For Students
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NEWS FROM THE NOTEBOOK
Lorene Cary: A reading life
by Benjamin Herold
The morning newspaper. A collection of African-American short stories. A book about teachers' unions. Yesterday's mail.
The stacks on Lorene Cary's dining room table hint at how thoroughly reading is woven into her everyday life.
"Reading nourishes me," says the celebrated writer, educator. and member of the School Reform Commission.
"I need it to be alive and growing."
For a week in March, Cary shared details and reflections on her reading life with the Notebook/NewsWorks. Not surprisingly, she reads a lot, mostly nonfiction. She also reads actively, constantly looking for meaning and connections.
The Notebook * April 2012
Experts about food
by Connie Langland
Lisa Hantman’s 3rd grade classroom in McCall Elementary School in the Society Hill neighborhood gives away her passions: math, science, and service learning.
On a recent breezy afternoon, Hantman unveiled to the class the project that they would be studying over several weeks — how much does it cost to feed a family of four for a year.
Using PowerPoint, Hantman delivered a short lesson, asking students to recall what they had already learned about basic food groups and nutrition, how to add up the cost of food for one day, one week, one year; and how the scientific method works. She reminds them that 45,000 people visit soup kitchens in the city each week.
The Notebook * April 2012
NEWS FROM THE NATION AND REGION
Obama to meet with Center City high school's seniors
By Valerie Russ
At first, Douglas Wallace, a senior at the Science Leadership Academy, thought it was a prank when he heard President Obama plans to meet with the school’s graduating seniors when he comes to the Franklin Institute for a fundraiser on June 12.
“We were very excited,” Wallace, 18, said of hearing the news from Frederic Bertley, the vice president of science and innovation at the Franklin Institute.
“The way he [Bertley] told us, he started off saying, ‘Guys, we have some bad news, graduation has been moved’ [from June 12 to June 11].”
Philly.com * May 16, 2012
I Got Lucky’: From Boilers to Dartmouth
By Jim Dywer
Chris Navas needed a course that met at the right time in the evening and would not interfere with his day job, which was building boilers, or his daily obsession, which was building his body. That was a little over three years ago. He was making good money at a factory in Maspeth, Queens, forming new boilers from sheet steel as if it were clay, rolling it, shaping it, cutting it. He visited the gym fervently. His class work at Queens College was fitted into patches of time around boilers and barbells.
New York Times * May 16, 2012
College debt a ticking time bomb — or two, or three
By Philadelphia Daily News
First things first: Congress should extend the current 3.4 percent interest rate on student loans now. If it doesn’t act by July 1, the rate will double to 6.8 percent and the average student borrower will owe $1,000 more each year.
Senate Republicans say they support the rate reduction signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007, but they blocked full consideration of a Democratic-sponsored bill earlier this month. The legislation proposed to offset the $6 billion cost by closing a tax loophole that allows rich individuals to reduce their taxes by filing as corporations.
Philly.com * May 16, 2012
Stories of interest to students
More like this
No diploma, no job
by Benjamin Herold Posted in February 2012 Edition | Permalink
'I Want to Be Working': As part of our comprehensive coverage of dropouts and jobs, the Notebook and WHYY's NewsWorks have created a multimedia package of materials for our readers and listeners. Listen to Monica Reyes's story in Benjamin Herold's radio report for WHYY. View a slideshow, infographics, and additional reporting. Check out the hour-long discussion of Philadelphia's dropout crisis on WHYY's Radio Times. And join us this Wednesday at Johnny Brenda's to share your perspective.
Like almost 14 million other Americans, Monica Reyes is looking for work.
"Macy's, Walmart, Kmart, Sears, Friday's, Outback," said Reyes, ticking off her list of recent unsuccessful job applications.
A sluggish economy has made finding work difficult for people from all walks of life. Nationally, the unemployment rate is still above 8 percent. Four people compete for every job.
Few of them will have a tougher time finding work than Reyes.
Comments (7)
SRC hears urgency, skepticism on Great Schools Compact
Submitted by Benjamin Herold on Mon, 03/12/2012 - 15:11 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
by Benjamin Herold
for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks
Philadelphia’s new Great Schools Compact lays out an ambitious goal: replace or transform 50,000 seats in low-performing schools with better options.
But will the Compact include a push to close low-performing charter schools and help successful District-managed schools flourish? Or will it function solely to accelerate existing efforts to close District-run schools and expand the city’s burgeoning charter sector?
Those were the biggest questions on the table during a lively discussion Monday night attended by about 100 people before the School Reform Commission’s “choice, rightsizing, and turnaround” committee.
Comments (47)
E-mentoring program aims to reduce dropout rate among Black males
Submitted by thenotebook on Thu, 02/23/2012 - 16:00 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
by Samantha Byles
With the dropout rate among African American and Latino male students slow to improve, many people ask how one can keep these students engaged in their education.
“The best way I think is to look for things that interest them,” said Anthony Martin, the founder of What it Takes (WIT), a Philadelphia-based e-mentoring program aimed specifically at connecting at-risk Black male students with successful Black men.
Add Comment
West Philadelphia nonprofit opens 12th public school library
Submitted by thenotebook on Wed, 03/07/2012 - 14:22 Posted in Latest news | Permalink
by Samantha Coggin
Last summer Heston Elementary School Principal Icilyn Wilson-Greene received a phone call from the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePac) about an opportunity to restore the school’s library.
It was a welcome call because a large and growing number of Philadelphia public elementary school students don’t have access to a school library or a certified school librarian, and Heston was struggling to keep its own library doors open.
Comments (1)
District on-time graduation rate surpasses 60 percent
by Paul Socolar Posted in February 2012 Edition | Permalink
The School District's on-time graduation rate climbed 3 percentage points last year to 61 percent, the first time in memory that more than six of ten Philadelphia students have graduated on time. That figure is the percentage of students who entered 9th grade in fall 2007 and finished high school by 2011.
Comments (12)
CHOOSING A HIGH SCHOOL
- Philadelphia High School Directory 2010
Lists neighborhood, charter, and special admissions schools. Also includes information about academic, specialty, and athletic programs, a sample high school application, and tips for parents, guardians, and students on getting through high school. See also, The Notebook's Fall Guide. - Transferring from one school to another in Philadelphia
Students inside and outside the District can obtain information about transferring to a different school in the city.
RESOURCES FOR STAYING ON TRACK TO GRADUATION
- Step Up to College
Provided by Philadelphia Futures, this guide helps students prepare for college and plan professional careers. Includes information on financial aid and the college application and admissions process. Philadelphia Futures prepares students from low-income families to enter and succeed in college by providing mentoring, academic enrichment, college guidance, and financial incentives. - White-Williams Scholars
Supports high achieving Philadelphia public high school students of limited financial means to fulfill their potential by providing stipends and academic assistance. - College.gov
A portal for students and parents to obtain information about the pathways to college. - Finding the Right College
Conduct a nationwide search for the college or university that is right for you. Search based on location, programs, tuition, distance learning, evening courses and more.
FEATURED LINK
- ACLU Student Rights Manual
Provides information on student rights in areas including expression, religion, and privacy. You can download a copy of the manual.
ORGANIZATIONS OF INTEREST
- Philadelphia Student Union
Promotes equality in education in the public school system. A youth-led organization, it maintains chapters at six schools. - Youth United for Change
Develops young leaders and helps improve their quality of education. Organizes members through chapters in neighborhood public schools. - Philadelphia Education Fund
Works to improve the quality of education for underserved youth in Philadelphia. - Education Law Center
Advocates for poor children, children of color, children with disabilities, English language learners, kids in foster homes and institutions, and others. - Research for Action
Through research and evaluation seeks to improve the education opportunities and outcomes of urban youth by enriching the civic and community dialogue about public education. - Public Citizens for Children and Youth
Works to improve the lives of all children, including those who are homeless and abused, receiving inadequate health care, and whose parents are being taken off welfare. - Good Schools Pennsylvania
Informs citizens and public officials about the educational needs of Pennsylvania's children, the components of effective education (including accountability), and the consequences of an inadequate education. - Project U-turn
A citywide campaign that focuses on Philadelphia’s solving the city’s dropout crisis through targeted strategies and investments. - Philadelphia Youth Network
A catalyst for collective action that brings individuals, organizations, and systems together to improve the quality of life for the city’s youth. - FairTest: National Center for Fair and Open Testing
Advances quality education and equal opportunity by promoting fair, open, valid and educationally beneficial evaluations of students, teachers and schools. Also works to end the misuse and flaws of testing practices that impede those goals. - U.S. Department of Education
This extensive site includes resources and data on student achievement and on federal efforts to ensure equal access to high-quality education.
STUDENT CONDUCT
- Code of Student Conduct
Outlines the School District of Philadelphia’s policies for creating and maintaining a safe learning environment for its students. Addresses the acceptable behavioral standards for all students. - Suspension and Expulsion Policy
Outlines the rules by which Philadelphia public school students can be suspended or expelled from school. - ACLU Student Rights Manual
Provides information on student rights in areas including expression, religion, and privacy. You can download a copy of the manual.
JOB AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
- Government Jobs for Students
A one-stop portal for high school students to view federal government jobs. - How to Obtain Working Papers
Instructions on how to secure working papers, if needed. You can download the forms. - Greater Philadelphia Cares
Strengthens communities through volunteer service. Learn how to volunteer your time, talents, and resources. - Other Volunteer Opportunities
Learn about ways to volunteer at home and around the world.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID
- Federal Student Aid
The nation’s largest source of student aid, federal dollars in the form of grants, loans, and work-study programs are available to all eligible students pursuing post-secondary education. - Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
One of the largest full-service financial aid organizations in the nation. Includes the Keystone family of student loan programs. The Keystone loans offer lower loan fees. - Philadelphia Scholars Program
Promotes college access and success through the awarding of “Last Dollar Scholarships” to graduates of 22 public neighborhood high schools across Philadelphia. - United Negro College Fund
Administers more than 300 scholarship, fellowship, and institutional grants that support students at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. - National Merit Scholarship Program
An academic competition open to all students who take the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year - National Achievement Scholarship Program
Recognizes outstanding achievement by African American high school students. - Gates Millennium Scholarships
Initially funded by a $1 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. - UNCF Program Services Scholarships
A list of scholarship programs throughout the country. - College Scholarships.com
A list of scholarships of varying amounts and for various degrees of study. - Coca Cola Scholars Foundation
Awards two year- and four-year scholarships to high school seniors. - Discover Scholarship Program
Awards open to high school juniors to be used toward any type of post-high school education or training, certification, licensing, two- or four-year trade and technical education, or four-year college degree. - Tips on Winning Scholarships
Find out what makes a highly successful scholarship winner. - Sallie Mae
Nation’s leading provider of student loans and administrator of college savings plans. Find information on planning and preparing for college, how to pay for it, and managing your loans after graduation.
SELF-IMPROVEMENT RESOURCES
- HBCU Empower Me Tour
Actor and best-selling author Hill Harper travels the country to talk to minority middle school, high school, and college students about education, mentoring, and volunteerism as tools for achieving life goals. - Free Library of Philadelphia
Exercise your freedom to be informed and check out activities and programs of interest to you. - Study Skills
Pick up useful study methods to ace exams and boost your grades. - Philadelphia Department of Recreation
Learn about programs at neighborhood recreation centers that foster learning and physical growth. - The New York Times Learning Network
A mix of activities for students, parents, and teachers that promote learning. Read news stories about the latest kid book craze, view the “Word of the Day,” or take a daily news quiz.
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