thevine Philip’s Education Partners
Pio
neer
Spring 2015
ing 21st Centur y Education
First: Joseph Spence and friends listen in on a tour at Concord Academy. Second: Ms. Shamair Todman, Director of Placement with Titilayo Odedele, Class of 2011 at Milton Academy. Third: Junius Williams, Class of 2011, speaking to students at Phillip’s Academy Andover about his acceptance to Harvard University. Fourth: Philip’s Academy students asking questions on a tour at Harvard University
The Road to Boarding School By Joseph Spence, 8th Grade The placement process for 8th graders applying to secondary schools has been overwhelming this fall and winter, but at the same time, it has been an exciting experience. Prior to the application process, I spent quite some time narrowing down the list of schools I hoped to attend with Ms. Todman, director of placement, and my family. My list came down to Mercersburg, St. Andrew’s, and Concord Academy, to name a few. The process started off slowly with the completion of the application. All was right with my world as I handed the application to my mother and thought my part was over. Boy, was I wrong! First came the nerve wracking interviews that made the tension so thick only a steak
knife could cut through it. I knew these interviews would be the first impression I made to schools. Sweaty palms, weak knees, and heavy arms would best describe my physical state before every interview. Once these sessions were over, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief that I had survived, and perhaps even succeeded. I was one step closer to boarding school! In addition to handwritten applications, I also had to schedule school visits that caused me to miss classes. Thankfully, Philip’s Academy stepped in and arranged both Skype and phone interviews for me as well as scheduled the standardized tests I’d need to take to complete my applications. It was a relief to know that I could depend on the school to offer such support and guidance.
So here I find myself in March…it’s decision time and in coming days I’ll receive acceptance letters (I hope) or possibly The-Letter-Which-Shall-Not-BeNamed, a rejection (I hope not)! This is the most agonizing part of the placement process: the wait! Whatever happens, I know that the overwhelming obstacles I faced during the placement process will be worth it, especially if I open that big manila envelope to find an acceptance letter. I look forward to holding such a letter from Mercersburg, St. Andrews, Concord and other amazing schools. Post Publication Update: Stay tuned to our Facebook page for news of Joseph’s acceptances!
Philip’s Education Partners • 342 Central Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103 • 973.624.1164 • http://www.philipsed.org
Thank you to all of our sponsors, Trustees and donors for their support of the Dream Maker Gala on February 28th, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency, Jersey City. Your support helped Philip’s Education
Dear Friends, What an exciting time to be a charter school, as we embark on expanding our mission to an even greater number of children. Philip’s Education Partners (PEP) has launched its growth model in earnest. While the Philip’s approach to education, which has been honed and proven over a quarter century, will remain intact, we are evolving into a network of charter schools all supported by a strong charter management organization. The immediate goals will be opening the first of three Philip’s Academy Charter Schools in Paterson in 2016 and establishing a
Partners raise more than $150,000 to support the children of Newark.
pre-kindergarten program at our original site in Newark and at each new school in our growing network. By the fall of 2018 we plan to open an additional school in Newark. All of this will allow us to create a financial model that takes advantage of economies of scale to drastically reduce our reliance on private funding. With expansion plans in the works, we find it most critical not to lose sight of our own unique model within the charter landscape. While we agree that standardized assessments can be invaluable tools for addressing student needs and capacities, our current educational model has always “delivered” on such measures. Our students excel in part because we’ve never narrowed our curriculum by “teaching to the test.” Our goals and dreams for our students are more ambitious. Education requires a complex and harmonious blending of a vast array of academic, social and emotional skills with particular attention to building a strong ethical framework.
Children need to have a moral component to their education. They need to develop judgment, reasoning and even wisdom. They need to develop their analytical abilities and become creative, collaborative problem solvers. Students need to be able to imagine, wonder and be original. Our schools will demonstrate through their educational programs, their institutional practices, and overall cultures how students learn and best develop to lead purposeful and constructive lives that benefit society. Please join us in our belief that despite the obstacles, we can deliver this rich and comprehensive education to any population.
Thensia & Hakim Hernandez
Students from Philip’s Academy
Andrew & Yeshima Walker
Sam Abbott & Brigita Bercyte
Warm Regards,
Miguel Cardona and Miguel Brito Left: Melanie & Tom Augello Below: Jody Waker, Karen Dmytriw, Kathleen Sullivan
Miguel J. Brito CEO, PEP
We want to thank our generous 2015 Dream Maker Gala sponsors
Maryellen & Rob Wallauer and Catkin Flowers
Nancy & Jon Yourkoski and Marc & Jen Gonyea
David Farrand
Below: Mark & Chelsea Berler
Edward San Giacomo, Erin & Tim Carroll
Jared Gardner & Gabrielle Wyatt, James Solomon & Gaby Ramos
the
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