You get a feeling that good things are happening at Harding Middle School! We went to visit on Friday, 2/24, the day that three banners, now hanging at the main entrance of the school on Torresdale Avenue, were dedicated. ArtsRising is an effort to make quality arts education available for all of our children in the city. When you visit their website, you will see their partners and sponsors. These wonderful programs need funding and our support. Schools can apply to be an “Artzone Hub” and there are site visits, surveys and consideration of other criteria before you are selected. If you would like your school to get involved, you can find out how here. Seven artzones or communities have been identified in the city thus far and Harding Middle School is our “hub” here in Frankford. You can read a profile about Harding here on the ArtsRising website .

These banners are a sight to behold but just as important is what they represent. Principal Michael J. Calderone explained that the banners depict the Arts, Academics and Athletics at Harding. It is by design that the Academics banner hangs in the middle because Academics is at the center, the heart, of all that Hardings’ staff and students are achieving. For the last three years, students have improved their proficiency levels as measured by the state’s PSSA tests. In the spirit of the moment, I am getting ahead of myself here. When you enter Harding Middle School, you are struck by the grandness of the lobby, even after 85 years. This school was built to showcase design and achitecture at the height of our Roaring 20′s! We were immediately greeted warmly by three students, Raina, Johnathan and Joe, who after reminding us that we needed to sign in, would be our escorts to the Independent Media Center. The IMC, which houses the library and a wall of Apple iMAC computers for sutdent use, had a classroom of students waiting expectantly. Due to the weather, the dedication ceremony could not be held outside.

Ambrose Liu, ArtsZone Coordinator, welcomed everyone. The Director of ArtsRising, Varissa Mickens, explained that while 45 students directly participated in the banners we see, they are meant to represent the dreams of all of the students and the community’s dreams for them. In a very visual and vibrant way, these banners express the dreams that Harding Middle School administration, teachers, parents and students are working to bring to life. These dreams go beyond the school walls to the larger Frankford community and beyond as well. Ms. Mickens congratulated the students telling them that they should be proud of their efforts and she thanked Principal Calderone for his belief in the power of arts education and his support of the program.

Mr. Liu explained that the teaching artist, Betsy Casanas, co-founder of Semilla Arts Initiative, partnered with Harding teachers  John Papiano, Technology Teacher, and Jon Tietz, Visual Arts Teacher, and students to design and create these banners. Semilla, meaning “seed”, is how Ms. Casanas describes the way that art “plants” in students a feeling of empowerment, where as young as they might be, they are able to use their “strong and powerful voices today” to impact their communities. Ms. Casanas went on to say that this was just a beginning in future projects with the students that would integrate with their curriculum. Stained Glass depicting events in History and learning about light in Science. If you teach students “how” to do something, they will continue to use this creative power in their lives.

Speaking of student voices, several students from the Def Poets Club shared their works with us. You can see it here for yourself.

State Representative Tony Payton  and Jason Dawkins, a representative from City Councilwoman’s Maria Sanchez-Quinones’ office were in attendance as well. Kimberly Washington, Coordinator of Northeast EPIC Stakeholders, spoke about growing up in the immediate area and that the Northeast EPIC Stakeholders are working to improve the quality of life in Frankford and Northeast Philadelphia. What impressed me, also, is the collaborative effort that went into this initiative. It does take all of us to work together for the good of our young people and the future of our communities! To experience this uplifting moment, you can watch it here. To all who participated and supported this project, you have both our congratulations and thanks!

I attended the zoning hearing on Tuesday representing the Frankford Civic for the application of the owner of 4325-27 Frankford Avenue to convert the second floor to 13 rooming units.  At our last meeting the board had voted to oppose this use of the property.  The application was denied.

We know that early childhood education makes a difference to a child’s future achievement. Will your child be transitioning from a preschool environment to Kindergarten? Make no mistake, it is a transition, and a bigger transition than the one when your child first started day care and/or preschool. Here is an opportunity to make that transition a smooth one. LEARN (the Local Education And Resource Network) of Philadelphia is a partnership of early childhood professionals, parents, members of the community and organizations promoting quality early childhood education in our area. The Philadelphia LEARN Team, in collaboration with the SDP’s Office of Early Childhood Education and the Please Touch Museum are hosting “Kindergarten Registration Panels” throughout the city for parents/guardians of children who will be five years old by September 1, 2012. The closest event for us is at the Northeast Regional Branch of the Philadelphia Library on Tuesday evening, March 20, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. This program is for parents/guardians only! Gift bags for those attending! Bring a friend whose child will also be going to Kindergarten! Space is limited so please RSVP to learn@ccisnephila.com. (If you have friends in Northwest or Central Philly, there are other meeting dates for them.) The flyer below gives you additional information. Please mark this date on your calendar now and plan to attend. RSVP ASAP!

The CDC continues to build for the future after a period of difficulty over the last few years in rectifying some past problems.

Four new members recently joined the Board of Directors.  In addition Michael O’Brien has moved into the Vice president’s position with Terence McSherry as Treasurer.

Marie DeLany, President - Overington House, Inc.
Michael O’Brien, Vice President -Resident
Terence McSherry, Treasurer - Northeast Treatment Centers
Mike Galdi, Century 21 Realty
Herb Frayer, S&A Cleaners
Santo Caruso, Aria Health
Faye Allen, Special People In Northeast/Resident
Fernando Torres, Dreamgirl Fashion & Mark My Flesh
Aldridk Gessa – Resident
Nidia Mezalick – Mezalick Design Studio
Derek Andrews- Resident and Parent Ombudsman/Liaison Harding Middle School
Leticia Hernandez – Resident

Congratulations to all!!!

I asked Meagan Hopkins-Dower how she thought iPraxis’ involvement with Northwood Academy’s science fair added a special value to the students’ education, here’s her response:

I have always thought of the science fair as a way for the students to explore science in their own terms and investigate topics that interest them, but are not necessarily covered by the curriculum.  By being a home project, it is also a way for students to apply the information they gain in school to a real question of their own design.  When outside scientists and engineers (from iPRAXIS) come in to judge and talk to the students, they give value to the students’ work.  It changes the project from a school assignment to something that can be a point of pride for the students.  As a former teacher, there have been multiple instances where several years afterward, students will contact me asking about their projects.  Not only do the students think of their science fair projects as more important, but the iPRAXIS judges give advice for future projects and are ACTUAL SCIENTISTS who are clearly professionals and yet attainable to the students.

After Northwood’s Science Fair, selected students will work weekly with iPRAXIS volunteers (Scienteers) to refine their projects in preparation for Philadelphia’s city-wide Science Fair, George Washington Carver Science Fair, in March.  The students work one-on-one with a Scienteer and are able to really make their projects more competitive.  The Scienteers guides the students through each step of the scientific method.  This is crucial as many families do not have the scientific knowledge to provide this high level of support for the students.  Again, this process lends credeance to the student’s efforts as the Scienteer acts as a resource for the student and the student learns how continual evaluation is used by working scientists/engineers.  While discussing the student’s project, the Scienteer also will discuss his or her career and educational background.  This mentoring aspect of iPRAXIS exposes students to careers of which the students may previously have been unaware.

iPRAXIS also supports Northwood’s students by providing civil engineering mentors to help lead an afterschool engineering club.  We coordinate guest speakers who range from University of Pennsylvania Cell and Molecular Biology graduate students to John McNeil, the President and CEO of the Eastern Regional Treatment Center Cancer Treatment Centers of America.  The presenters come to Northwood and speak to the students about their careers, educational paths, what makes science so fascinating, and expose students to scientific topics that support the curriculum.  Finally iPRAXIS has supported supplemental science curriculum by providing scientific materials and professional development to Northwood’s science teacher in the past.

Meagan