Please take a minute and read the letter that was shared with our school community on 10.29.18.

Each month Mr. Sweeney meets with a group of nominated students for what he refers to as an Eagle's Nest meeting. The primary focus of these meetings is to provide students the opportunity to have their voice heard specific to a school-related topic. Something new I'm trying this year is to extend the discussion beyond the Eagle's Nest and give all students at Barton the chance to be heard. Any Barton student can record a short video clip of themselves answering our monthly Eagle's Nest question.

Help us celebrate Barton's 50th by purchasing a commemorative Family Tree leaf. Details pertaining to this fundraiser can be found here.

Know a song that puts a smile on people's faces, has a positive message, or simply makes them want to dance? Complete the Song of the Day nomination form here!

Dear Parents and Community Members,

I am having surgery on Monday, January 14th and will be out of the district for at least two months.

I have been going through a series of tests since September and I must have the Mitral Valve and the Aortic Valve in my heart replaced. During an open heart procedure two mechanical valves will replace the current valves.

The prognosis is positive and I am with a wonderful team of doctors and an excellent surgeon.

I will be completely out of touch with the district for a couple of weeks. During my absence, I have no doubt that the great work that goes on in each of the buildings will continue on a daily basis.

In my absence, CHPS community members should follow the normal chain of command regarding any questions or concerns. This means starting at the building level with your child's teacher, contacting your building principal if the concern is not resolved, and, if the concern still remains unresolved, contacting Assistant Superintendent Dr. Justin Smith at justsmith@chclc.org or (856) 429-5600 extension 4301.

All district business will continue as usual. Board of Education meetings and Board Committee meetings also will take place as scheduled.

I appreciate your positive thoughts, prayers and acts of kindness toward one another in my absence. I look forward to seeing you all again soon!

Sincerely,

Joseph Meloche

Superintendent, Cherry Hill Public Schools

Please note the following Road Work Alerts:

• Yorkshire Road will be CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC between Douglas Road and Bradford Road, between 7:30 am and 3 pm on Wednesday 01/16/19 through Friday 01/18/19, for emergency underground sewer repairs.

• Kingsport Road will be CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC at King George Road, between 7:30 am and 3 pm on Thursday 01/17/19 through Friday 01/18/19, also for emergency sewer repairs.

Please be prepared to use alternate routes and expect delays.

Kindergarten and first grade registration (for children entering public school for the first time) for the 2019-2020 school year will begin on February 1, 2019. Children must be five years old on before October 1, 2019 in order to be eligible for kindergarten. Dates for registration at specific schools, as well as information on the registration process, are available online.

Dates and times for the CHPS Middle School Information Nights for 5th graders and their parents, and well as information regarding the open enrollment application process, are now available online.

The preliminary results of the December 11, 2018 Bond Referendum Special Election show a "no" vote for all three questions presented to voters. Absentee ballots that are postmarked today, December 11, 2018 will still be accepted by the election office and counted as long as they are received by December 13th.

The Administration and Board will engage in discussion at the Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 regarding the next election date.

The Cherry Hill Public Schools is one of 373 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the 9th Annual AP® District Honor Roll. To be included on the 9th Annual Honor Roll, CHPS had to, since 2016, increase the number of students participating in AP while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. Reaching these goals shows that this district is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for AP.

National data from 2018 show that among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students with a high degree of readiness for AP, only about half are participating. The first step to getting more of these students to participate is to give them access. Courses must be made available, gatekeeping must stop, and doors must be equitably opened. The Cherry Hill Public School District is committed to expanding the availability of AP courses among prepared and motivated students of all backgrounds.

"Success in Advanced Placement is a combination of students' own motivation and the opportunities educators provide for them," said Trevor Packer, senior vice president of AP and Instruction at the College Board. "I'm inspired by the teachers and administrators in this district who have worked to clear a path for more students of all backgrounds to earn college credit during high school."

Helping more students learn at a higher level and earn higher AP scores is an objective of all members of the AP community, from AP teachers to district and school administrators to college professors.

Inclusion in the 9th Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on a review of three years of AP data, from 2016 to 2018, looking across 38 AP Exams, including world language and culture. The following criteria were used.

Districts must:

The College Board also has recognized the Cherry Hill Public Schools for achieving its outcomes among an AP student population in which 30% or more are underrepresented minority students (American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander) and/or 30% or more are low-income students (students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch).