Spotlight

It may be a day off from school Monday, but many in the Cheltenham School District will be treating it as a “Day On” in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. All seven CSD schools will be engaged in MLK activities focused on helping those less fortunate or in need of a boost.

Cheltenham Elementary: Collecting and assembling care kits for the unhoused to be given to Covenant House and Project Home. CES Gymnasium, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Glenside Elementary: Creating “Birthday Parties in a Bag” for children at the Woodstock Family Center. GES Cafeteria, 9 - 11 a.m.

Myers Elementary: In support of St. Christopher Children's Hospital Center for the Urban Child, Myers Elementary will be collecting care package items for infants and children, and making cards of well-wishes for inpatient children. MES Gymnasium, 9 - 11 a.m.

Wyncote Elementary: Packing “Birthday Boxes” and making birthday decorations. In honor of Dr. King, birthday boxes will be donated to local food banks. WES Cafetorium, 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Elkins Park School: Making breakfast bags for the unhoused. EP Cafeteria, 10 a.m. - noon.

Cedarbrook M.S./Cheltenham H.S. - Writing letters to the troops; creating cards for Cradles to Crayons, packing kindness cups for the unhoused, and collecting toiletries for Fostering Hope Philly NE. CBK Learning Commons, 9-11 a.m.

Cheltenham H.S. - CHS Students will be able to earn points for their annual Blue and Gold competition by donating toiletry items to Fostering Hope Philly NE. Students are divided by last name into Blue (A-K) and Gold (L-Z) teams, and the team that donates the most items by January 17 earns points!
 

Glenside Elementary and Gwynedd Mercy University are partnering together to welcome student teacher Kamille Burris back to the district to support her goal of working in education.

The 2020 Cheltenham High School Aluma graduated from Arcadia University’s R.E.A.L certificate program this Spring and is currently enrolled at Gwynedd Mercy majoring in education through their integrated studies program.

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude that the school that supports life skills can welcome back a graduate of the district as a student teacher,” said Glenside Principal Dr. Michelle Robinson. “I love being in a district where opportunities like this can happen, and all learners are affirmed!”

Burris will be teaching at Glenside once a week for the next eight weeks. She has demonstrated excellence in her work and the district is thrilled to add to that experience in a school age setting.
 

Cheltenham School District has tapped Ms. Ashley Pullum and Ms. Diane Rodriguez as the new supervisors of special education. Pullum will serve as supervisor for grades 5-8 and Rodriguez will fill the position of K-4 supervisor.

Ms. Pullum comes to Cheltenham with over 10 years of experience in special education. For the past year, Pullum served as the supervisor of special education at the Centennial School District. There, she supported general and special education personnel and students and supervised William Tennent High School’s special education department, as well as served as an LEA for out-of-district students.

Ms. Pullum earned her post-master's principal certification from Eastern University, her post-master's certification in applied behavioral analysis from George Mason University, and her master’s in education and B.A. in history from Temple University.

With a goal to lead with an equitable lens so that all students are provided with the necessary support and resources to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially, regardless of their background or abilities, Ms. Rodriguez comes to CSD from Philadelphia School District where she has served as special education network case manager since 2019.

There she worked with principals, special education liaisons, and teachers to connect the core curriculum; specially designed instruction, inclusive practices, and interventions to the academic goals of students’ Individualized Education Program (IEPs); and served as the key point of contact for stakeholders and provided leadership as it pertained to supporting special education initiatives, teaching and achievement.

Ms. Rodriguez received her education from Gwynedd Mercy University where she earned her master’s in educational leadership with principal certification, and La Salle University where she earned her master’s in teaching English to speakers of other languages K-12, bachelor’s degree in elementary K-6 and special education K-12 with minors in leadership and global understanding and American studies.

For its annual celebration of learning, the Glenside Elementary School kindergarten classes enjoyed our third annual Community Helpers Fair. In the month of May, students learned about different types of communities and community helpers. During this unit, the kindergarteners learned the characteristics of rural, suburban and urban communities. They also learned about important community helpers including police officers, firefighters, teachers, doctors, postal workers and construction workers. The classes created crafts and writing pieces to display their learning. As a culminating activity, teachers Kirby Brown and Caitlin McCalister collaborated with our Cheltenham Community to plan a Community Fair. Over 20 community helpers came to the Glenside Bus Loop to share their role with our kindergarteners. They brought essential supplies, tools, trucks, vehicles and giveaways. A special thank you to the Cheltenham School District Administration team who attended this meaningful event.

Thanks to the Community Helpers: Cheltenham Township Public Works Department, Planning and Zoning Department, Accounting Department, Parks and Recreation, Emergency Management Department, Cheltenham Police Department, Cheltenham Township Emergency Medical Services, Glenside Fire Company, Glenside Library, Glenside Elementary School PAWS, CSD Department of Innovation, Cheltenham Transportation, Whitsons, Right At School, Soccer Shots, Chess Wizards, Montgomery County Emergency Services - 9-1-1 Dispatcher, Montgomery County Department of Public Safety, Montgomery County Mobile Crisis, Arcadia University, United States Postal Services, Office of State Representative Napoleon Nelson, Doc Bresler's Cavity Busters, Child and Family Focus Inc. Jefferson Health Abington Community Health, Cheltenham School District School Board, Cheltenham Communities that Care, Sweet Magnolia, Mindful Design Studio, Montgomery County Access Services, Aldersgate, Septa, and Brown`s Kiddietown. 

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