East Falls School Committee

EFSC Back-to-School

2007-09-02T07:34:00.000-04:00

We'll get back in the swing of things on September 5th at 7:00. We'll be at the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Vaux and Midvale. We'll have some interesting updates for you including Mifflin's meeting "Adequate Yearly Progress" for the last school year, advancement of the International Baccalaureate curriculum, and the blending of Head Start and Bright Futures into a Montessori program.

Please email Jeff Friedman at friedman19129@mac.com with any questions.

Roxborough High School Principal Selection

2007-02-07T08:57:00.000-05:00

The Roxborough and East Falls School Committees are pleased to announce that we'll be holding a joint meeting Monday, Feb 12 at Roxborough High School at 7 p.m. Our guests will be Dr. Gilbert, Superintendent of the West Region, and Mr. Vallas, CEO of the Philadelphia School District.

The agenda for this meeting will include:

* Principal search strategies for Roxborough High
* Curriculum survey
* Positive info about Roxborough High
* Discuss transportation situation

Good things are happening, progress is being made. Please come out and be a part of the excitement!

Mifflin School Holiday Concert

2006-12-17T09:32:00.000-05:00

Principal Schmitt has invited the broader East Falls community to the 32nd annual Mifflin School holiday concert. All are welcome! Come out and see the audible results of Mifflin's excellent music program. The concert is Thursday, December 21st at 9:30 AM in the auditorium of the Mifflin School.

Lankenau High in Roxborough to become the "Masterman of the Northwest"

2006-12-03T09:47:00.000-05:00

District to expand school choice in Northwest

Area students would have three more options, including
a new magnet high school modeled on Center City's Masterman

by MICHAEL J. MISHAK
Chestnut Hill Local

The Philadelphia School District unveiled an ambitious school choice plan last week to expand its current high school roster from 38 to 66, adding 28 college-preparatory options by 2008.

Focused on small enrollments, the "Small Schools Transition Project" would create nine new magnet high schools, including two in Northwest Philadelphia. The district currently operates 12 prestigious magnets, whose students are drawn from a select pool based on academic performance, attendance and other criteria. Each has a unique program focus.

Lankenau Motivation High School in Upper Roxborough, formerly a satellite branch of Germantown High School, would be modeled after Center City's Julia R. Masterman High School, which claims some of the highest standardized test scorers in the state. With Lankenau in its first year as an independent school, the transition to magnet status is expected by 2008. Also, the school is scheduled for $12 million in renovations, including an overhaul of its main building and the construction of an addition.

Most Masterman students are considered mentally gifted, and the school reports that 100 percent of its senior class attends college.

Parkway Northwest High School, currently operating on the New Covenant campus in Mt. Airy, would operate as a "Peace Academy." Partnering with Arcadia University, the school would teach leadership through conflict resolution. The idea was spurred by the creation of the district's first military school, the Philadelphia Military Academy in West Oak Lane, which welcomed more than 150 freshman cadets last fall. The "Peace Academy" is slated for magnet status this year, said district spokesman Joe Lyons.

Both Lankenau and the Peace Academy are labeled "small," which means they are among 34 high schools projected to enroll about 400 students by 2008. According to district estimates, 15 high schools would have populations of about 800 with the remainder educating more than 1,000.

Under the small schools plan, area students could also apply for admission to the New Media Technology Charter School. Still searching for a permanent location, the school currently operates at 7800 Ogontz Ave. in West Oak Lane. In compliance with its charter, which the district approved this school year, the school must draw its students from Northwest Philadelphia. According to Lyons, the district expects enrollment to reach 600 in five years.

"The reality is there's a lot of parents who will not send their kids to Germantown [High School] and they're looking for alternatives," said Paul Vallas, the district's chief executive, in a phone interview last Wednesday. "We're not just creating options for those parents, we're creating options for all parents ... The key is expanded school choice."

Vallas insisted the district was not turning its back on Germantown High School, citing recent partnerships with both the city's police and fire departments in developing youth programs. Vallas vowed to expand the school's gifted programs, and said district officials are debating the possibility of a magnet program within Germantown.

Currently, 76 students from the 19118 ZIP code attend 15 Philadelphia public high schools, with Central and Masterman -- both magnets -- claiming nearly half the group.

Only two attend Germantown High School, which logged a 14.9 percent dropout rate in the 2002-2003 school year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The School Reform Commission was scheduled to vote this week on a $1.65 million plan to hire four outside educational firms -- ResulTech, SchoolWorks, Princeton Review and Kaplan -- to manage the transition of 11 high schools.

The district also plans to boost its middle-grade preparatory programs in elementary schools, Vallas said, in order to increase students' chances of admission to the highly selective magnets.

Three area elementary schools -- John S. Jenks, Henry H. Houston and Charles W. Henry -- will see extended-day gifted programs next year and extended-day summer school this year, Vallas said.

"If we're going to expand the number of high-caliber programs in high schools, we need to put the prep programs in the elementary schools to prepare the kids," he said.

Future district budgets, Vallas said, would show additional investments in gifted, accelerated and enrichment programs.

According to current district enrollment records, nearly 26 percent (131) of Jenks students (508 total) reside in the 19118 ZIP code. An additional 47 live within the 19119 ZIP code.

Ribbon Cutting at the Mifflin School

2006-11-22T15:55:00.000-05:00

Come and see East Fall's beautiful "new" school. There's going to be a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of Mifflin's multi-million dollar refurbishment project on the 12th of December at 10:00 AM. A new gym, renovated class rooms, and much, much more.

Open House at the Mifflin School in East Falls - Wednesday, November 8th

2006-11-04T08:02:00.000-05:00

There's going to be an open house at the Mifflin School on Wednesday, November 8th.

9:30 am - 10 am - "Coffee with the Principal"
10:00 am - 11:00 am – Tour of the Mifflin School

Please RSVP to the Mifflin School at (215) 951-4007 or the East Falls School Committee at efschoolcommittee@mac.com

Mifflin Back to School Night

2006-09-25T10:48:00.000-04:00

Back to School Night at the Mifflin School in East Falls is this Thursday - September 28th - from 5:30-7:30.

Bright Futures Slots Still Available!

2006-09-23T10:19:00.000-04:00

The Mifflin School in East Falls still has six slots open in its full-day Bright Futures progam; this is a preschool program that is academically rigorous, taught by certified teachers, and modeled on Head Start. The curriculum is directly aligned with the school district and Pennsylvania state standards.

The Bright Futures program is free and priority admission is given to all East Falls residents regardless of income. Priority will also be given to four-year-old students (your child must be four by September 1) but is also open to three-year-old children. If you are not an East Falls resident but are interested in applying for the program at Mifflin, fill out the registration form and write on the top that you would like to be considered for Mifflin's program.

For more information, please pick up a packet at the School District's Headquarters at 440 North Broad Street or call (215) 400-4270. Please note that registration is organized by the School District of Philadelphia's Office of Early Childhood Education and therefore not administered through Mifflin. If you have any additional questions, please contact me at friedman19129@mac.com.

Mifflin School Open House - May 10th

2006-04-26T19:31:00.000-04:00

If you're considering public school options, please come to the Mifflin School open house on May 10th to learn more about the high-quality public education at the Mifflin School.

What's happening at the Mifflin School?

* An energetic and visionary new principal
* $8 million refurbishment project
* Rising and competitive test scores
* Working towards International Baccalaureate accreditation
* The new Bright Futures program for all 3 and 4-year-old children
* A vibrant music program and after-school offerings
* A low teacher to student ratio
* Highly qualified and certified teaching staff
* Placement of students to District magnet schools

Open House Details

May 10th at the Mifflin School in East Falls - 3624 Conrad Street
9:00 am - 9:30 am - "Coffee with the Principal"
9:30 am - 10:00 am – Tour of the Mifflin School

Please RSVP to the Mifflin School at (215) 951-4007 or the East Falls School Committee at efschoolcommittee@mac.com

Mifflin School Opens its Doors to the Bright Futures Program Once Again

2006-04-20T21:37:00.000-04:00

Following its inaugural Bright Futures program this year, the Mifflin School is opening registration for prekindergarten children on Thursday, May 4 from 9-2 pm at the Leeds Middle School (100 East Mount Pleasant Avenue).

The Mifflin School has been selected once again to offer a new full-day Philadelphia School District preschool program that is academically rigorous, taught by certified teachers, and modeled on Head Start. The curriculum is directly aligned with the school district and the Pennsylvania state standards. "The program has given my daughter the language, reading and math skills that she will need for kindergarten. My husband and I are very pleased with the program," shares parent Jennifer Cleghorn.

The Bright Futures program is free and priority admission is given to all East Falls residents regardless of income. Priority will also be given to four-year-old students (your child must be four by September 1) but is also open to three-year-old children. If you are not an East Falls resident but are interested in applying for the program at Mifflin, fill out the registration form and write on the top that you would like to be considered for Mifflin's program.

Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis. The School District of Philadelphia urges parents to come early on May 4 due to the overwhelming response from parents for the current program. Any three-year-old children who are currently enrolled in the Bright Futures program do not need to reapply.

For more information, please pick up a packet in the Mifflin school office or call (215) 400-4270. Please note that registration is organized by the School District of Philadelphia's Office of Early Childhood Education and therefore will not be held at Mifflin.

Regional Preference Policy Article in the Public School Notebook

2006-03-17T09:12:00.000-05:00

Families in Center City Region gain priority in applying to schools within region next year.

Transfers within regions get preference, new policy says
By Paul Socolar
A controversial new policy on student transfers adopted by the School Reform Commission may make it easier next year for families in the District’s Center City Region to gain admission to any of the elementary schools in the region. A 3-2 SRC vote in February gave priority to pupil transfer requests that are within a region over transfers from outside. The vote left advocates for educational equity troubled that the District has not adequately addressed questions about who might lose access to Center City schools and whether the policy is fair to all regions. Center City has been the focus of discussion about the new transfer policy. The regional preference policy, as written, applies districtwide, but District officials say it will be implemented first in the Center City Region. It was strongly advocated by the Center City District, a community development corporation that was also influential in the District’s decision to create a Center City Region. In Philadelphia, students within a neighborhood school’s immediate catchment area are always guaranteed a seat. Under the old admissions policies, transfer applicants from the rest of the city competed on an equal footing for any remaining seats – normally through a lottery – no matter how far away they might live. The new policy states that the remaining seats at a school will go first to student transfers under the No Child Left Behind law’s school choice provisions. NCLB allows students to transfer out of certain schools that have been identified as needing improvement or persistently dangerous. Next in line for transfer slots are students transferring from other schools within the same region. Any remaining slots at schools will be open to students transferring from outside the region. Under School District desegregation guidelines, transfers are limited when they harm a school’s racial balance. In voting against the regional choice resolution, Commissioner Sandra Dungee Glenn argued that the District should first address the factors that are causing families from some regions to flock to other regions like Center City. Dungee Glenn said that until there is greater equity in educational quality among regions, it is unfair to narrow the options of families that feel they cannot find a good school option close to home. “We have some real disparities. There are many more of what I as a parent would consider good choices in some of our regions than in others,” Dungee Glenn explained. Len Rieser, co-director of the Education Law Center, who testified on the policy to the School Reform Commission, commented, “If we’re going to move to a system of regional choice, we need to look closely at the extent to which the regions offer equitable opportunities across the city, and that has not been done.” “No data was shared publicly until two days before the policy was adopted, and the data that was shared didn’t begin to address the issues this policy poses,” Rieser added. Defending the new transfer policy, CEO Paul Vallas pointed out that the Center City Region’s boundaries are broad and the population reflects that of the District as a whole. He cited a number of steps the District has taken to equalize resources between regions, including mandating extended day, accelerated and gifted programs in every school. He pointed to his administration’s commitment to providing quality options in every neighborhood by “mandating that each region have anywhere from three to six accelerated academies.” But a District chart on its “accelerated academies” – new magnet programs for K-8 students that are now being planned in over 40 schools – provided support for Dungee Glenn’s argument. While still more accelerated academies are to be identified, only one school has been identified for an academy in the Central Region in North Philadelphia, whereas the Center City Region has eight schools already named as accelerated academy sites. Dungee Glenn is pushing to amend the new transfer policy to couple it with a new commitment to equalization among the regions. The new transfer policy does not affect any students who are already enrolled, and sibling preference will continue to be offered in the transfer process. But some predict a significant change in enrollment at a few Center City elementary schools that now attract large numbers of transfer applications from across the city. At Greenfield School on 22nd and Chestnut, two-thirds of the students transfer in from other regions. At Meredith on 5th and Fitzwater, 47% of students are from outside the region. The Center City Region is the region with the highest overall percentage of K-8 students coming from outside it. District data show that 1,621 students in the Center City Region – more than one-third of its K-8 students – have transferred in from other regions. The data indicate that many of these students are transferring in from schools that have been chronically low-performing. Less than a tenth of the K-8 students in the region are transfers from elsewhere within the region. At the February 8 SRC meeting, proponents offered a variety of arguments for giving families within a region preference in transfers over those coming from outside:

• The president of the Center City District, Paul Levy, stressed the importance to Philadelphia’s viability of keeping the booming population of young professionals in Center City. He pointed to research projecting a 43 percent increase in the number of school-age children in Center City and predicted that with this new transfer policy providing a greater array of public school choices within Center City, “we’ll have a dramatic increase in parents who are choosing public schools.”

• Jeff Friedman, co-chair of the East Falls Schools Committee, suggested that the regional choice approach could provide a basis for building stronger school-community partnerships in every region. “Proximity between families, students and their schools fosters a sense of community and mutual accountability that is diminished if not eviscerated if students travel long distances to schools that their families never get to,” he noted. Friedman said that a model of structured partnerships involving businesses, communities and schools was emerging in Center City that should be replicated as part of a regional choice program in each region.

• Three McCall parents said that Center City preference would boost parental involvement at their Society Hill school. “We need parents that will show up to plant flowers, to control the chaotic playground and the newly erected jungle gym, to discuss how McCall will make AYP this year and every year after,” said parent Mary Jo Cannon. “We are convinced that if more local parents had a better chance of sending their children to McCall, the numbers of involved families would increase.” The neighborhood choice policy applies only to grades K-8, but CEO Vallas says he would support 25 percent regional set-asides at some of the District’s new high schools, though not at established special admissions schools such as Central and Masterman. “The regions want local set-asides, even for some of their new high schools,” Vallas stated. The Center City Region will see three new high schools with high-profile partners opening in the fall: one in partnership with the Franklin Institute, one with the National Constitution Center, and one (the Academy at Palumbo) with Central High School.

Contact editor Paul Socolar at 215-951-0330 x107 or pauls@thenotebook.org

www.thenotebook.org/editions/2006/spring/transfers04.htm

Mifflin's Capital Project Advances

2006-03-05T15:54:00.000-05:00

The $8 million dollar capital project is in full swing; a new gym is being built and numerous other interior improvements are being made. Exciting times in East Falls as the new Mifflin takes shape.

Regional Choice Policy Approved by SRC

2006-02-25T12:15:00.000-05:00

The School Reform Commission ("SRC") has approved a significant change to school entrance policy. Traditionally, children within the immediate catchment area of a school have received priority and thereafter, any available openings allocated on a Citywide basis. The new policy reaffirms the right of parents to send their children to their neighborhood school if they live within the catchment area, but now gives second priority to families living within a newly created "Center City Academic Region". The new Center City academic region includes all downtown neighborhoods, plus several adjacent communities in North and South Philadelphia. The new policy, promoted by the Center City District as part of the Center City Schools Initiative, will take effect immediately and will be implemented in all other academic regions in the City. The goal of this new policy is to strengthen neighborhood schools by enhancing the bonds between community and school, to improve educational choices for all families, and to encourage more middle-class families to use and support Philadelphia’s public schools.

The East Falls School Committee believes this important systemic change should be embraced and the District should establish a policy that provides families with access to quality schools for their children that are as close to their communities as possible. There are a variety of reasons why this is a good policy, including the fact that proximity between families, students, and their schools fosters a sense of partnership and mutual accountability that is diminished if not eviscerated when students travel long distances to schools that their families never visit. When children are sent to remote communities that are logistically difficult to reach, participation in scholastic and civic life is difficult if not impossible due to the distance between home and school. Not to mention, the District incurs significant annual expenditures moving children to schools beyond their communities.

Kindergarten at the Mifflin School in East Falls

2006-02-06T13:38:00.000-05:00

An Open House for Prospective Parents on February 15th from 9:30 to 10:30.

If you're considering public school options, please come to the Mifflin School open house on February 15th to learn more about the high-quality kindergarten at the Mifflin School.

What's happening at the Mifflin School?

* An energetic and visionary new principal
* $8 million refurbishment project
* Rising and competitive test scores
* Working towards International Baccalaureate accreditation
* The new Bright Futures program for all 3 and 4-year-old children
* A vibrant music program and after-school offerings
* A low teacher to student ratio
* Highly qualified and certified teaching staff
* Placement of students to District magnet schools such as Masterman and Central
* An involved and supportive East Falls community

Open House Details

February 15th at the Mifflin School in East Falls - 3624 Conrad Street
9:30 am - 10:30 am - Visitation with the Kindergarten Class

For more information, please call the Mifflin School at (215) 951-4007 or contact the East Falls School Committee at efschoolcommittee@mac.com

Mifflin Science Fair

2006-02-06T10:22:00.000-05:00

The Mifflin School Science Fair is a rolling visitation/voting.

All boards will be placed in the front hallway of the School's entrance on Conrad Street.

Guests are welcome to stop by and cast their votes between 9:30-11:30 on February 8, 9, 10.

February East Falls School Committee Meeting

2006-01-25T14:10:00.000-05:00

The East Falls School Committee's next meeting is on Wednesday, February 1st at 7:00 PM at the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Vaux and Midvale Streets in East Falls. Many things going on, all good. In particular, International Baccalaureate program implementation. For more info, please e-mail efschoolcommittee@mac.com

Mark Alan Hughes | BETTER SCHOOLS: THE REAL-ESTATE CONNECTION

2006-01-18T10:30:00.000-05:00

NO ONE moves to Philadelphia these days for our public education, and so we rarely think about the connection between houses and schools.

The suburbs are all about that connection. Middle-class suburbanites seek the best schools they can afford when buying a house. Meanwhile growing city neighborhoods occupy niches defined by the absence of schoolchildren: young professionals, empty-nesters, affluent families using private schools.

Under these conditions, an urban school district becomes a mission impossible: neglected by all but those who need it desperately. With the leadership of Paul Vallas and his team, we're now making the very best of a bad situation.

But without further change, the district can never be much more than just a better-run social-service system for children of last resort. To become a system of public education that serves families with alternatives as well as families with none, the district must reestablish the connection between schools and houses.

Parents make education decisions for their children by choosing specific schools, not whole districts. The tool that makes this work is the catchment area, a bounded area served by the school.

Until very recently, there was only one K-8 school that had a readily available catchment-area map: the Sadie Alexander School being co-sponsored by Penn in West Philadelphia. The school reestablished the connection between school quality and housing values in one neighborhood: prices in the catchment area have skyrocketed.

Catchment areas, because they create winners and losers, also create profound political problems. Penn endured those problems because it puts $1,000 a child into the school. For obvious financial reasons, there had to be a limit to that liability, and the catchment area functions as an honest accounting device.

Families make similar investments in schools: they volunteer, help govern, provide financial and in-kind assistance. Just like Penn, they need a way to limit their liability. Involved parents can do miraculous things to help other people's children at a single school, but there's a limit beyond that.

Without the political power of an institution like Penn, however, it's impossible to enforce devices like catchment areas that limit liability. I've heard horror stories about false addresses used to get ineligible kids into Center City's Greenfield School. Parents who try to enforce the catchment area are called racist.

Penn was, too, but it had the poise to endure and establish a fabulous school that is, in fact, predominantly African-American. Individual parents are more likely to give up and leave. The Center City District has a map showing the catchment areas for elementary schools in the new Center City Academic Region at www.centercityschools.com/enrollment.htm. Otherwise, such information, so basic to the choices normal families make everywhere but Philadelphia, is shockingly hard to come by.

My brother and sister-in-law have four young children and are considering a move to Philadelphia. They love diverse Mount Airy and hear great things about the Northwest Academic Region's leadership and the principal of the Henry School. But I can't find the catchment area of the Henry School in any public source, and I'm a decent researcher. Everyone says the same thing: contact the school or the district.

That's fine for some small town, but I think senior administrators have better things to do than confirm whether some house on Allens Lane goes to Henry or Houston.

If we're serious, we should make it easy to determine what school goes with any house in Philadelphia. Or is the truth we don't care whether people move here for public education?

Mark Alan Hughes is the Robert A. Fox Leadership Fellow at Penn.
http://www.mahughes.org/showarticles.cfm?artid=207

The Mifflin School Capital Program: Milestones and Time Line

2006-01-10T11:49:00.000-05:00

Phase I: (Ongoing - Completion target: 4/06)
* Includes the demolition of the existing library and the initiation of the construction of a new 7,000 square foot gymnasium with a connecting link in the existing school yard area
* Site drainage and new electrical service feeds.
* Existing infrastructure service work including electrical service upgrades.
* Two new kindergarten rooms are being created in the old gymnasium.

Phase II: (Start: 4/06 - Completion target: 7/06)
* Demolition of existing boilers and furnishing and installation of new.
* Window replacement in the existing addition.
* Glazing replacement in original building.
* Upgrades to existing classrooms and corridors throughout the entire building.
* Continued upgrades to mechanical and electrical services throughout.
* Continued construction of the new gymnasium.

Phase IIIA: (Start: 6/06 – Completion target: 7/06)
* Abatement of the entire attic area above the second floor.

Phase IIIB: (Start: 7/06 – Completion target: 10/06)
* Renovation of second floor classrooms including new science lab, computer lab and a new library.
* Continued upgrade of mechanical, electrical and sprinkler systems throughout and final installation of new boilers.
* Renovation of the existing Clock Tower.

Phase IV: (Start: 10/06 – Completion Target: 1/07)
* Completion of addition.
* Completion of all building finishes.
* Completion of all data services.
* Completion of all punch list items.
* Project Commissioning.

Phase V: (Start: Spring 07 – Completion target: Summer 07)
* Campus Park Initiative

A Town Meeting about Parental Involvement

2005-12-29T08:58:00.000-05:00

Children do better in school when their parents are actively engaged in their education. But what does “active engagement” mean? Come learn about the many ways Philadelphia parents are getting involved in their children’s education – at home, in school and in the community. Hear what new research says. Learn what the School District of Philadelphia, and other public and private schools, are doing. Share what works for you and your child.

This event will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the new headquarters of the School District of Philadelphia (440 North Broad Street). Paul Vallas, CEO, School District of Philadelphia, will be presenting along with other educators and parentsDinner provided will be provided as well as childcare (for children 3 years and older, must pre-register). Please RSVP by January 12: Phone 215-851-1718 or email event@gpuac.org

This event is sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia. Supported by a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at The Philadelphia Foundation. Additional support was provided by PECO (an Exelon Company), and Lincoln Benefits Group.

Next East Falls School Committee Meeting - January 4th at 7:00 PM

2005-12-22T16:11:00.000-05:00

The East Falls School Committee's next meeting is on Wednesday, January 4th at 7:00 PM at the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Vaux and Midvale Streets in EastFalls. We have a lot to talk about; we had a meeting last week with Paul Vallas, the construction project has begun, International Baccalaureate program implementation is about to commence, much more to discuss and work on.

Mifflin Happenings – By Terry Jann

2005-12-21T16:30:00.000-05:00

The school year has been off to a busy start at the Mifflin School. The School District has initiated new K-5 science and social studies curricula. Teachers and students have been busy academically with the new as well as the old core curriculum materials. Yet we still have time for many other interesting and enriching activities.

Students have had opportunities to experience many interesting activities beyond the school building. In September student representatives attended the National Constitution Day Celebration at Independence Mall. After all, Thomas Mifflin was not only the first Governor of Pennsylvania but also a signer of the Constitution. Through our partnership with Drexel University, students went to Drexel’s Dream Day where they attended a basketball game. Through the generosity of Cynthia Kishinchand and the East Falls Tree Tenders, students from grades second to fifth went to McMichael Park where they did tree-related activities with a representative from Bartram Gardens. In December, several classes went to the Philadelphia Zoo and even thought the weather was cold, they had a great time and tours, compliments of the zoo docents.

Verizon Reads very generously provided books and tee-shirts to our second grade students. Representative Jewell Williams very kindly provided 50 book bags filled with school supplies. Drexel medical students visit classes on a weekly basis to provide health-related lessons. Students from Penn work with Mifflin’s older students. All of these programs provide opportunities for our students to interact with excellent role models.

A wonderful holiday concert will take place with musical entertainment provide by our very talented students grades k-8 under the direction of Ms. Highsmith, choral and bells, and Mr. Webb instrumental. This is always a wonderful treat for all who attend.

When the bell rings at 3:24, it doesn’t necessarily mean the day is over for everyone. There are several different after school programs at Mifflin. Drexel University’s Center for Violence Prevention has provided a grant for academic and enrichment programs for students. In addition, there is the School District’s Power Hour Academic Program for literacy and math and the Hunting Park City Stars after school program.

We are very proud that Mifflin made Adequate Yearly Progress as determined by the No Child Left Behind Act for two consecutive years. The school was recognized at a reception hosted by the school district. We will endeavor to make it three years by working hard this year to surpass our previous achievements. We were also one of only forty-two schools recognized as a best practices school. This recognition happened at a second reception hosted by the school district. We are proud of our students and staff for all their hard work.

Finally, after many meetings and much discussion, the renovations have begun. First has come the demolition of the library to make way for the new gym. While the new gym will be wonderful and we will have a new library it was still a little sad to see the old one torn down. Much learning and many happy events happened there and many memories were made.

Mifflin is Honored by the School District of Philadelphia

2005-12-19T14:12:00.000-05:00

The Mifflin School is a “Best Practices School”, meaning that it met Pennsylvania No Child Left Behind achievement standards and realized significant academic improvement over a three-year period. Mifflin made “Adequate Yearly Progress” during school years 2002-2003 through 2004-2005. Mifflin also realized significant three-year achievement growth relative to other District schools serving students/communities with similar characteristics (see press release).

Mifflin School Holiday Concert

2005-12-18T22:45:00.000-05:00

Principal Schmitt has invited the broader East Falls community to the 31st annual Mifflin School holiday concert. All are welcome! Come out and see the audible results of Mifflin's excellent music program. The concert is Wednesday, December 21st at 9:30 AM in the auditorium of the Mifflin School.

Mifflin's Multi-Million Dollar Capital Project Begins

2005-12-18T13:43:00.000-05:00

When completed, there's going to be a new gym and countless interior improvements that will enhance learning for the students and provide staff with a more pleasant workplace environment. After two years and millions of dollars, the Mifflin School will be reborn. These shots are from the exterior of the building and depict debris from where the library used to stand in addition to the administrative "offices" of the project overseers, some of the heavy equipment getting the job done, and a few other "perspective" photos. When cleared away, a new gym will rise. The library is being relocated to more spacious and high tech quarters in the part of the building that fronts Conrad Street, over the main entrance.

An Open House for Prospective Parents on December 8th

2005-11-16T12:50:00.000-05:00

If you're considering public school options, please come to the Mifflin School open house on December 8th to learn more about the high-quality public education at the Mifflin School.

What's happening at the Mifflin School?

* An energetic and visionary new principal
* $8 million refurbishment project
* Rising and competitive test scores
* Working towards International Baccalaureate accreditation
* The new Bright Futures program for all 3 and 4-year-old children
* A vibrant music program and after-school offerings
* A low teacher to student ratio
* Highly qualified and certified teaching staff
* Placement of students to District magnet schools such as Masterman and Central

Open House Details

December 8th at the Mifflin School in East Falls - 3624 Conrad Street
9:00 am - 9:30 am - "Coffee with the Principal"
9:30 am - 10:30 am – Tour of the Mifflin School

Please RSVP to the Mifflin School at (215) 951-4007 or the East Falls School Committee at efschoolcommittee@mac.com

Philadelphia Cares Day at Mifflin a Success

2005-11-03T08:13:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, October 22nd community volunteers spent the day at Mifflin painting fun murals in the bathrooms, and cleaning and freshening up the school's interior and exterior while having a great time. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make Philadelphia Cares Day at Mifflin a big success!

Allyssa Schmitt: East Falls and the Mifflin School get a Wonderful New Principal

2005-10-27T22:17:00.000-04:00

East Falls heartily welcomes Ms. Allyssa Schmitt as the new principal of the Mifflin School. Prior to beginning her tenure at Mifflin, Principal Schmitt was a teacher in the Pittsburgh Public School System for fourteen years. Principal Schmitt has had a multitude of urban teaching and administrative experiences in Pittsburgh and is thrilled to be collaborating with the East Falls community. Ms. Schmitt has an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and received her Master of Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Ms. Schmitt sees being a principal in a large urban school district as one of the most challenging yet rewarding jobs possible. Principal Schmitt sees the principal as the school’s Chief Executive Officer, responsible for managing day-to-day operations, leading and motivating the instruction and professional growth of staff, and enforcing rules, rewards, and consequences to shape student behavior. She believes that all community and school stakeholders must work together to develop a culture conducive to learning and it is the principal’s primary role to create the environment in which this can occur. In working with her over the last few months, the East Falls School Committee has found Principal Schmitt to be hard-working, flexible, dedicated, and extremely responsive and communicative. The East Falls School Committee looks forward to a long and productive relationship between Principal Schmitt, her leadership team, and the broader East Falls community as we work to make Mifflin the best grammar school in the City.

Eighth graders and parents to check out choices at High School Expo

2005-10-18T10:16:00.000-04:00

The Philadelphia School District is sponsoring an "extravaganza" of high school choice on October 30 (Saturday) at its High School Expo. The event, will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, halls A and B, 12th and Arch Streets. It's a great way for current eighth graders in public, private, parochial and charter schools to find out about the broad range of high schools and high school programs in the Philadelphia public schools. The expo is especially important because current eighth graders who plan to attend a District high school in September must submit a High School Admissions Form to the District by November 19.

October 5th Meeting

2005-10-03T10:12:00.000-04:00

The East Falls School Committee will reconvene on October 5th at 7:00 PM. We'll be meeting at our usual location at the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Vaux and Midvale in East Falls. We'll be talking about goal setting for the 2005-2006 school year, how to advance International Baccalaureate certification, and other exciting developments for the Mifflin School. Please come and join us; the more support we have, the more we'll accomplish.

EFSC in the Business Journal

2005-09-12T15:59:00.000-04:00

An excerpt from a Philadelphia Business Journal article about East Falls:

"Another vital item East Falls has sought is a public school where parents actually want to send their kids. "The issue for young married couples is can they use the public school," Gillespie said. The East Falls School Committee hopes to change this, too. With a new principal and an $8 million infusion for capital refurbishment, the future looks bright, especially since Mifflin School was recently selected to work toward International Baccalaureate feeder school accreditation. If accomplished, it would transform Mifflin into a neighborhood institution with magnet school academic quality."

Terry Jann Begins Her 36th Year at Thomas Mifflin School

2005-09-06T15:23:00.000-04:00

Republished with permission from the Fallser:

No one knows Thomas Mifflin School better than Terry Jann. An alumna of Ethan Allen School, Lincoln High School, Community College, and Pennsylvania State University, she has entered many a classroom as a student, a teacher, and, currently, a School Based Teacher Leader. Living in Center City during her first teaching assignment in North Philadelphia, she craved greenery. “I came to Mifflin because there were trees,” she recently noted.

In the 1970s Ms. Jann taught first, second and fourth grades, putting her Bachelor of Education degree to immediate good use. As programs changed, so did Ms. Jann. She moved from being a fulltime classroom teacher to a woman wearing many hats. “I learned to be flexible,” she quipped. New programs, Title I funding, standardized testing, “No Child Left Behind,” and five different principals in the past 35 years, mean her institutional memory and an ability to juggle old and new tasks help keep Mifflin humming along.

Her current title is School Based Teacher Leader, so she spends time in classrooms assisting with the math curriculum. As testing coordinator, Ms. Jann is responsible for the distrubution, pickup and delivery of tests for the 265 student body. Bench Marks, which are reading and math tests administered to grades 3-8 every 6 weeks, evaluate how students are doing compared to their peers in the School District. Then there is Terra Nova in the spring, a national test for grades 1-8. Finally, as well as the “No Child Left Behind” PSSA, a yardstick for grades 5-8. Throughout the school year Ms. Jann orders materials ranging from texts to pencils to Macintosh computers.

When the School District conducts staff development training, Ms. Jann attends the sessions then does “turn around training” at Mifflin. Since she is also the liaison with local community organizations and institutions such as East Falls Tree Tenders, Medical College of Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia University she links the projects with the faculty. Probably not last, and certainly not least, she writes grants for programs to enrich the curricula.

In looking back over the past 10 years, Ms. Jann finds “the advances in computer technology amazing.” Students can go to the computer lab and immerse themselves in “First in Math” or Study Island. Both are online programs that can be accessed from any computer. Using the MACS the games modes for reading and math help the students improve their skills in these subjects. For the faculty Schoolnet provides detailed testing results which give them the opportunity to track and compare students individually and collectively. Therefore, according to Ms. Jann, they can see the students’ strengths and weaknesses and where they need to improve.

This September Ms. Jann will meet and greet new Principal, Allyssa Schmitt, a new head secretary, the start of the eight million dollar capital refurbishment, International Baccalaureate accreditation, and the raison d’etre for the school, the students. Yes, Ms. Jann is right: “Mifflin, always an adventure.”

Proposed Quantitative Performance Measurement to Gauge School/Community Connectivity

2005-08-27T12:55:00.000-04:00

Currently, no quantitiative metric gauges connectivity between a Philadelphia public neighborhood school and its catchment area, the community[ies] in which it sits and ostensibly serves. School/community connectivity is important for a variety of reasons, including a school’s potential to be an educational, social, and recreational community center. Further, connectivity is important in that taxpayers with children are essentially customers (potential or actual) of their local school; these taxpayers/customers are justified in their expectation that the local school will actively seek out their “business” (e.g., sending their children to the school) and work to keep it over the long-term.

One measure of school/community connectivity is to track the percentage of eligible students attending a catchment area’s school. Initial measurements could serve as a baseline against which to gauge future progress/regress. Percentage metrics could be developed for the entire catchment area as well as sub-catchment areas. A more refined sub-catchment measurement would reveal how well a school’s student attraction/retention efforts are working in smaller subsets of a community/catchment area. If the percentage of eligible students from the catchment or sub-catchment area decreases over a period of time, strategies should be developed and implemented to reverse the trend. Relatedly, if sub-catchment areas are lower to being with, strategies to address particular attraction/retention issues could be developed. Creating this metric would be possible using GIS mapping and demographic data.

Note: The responsibility to establish and maintain connectivity (and maintain/increase student attraction/retention percentages) is shared among the School District, the local school’s leadership team, and the broader community. However, the School District – as the entity charged with administering the school system – must be responsible for creating the paradigm and supporting policies to establish school/community connectivity and student attraction from the catchment area as an important component of its mission.

September 7th Meeting

2005-08-19T21:32:00.000-04:00

After taking a Summer break during July and August, the East Falls School Committee will reconvene on September 7th at 7:00 PM. We'll be meeting at our usual location at the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Vaux and Midvale in East Falls. This year promises to be our most exciting and productive, as there are so many major initiatives and changes (all positive!) moving forward. There's a new Principal, an $8 million capital refurbishment project about to begin and a march towards academic excellence and International Baccalaureate accreditation. Please come and join us; the more support we have, the more we'll accomplish.

Mifflin School Working Towards International Baccalaureate Accreditation

2005-08-18T20:57:00.000-04:00

Thanks to a visionary School District CEO, a School Reform Commission with high standards, the East Falls School Committee's advocacy, the support of other community organizations, and individual efforts by many of us, the Mifflin School in East Falls has been selected to work towards International Baccalaureate feeder school accreditation. Check out the attached press release for more info.

The International Baccalaureate program for middle school aged students is academically rigorous and would transform Mifflin into a neighborhood institution with magnet school academic quality. The IB program stresses a holistic approach to learning through six main themes: who we are; where we are in place and time; how we express ourselves; how the world works; how we organize ourselves; and, sharing the planet. Core subject areas include: languages (including foreign language instruction), mathematics, social studies, science and technology, arts, and personal, social and physical education. For more background, check out the International Baccalaureate Program's website.

New Pre-School Program at Mifflin

2005-08-15T18:53:00.000-04:00

The early registration period has ended but there are still a few open positions left in the Mifflin School's new Bright Futures preschool program. The Bright Futures program is free and priority admission is given to all East Falls residents regardless of income. Priority will also be given to four-year-old students (your child must be four by September 1) but is also open to three-year-old children. If you are not an East Falls resident but are interested in applying for the program at Mifflin, you can still fill out the registration form and write on the top that you would like to be considered for Mifflin’s program.

For more information, please call (215) 351-7200. Do not call Mifflin directly as it is not open during the summer months. For more info, please check out this link.

Note: There has been tremendous response to this new offering and the program is now full. However, interested parents should still inquire about openings and put themselves on the program's waiting list.