As community schools gear up to release their school plans, coordinators have already been expanding opportunities and services at their schools. Over the past few months, community schools coordinators have been able to:
- Raise $1500 for school library renovations –Urban Hope Church and The Curtis Institute of Music hosted a benefit concert on Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service
- Partner with Mural Arts– An artist will begin working with Cramp students and community members on a mural this month.
- Provide healthy eating workshops to expecting and parenting teens– Through a partnership between Eat.Right.Now and ELECT
- Connect students to apprenticeship opportunities – Dobbins partnered with the Steam Fitters union to expose students to the apprenticeship program that guarantees a 2,000-hour work year at $20/hour.
- Bring fresh fruits and vegetables to the school community – through a partnership with The Common Market, Logan now hosts monthly farmers markets in the school yard.
- Make it safer for students getting to and from school – The community schools team convened the Philadelphia Police, a School District of Philadelphia liaison, and City Human Resources manager to address crossing guard vacancies. As a result of this meeting, crossing guards were hired to support Logan Elementary School.
- Promote childhood literacy – In partnership with Senator Haywood and Councilwoman Parker, Edmonds hosted readings with students to promote literacy on Read Across America Day
- Provide male mentorship opportunities – The community school coordinator piloted an in-school mentorship program with Otis Hackney, the Chief Education Officer for the city, which will expand as new mentors sign up.
- Feed the whole school – Gideon’s “backpack program” provides 5lbs of food to all students and their families at Gideon elementary. Thanks to this partnership, all 300 students at Gideon receive a backpack of food at the end of each month.
- Provide afterschool activities and exercise- Philadelphia Youth Basketball provides after-school basketball workshops to students
- Provide clothing for students in need – The community school coordinator launched a clothing closet that provides gently used clothes for free to those in need.
- Identify internship opportunities for students- The community schools team facilitated a group interview for students applying for Survey Technology Internships. Six students from community schools were selected for the prestigious program. Learn more about the Survey Technology Internship program.
- Provide free, on-site physicals for student athletes- in partnership with the Health Department
- Create more mentorship opportunities- thanks to partnerships with the Nichole Canuso Dance Company and Drexel Medical Latino Student Association.
- Bring a food pantry into the community– In partnership with FAWN, the food pantry program of Turning Points for Children, Tilden will soon launch a refrigerated food pantry and will begin implementing a Food and Wellness Center.
- Keep students warm- The community schools coordinator ran a winter clothing drive which collected coats, gloves, hats, and other accessories to be distributed to students and community members in need.
- Encourage students to graduate on-time – KHSA students pledged to their families and friends to graduate in four years at the first annual pinning ceremony.
- Help students apply for apprenticeships- The community schools team helped students apply for a carpenters apprenticeship. They will take the apprenticeship exam on March 18.