Whoooo's Talking
The electronic newsletter of Cynwyd Elementary School
April 25, 2008
DATES TO REMEMBER
- May 2 Pre-order plant sale delivery
- May 6&7 Jr. Olympics for 4th & 5th Grades
- May 9 French Festival
H.S.A. UPDATE AND REMINDERS
What a week! Kudos to our 5th Graders and the entire school community for their random acts of kindness and participation in Cynwyd's Second Annual Walk-a-Thon. Now it's time to walk another line -- the volunteer line, that is! PLEASE TAKE SPECIAL NOTE THIS WEEK of new postings to our newsletter and of the following committees that still need volunteers for the 2008-2009 school year. (Lost the sign-up form? Have questions? Please contact Susan Baren-Pearson ASAP. Phone: 610 668 0970; Email: barenpearson@comcast.net.)
2008-2009 Cynwyd HSA Volunteers Needed - FOR COMMITTEES:
- Adopt-a-Book
- Art Program Liaison
- Artsonia
- Art Show Concessions
- Bingo Night (1 additional person needed)
- Book Club (4th & 5th Grades)
- HSA Bulletin Board
- Chess Club
- ISC Art Show
- Pancake Breakfast
- Photography
- Scholarship Fund Liaison
- School Board Observer (2 people needed)
- Science Club
- Scrabble Club
- Trick or Treat for UNICEF
2008-2009 Cynwyd HSA Volunteers Needed - FOR GRADE LEVEL:
- Kindergarten Chair (1 additional person needed)
- 4th grade Chair (1 or 2 additional parents/guardians needed)
- 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony Chair
- 5th Grade Play (1 or 2 additional parents/guardians needed)
SPRINGTIME IN PARIS! What could be better? How about May at the Festival Français at Cynwyd Elementary? That's right, the Annual Cynwyd French Festival is fast approaching and we need many volunteers to make it another fun day for everyone! The creation of this event for over 350 students requires many helping hands! Sign up sheets went out last week in Thursday envelopes, so mark the morning of Friday, May 9 on your calendar and sign up to volunteer! There are many opportunities to help out both before and on the day of the Festival. Please email Madame Wells or Madame Infield if you would like to help or if you have any questions. WELLSM@LMSD.org or infielg@lmsd.org
Merci!
SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS: This just in from Cynwyd's School Board Representative... The school district has begun the process of planning to revise the attendance borders for the school year beginning 2009. A subcommittee of board members has been formed to guide the redistricting process (Jerold Novick, Linda Doucette-Ashman, and Susan Guthrie). They are close to selecting a Facilitator/Consultant to gather community input on redistricting. The selection will be presented at a newly scheduled board meeting next Monday, April 28, 8 pm, at the LMHS library). The facilitator will make a presentation at the meeting. Community input will be solicited as part of Phase 1 of the redistricting process. After community input in May and June, there will be a community advisory committee working with district transportation experts to propose new attendance borders (Phase 2, during the summer). The board will approve (perhaps after some adjustments) the plan (Phase 3, by November). The school board has identified several “non-negotiable” goals for redistricting: 1) Two high schools of equal size (and 2 middle schools of equal size). 2) Even out the enrollment in the elementary schools. 3) The new plan must not require any new school buses. Community input is expected to include issues of grandfathering, especially for high school seniors, and maximizing walkers (which is consistent with not increasing the school bus fleet).
MOVING ON... If you have a 5th grader who is headed to Bala Cynwyd Middle School next year and you would like to stay involved in school activities, consider taking an active role on the BC HSA. Nominations for the VP for 6th Grade seat currently are being accepted ('08-'09). (Two people needed for this role.) Note that there are several volunteers representing the other elementary schools, but few from Cynwyd. The BC HSA is trying to have equal representation from all of the feeder schools. The role entails attending monthly meetings and organizing two programs at the grade level for parents/guardians. Interested? Please call Sandi Kirschner at 610 649 3216.
Spring Cleaning! Join your Cynwyd neighbors THIS WEEKEND for some spring cleaning! Saturday & Sunday, April 26 & 27 9am - 1pm, at the Cynwyd Trail! For more info, link to www.lowermerion.org.
April Showers Bring May Flowers... Get ready you green thumbs!! The pre-order plant sale pick-up day is Friday, May 2. If you can volunteer for this FUNdraising H.S.A. activity - or if you have any questions regarding the Pre-Order Plant Sale - please contact either Margaret Shepard (610) 949-9521/mpshepard@aol.com or Erica Rachlin (610) 664-6868/erachlin@comcast.net.
Clowning Around
Save the Date! Friday, June 6 is the date of the annual Cynwyd Carnival. This event occurs each spring and it's one of our school's capstone events! The Carnival Committee is in need of a computer and graphics savvy volunteer (parent/guardian) to assist with (computer) production of signage in emailable formats. Please contact Cathie Dopkin at cdopkin@comcast.net if you can help with this very important job.
TAKE A B-I-K-E HIKE! The Lower Merion Bike Hike is scheduled for Sunday, May 18. Look for flyers in upcoming Thursday folders and save the date for a terrific district wide program.
***ONGOING H.S.A. INITIATIVES***
Eyeglasses for El Salvador:
Please note that collection is ongoing -- prescription glasses, in good condition, as well as nonprescription sunglasses are accepted. Children's glasses are especially needed. Please bring your donations to the school office. Your generosity continues to transform peoples' lives! Questions? Need more info? Please contact Joan Batista - 610 660 0745; or via email, batistaj@aol.com.
Lower Merion Township Scholarship Fund
Tribute cards are a great way to say happy birthday, thank you, etc! Should you wish to purchase cards, please contact Janet Handleman, Cynwyd representative and board member of the Lower Merion Township Scholarship Fund: 610 617 9238 or ziggy130@comcast.net. The Lower Merion Township Scholarship Fund is a community effort to provide scholarship aid for graduates of the Lower Merion School District. The tribute cards (3 for $30) are purchased and used to remember friends and relatives on anniversaries, birthdays, confirmation, graduation days, and all occasions, sad or joyful. These cards do not conflict with the LMSD policy of gifts to teachers and are a perfect tribute to educators who you want to recognize or thank. For more information, please visit www.lmtsf.org.
ADOPT-A-BOOK
Is there a special birthday around the corner? Would you like to honor your student? Consider Adopt-a-Book! Please contact Juli Gruber-May, H.S.A. President (jgm510@verizon.net) should you have any questions regarding Cynwyd's new Adopt-a-Book program.
WHOO'S TALKING REGISTRATION
Whoo's Talking, Cynwyd Elementary's H.S.A. electronic newsletter, Includes important Information and dates to remember. Should you know of any parent/guardian who has not yet signed up for the Cynwyd listserv, please encourage them to subscribe by going to www.lmsd.org and clicking on "E-News Registration." Should you have questions, please contact Claudia Baker at cbaker4@comcast.net. Whoo's Talking will be sent electronically every week via the listserv. To submit articles for publication, please contact Susan Baren-Pearson at barenpearson@comcast.net. |
