The Notebook

The latest on South Philly High.

In summer program, students learn about building community

Submitted by Courtney Sackey on Thu, 08/09/2012 - 15:40 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

"AAU! How y'all feelin?" shouted student teacher Wei Chen.

"Fantastic! Terrific! Great! All Day Long!" his students respond.

Behind closed doors, SRC has kept a busy agenda

Submitted by Benjamin Herold on Tue, 11/08/2011 - 19:25 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

by Benjamin Herold
for the Notebook and WHYY/NewsWorks

On March 17, 2010, 18 people showed up at the School Reform Commission’s public session to decry the District’s handling of a daylong series of attacks on Asian students at South Philadelphia High three months earlier.

Before the public comment period began, then-Chairman Robert Archie read a prepared statement. After the students and their supporters testified, former Commissioner Johnny Irizarry asked a few questions. And that was as far as the SRC would go in publicly sharing their thoughts on the episode.

Eagles running back brings anti-violence program to South Philly High

Submitted by Avi Wolfman-Arent on Tue, 10/25/2011 - 15:26 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

In his ongoing effort to curb violence at South Philadelphia High School, Principal Otis Hackney brought in a little star power Tuesday.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Ronnie Brown, in conjunction with Eagles Youth Partnership and Power 99 FM, stopped by South Philly High to share his “23 Ways to Stop Youth Violence” program with the full student body.

Ackerman's tenure in Philadelphia: 2008-11 key events

by Erika Owens Posted in October 2011 Edition | Permalink

Summer 2008 Arlene Ackerman joins the Philadelphia School District as CEO. She brings with her leadership experience in D.C., San Francisco, and Seattle. Ackerman was selected from among three finalists for the position.
Spring 2009 Ackerman unveils her five-year strategic plan, Imagine 2014. The School Reform Commission approves the plan with an estimated first-year budget of $126 million.

District 'taking seriously' commission report on intergroup conflict

Submitted by Dale Mezzacappa on Tue, 03/01/2011 - 18:30 Posted in Latest news | Permalink

District officials are "taking very seriously" a report from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations finding that it lacks the policies and procedures to prevent and counteract widespread intergroup conflict in city schools.

The report, drawn from 11 public hearings on school violence triggered by December, 2009 incidents at South Philadelphia High School, was officially released at a City Hall press conference Tuesday.

Asian Student Association works to improve race relations

by Raquel Ronzone Posted in February 2011 Edition | Permalink

More than a year after the racial violence at South Philadelphia High School, the Asian Students Association of Philadelphia is not slowing down.

The organization, which formed after the 2009 attacks, has traveled to Houston and Washington, D.C., for student conferences and rallied for increased education about diversity and stronger measures to prevent student harassment.

Shades of 2002

Posted in February 2011 Edition | Permalink

At South Philadelphia High School, staff members were in tears when they heard the news on January 25 that the school was being named a Promise Academy – albeit the "Innovation" version, where much of the staff could remain. The announcement portends more upheaval for a school that had started to stabilize under new leadership after the violence and chaos of a year ago. Suddenly, teachers who have spent the year working toward creating a more supportive school culture have been thrust back into uncertainty, forced to reapply for their positions.

An alarming move at S. Philadelphia High

Submitted by Helen Gym on Fri, 01/28/2011 - 18:30 | Permalink

The decision to name South Philadelphia High School a Promise Academy is an alarming move for a school community that deserved to go through at least one year without dramatic upheaval and chaos.

Southern arguably started its own turnaround process this past fall – one that was community-driven, supported by new school leadership, and backed by both federal and state agreements about addressing repeated civil rights violations against Asian immigrant youth. Otis Hackney, the school’s principal, had called on his staff to work with him to create a radically different school culture, a school culture that by all accounts has improved immensely.

The naming of South Philadelphia High School as a Renaissance School sends a bewildering message to everyone involved that the school isn’t on the right path after all and that it is the District, not the school, that holds all the right answers.

S. Philly High agreement could have districtwide impact

by Dale Mezzacappa Posted in January 2011 NEWSFLASH | Permalink

The impact of the legal settlement mandating that the School District take steps to counter anti-Asian violence at South Philadelphia High School will be felt in other schools across the city, according to officials, advocates and others involved in hammering out the agreement.

Although not required to, the District is being strongly encouraged to adopt policies and practices in all schools that are designed to prevent ethnic harassment and bullying, not just react to it.

In a written statement, Superintendent Arlene Ackerman said it will.