Building Community at Family Meeting for Worship

"Worship and Waffles"

Sunday, March 3, 11-11:45 am; Meeting Room (Main Building)
Join the Penn Charter community for this annual Sunday Friends Meeting for Worship for students and families, faculty, staff and neighbors. Silent reflection (interrupted only if someone is moved to speak) is followed by a waffle brunch with toppings of your choice in the Dining Hall. Free child care during MFW will be available in the Dining Hall. Sign up to bring a topping or beverage for the waffle brunch. After the brunch, stay for the film Brave (see below).

Questions? Contact co-chairs of the Parent Quakerism Committee: Soozung Rankin or Rachele Loffer.

Movies that Matter: Brave (Note change in film)

Sunday, March 3, 12:30 pm, Gummere Library (new location)
After Community MFW and the waffle brunch, we invite you to stay for Disney's Brave, previously scheduled for Friday, March 8. Brave is appropriate for all ages. View the trailer. And see the flyer created by fifth grade students.We hope to see you!

Distinguished Speaker Parent Program: Shafia Zaloom

Wednesday, March 6, 7 pm, Gummere Library

Shafia Zaloom is a health educator and consultant whose work centers on human development, community building, ethics and social justice. Her approach involves creating opportunities for students and teachers to "discuss the complexities of teen culture and decision making with straight-forward, open and honest dialogue." In addition to presenting to parents on March 6, Zaloom will lead workshops with Upper School students, faculty and staff on March 7.

Fresh Herbs Grown by PC Students

Next week in the Dining Hall, chef Barry Glass will be cooking with basil and dill grown in the Middle School aquaponics tank by seventh grade science students. The herbs will be featured on the menu Monday, Thursday and Friday. It doesn't get more fresh and local than this!

Small Ensemble Concert

Thursday, March 14, 7 pm, Kurtz Center
Student musicians from Upper, Middle and Lower schools will perform in nine different vocal and instrumental ensembles. Vocal groups include the Chamber Singers, the Sixth Note, the Naturals, Girls a Cappella and the Quakers Dozen. Instrumental groups include the Upper School Brass Ensemble, the String Ensemble, an Upper School jazz group called the Oats, and the Percussion Ensemble. The concert is free and takes place in the Ball Theater.

Great Day to Be a Quaker Returns!

Great Day to Be a Penn Charter Quaker returns Friday, March 15! Watch the video. On the morning of Great Day, there will be a Parent Community mini-meeting in the Kurtz Center Lobby featuring a pop-up espresso bar. Come enjoy a latte and the PC spirit on campus! We hope you will join us in this interactive day of giving! Share. Participate. Give on March 15. See all the details at penncharter.com/greatday.

Service Opportunities

PreK-12 Cradles to Crayons Penn Charter Family Service Day

Saturday, April 6, 10 am - 12 pm, 4700 Wissahickon Ave.
Join PC families and welcome Cradles to Crayons to the neighborhood! Their Giving Tree Factory has moved to 4700 Wissahickon Ave., so we are now neighbors! We welcome all ages (pre-K to 12 families) to learn about the great work that Cradles to Crayons does, tour their new facility and participate in service together.

To kick off this event, we have a clothing drive to support Cradles to Crayons, March 15-April 5. Items accepted. Sign up.

Space is limited, so once you've signed up, please also register with Cradles to Crayons using this access code: a0RC000000aEi83. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sharon Ahram.

Parent Community Fundraising Event at Skirt

March 9-13
Women's boutique Skirt will host a fundraiser March 9-13 at both their Rittenhouse and Bryn Mawr locations. PC is one of the area schools included: 10 percent of all parents' purchases will be donated to their school, and that donation doubles to 20 percent for the school that raises the most money. Parents will also receive a $25 gift card good for their next shopping trip. The money PC raises will benefit the Parent Community. Details.

Bert Linton Golf Outing

Monday, April 22, Huntingdon Valley Country Club

Last call! The popularity of this annual event among both alumni and parents continues to grow. This cost of $275 includes the entire day's activities, including golf, lunch, cart fee, dinner, open bar, giveaways and prizes. Details and registration.

SwimAmerica Spring Lessons and PCAC Junior Team Swim Clinic

Registration is now open for SwimAmerica after-school lessons, and registration will open for the PCAC Junior Team Spring Clinic on March 4. Both programs will begin Monday, April 8 and end Wednesday, May 22. Swim lessons are Monday, Wednesday, Friday at either 3:30 or 4:00 pm. The PCAC Junior Team clinic is scheduled on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 3:30-4:30 pm.

Parents are responsible for picking up and changing their children for the 3:30 lesson and clinic. We are still able to pick up contracted After-School Program students who would like to take lessons. Students in ASP should register for 4:00 pm lessons. We will pick up ASP students at 3:45 for their lessons and walk them back to ASP once their lessons are over. The fee is $240. Details and registration. Questions? Email Kevin Berkoff.

The fee for the after-school PCAC Junior Team Spring Clinic is $275 and registration will be available online at www.pcacswim.com on March 4. If you are new to PCAC, please email coach Crystal Keelan to set up an evaluation before registering. All PCAC Junior spring clinic participants must register with USA Swimming through the club before they may participate (an additional $40 for clinic).

Parent-to-Parent Workshops

Please join us for some fun spring workshops. We have a new date for "Entertaining with Ease," or sign up to learn to make Jamaican jerk chicken and get an insider's guide to jewelry. New workshops coming next week! Sign up. Contact Jennifer Fiss with ideas. Supply fee request.

Donate Your Coffee Mugs

We offer reusable mugs to students and faculty alike to avoid single-use cups and lids. Over the years, these mugs get chipped and broken. We are now in need of more mug donations! If you are looking to make some space in your kitchen cabinets, please consider bringing your mugs to Penn Charter. Just deliver to your divisional lobby or directly down to the dish area in the cafeteria, and thanks for keeping our sustainable mug tree full!

Middle School

Lacrosse Clinic for Boys in Grades 5-8

Saturday, March 2, 9:30-11:30 am (9 am registration), Perrott Turf (Dooney Field House if inclement weather)
Penn Charter lacrosse coaching staff and players will run a lacrosse clinic for boys in grades 5-8, with proceeds supporting the Katie Samson Foundation. Participants are invited to watch the high school practice immediately following the clinic. Cost: $40 pre-registration, $50 walk-up. Registration and details.

Spring Sports Start Monday

All student-athletes and coaches will start the new season with a meeting in Balderston Commons to review logistics for the season. Afterwards, the athletes will be dismissed to go with their coaches for meetings or practices, depending on the sport. Read all the details from Brian Hecker, Middle School athletics coordinator.

Middle School Dance

Friday, March 8, 7-9 pm, Richard Fisher Middle School
The spring dance is next week and is open to all Middle School students. Each student is able to bring up to two outside guests, and must contact Allen Vandegrift, assistant director of Middle School, with the guest's name, age and current school. The eighth grade leadership team has planned an awesome event and is excited for students to come! If you would like to provide snacks for students at the dance or contribute toward the purchase of food, please sign up.

Middle School Parent Pop-In

Friday, March 8, 7-9 pm, Timmons House
While your kids are at the Middle School Dance, come catch up with your fellow MS parents and celebrate the weekend by joining everyone for food and fun. Bring your favorite beverage and enjoy the provided light bites. RSVP to let us know you're coming!

Freedom from Chemical Dependency Week and Parent Program

Parent Program: Thursday, March 14, 6-7 pm, Middle School
March 11 marks the beginning of Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD) Week in Middle School. Students in grades 6-8 will meet with a trained FCD educator in an assembly-style presentation with questions and answers, and seventh grade will have several small group meetings that will cover more material and go into more detail.

In addition, we welcome MS parents for a session with our FCD counselor on March 14 at 6 pm. FCD, our partner since 1998, will help parents understand recent trends with teen substance use, learn strategies to engage your children in healthy conversations about use and abuse, and answer any questions parents may have on the topic. Please join us!

MS Student-Led Parent-Advisor Conferences

Thursday, March 21
We will be devoting a full day to our student-led conferences in the Middle School. Your child will be working hard preparing materials, reflecting on his/her learning, and rehearsing the conference. Sign up for your conference.

Lacrosse Clinic for Girls in Grades K-8

See details below, under Lower School.

Lower School

Read Across America Day

Monday, March 4
Penn Charter's Lower School celebrates Read Across America Day! On Monday, students may come to school wearing pajamas (teachers may send grade-specific details) and may also bring a stuffed animal. We also encourage everyone to bring their all-time favorite picture book as mixed grades may be getting together to read with their grade partners. If you have any questions, please contact Linda O'Malley, Lower School librarian.

Lacrosse Clinic for Boys in Grades 5-8

See details above, under Middle School.

Lacrosse Clinic for Girls in Grades K-8

Saturday, March 23, 3:30-5 pm; Perrott Field
The varsity girls lacrosse team will host a clinic for girls in grades K-8 that will be competitive and fun for all ages and levels of play. The coaching staff will run the clinic with the help of varsity players, and all proceeds will benefit the Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival. Details and registration. Contact Colleen Magarity with questions.

The varsity team will play a home game vs. Mount St. Joe's at 12 p.m. prior to the clinic for anyone that wants to come and watch!

Chess Club (Grades 2-5)

Fridays, April 5-May 31, 7:15-8:05 am, Lower School After-School Room
Lower School is offering this year's final session of Chess Club for interested students in grades 2-5, taught by chess coach Ross Colby. Cost is $50 for eight 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.