Welcome to Merchantville Online

School reopens next week

Merchantville Elementary School - Wednesday, September 8, 2010 - School Opens: 12:45 PM dismissal; Thursday, September 9, 2010: 12:45 PM dismissal; Friday, September 10, 2010: First Full Day for all students.
St. Peter School - Wednesday, September 8, 2010 - First Day of School Grades 5-8: 11:30 AM dismissal; Thursday, September 9, 2010 - First Day of School Grades 1-4: 11:30 AM dismissal; Friday, September 10, 2010 - Kindergarten Orientation at 9:30 AM and Grades 1-8: 11:30 AM dismissal; Monday, September 13, 2010 - First Full Day for K-8 and Pre-K Orientation at 9:30 AM; Monday, September 13, 2010 - Aftercare begins.
Pennsauken High School - Thursday, September 2, 2010 - School Opens 1/2 day session; Friday, September 3, 2010 - First Full Day for all students; September 6 - Labor Day School Closed.
Camden Catholic - Thursday, September 2, 2010 - Freshman Orientation: Dismissal at 11:50; Friday, September 3, 2010 Freshman only - Full Day; Tuesday, September 7, 2010 - Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors - Dismissal at 11:50; Wednesday, September 8, 2010 - First full day for all students.

New student fees and teacher contract for CH

Last night Cherry Hill township school board approved a first-ever student-activity fee, $70 to middle school students and $80 to high school students, capped at $150 per family, who participate in some athletic and extracurricular activities. The fees will not be factored into the overall budget. CH also ratified a new teachers contract three-year teachers contract retroactive to July 1, 2009. http://bit.ly/cZI7Kj www.chclc.org

Will NJ follow the lead on pods for granny

Everyone has concerns about what to do with aging family members and Rev. Kenneth Dupin, of Salem, Virginia, has invented a solution. The controversial new dwelling is called a Medcottage, a nursing home-like mobile facility that families can place in their backyard as a place to care for the elderly. The 284-square-foot units are able to connect to a home's electricity and water supplies and can can be placed on your property

Letter from the Mayor

On August 18th, Mayor Frank North sent a letter to residents in order to update them on the current status of the possibility of a proposed merger and proposed merger study. The letter outlines a calendar of actions and meetings by Mayor and Council that have occurred to this point and addresses two rumors that have been floated. One rumor concerns the mayor's communications with Cherry Hill and the second, an accusation that Mayor and Council have held private meetings designed to undermine a merger study.
Merchantville-Cherry Hill merger status letter

County seeks nominees

The Camden County Freeholder Board’s Office of Hispanic Affairs is seeking nominations for the 15th annual Prominent Hispanic Awards scheduled for Thursday, October 7, 2010. Individuals will be recognized in the fields of Arts and Culture, Education, Business, Law Enforcement, Governmental Services, Humanitarianism, Youth Advocacy, Leadership, Community Service and Journalism. Nominations are currently being accepted online or can be requested at (856) 225-5312 and must be received by September 3.

Did you know

Did you know that under the Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act, a petition signed by only 10 percent of the voters from the last election allows residents to begin the process of town consolidation without the support of your borough government? This obscure 2007 NJ law lets residents invite a study by Cherry Hill and ultimately end up as a ballot referendum by completely bypassing our municipal government.

Weekly highlights

Merchantville Film Forum - 9/1 @ 6:30 p.m.

News

Pack-A-Sack for the new school year

Again this year Grace Church is gathering back packs and school supplies for needy children through the Interfaith Homeless Outreach Council (IHOC). To help out just purchase a child size backpack and fill it with Back-to-School items like pencils, pens, notebooks and other supplies. And, if possible, we ask that you tuck a package of childrens socks and underwear in the backpack. We're getting a late start this year but will be receiving back packs at church both this Sunday 8/22 and August 29th.

Win $500,000 for MES through Kohl's Cares

Spread the word and get family, friends, and neighbors to enter the Kohl's Cares Facebook contest today. The top 20 schools across the nation will win up to $500,000 in Kohl’s Cares department store giveaway. During a time when schools across the nation are cutting budgets and eliminating programs, Kohl’s department store is offering assistance in honor of its 10th anniversary, Through the “Kohl’s Cares” Facebook page, people can vote for their school of choice up to 5 times – and the schools with the most votes receive the prize. Cast your vote for Merchantville Elementary School!

Keep the town, merge the school, keep the school....

Which will it be? The town, the school, neither or both?
"People choose to live in a municipality for various reasons. Maybe it is the sociopolitical culture of the municipality. Maybe it is the appearance of the neighborhood they have chosen. Maybe it is the type or character of the school system. Maybe it is because of the quality of municipal services, such as good police protection or a quality library. Maybe it is because the type and price of housing they seek is in that municipality. Maybe it is because their family has lived in that municipality for a long time and there is a sense of tradition. Whatever the reasons, they have chosen this place as their home. In a democratic society, where change such as this is a matter of free choice, it should be up to the residents to decide if they wish to change their place of residence or merge their hometown with a neighboring municipality." http://bit.ly/96ADMn