Great news for the West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools! The organization has achieved official non-profit status (501(c)3), which will allow it to apply for grants only available to registered non-profits and accept tax-deductible donations.
Here’s part of a statement from the WPCNS board: “Donations help [WPCNS] ensure that our neighborhood schools have the supplies they need, a full range of arts and music instruction, more after-school enrichment programs, and play areas that encourage activity while being environmentally friendly.”
The organization can now also submit grant applications to foundations in support of these initiatives. To read more about WPCNS initiatives and to donate, please visit their homepage. The website was recently redesigned and updated with lots of useful information, including School Catchment Finder.
The 2012/2013 school year is right around the corner as city schools prepare to welcome students back on Friday, Sept. 7. West Philly’s Samuel Powel Elementary located in the Powelton Village section was featured yesterday on local ABC Evening News. The news crew visited the school and interviewed some teachers and staff. See the video below.
iPRAXIS, a nonprofit located in the University City Science Center, is currently recruiting volunteer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) experts to work at their partner middle schools. Volunteers expose students to the STEM disciplines and increase their excitement for, and understanding of, science.
Different types of volunteering opportunities are available, including science fair presenters and project mentors and afterschool mentors. Mentoring begins as early as September 14 and the schools located in West Philadelphia are Belmont Charter at 4030 Brown Street, Martha Washington at 44th and Aspen, and Lea at 47th and Locust.
iPRAXIS volunteers range from students from the region’s universities to PGW engineers to CEO’s and leading surgeons. Click here to learn more about iPRAXIS and its impact over the years.
If you are interested in volunteering with iPRAXIS, please visit www.ipraxis.org and fill out a registration form. If you have questions, please call Meagan Hopkins-Doerr, Program Director at 215-966-6253 or email: Meagan@ipraxis.org.
The Penn Alexander School last year warned parents hoping to register their children that there were “no guarantees” that spots would be available, even if they lived in the school’s much publicized “catchment.” This year, that warning became a reality for many parents. Not a single parent this year was able to get their child enrolled in grades 1-4, even those who waited in line for more than 24 hours.
Instead the parents were placed on a waiting list that includes students who were unable to secure a spot last year. Enrollment in Penn Alexander classes is capped lower than most other District schools as part of an agreement with the University of Pennsylvania, which subsidizes the school.
The School District of Philadelphia confirmed that the list includes students from last year who were unable to get a spot last year. A large number of parents in line last year were able to enroll their students, but not this year. Continue Reading
Parents began lining up outside of the Penn Alexander School this morning, a full 24 hours ahead of registration for grades 1-8.
Ten people were in line as of about 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, some sitting in lawn chairs and under tents. One parent even admitted scouting out the spot along the school fence on Locust Street between 42nd and 43rd streets from her car as early as 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. The registration line has become a late-August fixture since the School District of Philadelphia said last year that no spots were guaranteed in the school, but have remained secretive about how many spots were available in each grade.
School officials have also remained tight-lipped about how many spots are available in each grade, leaving parents new to the neighborhood or those returning from long-term absences for things like sabbaticals from university jobs hanging on rumors. That has prompted many parents to wait in overnight lines to register.
Registration at Penn Alexander and Henry C. Lea Elementary starts tomorrow morning. Registration at most other West Philly schools will begin Aug. 20. Click here for more information on registration.
The new school year hasn’t even started yet and already there is confusion. While the School District of Philadelphia has set the official date for new student registration as Aug. 20, at least two schools in West Philly are registering new students starting Monday, Aug. 13.
Henry C. Lea Elementary and Penn Alexander will accept new student registration beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday morning.
“They gave out the date late,” said an official at Penn Alexander referring to the District’s Aug. 20 date. “We’re sticking with our original plan for the 13th.”
Likewise, an official at Lea said, “the secretary will be here Monday morning registering students.”
No one answered the phone at A.D. Harrington, Samuel B. Huey, Alain Locke, Samuel Powel and Alexander Wilson. New students who plan to attend those schools should call to double-check on registration dates (see the phone numbers below).
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