Chestnutwold Phoenix

November 27, 2024

Principals' Message

Chestnutwold Families,

Thank you for joining us for conferences this week. Even with three 1/2 days, our students were busy! Our 5th graders started the week with Minding Your Mind assemblies. Our cross-grade level buddies met to work on activities together. Students worked on Pen Pal letters as part of our work to "build bridges" within our community. Going along with our Be a Bridge theme, the Roots and Shoots Club provided a bridge for the front of the building as a physical reminder of the work of building bridges this year (see pictures below).

Our Scholastic Book Fair is next week, see information below for ordering and volunteer details.

Dear Haverford Community,

The School District of Haverford Township is embarking on a journey to shape the future of our schools, and we need your input! As part of our strategic planning process, we’re hosting a series of in-person and Zoom focus groups to gather insights from parents/guardians and community members.

Your perspectives are invaluable in helping us create a shared vision and actionable goals for the district. These focus groups are an opportunity to voice your thoughts on key topics.

Focus Group Details - K-12 Parents/Guardians, Community Members

When: Monday, December 2, 2024 at 7-8:00 PM
Where: Haverford Middle School Library
When: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 7-8:00 PM
Where: ZOOM link (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82841834754)
When: Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 9-10:00 AM
Where: Haverford High School Auditorium Lobby

Your involvement will make a lasting impact on the success and direction of our schools. Together, we can ensure a bright future for every student in our district.

We look forward to seeing you there!

In this Smore, you will find information about the following:

Book Fair Information
Floor Hockey Schedule - 4th and 5th Graders
Volunteer Opportunities
Resources for Families
Box tops for Education

We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Ashley Leach, Principal

Jerry Ummarino, Assistant Principal

Photos from the Week

Upcoming Events

11.28 - NO SCHOOL

11.29 - NO SCHOOL

12.02 - 12.06 - Book Fair

12.03 - Book Fair Family Night @ 6:00-7:30 PM (Library)

12.05 - Book Fair Family Night @ 6:00-7:30 PM (Library)

12.10 - End of 1st Trimester Report Cards sent via email

12.16 - 12.20 - Chorus Caroling

12.20 - CHOP PJ Day

12.20 - Winter Celebration / Winter Sing-A-Long

12.23 - 12.31 - NO SCHOOL

01.01 - NO SCHOOL

01.02 - School Reopens

01.17 - Early Dismissal / Teacher Inservice / AMK Attends

Chestnutwold Family Calendar - Year at a Glance (click here)

Book Fair Information

Volunteer Opportunities

Music and Art Room Volunteers

Music

Ms. Esposto is hoping to welcome volunteers into the music room during chorus rehearsal and weekly music class. NO music experience required to volunteer! Ms. Esposto will “teach you the ropes” of tuning, passing out instruments, and other tasks. If you have piano experience, please consider signing up to play during chorus rehearsals! Please indicate which week or weeks you would like to volunteer and Ms. Esposto will work with your schedule and availability that week. Volunteer opportunities will begin in November. An additional signup will be available in January for spring opportunities. Thank you for considering!

https://forms.gle/ssuVkaGEDyxZUdcF6

Art

Starting this February, Ms. Luzi is looking for volunteers in the art room to help back and label student artwork for our Spring Evening of the Arts. No art background is necessary! In April, we will begin to hang our beautiful artwork throughout the school. Reach out to Ms. Luzi if you have any questions. Thank you for supporting our wonderful artists!

Art Room Volunteers

Art In the Classroom

Art In The Classroom (AITC) is a program organized by the PTO that allows parents and guardians the opportunity to engage with their child’s class to teach an enrichment art lesson. Parent and guardian volunteers visit their child’s classroom 2-3 times during the school year to introduce students to a particular artist, movement, style, medium or piece of artwork (ideally integrating with the class curriculum) and leading students in a hands-on art project related to the lesson. The allotted time for the lesson and art project is usually 30-45 minutes. Dates and times of the lesson are determined by the volunteer(s) and the classroom teacher together.

NO EXPERIENCE OR EXPERTISE REQUIRED!

Please sign up for your child's classroom here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CAEAD2FA0F8CF8-51630832-chestnutwold#/.
Also, please contact Oksana Mykhed (mykhed@gmail.com) with any questions.

Lunch and Recess Volunteers

Calling All Amazing Community Members!

Volunteer Opportunity for Lunch and Recess Supervision

To sign up or inquire about this opportunity, click HERE or the Signup Genius button on the right. Your commitment, no matter how big or small, will make a significant difference in our school community.

Thank you for considering this valuable opportunity to contribute to our students' well-being and growth. Together, we can continue to create a positive and enriching environment at Chestnutwold. Please note that all volunteers must have up-to-date clearances on file with the district prior to your volunteering time. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact Ronnie Moss at 610-853-5900 ext 8000.

Clearances

Opportunities may arise this school year where you will be able to visit your child's classroom. Make sure to have your background checks and clearances completed and turned into the main office for you to attend these special events.

For those who wish to be a School Volunteer, state law now requires the Pennsylvania Criminal History Record (Act 34), Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151) and FBI Federal Criminal History Record check, and they are updated every five (5) years in order to continue as a volunteer. Original forms must be brought to the office of the school where you will volunteer and they will be forwarded to the District‘s central administrative offices for review.

There is now an alternative to the FBI check if you have resided in Pennsylvania for the last ten years. Please see below for the link to the Affidavit you need to submit.

The process can be initiated online and produces clearances quickly. Please follow the links below for each of the three (3) clearances.
1. The Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Check (Act 34) can be done online with almost immediate confirmation. Volunteers are no longer required to pay a fee after July 25, 2015.
- Go to https://epatch.pa.gov and click on “New Volunteer Record Check” and follow the instructions. At the end of the process, please print the certification form as proof of submission.
2. The Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151) can be completed online for the quickest result.
- Go to https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS You will create a login for your Keystone ID#. This includes a combination of letters and numbers you create for yourself. A credit card is required for the $10 processing fee.
3. The FBI Federal Criminal History Record requires a 2-step process including online registration and fingerprinting taken digitally at a registered site. However, if you have been a Pennsylvania resident for the past ten (10) years, and have not been convicted of enumerated offenses, you may submit the Affidavit at this link, in lieu of the FBI fingerprinting check.
- Go to https://uenroll.identogo.com/ to register. There is a fee for this clearance which includes an automatically mailed unofficial copy of the results to the applicant. The volunteer code is 1KG6ZJ
- Once you have registered, proceed to an approved fingerprinting site to be digitally fingerprinted.
- Please bring all clearance documentation in a sealed envelope with your name to the school office for review by central administration.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Sheron Brown-Greene, Human Resources Office at 610-853-5900 ext.7000.

Upon completion, please be sure to print out confirmation / receipt; clearances should be submitted to Ms. Moss in the main office. Submissions can also be sent electronically to Ms. Moss @ vmoss@haverfordsd.net.

Resources for Families

Chestnutwold Handbook HERE

Elementary Handbook HERE

District's FERPA Website HERE

Floor Hockey Schedule

Box Tops for Education

Our school is participating in Box Tops for Education, which means that you can earn cash with the products you already buy to help our school get the supplies it needs. Our goal this year is to earn $350 through Box Tops. So far we have earned $37, more than 10% of the way there! Here’s how you can help:

Download the Box Tops app on your phone and follow instructions on how to set up an account. Use this link to earn 25 bonus box tops when you sign up!
Shop as you normally would.
Use the app to snap a photo of your receipt or submit a digital one within 14 days of purchase. The app will identify any Box Tops participating products and credit them to our school. You can also connect your Box Tops and Walmart accounts. Once your accounts are connected, your school will get credit for any Box Tops products you buy at Walmart when you pay with the saved payment method in your Walmart wallet.
Twice a year, our school will get a check, and the funds will directly benefit the Chestnutwold student community.

Let’s see how much we can earn!

Be a Bridge Video

Chestnutwold PTO

Click the image to be redirected to the PTO website.

Fresh Schools

In order to receive updates and communication from the Chestnutwold PTO, you will need to sign up for Fresh Schools. Click the image for directions.

Chestnutwold Handbook (click here)

Chestnutwold Schedule

8:35 a.m. - 1st Bell (students may enter the building, unpack, and prepare for the day)

8:45 a.m. - 2nd Bell (learning begins)

3:30 p.m. - Dismissal

Kindergarten:

AM: 8:45 AM – 11:25 AM

PM: 12:50 PM – 3:30 PM

Classroom instruction begins promptly at 8:45 AM. All children begin the school day with Morning Meeting, and it is a favorite part of the school day! We value every minute of the school day with our students!