Spotlight

To keep students safe and prepared, CSD conducted school bus safety drills throughout this week. With the help of school safety officers, and facilities and transportation staff, students practiced disembarking the bus from the rear emergency exit in case of an emergency. 

“Safety First! School bus evacuation drills teach our students how to respond if there's ever an emergency on the bus,” said CSD Supervisor of Transportation Dawn Woods. “Practicing these drills helps ensure that everyone stays safe and calm while exiting the bus when there’s an emergency.”

After exiting the bus safely, students were reminded why bus safety is important in an emergency situation. 

“Just like we have fire drills for building safety, we need to practice for emergencies on the bus as well,” said Myers Principal Jason Lytle. “While it’s never happened in all my years as a principal, it’s important to be prepared.” 

For more information on bus safety rules and regulations, visit https://www.cheltenham.org/departments/transportation/rules-and-regulations.
 

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!