Category: Education

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Pop Star Inspires Students at Frankford Friends School

By Jonathan Clifton

camille peruto

Camille Peruto

Singer Camille Peruto may have received a standing ovation at the Hollywood Theatre where she appeared in the TV Show, American Idol, but that was nothing compared with the reception she received one day in February during a surprise visit to Frankford Friends School.

“This is the coolest school I’ve ever visited!”, said 20 year old Camille, before launching into some songs from her new album, Sparrow, produced by multi Grammy award winner, Glen Barratt. Many of the children were familiar with her songs and joined in, clapping and singing along.

In addition to her music, Camille answered questions from the children, ranging from, “What is Jennifer Lopez really like?” to “How do you become a musician?”.

“You guys have already made a great start,” Camille answered, referring to Frankford Friends successful music program, ” I understand that all of you play instruments. That’s wonderful.”

And she added, “I’m coming back to your Spring Concert in May to watch you perform!”

Teacher Jonathan Clifton reminded the children that Camille is involved in many charity events, ranging from Tinnitus Awareness to performing at Breast Cancer Events. One of the songs on her new album which says ” Words cut deeper than a pocket knife”, was written for a national campaign against bullying.

ffs kids“Camille has a special talent, and she’s using it to make the world a better place”, said Clifton, “And that’s something we care about too.
The young audience seemed to agree. ” She made me feel so happy”, said one little girl.

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Frankford Friends School Appoints New Head of School

From the Frankford Friends School

Frankford Friends School is delighted to announce that Kathryn Park Cook will become the next Head of School, effective July 1, 2015. Her appointment is the result of a year-long process to identify a successor to Penny Colgan-Davis, who will retire from a distinguished career in education at the end of the 2014-15 academic year.

Kathryn Park Cook

Kathryn Park Cook

Kathryn Park Cook’s vision, experience, and commitment to Quaker values resonate strongly with the school’s mission and culture. Her career in education has spanned over 25 years. While a teacher, Kathryn was named a NJ Governor’s Teacher of the Year and a NAIS Teacher of the Future, and was a member of the 2013-2015 Friends Council on Education Leadership Institute cohort. Kathryn comes to us from the Moorestown Friends School, where she most recently served as Director of Innovative Programs. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in French horn from the New England Conservatory and a Master of Science in Education degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
“Throughout the search process I was struck by the strength of the FFS teaching and administrative staff,” said Kathryn. “Their dedication towards ensuring that each child graduates from eighth grade as an empathetic, ethical community member with the academic skills and knowledge necessary for success is inspiring. I look forward to continuing the work of Penny Colgan-Davis and collaborating with parents, students, teachers, staff, and community members to carry out our vision for the future of Frankford Friends School.”

Peg Szczurek, Clerk of the Frankford Friends School Committee and a member of the Head Search Committee, commented, “It was with great joy that I learned Kathryn Park Cook had accepted the position. Each time I speak or email with Kathy, I am convinced that we have made the right choice. She is a pleasure to work with and is deeply committed to best practice in education. We are blessed to have her as our next Head.”

Kathryn will lead a thriving school, taking over from Penny Colgan-Davis, an inspirational leader who transformed the school’s curriculum into an inquiry-based program and increased enrollment by more than 50% during her ten years as Principal. Penny led the fundraising, design, and construction of the Margaret Passmore Trickey Middle School and Multipurpose Building, greatly expanded the music and library programs, started a gardening program, and led the fundraising and planning to begin work on a nearly half-acre Outdoor Classroom “playscape” to be constructed across the street from the school.
Kathryn Park Cook attends Moorestown (NJ) Friends Meeting. She enjoys reading, working in her vegetable garden, cooking, and hiking with her husband, four children, and dog.

About Frankford Friends School
Founded in 1833, Frankford Friends School serves children in grades PreK-8 at its historic campus on Orthodox Street in Philadelphia. During all these years, the school has continued to subscribe to the fundamental goals set down by the first thoughtful educators who founded the school: a form of education which would develop an attitude of courageous independence, a readiness for responsibility, and a spiritual basis for life. Known for its modest tuition and the diversity of its student body, the school has been a key player in the recent revitalization of Frankford. Its graduates attend selective public and private high schools.

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PA House Democratic Policy Committee Hearing at Harding Middle School

Monday, March 9th at 2PM the PA House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a hearing on education funding and the Governor’s budget.  It is open to the public and you are invited to attend.

Dawkins requested the hearing and will serve as co-chairman along with HDPC Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster. Dawkins said the hearing will focus on adequately funding education, especially in poorer urban districts like Philadelphia School District. Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed a $1 billion restoration for education in the 2015-16 budget, including a $400 million increase for basic education that marks the largest increase in state history.

The current hearing agenda is:

  • 2 p.m. — Welcome and Opening Remarks
  • 2:10 p.m. — Pedro Rivera, acting secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Education
  • 2:30 p.m. — Panel from Philadelphia City Council:
    • Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, 7th District
    • Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, 3rd District
  • 3 p.m. — Panel Two:
    • Isaiah Thomas, associate dean of students, Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School
    • Helen Gym, co-founder, Parents United for Public Education
    • Nelson Diaz, partner, Dilworth Paxson LLP
  • 3:40 p.m. — Panel Three:
    • Brett Schaeffer, communications director and policy analyst, Education Law Center
    • Joan Duvall-Flynn, Education Committee chair, PA State Conference of NACCP Branches
    • Bishop Dwayne Rouster, executive director, Philadelphians Organized to Witness Empower & Rebuild (POWER)
  • 4:20 p.m. — Closing Remarks

 

house democratic policy committee hearing at harding

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Frankford Potter, John Neugebauer

John Neugebauer looms larger than life looking down from the mural at the intersection of Kensington and Frankford Avenues.

He was the model for the Civil War soldier, for artist Cesar Viveros, during the Destination Frankford project. He has been a civil war re-enacter and is an amateur historian of that era.

You are likely to find John in Frankford at Overington Park on one of the monthly events they sponsor. He will be the tall guy with a smile and always something interesting to say. Last year, when I was doing some research on another story, I asked my friend Jack Hohenstein, whose son Frank is a potter, if there were any other artists in Frankford. Jack referred me to Neugebauer and said he was also a potter.

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised since he is married to Diane Kunze, the founder and leader of the Friends of Overington Park. Those arty people tend to stick together, don’t they?

They live in a nice Victorian twin overlooking the park and it was there that I finally sat down with John, a few days before Christmas, to get some more of his story.

He is a local guy, grew up in the Northeast, went to Father Judge. He grew up in the hardware business since his father owned Loretto Hardware.

His heart was in art but thinking he had to make a living, he went to Temple and graduated with a business degree. He subsequently ended up back in the hardware business.

The hardware business changed quite a lot with the entry of the big box stores and after working in the industry for many years he found a way to capitalize on his sales skills in the education field.

His current job with the Art Institute of Philadelphia in the culinary department is as a recruiter. He talks to students about opportunities for a career in the culinary arts and how the Art Institute can help them achieve those goals. It’s the perfect gig for him.

All those years while making a living, he still found time to pursue his interest in art and took a first pottery class that got him started.

It is an ongoing learning process of working with the clay and glazes.

Making something of beauty and utility seems to have combined the artistic side with the practical hardware guy.

Each artist brings something of himself to the craft. John’s pieces often incorporate forms and patterns from nature. He would rather use an actual leaf than draw an abstract form.

Of late he found a way to combine his interest in the Civil War and pottery by making some unique items commemorating the war.

Below is a picture of a flask that might have been carried by a Union soldier, interpreted in pottery. The artwork is from the 13th New Jersey
Volunteer Infantry Regiment monument at the Gettysburg .

His pieces are now showing at Hohenstein Pottery in Glenside and Gallery 30 in Gettysburg.

 

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Calling All Poets Grades 9 to 12

Poet in Residence, Diane Sahms-Guarnieri, of Ryerss Museum and Library is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Ryerss Youth Poetry Contest. Twelve area high schools were invited to participate last year and this year fourteen high schools have been invited to participate. Students at all Philadelphia area high schools are invited to participate. First place winners in each grade will receive a $50.00 gift card from The Friends of Ryerss.  Participating students will be required to visit the Ryerss Museum and Library or Burholme Park and write a poem if so inspired. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2015. Winning students will read their poem at a special event at Ryerss on April 4, 2015 in celebration of National Poetry Month.   See the flyer below.

2015 - Flyer for poetry contest final