Congratulations to Beck Middle School, a 2013 National School of Character! Beck underwent a site visit in April and was notified by the Character Education Partnership of its selection on May 8. Stay tuned for details! Way to go Beck!

Click HERE for photos from the Environmental Showcase, which preceded the Board of Education meeting on May 14.  The showcase featured exhibits by the school Green Teams and environmental clubs;  many of the exhibits had been included in Sustainable Cherry Hill’s Earth Festival on April 27!  Administration and the Board of Education enjoyed the opportunity to acknowledge each school’s sustainability efforts, as well as the PTA leaders who have helped to blend the sustainability component into our district’s character education work. 

The May 20 "Community Conversation" with Dr. Reusche has been RESCHEDULED for Thursday, May 30, from 12-1 pm at the Malberg Administration Building.  Bring your lunch and your questions to this casual conversation at the Malberg Administration Building!

The New Jersey Biology Competency Test will be administered on May 21 and 22 to any student enrolled in an introductory level Biology course (H,A,R) for the 2012-2013 school year.  Biology AP and Biology II students DO NOT have to participate in this assessment.   Click HERE for a letter from our high school principals regarding the Biology Competency test administration schedule.

Are you interested in running for the Cherry Hill Board of Education?  Cherry Hill voters will elect three Board of Education members on Tuesday, November 5; nomination petitions (click HERE) must be returned to the County Clerk’s office by 4 pm on Tuesday, June 4. 

Registration is open for the Cherry Hill School District's Summer Arts Enrichment Program 2013.  Classes will be held from June 24 - July 25 in the following areas: Mixed Media Art, Beginning Band, Beginning Orchestra, Intermediate Band, Intermediate Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Elementary Chorus, and Secondary Chorus. Click HERE for details, including fees, schedule, and registration form.

2013-2014 School Calendar...At the February 26 action meeting, the BOE approved the calendar for the 2013-2014 school year.  Students will return on Tuesday, September 3.  Click HERE to view the full year!

Registration is now open for the Cherry Hill School District's Summer 2013 Enrichment Camp Program. Click HERE for camp information and forms or contact 856-429-6564 Ext.2.  The tuition-based program is open 11 hours a day Monday through Friday, from June 24,  2013 through August 16,  2013 (closed July 4th).  This fun program includes field trips, swim club activities, as well as interactive programs brought to the school site.  Camp is held at the Woodcrest Elementary School for students who are residents of Cherry Hill and will enter grades 1st through 6th in September 2013.  Children prepare to become successful and happy young people with opportunities in the expanded learning environment, youth development, friendship building, positive social interaction, character education, recreation, swimming, athletics, the arts, and pineland nature.

Rosa International Middle School and Cherry Hill High School East had seven teams competing in the NJ National History Day State Finals on Saturday, May 4 at William Paterson University. The students presented in the Junior Group Documentary, Junior Group Exhibit and Senior Individual Exhibit categories with entries based on this year's theme: Turning Points in History.  Each group did an amazing job in the fierce competition against approximately 400 other competitors from across the state.  East freshman Samantha Stein won the alternate position in the National Competition for her Senior Individual Exhibit, The Belmont Report: An Ethical Clarification for Medical Experimentation. Team Saratoga's Melissa Abrams, Rachel Allen, Elizabeth Hallinan, and Jennifer Pacitti will advance to the National Competition in June with their documentary From Tyranny to Triumph: Turning the Tides at Saratoga.  In addition, this group won the Special Prize for Best Revolutionary War Topic from the New Jersey Revolutionary War Round Table. Christy Marrella, Rosa 8th grade teacher, guided the Cherry Hill students through the competition process, inspiring the students to become historians while instilling in them the importance of teamwork and good character.  This will be Christy's sixth year advancing with groups to the National Competition.  Congratulations and good luck!

Congratulations to the Cherry Hill East Drama Program! At the Mainstage Center for the Arts One-Act Play Festival on April 27, East won the following awards: Best Play, Best Ensemble Performance - “The Other Half Of Andrew's Brain;" and Excellence in Acting Awards - Jack Tremper and Jamie Ackerman.  Then, at the 46^th Bucks County Playhouse High School Theatre Festival, East won the following: Best Play - "Letters from a Wallflower;"  Best Director - "Crushed," Michal Kortsarts; Best Ensemble - "Crushed;” Best Actor - Andrew Zaleski; Best Actress - Patricia Irwin; Best Solo Performance - Alexandra Maresh; Adjudicator's Award For Excellence in Adaptation and Direction - Damian Stuchko; Adjudicator's Award for  Acting - Anthony Cornazter. Kudos to all and to their teacher/adviser Tom Weaver!

For the first time ever, East's Casual Harmony and The Key of She combined this year to create a mixed gender a cappella group called “Stay Tuned.”  This proved to be a great decision, as they have had a wildly successful year!  Click HERE for details – and pictures!

A. Russell Knight Elementary School will celebrate its 50^th anniversary later this year! The ARK 50^th Anniversary Committee is seeking the input of former students, parents, and staff on how to celebrate this exciting milestone.  The committee has created a survey through which you can provide your feedback; click HERE and thanks for participating. 

Joyce Kilmer School will hold its 7th Annual Alex's Lemonade Stand on Friday, May 24, from 9:30am to 3:30 pm. Over the past six years, Kilmer School has raised $21,328 for the cause! They will also have a hair stylist cutting hair to donate to the Children with Hair Loss Foundation. The event is run by the Kilmer 5th graders and is a large community event. Thanks to local sponsors Wegmans and Chick's Deli. Please stop by - or make a donation at www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/110546.

Boy Scout Troop 70 Open House…Looking for fun and adventure? Boys ages 11 to 17 years old are invited with their parents to Boy Scout Troop 70's "Open House" night on Monday, May 20, from 7:15-8:45 pm at the Resurrection Catholic School cafeteria (402 North Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, NJ. Entrance is down the stairs at the back of school.)  For more information, call Scoutmaster John Kumpf at 856-667-2150 or visit our listing on the parish website at http://christourlight.net/boy-scouts or the troop website at http://www.scoutlander.com/publicsite/unithome.aspx?UID=22186.

Support the annual Staying Alive Walk on Sunday, June 2 at 10 am, at Challenge Grove Park. Rain or shine.  For more information about the walk, visit www.stayingalivewalk.org.

Friendship Grove is Blooming at the Library…The cherry trees are blooming and the warmer weather is inviting people to walk the Grove's path and sit on a bench or read or relax. The Friends of the Library made the initial contribution to establish Friendship Grove, but fundraising efforts are ongoing. A great way to donate is by purchasing a brick, which will have a permanent home in the Grove. Bricks are $75 each and make great gifts for Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduations or to remember someone special. Click HERE to order bricks online; to pay by check, call Katie Hardesty at 856-903-1207 for an order form. In addition to the bricks, trees and benches are also available for naming. The next time you visit the Library, be sure to take a walk through Friendship Grove. It's a beautiful place to "Relax, Reflect and Restore."

Search hundreds of camp schedules and win a free week of summer camp!  ActivityHero.com is a free resource, designed by parents to help you find the best summer camps and classes for your kids. Search by age, date, location, activities and even extended care.  You can read reviews and use the calendar to create your summer plan and share with friends.  Enter the monthly giveaway for a free week of summer camp. Visit http://www.activityhero.com

Host families are needed for 18 Spanish high school students visiting the United States this summer from June 27 - July 25.  Click HERE for a letter with details from West teacher Dan Herman.

The school district is on Twitter...follow us @CHPSTweets!

New to Cherry Hill? All registration is conducted centrally at the Malberg Administration Building. Click HERE for information on registering your students in our great public schools.