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Welcome to the first edition of the Jenkintown Education Foundation newsletter. Our goal is to celebrate the people, traditions, and accomplishments that make Jenkintown special and to help alumni, families, students, and friends stay connected. Congratulations, Graduates! In keeping with Jenkintown tradition, there were white dresses and suits instead of caps and gowns, but to these newest Jenkintown graduates, each tradition was a new experience. This accomplished class includes students attending two- and four-year colleges and universities, entering apprenticeship and union programs, pursuing artistic careers, and beginning other exciting paths. Among this year's graduates are two students who arrived in Jenkintown only a few years ago speaking little English. Through determination - and plenty of summer study - they graduated alongside their classmates this spring. Two other graduates led school tours for members of the Class of 1976 as they returned to campus to celebrate the Golden 50th Anniversary of their own graduation. Tour guide Nina Costandino noted “It was very cool to learn about what life at Jenkintown was like 50 years ago, laugh at stories we shared with each other, and show them how our school community has changed since then!” Nina will head to Villanova University this fall, with a full ride from her Presidential Scholarship.
College, career, and post-graduation plans for the Class of 2026 can be found on Instagram: @jtowncommit2026.  The graduating class of 2026  The graduating class of 1976 A New Tradition: Golden Drakes Fifty years after graduating, members of Jenkintown's Class of 1976 returned to campus to begin what we hope becomes a new tradition. When these alumni gathered the day before Color Day to tour the school, they were met by School Board President Carolyn Riley, who distributed pins designed and handcrafted by local jeweler and Jenkintown parent Mindy Beck of AM Ross Jewelers. The pins were inspired by the flying Drakes logo found in the 1976 Jenkintonian Yearbook. The alumni proudly wore their “Golden Drakes” the following day as they marched in the Color Day parade and sat on the field to enjoy a beautiful, sunny Color Day. Although the Reds won handily (for the seventh year in a row!), fun was had by all, from the newest Drakes who raced across the field with their oranges to the Golden Drakes who returned to watch them do it.  Class of 1976 and Class of 2026 graduates lining up for the Color Day parade! 2025-2026 Athletics Round-Up 2025-2026 was a banner year for Jenkintown sports, quite literally, as four new entries were added to the gym’s athletic banners. Highlights included another outstanding season from the Girls Tennis program which captured the League, Singles, and Doubles championships. The Girls Basketball team also earned a Conference Championship, adding another proud chapter to the program's history. While those championships earned space on the gym walls, they were only part of the story. Drakes excelled across nearly every season, earning All-BAL honors in sports ranging from baseball and football to golf, cross country, soccer, tennis, lacrosse, and more. Two graduating seniors will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Follow Jenkintown Athletics on Instagram:@jenkintowndrakes  Drakes fans enjoying a girls basketball game  Continuing the Legacy 20 years ago, a group of moms raised funds and organized the community to build the beloved castle playground. When it came time to say goodbye to the castle, a group of community members stepped up to take on a new park for the children of Jenkintown. The new playground and surrounding structures, now called Legacy Park, were designed by community volunteers. Over $1.3 million has been raised by community members to help make this happen. Every corner of the Jenkintown community rallied to support this project: the School Board chartered a Legacy Park Steering Committee, and the Jenkintown Education Foundation worked with the Legacy Park Community Board to safeguard the donated funds. The Jenkintown Education Fund also helped obtain $100,000 in state grant funds for some of the drainage-related sitework. Borough Council agreed to waive a significant portion of the building permit fees, and local groups from JCA to the Rotary Club to the Kiwanis Club, amongst many others, donated funds. Four days of DIY projects were supported by parents, students, and community members July 30th - August 2nd and have brought new life, bright colors, musical elements, and a stage to the park. Legacy Park promises to continue Jenkintown’s legacy of volunteerism, cooperation, and fun. More than a playground, Legacy Park will stand as another reminder of what a small community can accomplish when residents work together!  The new stage in the "Fairy Garden" part of Legacy Park!  New chalk boards and floral murals (made from collected bottle caps) made by the HSA Sustainability Committee in the "Fairy Garden" part of Legacy Park!  New musical elements in the "Fairy Garden" part of Legacy Park! Upcoming Events JEF Clothing Drive - October 10th 2026 Legacy Park Ribbon Cutting - end of November 2026 (specific date TBD) Stay in Touch Do you have information about a Jenkintown graduate you would like to include in our newsletter? We’d love to hear from you. Photos are always welcome! Tell us about alumni accomplishments, weddings, careers, awards, retirements, military service, or other milestones at information@jsdef.org and we can include an “alumni news” section in our next issue. If someone forwarded you this newsletter and you’d like to receive your own copy next time, please add your contact information to our list. If you would no longer like to receive these emails (or have been receiving them by mistake, please email jenkintowneducationfoundation@gmail.com with “Unsubscribe” in the subject line. |