Talk show host and education reporter Dom Giordano features CPS in recent stories!

In early December teacher-turned-talk show host Dom Giordano visited Community Partnership School to meet with Eric Jones for an inside look at our unique education model. Dom was so inspired by the good work going on at Community Partnership School that he talked about CPS towards the end of his segment on Inside Story on channel 6 AND he highlighted CPS as his ‘feel good story of the year’ in the Philly.com article ‘Looking at us in the review mirror.’ In the article Dom shares,

“The feel-good story of the year that I haven’t written yet involved my visit to the Community Partnership School, in North Philly. This school is a nonprofit, nonsectarian, independent elementary school giving kids a top-notch education, near Norris Street in one of the five most-distressed ZIP codes in America.

The poverty level in the 19121 ZIP code is 79.9 percent higher than the Philadelphia average and 323 percent greater than the Pennsylvania average. Yet they routinely educate kids so well that they are accepted at places like Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, The Haverford School and many other prominent middle schools. On my visit, I saw very engaged students, volunteers and teachers. For more information about the school and to consider donating or volunteering go to www.cpsphilly.org.” 

We encourage the entire CPS community to tune into Dom’s radio show on WPHT 1210-AM weekdays from 9AM to 12 noon.

Stay tuned for Dom’s future article about CPS!

CPS Winter Concert 2013

On Friday, December 20th families, supporters and staff gathered in the auditorium of the Honickman Learning Center for CPS’ annual winter concert.

 The theme of this year’s concert was The Tree That Would Not Die, which was based on the story of the Austin Treaty Oak by Ellen Levine. You might be asking, “Why was the winter concert about a tree?” At CPS, all of our families celebrate the season in different ways so our winter concert is always different too.  Last year we honored Philadelphia’s Murals and on Friday, our school community came together to honor the life of a tree.

Not any old tree, but an ancient tree that started to grow on this continent before people came from across the sea to settle this land.  A tree whose roots remember the trampling of the earth when the buffalo roamed free and all that happened after that. Our students presented pieces from the time periods they have studied this fall.

We hope you enjoy this video of the 2013 Winter Concert!

Paul Robeson: Unplugged, an educational and entertaining evening to remember!

On Saturday, November 23rd over 175 members of the CPS family gathered at Germantown Academy for an incredible evening of entertainment at Community Partnership School’s fall fundraising event, Paul Robeson: Unplugged. The evening commenced with a VIP cocktail reception in the Pavilion of the main building at Germantown Academy, followed by an hour long musical and narrative tribute to Paul Robeson, performed by Broadway Actor Quentin Earl Darrington. 

CPS students opened the show with a “re-mastered” version of the Brady Bunch theme song in which they told the story of how Quentin came to get involved with CPS and thanked him for coming back to perform that night. 

CPS students before their opening performance!!

Quentin captivated the audience as soon as he entered the auditorium, his large voice booming as he walked towards the stage from the back of the theatre. Quentin’s narrative tribute to Paul Robeson highlighted milestones in Robeson’s life including his acceptance to Rutgers University in 1915 making him the 3rd African American student, his famed role as the first African American to play Othello with a white supporting cast on Broadway from 1939-1945, and his unfortunate blacklisting from literature and television following a petition to the United Nations in the 1950s.

As Eric Jones, Head of School, shared, “Although his political advocacy precipitated an intense government and public backlash, Robeson never deserted his convictions. As an artist and citizen, through his unwavering courage and compelling talent, he touched many people and helped illuminate the humanity of people of African descent the world over.” 

For many, the highlight of the evening was the performance of Robeson’s trademark song, “Ol’ Man River” by Quentin and CPS students at the conclusion of the event.   

Special thanks to Quentin Earl Darrington for bringing Robeson to life for us that evening–it was certainly an evening to remember! We are also grateful to all of our generous supporters who sponsored the event: 

• Presenting Sponsor – The Charitas Foundation
• “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” – Lynn & Chris Gadsden, Jocelyn & John Hillman, The Lily Foundation
• “Ol Man River” – Drexel University, The Honickman Foundation, Reino’s Design Print Mail, Ted & Laurel Stack, Jeffrey Sultanik & Judith Clyman
• “Go Down Moses” – Altus Partners, Inc., Ann & Mark Baiada, Binswanger Realty, Dunleavy & Associates, George Feuer & Linda Hahn, The Henderson Family & Henderson Energy Consulting, Quin, Cameron, Kelly & Mark Korman, The Lomax Family Foundation, Philadelphia Phillies, Margie & Andy Rooke, Mrs. Ronald Stewart, Anne & Charles Wilmerding 

Click here to see additional photos from the event!

Happy Thanksgiving from the CPS family!

There are so many things to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Here are the top 5 things we’re thankful for this year:

1. Our incredible students. Each day they inspire us, humor us, and remind us what is most important–we’re preparing them for futures as bright as they are.
2. An amazing staff. Did you know they put together the Thanksgiving feast you see below? Everyone pitched in to help with different aspects of the meal. From the turkey to the stuffing to the pumpkin pie, our teachers and staff made it a meal to remember!
3. Our generous donors. Their support enables us to run the day-to-day operations of the school. Are the lights on in the classrooms? Check. Have the staff been paid? Check. Does the van have gas for field trips? Check.
4. Dedicated volunteers.  Whether they come to CPS for 4 hours a week to help in a classroom, help chop vegetables for the Vetri Eatiquette program, or serve as a mentor to our alumni every single volunteer helps us carry out our mission. These individuals donate the only commodity you can’t get more of–time.
5. Our inspiring community partners. From Temple Dental to the Vetri Foundation for Children to the Abington Friends School, each partnership provides our students with a unique experience and to inspire them to pursue new areas of interest.

We wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

Click here to see photos from our Thanksgiving Feast at CPS on Tuesday.

Team CPS raises over $18,000 for Community Partnership School!

Thanks to 16 determined runners and their 244 generous donors Team CPS raised over $18,000 for Community Partnership School through the 2013 Philadelphia Marathon!!!

We are so grateful to the following runners who ran the Philadelphia Marathon, Half Marathon, or Rothman 8k last weekend on behalf of Community Partnership School:

• Holly Bailey – Marathon
  

  Team CPS runners Kim, Crystalrae and Holly before the race!

• Sue Yee Chen – Rothmans 8k
• Charles De Villaines – Half Marathon
• Sandy Geyelin – Half Marathon
• Deanie Hoxter – Half Marathon
• Erin Hoyes – Rothman 8k
• Anders Hulleberg – Half Marathon
• Sidney Jacobs – Half Marathon
• Jessica Lamay – Half Marathon
• Michael Marino – Half Marathon
• Jessica Muhl – Half Marathon
• Divya Narayan – Half Marathon
• Felipe Ossa – Half Marathon
• Thorben Scheidegger – Half Marathon
• Crystalrae States – Half Marathon
• Kim Wienches – Marathon

To help the runners ‘carb up’ before the Marathon, Half Marathon and 8K, the Young Friends of Community Partnership School hosted a Pasta Party for the Team on Friday, November 15th. Runners enjoyed baked penne in a vodka sauce, baked rigatoni with chicken and spinach, salad and garlic bread! Yum!

Team CPS and Young Friends of CPS at the Pasta Party

On Sunday several members of the CPS family came out to cheer on Team CPS runners during the Marathon and Half Marathon. Check out one of signs a supporter made:

Please join us in recognizing the outstanding efforts of our 16 runners at a special Team CPS awards happy hour on Wednesday, December 4 from 5:30-7:30 at Stella Rossa. For additional information about the happy hour on 12/4, be sure to join the event on Facebook.

Students enjoy our new fresh fruits and vegetables snack program!

Over the last month dedicated volunteers piloted a successful fresh fruits and vegetables snack program at Community Partnership School! Through the new program, students enjoy snacks like celery and ranch dressing, carrots and cheese sticks, grapes and cheddar cheese, clementines and most recently, broccoli and ranch dressing. 

First graders eating healthy snacks this week. They loved the broccoli and ranch dressing and can’t wait for more veggies!

How does the program work?

1. Once a week two volunteers provide fresh fruits or vegetables for the students. Volunteers provide snacks like those listed above.
2. Snacks are delivered to the classrooms by 9 am. Snacks can be packaged at home the night before, or down in the Honickman Learning Center kitchen at CPS that morning.
3. We’re looking for 8 volunteers to provide snacks once a month.
4. Volunteers may sign up to bring in snacks on a day when they are already volunteering at CPS, or to drop the snacks off early one morning.

We are so grateful to many of our dedicated classroom volunteers who have already signed up to help with the new snack program! Thank you for continually supporting CPS students!

If you’re interested in volunteering for the fresh fruits and vegetables snack program contact Brittany Alba at b.alba@cpsphilly.org

CPS students visit the Morris House Hotel for a harvest festival

Pre-K through 3^rd grade students have been studying autumn themes such as harvest, changing seasons, pumpkins and apples, and when the Morris House Hotel and Restaurant invited us to a harvest festival, we jumped with excitement! To prepare for the trip, 1^st and 3^rd grade students worked together to design CPS-spirited T-Shirts for the scarecrows. Students wrote slogans such as “CPS Rocks”, “CPS is the best” and “I Love CPS” on their shirts.

This morning Pre-K through 3^rd graders travelled downtown to the Morris Hotel. Ms. Brittany, the event coordinator at the Morris Hotel, started by giving us a glimpse of their garden, which they use to grow herbs and vegetables they use in the restaurant. Then, students were divided into mixed-grade groups and created scarecrows! This was a new experience for everyone, including teachers. Students worked together to design their scarecrow’s face, dress it, and stuff it with hay. The scarecrows were dressed in the CPS-themed shirts and were displayed around the hotel’s garden. Students also made delicious treats. They stuffed plastic gloves with candy corn and popcorn, and were excited to play with their popcorn hands!

The students had an unforgettable experience at the Morris House Hotel and Restaurant. We are so thankful for their hospitality and can’t wait to go back!

-Ms. Estrella, First grade teacher

Heather Mitts Returns to CPS

Heather Mitts is a celebrity favorite at CPS. The three time Gold Medalist joined our community meeting and shared about her experiences as an athlete and her Gold Medal journey. Heather spoke on the importance of hard work and perseverance which led to her reaching her goals. She then visited a few classrooms to answer some more questions and to say hello. A special “thank you” to Heather for visiting CPS as well as Athletes for Hope for arranging the visit. We hope to see Heather again soon!

Sporting Gold Medals

Designing a Gold Medal

Spending time with 1st grade

CPS remembers the life & legacy of Dr. Walter P. Lomax, Jr.

Community Partnership School celebrates the life of Dr. Walter P. Lomax, Jr. – physician, entrepreneur, philanthropist – who passed away on Thursday, October 10th.

Dr. Lomax and his wife Beverly have only been connected with CPS for a little over a year, but in that relatively short amount of time, their involvement has been inspiring. We will miss Dr. Lomax but we celebrate his legacy with his family and friends throughout the Delaware Valley and beyond.

Last September, Dr. and Mrs. Lomax joined us at our fall fundraiser, “A Song for you Lena….”

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For detail regarding the life and accomplishments of this extraordinary man, we suggest reading this Philadelphia Magazine article, “What Philadelphia lost when it lost Dr. Walter P. Lomax Jr.”

-Eric Jones, Head of School

Supply Drive

The Pennridge High School Girls’ Volleyball Team organized a drive to collect school supplies for Community Partnership School. A freshman on the team approached her coach and CPS gym teacher, Crystalrae States, wanting to know how they could help CPS students.The team worked with Pennridge’s Booster Club and distributed flyers at the school. Look at the pictures to see what they brought in!

“I am so humbled that these girls took it upon themselves to reach out to others in a different community to help because they felt it was important. It is refreshing to see that young people will take the initiative to help others. I am so proud of my volleyball team!”, commented Coach States.

The team collected…

12,500 sheets of paper
Lysol Wipes
Craft Felt Paper
Book Covers
Pencil Boxes
Crayons
Construction Paper
Sharpies
Notebooks
Folders
Colored Pencils
Post Its
Scissors
Ziplocks
Soap
Tissues
Hand Sanitizer
Pens

2013 Pennridge Lady Ram Volleyball Team

Vanessa organizing materials

Look at all those school supplies!

Happy CPS Teachers!