Author: Pat Smiley

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Is Your Child Going to Kindergarten This Fall? There Is Help To Get You Both Ready!

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!


 

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Brightside Academy Hosts “Meet Your Legislators” Event for Parents and Students!

Our local Brightside Academy, located at 1627-29 Meadow Street, hosted a “Meet Your Legislators” event on Friday, 1/13/12, to bring our local legislators, parents and students together. Part of the program included a photo display of students’ concerns about our community. The students had been given disposable cameras to capture and record what they would like to change about Frankford. Students also prepared questions to present to the legislators. As I looked at the photo display, there were pictures of littered streets and abandoned buildings. We, too, share these young citizens’ concerns. Parents gathered in the meeting room of Brightside Academy, munching on provided snacks, to await the arrival of the legislators.

This was our first visit to Brightside Academy and we were warmly greeted and impressed with the brightly painted and decorated classrooms. This Brightside Academy is one of 30 academies in the city according to Davida Garr, Community Affairs Specialist. Brightside Academy is a part of many of our city neighborhoods and are reaching out to connect with their families and support the local communities. Early education and care are provided for children aged 6 weeks – 12 years. Academies are open year-round from 6 AM until 6 PM (may vary slightly by location). Juana Ramos, Area Business Director, explained that Brightside Academy opened in 1999 at this location. The name “Academy” is very important to staff as they provide an educational environment, work to enhance their own qualifications through staff development and work to reach higher levels in the Keystone Stars program. Keystone Stars is a PA Early Learning initiative that gives accreditation to day-care centers based on the highest performance level they achieve – Star 1 through Star 4.

I had a chance to speak with parents who are unanimously very pleased with this facility. They feel staff are pleasant, there is a family atmosphere and they recommended them highly. One mother has had three children in Brightside Academy and the oldest is now 11. We visited a class where a student was celebrating an 8th birthday and cupcakes had been shared!

State Representative Tony Payton arrived, as did City Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez. Unfortunately, State Senator Christine Tartaglione had a previous commitment. Students welcomed them and introduced themselves asking questions about litter, jobs and money for education. These future voters did themselves well!

The Northeast EARN Center (located on Frankford Avenue) had representatives and a table of information at the event. This agency provides support for those transitioning from welfare to work in northeast Philadelphia. You must be referred to them by your caseworker if you are receiving assistance from the Department of Public Welfare. If you have any questions or think you might be eligible, talk to your caseworker.

For more information, visit their website at Brightside Academy or call 215.289.0641 or 877.868.2273. Kudos to all those involved in this event! Our Frankford community is the better for them!

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Food for the Body and Soul at Second Baptist Church!

Praise and Worship Team

My mother and I had the great pleasure of being invited guests of the Miller family (Paulette, in particular) at the 93rd Annual Pre-Women’s Day Breakfast held at the Second Baptist Church of Frankford on Saturday morning, October 29th. When we arrived, the cooks had already been busy in the kitchen from early that morning. The forecast for the day was rain changing to sleet and snow (yes, this was the end of October) yet the assembly in their Fellowship Hall was warm and welcoming. This breakfast leads up to Women’s Day (Nov. 6) which is a culmination of all their fundraising efforts for the Church. The Praise and Worship Team lent their voices singing songs to unite us all! Sister Dionne Greene, our Worship Leader, began the morning reminding us of God’s many gifts and blessings. Full of energy, she set the tone for the rest of our morning. Sister Shelly Robinson, in her reading of the Sacred Word, asked those gathered to unite in worship and service, no matter our differences. A good message to remember! We were warmly welcomed by Sister Eliza Fletcher! You believed that, though you were visiting, you were most assuredly invited to return!

Sister Joanie Briggs solo, “It’s Been A Mighty Good Day”, will stay with me always reminding me that no matter what has happened to me that day, it’s still been a good day! Sister Lavon Johns, introduced our guest speaker, her cousin, Licentiate Genene Jones. Licentiate means you possess a license. Her theme resonated with the assembled group that Christians provide service for the glory of God who is always there for us. Very devout and strongly dedicated to serving Jesus and His Father, she invited us to a life of Christian discipleship. Deaconess Marsha Jones blessed our food and Licentiate Jones also gave the Benediction. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast of fried fish, scrambled eggs, scrapple, bacon, sausage, home fries, cinnamon apples, grits, biscuits,  juice, coffee and danish.

I had the great pleasure to meet Reverend Marie Johns, also known as the “Mother of Second Baptist”.

Rev. Marie Johns, Licentiate Genene Jones, Lavon Johns

She is also the proud mother of 9 children and fondly remembers her husband, Wilmore, who passed two years ago. Deacon Johns was a Head Trustee for Second Baptist for many years.

The Chairlady of this event was Deaconess Pamela Hardy. The Co-Chairlady was Sister Venieta Briggs. Reverent Darrel R. Bradsbery is the Pastor of Second Baptist. All those involved with this event can be very proud of the program that was very moving and the food that was delicious!

We are blessed with many churches and many faiths in Frankford. Whatever your beliefs, this day served to remind all in attendance that we can unite with each other and serve each other well. We need more of that spirit, don’t we?

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Our Frankford Library – A Treasure Trove on the Avenue!

The literal meaning of “treasure trove” from the old English is “treasure that has been found”. Have you discovered all that the Frankford Library has to offer? An Open House was sponsored by the Friends of the Frankford Library on Wednesday, October 26, to familiarize us with the services available at the Library. The Library, at Frankford Avenue and Overington Street, has been at its present location since 1906.

The Frankford Library provides students in grades 1-12 an opportunity to LEAP (Literacy Enrichment Afterschool Program) ahead in their studies. This is a free, drop-in after school program that provides homework help and computer assistance to students. There are literacy enrichment activities for early elementary students. The LEAP Program operates four days a week, Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 PM – 6 PM and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 PM – 5 PM.

There are eight computers for the community to use and you can bring your own mobile devices to access the free wifi. This internet access provides a great resource for job-hunters and even for those updating their skills.

What can we do for the Library? We can become Friends of the Library whose mission is to support the Free Library of Philadelphia. Each branch has a volunteer group promoting cooperation and communication between the community and the Free Library. Note that today – not many services are free!

Check it out! For more information, visit the library Monday through Friday! Check out the website at www.freelibrary.org.

 

 

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Northwood Civic Association Meeting 10/18/2011

Chris Wink for NEastPhilly did a great report on the Northwood Civic Meeting today so I’ll point you in that direction and hope you enjoy reading it.

The subject of the Frankford Y building at 4704 Leiper Street took up the better part of the meeting.   A suggestion was made that the Civic should petition in Orphans Court to have a receiver appointed who would then be able to take control of the property.  That action might give the community some leverage in the disposal or reuse of the building.

Nominations were opened for board members and only one person volunteered.  That does seem unfortunate and not a good sign for the future of Northwood.