CSD Weekly Update

Dear Centennial Families,

I hope this finds you well, and that the school year is off to a positive start for your family. We are two weeks into the new year, and already there are many exciting things happening across our district, as you’ll see in this newsletter and in the updates from your child’s school. I continue to be impressed by the dedication of our staff and the strong support of our community, all in service to our students.

As with any new year, challenges arise, and one of the biggest we are currently facing is within our transportation system. Some families have experienced delays with bus schedules and drop-offs, and I want to acknowledge the impact this has had. Reliable transportation is essential, and I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience these disruptions have caused.

Two main factors have contributed to the delays: ongoing staffing shortages and technical issues following a system update at the start of the year, which affected some bus routes and rosters. Like many districts, we continue to face driver shortages; still, our current drivers have gone above and beyond to cover additional routes and support one another, and I am grateful for their commitment. We are in the process of onboarding five new drivers, though training takes time, and we continue to recruit for both permanent and substitute positions. At the same time, our transportation team is working diligently to resolve the technical challenges so that schedules run smoothly.

We recognize this situation is not what families expect at the start of the school year, and we are committed to restoring consistency in our bus service. As a parent myself, I understand how frustrating delays can be, and I appreciate your patience as we work toward solutions. Please know that the safety and well-being of our students remains our highest priority, and we will continue to work and bring resolution to these issues.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our transportation department at 215-441-6000, ext. 11061. Thank you for your understanding and support as we continue to make adjustments to ensure all of our students arrive at school and home safely, and on time.

Sincerely,

Abe Lucabaugh

The William Tennent High School Marching Band had an unforgettable opportunity to showcase their talent and school spirit at the FOX 29 Eagles Pep Rally! Performing the beloved Fly Eagles Fly fight song, the band energized the crowd and proudly represented Panther Pride on a big stage.

Adding to the excitement, Chickie’s & Pete’s generously treated our student musicians to their famous Crabfries after the performance—a delicious way to celebrate a day full of music, community, and Eagles spirit.

We are so proud of our Marching Panthers for their hard work, dedication, and for making William Tennent High School shine in front of the Philadelphia community.

Scientists abound at Klinger! Mrs. Wilson's seventh-grade students recently completed a hands-on Cup Stacking Lab that combined teamwork, problem-solving, and a touch of engineering! Using only strings and collaboration, teams were challenged to stack cups into specific structures without directly touching them. The activity encouraged critical thinking, communication, and creativity—proving that learning can be both fun and functional. It was an exciting way to build STEM skills while reinforcing the power of cooperation.

This summer, a remarkable group of 33 eighth graders at Klinger Middle School came together to form the inaugural WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) Leader club. This initiative marked a significant milestone for our school, as these dedicated students committed three days of their summer to prepare for an important task: welcoming and orienting our incoming sixth graders.

During the first two days of training, the WEB Leaders engaged in various activities designed to equip them with essential leadership skills. They focused on developing a range of fun and informative activities that would help ease the transition for the new students. In addition to honing their leadership abilities, the eighth graders fostered a sense of camaraderie and teamwork, creating a supportive environment that would benefit both themselves and the sixth graders they would soon guide.

The culmination of their efforts took place on the final day of orientation, where an impressive 140 sixth graders participated. This event provided a fantastic opportunity for the new students to meet their peers, connect with their WEB Leaders, and familiarize themselves with the layout and culture of their new school. The WEB Leaders played a crucial role in creating a welcoming atmosphere, ensuring that each sixth grader felt a sense of belonging right from the start of their middle school journey.

Students were excited to choose backpacks in their favorite colors and patterns, and each one was filled with important school supplies—like folders, notebooks, pencils, pencil cases, glue sticks, and more. It was a great way to help our students feel ready and confident as they head into the new school year.

We want to give a heartfelt thank you to Magic Charities for their generous donation of backpacks and supplies. Their support made this event possible and helped so many of our students start the year off strong.

We’re grateful for community partners who care about kids and make a real difference!

Gonzalez overcame a form of brain cancer called medulloblastoma to return to the William Tennent football team this season as a senior. We could not be happier to see Gonzalez on the field for our team! PhillyBurbs has highlighted his journey, click below to read about it!

William Tennent High School won against Cheltenham on Wednesday. They were the clear victors by a 6-0 margin over Cheltenham. The victory continues a trend for William Tennent in their matchups with Cheltenham: they've now won seven in a row. Let's go team!

Anyone who is interested in joining sports at William Tennent and have more questions should contact the following coaches for more details specific to your sport. Visit our Contact a Coach webpage today.

The William Tennent Marching Band would like to congratulate our director, Mr. Nick Seifert, on a great 4th season performing with the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Crops. Based out of Hawthorne NJ, the Caballeros compete in the all-age class of Drum Corps International. The corps completed their season with a silver medal performance at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Indiana. Mr. Seifert was also named Caballero of the Year for his above and beyond dedication to the organization. Congratulations!

CSD families are encouraged to sign up for the $30 accidental damage insurance to help protect new student Chromebooks and iPads. This insurance is optional and offered to Centennial families who want the peace of mind of having their child’s device insured for accidental damage for the upcoming school year. Accidental insurance covers accidental drops, spills, cracked screens, or broken keyboards that result in the device being unusable and needing to be replaced. Accidental insurance DOES NOT cover device chargers, intentional damage, vandalism, or abuse/neglect of the device.

The insurance fee can be paid by check or directly in Skyward Q by following our helpful stepper guide. As a reminder, you will NOT see the option to pay this fee when viewing ALL students. Please view each of your students separately to pay this fee (Option 1- Step 2 of stepper guide.) Payment will be accepted until September 30, 2025.

Please be aware that during the month of September, all students in Grades 6-12 will participate in our annual AI Student Training. This will take place during WIN (Grades 6-8) and during English classes (Grades 9-12) and is offered in Canvas. Students will learn about the fundamentals of AI, potential bias in AI, responsible use of AI in school, and the future potential of AI in their communities. As part of the training, students will engage in our district-supported AI tools- Code.org, Google Gemini/ Notebook LM, and Magic Student. As all parents/ guardians are auto-connected to students as observers in Canvas, you are also encouraged to review the AI Student Training course with your student.

Spread the word that Centennial School District is hiring!

Check out our employment webpage for a complete list of vacancies. https://www.centennialsd.org/employment

If you know anyone who might be interested in these positions, please have them apply. We offer competitive rates, excellent perks, and benefits, including a pension. For questions, please call 215-441-6000, Ext. 11034.

Free and Reduced Meals

• Applications may be submitted any time during the school year.

• All information is confidential.

• Meal transactions are computerized—there is no identification of free or reduced-price meal participants.

• More information: www.centennialsd.org/page/free-reduced-meals

• Questions? Contact the Food & Nutrition Assistant ☎ 215-441-6000 ext. 11023.

Free School Breakfast Program 2025 - 2026

• All Centennial School District students will receive free school breakfast for the 2025–2026 school year.

• Funded through the USDA, the PA Department of Education, and a $46.5 million state budget increase signed by Gov. Shapiro.

Program Requirements:

• Operates on an offer vs. serve basis – schools must offer all 4 breakfast components daily:
  

1. Fruit/Vegetable

2. Milk

3. Protein

4. Grain
   

• To count as a free meal, students must take at least 3 components, and one must be a fruit or vegetable.

• Example: 2 fruits + milk = a meal.

Making a Payment to your Child's Food Service Account

• Paying cash: For elementary students, put money in an envelope with your child's name, keypad number and the word "Cafeteria" written on the outside and send it to school. For secondary students, money can be paid at the register.

• Paying by check: Make checks out to "CSD Food Service" and use the instructions above.

• Paying on-line: See information below to pay with schoolcafe.com.

• SchoolCafe Tutorial: https://www.centennialsd.org/page/payment-options

• School Cafe contact information: ☎ (855) 729-2328 or email at customercare@schoolcafe.com

The Centennial School District uses Raptor Volunteer Management System to provide a more efficient and effective process to verify and track volunteer clearances. Please visit our website (scroll down to see "How Do I Submit My Paperwork?" to learn more about our volunteer guidelines and/or to upload your clearances to Raptor Volunteer Management System.

Student Registration

Employment at CSD

District eFolder (Community Flyers)
Student and Staff Wellness
Free & Reduced Lunch Information
Lunch Menus

Are you multilingual? Would you like to earn $ and help CSD families?

Do you know someone who is multilingual and available to provide interpretation or translation services during or after school hours?

We would like to grow the list of interpreters & translators that we call upon on an as needed basis. Please share our job posting: https://www.applitrack.com/centennialsd/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Independent+Contractor

Get ready for a serious but fun afternoon of speed puzzling!

Centennial Puzzle Competition!

Saturday, October 25th

11:30am-3pm

William Tennent High School Cafeteria

Prizes for the Top 3 finishing teams!!

Raffle baskets & 50/50!

Two Categories:

Junior - Ages 8-12

Adult - Ages 13 and up

Yummy food and drinks from our snack bar!

So, get your team together and sign up today!

Pre-Register online below by October 17th:

https://www.centennialef.org/events/2025/7/7/centennial-puzzle-competition-2025

Each year, more and more people and organizations are turning to our District to help get the message out about various activities, events, fundraisers, etc. The intent of this process is to support student achievement and to provide mutual assistance and benefit through shared information. Our district spends a great deal of time collecting, reviewing, and posting flyers to the District eFolder. The District no longer is posting eFlyers to any social media outlets or the District cable channel. You may refer to Policy 913 for additional information.

Please click on this link to connect with all the community eFlyers of the month

Website: www.centennialsd.org
Location: 48 Swan Way, Warminster, PA, USA
Phone: (215) 441-6000
Facebook: facebook.com/centennialsd
Instagram: @centennialsd