Cheltenham SD Weekly News Share
Friday, Dec. 22, 2017
FACILITIES/FINANCIAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, Jan 2, 2018, 07:00 PM
Cheltenham School District, 2000 Ashbourne Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, United States
REGULAR LEGISLATIVE BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, Jan 9, 2018, 07:45 PM
Cheltenham School District, Ashbourne Road, Elkins Park, PA, United States
APPROVED CALENDAR FOR THE 2018-2019 ACADEMIC YEAR
2018-2019 SPORTS
WELCOME MR. KEVIN KAUFMAN - DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
A township resident and district parent for more than a decade, Mr. Kaufman has more than 21 years of experience in strategic public and media relations, communications, marketing, and publications.
Since 2012, Mr. Kaufman has served as the Associate Director of Advancement Communications at Saint Joseph’s University, where he is finishing a master of arts degree in writing studies. Prior to that, he was the Assistant Director of University Communications at The University of the Arts, News Bureau Director at Drexel University, Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator at the consulting engineering firm Pennoni Associates and Assistant Director of Athletic Communications for Publications at the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Kaufman earned a master of education degree in athletic administration from Temple University and a bachelor of science degree in news-editorial journalism from West Virginia University.
He can be reached at kkaufman@cheltenham.org or 215-881-6325.
WELCOME MR. TOM COOK — A NEW VISION FOR THE CHS LIBRARY
Cheltenham School District welcomes Mr. Tom Cook as the Cheltenham High School Librarian. His appointment was approved at the September 12 legislative meeting.
“With all of my experience, I bring a new vision for a library that extends beyond the walls and is much more than a quiet place for books. The library will be a place for students, faculty and staff to connect, collaborate and create,” said Cook, who graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in management science and information systems, and from Temple University with an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction. Prior to becoming a teacher, Mr. Cook worked in revenue management with a hospitality consulting firm and managed the Wyndham Franklin Plaza in Center City.
In 2004, he switched careers and began teaching at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, Delaware County. While at Cardinal O’Hara, Mr. Cook coached the Ultimate Frisbee team, and in 2009, the girls’ team won the state championship and Tom was named Pennsylvania coach of the year. In 2010, Tom won the Delaware County Excellence in Teaching award. He left Pennsylvania to teach in North Carolina for five years and, during that time, was successful in leading his students to four consecutive state business plan championships and a top-20 national finish.
Tom was born and raised in Philadelphia and graduated from Northeast High School. Tom lives with his wife Stacie and daughter Luna in Mayfair, but hopes to relocate closer before the school year ends.
LEARN ABOUT OUR NEW SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTORS
Pamela Henry
Christopher Pender
Daniel Schultz
MAKING A DIFFERENCE — SPREADING KINDNESS
Wyncote Elementary second grade teachers Molly Brookreson and Jen Ward introduced a special project to their students this fall and they say it’s making a difference in their classrooms, school, community and beyond. It’s called Wyncote Kindness Rocks and these rocks have been popping up all over Cheltenham Township.
It started with an in-class rock-painting session where students painted ordinary rocks with extraordinary colors and words filled with kindness — words and phrases like “Be Happy,, “Spread Joy,” “Love,” “Hope,” “Believe in Yourself,” and “Laugh.” Each student took two rocks home to hide in their community. The rocks were accompanied by a label on the back which stated “You found it! Keep it or hide it, but first, post it: WYNCOTE KINDNESS ROCKS.” Wyncote Kindness Rocks is also a Facebook group you can join to post a picture of your rock and to view how others are spreading kindness in the community.
The goal of Wyncote Kindness Rocks is to send a positive message to others in the hope that every person who finds a rock will join in the pursuit of inspiring others to practice random acts of kindness. Wyncote Elementary is off to a rock-solid start!
EYE ON CHELTENHAM — FIRST EPISODE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR
DISCOVER YOUR WISDOM — CHANGE YOUR WORLD
CSD Positive Psychology and Mindfulness Coach Cindy Goldberg hosted the first in a series of wellbeing workshops for teachers and staff on Monday, Dec. 11 at Myers Elementary. Facilitated by Shelley B. Goldberg, the Mindful SoulCollage® workshop gave attendees an opportunity to access their intuition and create an incredible deck of cards with deep personal meaning. These cards are intended to help with life’s questions and transitions.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Elkins Park School Student Achievement Leader Jamie Osea. “It was a nice way to get back to neutral at the end of the day.”
BLESSING BAGS FOR PUERTO RICO
When the category 5 Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico this fall, leaving the United States territory crippled, students from the the high school’s Spanish National Honor Society (La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica) stepped up to help.
Under the leadership of Spanish teacher and World Languages Department Chair Eileen C. Birzes, students collected more than 320 pounds of donations in the form of “blessing bags” for a doctor in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The doctor requested items such as band-aids, soap, toothbrushes, antibiotic cream and snacks, which he could pass out as he traveled to the hardest hit areas. The students filled gallon-sized bags with the donated items and included personal messages (¡en Español!) for the recipients.
Thanks to the success of a GoFundMe campaign and private donations, everything was shipped to Puerto Rico this past week.
GLENSIDE 1ST GRADERS CREATIVELY BUILD LANDFORMS
CHS BASEBALL WINTER WORKOUTS
CHS BASEBALL BENEFIT AT LUIGI'S PIZZARAMA II
Luigi’s Pizzarama II in Elkins Park is hosting a full-day fundraiser on Sunday, Jan. 8 to benefit the CHS Baseball program. Online ordering is available! See the flyer below for details. Just mention “CHS Baseball” with your lunch and dinner orders!