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.

Learn How To Set Up The PowerSchool Mobile App

We'd like to make several points of clarification regarding the PowerSchool app. Only parents/guardians of 5th through 12th grade students need to access PowerSchool. Grade K through 4 parents/guardians do not have PowerSchool portals. Access codes were mailed home or sent home with your student, including returning and new students. If you do not know your student and/or parent access code, please contact...

PBL9 Hosts Old School Field Day for Wyncote Third Graders

On Thursday, Oct. 10, the freshman Project Based Learning cohort (PBL9) visited Wyncote Elementary School and facilitated an old school field day for the third graders. The activities were reimagined versions of games from ancient times like “Bunnies and Bobcats,” “Panda Hockey,” “Microrush” and “Chunkey Monkey,” but had to incorporate an animal adaptation. The essential question driving this project was ...

Instant Decision Days off to a Great Start

Congratulations to seniors (left to right) Nadia Martin, Vivien Eng, Mya Elston (the recipient of a Raider Success Scholarship worth $2k per year), Matthew McCloud, Dominique Vidal, Avin Grant, Kayla Clark and Maitlyn Smith for receiving instant decision acceptances to Shippensburg University. Instant decision days are opportunities for students, who meet ...

CHS’ Simple Machines Wins 10th Annual girlPOWER Robotics Competition

This past weekend, the CHS robotics team Simple Machines (FRC423) teamed with squads from Robbinsville and Mt. Olive high schools in New Jersey to win the 10th annual girlPOWER (Preparing Outstanding Women Engineers through Robotics) robotics competition at Mount Saint Joseph’s Academy. The event aims to expose robotics to new students, particularly girls....

Drs. Lajara, Hammond “Kiss a Pig” for Financial Literacy

CHS Principal Dr. Renato Lajara and CHS Vice Principal Dr. Ben Hammond each took one for the team Thursday evening at the Abington Arts Center, planting a smooch on “Rains,” a 5-year-old potbellied pig as part of TruMark Financial Credit Union’s ninth annual “Kiss a Pig” financial literacy fundraiser. CHS DECA raised $1,500 in order to participate and is eligible for up to $5,000 in ...

Cross Country Teams Sweep Tri-Meet

Wednesday’s tri-meet at Curtis Arboretum against Springfield and Upper Moreland. The 2.97-mile course is considered hilly and has one steep section the runners complete twice during a race. The boys squad ran the table, claiming the top seven spots, enroute to matching 15-50 victories over the Spartans and Bears, respectively. Seniors Kylan Willis (16:39) and Joey Welch (16:42) and junior Ben Soboloff (16:44) claimed the top three spots in the race. The girls swept all the spots, as neither Springfield nor Upper Moreland was able to field a team. Senior Janelle Williams (18:20) set...

Unified Student-Athletes to Serve as Honorary Football Captains

Unified Track and Field student-athlete Olivia Daniels served as the honorary captain at this past Friday’s football game between the CHS Panthers and Quakertown Community High School Panthers. As the first honorary captain for this new tradition, Daniels entered the field alongside CHS Panthers, was introduced to the fans, facilitated the coin toss and enjoyed the game in her commemorative t-shirt from a special viewing area. Each honorary captain will also work with peers in general education classes to be their "buddies" for the event. Daniels received the...

CHS Environmental Club Saves a Tree

At its first meeting of the school year, the CHS Environmental Club worked together to rescue the Japanese Maple in front of school. The students removed and safely disposed of 183 bagworms from the withering tree. Bagworms are actually caterpillar cocoons containing females who can lay up to 300 eggs. Come spring, those eggs would ...

Seniors Win Trips, Fabulous Prizes in Texas Instruments #SpreadMathLove Contest

CHS Computer Science teacher Sarah Putterman and the CHS Marching Band pulled a fast one on senior drumline members Nate Norward and Jeffery Gaskin before practice at the football field on Thursday evening. Sending the boys back to the high school to retrieve an item she’d “forgotten,” Putterman arranged for mylar balloons spelling “M-A-T-H” and the marching band to...

Character Day 2019

Cheltenham School District encourages staff, students and families to observe Character Day on Friday, Sept. 27. An annual event, Character Day unites millions in schools, companies and homes to develop and deepen character strengths like empathy, grit, gratitude and leadership. Character development is important because it leads to school and career success and stronger, more engaged individuals and a more just world. Last year, more than ...

Let’s Hear It for Rebecca Moser

A four-year member of the Cheltenham Unified Cheer squad, Rebecca Moser took the field to root on the Temple Owls football squad as it faced off against the Maryland Terrapins at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, Sept. 14. Moser is the first autistic cheerleader to perform for Audible for Autism, a nonprofit raising awareness and providing...

PBL11 meets Curtis Arboretum

During the first weeks of school, the junior Project Based Learning cohort (PBL11) visited historic, picturesque Curtis Arboretum on numerous occasions to make a personal connection with the 47-acre public space with rolling hills, two ponds, a dog park, World War II memorial and more than 50 tree varieties. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the arboretum was established in the 1930s by Mary Louise Curtis Bok, founder of Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music in honor of her...

Five CHS Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

Five Cheltenham High School seniors have been named semifinalists for the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship program. Announced on Wednesday along with approximately 16,000 other high school seniors, the CHS semifinalists are Nathan Kirschner, Christopher Luk, Nancy Sohlberg, Victoria Suarez and Jonathan Warsaw. The quintet has the opportunity to...

Strong Alumni Showing at 33rd Mike Berry Memorial Run

With 13 alumni participants ranging in graduation years from 1970 through 2018 and members of the CHS Cross Country team, the 33rd Mike Berry Memorial Run took place on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Curtis Arboretum. Thank you to the following for supporting the event: Martin Kiebert ’70, Adam Rosenberg ’74, Vince Durning ’76, Mark Voit ’79, Mark Gyandoh ’92,...

6th Annual Food Truck Jamboree

Bring the family for a great day of community building with delicious food for every taste, local musical talent, fun kids’ activities and a fabulous silent auction with items including platinum seats for Chance the Rapper at the Wells Fargo Center in October....

PBL-11 Citizen Scientists in Action

PBL-11 students set macroinvertebrate traps in the ponds at Curtis Arboretum. Their first project of the year engages them as Citizen Scientists, collecting baseline ecological data in support of Cheltenham Township's Landscape Management Plan...

Senior Zoë Moreland Gains Lab Experience through TRIP Initiative

Senior Zoë Moreland spent time designing and performing experiments with fruit flies this summer as a participant in the Fox Chase Teen Research Internship Program (TRIP) initiative at Temple University. TRIP is a free, rigorous lab-based course for high school students who are motivated to explore their interests in science and medicine. The program aims to foster enthusiasm for science by offering students a chance to perform hypothesis-driven research and experience hands-on learning in a lab...

Back to School Backpacks

CSD Home and School Visitor Jen Mosher worked with numerous organizations this summer to help CSD students in need begin the school year on the right foot. The Glenside Rotary (37) and Cradles to Crayons (100) donated backpacks filled with school supplies. The CSD Board of School Directors donated school supplies and much needed lunch bags, while the United Parent Group also donated backpacks....

Select Choir to Sing at Annual School Board and Administrator Conference

Congratulations to the CHS Select Choir, one of 10 groups from across the commonwealth selected to perform at the annual conference of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators and Pennsylvania School Boards Association in Hershey, Pa., on Thursday, Oct. 17. The choir's membership includes more than 30 vocalists ranging from sophomores to seniors. This year’s conference marks the second ...

CHS Students Learn about STEM through Music at Drexel Program

During the first week in August, CHS juniors Venus Agbadan, Aidan Frankenberg, Zhao Gu Gammage and sophomore Dan Hayes participated in Drexel University’s Summer Music Technology (SMT) program at Expressive and Creative Interaction Technologies (ExCITe) Center. “Our Cheltenham students reach out, explore opportunities and are on the path for greatness in their ...

Alumna Brissett Takes Silver at Pan Am Games in Lima

USC Trojans sprinter and 2017 CHS graduate (and former Wyncote Elementary student) Chanel Brissett had a successful run at this summer's Lima 2019 Pan American Games, earning a silver in the women's 100m hurdles (12.99) and a bronze as the lead-off leg of the USA’s 4x100m relay (43.49). A sophomore, Brissett is in her second season as a hurdler and sprinter on the USC track and field team. She ranks ...

Junior India Brooks Participates in Department of Defense STEM Research Institute

Rising junior India Brooks recently returned from the two-week residential Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Joint Science and Technology Institutes (JSTI) for High School students in Aberdeen, Md. Spending hours in a lab and working with water samples from the Flint River, Chesapeake Bay and Frog Mortar Creek, Brooks and her team worked on microbiome-based antibiotic discovery for warfighters to diminish the impact of "super bugs." The group's mentor...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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.

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 ...

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...

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....

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...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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:...

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, ...

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.

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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....

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 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...

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 ...

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...