Lamees’s work turned into street art (Photo by West Philly Local).

You may have recently noticed the artwork of Penn Alexander student Lamees Abou-Hatab on the northwest corner of 42nd and Spruce.

Literally on the corner.

Lamees’s art work is a creative reminder that what you dump in the street drains will find its way into rivers and streams. Her work was chosen as part of a student art contest hosted by the Philadelphia Water Department and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and was turned into street art over the summer. Lamees is heading into 7th grade this year. Congrats to her!  Continue Reading

Belmont Charter, a neighborhood K-8 school in Mantua, will open a high school in the fall 2017. The School Reform Commission (SRC) voted on Friday in support of the school’s application to create a 300-student Belmont Charter High School. Belmont has the choice of creating a new charter or amending the existing charter to create a K-12 school. The school can eventually enroll 500 across grades 9-12.

Currently, most Belmont graduates advance to the catchment area school, West Philadelphia High School. Admission to Belmont Charter High School would give preference to Belmont’s rising K-8 students, who would account for a projected 60 of the 125 grade level seats.

“Over the years, we have watched too many good students drop out or struggle immensely when they reach high school because they aren’t able to get the kinds of support they critically need,” Jennifer Faustman, Chief Executive Officer at Belmont Charter School, said in a statement in May. “Our community school model gives them positive out of school time and wraparound services which help them succeed. Too often once students graduate from Belmont, the reward for their success is being placed into a school that takes those resources away, and that’s not right.”  Continue Reading

Michael Farrell (photo from Penn GSE website).

The School District of Philadelphia has announced the hiring of a new principal to replace the school’s founding principal, Sheila Sydnor, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Michael T. Farrell, a West Philly native and the founding principal of Thomas Elementary School in South Philadelphia (run by Mastery Charter Schools) will take over at Penn Alexander in the fall. Farrell has been at Thomas since 2013 and before that he was an assistant principal, special education coordinator and teacher at various Philadelphia schools, including Science Leadership Academy.

A committee of Penn Alexander teachers, the School Advisory Council and University of Pennsylvania assisted the district in the nationwide search, which took more than three months.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Sydnor began her career as a teacher in 1975 and was principal of M.H. Stanton Elementary School in North Philadelphia before coming to Penn Alexander when the school opened in 2001.

“The Penn Alexander School is one of the brightest spots in The School District of Philadelphia as a result of Sheila Sydnor’s stellar leadership,” Dr. William R. Hite, Superintendent said in a statement.

Sydnor will assist Farrell in the transition, according to the statement.

We’re happy to pass along information on two local causes that support community education.

Metropolitan owner Jim Lily and PIC executive director Debbie Green (photo courtesy PIC).

The Parent Infant Center (PIC) at 42nd and Locust recently received a generous and heartfelt gift from a local business. Metropolitan Bakery & Café’s owner Jim Lily sent a touching letter to PIC’s Executive Director Debbie Green and presented a $600 donation for PIC’s Cindy Fund. In his letter, Lily wrote about his close relationship with PIC (his daughter participated in the after-school program there) and about his friendship with former executive director Cindy Roberts who passed away in February. Roberts and Lily were also neighbors; they lived across the street from each other.

University City’s Metropolitan celebrated its 12th anniversary on April 26, and a portion of sales on that day made up this donation. Read more about this wonderful gesture on the PIC website.

The Cindy Fund was established in memory of Roberts, who was passionate about children and families and believed in equal access to quality preschool for all families, regardless of income. To learn more about the Cindy Fund, go here.  Continue Reading

Here’s an opportunity to enjoy a great community evening at Powel Elementary School’s Spring Arts Festival on Friday, May 20, when all are invited to celebrate the students’ Journey Through West and North Africa.

For over thirty years, Powel School has added dimensions to student learning and created community with families through exploring a particular region, culture, or continent. The culmination of this is the Spring Arts Festival, where families and community members meet, party, and celebrate the cultures they have explored.

“In the spirit of the Liberian-inspired Welcome Dance – Funga Alafia, to be performed by 1st and 2nd graders, please Be Welcome to our festival,” writes Powel Home & School Association Arts Chair Gretchen Walker.

The school is also seeking community volunteers to help. If you’re interested, please sign up here.  Continue Reading

Lea Principal Jennifer Duffy helps a student cut the ribbon that officially opens the new Henry Lea Elementary School playground at 47th and Spruce (Photo by West Philly Local).

A handful of Henry C. Lea Elementary students cut the ribbon this morning on a project that has transformed the school’s playground at 47th and Spruce from a barren swathe of asphalt into an inviting space complete with trees and dedicated bricks.

The “Greening Lea” project has moved through several stages that culminated with today’s ribbon cutting for a playground that now includes several garden areas, several newly planted trees and a renovated basketball court.  Continue Reading