Spotlight

Congratulations to Wyncote Elementary Speech-Language Pathologists Brendan Storino and Lauren Hess, who recently won one of four Pennsylvania State Education Association Innovative Teaching grants. The pair will receive a $1,500 grant for a playground communication board, which provides students with limited language skills the opportunity to engage with their age-typical peers. A playground communication board contains symbols paired with words with which students with verbal communication difficulties can communicate. 

“We are so grateful for PSEA's generous grant and how this will particularly help our non-speaking students communicate with others on the playground,” Hess said.

Wyncote has several students who are not able to communicate traditionally through verbal means. Because of this, these students often use a speech-generating device that creates a voice for them. There are times, however, when a speech-generating device is not always practical, such as when a student is on the playground. In these instances, the students still need the ability to communicate, and without the use of a communication device, these students can no longer do so, and, as a result, may become frustrated and display negative behaviors. The communication board will support individuals in initiating conversations with peers, navigating social situations, and expressing themselves, and encourages inclusivity.

“This is an innovative solution that ensures all children have a voice on the playground, not only to make their wants known, but also to foster and maintain meaningful relationships with others,” Storino and Hess wrote in the grant proposal.

The playground communication board will be designed in collaboration with Resources at Lakeshore Speech. A variety of symbols, including those representing emotions, actions, and daily routines, will be incorporated on the board to foster a broad range of communication. The board is expected to be installed for this fall.

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!
 

During World Kindness Week at Wyncote, students embraced activities that spread kindness throughout our school community. Fourth graders shared joy by writing thoughtful notes to younger siblings, bus friends, recess buddies, teachers, and staff. In art, students created a vibrant banner and proudly posed by putting the "I" in “kind.” Their collective acts of kindness earned enough PBIS points for a special school-wide glow presentation. During the event, students explored empathy and compassion through a visual story, deeply connecting with each character’s emotions. The celebration ended with lively dance videos, bringing everyone together to honor kindness and inclusion!

With the help of alumni donations from the Class of 1970 obtained through a Cheltenham School District Foundation Grant written by Principal Jim Taylor and support from the CSD Office of Special Education, Wyncote Elementary has revamped its sensory hallway. The team of Jessica Bruckner, Angelina Schalk, and Lisa Landolfi made this idea a reality when they proposed the idea to Principal Jim Taylor after the school received the alumni donation. After a few years, a lot of support and hard work, the new sensory hallway will be opening after Thanksgiving break. 

The trio worked alongside Special Education and in collaboration with Fun and Function to redesign the sensory hallway. The new design incorporates self contained, quiet sensory playscapes to help students self regulate when they’re feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated. The goal of the new, more streamlined design is to provide a safe space for students to regulate while also preparing them to get back to the classroom and ready to learn in a timely manner. 

While the hallway will be available to all students at Wyncote, it is intended for priority use for the four autistic support classrooms, as well as students with sensory needs. The team working on this project wants to ensure the hallway is being used intentionally and with supervision. While it is a fun space for children to play, it is intended to be used for occupational and physical therapy, and regulation to return students to a base level so they are ready to learn in the classroom. 

Currently, support staff training on how the brain works is taking place so they can determine when it's appropriate to use the hallway. Students will also be gathering for a PBIS lesson to understand what the hallway is for and explain the benefit it provides for their classmates. 

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