Horizons at Cristo Rey 2024 Summer Impact Report

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Horizons at Cristo Rey Philadelphia is an extension of the Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School mission.

We provide elementary-age students in North Philadelphia with year-round out-of-school-time academic and enrichment opportunities. By fostering a love of learning and expanding access to outstanding experiences, we equip our children to thrive, achieve their fullest potential, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Horizons at Cristo Rey addresses summer learning loss by partnering with dedicated educators and mission-aligned organizations. Through this program, Cristo Rey Philadelphia provides children with enhanced educational opportunities, advancing our commitment to community empowerment and greater access to quality learning.

Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School Mission: Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, a college preparatory, Catholic school for students of all faiths, nurtures and challenges young people to recognize and realize their full potential as they learn to love others, grow in their faiths, and serve the common good.

Horizons National Mission: We advance educational equity by building longterm partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning.

A Letter from the Executive Director

November 2024

Greetings Friends,

I’m thrilled to share the Horizons at Cristo Rey Philadelphia 2024 Summer Impact Report with you. Our fourth year of summer and after-school sessions of academics and enrichment wrapped up on July 31st with a lively community gathering. Students, families, and staff united to celebrate the efforts, relationships, and lessons that shaped this year’s program. It was a joyful culmination of hard work and growth, underscoring the significant impact of our collective efforts.

As we reflect on the summer, we take pride in the program’s growth. Seventyfive children from grades K-5 engaged in learning and exploration designed to combat summer learning loss using curricula infused with hands-on experiences and social-emotional development. We continued twice-per-week swim lessons and participated in the first-ever regional Horizons Regional Swim Meet where our youngest students cheered on their older peers in a beautiful moment of fellowship.

Horizons will deepen its commitment to local programming during the 20242025 school year. Cristo Rey Philadelphia’s campus in Nicetown-Tioga serves as a hub for an array of community resources that reflect the richness and resilience of this neighborhood. Horizons’ reach extends into the community, tapping into local partnerships that celebrate the heritage, talents, and assets of our neighbors. This focus on neighborhood pride ensures that our students not only learn from their community, but also contribute to its ongoing strength and vibrancy.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you — our supporters, partners, and friends. Your unwavering commitment and generosity make Horizons at Cristo Rey possible. It is because of you that our students have the opportunity to thrive, to dream bigger, and to achieve more. We are excited for the future and deeply grateful for your continued investment in our mission. Together, we are building brighter futures.

With gratitude,

Horizons at Cristo Rey

BY THE NUMBERS

75

Number of students in 2024 Summer Program

7:1

Student to Teacher ratio

4.5

Hours of academic enrichment per day

100%

Students leave with swim skills

78%

Student retention from 2023 Summer Program to 2024 Summer Program

35% Staff are Cristo Rey alumni or current students

ACADEMICS

Each summer, our students spend a majority of their time on campus in the classroom, which is designed to help them continue to grow academically. We partner with incredible and established organizations to bring captivating classroom content to our students.

Academic Partners

• ArtWell *

• STEMSpark *

• Math for Love

* denotes returning

• Philadelphia Writing Project

• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

• Tioga Hope Park & Garden

• The Georgia E. Gregory Interdenominational School of Music

Science

“Sunlit classrooms, small class sizes, and abundant resources empower our children to learn without traditional boundaries. Horizons students get to create through their experiments in a beautiful science lab.”

- Caryn Rivers

Executive Director Horizons at Cristo Rey

STEMSpark led our students through an inquiry-based curriculum that builds both confidence and resilience using the scientific method. A partnership with The Franklin Institute and GlaxoSmithKline provided science kits that mirrored the work of career scientists. Philadelphia Horticultural Society Master Gardeners exposed children to the essential work of pollinators and harvesting summer berries, herbs, and vegetables.

Math & Reading

Horizons at Cristo Rey’s academic enrichment focuses on strengthening fundamental math and reading skills. Summer 2024 featured the Math for Love curriculum for every classroom. Math instruction included eye-catching manipulatives and applied lessons that allowed teachers to keep diverse learners engaged. The English Language Arts curriculum received kudos from faculty, while culturally relevant classroom libraries curated by the Philadelphia Writing Project kept readers and writers busy! Additionally, our reading specialist evaluated each child and recommended next steps for year-round improvements, which were shared with families. Students were encouraged to observe problems and create queries, seek solutions, and discover connections.

ENRICHMENT

Social-Emotional Learning

Horizons at Cristo Rey enriches the whole child. We provide children the tools to manage their emotions, build relationships, and make responsible decisions. By investing in two School Counselors and a Social Worker, as well as the Second Step classroom curriculum, Horizons provides behavioral health education and support to both students and staff. Socialemotional awareness improves classroom performance and reduces the effects of traumatic stress. Students with self-regulation strategies and conflict resolution skills enjoy learning.

Elective Spotlight: Cooking Class

In addition to our academic classes, students also engaged in a number of electives and discovered new passions and hobbies! One of our electives this summer was a cooking class, hosted by Cousins Mike, our meal provider. Horizons students honed their kitchen skills while preparing community snacks and meals for their peers, including empanadas, fruit salads, and charcuterie. Each classroom prepared and presented their cuisine with pride!

Swimming

Swimming is a cornerstone of the six-week Horizons Summer Program nationally. We partner with the Columbia North branch of the Greater Philadelphia YMCA, hosting twice-weekly water play and lessons for all seventy-five of our students. Swim gear, suits, and towels are provided. Not only do our students learn a life saving essential skill, but they also gain exposure to a competitive sport, practice resilience and perseverance, and learn the joy of being in the water. Swimming is always a highlight for our students!

MISSION FUNDING

Thanks to the continued support from our network of donors, foundations, and organizations, Horizons at Cristo Rey is fortunate to have maintained a strong financial position in the fiscal year 2024.

FISCAL YEAR 2024

• Individuals $ 135,241

• Foundations $ 111,532

• Family Foundations $ 32,000

• Organizations $ 31,000

TOTAL $ 309,773

CRISTO REY PHILADELPHIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Robert (Rip) Collins CEO Tec Services Chair

Steve Delaney Partner Deloitte Vice Chair

Anthony C. Stevenson, EdD Director of Human Resources Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Secretary

Peter Blommer Vice Chairman Blommer Chocolate

Bryan Carter President & CEO Gesu School

Ruby R. Chandy CEO

Lumina Advisory Services

Fr. Peter Donohue, OSA, PhD President Villanova University

Peter Ernst Executive Director McCausland Foundation

Fr. John Fisher, OSFS Pastor Our Mother of Consolation Parish

Lisa Flynn Co-Chair

Malvern Preparatory School Capital Campaign

Kerry Henkels Mother of four children

Charlie Herrin

President of Technology, Product, Experience Comcast

Fr. Jeremy Hiers, OSA Director of the Office of Peace and Justice Province of St. Thomas of Villanova

Meg Howley

Executive Director The Howley Foundation

Ken Kind President van Ameringen Foundation

Jim Lawson

Partner & Managing Director Russell Reynolds Associates

Juan Lopez

Executive Vice President, CFO & Treasurer

Independence Blue Cross

John McConnell, Jr. President Emeritus Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School

Sr. Mary McNulty, IHM Principal St. Francis de Sales School

Jibreel Murray, ‘16 Fixed Income Investment Officer Haverford Trust

HORIZONS ADVISORY BOARD

Keshema Davidson Co-Director Philadelphia Middle College Foundation

Eleanor Davis Trustee School of Nursing at University of Pennsylvania

James Gallagher, PhD President Emeritus Philadelphia University

Kerry Henkels Mother of four children

Ken Kind President van Ameringen Foundation

Ryan Murray Partner Ernst & Young

Louisa Mfum-Mensah Vice President of Partner Experiences Urban Affairs Coalition

Robert J. Myers Partner Ernst & Young

Fr. Donald F. Reilly, OSA, DMin Prior of the Augustinian Novitiate Province of St. Thomas of Villanova

Sr. Stephen Anne Roderiguez, IHM, EdD Associate Head of School Villa Maria Academy

John Scheffey President & CEO Core States Group

Thomas A. Shoemaker President & CEO

Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School

Ian Swedish Senior Vice President CCS Fundraising

Sean Sweeney Director 1251 Capital Group

Steve Tazza

Chief Operating Officer White Label Communications

Fr. Brian Zumbrum, OSFS Assistant Principal & Director of Activities Salesianum High School

Carol Rooney

Retired Director

SEI Financial Services

Denise Silvers

Special Projects Associate

Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School

Denise Young

Retired Principal School District of Philadelphia

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