ATTENTION COLLINGSWOOD JUNIORS - Are your SAT cored high enough?

The October/November administration of the SATs will be the last chance to boost your scores before the college application process begins.  Don’t take the test without proper preparation.  SAT strategy classes will be offered starting in August, 2013. The classes will be held over an 8 week period on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons at the High School.  If you are interested enrolling in a class at no cost ($25 book charge), or have any questions about the class, contact Collingswood SAT Prep, Inc. ("CSAT") at collingswoodsat@gmail.com.  Classes are available to all Collingswood High School Juniors.

CSAT is a non-profit corporation that is funded by members of the Collingswood community.  CSAT was created by Collingswood parents to enhance the educational opportunities for Collingswood high school students.   CSAT's mission is to assist Collingswood students in their college application process by providing them with the support necessary to excel on their college entrance exams. CSAT also hopes to encourage any students who are undecided about their post-graduation options to consider preparing for and taking the SATs.  The classes are taught by experienced and motivated professionals who have expertise in SAT test taking strategy and preparation. 

Lots of events to enjoy in spring at the Collingswood Senior Community Center.

On May 22 at 11am and 7pm a representative from the Unclaimed Property Administration, NJ Department of the Treasury will present a seminar about claiming forgotten assets, i.e. cash, property, bonds, etc.
Call the Community Center to register at 856-854-4440.

Fridays at 1pm - Senior Line Dancing. $3. All welcome!

Tuesdays at 11:15am  - Chair Yoga and Movement. $5

Anyone interested in starting a Scrabble Group please call Barbara at 856-854-4440.

The Collingswood Seniors and the AARP meet at the Community Center from September to June.

Buy pool passes at a discounted rate
Season pool passes for families (parents and dependent children) are just $175 - that’s $50 off for a whole season of fun! The Summer Swim Sale and all pool pass sales start May 20. This is a limited offer, discounted family pool passes must be purchased by June 20.

Pool tags will be sold at Borough Hall starting May 20, Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. Once the pool season starts you may purchase your season tags at Roberts Pool daily and weekends from noon to 4 p.m. Roberts Pool programs range from the student Learn to Swim Program for youths and toddlers to the Senior Citizen Swim. For more information on pricing and programs visit Collingswood.com.

Roberts Pools Dates & Hours:
- Open for weekends starting June 8 & 9 and June 15 & 16
- Open for the season when school lets out for the summer,
- Pool hours are noon to 8 p.m.

Do you know a Collingswood student?  Are you a Collingswood alum?  Do you live in our town and take pride in our success?  If so....this message is for you!

The Collingswood High School PTA (CHS PTA) mission is to help our students to be productive members of the community.  CHS PTA sponsors a number of activities for our students, such as Project Graduation, a fun-filled and substance free graduation night celebration.  CHS PTA also provides over $4,000 in scholarships and sports awards to Collingswood High School students each year.  CHS PTA is working to expand its scholarship and sports awards programs even more, and we're asking our broader community to help set an example for our students.  Your tax-deductible donation of $20, $10 or $5 goes a long way in making a difference in the lives of our kids!

Interested in being a part of the team behind successful and happy kids? You can send your contribution to CHS PTA, 424 Collings Avenue, Collingswood, NJ  08108 (check payable to Collingswood High School PTA). Even easier...donate through PayPal today!  Our PayPal email address is cwoodhspta@gmail.com.  Please mark in the memo line if you'd like your donation to go to a particular program.  If you have questions, contact the Collingswood High School PTA at cwoodhspta@gmail.com.

Support the 2013 Collingswood Holiday Parade and enjoy some great food!

On Tuesday, May 7, 2013, dine at The Tortilla Press, 701 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood or The Tortilla Press Cantina, 716 Maple Avenue, Merchantville between 4pm and closing.  Mention "Collingswood Holiday Parade" and 15% of your bill will benefit the Parade.

We'll be having a monthly dine out event the first Tuesday of each month. Mark your calendar now to enjoy some of the best food Collingswood has to offer AND help the Holiday Parade!

The Collingswood Youth Theatre's 19th season will highlight 65 students in grades 2-6 in the children's musical "Jack and the Giant", which is based on the story of "Jack and the Beanstalk". The performances will be held at the Collingswood Middle School auditorium on Friday & Saturday, April 26 & 27, 2013 at 7:30pm and at 1pm on Saturday, April 27th.  It's fun for the whole family.  Tickets are $6 per person and are available at the door.

The giant is making life pretty miserable for Jack, his mother and sister, and the entire kingdom.  Jack is even forced to sell his beloved dancing cow for magic beans.  And where does Jack go?  That's right! Jack goes up the beanstalk and into the castle where he not only fights the meddlesome giant, but the malicious Troll as well.  By the end of this special tale, the queen is rescued and ........

To find out what other wonderful surprises are in store, bring the entire family to see this magical, musical tale come to life on the Middle School's stage.  Our entertaining actors from grades 2-6 will be singing and dancing to a variety of songs.  So remember that "Good Things are Bound to Happen" when you and your family attend our show the last weekend in April!

For more information, contact Mrs. Annemarie Dunn at 856-858-1514.

Each year, Collingswood chooses a town book that is read by thousands of residents. The author of the official town book selection is a guest at the annual Collingswood Book festival to discuss his work and take questions from readers.

Get ready for your summer reading with this year’s pick for the Collingswood Town Book. Organizers of the Collingswood Book Festival have announced that this year’s read is The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe.

The End of Your Life Book Club is an inspiring true story of a son and his mother who start a book club of two that brings them together as her life comes to a close.  The books they read generate discussions about faith, courage and gratitude.  Throughout it all, the characters and the reader are constantly reminded of the power of books to comfort us, astonish us and teach us.

The End of Your Life Book Club author Will Schwalbe will discuss his works at the Collingswood Book Festival on Saturday October 5th. Copies of the book are available at the Collingswood Public Library.  Books can also be purchased at the Collingswood Book Trader, 825 Haddon Avenue.

Congrats to the Collingswood Oddysey of the Mind (OM) Team who brought home the big prize in April – they’re heading to the WORLD championships! From organizer Kenneth Allendorfer:

Our Collingswood Rec Odyssey of the Mind team traveled to the OM
State Finals on Saturday 4/13 at Ewing High School.  They competed
against five other teams in their problem group, called Pet Project, and age division (elementary school kids).  Across all the problems and divisions, about 50 teams competed at the state finals.  Our team qualified for states after taking third place in the South Jersey regional final last month.

I am thrilled and proud to announce that our team, consisting of Elizabeth Allendoerfer (4th grade), Claudia Celia (5th grade), Lila DiMasi (4th grade), Nick Eimer (5th grade), Ellie Routzahn (5th grade), and Amanda Yeager (5th grade), came in FIRST PLACE and was crowned NEW JERSEY STATE CHAMPIONS.  They received an invitation to the OM World Finals, which will be held next month at Michigan State University.  The kids pulled off an absolutely amazing achievement, especially considering that this was all of our first year doing OM - coaches included.  As a parent and coach, it just blew me away to see how much these kids accomplished in such a short time.  Their imaginations, teamwork, perseverance, and humor really came alive at the tournaments and the judges seemed to agree!

The Collingswood OM Team will be hosting some fundraisers to raise money to send the kids to the World Finals next month in Michigan. For information on how to contribute to their trip, please contact Kenneth Allendorfer at kenneth.allendoerfer@gmail.com.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state, and World level. Thousands of teams from throughout the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program.

Beginners and experts encouraged to fill Powell Lane for demonstration

Nathan Spivey is a man on a mission. A very calming mission.

Spivey, a tai chi instructor both regionally and at Collingswood’s ExtraordinaryED, approached borough officials about hosting an event for the 15th annual World Tai Chi Day on April 27 with the hopes of informing people about the benefits of tai chi.

The concept behind worldwide event is simple: Tai chi & qigong groups form mass gatherings in public parks or other public places around the world at 10 a.m. (local time) to provide demonstrations to the community, increase public knowledge and introduce people to the ancient art. Thanks to Spivey, this year Collingswood is on board and hopes to gather a mass crowd of both beginners and experts for a town wide exhibition on Powell Lane. The event is free.

“We want as many people as possible to enjoy the peace of mind and well being tai chi can bring into your life,” said Spivey.

World Tai Chi Day, always held the last Saturday in April, begins in the earliest time zones of New Zealand at 10 a.m. The event spreads across the globe as participants across each continent take part, with celebrations in sixty nations and several hundred cities, ending with the final events in the last time zones of Hawaii almost an entire day later.

Local participants can arrive at 9:15 a.m. on Powell Lane for some basic instruction on a short routine from one of several instructors. At 10 a.m., guests will perform their routine together, along with thousands of other participants in the Eastern Time Zone. After the public routine, each instructor will demonstrate a tai chi or qigong routine for the public and guests will then have the opportunity to meet and talk with instructors for more information on the practice. In the event of rain, the demonstration will move under the LumberYard garage, at the end of Powell Lane, behind the public plaza. Ample parking is available in the LumberYard garage.

Tai chi is a form of exercise derived from the martial art traditions of China over 400 years ago. The practice melds Chinese philosophy, Chinese medicine, inner energy techniques and martial arts. It is a moderate intensity exercise suitable for adults as well as those with chronic illnesses and rehabilitative needs. It is designed to cultivate focus, develop the body-mind connections, balance health and provides fluidity, flexibility, balance and strength. Studies have shown that tai chi can increase psychological well-being including reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression. Participants of all skill levels are encouraged to be a part of the Collingswood event.

“Everyone can use a little less stress nowadays,” said Collingswood Mayor Jim Maley, who will be on board for the demonstration. “We’re happy to host this. Being a part of something so global is humbling. We hope a lot of people come out to take advantage of what Nathan can teach us. Maybe it will inspire a larger tai chi movement in town.”

The event’s official page at www.worldtaichiday.org describes World Tai Chi Day: “…a peaceful soothing event will unfold around the Earth throughout the entire day, time zone by time zone. Gently and effortlessly the world will breathe together in a Tai Chi & QiGong relay of calm. We all may have experienced the soothing calm of witnessing others doing Tai Chi or QiGong; and on World Tai Chi & QiGong Day, the entire planet will have that opportunity.”

Nathan Spivey has been a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than thirty years. Since 1977 he has been a student of Grand Master Bow Sim Mark, founder of the Chinese Wushu Research Institute, and teaching and demonstrating Tai Chi and Qigong as a Bow Sim Mark certified instructor since 1983. He is a graduate of the New England School of Acupuncture, and further studied at the Zhejiang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, China.