General PTO Meetings begin at 7:00 pm (30-60 minutes) and are held in the cafeteria at Chestnutwold. Please feel welcome to email the PTO with anything you would like to discuss.

All are welcome.

Further information and updates regarding meeting will be emailed directly through Fresh Schools. If you have not already registered for Fresh Schools, please do so. Fresh Schools is the main source of PTO email communication.

On March 4th, Chestnutwold parent and author Melissa Trempe will visit students to share the inspiring true story behind Ladybug Launch—about the kids who convinced NASA to send ladybugs to space! Personalized copies can be preordered by February 18th and include a free ladybug “pet.” An author signing will also be held from 6:00–7:00 PM before the March 4th PTO meeting. See dedicated blast for more information!

Pre Order here: https://childrensbookworld.net/trempe-at-chestnutwold-on-mar-4/

General PTO Meetings begin at 7:00 pm (30-60 minutes) and are held in the cafeteria at Chestnutwold. Please feel welcome to email the PTO with anything you would like to discuss.

All are welcome.

Got an artist in your house? You don't want to miss this meeting! All attendees will be entered into a raffle - the winner's student(s) will have the opportunity to be "Art Teacher for The Class" !!   You must be present at our meeting to be entered to win! Thank you Mrs Strawley! 

On the agenda: 

• Budget Review

• Upcoming events & activities

• Volunteer opportunities

• Updates from Principal Leach & Unified Arts ('Specials') teachers

We hope to see you there! Our monthly PTO meetings are the core of the Chestnutwold Community - be a part of what makes Chestnutwold so special! 

Further information and updates regarding meeting will be emailed directly through Fresh Schools. If you have not already registered for Fresh Schools, please do so. Fresh Schools is the main source of PTO email communication.

Parent Quizzo Fri, January 23, 7pm  (DATE UPDATED)

Put your trivia skills to the test! Join us for a fun evening of friendly competition, laughs, and community connection. Prizes, bragging rights, raffle baskets and plenty of fun await! Friday, January 23, 2026 7:00-10:00pm at the Haverford CREC. Reserve your table now. The cost is $30 per person. 50/50 raffle tickets will be available for purchase there- remember to bring cash! You may register as a small group or as a full team of 8-10 people. You must register as a full team all at one time, we are not taking partial team registrations. All table reservations must be made with one check or one Venmo transaction (please put Quizzo in the notes). BYOB - must be 21 to attend and BYO food, food trays, plates, cups, etc. We are limited to 100 attendees, so it is first come, first served! Reserve your table early! 

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we invite the Chestnutwold community to participate in a Day of Service dedicated to advancing Dr. King’s mission. The event will be held in the cafeteria from 10-11:30 AM. If you’d like to volunteer, please contact Lauren at: chestnutwoldinschoolactivities@gmail.com.

The Chestnutwold PTO will honor Dr. King's legacy with a day of learning, service, and action. We will explore the story of the Little Rock Nine and other young people who fought for civil rights alongside Dr. King, make placemats for Cathedral Kitchen, design posters, collect canned goods for the Ardmore Food Pantry, and write to Harrisburg legislators to advocate for fair funding for public education. We will also hold storytime at 10:30am and 11:00am. Join us in the Chestnutwold cafeteria anytime during the event.

As part of this event, we’ll be collecting canned and non-perishable food items to support the Ardmore Food Pantry, and we encourage families to participate by donating items assigned to their child’s grade level! We hope you’ll join us for a meaningful morning.

Donations may be brought directly to the cafeteria on Monday, January 19th or dropped off in the main lobby from Tuesday, January 20th through the morning of Thursday, January 22nd. The Ardmore Food Pantry has shared their most-needed items, and organizing donations by grade helps us make the biggest impact:

Kindergarten & 1st Grade:
• Hearty soups
• Peanut butter
• Toiletries (full-size shampoo, conditioner, body wash)*

2nd & 3rd Grades:
• Cereal
• Pet food (often helps families avoid rehoming beloved pets)
• Salad dressings, condiments, vegetable oil*

4th & 5th Grades:
• Pasta and sauce
• Tuna
• Coffee
• Diapers (especially sizes 3 and 4)*

* Most needed

Chestnutwold Clothing Exchange Collection 

The PTO is collecting gently used Chestnutwold clothing on Monday, January 19th from 10:00 AM-11:30 AM for its upcoming spiritwear exchange.

General PTO Meetings begin at 7:00 pm (30-60 minutes) and are held in the cafeteria at Chestnutwold. Please feel welcome to email the PTO with anything you would like to discuss.

All are welcome.

On the agenda:

• Review of upcoming activities & events

• A look at our budget

• Volunteer opportunities - big & small! **Good chance to get to know us and ask questions

• Updates from teachers & staff 

• Update and Q&A with Dave Schwartz, School Board Member 

• Post-meeting outing at Sam's Pizza!

The PTO will open our second Volunteer Fair during the PTO meeting for opportunities running January– May 2026 including clubs, in-school help, and event volunteering.

We’re also on the lookout for a few key positions:

• Bag Bingo Lead – Help plan and run one of our favorite fundraising nights.

• Parent Social Lead (New!) – Organize a fun fundraising parent social event in the late winter or spring.

• Executive Board Positions -- consider running for the PTO board and be part of the team that oversees the PTO budget, planning, and activities. Positions available for the 2026/27 school year are: Co-President, Co-Treasurer, VP Events, and VP In School Activities.

We hope you’ll consider jumping in!

 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0945A9AC28AAF85-61434726-winter

Further information and updates regarding meeting will be emailed directly through Fresh Schools. If you have not already registered for Fresh Schools, please do so. Fresh Schools is the main source of PTO email communication.

✨ Holiday Market – December 14 | 10 AM–3 PM ✨

UPDATE

Due to the weather, we had to make the difficult decision to cancel the Holiday Market that was scheduled at Chestnutwold today, Sunday, December 14th. The PTO will send follow-up communication this week with information on how to support the vendors. Please reach out directly to the PTO at thechestnutwoldpto@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. We hope everyone is able to safely enjoy the snow day.

Shop handmade crafts, enjoy delicious seasonal snacks, and support amazing small businesses — all in one festive stop!
Get your holiday shopping done while soaking up cozy vibes, sweet treats, and local charm. Don’t miss this merry market day!

Got outgrown or gently used Spirit Wear? Drop it off at the Holiday Market on Sunday, December 14th! Your donation will help us stock our Spring Spirit Wear Exchange Let’s keep the school spirit going—sustainably!

We’re also looking for a few volunteers to help with load-in and set-up for our Holiday Market vendors on Sunday, December 14. We’ll be getting started at 8:00 AM, and even an hour or less of help makes a huge difference!

If you’re available to lend a hand—with unloading, carrying items, or assisting vendors as they arrive—please email PamelaBogdanoff@gmail.com to let her know.

We welcome a variety of vendors, including:

🎁 Handmade crafts & artisan goods

🍪 Baked goods & specialty foods

🎨 Artwork & photography

🕯️ Home décor & holiday items

💎 Jewelry, accessories, and more!

Vendors: How to Apply:

If you’d like to be part of this holiday celebration, please fill out our vendor application here:

Space is limited, so apply early!

Let’s make this market merry, bright, and full of holiday magic together. ✨

General PTO Meetings begin at 7:00 pm (30-60 minutes) and are held in the cafeteria at Chestnutwold. Please feel welcome to email the PTO with anything you would like to discuss.

All are welcome.

Further information and updates regarding meeting will be emailed directly through Fresh Schools. If you have not already registered for Fresh Schools, please do so. Fresh Schools is the main source of PTO email communication.

Bake Sale

Donate goodies to help raise funds and your time as you can, bring the kids (or don't) and monitor the bake sale table!

Help our school raise funds by cleaning out your closets, attics, garages, and basements. Please place your gently used/unwanted items in tightly tied bags. Every bag counts. The more our collection weighs...the more we raise. Thank you for your support!

Acceptable Gently Used Items:
Adult & Children Clothing, Shoes, Sandals, Sneakers, Boots, Jackets, Coats, Rain Gear, Leathers, Belts, Ties, Pants, Shirts, Sweaters, Vests, Blouses, Dresses, Skirts, Robes, Undergarments, Sheets, Pillowcases, Towels, Linens, Tablecloths, Hats, Scarfs, Gloves, Handbags, Purses, Wallets, Jewelry, Watches, Uniforms, Jerseys, Backpacks, Toys and New Diapers

*Items NOT accepted: Books, Furniture, Pillows, Curtains or Bikes

*Please securely bag all items and try not to overload bags so it is easier for our volunteers to help load the truck

We are so excited to see everyone on SATURDAY, October 25 from 5:30-6:30pm! Park your car, truck, van (or broom!) in the school's parking lot and decorate your trunk into something silly or spooky! Hand out candy to the kiddos as they pass by.

 There are multiple ways you can help:  decorate your car, donate candy, help clean up, or do all 3!

There will be prizes awarded for the best decorated cars in the following categories: the spookiest, the funniest and the most creative. We also need candy donations!

In order to make the night a success, we are asking each family of trick-or-treaters to please donate 1 bag of candy to the event. Below you can reserve a spot for your car, register as a trick-or-treater and donate candy.

Register your car and/or donate candy using this link:

General PTO Meetings begin at 7:00 pm (30-60 minutes) and are held in the cafeteria at Chestnutwold. Please feel welcome to email the PTO with anything you would like to discuss.

All are welcome.

Join us on Oct 8 for our monthly PTO Meeting, followed by our "LICE TALK"

Special guest, Ilene 'the Lice Queen,' from Center for Lice Control, right here in Havertown

• The school does not alert families of lice outbreaks, and does not check for lice -- lice control begins at home

• Learn about Lice - what they are, how they spread (hint, it's from positive social interactions!)

• Learn how to effectively check for lice to catch it before its contagious

• Learn how to treat lice at home * Including a live demo of a 'peace of mind' lice check 

• We will have Ilene's product to purchase at a discount

We are raffling off one free Lice Treatment Kit - enter to win by attending the PTO Meeting and the Lice Talk 

CLC won Best of Philly 2024 and Main Line Parent Love awards 2015-2024. 

Further information and updates regarding meeting will be emailed directly through Fresh Schools. If you have not already registered for Fresh Schools, please do so. Fresh Schools is the main source of PTO email communication.

Phoenix Fun Day is a family-fun fundraising event featuring a giant inflatable slide, a DJ-led dance party, games, crafts, food, and more! PFD is a fun-filled evening of connecting with friends, new and old, and is not to be missed! This year will feature a basketball game, button-making machine, and exciting raffle baskets!

Phoenix Fun Day also serves as our biggest fundraiser of the year, paving the way for the PTO to fund many items and programs throughout the school year.

**This event is RAIN OR SHINE! In the event of inclement weather, much of the event will be located in the gym.

Alcohol is not permitted at this event.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PRE-ORDERING PIZZA, MAKING A DONATION OR SPONSORING AN ACTIVITY, FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW

WE NEED LOTS OF HELP ORGANIZING THE MANY PARTS OF THIS EVENT!

This event is only made possible by our wonderful parent volunteers! Our goal is to have at least one member of each family volunteer for one hour.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO EXPLORE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND TO SIGN UP

PTO General Meeting & Volunteer Fair

Wednesday September 17th, at 7:00pm

Kick off the school year by learning more about how the PTO supports Chestnutwold! The evening will begin with our PTO General Meeting, where we’ll share this year’s budget, what the PTO helps purchase for the school, and upcoming initiatives. Afterward, explore the Volunteer Fair to discover opportunities to get involved with the programs and events that enrich our students’ experience.

Door Prize! As a special treat, Main Line Float & Freeze has generously donated a 60-minute float gift card to promote the importance of parent wellness as we begin a new school year. Attendees will also receive a special discount code to use at their Ardmore location.

All parents and caregivers are encouraged to attend—we look forward to seeing you there!

More info on Volunteer Opportunities coming soon!

Celebrate the start of a new school year at our Welcome Back Picnic! Pack your own dinner, bring a blanket or chairs, and enjoy a fun evening on the Chestnutwold Fields. Kids can play, families can connect, and everyone can relax together after the first week of school.

🍧 Don’t miss Owl’s Water Ice Truck with refreshing treats available for purchase (cash only)!

Please plan to bring your child's school supplies to Sneak Peek on Thursday, August 28th from 12:30-1:00pm. If you ordered a supply box through the PTO, those have arrived at Chestnutwold and will be delivered to your child's homeroom. If you have any medications that your child needs in school, please plan to bring them to Ms. Gallagher in the nurses office during Sneak Peek as well.

Save-the-date for Wednesday August 27th from 6-7:00 pm, for our welcome event for kindergarten & new families at the Chestnutwold main playground!

Kindergarteners, new students and their families are invited to a special welcome from our Principal with popsicles to follow. It’s a great time to mingle and meet other new students and families!

Help us welcome the rising 6th graders to HMS's community and environment!

Parents and guardians of fifth grade students are needed to help with Unity Day at HMS on May 28th. Time slots are available from 10-12 and 12-2.

Please sign up for an available spot specific to your elementary school. Volunteers are needed to help set up, help facilitate the activities of the day, and help clean up. 

Help our school raise funds by cleaning out your closets, attics, garages, and basements. Please place your gently used/unwanted items in tightly tied bags. Every bag counts. The more our collection weighs...the more we raise. Thank you for your support!

Acceptable Gently Used Items:
Adult & Children Clothing, Shoes, Sandals, Sneakers, Boots, Jackets, Coats, Rain Gear, Leathers, Belts, Ties, Pants, Shirts, Sweaters, Vests, Blouses, Dresses, Skirts, Robes, Undergarments, Sheets, Pillowcases, Towels, Linens, Tablecloths, Hats, Scarfs, Gloves, Handbags, Purses, Wallets, Jewelry, Watches, Uniforms, Jerseys, Backpacks, Toys and New Diapers

*Items NOT accepted: Books, Furniture, Pillows, Curtains or Bikes

*Please securely bag all items and try not to overload bags so it is easier for our volunteers to help load the truck

Bake Sale

Donate goodies to help raise funds and your time as you can, bring the kids (or don't) and monitor the bake sale table!

Volunteer to provide bake goods and other items:

SIGN UP HERE!

Volunteer to take a shift at the bake sale table, kids welcome!:

SIGN UP HERE

Welcome back Chestnutwold Chase runners!

On Sunday, May 18, 2025, the Chestnutwold PTO will host its 17th annual 1-mile fun-run and 5K run, known as the Chestnutwold Chase. The one-mile fun run will occur first at 8:30am. Strollers, walkers, friends, and neighbors are welcome. Please spread the word!

The purpose of the Chestnutwold Chase is to encourage health and fitness amongst the children, promote community, and raise money for Chestnutwold PTO initiatives.

Early registration is open now until May 2 and will include a t-shirt if you opt for one. The early registration cost for a single runner is $30 and $90 for a family. Registration costs go up to $35 (individual) and $120 (family) after May 2. T-shirts will not be available if you register after May 3.

We’re also looking for volunteers for the day of the Chase, as well as to hand out registration bibs and t-shirts on Friday, May 16th. Please note that volunteers for the 6:30-8:00am time slots on Sunday, May 18th can still run the race, but those in the later slots cannot.

volunteers needed - sign up genius

Sponsorships Available! Sponsor the race or the PTO, to help support our efforts! Learn more here.

***Please try to bring a full water bottle.*** Water bottles will be available but these will be limited as we want to generate less plastic waste. 

General PTO Meetings begin at 7:00 pm (30-60 minutes) and are held in the cafeteria at Chestnutwold. Please feel welcome to email the PTO with anything you would like to discuss.

All are welcome.

Further information and updates regarding meeting will be emailed directly through Fresh Schools. If you have not already registered for Fresh Schools, please do so. Fresh Schools is the main source of PTO email communication.

The Evening of the Arts, our annual showcase of art and music, is on Wednesday, April 30th from 6-8 pm. 3rd grade students will perform at 6:10pm, Chestnutwold Chorus will perform at 7pm. Art will be available to view from 6-8pm. Refreshments will be served in the cafeteria. We hope to see you there!

We cannot do this event without a lot of volunteer help. Sign up to hang artwork after school, set up the ceramics displays, and/or serve refreshments. We especially need helping hands to hang and display our young artists' artwork before the show. This is a great way to contribute to our school community.

SIGN UP GENIUS LINK:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0F4CADAB2AABFF2-55723039-evening#/

Chestnutwold’s Got Talent!

Calling all Chestnutwold students! Show us your sports skills, singing talents, magic tricks, dance moves, and special abilities! All the talented kids in grades K-5 are encouraged to send in their video submissions, which should be:

• 2 minutes or less (1 submission per student)

• submitted no later than April 1st 

• sent from a parent/guardian email that includes the student's name and grade

• sent to chestnutwoldvarietyshow2025@gmail.com

THIS YEAR'S VIRTUAL VARIETY SHOW WILL BE DEBUTING ON FRIDAY APRIL 11TH AT 7 PM at a link we will email that day.

Don’t forget to get your take out from Mac Mart! The best part is: you don't have to make dinner and 15% of your bill will be donated back to the PTO! Just mention “Chestnutwold".

Book those sitters for Saturday April 5 th, 7-10 pm at Sam’s Brick Oven Pizza in Ardmore. Join us to socialize and let loose with other Chestnutwold parents and caregivers! Fancy or casual, come as you WERE in Y2K!

If busting a move to old school jams and playing party games sounds like the perfect way to spend an evening, then you don’t want to miss the Chestnutwold’s Y2K Parent Prom! Tickets include a buffet dinner, dancing, a private cash bar and all the nostalgia you can handle!

RSVPing is a must because tickets are limited.

$40 per person admission

Please RSVP using this google form to purchase tickets and select payment by Venmo @chestnutwoldPTO or send cash/check in an envelope to school attn: Chestnuwold PTO Parent Prom

Please direct questions to Nina Wickersham

The Anxious Generation 

Join us for an engaging, parent-led discussion on Jonathan Haidt’s groundbreaking book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Haidt explores how the rise of smartphones and social media has profoundly impacted children’s mental health—and what we can do to reverse course. It’s never too early to start thinking about how you’ll approach social media and smartphone usage with your kids. According to Common Sense Media, approximately 31% of children aged 8–12 use social media. This discussion is relevant whether you have elementary, middle, or high school students.

🔷 No need to read the book! See registration page for links to a <1 hour pre-watch/listen

🔷Registration required: Register here

General PTO Meetings begin at 7:00 pm (30-60 minutes) and are held in the cafeteria at Chestnutwold. Please feel welcome to email the PTO with anything you would like to discuss.

All are welcome.

Further information and updates regarding meeting will be emailed directly through Fresh Schools. If you have not already registered for Fresh Schools, please do so. Fresh Schools is the main source of PTO email communication.