NW Philly Public School Guide - Mt. Airy Schools Coalition

N O R T H W E S T

P H I L A D E L P H I A

P U B L I C S C H O O L

G U I D E

We believe that Northwest Philadelphia can be the premiere destination for families seeking high-quality public education in Philadelphia. We envision all neighborhood schools as places that instill a love of learning through a curriculum that is engaging, challenging, and prepares students for a future of their own choosing.

CONTENTS

Mt. Airy Schools Coalition

Message & Overview

Public Schools Quick Facts

Parent & Community

Involvement

Staff Messages: Why My Public School

Student Messages: Why My Public School

School Profiles:

A.B. Day

C.W. Henry Emlen

Houston Jenks

Lingelbach

Roosevelt

How Do We Measure Up?

(School stats from GreatSchools.com and PublicSchoolReview.com)

Mt. Airy Schools Coalition

It took blood, sweat and a lot of tears, but here it finally is: Northwest Philadelphia Schools Guide

Background

The Mt Airy Schools Coalition is a partnership between three nonprofit organizations with a shared commitment to enhancing the quality of life in a vibrant, diverse Mt. Airy. The East Mt. Airy Neighbors and West Mt. Airy Neighbors civic associations have served their communities for nearly 50 years. The Mt. Airy Community Development Corporation has served the area since 1980, with a particular focus on the Germantown Avenue corridor

In 2012, representatives of these three organizations came together with the idea that “ a community is known by the schools it keeps ” The organizations envisioned a community made even more desirable by its public schools.

The Mt. Airy Schools Coalition currently serves seven schools: A. B. Day, Emlen, C. W. Henry, Houston, Lingelbach, Roosevelt and J. S. Jenks. All of these schools are K-5 or K-8 elementary schools within Mt Airy and the adjacent communities of Germantown and Chestnut Hill

Mission and Vision

The Mt. Airy Schools Coalition works to ensure that all area families have access to highquality public education by facilitating strategic investment of the community’s human capital and financial resources to support public schools Our work is grounded in a spirit of productive collaboration and partnership.

We believe that Northwest Philadelphia can be the premiere destination for families seeking high-quality public education in Philadelphia. We envision all neighborhood schools as places that instill a love of learning through a curriculum that is engaging and challenging and prepares students for a future of their own choosing.

Airy Schools Coalition

Past Accomplishments

In 2013, the Mt. Airy Schools Coalition’s first initiative was to establish a grant program for area schools using the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC). In 2014, the Schools Coalition raised over $47,000 to establish a new computer lab at Emlen. Donors who learned about Emlen through this effort contributed $6,000 to the school and successfully re-opened the school library.

Schools Coalition volunteers have also worked to install refurbished computers in the Northwest Philadelphia public school classrooms. To do this, the team worked with District staff to develop an approach to technology reuse that could address the challenges schools have previously encountered when receiving equipment donations. The District has been so pleased with the results that they plan to revise the District’s official refurbished technology donation policy based on the structure developed within the Northwest Philadelphia Public Schools.

The Schools Coalition also participates in Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. Thanks to the support of Susquehanna Bank, M&T Bank, and National Penn Bank, in its first year the Coalition raised $8,500 in EITC funds for our partner schools.

In 2014 and 2015 the Coalition partnered with Elfant Wissahickon Realtors to visit area schools with local realtors, including some who had never set foot in a public school before.

QUICK FACTS about Philly Public Schools & Registration

Registration season goes from mid-January through end-of-May. A typical school day runs from about 8:30 a m to 3 p m School uniforms are required in many schools (but fewer schools since the pandemic closures).

Register using the paper application at the school connecting to the home address. Families are encouraged to contact the school connected to their home address to see if an appointment is necessary If so, please schedule your appointment with the school to register your child. You must bring the required enrollment documents (proof of child’s age, immunization record, and two proofs of address)

Register using Online Registration (OLR). The OLR allows families to complete the enrollment process online, without coming in contact with District staff. Before starting this process, we encourage families to follow all instructions carefully and have all of the proper documents in electronic format

Proof of your student’s age e.g. birth, baptismal certificate, medical records w/ student’s DOB

Two documents showing your address (e.g. lease, deed, or utility bills w/name & address where you reside)

Shot (Immunization) Records (Obtain from the child’s physician if you don’t have a copy already )

Parent or guardian photo identification (requested but not required for registration)

Examples of this could be a driver's license, passport, or state photo identification card.

The School District of Philadelphia 440 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130 215-400-4000

The School District of Philadelphia offers families two ways to register :

1.

2.

Parent&Community Involvement

C.W. HENRY PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION

The C W Henry School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) was formed in June 2010, as a successor to the long-standing C W Henry Home & School Association (HSA). Parents at Henry School decided to form a Parent Teacher Association rather than continue as a Home & School Association to have more freedom in working towards our mission, including the ability to have teachers, alumni, and others in the community as members The Henry PTA is a member of both the Pennsylvania PTA and the National PTA Our status as an affiliate of the state and national PTA gives us an independent 501c3 status

The PTA has sought to put C W Henry's students first and to provide them with a safe and attractive learning environment where we enrich their educational opportunities and support the teaching staff as best we can In support of these goals, the PTA has brought the nationally recognized program Playworks to the school. We have also created the Henry School Garden, turning a section of the schoolyard into an outdoor classroom where students can participate in hands-on learning with their teacher, a Farm Educator, or knowledgeable PTA parents An additional group called Considering Henry was formed by parents to help families who are considering sending their children to Henry School make an informed decision

FRIENDS OF JENKS & JENKS HSA

The Friends of J S Jenks (FOJSJ) is a 501c3, independent fundraising organization consisting of parents, teachers, administrators, and community members dedicated to supporting programmatic and infrastructure development at the John Story Jenks Elementary School in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia

The mission of our organization is to enhance the educational and enrichment opportunities for students at J.S. Jenks by bringing together the financial and creative resources of educators, parents, students, alumni, and the greater community; ensure long-range financial flexibility for J S Jenks, allowing the school to develop innovative programs, student support systems, and infrastructure; and forge new partnerships between the school and the cultural, business, and academic institutions in Chestnut Hill The Friends of J S Jenks aims to reinforce the school’s position as a community institution that contributes to the vibrancy of the neighborhood

The Jenks HSA strives to support and advocate for our children by partnering with staff, families, and the wider community to create a safe and healthy learning environment where students can excel and feel confident in themselves.

Parent & Community Involvement

HOUSTON HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

The purpose of the HSA is to provide support to the teachers, staff, and parents/caregivers to enhance the growth, education, and development of our children, including:

Raising funds and recruiting volunteers to enhance the educational and physical environment of the Henry Houston Elementary School.

Helping parents/caregivers to become involved and have a voice in school-related affairs

Promoting cooperation and communication between parents/caregivers, school teachers and staff, and our neighboring communities

Families for Houston is an additional group of current and future families working with the school and community to ensure all students get an excellent education.

LINGELBACH HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

The Home and School Association is made up of hard-working parents and caretakers who support the school through fundraising and volunteerism Our goal is to help maintain a positive neighborhood school that provides the best possible learning environment for our children

What The HSA Does:

Raise money for school programming

Promote school spirit and community involvement through special events

Help keep parents informed of school activities and news

Support teachers and staff by helping meet classroom needs and recognizing accomplishments

Volunteer at key school activities such as Picture Day and class trips

Staff Messages: Why My Public School

LEROY HALL JR. PRINCIPAL HENRY HOUSTON SCHOOL

It is an honor and pleasure to serve you and your children. There are many things to look forward to at Houston. We continue to focus on rigorous instruction that meets needs and empowers all our students. In addition to robust learning opportunities in the core subjects our programming will include S.T.E.M., Digital Literacy, Music, Art, and Physical Education/Health, classes.

Our developing outdoor spaces and classrooms help us encourage an appreciation for the outdoors and provide a warm and nurturing learning environment for our students, particularly in the era of Covid and other developing viruses.

JAMES CLARK ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY

This will be Mr Clark’s 11th year in education, with 8 being in the School District of Philadelphia Throughout the years, Mr.Clark has taught 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th grade, and served in variety of leadership roles, including being an MTSS Teacher Leader and a Professional Development Facilitator. As the new Assistant Principal of Roosevelt, Mr.Clark’s number one priority is to build authentic relationships, support the growth of students and staff, and further engage families and the community!

TY

ROSS PRINCIPAL C.W. HENRY SCHOOL

I am excited and honored to introduce myself as the new Principal of CW Henry. After learning about the history of Mt. Airy and speaking with and hearing from Henry Alumni, Henry families, and neighborhood residents, I feel very fortunate to lead such a special school with rich history, inspiring students, dedicated teachers, and a supportive community I am looking forward to working collaboratively with students, staff, parents and the community to continue CW Henry’s tradition of excellence I firmly believe that every student at Henry can thrive and achieve academic success, and we must continue to build upon a parent and school partnership to support our students and achieve our vision

School Staff

"In The Mix" Staff & Community Supports

EMLEN SCHOOL STAFF

ROOSEVELT SCHOOL STAFF

LINGELBACH SCHOOL STAFF

JENKS SCHOOL STAFF

Student Messages: Why My Public School

THEO BARBER JENKS 3RD GRADE

I love Jenks because even though it doesn't look like much, it has many different levels, no pun intended, well maybe. It may not be a very famous school and it doesn't have the latest equipment, but it has caring teachers and a kind staff. Inside Jenks there are three different floors plus a gymnasium/cafeteria, an art room, and two extra restrooms.

In addition to being a public school, Jenks is both an elementary and middle school This makes it a great starting school. Located in Chestnut Hill Philadelphia PA, J.S. Jenks has an entire community of caring and working people that truly care about this school to make it even better.

Outside, Jenks has a small and big playground, a yard with a basketball court, and picnic tables in the kindergarten pickup area. One other big factor to the location of Jenks is that on three of the four sides, you can get after-school snacks and park to pick up or drop off students. You can even park right next to the pickup area by going up the ramp right next to the kindergarten area.

Consider sending your child to this fabulous school, you won’t be disappointed

LINGELBACH 5TH GRADE

I love Lingelbach because we have great opportunities to see Phila Celebrities like the Eagles players, cheerleaders and team mascot SWOOP that participated in a special assembly at Anna Lane Lingelbach Elementary School in Philadelphia in 2013.

The Eagles spoke to us about the importance of staying active. During the visit, Eagles players did fitness activities, as part of the NFL's PLAY 60 campaign, to get 60 minutes of exercise a day

These are messages that we have heard in many different ways over the years, but the Eagles are our Philly heroes; they are our role models, making a big impact on our lives at our school

They showed their commitment to our health and wellness and we were able to submit essays on our school's game plan for learning more about the importance of physical education and nutrition with the help of our community

A.B. Day

A.B. Day Community Partners: ASAP Chess, The Rock School For Dance Education, Kimmel Center (Jazz Education, JFCS Education & Outreach Services), AARP Experience Corps Program, Children‘s Literacy Initiative.

A.B. Day School Vision: To promote collaboration between staff, parents, and students to achieve academic excellence. We envision a standards-based and challenging curriculum that stimulates learning and creativity in a positive and safe environment.

History

Anna Blakiston Day (July 22, 1868 – June 21, 1952) was a woman of enormous energy who made considerable contributions of valuable work to various causes of her time. Her first great interest was in the women’s suffrage movement When these efforts were crowned with success, she turned her attention to problems of child labor and public education in Pennsylvania This work was done to such good effect that after her death our school was named in her honor. In the later years of her life, her greatest interest was the hope of peace and international understanding for which she worked tirelessly.

Principal Ty Ross

C.W. Henry

C.W. Henry Community Partners: Writers Matter, Arden Theater, Germantown Jewish Center, History Hunters, Penn Museum, Junior Achievement, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Museum of Art, ASAP Philly

At Henry, we believe in

Student-centered classrooms are where students are actively engaged in the earning process. School, family, and community partnerships

Accountability for all stakeholders, including educators, staff, students, parents, and the community.

History

Charles Wolcott Henry was born in 1852 into an old, respected Philadelphia family. He became a prominent, civic-minded businessman who ran a family lumber business. C.W. Henry represented the 22nd ward (a large area covering Mt. Airy and part of Germantown) in Common Council for a number of terms from the 1870s to the 1880s. He was also Chairman of the Fairmount Park Commission. In 1884, Charles W. Henry married Sarah Bonnell Houston, daughter of Henry Howard Houston, for whom another school in our neighborhood is named. C.W. Henry died in 1903.

Emlen

Emlen Community Partners: Girls on the Run, Awbury Arboretum, Chestnut Hill Rotary Club, Philadelphia Children’s Foundation, Snider Youth Hockey, Mt. Airy Arts Garage, Boys and Girls Club, Computer Club, Germantown Soccer, Legacy Tennis, Garden Club, Experience Corp., FYI (Find Your Instrument)

Our Mission

The mission of Emlen Elementary School is to successfully transition our students to Middle School and beyond. Our goal is to prepare today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Our Vision

At Emlen Elementary School all students will experience grade level curriculum aligned to content standards. Teachers will analyze and use data for action planning and to drive instruction. Members of our school community will create a culture of learning and collaboration in order to best meet the needs of ALL of our students.

Houston

Houston Community Partners: Children‘s Literacy Initiative, Tabor Northern Community Partners, Eat-Right, Community Volunteer Tutors, Chestnut Hill College, Junior Achievement, Project BASE, Art, Music, and STEM classes, Annual school musical, Lego Robotics Club, Renovated volunteer-run library, Gifted Program, College Awareness Programming for grades 5-8, National Scripps' Spelling Bee participation, Positive Behavior Support

Houston Elementary is located in the Mt Airy section of Philadelphia A fixture in the community since the 1920s, Houston serves portions of the West Mt Airy, East Mt Airy, and Germantown communities Houston mirrors the inclusive, diverse, and service-oriented community it serves with a focus on creating and sustaining partnerships while welcoming and embracing all who enter its doors. The school's core values are: The Power of Three: Take care of yourself. Take care of others. Take care of our school.

Mission

Providing all students with the academic, technological, & social skills needed to be productive and contributing citizens in our society.

Vision Statement

The Henry H Houston Elementary School Community will provide a clean, safe, welcoming, and organized environment for our children It is a place where teachers use data and rigorous instruction to produce advanced, life-long learners and independent thinkers With parents and families alongside, our community works collaboratively to build strong partnerships, advance students’ achievement, ensure safety, and guarantee the success of our students

Jenks

Jenks Community Partners: Friends of Jenks, Chestnut Hill Rotary, Home and School Association(HSA), Chestnut Hill Business Association, Watertower Recreation Center, Chestnut Hill Fathers, Jenks Arts and Music (JAM), the Crossing.

At Jenks, we are committed to offering supportive environments for our members to flourish! We embody the core values of our mission and vision as caring, responsible, and reflective practitioners. Our staff continuously engages in professional learning communities to intellectually prepare rigorous academic practices while prioritizing equity and the well-being of our children. Together, we will ensure that our students here at Jenks receive the love, guidance, and support they need to prosper and succeed.

School Mission

John Story Jenks Academy for Arts and Sciences develops caring, responsible, reflective thinkers, who are curious, open-minded, and innovative. Our students engage in interdisciplinary educational opportunities through Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics that expand our educational experience beyond the walls of the school as global learners.

School Vision

The vision of John Story Jenks Academy for Arts and Sciences is to develop student innovation, inquiry, reflection, and positive action while promoting student agency, compassion, advocacy, and responsiveness to the needs of the community and the world.

Principal Corinne Scioli

Lingelbach

Lingelbach Community Partners: Eat-Right, Dancing Classroom, Woodmere, Find Your Instrument, Philly Reads, Elfant-Wissahickon Realtors, Unitarian Society of Germantown, Summit Presbyterian Church, Public Land Trust.

At Lingelbach, we believe in:

Diversity, varying cognitive development and individualism. Student-centered classrooms where students are actively engaged in the learning process. School, parent, and community partnerships. Accountability for all stakeholders, including educators, staff, students, parents and community.

Vision

The vision of Lingelbach Elementary School is to ensure every student who enters will leave on grade level or above in all content areas. Learning will be enhanced through the use of environmental studies, the arts, and technology in a clean and safe environment. In achieving this, students will be able to enter the high school of their choice for further preparation for college and/or career.

Mission Statement

Through professional development, educators will utilize best practices in the academic, cognitive, and social development of students Parents will ensure that students are present and on time each day to receive highquality instruction Students, with the support of the school community, will take ownership of their learning; and develop peer mediation and conflict resolution skills The school support staff is included in decision-making and problem-solving strategies for the school community

ROOSEVELT K-8

Our Mission & Vision

Providing all students with the academic, technological & social skills needed to be productive & contributing citizens in our society.

Mission

The mission of Roosevelt Elementary School is to engage the students, staff, and community in quality and equitable education that helps to REBUILD ROOSEVELT. We believe that every student can learn when given a safe and supportive environment that is free from distractions. At Roosevelt, collaboration and creativity are key while ensuring that quality instruction is delivered in an environment that fosters respect and responsibility.

Vision

The vision of Roosevelt Elementary School is to provide students with the skills needed so that they can attend and succeed at any High School of their choice, provide the staff with the resources and supports so that they can deliver quality instruction, and provide the community with clear communication and opportunities to be invested in their child’s education. We will support this vision by being honest, transparent, consistent, equitable, and fair in our approach to every child and person.

Roosevelt

Principal Kristen Heifet

School Stats

How Do We Measure Up? A.B. Day

How Do We Measure Up?

C.W. Henry

How Do We Measure Up?

How Do We Measure Up? Houston

How Do We Measure Up?

How Do We Measure Up?

Lingelbach

How Do We Measure Up? Roosevelt