#ThisIsCheltenham
Friday, February 22
In this issue of #ThisIsCheltenham, Black History Month celebration this Tuesday evening, Summer Voyage "Taking Flight," joint resolution urging investment in public schools and students, grant helps establish girls ultimate club team, interim director of facilities and maintenance named, Justin Grady signs to play soccer, study psychology at George Washington. Need to Know Info includes calendar reminders, kindergarten registration, Eastern open house, PAL survey, athletics schedules, upcoming meetings and events and this week's flyers.
The boys basketball team hosts a District 1 Tournament playback game tonight at 7 versus Downingtown West. It's a "Blue and Gold Out," so wear your best Cheltenham swag and root on the team as it continues its march to a berth in the state tournament.
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.
CSD Black History Month Showcase - Tuesday, Feb. 26
Join the Cheltenham School District for its annual Black History Month showcase Tuesday, Feb. 26 at Cheltenham High School's Stretton Hall. The event will include student performances from schools throughout the district, including the CHS Select Choir performing the traditional spirituals "I'm Building Me a Home" (Arr. Anthony Trecek-King) and "Oh, What a Beautiful City" (Arr. by Stacey V. Gibbs), a dance performance by CHS senior Audrey Whetts, Wyncote students singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing," Glenside students presenting what they learned about the Great Migration through art, and Cheltenham Elementary students singing "Lifting up Greatness" and "My Sister's Keeper."
Vendors on hand will include EP's Andrew Vassall selling his elementary reader The Black Crayon, Melissa Beasley selling natural hair care products, Dante Thrope offering Dante's BBQ, jewelry from Samantha Geigert and Berry Bar Baked Goods from Courtney Pender.
Vendors open at 5:30 p.m.; performances at 6 p.m.
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Summer Voyage “Taking Flight”
Cheltenham School District will sponsor the 2019 Summer Voyage program “Taking Flight,” where rising second through sixth graders can explore the history of flight, its social and cultural impact on societies across the globe, engineering and design of various aircraft, and design of their own flight innovations. Pennsylvania-certified teachers will lead students through a project-based learning model as they exercise their curiosity, creativity, collaboration and critical-thinking skills in various activities.
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. - 3:00 p.m.
July 8 - July 12, July 15 - July 19 and July 22 - 26
Where: Cheltenham Elementary School
How Much? $220 per week / $550 for all three weeks
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CSD Shines Again at PETE&C 2019
Check out the video below to see students in Lynn Meldru and Rebecca Sheridan’s AP Biology classes demonstrating the four Cs of 21st Century Skills (critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity) to design models illustrating cell signaling and communication using 3-D printers and iMovie. Meldru and Sheridan shared this work as part of their presentation “Integrating Modeling & STEM Practices” given at the PA Educational Technology Expo & Conference (PETE&C) this past weekend in Hershey, Pa.
In addition to Meldru and Sheridan, supervisor of instructional technology Brandon Lutz, supervisor of technology Tim McCleary, CHS teachers Susan Greenwald, technology staff developer Lisa Rock and digital content specialist Dana Walker also presented a wide range of topics at the conference, highlighting CSD’s talented staff. A member of the PETE&C Board, Lutz served as conference chair.
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Adopted: Joint Resolution Urging State to Invest in Public Schools and Students
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Cheltenham Earns Grant to Establish Girls Ultimate Club Team
Cheltenham High School has been named the recipient of one of six Girls’ Team Startup Project (GTSP) grants from the Ultimate Foundation to establish a girls ultimate club team. Led by sophomore captains Molly O'Neill and Bailey Messa, the squad will face clubs and teams from, among others, Lower Merion, Radnor, Haverford, Science Leadership Academy and Pennsbury when its season begins this spring. Read more>
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Markeith Brown Named Interim Director of Facilities and Maintenance
CSD Supervisor of Grounds and Buildings Markeith Brown has assumed the role of interim director of facilities and maintenance. During this transitional period, Mr. Brown will continue to support and monitor CSD’s systems and buildings. The process is underway to find a permanent replacement for the position.
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Two-Sport Star Grady Signs to Play Soccer, Study Psychology at George Washington
Panthers Soccer goalie and Football kicker / punter Justin Grady has signed to play soccer at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He will study psychology and mind the net for the Colonials, who finished 5-9-3 in 2018 competing in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Justin looked at Colgate, Lafayette, Villanova, and Penn State, but ultimately, GW approached him at the right time with the right offer.
"When I went down there, I loved the campus," said Grady, whose sister also goes to school in Washington, D.C. "Academics are really important to me and the school is really academically competitive. Soccer team is pretty good, which helped me make the decision. I'm excited to get down there and get to work."
Grady finished his CHS athletics career on a pretty high note, earning all league honors in soccer and football.
Calendar Reminders
- 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.
For more events, visit the Cheltenham School District Calendar>
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Kindergarten Registration and Readiness 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). Due to professional development day, registration will not take place on Tuesday, May 21. Prior to making an appointment, parents/guardians must submit an application via the district's registration portal. Once registration paperwork is submitted, a link will appear to schedule an appointment to bring in the required paperwork and for the child to participate in the readiness screening. 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.
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Eastern Center Open House – Sunday, March 3
Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (3075 Terwood Rd. in Willow Grove) will be hosting an open house on Sunday, March 3, 2019, from 1-3:30 p.m. The open house is a great opportunity for parents of high school students to see how Eastern can give students a competitive edge in college or in a specialized career program.
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Cheltenham Police Athletic League Survey
The Cheltenham Police Athletic League (PAL) is asking for feedback from the community about the organization and its programs. To this end, please complete a short survey so PAL can understand the community's wants and needs in terms of what it can offer. Direct questions to Ofc. Dave Sparango at 215-885-1600 x971. Take the survey>
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Athletics Schedule
Friday, Feb. 22
Wrestling, District 1 AAA Section South tournament @ Interboro, 5:30 p.m.
Boys Basketball v. Downingtown West, 7 p.m. (District 1 Tournament)
Saturday, Feb. 23
Wrestling, District 1 AAA Section South tournament @ Interboro, 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 24
Boys and Girls Track and Field, PTFCA State Championships @ Penn State University
Friday, March 1
Swimming, District 1 Championships @ La Salle University
Saturday, March 2
Swimming, District 1 Championships @ La Salle University
For more sports events and activities, visit CheltenhamPanthers.org.
For more events, visit the Cheltenham School District Calendar>
Black History Month Celebration
Tuesday, Feb 26, 2019, 05:30 PM
Cheltenham High School, 500 Rices Mill Road, Wyncote
Communications Committee Meeting
Thursday, Feb 28, 2019, 07:00 PM
2000 Ashbourne Road, Elkins Park, PA, USA
Facilities/Financial Affairs Committee Meeting
This meeting is open to all Cheltenham Township residents