Cheltenham’s Elissa Johnson Earns Student of Month from Eastern Center for Arts and Technology

Cheltenham High School senior Elissa Johnson has been named the November 2018 Student of the Month at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (Eastern) in Willow Grove. A student in Eastern’s Construction Technology program, Johnson is a class leader and student ambassador who helps with recruitment activities. “Elissa works hard and shows dedication to the construction trade,” said Jeff Pakula. Eastern’s Construction Technology instructor. “She is ...

CHS October Students of the Month

Two seniors, two sophomores and a freshman have been acknowledged as the November Students of the Month for academic, character and personal growth, leadership and academic excellence in music and special education. Congratulations to (left to right) senior Jalayna Mancini, who was nominated by Jenny Hutton for her leadership in music; sophomore Nya...

Innovation in Education Podcast #2 — "A Librarian Without A Library"

Welcome to episode #2 of the CSD Innovation in Education podcast. CHS librarian Thomas Cook shares his views on some of the key ideas from chapter 3 of "Empower", the district's anchor text for the year by John Spencer and A.J. Juliani, and how those ideas are relevant within the context of the classroom and a 21st century library...

More College Acceptance Offers through Instant Decision Days

Gwynedd Mercy, Holy Family and East Stroudsburg extended acceptance to nearly 20 Cheltenham seniors during October as part of the high school’s Instant Decision Days. Congratulations to seniors Dina Riley, Patriece Halton, Bria Morgan, Savannah Latimer, Addaliath Mainassara, Jason Bashiru, Eli Tilema (not pictured) and Aliyah Phillips (not pictured) who Gwynedd Mercy University offered admission on Friday, Oct. 26; ...

National Honor Society Inducts New Members

The Cheltenham chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) admitted 45 new members at the 96th annual NHS Induction ceremony Thursday evening at the Little Theatre at CHS. Seven seniors and 38 juniors were among those to gain entry to the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. “I’m thrilled to help celebrate those scholars who embody character, scholarship, service and leadership and have made a commitment to their education, school and community,” said CHS Principal Ray McFall in his opening remarks....

Science Students Tackle Tough Topics in Environmental Policy and Law

Skills for Life and learning support students in Gus Ekhardt and Catherine Nguyen’s Environmental Science class recently completed a unit in environmental policy and law, which culminated with students creating posters (citing at least three sources) and presenting them to the class. Posters covered the date the act was put into place, what the policy says, who or what the law or act protects...

High School Mounts Production of Commedia dell’arte Classic “The Servant of Two Masters”

This fall’s play at Cheltenham High School is definitely intended to be a laughing matter. Written by Carlo Goldoni and translated by Jeffrey Hatcher and Paolo Emilio Landi, “The Servant of Two Masters” is the modern translation of 18th century Italian commedia dell'arte performed with masks and songs and clowning. The main character Truffaldino is a servant who finds employment from two nobles and ...

Cheltenham HS “Artivists” to Perform at Election-Themed Spoken Word Event at Elkins Park’s Rose Petals Café

Four Cheltenham High School “artivists” will take the stage to contribute to ongoing political dialogue as part of the voting-themed “Election Vibes” spoken word event at Rose Petals Cafe in the Yorktown Plaza in Elkins Park on Thursday, Nov. 1 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. “Bring your fire. Bring your rage. Bring your pen,” said CHS Poetry Club advisor and English teacher Avril Sommerville. “CHS slam poet artivists are ecstatic about displaying their art, scholarship and political convictions and adding to the ...

Staff Well-Being Workshop

CSD’s first staff well-being workshop of the school year was a huge success, according to Mindfulness Coach Cindy Goldberg. Workshop facilitator Shelley B. Goldberg led staff in a SoulCollage® experience helping participants feel a strong sense of connection and inspiration. Certified in applied positive psychology, Shelley Goldberg incorporated the PERMA model of positivity, engagement, relationships, achievement and meaning into this gathering. “This event was...

Runners Jason Cornelison, Janelle Williams Confident Heading to District I Meet

Cheltenham senior runner Jason Cornelison repeated as Suburban One American Conference champion at Lehigh University this past Friday with a time of 16:20. This week, Cornelison and the team return to the same course for the District I Class AAA Championship and a chance to qualify for the ...

Jemma Bleu Greenbaum to Star in 30+ Performances of the Walnut Street Theatre’s “Matilda The Musical”

Elkins Park sixth grader Jemma Bleu Greenbaum will make her Walnut Street Theatre (WST) debut this November through January, appearing as the lead character in more than 30 performances of Roald Dahl’s “Matilda The Musical.” Greenbaum will perform in half of the production run’s shows, mostly weeknights and a handful of matinees, splitting the title role with Philadelphian Ellie Biron. Previews begin on November 6, with the show opening November 14 and running through...

Cheltenham Elementary to Be Recognized with Montgomery Award for Planning and Design

Cheltenham Elementary (CE) will be recognized with a 2018 Montgomery Award from the Montgomery County Planning Commission on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit in Norristown. CES is being recognized for its “green” planning and design, how the teachers utilize the outside space and design to impact what’s done in the classroom, and its....

CHS Youth Court Recognized by Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies

Cheltenham High School’s Youth Court program was honored a Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies (PCSS) President’s Award for illustrating how a traditional civics class can be transformed into a model of restorative justice while making the social studies come alive. Social Studies teacher Jen Pollack accepted the honor at the 65th annual Pennsylvania Conference for the Social Studies on October 18. Cheltenham students and educators involved...

CBK Theatre Returns Home

Join CBK Theatre on November 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. as we return home to our own theater for this year's fall play, "The Frogs: A Modern Adaptation." Disgusted with the state of current entertainment, Dionysus, God of Wine and Poetry, decides that it's time to retrieve Shakespeare from the underworld. Surely if the Bard were given a series on HBO, he'd be able to raise the level of discourse! Accompanied by...

Cheltenham Resident Byron Ryan Named Vice Principal at Cedarbrook Middle School

With more than a decade of experience as a school-level administrator in the School District of Philadelphia, Cheltenham resident Byron Ryan has been named the vice principal at Cheltenham School District’s Cedarbrook Middle School. His hiring was approved at the Tuesday, Oct. 9 legislative school board meeting. His first day on the job is Monday, Oct. 29....

Cheltenham School District Launches Mobile App

This week, the Cheltenham School District launched a branded mobile application by SchoolMessenger. The app is available for download to mobile device in the App Store and Google Play. A collaboration between CSD Communications and Technology...

Black Scholars Program Inducts 53

The CHS Black Scholars doubled its membership, inducting 53 members on Wednesday in a ceremony at the Little Theatre to bring its membership to 106. “We have in our presence Black Scholars of African American, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latinx and African descent who are making a difference and defying the stereotypes of black youth,” said faculty sponsor Melanie Jackson...

CSD Receives $20K Safety Grant from PA Department of Education

The Cheltenham School District has been awarded a $20,000 safety grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Safe Schools program. The funds will be utilized to create and launch the district’s threat assessment team. The Alexandria, Virginia-based...

The Big Reveal

The Cheltenham Touring Ensemble debuted its show “Seize the Moment” on Sunday, Oct. 7, and director Jenny Hutton announced this spring’s 56th annual musical theater production, the Tony Award-winning “Urinetown.” The ensemble performed 10 songs, including ...

CHS National Merit Commended Students Announced

Congratulations to six CHS seniors for earning National Merit Commended Scholars recognition. From the left: Brennon Paik, Liam McNally, Jason Cornelison, CHS Principal Ray McFall, Austin Chao, Alana Margerum and Ester Paik. Approximately 1.5 million high school students take the PSAT each year. Of those, 50,000 (3.3 percent) are Commended Scholars. Although Commended Students do not...

EP Fifth Grade Teacher, Cheltenham Native Andrew Vassall Publishes “The Black Crayon”

Elkins Park fifth grade teacher and Cheltenham native Andrew Vassall has published his first book, the primary-level reader, “The Black Crayon.” According to Vassall, “The Black Crayon” is a colorful, vibrant and captivating story of a box of colorful crayons with one black crayon who struggles to be accepted. With the love of a little girl, Laila, the black ...

EP's Lise Marlowe to Be Honored for Holocaust Education Efforts

Elkins Park sixth grade teacher Lise Marlowe for her decades of Holocaust education at the Cheltenham School District at its 57th annual silent auction and dinner on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 at Philmont Country Club. A national award winning teacher, Marlowe attributes her...

Elkins Park Student Named Lead in Walnut Street Theatre Production of “Matilda the Musical”

Elkins Park sixth grader Jemma Bleu Greenbaum has been cast as the lead in the Walnut Street Theatre’s production of Roald Dahl’s "Matilda the Musical." She will share the role with fellow actor Ellie Biron. The mainstage show opens Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, and closes Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. "Matilda The Musical" is the inspiring story of an extraordinary ...

Cheltenham Student Council Partners with Komen in the Fight against Breast Cancer during “Pink Out” Week

The Cheltenham Student Council is sponsoring its “Pink Out” partnership with the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Foundation. The 2018 “Pink Out” Week will run from October 8 -12, and culminate at the CHS football team’s “Pink Out” game versus Hatboro Horsham on Friday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. The goal of this program is to raise awareness and funds to help more women and men in our community survive breast cancer. Under the umbrella of Dietz & Watson’s unique “Pretty in Pig”program...

Community Conversations on Climate, Culture and Equity

Community Conversations on Climate, Culture and Equity are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 4; Thursday, Jan. 3; Wednesday, April 3; and Wednesday, May 29. All meetings will be held at Wyncote Elementary from 5:30 – 8 p.m. Please mark your calendars for these four important meetings.

CSD Foundation’s Fifth Annual Food Truck Jamboree Raises Hits the Spot

With food trucks for every taste, a dunk tank featuring CSD teachers and administrators, kids’ activities and silent auction and raffle with fabulous prizes, the fifth annual Cheltenham School District Foundation's Food Truck Jamboree held on Saturday, Sept. 22 at CHS raised funds for innovative educator grants. According to event chair...

CSD Shows its Character

On Wednesday, Sept. 26, CSD students and staff joined a celebration of the unique strengths which make people who they are as part of the fifth annual Character Day. An annual global event, Character Day brings together millions of people of all ages in schools, classrooms, companies, homes — anywhere people already gather — to engage...

Cheltenham Young Playwright Winning Work Selected for Staged Readings

Three Cheltenham School District plays will be performed as staged readings for the Philly Young Playwrights’ SaturPlay event on October 6 at Smith Playground (3500 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia). This free event is for the whole family and features four short plays of mystery, magic and mischief written by Philadelphia-area students and brought to life by the ...

CHS Chamber Orchestra Keeping Exclusive Company

The CHS Chamber Orchestra has been selected to perform at the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, Oct. 18. At the urging of superintendent Dr. Wagner Marseille and music department chair Jenny Hutton, orchestra director Matthew Hoy submitted an application for what is being called a “spotlight on the best of the best of Pennsylvania’s public school students.” The orchestra is just one of 10 acts to be chosen....

CBK Challenge Teacher Beth Kenna Receives STEM Research Grant

Cedarbrook Challenge Consultant Beth Kenna has been named one of 24 educators across the country to receive a STEM Research Grant from the Society for Science & the Public, which will enable her to support students in conducting original scientific research. With the grant, Kenna plans to...

36th Mike Berry Run Honors Injured Philly SWAT Team Member

During Labor Day weekend 16 Cheltenham Cross Country alumni assembled at Curtis Park to participate in the 36th Mike Berry Run and pay tribute to CHS alumnus Jaison Potts ‘87, who was in attendance and is recovering from head injury suffered when he was shot serving a warrant in August. Runners included Adam Rosenberg ‘70, Jon ...

Six Seniors Tabbed as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

Cheltenham High School can claim six of the approximately 16,000 semifinalists from in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, it was announced this week. The semifinalists were selected from among more than 1.6 million juniors from about 22,000 high schools who entered the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the...

‘Emmy Goes to Kindergarten’ Book Launch Featured at CES Back to School Book Bash on 9/28

Born without fingers on her right hand because of a condition called symbrachydactyly, Cheltenham Elementary second grader Emmy Hoffman will celebrate the release of a second illustrated book chronicling her amazing journey at the CES Back to School Book Bash, which will feature the launch of “Emmy Goes to Kindergarten,” on Friday, Sept. 28 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Proceeds from the sale...

Panther Academy Summer School Producing Record Results

This summer, students needing to recover credits at the Panther Academy produced record results. Nearly 83 percent of the enrolled students completed at least 90 percent of the course work. Of the students who completed 90 percent of the work online, 99 percent ...

Department of Innovation Launches Podcast

The #CSDimpact of going beyond compliance, past engagement to empowerment. Listen to CSD Department of Innovation's first podcast episode which introduces the district's anchor text for the year, "Empower" by John Spencer and A.J. Juliani. Guests Dr. Tamara Thomas Smith, Assistant Superintendent, and ...

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...

District Celebrates "Start With Hello" Week

This week (September 24-28), the district will once again recognize Start with Hello Week, a national initiative to raise awareness and educate students and school communities about social isolation – the overwhelming feeling of being left out, lonely or treated like one is invisible. Start with Hello teaches students ...

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 ...

Cheltenham School District Foundation Awards Innovation Grants

The Cheltenham School District Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling nearly $25,000 to 27 Cheltenham educators at this year’s school-opening festivities. The individual grants ranged from $1,500 to $100. Grant ideas included funding requests for creating classroom mindfulness spaces, an outdoor classroom...

EP Students Create Bar Soap on Sale at Sparrow And Hawk Apothecary

This past spring, as a part of a Lunch and Learn program, Elkins Park School students worked with the proprietors of Sparrow and Hawk Apothecary in Elkins Park Village near...

Cheltenham Transportation Adds 40 Propane-Fueled Buses to Its Fleet

The Cheltenham School District Board of Directors and Administration continue their commitment to sustainability through the introduction of 40 72-passenger propane-fueled buses to the existing Cheltenham Transportation fleet. Propane-fueled school buses provide a number of environmental advantages, including ...

6ABC Visits Glenside Elementary

On Tuesday, Aug. 28, 6ABC Action News personality Karen Rogers and her cameraman paid a visit to Glenside Elementary School to interview students about what was on their minds as the school year began. Rogers visited Sarah DeMaria's first-grade class and Helen Ward's second-grade ...

CSD Earns Mini-Grant to Pilot “Grab and Go” Breakfast Program

The Cheltenham School District’s Myers and Cheltenham elementary schools have been awarded $5,000 each mini-grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to pilot a “grab-and-go” breakfast program this coming school year. The grant award criteria were heavily factored on the percentage of free and reduced lunch participation at the buildings...

Cedarbrook Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

More than four years after closing abruptly due to mold, the Cheltenham School District’s new 180,000 square-foot, ultra-modern Cedarbrook Middle School marked its rebirth with a ribbon cutting ceremony on a gorgeous evening in front of more than 100 state and local officials, school board members, township administrators and Cheltenham families...

Patrick Fleury Named Boys Basketball Coach at Alma Mater Cheltenham High School

Cheltenham High School Class of 2005 graduate Patrick Fleury has been named head coach of the varsity boys basketball team at his alma mater, CHS Athletic Director John Creighton announced recently. Fleury is the seventh boys basketball coach in school history. “We’re thrilled to have Patrick ascend to this role,” said Creighton. “After a few...