January 18, 2019

All School

Martin Luther King Day of Service: New Start Time

Monday, Jan. 21; 8:30 am registration; 9 am speaker, 9:30-11:30 service; 11:30-12 lunch

PLEASE NOTE: We have made adjustments to the schedule due to the predicted inclement weather. Our guest speaker, PA State Rep. Christopher Rabb, will speak at 9 am, followed by on- and off-campus service projects that will support our community partners. We hope you will join us to honor Martin Luther King's legacy, learn about our wonderful community partners and engage in service. Lower and Middle School students must be accompanied by an adult. Consult this signup for available on-campus opportunities. 

In the event that the weather is so bad that we need to cancel the day of service, we will post the update on penncharter.com.

Penn Charter Summer Camps

New this year: Pottery Camp, Dance Performance Camp, DJing Camp and more Minecraft. Details and registration at penncharter.com/summercamps.

Service Opportunity: Moving Homeless Families

Sunday, Feb. 3, 12:30-3:30 pm; Second Baptist Church of Germantown
Once a month, PC students help families who are experiencing homelessness move. We need your help on Feb. 3. We will start at Second Baptist Church of Germantown (6459 Germantown Ave.) and go to Unitarian Universalist Church Of the Restoration (6900 Stenton Ave.). All ages and grades welcome! If you can help, please sign up. 

Distinguished Speaker: Richard Blanco

Thursday, Feb. 14, 7-8:30 pm, Gummere Library
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is proud to present an evening of poetry with Richard Blanco. Blanco followed in the footsteps of Robert Frost and Maya Angelou when he was selected, by President Obama, to be the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. He is the youngest, first Latino, first immigrant and first openly gay person to serve in the role. The negotiation of cultural identity and universal themes of place and belonging characterize his three collections of poetry. Read more and RSVP.

Monthly Parent Meeting for Worship

Thursday, Jan. 31, 8:15-8:45 am; Meeting Room (Main Building, 2nd floor)

Join other parents and the Parent Quakerism co-chairs in a silent Friends Meeting for Worship, similar to what our children experience each week. Come experience 30 minutes of silent reflection (interrupted only if someone is moved to speak). 

Parent to Parent: Weekly Update

Reminder: community baking for MLK Day is today, Friday, Jan. 18. Join us at Jen's house between 11 and 3; come for the whole time or just a little bit. Sign up.

Please join us in reading A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierly and come to the book discussion in February. 

Be on the lookout for more fun new workshops coming soon! Get an insider's guide to jewelry and learn all about the design process from a parent who is a graduate gemologist; go on a field trip to a local flower shop and have some hands on floral fun; and learn some more about easy entertaining (or just come for the food and friends). Contact Jennifer Fiss with ideas. Supply fee request.

Movies that Matter: Black Panther

Friday, Feb. 8, 3:30 pm, Kurtz Center

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is proud to sponsor the top-grossing film of 2018, Black Panther (rated PG-13). Details, movie trailer and RSVP.

Senior Comprehensive Project Needs Parents

Penn Charter's Senior Comprehensive Project (SCP) is off and running. Students are beginning to solidify the organizations, people and places with which they would like to do their senior project. A successful SCP involves student initiative and self-discipline and participation from members of the community. If you're interested in being part of the SCP, we are looking for parents to be on-site project supervisors/mentors for students, facilitators for workshops on public speaking and/or presentation design, presentation evaluators and much more. Please fill out this short form if you're interested in being involved. If we all work together, this could be one of the most rewarding experiences the students will have in Upper School.

If you have questions, please reach out to Sharon Ahram, Senior Comprehensive Project coordinator and assistant director of the Center for Public Purpose (215-844-3460 ext. 162).

Upper School

Upper School Arts Portfolio Night

Wednesday, Jan. 23, 7 pm; Choral Room, Kurtz Center
Friends, teachers and families are invited to the see high-caliber student work at Portfolio Night, an exciting venue for exceptional student work in the Performing Arts and Visual Arts and Design in the Kurtz Center. Students will present a broad range of artistic works, including dance and music performances, as well as costume designs, photography and film. The night is sure to inspire and entertain as students present works from their portfolios. We hope that you'll join us. Here is a sample of previous Portfolio Night performances. 

Parent Program: Brian Jenssen on Vaping

Wednesday, Jan. 30, 7-8 pm, Gummere Library
We welcome parents to attend our evening program with Brian Jenssen, a researcher and pediatrician at CHOP whose expertise is tobacco policy and smoking cessation. Jennsen will address parents on the topic of teens and e-cigarettes. Educate yourself about e-cigarettes and know what to look for. Read more in Upper School Life.

College Keynote

Tuesday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m., Meeting Room (Main Building)
The College Counseling Office is pleased to announce its annual College Keynote program for the parents of ninth - 11th graders. More information about this year's keynote will be mailed home to families in the coming days.

Middle School

Parent Program: Brian Jenssen on Vaping

Wednesday, Jan. 30, 7-8 pm, Gummere Library
Middle School parents are welcome to attend our evening program with Brian Jenssen, a researcher and pediatrician at CHOP whose expertise is tobacco policy and smoking cessation. Jennsen will address parents on the topic of teens and e-cigarettes. Educate yourself about e-cigarettes and know what to look for. Read more in Upper School Life.

Middle School Ski Trip

Saturday, Feb. 2
We invite families to join us for a day of community building and fun on the slopes. Details about this ski trip to Bear Creek are in an email sent by Allen Vandegrift on Jan. 11.

Resources on Emotional Wellness 

Parents are invited to read these resources presented and discussed in Thursday's Parent Forum, "Managing stress and anxiety: A look into the emotional wellness of our middle schoolers."

Presentation on Stress and Anxiety Management
Sixth Grade Performance Anxiety Handout

Coping Skills List 
Fostering Resilience, by Ken Ginsburg