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.

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.

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.

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****

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.