Frankford Gazette » Education

Green Building Taking Shape at Frankford Friends

Gil — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:18:38 +0000

Steel framing rose for the new building at Frankford Friends School last week. The project, the culmination of many years of planning at the school, will allow it to offer high-quality Friends education program to more local families by expanding the space in middle school classrooms. The new building will provide a multipurpose space, a music room, and three more classrooms. The building, which is among several new construction projects now happening in Frankford, was designed by DIGSAU and is being built by CVM Construction.

Energy use at the new building will be reduced through the use of a highly insulated envelope, an efficient HVAC system, exhaust fans, operable windows, natural light, highly-insulated walls, and solar shades that block summer sun while bouncing winter sun more deeply into the rooms. A large north-facing skylight in the multipurpose room minimizes lighting costs. Rain barrels will keep rain water out of the city stormwater system and provide free water for classroom and ornamental gardens. All materials and carpet will are low VOC. Budget allowing, the exterior will be clad in reclaimed red cedar.

The school, which has been on its historic campus since 1833, expects to enroll over 130 students in grades PreK-8^th in the coming year. There are still some openings in grades 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7; the others have waiting lists. For more information, www.frankfordfriendsschool.org

Sankofa Freedom Academy Has Charter Renewed

Gil — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:56:35 +0000

At its April meeting, the Philadelphia School Reform Commission voted to renew the charter for Sankofa Freedom for an additional five years. From the Inquirer:

The five-member commission voted unanimously to award five-year operating agreements to Multi-Cultural Academy and Sankofa Freedom Academy, based on their academic performance and because they fulfilled other requirements.

Multi-Cultural, a college-prep high school in North Philadelphia, pledged not to grow beyond its authorized limit of 275 students through 2017.

Sankofa, in Frankford, has an Afro-centric curriculum. The school now has 463 students in kindergarten through sixth and ninth to 11th grades. It agreed to abide by the maximum enrollment of 650 students, set in its original 2009 charter, when it completes its growth to a K-12 model in 2013-14.

In the present economic environment that is quite an accomplishment. Congratulations to the staff and students at Sankofa.

Frankford High JROTC Change of Command Ceremony

1st Lt. Lee Nguyen — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:00:58 +0000

As the school year comes to a close the ROTC must choose new leadership.

Make way for the new leaders! The pioneer battalion has chosen new cadets to lead us into a new year. Cadet/COL Justin Mount has retired as the battalion commander and Cadet/LTC Antonio Torres has stepped up to the plate. We wish him great achievements in the future. Cadet Torres will lead us into more special projects to help the community. Congrats to Cadet/LTC Torres!

Picture caption: Cadet Justin Mount (left) and JROTC Senior Instructor (right) hands down the position of Battalion Commander to Cadet Torres (center).

((This is Cadet/MAJ Lee Nguyen Retired Pioneer Battalion S-5. It has been an amazing year working with you to get my battalion into news articles. This year I will graduate and will be handing down my position to a new S-5, C/1LT Jonathan Juarez. I hope you two have great communication as we did and work together to put the Frankford Pioneers into the local newspaper.))

Frankford High JROTC Happenings for April

1st Lt. Lee Nguyen — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:59:14 +0000

Every year the Frankford High School Alumni selects two graduates to receive this award. This year the Alumi selected a previous graduate, who also came back to his school to contribute to his old football team. Michael Capriotti came back to Frankford High School to coach varsity football. Helping the team win two championships.

Congratulations Coach Capriotti!

On Saturday April 21, 2012, the Pioneer Battalion Raiders team competed against 10 other schools. Pioneers won third place in the 3Km Run, Land Navigation, and Rope Bridge. In our strong efforts we received 3rd place overall. Which means that we ranked third best against 11 schools in total! Congratulations to our Raiders team!

Frankford Student Poised for Success

Gil — Sun, 06 May 2012 12:43:01 +0000

Marissa Peal graduates from Penn State.

Marissa, At the Neer Waterfall in India

There are many graduations stories this time of year in Frankford. This is just one of them.

I first heard about Marissa last year when it caught my ear that a student from Frankford was studying abroad in India. That is such an interesting idea that I had to find out the story. Marissa grew up in Frankford on Josephine Street with her mom Carol Lynn, dad William, sister Mariah and brother Sean. She attended Allen M. Stearne Elementary School, Warren G. Harding Middle School and Murrell Dobbins Career Technical Educational High School where she studied cosmetology.

In her own words: Since I was born I’ve attended the Second Baptist Church of Frankford where Darrell Ricardo Bradsbery is the Reverand. My mother, mother’s siblings, my grandmother, and grandfather have all been members of this church, making it close to a traditional path in our family.

All of my friends and professional relationships I have established in college are people I know personally and they have all given me inspiration in more ways than I can count. I am surround by friends with entrepreneurial, artistic, service oriented, and doctoral goals which motivates me to work hard and to inspire those around me through my actions.My ambitions after graduation is to work in an advertising agency. I really want to contribute my ideas to an agency that focuses on marketing towards minorities. I want to to build that gap between those who are underrepresented, specifically women in the beauty realm.

While studying a semester abroad in India, I made many friends who I remain in contact with today. We use Facebook and twitter to stay connected and are making future plans to reunite again. I miss the historical sites in India. It was amazing to learn about pivotal moments like the assassination of India’s first female prime minister, Indira Gandhi, and actually taking the metro to the site! I also miss the shopping very much. Following my adventure to India, I recently spent my spring break in Honduras building a gravity water system in the Palo Verde (means Green trees) village. It will supply 18 homes and a school with clean water. I am so ready to visit Africa next. I am not sure which countries but I have a few friends I can visit and plenty of options.

Marissa is now wading through job offers for the next stage of her life. Congratulations to her and all the Frankford graduates this year. You are the hope for the future.

Frankford High Graduate is Sweet Genius

1st Lt. Lee Nguyen — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:00:29 +0000

Lasheeda Perry

“Sweet Genius” is a competitive cooking show which debuted on the Food Network last year. This year, its second season, a Frankford High School alumnus Lasheeda Perry (Class of 2004) competed, and won.

While attending Frankford, Lasheeda participated in the JROTC and Culinary Arts program. Lasheeda was the Battalion Commander for JROTC in the year of 2004 and she was one of the Culinary Arts Program’s top students. In winning this competition, Lasheeda won $10,000 and was awarded the title of Sweet Genius by Master Pastry Chef Ron Ben-Israel.

Frankford Tech Week Grads

Gil — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:40:23 +0000

State Representative Tony Payton, the Frankford CDC and the Peoples Emergency Center teamed up to offer a three day course in email and internet basics this week as Frankford’s contribution to Philly Tech week. Thursday afternoon, we were on hand for a graduation attended by Rep. Payton and Chris Wink, co-founder of Technically Philly and Philly Tech week.

Chandi Queen was the instructor and all of the students were hard at work when we got there for a few pictures as they wrapped up class. Congratulations to the participants, Frank Cutler, Ethel Dawson, Rasheem Jennings, Karen Lee and William Brown. Click on the thumbnail below to see the full picture.

This was an empowering example of what has been made possible by the presence of the new computer lab over at the CDC. Look forward to more new and interesting events coming out of that building.

Edmunds Elementary to Become String Theory Charter School

Gil — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:30:54 +0000

The School Reform Commission (SRC) announced on Thursday that the Renaissance Turnaround Team from String Theory Charter Schools has been awarded the contract to run H. R. Edmunds

H. R. Edmunds Elementary School

Elementary School effective with the school year beginning in September of 2012.

From their web site the String Theory model:

String Theory Schools’ flagship model school is the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School. When the doors opened in September 2000, it became the only grade school in the state of Pennsylvania to link academic education with the arts. Since then, schools in Chester and Pittsburgh, as well as other states throughout the county, have followed the String Theory Schools’ model.

The SRC followed the recommendations of the School District which says on their press release:

The District recommendations were informed by a turnaround team matching process conducted by School Advisory Councils at each Renaissance School. School Advisory Councils met and reviewed proposals from turnaround teams and visited schools currently managed by the teams. After reviewing the proposals, meeting with the prospective turnaround teams and holding community meetings, the Councils developed match recommendations and delivered them to the District earlier this week.

The District incorporated the findings from the School Advisory Councils into the final recommendations to the School Reform Commission. Renaissance Schools and turnaround teams were matched based upon how the turnaround team’s proposed school design meets the needs of the respective schools.

At the Northwood Civic meeting earlier this week in the discussion among members regarding Edmunds, the opinion of the majority of the members was that any change should be in favor of a better educational result. Members voiced concerns about order and discipline more than anything else. So they will be looking toward improvement in those areas of concern as this process moves forward.

There is no mention in the SRC press release of whether the School District recommendations followed the will of the Edmunds School Advisory Council. So far they have not responded to our inquiry on that issue. If any readers have any insight into that question, please comment.

H.R. Edmunds Elementary School Meeting

Gil — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:03:55 +0000

Important Changes are Coming to H.R. Edmunds Elementary School. Starting next fall, Edmunds School will be run by a high performing charter school organization. You are invited to attend an information session about the changes and how you can help choose which organization will assume leadership of the school.

H.R. Edmunds Information Session
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
1197 Haworth Street
6:00pm – 8:00pm
**** Refreshments and childcare will be provided****

Frankford High School JROTC News for February 2012

Gil — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:08:51 +0000

2LT Antonio Torres

Every year the JROTC Committee chooses one cadet from each school to receive the “Good Citizenship Award.” This year from

cadet Anthony Agront and cadet Lea Mull

Frankford High School, Cadet 2LT Antonio Torres was honored to be chosen for this award. Cadet Torres will be invited to the Union League Headquarters in Center City to participate in a workshop, dinner, and a special presentation describing a competition for an exclusive scholarship.

Every year the mayor of Philadelphia chooses a select number of students from each school to receive the “Most Improved Student” award. Not only did Mayor Nutter select one student from Frankford High School, he selected two! They both belong to the Pioneer Battalion, cadet Anthony Agront and cadet Lea Mull. These two amazing students will be invited to City Hall along with other “Improved” students throughout the city for an exclusive dinner.