week's edition of the #ThisIsCheltenham news share, Cheltenham young playwrights take center stage, CES receives donation, just two weeks until the 5th annual Food Truck Jamboree, calendar reminders and notes, #CSDreads, Panther Pack on the prowl, upcoming meetings, school and community flyers and more.
To update your contact information, visit www.cheltenham.org/updatemyinfo. For updates throughout the week, be sure to visit cheltenham.org or the Cheltenham School District Facebook page. If you know someone who would like to receive the weekly news share, direct them to the eNEWS icon at cheltenham.org to register.
Cheltenham Students Take Center Stage at Philadelphia Young Playwrights Annual Festival
Can Tony Award nominations be far behind? Aspiring playwrights from across the Cheltenham School District showed well at this year’s Philadelphia Young Playwrights annual Playwriting Festival, capturing three first place honors and eight second place recognitions.
First place honors went to Gerald Aungst’s Cheltenham Elementary class, who wrote “Super Secrets”; Elkins Park student Jemma Bleu Greenbaum (under the direction of Mary Aiken) for “Disagree to Agree”; and Wyncote teacher Kristin Krause’s students Iris Dobeck, Simone Ellison-Metcalfe, Ingrid Kary, Jamie Taub for “The Secret Law.” Winners were chosen from more than 700 submissions from students in 40 different schools. See the full list of winners>
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Cheltenham Elementary Receives Donation from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Third grade teacher Jennifer Danihel and her fellow Cheltenham Elementary School teachers are the recipients of a $3,600 gift from Perseverance Encampment № 135 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF). The gift will fund flexible seating in Danihel’s classroom so students can read and work comfortably in small groups. The balance of the donation has been put toward supplies for teachers.
“I try to have students work in small groups daily out of the traditional desk and chair setup,” Danihel said. “My students love working on the floor but do get uncomfortable quickly. These bean bags and pillows will greatly help!”
Founded in Baltimore in 1819, the IOOF “aims to provide a framework that promotes personal and social development; improve and elevate every person to a higher, nobler plane; extend sympathy and aid to those in need, making their burdens lighter, relieving the darkness of despair; to war against vice in every form, and to be a great moral power and influence for the good of humanity.”
“We are grateful to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for their generosity,” said Cheltenham Elementary Principal Nicholas Perez. “Studies show flexible, non-traditional seating options in the classroom provide an environment conducive to learning. Ms. Danihel’s goal is to have a fun and functional classroom for her students and the flexible seating make that possible.”
For information about the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, contact Elliot Tenenbaum at 215-641-1993.
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CSD Foundation's 5th Annual Food Truck Jamboree - Saturday, Sept. 22
The Cheltenham School District's fifth annual Food Truck Jamboree is right around the corner, set for Saturday, Sept. 22 from 2 - 6 p.m. at Cheltenham High School. Join your neighbors for a community-building day with local musical talent, delicious food, kids’ activities and a silent auction. This year's food trucks include tastes from around the world, including Mediterranean, Caribbean, soul food, Mexican, Turkish and more. Justin Timberlake concert tickets and 2019 CHS graduation tickets highlight the silent auction. Entertainment includes musical performances by the CHS a cappella groups, marching band and student and teacher artists and a dunk tank with participation by various CSD staff.
Tickets are $3 and are available online>
Volunteer opportunities are available>
For additional information, visit www.cheltenhamsdf.org.
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Positive Psychology Teacher Leaders on the Road
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Rose Petals Café to Open at Yorktown Plaza with "Pay-What-You-Want" Fundraiser Benefitting CSD Arts on Sept. 21
Five years after opening their first restaurant, Desmin and Jania Daniels, the husband-and-wife team behind the beloved Rose Petals Café in Germantown, are opening their second location this month in the Yorktown Plaza (Church Road and Old York Road, Elkins Park). The second Rose Petals Café opens with a "waffle cutting" featuring a 'pay-what-you-want' fundraiser that will benefit the Cheltenham School District’s arts programs on Friday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. View Rose Petals Café’s full menu>
This week's print edition of the Times Chronicle covered Patrick Fleury's appointment to boys' basketball coach with an above the fold story on the cover of the sports section.
The Times Chronicle covered the Cheltenham School District Foundation's awarding of its annual Faculty Innovation Grants. Read>
Calendar Reminders and Notes
Because lunch was served, the spate of heat-related early dismissals for CHS and Elkins Park School will not impact when students finish the year in June.
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, Sept. 12. 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.
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The Coming Week's Athletics Slate
Wednesday, Sept. 12
Girls Varsity Soccer v. Plymouth Whitemarsh, 3:30 p.m.
Girls Varsity Field Hockey @ Plymouth Whitemarsh, 3:30 p.m.
Boys Varsity Soccer @ Plymouth Whitemarsh, 3:30 p.m.
Boys/Girls Varsity Cross Country vs. Hatboro Horsham and Upper Dublin, 3:30 p.m.
Girls Varsity Volleyball @ Upper Dublin, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 13
Girls Varsity Tennis v. Springfield, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 14
Girls Varsity Soccer @ Wissahickon, 3:30 p.m.
Girls Varsity Field Hockey v. Wissahickon, 3:30 p.m.
Boys Varsity Soccer v. Wissahickon, 3:30 p.m.
Girls Varsity Volleyball v. Abington, 3:30 p.m.
Football v. Norristown, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 15
Girls Varsity Volleyball v. Chester Community Charter School, noon
Full fall sports schedules can be found at www.cheltenhampanthers.org.
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Get Caught and Get Posted!
Each month, Cheltenham’s librarians will distribute a book list celebrating different themes. Snap a photo of your children reading a book that highlights that month's theme and email it to getcaughtreading@cheltenham.org. Your photos will be featured on CSD social media, but be sure to include your child’s name and school so we can post correctly. Please remember, by submitting a photo, you are giving us permission to post the photo. Look for the hashtag #csdreads.
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Panther Pack on the Prowl
The Panther Pack (formerly Cub Club) will host its first events at Cheltenham football games this fall. Pack members will have the opportunity to participate in pre-game activities, gather in the huddle and take photos with coaches, players, cheerleaders and of course the Panther! There will also be some entertainment and competitions for Pack members.
Led by district parents Brandi Millis, Cedarbrook boys’ basketball coach and a former CHS girls basketball player, and Terri Kelly, a Penn State graduate who’s seen the the positive role that sports has played in her own boys’ lives, the Panther Pack is for students between 5 and 12 who want to show their pride in Cheltenham Athletics. The Panther Pack is interested in attracting members and sponsors. If you have Panther Pride and own a business, consider sponsoring our Pack. If you don’t own a business, you can still help spread your Panther Pride as a volunteer. Contact Brandi or Terri for more information!
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Rumph Foundation to Co-Host Children's Heart Screening with CHOP
Parents and guardians are invited to bring their children to a heart screening provided by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia's Youth Heart Watch program in partnership with the Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation's Save the Next Bright Start program. This screening is designed to find children and teenagers who have an undiagnosed or silent heart condition and who may be at risk for a cardiac arrest, an event that causes the heart to suddenly quiver and stop beating. The screening is open to healthy children/adolescents without any known heart problems. Register by emailing Zane Schultz, Youth Heart Watch Program coordinator. Please provide your contact information in the email.
What: Free Heart Health and Electrocardiogram (ECG) Screening Provided by the Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation in Partnership with at CHOP
When: Saturday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Daniel E. Rumph II Rec Center, 100 E. Johnson St, Philadelphia PA, 19144
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Township Fall Rec Brochure Now Available
The Fall Recreation Program Brochure from Cheltenham Township Parks and Recreation Department is now available online. Classes include kids cooking, adult exercise, open gyms, basketball, swimming, self-defense, kidnastics, theater, special events and lots more. Read brochure>