We’re happy to pass along information on two local causes that support community education.

Metropolitan owner Jim Lily and PIC executive director Debbie Green (photo courtesy PIC).

The Parent Infant Center (PIC) at 42nd and Locust recently received a generous and heartfelt gift from a local business. Metropolitan Bakery & Café’s owner Jim Lily sent a touching letter to PIC’s Executive Director Debbie Green and presented a $600 donation for PIC’s Cindy Fund. In his letter, Lily wrote about his close relationship with PIC (his daughter participated in the after-school program there) and about his friendship with former executive director Cindy Roberts who passed away in February. Roberts and Lily were also neighbors; they lived across the street from each other.

University City’s Metropolitan celebrated its 12th anniversary on April 26, and a portion of sales on that day made up this donation. Read more about this wonderful gesture on the PIC website.

The Cindy Fund was established in memory of Roberts, who was passionate about children and families and believed in equal access to quality preschool for all families, regardless of income. To learn more about the Cindy Fund, go here.  Continue Reading

Here’s an opportunity to enjoy a great community evening at Powel Elementary School’s Spring Arts Festival on Friday, May 20, when all are invited to celebrate the students’ Journey Through West and North Africa.

For over thirty years, Powel School has added dimensions to student learning and created community with families through exploring a particular region, culture, or continent. The culmination of this is the Spring Arts Festival, where families and community members meet, party, and celebrate the cultures they have explored.

“In the spirit of the Liberian-inspired Welcome Dance – Funga Alafia, to be performed by 1st and 2nd graders, please Be Welcome to our festival,” writes Powel Home & School Association Arts Chair Gretchen Walker.

The school is also seeking community volunteers to help. If you’re interested, please sign up here.  Continue Reading

Lea Principal Jennifer Duffy helps a student cut the ribbon that officially opens the new Henry Lea Elementary School playground at 47th and Spruce (Photo by West Philly Local).

A handful of Henry C. Lea Elementary students cut the ribbon this morning on a project that has transformed the school’s playground at 47th and Spruce from a barren swathe of asphalt into an inviting space complete with trees and dedicated bricks.

The “Greening Lea” project has moved through several stages that culminated with today’s ribbon cutting for a playground that now includes several garden areas, several newly planted trees and a renovated basketball court.  Continue Reading

Photo courtesy of the Bicycle Coalition

UPDATE: Ride for Reading has been postponed until Thursday, May 12 due to rain in the forecast for Tuesday.

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is hosting a variety of events for Bike Month this month. On Tuesday, May 10 Thursday, May 12 they are hosting their fourth annual Ride for Reading, which will support Andrew Hamilton Elementary School in West Philadelphia.

Currently, the Bicycle Coalition is recruiting volunteers who can help transport books to the school located at 56th and Spruce. Volunteers will gather at Rittenhouse Square at 7:45 a.m. The ride will be followed by a short presentation about healthy minds and healthy bodies at 9 a.m., and then the volunteers will distribute the books to children. Every child will take home at least one book.

The mission of Ride for Reading is to promote literacy and healthy living by donating books via bicycle to schools. Check out this link for more info and to sign up.

Thanks to the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC), 13 local schools that lost their librarian due to budget cuts, now have a library run by volunteers. On Monday, one of these schools, Morton McMichael school in the Mantua section of West Philadelphia, hosted well-known local children’s author and illustrator Andy Myer. WePAC arranged the visit.

Myer spoke with a group of fourth grade students about his life as a writer and illustrator and the process to move from concept to published book.

“The children were mesmerized, and they were especially excited to each get a copy of Myer’s latest book [Henry Hubble’s Book of Troubles] signed by the author himself,” writes Heather Farber, WePAC Interim Executive Director.  Continue Reading

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

May 2016 K-8 breakfast, lunch and dinner menu

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