A small and relatively new West Philly non-profit recently received $100,000 to help keep school libraries open and stocked with books, just as schools look to cut funding.

The West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) recieved the grant from the philanthropic organization Impact 100 Philadelphia on June 9 to significantly bolster its “Open Books Open Minds” program, which collects and donates books and staffs closed or severely limited libraries at several West Philadelphia elementary schools. WePAC volunteers help students select and check out books, guide research, read to students and, perhaps most importantly, they have enabled underfunded libraries at several schools just to stay open.

WePAC Executive Director David Florig called the grant a “game changer” for the organization, which started with six volunteers during the 2003-2004 school year. The money aside, the grant will help instill confidence in other potential donors because “a very significant group has chosen to invest in this,” he said.

WePAC will use the money to help keep open libraries at up to five schools and help extend services at several others. The group will also initiate new after-school “newspaper clubs.”

Made up exclusively of women ages 21 and older who each contribute at least $1,000 to a grant fund, Impact 100 Philadelphia chose WePac from some 150 applicants. A day after the grant was awarded, WePac posted a job ad for a coordinator of the Open Books Open Minds program.

Public schools will dismiss at 1:30 p.m. again tomorrow because of the heat, the School District of Philadelphia has just announced.

Spokeswoman Shana Kemp said in a statement:

“According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to again soar to the upper 90’s Thursday in Philadelphia. The expected extreme weather coupled by the high humidity levels could create a situation in which heat illness is possible. The District is taking this heat warning seriously by closing schools, which includes early childhood programs, at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow. At the 1:30 p.m. dismissal time, routine transportation will occur for students. “

Afterschool programs are also cancelled.

Philadelphia public and Catholic schools will dismiss at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow due to the heat.

The School District of Philadelphia released a statement tonight stating:

The expected extreme weather coupled by the high humidity levels could create a situation in which heat illness is possible. The District is taking this heat warning seriously by closing schools, which includes early childhood programs, at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow. At the 1:30 p.m. dismissal time, routine transportation will occur for students.

All District after-school programs have also been cancelled. Keep an eye on Thursday as well as temperatures are expected to stay well into the 90s.

Tune Up Philly, the unique after-school music program, concluded the school year yesterday with a performance at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School (917 S. 47th St.). The performance featured pieces by the full orchestra and choir as well as quartets and quintets. About 85 St. Francis de Sales students ranging from kindergartners to eighth graders, have taken part in the program, which takes students from beginning musicians to concert-ready over the course of the school year.

JUMP magazine did a great piece on the program last week. Read it here.

Unfortunately we had to leave the concert early and we missed the performance of the full orchestra. We have heard rave reviews though. Below is a slideshow of some of the performances early in the concert.

You will be hearing a lot more about this program in the coming year. Tune Up Philly will be at the Henry C. Lea School (4700 Locust St.) next year and, as you can see in the photos, a film crew was shooting yesterday’s concert.

Due to the heat, the School District of Philadelphia has announced that all of its schools will close at 1:30 p.m. today.

Here is the statement from the District:

Due to extreme heat and humidity, all School District of Philadelphia schools will close early today, June 1, 2011.  According to the National Weather Service, the combination of temperatures in the mid 90s and high humidity could create a situation in which heat illness is possible.  The District is taking this excessive heat warning seriously by closing schools at 1:30 p.m. today.  At the 1:30 p.m. dismissal time, routine transportation will occur for students.  The heat advisory in effect until 8 p.m.

The general public and media are urged to monitor the District Web site at www.philasd.org for any updates. Updated information will also be posted on the District’s Information Hotline at 215-400-INFO (4636).

The School Reform Commission is scheduled to vote tonight on a provisional budget that would eliminate full-day kindergarten, many school programs and thousands of School District of Philadelphia jobs.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at the auditorium of the School District Education Center, 2nd floor, 440 N. Broad Street. Although the deadline for signing up to speak at the meeting has passed, it is open to the public.

A summary of the proposed budget is available here.

The budget is provisional and could be revised if funding is made available either at the city or state level.