December 7, 2018

All School

Enable Basketball Tournament and Wrestling Clinic

Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7-8

Penn Charter is excited to host the annual Enable Sports & Fitness Invitational Basketball Tournament. Enable Sports & Fitness is a local Philadelphia nonprofit founded by Bob Rosania OPC '82 and his family. Enable provides meaningful athletic and fitness opportunities for youth and young adults who need additional support. All proceeds from the tournament will support Enable.

Wrestling Clinic to Benefit Enable
This Friday, Dec. 7, before the tournament, the varsity wrestling team will host a wrestling clinic 3:45-4:45 pm in the Old Gym wrestling room for students in grades 4-8 interested in learning more about the sport and building some great skills. The cost is $15 for the hour and all proceeds benefit Enable. RSVP if interested.

If interested in volunteering to support over the weekend, please sign up. This is a great opportunity for the whole family to come out, volunteer, support a local Philadelphia organization doing great work in our larger community and cheer on PC basketball!

Questions? Email PC's Center for Public Purpose. Find us on Instagram & Twitter @PCPublicPurpose

Service Opportunities

 
Moving Homeless Families

Sunday, Dec. 16, 12:30-2:30 pm
We need volunteers to move families experiencing homelessness from the Germantown Jewish Center to the Second Baptist Church of Germantown. All ages and grades welcome! Sign-up and details. 

Share Food Program

Saturday, Dec. 8, 9 am-12 pm; 2901 W. Hunting Park Ave., Philadelphia 19129

Penn Charter is signed up to volunteer at Share, a nonprofit organization serving a regional network of community organizations engaged in food distribution, education and advocacy. We are going to package food boxes that will be distributed to local food pantries and elderly people. All ages and grades welcome. We will meet at Share at 9 am. Sign up.

Eco-Corner: Holiday E-Waste Drive

Monday-Friday, Dec. 10-14
We will be collecting broken electronics during the week before winter break. There will be bins in each divisional lobby starting Monday, Dec. 10 and ending Friday morning, Dec. 14. Items that can be accepted. We cannot accept large-back (CRT) monitors, TVs, air conditioners or large appliances. Our e-waste recycler is PAR Recycle Works, which responsibly recycles metals and electronics as well as providing employment and support for returning citizens. Watch a brief video about their work and growth. Please contact Tom Rickards with questions.

Holiday Gift Drive

Thank you to all who have contributed to the Penn Charter all-school holiday drive! We appreciate your support and partnership at this time of year. If you would like to support the effort by packing and/or delivering gifts to our community partners (Bayard Taylor School and Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network), please contact the Center for Public Purpose. We will be working on Thursday, Dec. 13 and Friday, Dec. 14 during school hours and would welcome the extra hands!

Parent to Parent: Weekly Update

Get in the holiday spirit with a lesson in easy holiday entertaining. Learn to make delicious holiday cocktails, mocktails, easy appetizers and a crowd-favorite dessert. Learn more. Sign up. 

Please consider sharing your talents and passions with other parents in the new year. Contact Jennifer Fiss with ideas. Supply fee request.

Reminder: Queen Lane Station Shuttle

Because of the increase in ridership this year, we are now sending two vans to the Queen Lane station to meet the 7:30 am train from Center City. Questions or concerns? Contact Director of Safety and Security Jim Behr.

Reminder: Safety and Security Update

Now that the winter sports season has begun, we have hired a Philadelphia Police officer for after-school crosswalk duty between the main campus and Strawbridge Campus. The officer will be on duty from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. to cross students, coaches and spectators on their way to the Kline & Specter Squash Courts. The officer's car will be parked near the crosswalk, which may have a traffic-calming effect on School House Lane drivers.

Upper School

Winter Dance (Semi-Formal)

Saturday, Dec. 8,  7:30-10 pm; Old Gym; cost: $10
All Upper School students, grades 9-12, are invited to the Winter Dance. No need to get too fancy; don't buy anything new. Just put on some nice duds and boogie on over to the Old Gym. Each PC student is permitted to bring one guest of high-school age from another school—if registered with the assistant director of Upper School by 3 pm on Friday, Dec. 7. (PC students and their guests must arrive to the dance together.) Students and families should be aware that times before, during and after dances are considered "official school-sponsored events." (See the "drug and alcohol policy" and the "off-campus behavior policy" in the Student Handbook for more information.) The dance starts at 7:30 pm (students must be in the door by 8:30 pm) and is over at 10 pm sharp. All students must leave the parking lot (or be picked up) no later that 10:15 pm. Once students enter the dance, they may not leave early.

Middle School

Middle School Band & Choral Concert

Monday, Dec. 10, 7 pm, Kurtz Center

Our show, which features instrumental and vocal groups in the Middle School, is the inaugural show for the Sixth Grade Concert Band and new band director Bradford Schoener. We hope you will join us!

If your child is participating in the concert, please be aware that call time is at 6 pm.

Pre-Concert Pizza
Students participating in sports or staying for sanctuary have the option to purchase slices of pizza ($1 each) to eat prior to the concert call time. Please indicate the number of slices each child is purchasing and have your child bring the money to the dining hall before the concert. You must sign up for pizza by noon on Friday, Dec. 7, or your child will not be guaranteed a slice. Volunteers are also needed to help distribute the pizza.
Sign up for pizza and/or volunteer to help.

Concert Dress Code for Middle and Upper Schools
Parents are reminded to please be sure your student has the appropriate clothing and shoes for the winter concerts. For all band and choral concerts, students are required to wear all black. Girls are to wear black pants or slacks with black dress shoes. Prohibited attire includes black jeans, leggings, spandex pants, flip flops, boots, casual shoes, dresses and skirts. Girls may choose to wear a solid black polo shirt, blouse or top that meets school dress code criteria (no sheer or lace fabrics). Tops may not be sleeveless or have capped sleeves. Boys are to wear a black button-down shirt or polo shirt with black pants, shoes and socks. Boys will also need to tuck in their shirts. All shirts and tops need to be without logos, decoration or other colors.

Concert Dress Exchange 

We have supplied a clothing rack with a limited number of shirts and pants/slacks in the Rosen Atrium in the Middle School front lobby for anyone who wishes to borrow concert attire. These articles of clothing are on loan and will need to be returned after the concert. If you would like to donate concert dress clothing or shoes to this rack, please feel free to add! 

IdeaLab Opportunities for Middle School Students

We are excited to offer these sessions in our IdeaLab for Middle School students. Please email Diane Kane in our Middle School office to reserve your space. Enrollment is limited in each session and special consideration will be given to students whose schedules limit their availability in other sessions. Our aim is to provide sessions that all students can attend and still enable them to pursue their other passions in athletics and arts. If you have any questions about the sessions, please contact Eve Schwartz or Corey Kilbane.

Lower School

Holiday Gift Giving

This time of year is often marked by expressions of affection and gratitude. Gifts to teachers are neither required nor expected. However, should your family choose to do something for your child's teacher, we respectfully ask that the Quaker testimony of Simplicity guide this gesture and strongly encourage you to include your children in the creation and giving of these gifts. You might consider, for example, helping your child to make a card or baked good, or donating a book to the library or small amount to the Grace Fund in the teacher's name.

Lower School Winter Concert

Friday, Dec. 14, 1 pm, Kurtz Center

As you probably know, your children have been working hard to learn music for the winter concert. Concerts are "special dress" days for all students, K-5, including the Bell Choir. The attire for special dress days is blouses or shirts with collars (tucked in), long dress pants, skirts or dresses. Jeans and sneakers are not permitted. 

In the interest of creating a positive and courteous community atmosphere, we would like to remind you of a few important guidelines:

• No drinks or food in the Ball Theater.
• We ask that you not set up video or camera tripods in the aisles. Additionally, please do not come forward to take your child's picture while they are performing. This will allow the concert to flow smoothly, as well as model respectful audience behavior for all of our children.
• We encourage you to stay for the entire concert. If you must leave early, please choose a seat in the back of the seating area so that you will not disrupt others' enjoyment of the concert when you depart.

After the concert, the children will be dismissed to their classrooms. Parents may pick them up at that time or they will be dismissed at regular dismissal time. There will be regular bus service and After-School Program for those students who normally utilize those services.

Chess Club (Grades 2-5)

Fridays, Jan. 4-March 15, 7:15-8:05 am; Lower School After-School Room
Lower School is offering another session of Chess Club for interested students in grades 2-5, taught by chess coach Ross Colby. Cost is $75 for 10 weeks. Contact Charlie Kaesshaefer to reserve a space. This chess club will be part of a local independent school league, and participants can choose to play in tournaments once a month (usually on a Saturday). All levels welcome. Following session is April 5-May 31 ($50).