West Catholic Preparatory High School (45th and Chestnut) recently received a $5 million gift, according to reports.

The benefactor is Leonard Mazur, a 1963 alumnus of West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys, which merged with West Philadelphia Catholic Girls High School in 1989 to form West Philadelphia Catholic High School.

The money, which Mazur donated with his wife, Helen, will support the school’s strategic plan which focuses on academics and students.

A native of Southwest Philadelphia, Mazur is the CEO of Citius Pharmaceuticals, a company based in Maynard, Mass., according to a report by Philly.com. He’s also a member of the School’s board.

The 100-year-old school was in danger of closing in 2012 due to lack of funding, but was saved in 2013 with a $1 million donation. It also changed its name to West Catholic Preparatory High School. Since then, the school has been trying to remain financially self-sufficient, increase enrollment numbers and improve the quality of education. The school has also seen several changes in leadership over the past few years.

Last month, the school’s Board of Trustees in partnership with the Office of Catholic Education of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, officially began the search for the new president. Current President, Brother Richard Kestler, has announced his resignation effective June 30, 2016.

A new Science Leadership Academy middle school will open this fall to fifth graders in a temporary location on Drexel’s campus, the School District of Philadelphia announced today.

Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships (photo from drexel.edu)

The district expects about 90 fifth graders to enroll in the fall in the temporary space at Drexel’s Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships (3509 Spring Garden). Building plans for the school’s permanent home are under way on the site of the old University City High School and Drew Elementary School near 38th and Filbert.

Most of the fifth grade students will come from nearby Samuel Powel Elementary, a highly rated K-4 school.

Drexel’s School of Education will also support the middle school with help in planning and executing the curriculum, similar to the arrangement Penn has with the Penn Alexander School. Drexel President John Fry helped create the Penn Alexander school and other neighborhood initiatives as an executive vice president at Penn under former president Judith Rodin.

Costs to cover the start-up and planning of the new school will be covered by a $1.8 million grant from the Philadelphia School Partnership. The new school will be called the Science Leadership Academy Middle School (SLA-MS).

Students will remain at the Dornsife Center site for “at least two years,” according to the district. The new school will accommodate some 360 students when it is completed.

District Superintendent William Hite announced a plan last fall that included the Drexel-based middle school, the closure of other schools and the conversion of the Samuel B. Huey School to a charter.

Click on the images below to view breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus to be served in Philadelphia public schools in February 2016. Click here if your school uses the Satellite menu.

February 2016 K-8 breakfast, lunch and dinner menu

February 2016 9-12 breakfast, lunch and dinner menu

Due to the weekend snow storm, all Philadelphia public schools and pre-kindergarten programs will be closed again on Tuesday, Jan. 26, according to the District’s announcement. There will be a two-hour delay opening for all administrative offices.

Archdiocese of Philadelphia schools will also be closed on Tuesday.

Due to the snow storm that occurred over the weekend, all city public schools will be closed Monday, January 25, the Philadelphia School District has announced. All early childhood and after school programs and all administrative offices will also be closed.

Visit the District website at www.philasd.org for updates.

The School Reform Commission voted last night to move three public schools, including the Samuel B. Huey School (52nd and Pine) one step closer to becoming charter schools.

Parents from Huey and two other schools, John Wister and Jay Cooke, protested the vote, which passed 4-1. SRC Chair Marjorie Neff voted against the measure.

Under the plan, Global Leadership Academy Charter School would take over Huey. A final vote is scheduled for the March SRC meeting.