The Chatham Chat

Start off with Maniac Magee

This is the 14th year for the Maniac Magee Run for the Homeless.  The race begins at 9:00AM.  This event includes a two-mile road race and a one-mile walk in the Chatham Park neighborhood of Havertown and benefits the Norristown Salvation Army.  Chatham Park is the Norristown Salvation Army’s biggest contributor. The two-mile road race is a great first race for younger runners and families.  If you are interested in taking part in the race click here for a registration form.

Race bags will be sent home with your oldest child on Friday May 18.  If you don’t receive a bag and you have pre-registered, please check at the registration table on the morning of the race.

Then Head Over to the May Fair

This year the May Fair is making some changes.  The fun will begin and 10:00AM and won’t end until 2:00PM.  There will be activities such as Moonbounces, Sand Art, Face paint, new games and more.  Unlimited games and prizes will be offered with the purchase of a May Fair bracelet!  The deadline for $10 bracelets is tomorrow Wednesday May 16,  click here for the order form.  All bracelets bought at the fair will be $15.  If you have any questions please contact Megan Salvesen at megansalvesen@hotmail.com.

Tickets for food will be available for purchase the day of the event.  Also, as a special addition teachers will be there to help with the popcorn!

We Need Help!

If you are interested in volunteering to help with this even click here to sign up and volunteer! Any help you can give would be appreciated. It takes a lot of helpers to make events like this successful. All the positions are very easy and the kids have so much fun.  If you have any questions please contact Yoonie Hong at yoonie5399@yahoo.com.

It is a great way to spend a day with the family!

Teacher Appreciation Lunch

HUGE thank you to all parents for another very successful Staff Appreciation Luncheon on Friday.  Thank you to all who contributed food, money, or drinks.  We also want to thank all of you who helped set up or clean up.  Your hard work is much appreciated!

14th Annual Maniac Magee Run for the Homeless

Chatham Park Elementary School will be hosting the 14th Annual Maniac Magee Run for the Homeless on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 9 a.m. This event includes a two-mile road race and a one-mile walk in the Chatham Park neighborhood of Havertown and benefits the Norristown Salvation Army. The two-mile road race is a great first race for younger runners and families.  You can click here for a registration form.

We still need volunteers for pre-race and race-day help!  If you are interested, click here for more information.

May Fair Helpers Needed

Chatham Park Mayfair is on Saturday, May 19^th this year.  We really need your help to make this event run smoothly.  Please consider volunteering.  Your kids will love you for it.  Please click here to sign up and volunteer!

All the positions are very easy and the kids have so much fun.  Please feel free to email me if you have any issues volunteering at yoonie5399@yahoo.com. Thank you in advance for your help and hope to see you on May 19^th!

Get Your May fair Bracelets!

Unlimited games and prizes with the purchase of a May Fair bracelet! All bracelets purchased by May 16^th will be $10 after the 16^th you will need to buy them at the fair for $15 each. You may buy bracelets for younger siblings as well as Chatham students. Click here for more details and to get your order form. If you have any questions please contact Megan Salvesen at megansalvesen@hotmail.com.

Art Show Thank you

Ms. Cohan would like to thank all the Art Parents who volunteered their time and efforts to help with the Art Show preparations.

3^rd Grade Service Club

We will be meeting for the final time Wednesday, May 16th. We will start our meeting in the Cafeteria at 3:30. We will then be moving to the playground to finish up our project of cleaning up the grounds and helping Mrs. Saunders with planting. We were able to raise just under $300 with our Hats for Helping day. We will use that money to purchase: materials to clean up the school grounds,  some plantings, and new playground equipment for the 2012-2013 school year. We will conclude our day with a water ice party. Please pick your children up at the playground at 4:30. Thank you for all of your support this year and we are looking forward to hopefully working with you all again next year!

Upcoming Dates

• May 19^th Maniac Magee & May Fair
• May 22^nd Track Meet
• May 25^th Field Day
• June 6^th HASA Meeting
• June 13^th Fifth Grade Awards

Reminder

Check out the community links page for updates in our community!

Friday May 11

• Teacher Appreciation Day – wear your Phillies gear in honor of the baseball themed lunch for the teachers! Also please remember to bring in what ever you volunteered for.
• Last day for sponsorship forms (click here) for Maniac Magee.
•  Deadline for 5^th grade baby pictures for inclusion in the yearbook.
•  Final day for the used soccer gear collection.
•  Half day for students.  AM kindergarten is off, PM kindergarten comes in the morning.

Wear Your Phillies Gear!

Wear your favorite Phillies shirt in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day! Friday, May 11th HASA will be hosting the baseball themed teacher appreciation lunch. Wear your favorite Phillies t-shirt or any red t-shirt to show our teachers how much we appreciate all they do!

Early Dismissal

Friday May 11^th is an ACT 80 early dismissal for grades 1-5. AM kindergarten has no school PM kindergarten will report in the AM.

Get Your May fair Bracelets!

Unlimited games and prizes with the purchase of a May Fair bracelet! All bracelets purchased by May 16^th will be $10. After the 16^th you will need to buy them at the fair for $15 each. You may buy bracelets for younger siblings as well as Chatham students. Click here for more details and to get your order form. If you have any questions please contact Megan Salvesen at megansalvesen@hotmail.com.

Last Day June 15th

The school board has officially changed the last day of school to June 15^th. Kindergarten will have their last day on June 14^th.

Used Soccer Gear Collection

The collection of gently used soccer and coaching gear for donation to the Kensington Soccer Club in Philadelphia will be extended to Friday, May 11th.  Thank you to all who have already generously donated such great items as: soccer flats and cleats, soccer shin guards and socks, soccer balls and bags, as well as cones, clipboards, etc.

Field Day Orders

Just a reminder Field Day shirt and short orders are due this Wednesday May^9th.  Click here for and image of the shorts and a sizing chart. If you need another order form click here and be sure to ask your child which team they are on. The shirts cost $5. The girls knit shorts will be $10 and the boys mesh shorts will be $12.  If you have any other questions please contact Sally Braud at geauxbraud@hotmail.com .

14^th Annual Maniac Magee Run for the Homeless

Chatham Park Elementary School will be hosting the 14^th Annual Maniac Magee Run for the Homeless on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 9 a.m.  This event includes a two-mile road race and a one-mile walk in the Chatham Park neighborhood of Havertown and benefits the Norristown Salvation Army.  The two-mile road race is a great first race for younger runners and families.  Registration forms will be coming home this week or you can click here and get a head start.

The deadline to be a business or family sponsor has been extended to Friday May 11^th.  If you are interested in being a sponsor for this great event or to volunteer your time, click here for more information.

Chatham Park Art Show

The Chatham Park Art Show will be Wednesday, May 9th from 6-8pm. We hope that you can attend the 2012 Chatham Park Art Show to view all of the beautiful works of art that the students have created during the year.

When you come, please bring a dessert, healthy snack or drink to share to the cafeteria before touring the talent-filled halls of Chatham Park!  This is sure to be an exciting evening for students and parents alike!

Attention ALL 5th Grade Parents

The Yearbook is nearly complete but we still need a baby picture (< 1 yr. old) of each 5th grade student to be submitted by May 11th. If you haven’t done so already you can either email your child’s hi-res photo to Monica at rosewoodenshoes@hotmail.com or send it in an envelope labeled “Yearbook Committee” with your child’s name and homeroom teacher. On the back of the photo attach a return address label so it can be identified and returned. Any questions feel free to contact Christine Langenau at yearbookchatham@verizon.net.

Calling all 5th Graders for Sidewalk Chalk Decorating

Tuesday, May 8th from 3:30-4:15 pm we will be advertising the Chatham Art Show through chalk design.  Feel free to bring your own chalk or use the chalk provided.  Questions feel free to call Julie Schultz, 215-460-2786

Upcoming Dates

• May 8^th The Plants Musical Assembly
• May 9^th Chatham Park Art Show
• May 11^th Teacher Appreciation
• May 19^th Maniac Magee & May Fair
• May 22^nd Track Meet
• May 25^th Field Day

REMINDERS

Check out the Haverford Middle School Language Arts teacher who’s been chosen as a Top 10 finalist for the TeachHUB.com Teacher Talent Contest!  Click here to check out his submission and vote if you’d like.  Who knows, when your child gets to HMS they might be able to say they helped him win.

We have tried very hard this year to send the Chatham Chat email only once a week and we are going to try and keep that up through the remainder of the school year.  There could be some upcoming weeks though that require a second email to make sure everyone is aware of all of the exciting happenings at Chatham Park as the year winds down.  We apologize in advance for multiple postings.

Field Day Orders

Keep your eyes peeled as the students have received their Field Day order forms as well as their team assignments. If you have not seen the order form please ask your child for it. If it is lost you can click here to get another copy but you will need to contact your child’s homeroom teacher to confirm which team they have been assigned, the white team or the red team. The t-shirts cost $5.

This year you also have the option of purchasing shorts on the order form. The girls knit shorts will be $10 and the boys mesh shorts will be $12. They will both be black shorts with a red imprint. Click here for an image of the shorts and a sizing chart.

All orders will be due May 9^th. If you have any questions please contact Sally Braud at geauxbraud@hotmail.com.

Be a Maniac Magee Sponsor

The deadline to be a business or family sponsor has been extended to Friday May 11^th. This year will mark the 14^th year Chatham Park will be hosting the Maniac Magee Run for the Homeless.  The proceeds of the run are donated to the Norristown Salvation Army. If you are interested in being a sponsor for this great event or to volunteer your time, click here for more information.

Chatham Park Art Show

We hope that you can attend the 2012 Chatham Park Art Show May 9th from 6:00-8:00pm to view all of the beautiful works of art that the students have created during the year.  An invitation, designed by a student in each grade, will be coming home soon to remind you of the date.

When you come, please bring a dessert, healthy snack or drink to share to the cafeteria before touring the talent-filled halls of Chatham Park!  This is sure to be an exciting evening for students and parents alike!

Interested in Helping?

Mrs. Cohan needs some volunteers to help hang the art in the hallways the week of April 30th-May 4th.  If you would like to help please contact  Ellen Cohan at ecohan@havsd.net.

Upcoming Dates

• May 4^th  HASA Board Meeting
• May 8^th  The Plants Musical Assembly
• May 9^th  Chatham Park Art Show
• May 11^th  Teacher Appreciation
• May 19^th  Maniac Magee & May Fair
• May 22^nd  Track Meet
• May 25^th  Field Day

HASA Board Meeting This Friday Morning

There will be a HASA Board Meeting on Friday May 4 at 9am in the school cafeteria.  All are welcome to attend!  If you find it difficult to make it to the evening HASA meetings, here is another opportunity to find out what is going on and how you can get involved.  Contact Becky O’Hara at 610.853.0233 or becky.ohara@verizon.net or Jen Reimer at 610.789.2976 or jreimer@comcast.net with any questions, comments or concerns.

Mayfair

Save the date!  Mayfair is Saturday, May 19th from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the school.
There will be games, prizes, moonbounces, and much more.  It’s a fun day for all!
Look for more information in upcoming weeks.

Used Soccer Gear Collection 4/26-5/10

The Golden Apple

The deadline the Golden Apple forms is Monday April 30^th!  Those who complete the Golden Apple program will receive a golden apple cut out with their name and an invitation to the Golden Apple awards May 22^nd for 1^st and 2^nd grade and May 25 for 3^rd through 5^th grades.

Teacher Appreciation Lunch

Paris in Spring time, no wait it is a Luau??? No, no, no, this year it is Take Me Out to the Ballgame! If your child received a notice about the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon, some of the information was incorrect. Look for an updated notice to come home on Monday about this years baseball themed Teacher Appreciation Lunch which will be held on May 11^th.

Art Show Show Help Needed!

The Chatham Park Art Show  will be held on Wednesday May 9th.  Mrs. Cohan needs some  volunteers to help hang the art in the hallways the week of April 30th-May 4th.  If you would like to help please contact  Ellen Cohan at ecohan@havsd.net.

Make a Plate

All the students 1^st through 4^th grades have had a chance to finish their drawings for make a plate, if you want your child’s drawing turned into a plate and have not sent in your $6, please do so by April 27^th.  If you need to print an order form please click here.  If you have any questions/concerns please call Jen Reimer at 610.316.9292.

4^th Grade Service Club

We are having a service club meeting on Wednesday April 25^th right after school in the cafeteria from 3:30 to 4:00pm.  Parents are welcome to come with some ideas for our spring fundraiser.  If you have any questions please call Jolie Csernica at 610.551.3105.

5^th Grade Service Club

The 5^th Grade Service Club’s next meeting will be on Thurs, April 26^th in the cafeteria from 3:30-4:30pm.  We are going to work on a creative project and plan our activities for the rest of the school year.

Upcoming Dates

• April 26^th  Spring Concert
• May 4^th  HASA Board Meeting
• May 8^th  The Plants Musical Assembly
• May 9^th  Chatham Park Art Show
• May 11^th  Teacher Appreciation
• May 19^th  Maniac Magee & May Fair
• May 22^nd Track Meet
• May 25^th Field Day

Hats for Helping

This Friday April 20^th the Third Grade Service Club will be sponsoring Hats for Helping. This will be a day were students can pay $1 and then wear their hats in school for the day. All they have to do is wear a hat and bring a dollar. Money will be collected in homeroom the day of the event. No dollar no hat. Then with the help of the beautification committee the third graders will be working to clean up the playground, plant some flowers and possibly get some new balls for recess. So remember this Friday send the kids with a hat and a dollar!

Teacher Appreciation Day is Friday May 11

We will be celebrating Teacher Appreciation Day on Friday May 11, with a luncheon for the teachers at 11:30am.  This year’s theme is Sports!   There will be a planning meeting Thursday April 19 at 9:00am in the Chatham Park cafeteria.  Keep an eye out for information on volunteering donations of time, food or funds coming home soon or contact Duska Eder at duska121@verizon.net if you would like to help.

Anti-Bullying

At Chatham Park and as a District, bullying is taken very seriously.  Click here for the information the school is  providing on the school website, it is designed to serve as a quick reference on the topic.

The School Guidance program provides instruction to children (K – 5) on how to understand the difference between teasing and bullying and what to do when bullying happens.  For more detailed information click here.

Haverford Education Foundation Twilight Run & Walk

It’s time to lace up your sneakers and register for the Haverford Township School District Education Foundation Twilight Run and Walk on April 28, 2012.  Race day registration begins at 4 p.m. at Haverford High School.  There will be a 1-mile elementary school challenge at 5 p.m., and Chatham Park has won the trophy the last two years!  The 5K race and walk begin at 5:15 p.m.

This year there will be an iPad drawing for participants ages 18 and under.  Monies raised by the HTSD Education Foundation via previous Twilight Runs were used to fund the $10,000 grant that Chatham Park was awarded earlier this year for our new broadcasting studio.  Click here to register.

Spirit Wear for 5^th Graders

We are sad that soon you will be leaving Chatham Park but it is time to start gearing up for some Middle School spirit.  Click here before Monday April 23 to get a jump on ordering new Haverford Middle School spirit wear!

Upcoming Dates

• April 18^th  Recorder Concert
• April 24^th  No School for Students
• April 26^th  Spring Concert
• May 4^th HASA Board Meeting
• May 8^th The Plants Musical Assembly
• May 9^th Chatham Park Art Show

Reminder

Last spring, the Haverford School District calendar was changed because the tentative primary election In-Service Day was moved from May 15 to April 24. All updated district calendars reflect the change to April 24.

Please remember that May 15 is a regular work/school day.

Golden Apple

Many students are making great progress toward earning the Golden Apple Reading Award!  Just a reminder, the deadline to complete the Golden Apple is April 30, so encourage your kids to keep reading!  Click here if you need more information on the golden apple program.

14th Annual Maniac Magee Run for the Homeless

On Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 9 a.m., Chatham Park Elementary School will be hosting the 14th Annual Maniac Magee Run for the Homeless, the proceeds of which are donated to the Norristown Salvation Army. This two-mile run and one-mile walk through the Chatham Park neighborhood is a great first race for new runners and for families looking to run or walk together. For more information and how you can help click here.

Young Writers Day a Success!

Our annual Young Writers Day, held on March 30, was a success! Nineteen authors, lyricists, poets and storytellers met with the students to talk about the writing process and engage their creativity. Click here for information about the writers that participated in this year’s Young Writers Day.

Third Grade Service Club

Wednesday, April 11^th we will be meeting from 3:30-4:30 in the cafeteria to work on our final service club project. We are going to be working on posters for our first fundraiser. The third graders will be hosting Chatham Park’s first Hats for Helping day. Each student can pay a dollar and students will then get to wear their hat in school for a day. Hats for Helping day will be Friday April, 20^th. We are going to be using the funds to purchase some new balls and different items for the playground as well as cleaning up the litter and possibly planting some flowers in the playground area. We are still working out the details. Hope to see everyone there.

Upcoming Dates

• April 18^th  Recorder Concert
• April 26^th  Spring Concert
• May 4^th HASA Board Meeting
• May 8^th The Plants Musical Assembly
• May 9^th Chatham Park Art Show

HASA Meeting Wednesday

The next Home & School Association meeting will be this Wednesday, March 28, at 7pm in the school library. Agenda items will include Principal Marsella’s update on anticipated building renovations and projections for 2012-13 enrollment and HASA Event/Activity updates from committee leaders.  We may also have information regarding the School District of Haverford Township 2012-13 budget. The tentative agenda can be found here. If you would like to have something added to the agenda, please click here to submit your topic or question.

Meetings are typically under an hour long. Attending is a great way to get involved and have an impact on all that is going on at Chatham Park.

Young Writers Day is this Friday

Nineteen poets, lyricists and authors will be visiting Chatham Park Elementary this Friday, March 30, for our annual Young Writers Day.  In the morning each homeroom will have at least one writer join their classroom for a time to discuss what it’s like to be a writer and to work on a project with the students.

In the afternoon students will enjoy an assembly with storyteller Vicky Town who blends humor, mime, and audience participation to create a delightful and zany cast of characters.  Her stories include international folk and fairy tales, stories of magic and enchantment, and stories of the courageous and the clever.  Morning kindergarteners are invited to attend the assembly at 1:30pm with their parent or caregiver.

Don’t forget to ask your child what they learned from the writers they met on Friday!

14^th Annual Maniac Magee Run for the Homeless

On Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 9 a.m., Chatham Park Elementary School will be hosting the 14^th Annual Maniac Magee Run for the Homeless, the proceeds of which are donated to the Norristown Salvation Army. This two-mile run and one-mile walk through the Chatham Park neighborhood is a great first race for new runners and for families looking to run or walk together.

The key to raising money for the Norristown Salvation Army is sponsors.  We know many of you and your families and friends own businesses and provide services to Chatham families. To make this wonderful event a success- WE NEED YOUR HELP! Click here to review the sponsorship forms.

We have donated over $70,000 in the past 13 years and this year the Salvation Army Family Shelter System needs our help more than ever. We have been recognized as the Family Shelter System’s greatest annual contributor and in order to continue that tradition we need your assistance!

Volunteer as a SPONSOR, planning committee member or race day marshal.

Please contact Dan Marsella at 610-853-5900 x1000 or marsella@havsd.net or Eileen Donaghy at ebstudley@aol.com or 610-449-4634 to donate your time, money or ideas.

Enjoy Spring Break!

Upcoming Dates

• March 28^th   HASA Meeting
• March 30^th   Young Writers Day
• April 2^nd-9^th   Spring Break
• April 25^th   Recorder Concert
• May 1^st   Spring Concert
• May 4^th   HASA Board Meeting
• May 8^th   The Plants Musical Assembly