October 19, 2018

All School

K-12 Absentee/Retake Picture Day

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 8am-1pm, KC Green Room (Note location change)
Barksdale Studios will be doing pre-K to 12 re-takes and first-sitting absentees for yearbook photos in the Kurtz Center green room. Those who wish to replace their original packet of photos should bring the original packet and give it to the photographer. Those without their original packets, and absentees at the first sittings, may use this order form to either pay online or print and complete and bring with a check to the photographer on Oct. 23. Additional orders may also be placed online using the information on the flyer. There is no signup for these sittings; students should report to the Kurtz Center green room when they are free.

Parent Introduction to Quakerism

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 8:15-9:15 am, Trask Library (Lower School)
Parents in all divisions are invited to attend and learn more about why Quakerism makes the academic experience at Penn Charter unique. Lee Payton will give an overview of the key elements of Quakerism and Quaker education as well as moderate an interactive discussion with parents who would like to learn how Quakerism influences the daily life of PC students. Lee is a member of Chester Monthly Meeting, a Friends school graduate, an Upper School parent, and has served Penn Charter in a number of different roles during the past 17 years. He is also a graduate of the Friends Council on Education Leadership program and has served as a Friends Council board member for seven years. 

Movies that Matter

Friday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 28
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is proud to present Movies that Matter. Next weekend we are showing two movies, Wonder, on Oct. 26 at 3 pm for students in grades pre-K to 6, and The Mask You Live In, on Oct. 28 at 2 pm for students in grades 7-12. Parents are welcome to attend both. RSVP for Wonder and/or RSVP for The Mask You Live In.

Service Opportunity: Moving Homeless Families

Sunday, Oct. 28, 12:30-2:30 pm
Once a month, through service partner Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network, PC students help families experiencing homelessness move boxes and bags of their belongings to emergency housing in houses of worship. On Oct. 28 we need volunteers to move families from First Presbyterian Church of Germantown to Unitarian Universalist Church of the Resurrection. All ages and grades welcome! Signup and details. 

Want to stay connected and learn about other ways to be involved with the Center for Public Purpose? Join the Center for Public Purpose group in the Hub. This short video (just 51 seconds) will show you how to join this or other groups in the Hub.

Parent to Parent: Weekly Update

On Nov. 8, tour the Discovery Center, a collaboration of Audubon and Outward Bound to save and sustain a vital part of our natural heritage, where a century-old abandoned reservoir has become a unique wildlife sanctuary. This groundbreaking venture, reaching more than 15,000 students per year, will protect a unique habitat rarely found in a major urban area and will provide education and adventure programs that inspire self-discovery, foster personal achievement and build community across Philadelphia. Our tour of this hidden gem will feature discussion of conservation and climate issues. This is one not to miss!

Also in November, take a walk in the Wissahickon with Lauren Eckel and go on a horseback trail ride with Dora Presley. Details on workshops. Sign up. Contact Jennifer Fiss with ideas. Supply fee request.

Breakfast with the Head of School

Wednesday, Nov 7, 8:30-9:30 am; Head's Residence
Head of School Darryl J. Ford welcomes parents to join him in an open discussion about Penn Charter. Unlike a Parent Community meeting with a set agenda, the discussion at the head's breakfast is guided by the interests of participating parents. The talk can range from academics to athletics, to discussion of the latest in educational research. Please contact Peggie Murphy (ext. 102) if you will attend.

PC/GA Day

Saturday, Nov. 10, Germantown Academy
Don your blue and yellow, and come out to cheer for our fall athletes! Food trucks, snack carts, a moon bounce, face painting and an art display round out the day for the entire family. Details and schedule. Go Charter!

PC/GA Day Shirts for Sale

Another annual tradition: Student-designed PC/GA Day shirts will be on sale Monday, Oct. 22 through Friday, Nov. 2, every day during Middle School and Upper School lunch, as well as in the Lower School after school every day until 3:45 pm. Long sleeve T-shirts are $20. Limited number of hooded sweatshirts in adult sizes are $30. Check out the front and the back of this year's design.

Student Participation in the All-School Musical

This year's all-school musical will be Disney's My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto's Musical Tale with performances on Feb. 22, 23 and 24, 2019. We are looking for students in grades 4 through 12 who can sing, dance and act for the cast of this show.

For students in grades 4 and 5, please be sure to read details and access the permission slip, which you can print, sign and return to the Lower School office by Monday, Oct. 29.

For Middle and Upper school students who sing and Middle school students who act, please access more audition information and the appropriate Signup Genius. Auditions will be Tuesday, Nov. 6 and Wednesday, Nov. 7, with callbacks on Thursday, Nov. 8.

Questions? Please contact EvaKay Noone.

All-School Book Fair

Nov. 12-15
CRASH! BOOM! POW! This year's superhero-themed book fair is almost upon us. This year's fair will have a better checkout system, offer parents the ability to create an "e-wallet" with a spending limit so their children don't need to bring cash, and provide an online book store with most of the same titles for families who are unable to attend the book fair. Learn more. Please be on the lookout for the Signup Genius to volunteer. As always, we need your help to make this an amazing book fair! 

Grace Fund Game Night

Saturday, Dec. 1, 7-10 pm, Phield House, 814 Spring Garden St.
PC parents will raise money for the Grace Fund with an amazing night of Blue vs. Yellow competition, food, adult beverages and tons of fun! If you haven't yet been assigned a color, don't worry, come anyway and we'll assign you a temporary color to enjoy the fun for the night … no one will be left behind! Want to start earning points for your team early? Look out for the next Parent Post for a PC-related trivia question; the first five people to answer will earn a point for your team!

Did you know that the Grace Fund helps PC students on financial aid to afford lunch during the school day, plus many other essentials that make a well-rounded student? Get your ticket and read more.

Upper School

Upper School Parent Timmons Tailgate

Saturday, Oct. 20, 12-2 pm; Timmons House, 3850 The Oak Road
Whether you have never been to a PC football game or you are on the stands at every game, we hope you will join us when PC hosts Inter-Ac rival Haverford School. Come one and all to cheer on our PC team and tailgate with parents before the game at Timmons House! The Parent Community will have delicious smokehouse BBQ and other tailgate favorites, 12-2 pm, before the 2 pm kickoff. Our fabulous PC band and Quaker mascot will be in attendance to show their Penn Charter pride, and our boys will be wearing pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. So, be sure to wear your PC spirit wear with a touch of pink. Don't miss out on this longstanding, exciting rivalry that kicks off with the best parent community around. It will be a great day! RSVP to attend.

Light the Night Volunteer Opportunity for Families

Saturday, Oct. 27, Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter invites PC students and families to sign up for this volunteer opportunity. Light the Night is a leisurely evening walk and a moving night where the community gathers to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by cancer. Participants "bring light to the darkness of cancer" as they complete the walk and celebrate their achievements in supporting LLS' mission through their fundraising efforts. If you can volunteer during the walk on Saturday, Oct. 27 for the event and breakdown, 3-9:30 pm, please sign up. If you have any questions, email Hannah Effinger.

Social Innovators Program

Application deadline: Nov. 1
The Social Innovators Program allows students to learn about entrepreneurship and experience it firsthand while earning a certificate in social entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania. During the 13-week program, students learn how to launch ventures of their own that create value and have a positive impact on society. The Social Innovators Program is a partnership between the University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy and Practice, Penn Charter and Schoolyard Ventures. It has both in-person and virtual components. Applications are due by Nov. 1. Additional program and application details.

Middle School

7th and 8th Grade Dance

Friday, Oct. 19, 7-9 pm, Old Gym; cost $7
The fall dance will be open to all seventh and eighth grade students. Students may bring up to two students from different schools; you must alert Allen Vandegrift before the dance. Come enjoy ping pong, a DJ, volleyball, decorations and great snacks! And we ask parents to sign up to contribute snacks.

Middle School Parent Pop-In

Friday, Oct. 19, 7-9 pm; Timmons House, 3850 The Oak Road
Come celebrate fall by joining fellow Middle School parents for food, fun and cozy fires. Bring your favorite beverage and stop by during the seventh and eighth grade dance. All MS parents (grades 6-8) are welcome! RSVP so we know you are coming.

Middle School Family Night

Friday, Nov. 2, 6-8:30 pm, Wissahickon Environmental Center
Please join us for this fun family event! Enjoy a guided night hike, food, campfire and s'mores. All siblings are welcome. RSVP.

Lower School

Lower School Family Visiting Day

Friday, Oct. 26
We welcome Lower School grandparents, parents and special friends to join us on campus for this special day. Please register by Wednesday, Oct. 24. If you have any questions, please contact Emma Rowan, assistant director of annual giving, at 215-844-3460 ext. 227.

Halloween Parade and Alternate Activity

Wednesday, Oct. 31, 8:30 am
All families are welcome to attend our annual Halloween parade. The parade for grades K-5 will begin in Lower School at 8:30 am sharp near the science room and end at 8:50 am on the Lower School green. Read all the details, including a map of the parade route, and an alternate activity for students who do not celebrate Halloween, in Lower School Life.

Full-Day Child Care

Monday, Nov. 5
The After-School Program offers age-appropriate full-day child care for Lower School students on non-instructional days for the convenience of parents/guardians. On Monday, November 5, (faculty work day) child care will be available for grades pre-K to 5, 8 am-6 pm. In order for a child to attend, the parent/guardian must complete the online full-day child care contract. Please e-mail Kathy MacMurray with any questions. Please note that Nov. 19 and Nov. 20 are full-day child care days also.