Board Adopts 2019-2020 Academic Calendar

By unanimous vote at the Tuesday, March 12 Legislative board meeting, the Board of School Directors of Cheltenham School District adopted the following schedule for the 2019-2020 academic year.

David Teasdale Named Director of Facilities and Maintenance at Cheltenham School District

David Teasdale has been appointed the director of facilities and maintenance at the Cheltenham School District (CSD), and begins his tenure Monday, July 1. The CSD Board of School Directors approved his hiring at its June 11 Legislative meeting. Most recently the director of operations for the New Hope-Solebury School District, in New Hope, Pa., the Australian native who moved to the United States in 2017, is an experienced facilities manager with 18 years of experience, including 13 years in a management capacity, in the education sector.

CHS 2019 Grad Ellie Hollo to Study Persian (Tajiki) in Tajikistan on U.S. Department of State NSLI-Y Scholarship

Recent Cheltenham High School graduate Elisheva “Ellie” Hollo will study Persian (Tajiki) in Tajikistan this summer through a National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship. Selected through a competitive process from more than 3,300 applications from across the United States, Hollo is one of approximately 660 students who will study Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Persian, Russian or Turkish overseas this coming year.

Smith Takes Second in the Heptathlon at New Balance Outdoor Nationals

After finishing ninth in the heptathlon at the 2018 New Balance Outdoor Nationals, Panthers rising senior Brianna Smith was ready to make her big move at this past weekend’s event outdoor nationals at Greensboro, N.C. She came through big time, racking up a personal record (PR) 4,811 points, en route to an impressive second-place finish and all-American honors.

Wyncote Resident Charles Burdell-Williams to Fill Vacant Board Seat

Wyncote resident Charles Burdell-Williams was sworn in at Tuesday evening’s legislative board meeting as the newest member of the Cheltenham School District Board of School Directors. Mr. Burdell-Williams will complete the remaining tenure of Kate Thomson, who resigned her position, effective Sunday, June 16 after nearly 18 months of service because she is moving out of district. Having moved to Cheltenham for its rich diversity and ...

Elkins Park Celebrates Sixth Graders at Move Up Day

More than 350 Elkins Park sixth graders are moving on to Cedarbrook Middle School following their move up day celebration Thursday, June 12. With both EP grades in attendance, the fifth and sixth choir opened the festivities with a stirring rendition of "Remember Me." Retiring principal Dr. Gerry Doria-Fitzpatrick offered a message of appreciation to students for "you being you," referenced Marianne Williamson's poem "Our Deepest Fear" and encouraged all of the students to complete the sentence "I am ... ."

Five Years after Shuttering, Cheltenham’s Cedarbrook Middle School Celebrates its First Graduating Class

Cheltenham School District’s Cedarbrook Middle School, which reopened this past August as a 180,000 square-foot, ultra-modern facility four years after shuttering due to mold, celebrated its first class to graduate from the new building. Against the backdrop of the seventh-grade orchestra’s playing “Pomp and Circumstance,” almost 350 students filed into the gymnasium amid cheers from family, friends and teachers....

Versaw-Barnes, Kaplan Earn All-League Baseball Honors

Two Panther seniors earned three spots on the American Conference all-league teams. Kieran Versaw-Barnes was recognized with second-team honors at pitcher and honorable mention at shortstop. Ben Kaplan earned...

EP Sixth Graders Write Prize-Winning Essays on Leadership

EP sixth graders Stephen Kerrin Jr., Enrique Tellado and Nathanael Barlow received the top prizes in a global citizenship essay writing contest focused on leadership. Dr. Aaron Bruce, vice president and chief diversity officer at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasedena, Calif., and founder and CEO of the organization I Keep It Global, spoke with a group of sixth graders earlier in the school year and tasked them to...

Myers’ Red Carpet Readers Reaping the Rewards of Hard Work

Myers students involved in teacher Randi Gordon’s Red Carpet Readers incentive program met very lofty goals to reach their goal and see the fruits of their labor come to life. By hitting their goals, students had the opportunity to dress to the nines, sit in a stretch limo and walk the red carpet into ME. The students paraded through the school amid cheers from classmates, teachers and family members. The Red Carpet Readers and their families celebrated their accomplishments in the library with cake and sparkling cider. One 5-year-old student told Gordon, “This is the best day of my life.”...

Panthers Track and Field Dominate All-League Recognitions

Senior Bria Barnes, who is running for Iowa State in the fall, and junior Brianna Smith led the Panthers girls track and field team with four individual all-league honors, while junior Nate Edwards led the boys team with two all-league nods. Barnes earned first team recognition in 100m, 200m, 400m and 300m hurdles, and Smith notched first team honors in the 110m hurdles, high jump and long jump and a...

Rising Senior Cager Harrison Gives Verbal Commit to Play at Saint Francis University

Class of 2020 cager Zahree Harrison has verbally committed to play basketball at NCAA Division I Saint Francis University. The point guard averaged 17 points, six assists and four rebounds a game and became the first junior guard in 15 years to be named first team all-league. A “strong, cerebral floor leader,” according to high school basketball evaluators, Harrison claimed third-team all-league honors as a sophomore. “I chose Saint Francis University because of the ...

PBL7 Creates Tangranimals for CES Students

On Friday, June 7, PBL7 exhibited and presented their "Tangranimals" as gifts to their first-grade buddies in celebration of their culminating project. The project launched in early May with a visit to Cheltenham Elementary School, where PBL students met the first-grade students and immersed themselves into the first-grade environment and conducted interviews to gain empathy and insight into their buddies' lives. The “Tangranimals” project was a ...

CBK Students Place Second and Third at Regional 24 Game Tournament

For the final Challenge activity of the school year, Cedarbrook sent four students to the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit on Thursday, June 6 for its annual 24 game tournament. MCIU hosts an annual event for fourth through eighth graders divided into three grade level groups (Grades 4/5, 6 and 7/8). A dozen students from across the county qualified for the regionals, including eighth graders Clare Rajapakse, Vaughn McCain, Jesse Packel, were selected from all the participants to...

PBL9 Facilitates Field Day for Wyncote Third Graders

On Friday, May 31, members of PBL9 visited Wyncote Elementary School to facilitate a Field Day for third graders. This was not ordinary field day, though, as activities were reimagined versions of games from ancient times, with the added element of incorporating an animal adaptation....

CHS, CBK Students Earn Top Spots at Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science States

Cheltenham High School and Cedarbrook Middle School each sent contingents to the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) state competition at Penn State in mid-May and came away with some high marks. Students qualified for the state competition by finishing first at a regional competition this past winter. Approximately 3,000 of the best and brightest science students from Pennsylvania’s 12 separate PJAS regions presented their research in 13 different categories: Behavioral psychology, biology, biochemistry, botany, chemistry, computer science, Earth and space, ecology, engineering, mathematics, microbiology, physics and zoology. Four CHS students won first place...

Skills for Life Senior Accepted to Millersville’s Integrated Studies Program

Skills for Life senior Faith Olumbe has been accepted as a full-time student into Millersville University’s Integrated Studies program. A unified sports student-athlete and letterwinner in cheer, bocce and track and field (javelin, 400m and 1600m relay), the 21-year-old Olumbe received the Hoden Award as an athlete who is recognized for their character and team wide contributions. “You’re all my family,” Olumbe said after her final unified track and field practice this season. “I love you all.” Olumbe is the first CHS Skills for Life student attending...

CHS Fencers Garner All-American Honors

USA Fencing has named CHS senior Afwé Griffin and sophomore Naomi Hirsch to its 2018-19 All-American team, an honor which recognizes the nation’s best high school fencers acknowledging their skill in the sport, academic standing, leadership and sportsmanship. Named to the second team, Hirsch, had a successful season, earning her “D” rating in epee. She competed at Junior Olympics in Denver, where she finished...

CSD Earns Sustainable Cheltenham Award

The Cheltenham School District and other organizations and individuals were honored with Sustainable Cheltenham Awards on Sunday, June 2 at the 24th annual Arts in the Park at High School Park. The Cheltenham Township Environmental Advisory Council established the annual awards program to recognize stakeholders who make significant contributions to the Sustainable Cheltenham mission. CSD was recognized for the introduction of...

Second Annual Mindful May Wraps with Visit to Elementary Schools

CSD’s second annual Mindful May culminated May 29 and 30 with Cedarbrook and CHS mindful ambassadors visiting and facilitating mindfulness activities with their younger peers at all four elementary schools. CBK students, who practiced mindfulness all year, joined the CHS Mindfulness Club members teaching mindful coloring, breath control, mindful eating and mindful balancing. Covering 34 elementary classes, students experienced...

Latest Innovation Podcast Centers on Assessment-based Student Empowerment

In the fourth podcast of this school year, the CSD Innovation team of gifted and professional development supervisor Matt Pimental and STEM supervisor Dr. Brian Reilly chatted with Empower co-author A.J. Juliani about empowering students through assessments, the topic of chapter eight in Empower. Juliani keynoted a professional development day this past November about...

Skills for Life Students Complete Chartwells Internship

CHS Skills for Life students Isaiah Jones and Adayzha Sapp recently completed an internship with Chartwells Food Service at the high school. The students reported to the CHS kitchen twice a week for two hours during the fourth marking period. “Our students learned so many new skills and the Chartwells staff were so ...

Elkins Park Sixth Graders Climb to the PEEC

Two waves of Elkins Park School sixth graders and their chaperones and teachers each spent nearly three days this past week at the Poconos Environmental Education Center learning about the Great Outdoors through hikes, campfire songs and presenters, and classes on orienteering, camping, canoeing. They learned about ...

CBK‘s Project LIT Students Light Out to Elementary Schools

On Wednesday, May 29, more than 40 Cedarbrook students involved in Project LIT, visited all four CSD elementary schools in the name of literacy. A national, grassroots literacy movement, Project LIT is a network of dedicated teachers and students who are committed to increasing access to culturally relevant books and promoting a love of reading in our schools and communities. The CBK students read several primary readers to...

CSD Skills for Life Students Participate in Special Olympics Track and Field Meet

Twenty-six Skills for Life students from the Cheltenham School District students joined students from Abington, Colonial, Hatboro-Horsham, Lower Merion, Upper Dublin, Norristown and Wissahickon in a one-day Special Olympics-sponsored track and field event Wednesday, May 29 hosted by Hatboro-Horsham. The Cheltenham Special Olympics team is comprised of the Skills for Life students 8-years-old and above from CHS, CBK and Myers Elementary. Six CHS “students buddies” supported the students during ...

Cedarbrook Shines at Annual Junior Solar Sprint

Cedarbrook students Mina Rothberg, Maris Raisch and Andrew Marcus and their solar car “Kenneth Applewood” won the Sustainability category to lead a strong CBK showing at the 26th annual Junior Solar Sprint on Saturday, May 18. Eighty students built cars and 30 cars were registered for the competition, which took place at the Drexel University Quad in West Philadelphia. Kaylee Brown, Jacob Spector, Kal Bosniak and their car “Working Title” finished second in the Sustainability category. “Kenneth Applewood” finished second In the...

Senior Harrier Cornelison Earns Berry Scholarship Award

With legendary talent, work ethic, competitiveness and team orientation, Mike Berry is a storied figure in Cheltenham Cross Country lore. He finished second at states in 1980 and came back to coach the Panthers before passing away in a car accident in his 20s. After his untimely passing, a scholarship was established in his honor to pay tribute to a top CHS senior cross country runner who best exemplified Berry’s characteristics. This past Tuesday, Jason Cornelison was recognized as the 2019 recipient of...

Smith, Barnes Star as Track Teams Earn Medals at States; Boys 400m Relay Earns Fourth

Junior Brianna Smith earned four medals by finishing in the top eight in all four of her events and senior Bria Barnes took second in the 400m as the Panthers girls track and field team finished sixth overall with 20 points at this past weekend’s state championship at Shippensburg University. Smith took third in the high jump (5-7), fifth in the 100mH (14.65) and eighth in the long jump (18-5.5) and 300mH (45.02). Barnes’ 53.39 in the 400m qualified as the...

CBK Musical Groups Receive High Marks

On May 10, the Cedarbrook WildClefs, Jazz Band and Chamber Orchestra performed at the High Notes Music Festival at Elizabethtown College. The ensembles performed at the highest level and earned the rating of “Superior,” respectively. The judges were impressed with each group’s musicality, technique and professionalism. After a thorough warm up by a lake, the chamber orchestra performed for the judges and received the highest score in...

Spirit Animals Ultimate Club Team Heads to States

The Cheltenham Ultimate club team contends for the state title with 15 other teams from across at the commonwealth this weekend at CONSOL Energy Sports Complex at Turner Valley. Playing out of Pool B, the Spirit Animals are the No. 14 seed and will face the other members of their pool on Saturday: No. 2 seeded Franklin Regional 9 a.m., No. 7-seeded Holy Ghost Prep at 11 a.m. and No. 11-seeded Radnor at 1 p.m. Twelve teams qualify for the quarterfinals, which takes place Sunday.

PBIS Implementers’ Forum

Congratulations to the Elkins Park School core leadership team for being recognized at the 2019 Pennsylvania Positive Behavioral Support (PAPBS) Implementers’ Forum May 14 and 15 for their efforts in establishing a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) student leadership team.

Over 300 Guests Celebrate Intergenerational Day at Elkins Park School

A decades-long tradition at Elkins Park, Intergenerational Day was celebrated Wednesday, May 22. On this day, fifth grade students invite a special someone in their life from a different generation to spend the day with them at school. For the last six years the event has been organized by fifth grade teacher Cori Ayers who would like to thank the over 300 guests for coming and the PTO who was incredibly helpful in making everyone feel welcome. Students and adults enjoyed classroom activities such as Kahoot trivia competitions, music bingo, art projects, iPad scavenger hunts, and fierce games of badminton in the...

EP Orchestra Takes Second

Nearly 50 instrumentalists from the Elkins Park Orchestra placed second in the Elementary School Orchestra category of the Music in the Parks adjudication at Catasauqua High School this past week. In teacher Judy Harvey’s four years leading the students in this competition, the orchestra has returned to school with either first or second place trophies with superior and excellent ratings. The students performed the original compositions “Concerto (in the style of Vivaldi)” and “Road to Lisdoonvarna, Traditional Irish,” specifically created for them by ...

Girls Track Takes Unprecedented Seventh Consecutive District One Title

Congratulations are in order for the Cheltenham High School Girls Track team who captured the title for an unprecedented seventh consecutive year at the 2019 District 1 3A Girls’ Track & Field Championships this past weekend with an overall score of 65 besting the number two team of Coatsville by 15 points. Senior Bria Barnes placed first in both the 400m and 200m with times of 54.40 and 24.46, while senior Ciani Fleming placed 5th in the 200m with a time of 25.83. Junior Brianna Smith placed 1st in the high jump at 5-07.00, second in the long jump at...

Freshman’s Bar Mitzvah Project Benefits CHS Unified Sports and Life Skills

CHS freshman Matthew Shuster presented the school board with a check for $800 to support unified sports and life skills classes at the high school at Tuesday evening’s legislative meeting. The fundraising venture served as his bar mitzvah project and raised money through partnering with Sprinkles Ice Cream Shoppe in Elkins Park. “My inspiration for making this my bar mitzvah project came to me when the ...

District Retirees Recognized at Legislative School Board Meeting

The district celebrated this year’s cohort of retirees at the Tuesday, May 14 Legislative School Board Meeting. Following a retirees reception at the Administration Building, representatives from Wyncote, Cedarbrook, Elkins Park, Myers, Glenside, CLASP, Facilities and Administration lauded their colleagues for their hard work and dedication to the district and its students for their many years of service. Retirees received citations from the board in recognition of their time with the district...

CBK Workshop Teaches Students to Create Cinematic Puppet Shows with Overhead Projectors

On Thursday, May 16, Sarah Fornace, one of the artistic directors of the Chicago-based Manual Cinema, conducted workshops for seventh-grade PBL Social Studies students in Isaac Stanford’s class about how to create cinematic shadow puppet shows with old-fashioned overhead projectors. Fornace concentrated on showing the students the narrative possibilities of cinematic shadow puppetry. Students learned about the different types of shots (close up, medium, tracking, over the shoulder) and terminology (motif, puppet, show versus tell) they will need to employ while working collaboratively to create their own “movies” about...

CBK Students Celebrate Brazil Day

Cedarbrook seventh graders enrolled in Isaac Stanford’s Social Studies class experienced the dynamic cultural experiences associated with the Land of the Palms at this past week’s Brazil Day celebration. Students observed and heard the dance and music representing the 208 million Brazilians and enjoyed traditional Brazilian food, including Guaraná Brazilian soda and pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread). According to Stanford, the program gives...

Griffin Earns Multiple Medals at Inaugural Philly High School Fencing Championship

Representing Cheltenham with her gold and blue socks, senior Afwe Griffin was one of two multiple medal winners at the recent inaugural Philly High School Fencing Championship. The lone Cheltenham participant, Griffin earned silver in sabre and bronze in epee. Griffin’s efforts tied her for ninth place with Harriton and Shipley with eight...

Robotics Rumble at the High School

Students in Joe Lennon’s Robotics class at CHS are getting ready to rumble after working in small groups to build their Clawbots from VEX EDR robotics kits. Now that the robots are constructed, groups are preparing for head-to-head competition with other groups for classroom domination. Three points are awarded for placing the ball in the hole, and one point for placing it in the open box....

Dorley, Myarick Sign Letters of Intent

Thursday was a busy day at the High School’s Little Theater, as two seniors signed letters of intent to continue their athletic careers in college. Senior standout Carissa Dorley signed to play lacrosse at Neumann University, and senior cager Tim Myarick signed to play basketball at West Chester University. Surrounded by her dad Tom Dorley, godmother Cheryl Drach, sisters, teammates, Carissa Dorley gave thanks for her success to ...

CHS Senior Abe Moss Earns National Merit Scholarship

Cornell University-bound CHS senior Abe Moss has been awarded a National Merit Scholarship. An aspiring judge, Moss will study history as an undergraduate and plans to attend law school. A straight “A” student throughout high school, Moss plays violin with the chamber orchestra and earned Eagle Scout status this past November. A member of the CHS Constitutional Scholars club, Moss also served as the vice president of the CHS National Honor Society. A Wyncote resident and former student at Wyncote Elementary, Moss is...

Cheltenham Alumnus Presents “How to Win a Nobel Prize”

Cheltenham High School alumnus Dr. Michael Brown, regental professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and 1985 Nobel Prize laureate, will present “How to Win a Nobel Prize” in the Arcadia University Great Room on May 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. In his presentation, Dr. Brown will discuss his work with his scientific partner, Dr. Joseph Goldstein and the importance of mentorship, which led the physicists to ...

Cindy Goldberg Presents at Positive Education Conference

CSD Mindfulness Coach Cindy Goldberg is a featured presenter at the Shipley School’s Introduction to Positive Education Conference for educators, administrators and school specialists June 17-19. The professional development program is designed to introduce participants to the concepts, skills and best practices of positive psychology as they apply to schools. Goldberg’s “Mindfulness in the Classroom” workshop offers 25 activities that work to bring fun into the classroom, including ...

Cheltenham Hosts Unified Track and Field Meet

Not even the weeklong threat of rain could dampen the spirits of those participating in the four-team Unified Track and Field meet on Friday, May 2. The sun came out just in time and the afternoon proved spectacular for this annual event that showcased athleticism and the human spirit. The grandstand was full of students and faculty, all of whom came out to support their Unified Panthers the meet versus Abington, Lower Merion and North Penn. Pre-meet festivities began at 3 p.m., featuring Matt Bernsten and the CHS Drumline, followed by the National Anthem performed by the CHS Select Choir, under the direction of Jenny Hutton....

Spirit Animals Ultimate Club Qualifies for States (Sort of), Looks to the Future

Entering the Division 1 City Championship tournament at Oaks Pa., this past weekend, the team had high hopes of finishing within the top eight to earn a bid to the states. Despite standout performances from juniors Findlay Peet and captain Colin McLaughlin and senior Lionel Smoler-Schatz, the Spirit Animals finished in ninth place with a record of 2-5. Facing off against teams from Masterman, Lower Merion, North Penn, Strath Haven, Haverford, Radnor and Methacton, the team suffered three of their losses by a combined four points. By finishing in ninth place, the team is the first...

CHS Seniors Participate in IDEAS4U

This past week, four CHS seniors participated in the ninth annual IDEAS4U: Interview Day Employment Awareness Showcase at Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU). Students gained interview experiences with employers and attended select job readiness breakout sessions. IDEAS4U focuses on students who will be working competitively, perhaps with some supports. Participation is open to juniors and seniors who have a primary post-secondary education goal of employment. The MCIU...

10th Annual Michael Brecker Tribute Concert

The Cheltenham High School Jazz Big Band will honor one of the school’s most successful alumni at the annual Michael Brecker Benefit Concert at the High School’s Little Theatre on Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m. A 1967 graduate, Brecker, a saxophonist, had a tremendous impact on jazz and pop music for decades, earning 15 Grammy Awards and 28 Grammy Award nominations throughout his career. This year's concert also showcases the Wyncote Elementary School Band Pilot Program...

CHS Seniors Compete in National WorldQuest Competition

After winning February’s World Affairs Council of Philadelphia-sponsored Academic WorldQuest trivia contest, seniors Eve Glazier, Alana Margerum, Naomi Oziel and Camille Ross represented the entire Philadelphia region in the World Affairs Council of America's National Academic WorldQuest in late April. Though the team did not place in the national competition, the students significantly outperformed their regional score competing against 45 teams from across the country, including Hawaii, California and Texas. The seniors, all...

Elkins Park School Hosts Annual ACCT Assembly

This past Thursday, Elkins Park School held its 17th annual kickoff assembly in support Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT), the region’s largest animal care and control service provider. During the assembly, students and teachers shared wonderful experiences about bringing animals into their homes and giving them their “Forever Homes.” Former Wyncote and EP teacher Betsy Conway spearheaded the event, and ...

Brian Wallace Named Principal at Elkins Park School

After nearly two decades serving in the School District of Philadelphia in roles of increasing responsibility, Brian Wallace has been named the principal at Elkins Park School, Cheltenham School District’s fifth- and sixth-grade upper elementary school. The Cheltenham Board of School Directors approved his hiring at the April 9 legislative school board meeting, and his first day replacing the retiring Dr. Geraldine Fitzpatrick-Doria is Monday, July 1. “Mr. Wallace is a transformational leader who believes in offering unlimited guidance and constant support for all students, staff, families and ...

Senior Afwé Griffin Reps for Cheltenham at Philly H.S. Fencing Championships

Donning blue and gold socks, senior Afwé Griffin will represent the Panthers in the inaugural Philadelphia Division High School Fencing Championships on Sunday, May 5 at 10 a.m. at Germantown Friends’ Scattergood Gymnasium. Griffin will take the strip to compete in the Junior Women’s Epee and Junior Women’s Saber divisions. More than 50 male and female fencers from area high schools are competing in one or more of six categories....

Wyncote Welcomes High School Mentors

In what Wyncote Elementary hopes is the start of collaboration with high school mentors, on Wednesday, May 1, CHS Vice Principal Craig Metcalfe, CHS Boys Basketball Coach Pat Fleury and six young men from the high school hosted a conversation with boys from Wyncote Elementary. The high school students shared their experiences of growing up and how they dealt with school, athletics, and peers. The Wyncote students asked questions and shared concerns about their future....

Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Michael Brown ’58 to Receive Honorary Degree at Arcadia University Undergraduate Commencement

A 1958 graduate of Cheltenham High School, Michael S. Brown, M.D., Nobel Prize Laureate and regental professor of molecular genetics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, will receive an honorary doctorate of science at Arcadia University’s 2019 undergraduate commencement ceremony on Friday, May 17. Brown will also address Arcadia’s newest alumni....

EP, CBK Scrabble Players Putting Skills to the Test

Scrabble Club Advisor Scott Appel has been working with Elkins Park and Cedarbrook students for the past year, including Sunday meetings at the EP Cosi to practice, to help the students see playable words where others would see a random collection of tiles. The hard work has paid off as the students showed well at this past weekend’s Hasbro National Scrabble Championships at the Grand Ballrooms at Philadelphia Airport Marriott. The students’ Scrabble skills have advanced so far they were

CSD Instructional Tech Takes Its Show on the Road

Earlier this week, Brandon Lutz, CSD Supervisor of Instructional Technology, and Amy Flynn, Wyncote Elementary Library Media Specialist, presented the CSD Innovation Department’s cutting edge work as it relates to student impact, achievement and data to the Teacher Education Alliance (TEA) at Arcadia University. Following the presentation, Lutz and Flynn held a question and answer session. “We emphasized the importance of relationship building and...

Glenside C.L.A.S.P. Students Learn STEM Lessons from Arcadia Grad Students

Every Tuesday and Wednesday for the past eight weeks, Arcadia University Assistant Professor of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Augusto Macalalag, Jr., Ed.D., and some of his graduate students have been engaged in teaching STEM lessons to Glenside students who attend the after school C.L.A.S.P. program. Macalalag’s “STEM teachers” taught different l...

Cheltenham Elementary Students Mark Arbor Day

Music teacher Michelle Fella Przybylowski and select Cheltenham Elementary second graders celebrated Arbor Day this past Friday at the Rowland Community Center. The students learned about the importance of trees and shared paintings they created inspired by Thomas Locker’s “Sky Tree.” The students sang songs inspired by...

Seniors Open Letters from Their Third Grade Selves

This past Thursday, 10 CHS seniors received a blast from the past in the form of letters they wrote themselves as Myers Elementary third graders in Ms. Erika Wimms’ class during the 2009-10 school year. “It was overwhelming watching these kids open these letters that I watched them write a long time ago,” said Wimms, who has been carrying out this tradition for at least the past two decades. “But I felt so proud seeing all that they...

CHS Symphonic Band Performs at Temple Festival

On Friday, April 26, the Cheltenham High School Symphonic Band performed at Temple University’s annual “Festival of Winds,” a non-competitive, one-day event sponsored by the Boyer College of Music and Dance Band and Music Education Departments. The event emphasized performance and education by providing students and directors from high school band programs the opportunity to receive feedback and work directly with Boyer faculty members. The day included ...

Mindful May Life Hacks

Each week during the month of May our Positive Psychology Teacher Leaders are offering us a simple, easy to use life hack to help live more mindfully. Click on the videos and give mindfulness a try!

Spanish National Honor Society Hosts Fundraiser for Central American Students

he CHS Spanish National Honor Society hosted a Nachos and Sangria (fruit juice) fundraiser for World Language and other classes on Friday, April 5. The fundraiser is a long-standing tradition which collects funds to support Central American students. CHS students prepared and served the food and drink and raised about $900 which will be sent to a worthy charity in a Spanish-speaking country....

Junior Ifenna Amaefuna Takes Top 10 Finish at National Brain Bee

After winning the Philadelphia Regional Brain Bee in February, CHS junior Ifenna Amaefuna placed seventh out of 56 students from across the country at the 2019 USA National Brain Bee Championship held April 12 to 14 at Penn State College of Medicine on the campus of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The competitors, local winners from 36 states, competed in four rounds of...

Lee Sisters Advance to YMCA Gymnastics Nationals

The Lee sisters, Addison, a sixth grader at Elkins Park, and Olivia, a third grader at Glenside, recently earned placewinner recognition at the Cotton Candy Classic, the Pennsylvania YMCA State Gymnastics competition, and will be competing at the YMCA Gymnastics National Championship in June. The sisters compete for the Hatboro YMCA in level 3. With victories in the bars and floor exercise and ...

Live Unified, Play Unified: CHS Unified Track and Field Kicks Off Fourth Season

With 38 competitors on the roster and four meets on the schedule, the Cheltenham High School Unified Track and Field team returns this spring for its fourth season of competition in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Coach Gus Ekhardt is looking forward to building on the ...

Students Attend Microsoft Store Computer Programming Workshop

On Monday, April 22, 30 CHS students attended a computer programming workshop at the Microsoft Store in the King of Prussia Mall. Students utilized block programming based on “Scratch,” a free program from the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab to control a Ohbot Robot. An expressive, programmable robot head that stands almost eight inches tall, Microsoft’s Ohbot Robot is constructed with...

Cheltenham High Schoolers Learn Financial Literacy

More than 20 Cheltenham High School students attended the College Day and Financial Literacy Workshop series at the University of Pennsylvania on Monday, April 22. Taught by Dr. Brian Peterson and New York Jets linebacker Brandon Copeland, the workshop was intended for Philadelphia-area high school students and focused on topics such as budgeting, credit scores, home ownership, investing and saving. The workshop mirrored the Penn ...

Jason Lytle Named Principal at Myers Elementary

ELKINS PARK, Pa. (April 24, 2019) – After five dynamic years at North Philadelphia’s John Hartranft Elementary School where he was responsible for improvements in instructional leadership, school culture, academic outcomes and student behavior, Jason Lytle has been named the principal at Myers Elementary School in the Elkins Park section of Cheltenham Township. The Cheltenham Board of School Directors approved his hiring at the ..

Wyncote Hosts Local Author Jocelyn Hoffman, Learns about Disabilities and Prosthetics

n observance of Disability Awareness month, on Monday, April 22, Wyncote’s kindergarten through second graders hosted local author and CSD parent Jocelyn Hoffman, who has written “Emmy Goes to Kindergarten” and “Emmy’s Amazing Hand” about the unique abilities of her daughter Emmy who was born without fingers on her right hand because of a condition called symbrachydactyly. Hoffman spoke to students about...

CHS Musical Theater Stages “Urinetown: The Musical” April 11 - 13

For its 56th annual production, Cheltenham Musical Theater is staging multiple Tony Award-winning “Urinetown” Thursday through Saturday, April 11-13 at Stretton Hall at Cheltenham High School. In the not-so-distant future, a water shortage and two-decade-long drought have combined to bring about a government ban on private toilets and a proliferation of paid public toilets - owned and operated by malevolent CEO...

Cedarbrook Students Compete in County, Regional Science Competitions

Cedarbrook Middle School students have been working tirelessly since September with Cedarbrook Challenge teacher Beth Kenna to prepare for this year’s “science fair competition season.” Completing a science fair project and performing at this level “is quite a challenge,” said Kenna. Congratulations to the following students for their persistence and hard work: Maduara Boominathan, Kai Bosniak, Courtney Claxton, Victoria Crocker, Max Fulmor, Saqara Green, Matthew Greenidge, Lydia Hessel-Robinson...

Myers Hosts Annual Family Heritage Night

On April 4, the Myers community celebrated its rich diversity at its annual Family Heritage Night, one of the school's most anticipated and long-standing traditions. Families from more than 15 ethnic/cultural backgrounds, including parts of the United States (including Puerto Rico), Guatemala, Serbia, Russia, China, Egypt, Ireland, Vietnam, Monland of Myanmar, Netherlands and...

CBK Runners Qualify for Penn Relays

CSD Cedarbrook Middle School (left to right) eighth grader Mariah Winfield, seventh grader Kira Murray and eighth graders Jael Sykes and Eyota Bey ran the top qualifying time of 51.76 in the in the 4x100m relay at a recent Penn Relays qualifier meet. The relay order was ...

Indoor Color Guard Wins Regional Competition

Led by captains sophomore Inna Dawson and junior Briandra Wilson, the CHS Indoor Color Guard recently won the Cavalcade Scholastic Regional A Indoor championship at Spring Ford High School with 87.130 points. The squad outpaced Spring Ford Blue (83.210), Chichester...

High School, Wyncote Jazz Bands Perform at Warm Daddy’s

On Wednesday, April 10, the Wyncote Jazz Band and CHS Jazz Big Band played at Warm Daddy’s by Penns Landing as part of Jazz Journeys Educational Institute’s “Night Club at Noon” program in honor of Jazz History Month. Mathematics Civics and Science Charter School from Philadelphia also performed. The two hour event that includes a mini jazz concert, is an outreach initiative that addresses ...

Human Resources Director Reps for Cheltenham at Education Forum

La Salle University hosted its Education Forum Networking Night on Tuesday, April 9. The event featured a panel discussion about the hiring process for educators and included CSD’s Director of Human Resources, Adrienne Tolbert Jackson. Representatives from the School District of Philadelphia and Mastery Charter Schools joined Jackson as panelists....

Musical Theater Workshop

Aspiring musical theater performers from Elkins Park School and Glenside Elementary had the opportunity to learn from members of the Cheltenham High School Touring Ensemble - under the direction of Jenny Hutton - at the school district’s first musical theater workshop this past weekend. The three groups watched each other perform before collaborating on...

CES Hosts Tanzanian Teachers

On Tuesday, Apri 2, Cheltenham Elementary School hosted visitors from Tanzania! In 2017, CES first grade teacher Stephanie Jacob and CBK science teacher Debi DiBattista traveled to Lushoto, Tanzania and visited many local public and private schools, where they met Happyness and Christine, who were both heads of schools. Happyness and Christine had the...

PBL10 Hosts Exhibition for “The Boat Project: How Do I Get Across That?”

The sophomore project based learning contingent is hosting the exhibition “The Boat Project: How Do I Get Across That?” on Friday, April 5 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the Little Theater at CHS. The exhibition includes video from this past Friday’s boat race at the high school natatorium, student-made boats and paddles and sails enhanced with original, symbolic artwork and...

World Famous Harlem Wizards Coming to Town to Face the ‘Ham Hoopstars April 6

Get ready Cheltenham! A high-flying, slam-dunking, rim-rattling basketball show is coming to town when the world-famous Harlem Wizards face off The Wizards' Rocket unit against the ‘Ham Hoopstars on Saturday, April 6 at Cheltenham High School at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.cheltenham.org/wizardstix.

CHS Students Learn about Post-Secondary Career Options

Representatives from PA CareerLink and MontcoWorks joined forces yesterday, Tuesday, April 2, to meet with enthusiastic Cheltenham High Schoolers during lunch to inform them about job opportunities and postsecondary employment services their agencies offer. PA CareerLink is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s initiative to help job-seekers find family-sustaining jobs and...

CHS Music Students Perform in New Orleans

Thursday through Monday, March 14-18, nearly 100 CHS band, choir and orchestra students and nine adults took an exciting performance tour to New Orleans. The students performed at the Riverwalk Marketplace, Woldenberg Park on the banks of the Mississippi River and at the lovely 19th century Poydras Home. They also engaged in a jazz workshop and clinic with music faculty at ...

National History Day Competition

On Saturday, March 30 two teams of Cheltenham High School juniors placed in the Bucks and Montgomery County Regional National History Day Contest at Delaware Valley University and are qualified to move on to May’s state competition. Juniors Sami Goldberg and Caroline McKenzie won the group website category for their website about the Jonestown Massacre, while Maggie Morrison and ...

CHS AP Computer Science Principles Class “Explore” Police Body Cams

The CHS AP Computer Science Principles class hosted Cheltenham Township Police Department Officer David Sparango and Lieutenant Andrew Snyder to learn about body-worn police cameras. Students are working on an “Explore” task for the College Board where they investigate computer innovations like police cameras used on township patrol cars. While township law enforcement does not wear body-worn police cameras, the class needed information about how the data is collected, used and ...

Cheltenham Elementary Hosts Third Annual Family Code and Robotics Night

On Wednesday, March 27, Cheltenham Elementary School hosted more than 200 people for its third annual Family Code and Robotics Night. Students and parents partnered to learn beginner computer coding skills by programming Angry Birds characters to solve puzzles and navigate challenging mazes. Teams took their progress sheets home to continue their problem solving. ...

Tie Dye Party

On Friday, March 29, 24 general and special education students participated in the annual CHS springtime ritual of tie dying the t-shirts for CHS, CBK and Myers Elementary Special Olympics participants. Hatboro Horsham High School will host the Special Olympics on Sunday, May 19. Skills for Life teachers Philip Cohen and Vonnie Gillick collaborated with Math teacher Craig Deiley to teach and support students in the...

Alumnae Return to CHS, Talk about College Experiences

Members of the CHS Class of 2014 Jessica Vaden and Alexus Reynolds returned to the high school recently to speak to students in Rebecca Fairchild's Biology classes about their post-secondary educational pursuits. Vaden and Reynolds answered students’ questions about planning their high school courses, adjusting to college life, how to earn scholarships and discover research opportunities, and...

Senior Qualifies for State Chorus Festival

At this past weekend’s Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Region VI Chorus Festival at Haverford High School, senior choir member Alice Fodor was selected through competitive audition to advance to the PMEA All-State Chorus Festival April 3-6 in Pittsburgh. Fodor will join senior Colin Polisano in Pittsburgh when he participates in the National Association for Music Education All-Eastern Chorus Festival April 4-7. At this weekend’s regional festival, Fodor, senior Rebecca Banner and sophomore Naomi Guth...

Baseball Team Service Project

Members of the CHS baseball team traded in their mitts and bats for garden gloves and rakes this weekend to give Cheltenham Little League’s Woodland Complex and Gimbel Fields thorough spring cleanings as part of a team service project. Many of the team’s players started their diamond careers with the Cheltenham Little League (CLL), which hosts its Opening Day festivities Saturday, April 6. CLL sponsors baseball (ages 5-16), ...

Football Seniors Selected for Bucks/Montco All-Star Game

After playing a huge role in the Panthers’ successful season, six seniors will play in the 2019 Bucks/Montco Lions Club All Star Football Game Thursday, May 2 at Delaware Valley University. The players taking the field include cornerback Frank Sullen, kicker/punter Justin Grady, offensive linemen Ryan Felder and Timi Towolawi, defensive end Marcus Winfield and tight end Will Felix. Players considered for the roster but not...

EP’s Lise Marlowe Earns Human and Civil Rights Award

Elkins Park teacher Lise Marlowe has been selected to receive the Human and Civil Rights Award - Educational Leader from the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA). The awards are presented to individuals and organizations or associations in various categories who have made outstanding contributions to human and civil rights in several criteria. Selection committee co-chair Tim Graham nominated Marlowe for ...

CSD Foundation Offering $6,000 in Scholarships to Class of 2019

Thanks to the generosity of our businesses, Cheltenham teachers and community members, the Cheltenham School District Foundation is offering $6,000 in scholarships again this year to members of the graduating class. Students interested in applying must:...

Junior Selected for American Invitational Math Exam

The Mathematics Association of America (MAA) has selected junior Christopher Luk to participate in the American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME). Luk’s score on the American Mathematics Challenge (AMC) 12 exam in February qualified him to advance to this prestigious round of competition. Students like Luk who perform exceptionally well on the AMC 12 are invited to continue participating in the AMC series of examinations that culminate with...

CBK’s Sadie Leary Advances to National Spelling Bee

Cedarbrook eighth grader Sadie Leary won the 25th annual Scripps Regional Spelling Bee at West Philadelphia’s School of the Future on Saturday, spelling “p-o-l-t-e-r-g-e-i-s-t” and “p-r-e-c-i-p-i-c-e” in the final two rounds to take the title. Along the way, Leary, whose favorite word is “boggle,” spelled “magnanimous,” “precocious,” “entourage,” “cedilla,” “prodigal” and “asterisk.” She ran into trouble with “triumvirate,” but took her time and spelled it correctly. With the victory, Leary won...

International Day of Happiness

The Cheltenham School District was one of the happiest places on Earth on Wednesday, March 20 for the International Day of Happiness. Students and staff celebrated all over the district with projects created by Positive Psychology teacher leaders. View these photos for a sample of the happiness that flowed....

Ultimate Frisbee Fundraiser with Philly Phoenix

Cheltenham High School Ultimate frisbee, which kicks off its season Friday afternoon with a boys matchup at the Science Leadership Academy, has partnered with the Philadelphia Phoenix, the city’s professional ultimate team, on a fundraiser. The Phoenix is donating 50 percent of all tickets sales from its April 27 home opener and 20 percent of all merchandise sales purchased through this link to CHS Ultimate. Along with the Phoenix’ donation, the more discounted tickets...

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS WORKSHOP

Cheltenham School District is offering free training on Youth Mental Health First Aid, which is the help offered to a young person experiencing a mental health challenge, mental disorder, or mental health crisis. The training will be presented by Ms. Jane Donohue, Elkins Park School Counselor, and Dr. Nicole Warren, Cheltenham High School Psychologist. The objectives of the training are as follows:...

CBK’s Project Lit Travels to Glenside Elementary to Share Love of Reading

This past week, as part of Cedarbrook’s newly established “Project Lit,” nearly two dozen students illustrated their commitment to service projects championing the love of reading by traveling to Glenside Elementary School to read to third and fourth graders. A national, grassroots literacy movement, Project Lit is a network of dedicated teachers and students who are...

CBK HipHop Club Hits the Road to Spread Its Message

On Thursday, March 14, members of the CBK HipHop Club students traveled to Northeast Philadelphia’s Frankford High School to spread the message of social justice and power of education. Frankford representatives invited the HipHop club to perform at their school after watching the club’s stirring performance of “Letters from a Birmingham Jail Cell” at CSD’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service....

27th Annual Future Problem Solving Bowl

For the 27th consecutive year, teams of critical, creative thinkers from across the district came together for the annual Future Problem Solvers (FPS) Bowl. Each of the problem solvers has worked for months with their coaches to learn and refine the difficult future problem-solving process, which emphasizes cooperation and critical thinking and de-emphasizes competitiveness...

International Day of Happiness - March 20

CSD Positive Psychology teachers leaders spread happiness at Wednesday's faculty meetings in preparation for the International Day of Happiness on March 20. According to positive psychology researcher Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, individuals have great control over their happiness. Half of our happiness is based upon our genetics, 10 percent on our...

Road Trip to Bowie State for WHM Forum

District and high school administrators and teachers led a daylong trip to Maryland’s Bowie State Wednesday for almost 20 African-American CHS students to experience the 6,000-student historically black university and attend a women’s history month forum and panel discussion. After touring the campus and learning about STEM- and communications-related careers, ...

CES Third and Fourth Graders “Meet” Iowa Pen Pals via Video Chat

Gerald Aungst’s third and fourth grade Challenge classes at Cheltenham Elementary “met” a few of their pen pals from South Tama County Elementary School in Tama, Iowa, face to face on Monday via an online video chat.

Girls Track Sets School Marks at New Balance National Indoor Meet

Junior Brianna Smith, senior Bria Barnes and sprint relay set marks at New Balance National Indoor.

Chanel Brissett '17 Takes NCAA 60m Hurdles Title at NCAAs

USC Trojans sprinter and 2017 CHS graduate (and former Wyncote Elementary student) Chanel Brissett won the 60m hurdles this past weekend at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala.

EP’s Laylah Charlie Smith Earns Medal at AAU Nationals in 3,000 Meters

EP fifth grader Laylah Charlie Smith announced her presence on the national track stage in a big way this past weekend.

Cheltenham School District Adopts “Safe2Say Something” Anonymous Reporting System

The Cheltenham School District has adopted the “Safe2Say Something” (S2SS) anonymous reporting system for grades 7-12. Mandated under the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s 2018 Act 44, the program educates students and adults to recognize and report at-risk behavior – especially on social media. The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SSARS) is provided through Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), a nationwide non-profit organization with programs in 50 states, encompassing more than ...

Panther Swimmers Earn All-League Honors

Senior Erik Williams and sophomore Eli Kofman have been recognized as All-Suburban One League American Conference swimmers as individuals and relay members. Along with senior Eli Tilema and freshman Darien Williams, Erik Williams and Kofman earned honorable mention in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Kofman earned third-team honors in the...

Go Time for High School Robotics Team

The Cheltenham High School Robotics team Simple Machines (FRC No. 423) has spent the past six weeks gearing up for its initial two FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) qualifying events of the season: March 9-10 at Westtown School in West Chester, Pa., and March 23-24 at Seneca High School in Tabernacle, N.J. FRC pairs high school students with adult mentors (primarily engineers and teachers) to design and build robots that compete against one another in a high-energy environment. Students learn and use sophisticated hardware and software and develop design, project management, programming, teamwork, strategic...

Panther Wrestlers Earn All-League Honors

Three Panther wrestlers earned all-league honors: Senior Yasir Gray, junior Isaiah Stehman and sophomore Lucas DiBenedetto. Wrestling at 170 pounds, Stehman earned first-team Suburban One League American Conference accolades after finishing 29-5 overall (7-0 in league), finishing as runner up in the district tournament and advancing to regionals. Gray, who ...

Cheltenham Artists Garner Honors at “PSEA Touch the Future” Exhibition

Congratulations to the 17 CHS art students whose work is being featured in the juried “PSEA Touch the Future” exhibition at Arcadia University. CHS senior Clement Thomas won third place in the “Best in Show” category with his “American Dream” and senior Rebecca Banner won the Dr. Selma Burke Sculpture Award for her “Tea Set.” The other 15 students representing CHS are...

Boys and Girls Hoops Combine for Six All-League Nods

Senior forward forward Kai Williams earned a spot on the Suburban One League American Conference girls basketball third team after a season in which she averaged a double double (10 points, 10 rebounds) for the Panthers. The boys hoops team placed junior guard Zahree Harrison and senior guard / forward ...

CHS Senior Lionel Smoler Schatz Named Candidate for United States Presidential Scholars Program

Cheltenham senior Lionel Smoler Schatz has been named one of more than 4,500 candidates nationwide selected as a candidate for the 2019 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Candidates were selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate from high schools in the United States in 2019. Inclusion in the 54-year-old U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest...

Cheltenham Orchestra Players Compete at PMEA Festival

Junior Naomi Aires became the first Cheltenham cellist to qualify for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All-State Festival since 2008 when she re-auditioned recently at the PMEA Region VI Orchestra Festival. Junior violinist Ifenna Amaefuna also...

CBKTheatre Returns Home to Stage Monty Python's "Spamalot

“Lovingly ripped off” from the classic 1975 comedy film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” Monty Python’s “Spamalot” tells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table in a whole new way. Featuring gallant (and not so gallant) knights, showgirls, showboys, cows, killer rabbits and French people, this irreverent spoof includes hilarious parodies of Broadway theatre along the way. At the 2005 Tony Awards, “Spamalot won four awards, including Best Musical, from its 14 nominations. With over 75 Cedarbrook students ...

Leadership Academy Sixth Graders Earn Blue and Gold Ties

Twenty-seven Elkins Park sixth graders participated in the Leadership Academy’s high impact fifth annual Tie Ceremony this Tuesday in Kircher Hall in front of nearly 100 family, friends and community members. Dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, responsibility and unity, the Leadership Academy is an after-school program for African-American boys and aims to eliminate the achievement gap. Group sponsors Tai Crutchfield, Quyntyn...

Senior Will Felix Recognized with Scholar Athlete Award from National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame

Senior student-athlete Will Felix will receive a Scholar Athlete Award from the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame at an award ceremony March 31 at Villanova University. Felix, who carries a 3.84 GPA, served as a tri-captain for the Panthers’ breakout 8-4 season this past fall and is a two-time all-league selection at tight end. He is a member of multiple student groups, including ...

Cheltenham Elementary iLab Earns Hess Toy Truck STEM Kits

The iLab at Cheltenham Elementary has been chosen as one of only 1,000 classrooms across the country to receive a 2018 Hess Toy Truck STEM kit and associated curriculum. Hess Corporation and Baylor College of Medicine have partnered in this STEM Educational Outreach program. Each kit contains 12 Hess RVs with ATV and motorbike toys, and the third- and fourth-grade curriculum “On the Road with Vehicle Performance” includes activities to explore practical transportation issues like...

Black History Month Peace Assembly at Cheltenham Elementary

Cheltenham Elementary teacher Michelle Przybylowski coordinated the second grade Black History Month Peace assembly for all of CE students and second grade families this past Friday. The four classrooms celebrated Black History Month in their own individual ways. Room 21 read "I Am Enough" by Grace Byers and created a fantastic video with iMovie with a poem about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Room 22 recited a Maya Angelou poem. Room 23 dressed as Superheroes and sang ...

Junior Brianna Smith Earns Perfect Score at PJAS Competition

One of 10 CHS students to participate in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) regionals at Souderton this past weekend, junior Brianna Smith won first with a perfect score for her microbiology project “Apple Cider Vinegar & Benzoyl Peroxide: Mixing It Up.” In the project, Smith aimed to create a more natural acne treatment and treated various concentrations of apple cider vinegar with lower doses of Benzoyl Peroxide against bacteria-causing acne to show effectiveness in home remedy treatments. Her perfect score also ...

CSD Black History Month Showcase - Tuesday, Feb. 26

oin 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...

Cheltenham School District 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 in the video presentation “Integrating Modeling & STEM Practices” given at the PA Educational Technology Expo & Conference (PETE&C) this past weekend in Hershey, Pa....

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 under coach Craig Jones. Justin looked at Colgate, Lafayette, Villanova, and Penn State, but ultimately, GW approached him at the right time with the...

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. "Cheltenham High School has a long tradition of ...

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...

Cheltenham Seniors Win Regional Academic WorldQuest

Seniors Eve Glazier, Alana Margerum, Naomi Oziel and Camille Ross, members of the CHS Students for International Awareness club, won the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia-sponsored Academic WorldQuest trivia contest this week, earning an all-expenses paid trip to the national competition in Washington, D.C., in April. The Cheltenham High School faculty team of club sponsors Melanie Jackson, Jennifer Pollack, Mark Hoff and Richard Moyer took second in the adult competition, which ...

Freshman PBL Hosts Cosi Taste Test as Part of Breaking Bread Project

The freshman Project Based Learning cohort hosted Cosi Catering Sales Manager Abbey Shuster this week for a taste test featuring different foods from the local eatery as part of its “Breaking Bread” assignment. Shuster brought a variety of salads, soups and entrees and as the students tasted each, they wrote notes. Was it bitter? Sweet? Salty? Sour? How was the texture? Shuster has food allergies and wanted to gain a perspective about what the food tastes like so it could help her know what the spices ...

Junior Ifenna Amaefuna Wins Regional Brain Bee

At this past weekend’s regional Brain Bee at the University of Pennsylvania, Cheltenham students took three of the top four places, including junior Ifenna Amaefuna, who won the competition. Sophomore Rajakavi Boominathan took third, freshman Conrad Schaumburg took fourth and freshmen Teddy Perez and Raffi Perez, sophomore Ben Soboloff and junior Serena Sohmen all advanced to the third round. The students prepared for the competition by reading the book...

Staff Well-Being Workshop

District teachers and staff came together to laugh, connect, create and spend a little time caring for themselves at the February Staff Well-Being workshop. CHS art teacher Jen Hall instructed the group in watercolor techniques including stippling and salting, and attendees painted their own take on a birch tree scene. Each painting was unique and everyone agreed that they would love...

Cedarbrook Phenom Eyota Bey Takes Middle School 400M Title at Colgate Women’s Games

After four weeks of preliminary races which saw her with a one-point lead over the field, Cedarbrook eighth grader Eyota Bey turned on the jets in the semifinals and finals to take the middle school 400m title at the 45th Colgate Women’s Games with 72 points, 12 points ahead of the second-place finisher. At the semifinals, Bey ran 59.47, nearly half a second better than the closest competition, to take the race and garner its 15 points. In the finals, she finished...

Panthers Student-Athletes Max Brown, Marcus Winfield Sign National Letters of Intent

Wednesday morning, seniors Marcus Winfield (top left with his parents) and Max Brown (botton left with his family) signed letters of intent to play football and soccer, respectively, in college next fall. Winfield, a defensive end, is headed to Delaware State University, while Brown will be attending the University of Mary Washington. A second-team all-league performer for the 6-7-1 Panthers this past season...

Senior Clement Thomas among 10 CHS Students Showing Artwork in 41st Annual County HS Exhibition

Senior Clement Thomas’ mixed media collage “Chaos in the Air” was one of 15 pieces selected to receive opening night special recognition at this week’s 41st Annual Montgomery County High School Students Exhibition at the Montgomery County Community College Fine Arts Center Gallery. In all, artwork from 10 Cheltenham students was included in the exhibition. Featuring work from students at 19 high schools, the exhibition is...

Kindergarten Registration 2019-2020

Kindergarten Registration and Readiness Screening for the 2019-2020 school year will take place Monday, May 6 through Thursday, May 23, 2019, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Administration Building located at 2000 Ashbourne Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027. There will be no registration on May 21, 2019, due to Professional Development Day. Prior to making an appointment, you must submit an application online....

Wyncote Elementary Kicks Off $25K Project Fit America Online Voting Campaign

Wyncote Elementary hosted a raucous pep rally Thursday afternoon for students and staff to kick off a month-long campaign to win $25,000 in fitness equipment in the Dannon/ShopRite Project Fit America (PFA) online voting contest. Wyncote will win the equipment by garnering the most votes in online balloting from Saturday, Feb. 2 through - Thursday, Feb. 28 at Cheltenham.org/projectfitamerica. Votes can be cast once daily per email address, but voters must be at least 13 years old.

Suni Blackwell Named Cheltenham’s Coordinator of Athletics and Activities

A three-sport student-athlete at Chester (Pa.) High School and varsity men’s basketball player at West Chester University (WCU), Suni Blackwell has been named the coordinator of athletics and activities at Cheltenham High School. After being approved for hire at the January Cheltenham School District Legislative meeting, Blackwell began his tenure on Tuesday, Jan. 22. Blackwell assumes the reigns of the 25-sport athletics program that competes in the Suburban One League American Conference. He will also oversee Cheltenham High School’s student groups. “I am humbled and honored for this opportunity to lead Cheltenham’s athletics and activities programs,” Blackwell said. “Together, we will ...

Choir Members Perform at Temple U

Cheltenham sophomores Miles Fodor, Quincy Rhoades and Stefan Rogowski, juniors Jordan Hood and Manny Rimmer and senior Colin Polisano sang in Temple University's third annual ManChoir Festival in Lew Klein Hall at Temple’s Performing Arts Center on Saturday. The singers and 150 outstanding tenors and basses from across the Mid-Atlantic region worked with Temple choir faculty during a day of rehearsals and learning and received a campus tour before participating in a ...

Building Strengths Book Club

Cheltenham families and staff met recently to discuss ways to focus on what's good with our children in part two of the parent workshop/book club “Building Strengths.” Workshops are based on the book The Strength Switch by Dr. Lea Waters. Workshop participants discussed and engaged in activities around noticing and navigating strengths, attention, goofing off, gratitude, savoring and mindfulness. Parents and guardians played gratitude ping pong and balanced feathers as they explored ways to disconnect from technology and reconnect with their children in ...

Cedarbrook’s Isabella Rey Earns Spot in Philly Young Playwrights’ Mouthful Monologue Festival

Eighth grader Isabella Rey is on a roll, having recently published “Tibiri’s Adventure,” a book originally penned as a play about her godfather’s dog. Her latest accomplishment is earning a spot in the Philadelphia Young Playwrights’ (PYP) Mouthful Monologue Festival at the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake (341 S Hicks St, Philadelphia) from Thursday, Feb. 28 through Saturday, March 9. Rey’s monologue, Becoming Friends with David Copperfield, will have six public performances, and Rey will...

CSD Earns $25K Safety Grant

The Cheltenham School District has received a $25,000 school safety grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The grant will be utilized by purchasing security-related technology. The PCCD initiates, validates and financially supports justice-related programs put forth by practitioners and experts in the justice system. The commission focuses on...

CHS Black Scholars Win MLK Jeopardy

The Cheltenham High School Black Scholars squeaked past a team from Arcadia University to win the MLK Jr. Jeopardy Bowl on Monday, Jan. 21 at Arcadia’s “Youth Forum 2019.” Under the leadership of faculty advisor Melanie Jackson, the CHS Black Scholars won the opening round against Springfield Township High School’s Voices of Excellence in categories such as...

“L-i-g-a-t-u-r-e” Wins Wyncote Spelling Bee

The competition was stiff but fourth grader Zuri Hicks spelled “ligature” in the 21st round to emerge triumphant in this week’s annual Wyncote Spelling Bee, a precursor to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Hicks outlasted classmate Nate Leary to finish first. Both earned medals and certificates, with ...

Service Projects, Historic Recitations, Song and Dance to Highlight Cheltenham’s MLK “Day On”

Hundreds of Cheltenham School District students, parents and community members will gather at Cheltenham High School on Monday, Jan. 21 for service projects, performances and birthday cake to commemorate the memory and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the District’s annual “Day On.” Each school will perform its own service project, some of which include creating flashcards for incoming kindergarten students, no-sew blankets and bags to fill with toiletries and other essentials for those less fortunate, breakfast bags for the homeless, and collecting books, coats and stuffed animals for children. Some of the organizations...

Junior Naomi Aires Retains First Chair in Cello at PMEA District Competition

unior cellist Naomi Aires retained her first chair standing at this past weekend’s Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 11 Orchestra Festival at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. She moves on to perform in the PMEA Region VI Orchestra competition Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 21-23 at Downingtown West for guest conductor Dr. Timothy Dixon. Junior violinist Ifenna Amaefuna also qualified for the District 11 competition and, along with Aires, rehearsed diligently for ...

CSD School Board Accepts Tax Incremental Financing Resolution to Redevelop Elkins Estate

By an 8-1 vote, the Cheltenham School District Board of Directors accepted the tax incremental financing resolution concerning the Elkins Estate at 1750 Ashbourne Rd. in Elkins Park. The resolution reads: “Approval of a resolution of the Board of School Directors of the Cheltenham School District, approving the school district's participation in a tax increment finance districting within the Township of Cheltenham, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in connection with ...

Community Conversation on Climate, Culture and Equity

Equity, access and opportunity drive the District's work to ensure the eradication of the pervasive and inequitable outcomes in student achievement, results and performances. To that end, the Cheltenham School District hosted its second Community Conversation on Climate, Culture and Equity on Thursday, Jan. 10 at Wyncote Elementary. At the meeting...

CBK Eighth Grader Isabella Rey Publishes “Tibiri’s Adventures”

An award-winning student and accomplished playwright, Cedarbrook eighth grader Isabella Rey recently published “Tibiri’s Adventure,” an 80-page book originally penned as a play at the request of her godfather when he asked her to write a play about his dog Tibiri. The book is available in paperback and Kindle. According to Amazon, “Tibiri is a dog who lives happily in Miami with his human companion. One day he accepted ...

December Students of the Month

Ten students have been acknowledged as December’s Students of the Month for academic excellence, leadership and character growth in Unified Arts and Health/Physical Education. Congratulations to (left to right) Dalonese Love, Abby Tabas, Kelley Ilin, Zoe Matsinger, Alanah Jones, Crystal Leonard, Anyae Wilson-Worley, Carissa Dorley and Bran Hartwell. (Not pictured: Ben Soboloff) The students will receive ...

#SeniorsOfCheltenham Share #CSDimpact Stories

Every school district has a story to tell — our school culture and community are uniquely ours. Throughout the 2018-19 school year, we’ve shared stories demonstrating the Cheltenham School District impact on students, staff, families and community. The #SeniorsOfCheltenham campaign provides an opportunity for a select group of seniors to share their #CSDimpact stories, personal narratives and plans for the future. CHS guidance counselors nominated...

CES Robotics Team Takes Newcomer Spirit Award

On Saturday, Dec. 15, the Cheltenham Elementary School Robo-Dolphins (fourth graders Andre Agyare, Caleb Armstrong, Lizi Bailey, Jordy Barrera, Makai Dempsey, Giovanni Francis, Nylah Mattaway, Anton Nguyen, Tobenna Ojukwu, Gerard-Bernard Sejour, Jacob Shin and Kailey White) attended the FIRST Lego League qualifying tournament at ...

CBK's Bey Continues to Run Away from the Competition

With two wins and a fifth place finish in the 400-meters in the first three weeks of the 2018-19 Colgate Women’s Games, the nation’s largest amateur track and field series for women, Cedarbrook eighth grader Eyota Bey enters this weekend's fourth round of competition in contention to take a cumulative title. Bey was among thousands of females from...

Student Council, Skills for Life Collaborate to Make Holiday Dreams Come True

Through the charity committee of the Cheltenham High School Student Council, local elementary school children with special needs or who come from low income families will receive gifts this holiday season. “This is important, especially at this time of year,” said charity chair Leslie Melecio, “because it’s good to remind ourselves of the significance of giving back.” For at least the past decade, student council’s charity committee has worked ...

Cheltenham Fencers in Action in Community, on the Strip

Senior Afwé Griffin, a sabre fencer for the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia - North in Wyncote, helped to facilitate a fencing demonstration with coach James Miller for a group of young students from the Meadowbrook School this past weekend. The Meadowbrook students learned about maneuvering the fencing strip and how fencers score points. In related news, Griffin and CHS sophomore Naomi Hirsch...

CBK 8th Grader Takes First in Colgate Women’s Games 400-Meter Dash

Congratulations to Cedarbrook eighth grader Eyota Bey who won the 400 meters in 1:00.12 in the Mid School division of the opening preliminaries at the 45th anniversary Colgate Women’s Games at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute on Saturday, Dec. 15. Every year, thousands of girls and young women compete in the games in grade divisions for ribbons, medals and points. Events include ...

Three Instrumentalists Qualify for PMEA District 11 Band and Orchestra Festivals

Based on their recent auditions, three CHS musicians earned a spot to perform at District 11 band and orchestra festivals in January. Juniors Ifenna Amaefuna (violin) and Naomi Aires (cello) will compete in the District 11 Orchestra Festival Jan. 10 – 12 at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School for conductor Allan R. Scott. Senior Tommy Scott (French horn) will compete in the District 11 Band Festival January 23 – 25 at Pottsgrove High School for conductor James Colonna. Selected from a pool of more than 350 students, these students...

DECA Students Qualify for State Leadership Conference and Competition

At this past week’s DECA District 10 Conference at Temple University, 17 Cheltenham students earned the privilege of representing CHS at DECA’s state leadership conference and competition in Hershey, Pa., in February. Competing against more than 300 students from more than a dozen other schools, students were given a business-related real-world scenario, 10 minutes to prepare and seven minutes to present their solutions. At the state competition, students will ...

Wellbeing Initiative Brings Glenside’s Won Institute to CBK for Acupuncture

Through her wellbeing initiative, Cindy Goldberg has been hosting monthly stress-relieving events across the district. This month, Goldberg invited Glenside’s Won Institute to Cedarbrook for an all-day acupuncture event designed to enhance relaxation and reduce stress. Won’s Director of Clinical Education Doreen Lafferty brought a handful of colleagues to administer seated acupuncture designed for relaxation. Monthly staff wellbeing events, such as Soul Collage in October, yoga in ...

Freezin’ for a Reason

The Frozen Cheltenham Unified Panthers surpassed their $1,000 goal to raise more than $3,000 as part of the Friday, Dec. 7 Polar Bear Plunge at Souderton High School. Organized and supported by Special Olympics of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, events such as this bring together students, teachers and administrators from throughout the Philadelphia area to celebrate inclusion and...

Students of the Month for November

Four students have been acknowledged as November Students of the Month for academic growth and academic excellence in world language. Congratulations to (left to right) junior Abdul Muhaimin-Solomon, who was nominated by Dana Brown for her academic growth; senior Ian Ogborn was nominated by Tom DiGiulio for academic excellence; junior Kolby Gaither, who was nominated by John Mohl for his academic excellence; and sophomore Shakira Norman, who was nominated by Amanda (Krebs) Frye for academic excellence. The students will ...

Sophomore Meets with Former First Lady Michelle Obama

Briaire Gant, a sophomore at Cheltenham High School, and other young women from beGirl.World (bGw) received a surprise visit from former First Lady Michelle Obama Thursday, Nov. 29 at Philadelphia’s African American Museum. Mrs. Obama was in the city promoting her book “Becoming.” Mrs. Obama spoke with the 15- and 16-year-olds about...

Girls Hoops Opens Home Season Friday with Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer Fundraiser

he Lady Panthers open their home slate this Friday at 7 p.m. versus the Upper Moreland Bears, and both teams will be sporting yellow shoelaces as part of a fundraiser to support Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer. The team, which is looking to notch its first victory of the season, will also conduct a 50/50 raffle, a portion of which will go toward children with cancer and...

PBL 9 Tells the “Stories of Cheltenham”; Hosts Book Launch Thursday, Dec. 13 at Glenside Library

The CHS Freshman English and Social Studies Project-Based Learning collaborative is hosting a book launch at the Glenside Library, Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. to celebrate the publication of its book and companion website “Stories of Cheltenham.” The 63-page paperback, which is available for purchase on Amazon, is a collection of thematically connected photographs and stories collected by PBL 9 students, ranging from humorous to ironic and heartfelt to absurd and captures the spirit of Cheltenham Township. The book, inspired by "The Humans of New York," will be entered into the “local authors” section of the Glenside Library at the launch.

Sophomore Provides a Fresh Voice on KYW Newsradio

The voice of sophomore MaryKate Haasz recently graced the airwaves of KYW1060 with a report about Cheltenham’s Unified Track program. Challenge teacher Elaine McGoldrick recommended Haasz for the KYW Newstudies Student Reporter program because of the opportunity it would present to the aspiring writer interested in developing her writing skills.

Cheltenham Elementary First Graders Venturing into the Interland

Rebekah Taboada and her first grade students at Cheltenham Elementary School recently participated in the “Be Internet Awesome” program through the Donors Choose website and Google to learn responsible usage for technology, internet skills and online citizenship. Students completed “Cool to Be Kind,” one of numerous available lessons and worked on Google’s Interland game to reinforce the concepts. Most students completed up to...

Cheltenham Lady Panthers Host Sixth Annual Alumnae Basketball Game

Cheltenham High School Lady Panthers alumnae are giving cancer the full court press. Now in its sixth year, the Lady Panthers Alumnae youth clinic and game on Saturday, Jan. 5 at Cheltenham High School aims to support those who are fighting cancer and raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society’s Coach vs. Cancer program. Tipoff for the alumnae game is noon. Participating alumni and alumnae include players from the Lady Panthers 2000 and 2007 state championships and four...

FIRST LEGO League Season Opens for Three Elementary Schools

Participating in the “Into Orbit” Challenge of the 30th FIRST Robotics competition, the Wyncote, Glenside and Myers FIRST LEGO League Robotics teams opened their seasons against more than 20 teams on Saturday, Dec. 1 at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy and came away with some nice recognitions. Wyncote’s Roarin’ Robots received the coveted Gracious Professionalism Award for its ability to compete as ...

Panthers Senior Gridder Winfield among Mini Max Award Honorees

Cheltenham High School senior Marcus Winfield, a stalwart on both sides of the line of scrimmage for the Panthers’ football squad, has been selected as one of 63 Pennsylvania Mini Max High School Award winners, Pennsylvania Maxwell Football Club President Mark Dianno recently announced. “I’m excited to receive this honor,” Winfield said. “It’s the payoff for all the hard work. It’s a great accomplishment for me, my family and team.” Honorees were nominated by ...

Fall Student-Athletes Garner All-League Recognitions

Congratulations to the following fall student-athletes for earning Suburban One League American Conference All-League recognition for their outstanding athletic performances, as selected by league coaches....

Cedarbrook PBL Students Explore the Concept of Identity in Inaugural Exhibition

Throughout the first marking period, Cedarbrook students participating in the project-based learning (PBL) program explored the concept of identity, asking questions about who they are and how others perceive them. These probing questions were integral to staging the school’s first PBL exhibition, which combined elements of design, building and storytelling and enabled students to share their identities with the Cheltenham community. Projects were...

Parent Workshop and Book Club Kicks Off with “A Strengths Based Approach to Flourishing”

District parents and positive psychology teacher leaders joined CSD Mindfulness/Positive Psychology coach Cindy Goldberg on Tuesday for an interactive evening centered on the importance of focusing on children’s strengths, rather than noticing their weaknesses. The Strength Switch by Lea Waters, Ph.D., was the featured reading for...

K-6 Schools Contribute to Rotary Club Thanksgiving Food Drive

With an assist from Wyncote, Glenside, Cheltenham, Myers and Elkins Park, the Rotary Club of Glenside was able to provide a delicious Thanksgiving meal to Cheltenham School District families, complete with a turkey, potatoes and fixings. The schools staged food drives to collect stuffing, cranberry, vegetables, marshmallows, yams, gravy and cornbread to put in the baskets. CSD Elementary Home and School Visitor Jen Mosher organized the list of families receiving a basket. Volunteers from the ...

“Pretty in Pig” Winners Announced

In October, the district partnered with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research. Through the Komen "Pretty in Pig" program, district schools raised 740.44. Erika Wimms’ second-grade class at Myers class did an amazing job, collecting 107.05. At Glenside...

Senior Tenor Colin Polisano Selected for All-Eastern Chorus Festival

Fresh off staring in the high school’s fall play “A Servant of Two Masters,” senior tenor Colin Polisano was recently selected to perform in the mixed chorus at the National Association of Music Educators (NAfME) All-Eastern Chorus Festival in Pittsburgh, Pa., in April. Based on his work in district, regional and ...

Choir Members Qualify for District 11 Chorus Festival

Based on their auditions this past Saturday, Nov. 17 at Upper Merion High School, CHS Choir members seniors Rebecca Banner, Alice Fodor, Colin Polisano and Matt Ryan, junior Oren Schwartz and sophomores Caelan Donahue and Naomi Guth were selected to perform at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 11 Chorus Festival February 7-9 at Wissahickon High School. Chosen from a pool of more 300 singers from...

Marching Panthers Finish at “Cavalcade of Bands” Best in Five Years since Joining Open Class

Behind the direction of drum major Jessie Oswald, the Marching Panthers closed out their season by scoring 86.80 points to take ninth out of 13 in the tough American Open Division of the 59th annual Cavalcade of Bands Sunday at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, Pa. The finish is the Panthers best in their five years of competing in the Open Class. Color guard finished third overall. Competing against ...

Thanksgiving Basket Project Caps Student Council Philanthropic Fall

Cheltenham High School Student Council raised more than $1,600 through homeroom collections to provide Thanksgiving day meals to 40 local families in need. The baskets included instant mashed potatoes, stuffing mix, macaroni and cheese, jarred gravy, canned vegetables, and, of course, a turkey. "What a tremendous collective effort," said student council co-sponsor Ryan Nase. "Thank you to the high school homeroom teachers for their ...

7th Annual Skills for Life Thanksgiving Feast

On Thursday, Nov. 16, the CHS Skills for Life students gathered with students, staff and administrators to give thanks and enjoy a student-organized buffet-style Thanksgiving meal at the seventh annual Thanksgiving feast in the Skills for Life apartment. Every step of the meal - from planning to table setting - was...

EP Students "Camp-In" At The Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute “camp-in” trip delivered an unforgettable experience for fifth grade students at CSD Elkins Park School this past weekend. The “camp-in” program allows students to get hands-on with science and explore the museum in a way that ordinary day trips don’t because...

Track Standout Bria Barnes Signs National Letter of Intent to Attend Iowa State

Panthers’ senior track athlete Bria Barnes, who runs in sprints and sprint relays and served as an important cog in CHS extending its District I Championship to six consecutive seasons this past spring, signed a national letter of intent to become an Iowa State Cyclone at a signing ceremony this morning at CHS. “On my visit, campus felt more ...

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...

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....

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...

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...

‘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...