#ThisIsCheltenham
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Tim Gerhardt '97 Elected to PA High School Track & Field Hall of Fame
Tim Gerhardt ‘97, a prolific middle distance runner with the Cheltenham Panthers, has been elected to the Pennsylvania High School Track & Field Hall of Fame. Gerhardt will be joining four Cheltenham Hall of Fame inductees, including sprinters Chanel Brissett (Class of 2017) and Rowland Simson (Class of 1954), middle distance runner John Lewis (Class of 2015), and Coach Bob Beale. The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, during the PIAA Track & Field Championship Meet at Shippensburg University.
“I was truly blown away and deeply humbled by the honor,” said Gerhardt, who ran track at West Virginia University. “Almost immediately, a rush of memories came flooding back. It was a powerful reminder of the journey, the people, and the moments that shaped my career.” Read more>
Wyncote Communication Board Project to Be Displayed at PSEA HQ
In March, Wyncote Elementary Speech-Language Pathologists Brendan Storino and Lauren Hess won one of four Pennsylvania State Education Association Innovative Teaching grants. The pair received 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. The variety of symbols, including those representing emotions, actions, and daily routines, foster a broad range of communication.
Storino and Hess recently learned that the Pennsylvania State Education Association, as part of its ongoing effort to showcase the impact of its previous grant winners, will feature their communication board project in the display case at the PSEA headquarters in Harrisburg for the remainder of this school year through next April.
The playground communication board, which was installed in time for this year’s school opening, was designed in collaboration with Resources at Lakeshore Speech.
CHS W.I.S.E. Teams Up with CES Kindergarten Classroom for Science Lesson
Cheltenham High School’s W.I.S.E club (Women in Science and Engineering) visited Cheltenham Elementary School’s room four kindergarten classroom to learn about simple machines. With popsicle sticks, rubber bands and a spoon, each group built its own catapult! While partnered with high school students, Mrs. Baron’s kindergarten class made a hypothesis about which material would “fling” the farthest: pompoms, paper or aluminum foil balls. Of course, they followed up their hypothesis with performing this fun experiment!
Myers Hosts Annual Gingerbread Jam
On Wednesday, December 17, the Myers community came together for its annual Gingerbread Jam! This tradition is a gathering that builds community and celebrates of the students' hard work, demonstration of safety, respect and responsibility.
Gingerbread Jam was made possible by the generosity of Myers families and staff who donated boxes of graham crackers, candy, marshmallows, icing and other accoutrements! Not only did the Myers community step up with donations, but some also donated their time and volunteered to help make the event run smoothly. Families of students and staff stepped up to volunteer and join in on the fun! Perhaps the most exciting part of the day was watching our kindergarten students and so many of their family members enjoy their first Gingerbread Jam. Check out photos from this fun-filled event>
WES Students Enjoy PBIS Winter Choice Event
Wednesday’s PBIS Winter Choice Events made for an exciting and joy-filled day at school! Students were empowered to choose activities that matched their interests, from cookie decorating and bracelet making to dance parties, STEM challenges, yoga, Uno, bingo, and Pokémon games. The building was filled with energy, creativity, and connection as students enjoyed time with peers while celebrating positive behavior in meaningful ways. These events highlight the heart of PBIS—building community, encouraging positive choices, and creating inclusive experiences for all. A huge thank you to the incredible staff for their time, creativity, and care in making the day so special for the students.
HBCU Recent Alumni Panel
Alumni from the Class of 2024 paid a visit to CHS to host a Black Student Union/Black Scholars Program Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) panel for juniors and seniors on Thursday afternoon. Eight recent graduates shared real talk about college life, what it takes to succeed at an HBCU, and the things they wish they had known before starting college. This was great opportunity for students to ask questions, gain insight, and learn from alumni who were sitting in the same seats just one year ago. Thank you to MéKhai Beyah, Lauren Hutcherson, Tariq Fluellen, Asante Johnson, Gabrielle McLeod, Riley Desphy, Avion Hicks and Amaya Washington for sharing their advice to current CHS students.
Calendar Reminders
Monday and Tuesday, December 22-23 - Winter Break
- Schools closed, offices open
Wednesday and Thursday, December 24-25 - Winter Break
- Schools, offices closed
Friday, December 26 - Winter Break
- Schools closed, offices open
Monday and Tuesday, December 29-30 - Winter Break
- Schools closed, offices open
Wednesday, December 31 - Thursday, January 1 - Winter Break
- Schools, offices closed
Friday, January 2 - Winter Break
- Schools closed, offices open
Friday, January 16 - Early Dismissal
- Schools dismiss at the following times: K-4 Schools, 1:20 p.m.; 6-8 Schools, 12:40 p.m.; Cheltenham High - Noon
Monday, January 19 - MLK Day
- Schools, offices closed
Cheltenham School District Calendar> | 2025-26 Academic Calendar> | CHS Athletics Calendar>
Educational Affairs - December 2025
With co-chair Dr. Ross Whiting presiding, the Educational Affairs convened in person and via video conferencing on Tuesday, December 16. The meeting opened with Rachel Girman and Mark Hoff discussing Panther Paths, which is intended to expand student opportunity by guiding course exploration without tracking or limiting choices. Using artificial intelligence and feedback from high school department chairs, Girman and Hoff have reviewed course offerings and developed a series of possible pathways based on what CHS offers and what’s popular with students. Girman and Hoff presented two types of Panther Paths: career-based and disposition-based, which will be further explored after the completion of our Portrait of a Graduate and after further stakeholder feedback. Next, the committee heard about new high school course proposals, including sophomore Ben Sampson presenting about a course on internet radio broadcasting. Other new course proposals include AP Research, Environmental Science Honors, and Internship. CHS Principal Dr. Benjamin Hammond spoke about course considerations regarding classes at the high school running with less than 15 students. The next Educational Affairs Committee meeting is Tuesday, January 20 at 7 p.m. in person and via video conferencing.
Support the Polar Bear Plunge
One of the funnest, most important fundraising events at the high school is the Polar Bear Plunge for Unified Sports, February 20, 2026, at Citizens Bank Park. In order to maintain and increase our Unified Sports of cheerleading, bocce, and track & field at CHS, we need to raise $4,000. All proceeds go directly to our Unified Sports programs.
Register and join the team to actually PLUNGE with us - or just donate. To plunge, you need to raise at least $35 on your registered page. If you are registering, please enter your shirt size on the website, so you can claim your Polar Plunge 2026 shirt.
Unified Sports pairs students with developmental disabilities with students without disabilities to work together to achieve success on the playing field and beyond. Donate to the CSD Polar Plunge Page>
