West Philly High is getting new laptops today thanks to the hip hop cop.

Daily News Celebrities and Gossip columnist Jenice Armstrong has a great piece today on Charlie Mack Alston, who became well known as the security guard for West Philly natives Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, and his efforts to replace computers stolen last month from West Philadelphia High School. Two teens, one a student at the school, have pleaded guilty to the theft. Thirty computers, valued at about $1,000 each, were never recovered.

Alston’s plan began soon after he saw reports that the laptops had been stolen.

“It was just on my heart that I wanted to do something,” he told Armstrong.

So he called up his friend Will Smith and together they bought 30 new computers.

Alston will present the computers to the school today.

The sledding was awesome. The snowball fights were grand. But now it’s time to pay for those snow days. The School District of Philadelphia just announced that it will add two days to this year’s calendar to make up for classes missed during the winter.

The last day for students is now Tuesday, June 21 and the last day for teachers and staff is June 22.

Philadelphia schools were closed January 12th, 27th, 28th, and February 22nd because of snow.

The Curio Theatre Company after-school workshop series starts tomorrow. Registration for the after-school program and the Saturday workshops for youths 7-17 continues through March 5.

The first Saturday workshop was yesterday, but those interested can still register even if they have missed the first class. The Saturday workshop runs from 10 a.m. to noon until May 7. The after-school program is from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. through May 9. All of the workshops are held at Calvary Center for Culture and Community (4740 Baltimore Ave.). Each program concludes with a performance on the last day on the Curio stage.

Click here for more information on registration. The cost for each workshop is $195.

The West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools has sent word that the School District of Philadelphia will hold a Kindergarten Open House day on Tuesday, March 1.

The Coalition’s Amara Rockar provided the information below on participating schools. Parents interested in visiting a school should call and verify the times.

A. D. Harrington School
5300-34 Baltimore Ave
19143
(215) 471 – 2914
www.philasd.org/schools/harrington
Open House: CONFIRMED, 9:09-9:54

B. B. Comegys School
5100 Greenway Ave.
19143
(215) 727 – 2162
Open House: Not confirmed

Alexander Wilson School
1300 S. 46th St.
19143
(215) 823 – 8206
www.philasd.org/schools/alexanderwilson
Open House: CONFIRMED, 9 – Noon

Samuel B Huey School
5200 Pine St.
19143
(215) 471 – 2901
Open House: Not confirmed

Henry C. Lea School
4700 Locust St.
19139
(215) 471 – 2915
Open House: CONFIRMED

Penn Alexander School
4209 Spruce St.
19104
(215) 823 – 5465
www.philasd.org/schools/pennalexander
Open House: CONFIRMED

Alain Locke School
4550 Haverford Ave.
19139
(215) 823 – 8202
Open House: CONFIRMED, 9-10:30

Martha Washington Academics
766 N. 44th St.
19104
(215) 823 – 8203
www.philasd.org/schools/marthawashington
Open House: Occurring on 4/2 instead OF 3/1, Time TBA.

Click to enlarge.

School reform advocates from West Philly will no doubt be on hand for a rally today in front of the Philadelphia School District offices at 440 N. Broad St. to call on the district to open up the process of reform to students, parents, teachers and community members.

Teacher Action Group (TAG), an organization of reform-minded teachers, is organizing the rally, which is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Writer Tim Whitaker puts this week’s late-night theft of 58 laptops and other equipment from West Philadelphia High School – valued at about $80,000 – into context with the other struggles the school has had in recent months in a post on Philadelphia Magazine’s website today.

The ski-masked thieves were caught on surveillance video taking the equipment early Wednesday morning. Police are still investigating the thefts, which are the latest blow to West. Earlier this month, dozens of students walked out of the school in protest of ongoing changes there, including three new principals this school year.

In the article, entitled The Biggest Embarrassment in Philadelphia, Whitaker lauds former principal Saliyah Cruz, who was also praised by students and parents before she was moved out of the school. He writes:

Things have been deteriorating steadily and dramatically at West Philadelphia High, one of the city’s oldest and most iconic educational institutions, for decades.

But for a brief time, just a moment ago but all but forgotten already, there was hope. Hope came in the form of Saliyah Cruz, a passionate principal who mobilized and inspired a troop of young and devoted teachers to her mission for three years at West Philadelphia High School until she was shown the door at the end of the 2010 academic year.