UPDATE (12/19/2014, 1:50 p.m.): Jawnaments and other items described below have been sold out!

“Sorry, but we ran out of supplies! Thanks for all of the support and please check back in after the holidays for new products!” reads a message on the Workshop Industries Holiday Order Form.

(12/18/2014): Here’s a chance to do the holidays Philly style and help a local after-school program. Students enrolled in the Workshop Industries after school program at the Workshop School, an innovative, project-based high school in West Philly, made some amazing Christmas tree ornaments and Jawnaments (it is worth giving these as gifts just for a chance to explain “jawn” to an out-of-town relative). They are available for order and pick up at their location at 221 S. Hanson St (near 48th and Locust). You can also purchase a beautiful handmade Christmas House (with or without light) and even all-natural lip balm ($2), available in three flavors: coconut, clementine, and chocolate mint.

By the way, all the ornaments are $5, but this Jawnament below is $3:

To see all the items available for sale click here. For more information on how to order, go to this page. Orders can be picked up on Monday (Dec. 22) from 3:30 to 6 p.m., or you can choose your order to be delivered to you.

We continue publishing breakfast and lunch menus served at schools in the School District of Philadelphia. Here’s the menu for Monday, Dec. 15 through Friday, Dec. 19. If your school uses a Satellite menu, click here.

BREAKFAST (K-12)

A variety of three cereals will be offered daily and served with a yogurt parfait or a mini loaf.

Monday

Choose 1: Mini Waffles or Bake Crafter Cereal Bar & Yogurt
Choose 1: Pineapple Juice or Fresh Pear
Variety of Milk

Tuesday

Choose 1: Steak, Egg & Cheese on a Bagel or Benefit Bar
Choose 1: Strawberry Cup or Fresh Apple
Variety of Milk

Wednesday

Choose 1: French Toast Sticks w/Syrup & Sausage link (1) or Homestyle Breads
Choose 1: Grape Juice or Fresh Banana
Variety of Milk  Continue Reading

Representatives of about a dozen proposed West Philly charter schools will present their applications to the  School District of Philadelphia on Thursday beginning at 10:10 a.m.

This is the first time the District has considered adding new charter schools since 2007. The District received a total of 40 applications and the hearings on them began Monday. Protesters have also showed up at the hearings. Most are calling for more support of the District’s neighborhood schools.

The public is welcome to comment on the applications from 3 p.m. (after they are all complete) to 6 p.m. at the District headquarters at 440 N. Broad St. Speakers are asked to register at 215-400-4010 and should arrive before 6 p.m. Each speaker will be allotted three minutes.

Some 62,000 students currently attend one of the city’s 86 charter schools, which account for about a third of the District’s budget – roughly $730 million. The District has until late February to vote on the applications.  Continue Reading

Old West Philly High School building at 48th and Walnut. (Archived photo)

Among the proposed new charter school applications that will come under public scrutiny this week is the “Philadelphia Music and Dance Charter School,” a K-12 school that could be housed in the old West Philadelphia High School building at 48th and Walnut.

The siting of the school at the old West Philly High building would require the building’s likely developer, which is in the process of purchasing it to convert to lofts, to lease a sizable chunk of the building – as much as 90,000 square feet –  to the school. The school expects up to 900 students when it hits full capacity in a few years.

The developer, New York-based Strong Place Partners, has apparently agreed to do that, according to the school’s application submitted in November. The public hearing for Philadelphia Music and Dance Charter School’s application is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. on Thursday.  Continue Reading

We continue publishing breakfast and lunch menus served at schools in the School District of Philadelphia. Here’s the menu for Monday, Dec. 8 through Friday, Dec. 12. If your school uses a Satellite menu, click here.

Come back every Sunday evening for the coming week’s menu.

BREAKFAST (K-12)

A variety of three cereals will be offered daily and served with a yogurt parfait or a mini loaf.

Monday

Choose 1: Chicken Sausage, Egg & Cheese on English Muffin or Chewy Bar
Choose 1: Apple Juice or Fresh Pear
Variety of Milk

Tuesday

Choose 1: Mini French Toast or Cinnamon Granola Round
Choose 1: Raisins or Fresh Apple
Variety of Milk  Continue Reading

Public hearings on proposed charter schools in West Philly are set for Dec. 11 at the School District of Philadelphia’s headquarters at 440 N. Broad St.

The School District of Philadelphia received over a dozen applications from charter schools interested in opening new schools in West Philadelphia. The next step in the application process is the presentation and review of the applications at public hearings, which have been scheduled to start next Thursday.

The hearings will include a 15-minute presentation by the applicant followed by public comments, according to The Notebook. A second round of hearings will reportedly begin in January and will include evaluations from the District.

Here’s the list of the applicants, the zip codes where schools are proposed, and the schedule of the public meetings:  Continue Reading