From the Director’s Chair November 2007
Posted by msnl in : November 2007 Edition, From the Director's Chair“Use your capabilities and your passions not as ends in themselves but as God’s gifts entrusted to you. Share them with others; use them with humility, courtesy and affection… Show loving consideration for all creatures, and cherish the beauty and wonder of God’s creation. Attend to Pure Wisdom and be teachable.” From the Advices in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice
Planting Trees
Autumn is the time of year for trees. Suddenly, our green and lush leaves turn to oranges and reds. Grassy yards still in need of one late-season trim fill with a brown, crunchy blanket as the trees ready themselves for winter. This bright flash of color signals the coming of shorter days and cooler temperatures, as we shift our energy and focus indoors.
Fall hardly seems like a logical time to be planting trees, but our students in middle school have – literally and figuratively – done just that this autumn. 
Sixty sixth-grade students started their school year with an exuberant two days of tree-planting in nearby Fairmount Park. We planted over three hundred trees in a reclaimed pasture adjacent to the Wissahickon Creek, and left a legacy which will help to prevent erosion, create shade, and grow a grove for those students to visit in years to come. Our volunteer coordinator, David Brower, spoke highly of Penn Charter students’ efforts: “Thank you again for bringing such a great group of students to the park. They were quite focused and productive and did a high-quality job."
On campus, students have been planting trees of another sort. Student athletes have learned new skills and new sports throughout many well-played contests. New friendships have formed. The early days of disorganized locker visits, of new schedules, and of learning new subjects have given way to a more comfortable rhythm.
The school year follows a rhythm set within the seasons, but it also has its own internal pace and shape. We start each year anew in the fall, and watch the seeds planted in September grow into new learning, new friendships, and new achievements throughout the year and beyond. Like the sixth graders who learned to plant the roots deep, to cover them carefully with fertile soil, and to water just enough to help the tree begin to grow into the surrounding dirt, we have talked this fall about the ways to steward – to take care of – our growing in community. We value student and teacher relationships which are strong and deep, and we strive to nurture trust by communicating with honesty and caring. In the classroom, we push one another to grow new roots, to stretch out into new territory, and to take risks. We are a foundation for one another’s growing.
While the leaves are changing color and falling from the trees on campus, our growing turns its attention inwards, in the classrooms, the studios, and the field house. In this, our year to honor the Quaker testimony of stewardship, we are planting trees.
Rebecca Tatum
Director of Middle School
In the Classroom November 2007
Posted by msnl in : November 2007 Edition, In the Classroom
Middle School Reports At the end of the first trimester, students receive a grade in all classes and a comment if that grade is a C- or below. Those grades will be sent home just after Thanksgiving. Before the winter break, teachers will send an AFS (Accountability for Success) report home, alerting you if your child is struggling. Everyone will receive a mid-trimester comment in mid-January for Trimester 2, along with a similar set of reports in Trimester 3. When reports come home from school, it’s often our first inclination to talk first with a teacher to know how to fix any problems. While it is always fine to be in contact with your child’s teachers, there are some other great options. First, have a talk with your child. Remember, your child’s teachers have already been in daily contact with your child prior to sending a note home. Next, make the comment a learning experience for your child. Help him/her to develop a realistic plan to address the teacher’s comment. This plan may involve your child setting up an appointment to see a teacher, or going to either the Math Center or the Writing Center. Maybe your child needs to develop a special schedule to tackle a long-term project. All students will benefit from something as basic as putting every assignment into the student planner and hunkering down on homework each evening would do the trick. If none of these fit, direct your child to see the teacher or his/her advisor to get extra help to resolve the issue at hand. While parents should feel free to contact teachers, advisors, Charlie Brown, or Rebecca Tatum, Middle School is a time when students need to learn to negotiate their way. Help your child to take control of his academic life. If things really are “fine,” applaud your child and let her stay the course. If changes need to be made, help your student to see what works and what doesn’t.
It’s not unusual for an average middle schooler to describe the goings-on in classes as simply, “fine,” or “good,” thinking that they’ve covered the bases. If you’d like to know a bit more about how your son or daughter is doing in a class, know that there are many formal and informal ways to find out more.
Science Insights: Eighth Grade Physics
The eighth grade is having fun while learning about motion, forces, and Newton’s laws. So far, they have analyzed their movements using a motion detector and graphing calculator, calculated the rate of bubble gum chewing, and measured the acceleration of a matchbox car zooming down a ramp. Surprisingly, some students had a hard time chewing gum in front of their teacher. More experiments are soon to follow. Be sure to ask your eighth grader about the Parachuting Fireman, Bungee Jumping Barbie, and the Egg Catcher.
Global Challenge 20/20
How do you engage students in learning about global issues? And how do you empower them to become problem solvers in the world? Challenge 20/20 is a program that does both. The National Association of Independent Schools recently created Global Challenge 20/20 to “provide an opportunity for schools to develop globally based, experiential curricula and to build educational partnerships with schools around the world.” This year Penn Charter’s Middle School has been partnered with the Cloud Forest School in Monteverde, Costa Rica, to study the issue of education for all. A handful of sixth through eighth graders have committed their study periods and lunches to grappling with this serious issue. By communicating via e-mail, students at both Penn Charter and the Cloud Forest School have introduced themselves, exchanged ideas, and brainstormed some possible ways to overcome obstacles to education. Because educational issues vary across the world, this cross-cultural communication has provided students the opportunity to broaden their perspectives. They have learned that, while we may look forward to the occasional snow day, a recent flood in Costa Rica closed down our partnered school. As we move forward, our teams will seek solutions to local and global problems surrounding our issue.
"Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family."
These words by the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan resonate with the group of students who are currently working on the Challenge 20/20. We have investigated the barriers to education in the world today. The findings are startling: UNESCO estimates that today, more than 90 million children do not have the opportunity to attend school. More than 40 percent of women in Africa do not have access to basic education. Our group also realized that sanitation and water issues are intimately connected to education issues. When students do not have access to clean water, they frequently become ill and cannot complete grade levels. We know that education is one of the most powerful tools we have to reduce global poverty. Now it is our job to find solutions to these problems. As future leaders, our Penn Charter Middle School students are working collaboratively to make a difference.
Alice Bateman
Social Studies
Williamsburg Presentations
Parents, faculty and students turned out in force to enjoy student exhibits and presentations of their Williamsburg craft projects on Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the Old Gym. From the home-cooked peanut soup, chicken dishes and cookies, to hand-crafted quilts and dresses, to tables and glass bottles, this night reflected the best of our eighth grade student efforts to learn about colonial life. Students shared a great depth and breadth of knowledge about a chosen craft, along with the impressive hours of work they had devoted to creation of a homemade item. Many thanks for the fine community support for this annual event, and congratulations to the students for a job well done!
News You Can Use November 2007
Posted by msnl in : November 2007 Edition, News You Can UseMath and Writing Centers Math Counts If your son or daughter enjoys challenging logic and math problems, encourage him or her to give Math Counts a try. Practices are held Tuesdays during flex block, and yellow Thursdays during study hall. Students may come solely for the purpose of working on fun math problems, or with the intent of trying out for the school team in January. Eight students make the team and compete in February against students from the Philadelphia area. If you have any questions about our Math Counts program, please feel free to e-mail me at jketler@penncharter.com. Jennifer Ketler “I give [you] sanctuary!” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame Holiday Gift Suggestion Drive Slowly
Penn Charter students may get extra support or enrichment work at the Math Center and Writing Center. Located next to each other in the main building across from the Health Office, the centers are open for students who choose to drop in, set an appointment, or establish a standing time to work with either a PC faculty member or an Upper School peer tutor. Director of the Math Center Bob Gordon can be reached at rgordon@penncharter.com or at ext. 213. Reach Director of the Writing Center Cheryl Irving at x 209 or cirving@penncharter.com. A good model for Middle School students who establish standing appointments at either center is to work with a teacher during one week and then with a peer tutor the next week. On Thursdays students can visit Middle School room 211 for Math Center help with Bill Goulding; the Middle School outpost of the Writing Center meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and yellow Fridays in room 213 with Elizabeth Jones. Call Bob Gordon or Cheryl Irving to learn more about these important support services and how your child might use them.
Math Counts has started up again! Each year, we gather a group of students from grades six through eight, practice with challenging math and logic problems, and field a team of eight to compete for local honors. Penn Charter’s students have been triumphant in multiple years past; earlier teams earned back-to-back wins at the city competition held at Temple University.
Middle School Math Coordinator
The After School Sanctuary for Middle School students is open Monday through Thursday from 3:15 to 5 p.m. in the Balderston Commons. In an effort to give students a gathering place after classes have ended but before they go home, the sanctuary is open and is proctored by Penn Charter faculty member, Liz Jones. Our expectation is that Middle School students will gather their books, purchase a snack if needed, and then report to the Commons by 3:15 p.m. for quiet study or peaceful relaxation. Parents can pick up students who have signed in by visiting the Commons. Middle School students who remain at school after sports end are also asked to join their peers in the Commons. Please encourage your child/ren to be in this designated area in order to make your pick-up process smooth and give them a place to gather and get work done after school. Questions or concerns? E-mail or call Rebecca Tatum (rtatum@penncharter.com, extension 122) or Liz Jones (mejones@penncharter.com, extension 320).
Many parents wish to show their appreciation of PC faculty and staff by giving them gifts around the holiday season. Although faculty and staff are very appreciative of such gestures, we respectfully ask that, if it is your inclination to present a gift, give it to a favorite charity in honor of that special teacher or staff member. This year, Penn Charter is excited to be working on several K-12 initiatives related to work in Cambodia. Through the organizations American Assistance for Cambodia and the Rural School Project, Penn Charter will support ongoing work at two schools connected to PC families: the Caramanico School, in the Ratanakiri Province, Kaun Mom District, and the Snyder Family School, in Takeo Province, Bati District. There are several possible initiatives: $4,000 will fund the salary for a trained English or computer teacher for two years, $150 will support a bookcase of books and, as a larger goal, $7,500 will fund the creation of a vegetable garden for two years, with $2,000 to support each additional year. Please consider honoring our community efforts through your support of these programs, as a way to appreciate our fine teachers.
We would like to remind parents to drive slowly, very slowly, through all school parking lots. We are working with student drivers to teach them how to avoid accidents with students and adults walking in school parking lots, and we would ask that parents be careful as well.
Community News November 2007
Posted by msnl in : November 2007 Edition, Community NewsThe school year is off to a great start, with well-attended Community events. Thanks for the wonderful work and participation to welcome new families, support our students and school, and enjoy some social time together.
Our fall athletic spirit was in full force. Spirit games for each Middle School team were celebrated with balloons and banners, and parents brought their enthusiasm, as well as a table full of pretzels, cupcakes, and other treats to celebrate Penn Charter and our opponents on the Spirit Game days. Look forward to similar support as we begin our winter athletic season on November 27!
We celebrated two successful, well-attended Open Houses to help welcome and attract new families to Penn Charter. Current families and students gave tours, answered questions, and shared their experience and ideas about Penn Charter on Saturday, Oct. 12th, and Tuesday, Nov. 6. Community support is critical to the Open House and admissions processes; thank you for your help!
Our fall Parent Social season kicked off the school year with good cheer, tasty food, and some creative party decorations. These evening gatherings were well-attended, and a great opportunity for parents to meet and reconnect. The sixth grade parents took advantage of the Halloween season to host a costume party, complete with fog machine and thunder/lightning effects; seventh grade parents welcomed a wonderful turnout of new families, and the eighth grade parents enjoyed their social gathering while waiting for their children to return from Williamsburg.
Other fall highlights include a parent Meeting for Worship and two events on Quakerism and Quaker education, respectively held on 10/4, 10/17 and 10/18. Fall advisor conferences marked the mid-trimester mark in early November. Looking ahead to the winter season, mark your calendars for Parent Meetng for Worship on Dec. 6 and Jan. 3, for the Middle School Band and Choral Concert on Monday, Dec.10, and a winter Parent Forum on Feb. 5. Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
Sandee Cataldi and Martha Wurtz
Middle School Community Co-Chairs