November 9, 2018

All School

PC/GA Day Is Here!

Saturday, Nov. 10, Germantown Academy
The students have exhibited their PC spirit all week—now it's time for us to jump in! 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!

Shopping Night at Skirt

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 6:30-8:30 pm; Skirt (212 S. 17th Street, Philadelphia 19103)

Skirt Rittenhouse, a women's boutique, is hosting a Penn Charter shopping night, with 10 percent of the evening's proceeds benefitting the PC Parent Community. All in our community are welcome to mingle, eat and shop! The event is free. See more. And RSVP to Joy Chaffin.

All-School Book Fair Opens Monday!

Nov. 12-15. Monday and Wednesday 7:30-4:00; Tuesday 7:30-6:00; Thursday 7:30-3:30; Old Gym
Come and see what all the superhero excitement is about. This book fair has improved every year, in no small part thanks to our wonderful parent volunteers. Please sign up now. Students in Lower School and Middle School will visit the Book Fair with their teachers. There will be books for all ages, and proceeds benefit the Penn Charter libraries.

New eWallet and Online Store
This year, the book fair will offer an online eWallet to families, which allows parents to set up an online account with a set limit for their children. No more misplaced change or cash, and once the fair ends, any unused funds are released back to the credit card on file. To set up an eWallet for your student, please visit the book fair home page. Can't make it to the fair but want to preview or buy some books? The online book store will open on Nov. 7 and run through Nov. 20.

One Week Until the Upper School Play

Friday, Nov. 16, 7:30 pm, and Saturday, Nov. 17, 2:30 pm; Kurtz Center
This year's production includes two one-act comedies. The production runs approximately 75 minutes (including one intermission). See the poster.

It's Not You, It's Me, by Don Zolidas, explores the painful art of breaking up through comedic, awkwardly realistic characters This series of wildly hilarious scenes is sure to make you feel relieved not to be on the receiving end of those five fatal relationship words.

13 Ways To Screw Up Your College Interview, by Ian McWethy, follows two college recruiters at a prestigious university who need to fill one last spot to keep their jobs. What seems like a simple task turns into a nightmare when the applicants turn out to be a reality TV star, a practicing vampire, an amateur magician and others that are much, much worse. Each applicant's interview hilariously illustrates what not to do at a college interview.

Buy tickets online. You may also purchase tickets in the School Store. $6 students, and $8 adults. Seating is NOT general admission. We can't wait to see you in the audience.

Grace Fund Game Night

Saturday, Dec. 1, 7-10 pm, Phield House, 814 Spring Garden St.
Schedule your babysitters and clear your schedules for Grace Fund Game Night: Blue vs. Yellow! What is it? It's a night to meet, play and have fun with the entire PC Parent Community! Games, races, food, s'mores, beverages, music and more! All while supporting the Grace Fund, which helps students who are financially unable to afford lunch cards, tutoring, books, calculators, sports equipment, counseling, class trips and more. The Grace Fund is one of the things that makes Penn Charter such a unique place to send your child. All parents are welcome!

The current early score is Yellow: 27 vs. Blue: 22 … a close race! You can earn points now for your team by answering this simple trivia question: Where is Grace Fund Game Night: Blue vs. Yellow being held this year? The first 10 answers received by Carrie Boxer will earn two early points for their team. Hint: Find the answer on the ticket page.

Service Opportunities

Thanksgiving Food Drive for Widener Families
The PC community will be donating Thanksgiving dinner meals to families of the Widener Memorial School. The Parent Quakerism Committee is coordinating the effort, with a lofty goal of 50 dinners by Nov. 16. We need the following from families:

Oct. 31 - Nov. 15: Non-perishable food items, placed on the shelves in the lobby of each division.

Nov. 15: Sort meals in the cafeteria, 3-4 pm. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served. 

Nov. 16: 50 frozen turkeys (ideally!) delivered to school in the front circle during morning drop-off.

Nov. 16: Help deliver food to Widener in the morning and/or assist in distribution at Widener after school.

Sign up to donate a turkey, volunteer and/or see a shopping list. Questions? Contact Rachel Dyer.

 
Moving Homeless Families

Sunday, Nov. 11, 12:30-2:30 pm
On Nov. 11 we need volunteers to move families experiencing homelessness from  Unitarian Universalist Church of the Resurrection to Germantown Mennonite. All ages and grades welcome! Signup and details. 

Depaul House Requests Support

Sunday, Nov. 11, 10 am-12 pm

Depaul House, a homeless shelter in Germantown, has opened its doors to all grades at Penn Charter for the purpose of learning and serving. They have asked for our community's support in building an outdoor communal library, similar to the one we have in Chigwell Close. This will be a two-phase project. Phase one, on Nov. 11, will be an orientation session at Depaul House with Depaul's employees and residents. We will brainstorm community library design ideas and create a plan of action. Phase two, on Nov. 17, will be in the Idea Lab, alongside Depaul's residents and staff, creating the library. No building experience is necessary and all ages and grades welcome!  

Parent to Parent: Weekly Update

Coming up, join other parents on a tour of the campus learning gardens and go on a horseback trail ride on Sunday. In December, join Leslie Stillwagon and learn to host the holidays in style! Learn more here. Sign up. Contact Jennifer Fiss with ideas. Supply fee request.

Upper School

US Parent Forum

Monday, Nov. 12, 8:15-9:15 am; Overseers Room (Main Building)
Join Debbie Foley, coordinator of health services, and Erin Hughes for a talk on "Vaping: What Every Parent Should Know."

Fall Sports Awards

Wednesday, Nov. 28, 6:30 pm; Kurtz Center
PC Athletics invites families of Upper School athletes to the Fall Sports Awards presentations. The program will honor PC varsity teams, individual award winners, All-League honorees and team captains.

Middle School

Quaker Elite Soccer Club (Ages 8-13)

Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23
Games will be held 3-6 pm on Saturday and Sundays in December on Perrott Turf Field. Players will have six 40-min. games. Register individually; request placement on a team with a friend if you wish. All levels of play are encouraged to join. Cost is $75.

Lower School

Full-Day Child Care

Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 19 and 20
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, Nov. 19 (parent-teacher conferences) and Tuesday, Nov. 20 (faculty in-service), 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.

Science Night

Thursday, Nov. 29, 6:30-8 pm; LS Activity Room
The zoo is coming to PC! Elmwood Park Zoo will teach us about our five senses and explore the differences and similarities in how they're used in the animal kingdom. Also, Fairmount Waterworks will be teaching us about watersheds, and some PC faculty and students will be performing shark dissections! Refreshments provided.

Quaker Elite Soccer Club (Ages 8-13)

Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23
Games will be held 3-6 pm on Saturday and Sundays in December on Perrott Turf Field. Players will have six 40-min. games. Register individually; request placement on a team with a friend if you wish. All levels of play are encouraged to join. Cost is $75.