Community News November 2008
Posted by msnl in : Community News, November 2008The 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 day. Look forward to similar support as we begin our winter athletic season on December 2!
We celebrated a successful, well-attended Open House 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. 18, and we look forward to our second Open House on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 8:30 a.m. Tell your friends! Community support is a critical part of 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 Run for Peace and All-School Picnic also brought us together as part of the pre-K to 12 Penn Charter Community.
Other fall highlights included well-attended Community meetings, Open Meeting for Worship in October and November. Fall advisor conferences and PC-GA Day are right around the corner, and bring us closer to the end of the first trimester in early November. Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
Susan Brown and Nan Kelly
Middle School Community Co-Chairs
Community News September 2008
Posted by msnl in : Community News, September 2008Parent Community Welcome
Welcome to the 2008-09 school year!
We’re off to a fun start, with many events in the opening weeks of school. Please join us for the following all-school events:
Community Meeting, Thursday, Sept.11, 8:15am, at Timmons House. Meet our parent volunteer leaders and hear more about what is new for parents this year.
3rd Annual Run for Peace, Saturday, Sept. 13, 9am, in the front circle. Students and parents are encouraged to join faculty and alumni for our annual 5K run / 1-mile walk to promote peace and raise funds for scholarships honoring two graduates – Kenny Caldwell OPC ’89 and Peter Ortale OPC’ 83 – killed on 9/11.
All-School Picnic, Saturday, Sept.27, noon to 2pm. Crafts, games, foods and many home athletic contests to cheer on.
In addition to the all-school events listed above, don’t forget the Middle School Back-to-School Night, Thursday, Sept. 18, at 7pm. This Middle School-only event is an important chance to meet your child’s teachers and learn about their classroom work.
Join other parents from your child’s grade for an evening parent social at the Timmons House:
6th grade parents gather on Friday, Sept 12
7th grade parents meet on Friday, Nov.7
8th grade parents celebrate on Friday, Oct. 3
These socials are a wonderful way to get connected with other parents, share stories and enjoy Penn Charter. Stay tuned for more details about exact times and how you can contribute entrees, desserts, etc.
As the year begins, we invite you to consider joining a parent committee to help plan or run an event later this year. We are always looking for volunteers to support the school: we couldn’t do it without you! Contact Middle School Community Co-Chairs Nan Kelly and Susan Brown to get involved or ask questions.
Thanks, and welcome back to school.
NanKelly@landservicesusa.com
Suzyb723@aol.com
Community News May 2008
Posted by msnl in : Community News, May 2008We are truly in the home stretch! The weeks since spring break have been busy and filled with community activities. Thanks to all those parents who contributed their time, resources and spirit to our community and school events throughout the spring.
Middle School parents joined their children for breakfast, a lovely Meeting for Worship, and a parent forum on Thursday, April 17. The following day brought beautiful weather for the second annual Darryl J. Ford Day of Service in Middle School. Students served in over 20 locations, including personal care homes like Stapeley and Hassel Home, local Fairmount Park locations like McMichael Park, and neighborhood programs like Habitat for Humanity. The morning’s speaker, from the Susan B. Komen Foundation for women, spoke about services supporting preventative mammograms and other care for women without adequate insurance. Parents and student leaders supported various fundraisers, including a t-shirt sale and bake sale which netted over $1,000 for the foundation.=
Spring brought both music and theater, with the Small Ensemble Concert, the Middle School evening of short plays, and the Spring Band and Choral Concert. On the playing fields, our teams challenged rivals in girls and boys lacrosse, tennis, baseball, softball and track. Spirit games were well-attended and celebrated our athletes’ hard work and perseverance.
Our academic celebrations this spring included a lovely 8th Grade Memoirs Celebration, punctuated by laughter, reflection and the eloquent words of our soon-to-be-Upper Schoolers. Next Tuesday, May 20, marks the culmination of 6th graders’ Shakespeare studies with an evening of scenes from "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," performed across the campus. See you at 6:30 p.m. for this special event!
As always, the life of our school depends on the support, good cheer, and help of our parents, at home and in all of our many events. Thanks to all who packed a lunch, drove a missing instrument to school, brought cookies or water to a game, or just showed up to cheer on our young people.
Community News March 2008
Posted by msnl in : Community News, March 2008It’s hard to believe that Spring Break is just around the corner! January was a busy month with a very well attended Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service where one quarter of the students arrived with family and friends and prepared 11 trays of ziti, 12 trays of fruit salad and 200 bags of toiletries. The items were given to St. Francis Inn and Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network. A highlight in February was the sixth grade Museum Project that featured the ancient civilizations of China, India, Greece and the Aztec empire. The festival was an array of artifacts, a variety of ethnic foods, skits and educational information that showcased each culture.March began with our Parent Meeting for Worship on March 5.March 10 featured the beginning of the Middle School Freedom from Chemical Dependency Week Monday, March 17 is Family Visiting Day for the Middle School beginning at 8 a.m. If you have not yet registered, please e-mail Stephanie Ball at sball@penncharter.com.
Spring Break begins at the close of school on Thursday, March 20.
Mark Your Calendars!
Tuesday, April 1 – Classes resume
Thursday, April 3 – Parent Meeting for Worship
Friday, April 11 – Seventh and eighth grade dance
Thursday, April 17 – Special Dress Day, Breakfast with your Child and Family Meeting for WorshipThursday and Friday, April 24 and April 25 –
Middle School Play – Ten-Minute Theatre
Sunday, April 27 – P.C. Summer Camp Open House – 2
Community News January 2008
Posted by msnl in : Community News, January 2008The year is flying by, and November and December were filled with fun community events. As always, PC/GA Day was a busy and exciting day; those fans who stuck it out through the end of the football game were rewarded by a once-in-history conclusion that had PC fans leaping out of the bleachers to celebrate a last-minute miracle play. Current and former students, family and friends celebrated our schools’ historic rivalry, sampled some chili and hot chocolate in the tent, and renewed old friendships.
Eighth grade families celebrated their scholars’ hard work and presentations during the annual Williamsburg night, featuring everything from hand-poured pewter to homeopathic apothecary stands, to glass bottles, benches, and hand-sewn dresses. Thanks to our community for supporting our students’ impressive accomplishments.
Middle School musicians helped to bring on the holiday spirit with a concert of choral and instrumental music on Monday, Dec 10. Students performed to a packed house of family and friends. The variety and depth of ensembles – everything from 6th grade band and chorus to a jazz ensemble, to a cappella from the Sharped Flats. There is more music on the calendar for January and for later in the spring – see earlier articles in this issue’s News You Can Use for information. 
Looking ahead, the winter is still a busy time at Penn Charter. Winter sports fans are invited to support their favorite teams at the Spirit Days coming up in the coming weeks. See the list below for January dates, and watch the Parent webpage and your Community mailing for more information on the Spirit Game schedule. Spirit Games for January: Swimming & Diving, Jan. 17; Wrestling, Jan 24; Squash, Jan. 28; Boys V & JV Basketball, Jan. 29; Girls V and JV Basketball, Jan. 30; Boys 6th Grade Basketball, Jan. 31.
Congratulations to the Middle School cross country team, which raised $1,753 for the Conquer Fragile X Foundation this fall in its 9th annual FUNdraiser RUN. Middle School parents are invited to our second of three parent forums, Tuesday, Feb 5, from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. in Balderston Commons. Bring your questions and be prepared for a slideshow update of kids’ learning and activities since our first forum in the fall. On the academic front, Friday, Jan. 18 marks the mid-trimester mark for Trimester II in Middle School. Mid-trimester comments will arrive at home during the week of Jan. 28. Parents, this is a good time to talk with your son or daughter about academics, and a great opportunity to help them identify and work on their own strengths and challenges. While winter is rearing its chilly and snowy self outside, remember that time is flying by, and spring is just around the corner! Come check out a Penn Charter event in the coming weeks, and thanks, as always, for supporting our community. Sandee Cataldi and Martha Wurtz
Middle School Community Co-Chairs
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