Frankford Community Blog | Local News, Events, Community Resources
Courtesy of HFP Early Head Start Program
I received an education last week when I went to visit the Health Federation of Philadelphia’s Early Head Start Program at 4606 Frankford Avenue. I was there to speak with the staff and learn about their unique program. Continue reading Health Federation of Phila Gives Parents and Young Children An “Early Head Start”!
Education is vital to our children to achieve their dreams and a meaningful life! We know that our educational system today is in great turmoil as we try to figure out the best way that children learn. Our ultimate goal has to be instilling a love of learning that lasts for a lifetime that affects all aspects of our lives.
Photo couresy of Alexander Iziliaev
The School District of Philadelphia identified our local H.R. Edmunds School at 1197 Haworth St. as a “Renaissance School”. By this identification, the School District acknowledges that Edmunds has been one of the lowest performing schools, thus, the School District wants to “bring about a dramatic improvement in student achievement”. 1 There are several organizations that specialize in turning around schools. So, the task becomes finding the right match for H.R. Edmunds. With input from Edmunds’ School Advisory Council, the School District decides which organization will take over management of the school. One of our contributor’s, Lea Pfeiffer, and her daughter, visited the String Theory Schools and presented their opinions about their visit to the School Reform Commission meeting in April, 2012. Lea has shared a copy of her remarks with us and we are sharing some of them with you here. Lea said, “It was what I saw, far more than what I was told, that convinced me String Theory was the best choice. I saw the compassion, respect and love that they have for every child….It was this passion and compassion that convinced me that String Theory will not stop until our students are able to achieve and succeed…” That passion is what makes String Theory Schools believe that they will make a difference at H.R. Edmunds and help every student achieve. The School District announced that String Theory Schools, a Non-for-Profit Education Management company, was awarded the contract to take over Edmunds Elementary.
We have reached out to String Theory Schools and we would like to share with you their vision, in their words, of exciting changes that will be taking place this coming school year. “When the students return from summer recess, they will be walking through the front doors of the new Charter School for the Arts and Sciences at H.R. Edmunds, under the leadership of String Theory Schools, an education management company, whose flagship model is the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School. Performing Arts is one of the most successful charter schools in the city of Philadelphia with 11 years of academic excellence.
On June 5th, H.R. Edmunds hosted students from Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School, who presented excerpts from their spring concert at the Kimmel Center, which included orchestral selections, ballet, and choral music.
Courtesy of Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School
String Theory Schools is being recognized locally and nationally for its STEM+ Arts (STEAM) educational model, which encourages the collaboration of the arts (performing, visual, and literary) with the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
The new Charter School for the Arts and Sciences at H.R. Edmunds will feature an engaging, art-infused curriculum with a strong focus on academic excellence. Every student in grades Kindergarten through fifth will be given a violin and taught to play. Each young student will also study ballet, vocal music, and visual arts. Science Lab, French language, and the art of creative writing will also be included in the curriculum. In grades sixth through eighth, students have the opportunity to choose to major in either academic or arts subjects. Students will spend 90 minutes each morning on their selected major. Majors include: Creative Writing, Innovations in Science, French, Ballet, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, and Visual Arts.” 2
All current Edmunds’ families must enroll their children (including incoming Kindergarten children) to attend the Charter School for the Arts and Sciences at H.R. Edmunds in September, 2012. Packets were sent home with all currently enrolled students. Please see the flyer below for more information!
We wish all involved in this effort much success in the coming year!
Notes:
Please share this information with anyone who might be eligible and interested! Stop by and say “Hello” as all the staff I met today were very warm, welcoming and would love to assist you in the challenging job of being a parent! Tell them you read about it in the Frankford Gazette!
Library
Paradigm means “the epitome, the gold standard, a paragon, a model”. We will learn more about this later. We recently visited First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School. Mr. James P. Stanton, the Director of Communications and Community Relations, gave us a tour and explained the school’s philosophy and mission. Building character and instilling values is key to their success. In preparing for our visit, I had checked out the school’s website to learn more. What I found really intrigued me! Based on the research of the Developmental Studies Center of Oakland, CA, First Philly uses the Caring School Community model that is based on four core principles. First and foremost, students build respectful and supportive relationships with their peers and teachers. Secondly, there are opportunities for collaboration within the school and the larger community. Thirdly, students have a real say in the workings of the classroom and the school which builds their independence and recognition of one’s ability to influence the world around them. Fourthly, the importance of learning and expectations of both caring and positive behaviors establishes standards for students to meet. Class meetings are held on a daily basis to build teamwork, make decisions and to be sure that students are feeling comfortable so they are able to fully participate in the learning process. The mission of First Philly is literacy and to create life-long learners and leaders of the global community. Literacy surrounds you from the moment you enter the building. A large lobby filled with natural light and the school’s library greets you and reminds you that literacy is the focus of all that happens here.
Steven, and his teacher, Mrs. McKoy, are big fans of Stevie Wonder!
First Philly’s campus makes a big statement at its current location of 4300 Tacony Street. When it first opened in September 2002 it was spread out over three different sites. In August 2004 they consolidated at their current location and in 2009 an addition was added that provided a 700 seat theatre with an orchestra pit and custom sound system along with lecture rooms. Students are enrolled in Kindergarten through Grade 8. First Philly’s students are chosen by lottery and do come from all areas of our city. Jim says they can identify students living in 33 of the city’s zip codes and 11 buses are used to transport the students to and from school. Theirs is a year round schedule except for the month of July. There is a cafeteria with hot meals and a salad bar. In addition to their focus on literacy, specials like Latin and Music occur every day. There is an art room, too. There are many different “languages” or ways that we communicate. Music is a uniting force among charter schools. There is a 2 day workshop and music festival every year. Those of you familiar with my articles for the Frankford Gazette already know that I am a retired teacher who still thinks of herself as both a teacher and a learner. First Philly’s philosophy is music to my ears and I am sure it will be to many of you as well. Continue reading First Phila. Preparatory Charter School is a “Paradigm” in Frankford!
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!
