Today Is a Great Day to Be a Quaker!

March 15
Share: Use #GreatDayPC on social media to share how PC has affected your family and to see what others have shared, or email us at greatday@penncharter.com.
Participate: Check in throughout the day at penncharter.com/greatday for all the fun videos and updates.
Give: Make a gift to support excellence at Penn Charter!

Breakfast with the Head of School

Wednesday, April 3, 8:30-9:30 am; Timmons House
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.

Monthly Parent Meeting for Worship

Thursday, April 4, 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).

Baseball Field Opening Celebration

Friday, April 5, 3:30 pm, Strawbridge Campus
Join us to celebrate a major milestone in our campus transformation when Penn Charter baseball takes on Inter-Ac rival Germantown Academy to officially open our new baseball facility on the Strawbridge Campus.

Arrive early for an opening ceremony honoring former baseball coaches, players and How Far? capital campaign donors committed to securing PC's future. Stay for the 4 pm game to cheer on the team, enjoy concessions and get excited about what's to come. Questions? Contact Chris Rahill OPC '99, director of alumni relations.

Service Opportunities

Moving Homeless Families

Sunday, March 31, 12:30-3:30 pm, Unitarian Universalist Church of Restoration

We need your help moving families who are experiencing homelessness. We will start at Unitarian Universalist Church of Restoration at 6900 Stenton Ave. and move families to one of PIHN's homes, at 201-203 E. Church Lane. All ages and grades welcome!

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.

Laps for Philly Pools
Saturday, April 13, 12-2 pm, PC Pool
With the support of the Center for Public Purpose, junior Gabby Lopez-Ona is launching Laps for Philly Pools, a series of events over the next year to raise money and awareness for pool safety in the city of Philadelphia. This first Laps for Philly Pools is open to all, and anyone 5 years and older is invited to participate. Proceeds will create scholarships for Philadelphia kids to participate in the SwimAmerica program. Details and pledge form.

April and Earth Week

April and May will bring fun environmental programming and events. Here are a few save-the-dates; stay tuned to Parent Post for more information.

Saturday, April 6, and Wednesday, April 24: We are excited to host Alex Wildman during Earth Week on Wednesday. April 24. Alex is a cancer survivor who is the subject of a recent film, Hold Fast. If you are interested in seeing the film, attend a screening and Q&A with Alex on April 6 at the Academy of Natural Sciences. All proceeds from this film screening benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Wednesday, May 1: We will offer two bike trains to school that morning! We had a successful bike train along Germantown Avenue last November. This May, one group will take the same route, and a second one will travel along the Schuylkill River Trail. Both bike train opportunities are offered through the Parent Community and with support of PC faculty and staff. More details will be shared soon, but please consider joining a group ride with your child to school that morning.
Saturday, May 11: Penn Charter will host an environmental gathering, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. We will have collective time to share and reflect on our stewardship practices, and then we will host some break-out sessions that can include gardening, outdoor activities, biking and more! Please save the date.

Parent-to-Parent Workshops

New workshops added! In April, spend an evening with Melissa Parker learning to make florals for your next party and enjoying a jewelry trunk show. Also in April, Wilson Felter will teach us strategies to feel more competent and confident in having difficult conversations. There's still some room in next week's entertaining workshop, too! Sign up. Contact Jennifer Fiss with ideas. Supply fee request.

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).

Upper School

US Parent Forum

Monday, April 8, 8:15-9:15 am, Overseers Room
Get to know Director of Upper School Erin Hughes better; she will be joined by Assistant Head of School Beth Glascott.

Middle School

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

Full-Day Child Care: March 21 (No School)

The After-School Program offers age-appropriate full-day child care for Lower School students on non-instructional days for the convenience of parents. On Thursday, March 21, (Lower School parent conferences), 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 full-day child care contract. Please e-mail Kathy MacMurray with any questions.

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!

Quaker Elite Futures Program

Saturdays, March 23-May 4, 2-3 pm, Penn Charter campus
The goal of Quaker Elite Futures is to expose boys and girls born between 2011 and 2013 to the game of soccer in a fun and educational environment. Each session will include technical skills training by a member of the Quaker Elite coaching staff and small-sided games. The cost of the six-week program is $120. Details and registration at quakerelitesoccer.com.

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.

Lower School Squash Clinics

Tuesdays, April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21; 3:00-4:00 pm

Continuing our successful squash clinics, these sessions are suitable for any Lower School student, including those looking for their first taste of squash and those who already have experience through prior clinics, coaching or school. While the clinics are primarily aimed at grades 1-3, any interested fourth and fifth graders are also welcome to attend. Cost for the seven-session clinic is $190, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Clinics will be run by Director of Squash Damon Leedale-Brown, with assistance from some of our leading varsity squash players. Damon has experience at the very highest level of coaching and training in the sport and works with many of the top juniors in the U.S. For more details and to sign up, contact Damon Leedale-Brown. Please indicate your child's level of experience and grade.