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Email from Dr Papageorge

8/25/2026 7:27 pm

📝A message from Dr Papageorge, Principal:

 

Fair warning: This email is a marathon, not a sprint! Thank you for your time and attention!

Back to School Information

 

8/28 Teacher Assignments Announced in PowerSchool 

8/30 Chalk the Walk [front bus circle] with the HSA (11am-1pm) 

9/3- Sneak Peak (1:00-2:00)

9/8- First Day of School Grades 1-4 and K (A Cohort)

9/9- First Day of School for K (B Cohort)

9/10- First Day ALL Kindergartens

9/17- Back to School Night (5:00-7:00 PM)

9/18- Back to School Picnic (5:30-7:30 PM)

9/22- Kindergarten Social (6:00-7:00 PM)

9/24- 1st Grade Social (6:00-7:00 PM)

 

Emergency Contact Information

It is important for RETURNING families to update their Emergency Contact information (if you have not already done so) using Powerschool Parent Portal -Year--round Update tab.

**Note** New families will NOT use this process. (New Families updated their information at Registration)

Please note: if your child is newly registered & has not attended a LMSD school, you do not need to update his/her Emergency Contact information because it was verified during your registration appointment.

  • Cynwyd School phone number: 610-645-1430

 

Safe Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

  1. Vehicles are NOT permitted to enter the main entrance bus circle on Levering Mill Road between 8:35 to 9:10 AM and from 3:15-4:00 PM.
    1. Please adhere to all posted signs in the bus circle. This is to ensure the safety of Cynwyd students arriving by bus or walking to school.
  2. All exterior doors will be locked each day. The main entrance on Levering Mill Road, leading to the center atrium, will be monitored from the main office by camera and security personnel.
  3. Clearance Requirements and Procedures for Volunteering:
    1. Please familiarize yourself with the LMSD procedures for volunteering by using the following link: https://www.lmsd.org/community/volunteer-clearance

Arrival Procedures for Students

  • Students (Walkers & Bus Riders)
    • Enter through the Atrium doors upon arrival and proceed directly to the gym. All students MUST be in the classroom prior to 9:10 am.
  • Drop Off
    • Manayunk road is a secured entrance for students arriving by car. It is monitored by a Cynwyd Staff Member each morning between 8:50-9:09 am.
    • A welcome sign will be visible on the Manayunk entrance between 8:50-9:09 am indicating that the entrance is open and staffed.
    • An “Oops You’re Late” sign will be visible indicating that students must be signed in to the main office.
  • Car Drop Off Procedure
    • Have your child(ren) ready to exit.
    • Enter the circle and pull up as far as possible to avoid blocking Manayunk road.
    • Parents/Guardians/Caregivers should not exit their vehicle.

Dismissal Procedures

  • Early Dismissal Pick-Ups
    • To ensure safety and organization of the dismissal of our students. All early dismissal pick-ups must occur prior to 3:15 in the office.
    • Note: Please make appropriate arrangements to ensure that your child is able to make his/her Early Dismissal Appointment on time.
  • Dismissal Procedures
    • All students being picked up (walkers/car riders) will be dismissed from the gym or lower atrium.
    • Parents and guardians will line up outside of the gym door and report to the dismissal monitor the name of their child (laminated signs will also be provided).
    • Parents will then walk through the gymnasium and meet their child at the exit door on the opposite side of the gymnasium.
    • Parents and child can then exit through the gate on the Manayunk road side or the Bryn Mawr Ave side.
    • Students in Grade 3 & 4 may leave independently and are encouraged to do so if Parent Permission Form for Walkers is signed and returned to the office. This form will be provided at sneak peek and from your child’s teacher.  
      • Students in grades 3 & 4 with signed permission form are also able to pick-up younger siblings from the gymnasium.
    • Dismissal Monitors will open the doors for parents/guardians/caregivers at 3:45 PM.
    • Reminder- For student safety, no vehicles are permitted anywhere in Manayunk circle during dismissal.
    • As a reminder per LMSD policy, pets are not permitted on school grounds, so please be mindful of this while picking up/ dropping off.

Procedures for All Visitors

  • Between 8:50-3:45 PM, ALL Visitors must enter the building by using the MAIN ATRIUM DOOR entrance (Center doors in the bus circle).
  • In the school office, ALL visitors (who enter the building) must provide photo identification to security personnel. All photo IDs will be run through our “Raptor system and produce a badge if needed. Badges must be worn throughout your time in the building. A badge must be secured when visiting a classroom, attending a performance, field trip, assembly, or volunteering in the cafeteria.

Absence Monitoring System

  • If your child will be absent or late ,please fill out the form linked here Absence Form you can also call the safe arrival hotline at 610-658-3903. Please leave a message that includes the child’s full name, teacher’s name, grade, and reason for the absence/lateness. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • If your child arrives late, he/she must be accompanied by an adult to the office, sign in, and secure admittance to class. Your child will be marked absent if this procedure is not followed. 
  • LMSD Safe Arrival System and Attendance Procedures – Please carefully read through this information that will come home with your child.
  • Early Dismissal: Written notice of any early dismissal requests must be given to the classroom teacher at the beginning of the school day. When arriving to pick-up your child, please check-in with office personnel by providing photo identification & signing your child out on the Early Dismissal log. 
  • Late Arrival: Please check-in with security personnel by providing photo identification. ALL parents/guardians MUST accompany their child into the building if he/she is late and sign the Student Arrival log. 

Health Information

  • Please notify the school nurse if your child has special health needs. You may contact Roberta Marcolino,, RN. Cynwyd Certified School Nurse, in the health suite at 610-645-1433.
  • Allergies: Please refer to the district Nutrition Policy regarding food accommodations & restrictions.

Breakfast and Lunch

  • Breakfast will continue to be free for all students during the 26-27 school year. Click HERE for more information. Serving lines will open at 8:50 am.

LMSD Activities Calendar

  • The calendar will provide you with information about important dates that are scheduled for the school year. Each family will receive a hard copy of the district calendar on the first day of school. A detailed calendar of school and district events is also posted on the district website at www.lmsd.org under “Quick Links”  “Calendar”.

Website and Other Information

Please check the Cynwyd website for periodic updates at www.lmsd.org.

School Supply Lists

Staffing Updates
Farewell

  • Please join me in wishing a congratulations and a Cynwyd farewell to Julie Kalan who is entering a well-deserved retirement after her long commitment to enhancing the school experience at Cynwyd. She will be so missed.
  • Please also join me in wishing a congratulations and farewell to Helen Mulvany and Kathy Rutecki who have also entered retirement after serving as IAs at Cynwyd. Thank you both for your dedication to Cynwyd.
  • A huge Congratulations to Lisa McDevitt our wonderful school secretary as she enters retirement. Mrs. McDevitt has been a constant support for staff and families and will be greatly missed.
  • We are wishing the best of luck to Bill Armideo who will be transitioning to Black Rock Middle School as a sixth grade teacher! Bill has been such an asset to the Cynwyd community and will be very missed.

Welcome

  • We will be welcoming Colleen Riordan and Christina Speaker who will be joining our special education team at Cynwyd. They are joining us from Penn Valley and will be an amazing addition to our team.
  • We are also welcoming Lovie Gooden who will be joining us from Penn Valley to fill the open third grade position. Lovie comes with an extensive background in elementary education and we are excited to welcome her to the team.

Grade Changes

  • Nicollette Schauerman will be moving from fourth grade to Kindergarten!
  • Sandy Darville will be moving from fourth grade to first grade.
  • Jessica Tecco will be moving from third grade to fourth grade.

As summer comes to an end, if we have any more updates we will send them as well. We look forward to an amazing year with the Cynwyd community.

See you soon,

Dr. Papageorge and Ms. Thompson