Layout 1-10 - Chestnut Hill Local

Thursday, August 30, 2012
ChESTNuT hILL LOCAL
Page 9
Nor wood-Fontbonne Academy facilitates students’ transition
back to school with mini “socials” and “sneak peaks”
T
he two weeks leading up to
the September 5th start of
school at NFA include
much in the way of preparation for
the upcoming year. This year, NFA
is introducing an array of “welcome” social events to help children celebrate and anticipate their
new school year. The events provide a relaxed forum for which to
meet new friends in a particular
grade level, see classroom spaces,
share dreams and goals, establish
expectations, and help to alleviate
any possible anxieties as students
prepare to move up a grade. From
celebrating being a Keen Kinder, to
a Fabulous Fourth Grader, Sensational Sevy (7th Grader) and finally the Great Eights (8th graders),
these events are open to the students allowing them to ask questions and get acclimated as they
embark upon their new journey.
On, August 29, NFA’s Office of
Admissions along with the Head of
School and school staff, will welcome all new families for a “Social”
to be held in the Fontbonne Campus courtyard, weather permitting.
The event will feature light
refreshments as new families are
provided the opportunity to meet
NFA staff, parents, students and
other new families.
Rising “Keen Kindergartners,” Kanielle Rice (left), Owen Helenski (back center)
and Lila Forti share a water ice at their pizza party social in the kindergarten
classroom where they will learn and grow over the next year. Also pictured back
right is parent, Mrs. Jennifer Forti
First time in Chestnut Hill!
Ballroom and Latin
Dance for Children,
Teens, & Adults
Bonjour !
A L’ECOLE
FRANCAISE
want the juice?
it’s in the Local
Contact Alina (215) 280-7159
to subscribe call 215.248.8813
afiorella777@gmail.com
Where You Will Love Your
French Classes and Amaze Yourself!
WoodmereArtMuseum
DIAGON ALLEY
STRAWALL
F
MAZE FAMIL!Y
SEPT 14–OCT 28
FUN
Run the giant straw maze and enjoy
flashlight tours, seek and find, art-making,
Harry Potter Weekend, and much more!
Join us for the opening celebration,
Friday, September 14, 6–8 p.m.
Free family activities on select weekends.
Visit woodmereartmuseum.org for additional details.
MAZE HOURS
FRI 6–8 p.m.
SAT 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
SUN 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
9201 Germantown Avenue
215-247-0476
610.660.9645 • alecolefrancaise.com
Page 10
ChESTNuT hILL LOCAL
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Back to School
Open the box and out comes an opera at PMFS
C
hildren’s Opera Box at Plymouth
Meeting Friends School. This
November,
Plymouth
Meeting
Friends School (PMFS) students will join
with Children’s Opera Box to perform an
abridged version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute
in the school’s auditorium. This family opera
is led by PMFS music teacher Paula RiveraDantagnan who is also a professional opera
singer and who builds opera into the music
program at PMFS. This performance is just
right for all ages, and runs for about an hour.
Tickets will be on sale from the school office
later in the fall.
The Magic Flute will be the second collaboration between Children’s Opera Box and
PMFS. Last year, twenty PMFS students sang
and acted along with the Opera Box company in an abridged version of Hansel and Gretel. Children’s Opera Box is an educational
opera company that was created to bring
opera to young audiences and their families.
Paula Rivera-Dantagnan started the company two and a half years ago, and it has presented assemblies and performed in public,
private, and parochial schools throughout the
Delaware Valley. Rivera-Dantagnan sings
professionally with The Philadelphia Opera
Company and The Philadelphia Singers in
addition to teaching music to PMFS’s pre-k
through second grade students. She says her
hope is that, with the help of her company,
she will build the audience for opera by
demonstrating that opera is both accessible
and entertaining for children as well as for
adults.
And how does Children’s Opera Box
engage its young audiences? Using their box
of props and costumes, members of the company stage fun and participatory assemblies
that demonstrate what opera is, how it’s performed, and the kinds of voices and singing it
includes. Pulling wigs, swords, stuffed animals, hats, crowns, and flowers from the
opera box, the company’s performers and student volunteers, plucked from the audience,
show how a story is told in singing.
To participate in the opera children have
Students perform “The Magic Flute” for the Chilto have a minimum of three classes with the dren’s Opera Box.
opera company.
At Plymouth Meeting
Friends School the opera class is taught by
Rivera–Dantagnan and is offered as part of
the school’s after school program. It runs for
eight sessions. During that time children
learn about the opera that will be performed
and also receive vocal and musical training as
well as acting instruction. They rehearse
their parts as part of the class, and then go on
stage with the seven to eight adult members
of the Children’s Opera Box company. The
students’ enthusiastic performances add
excitement to the show, and PMFS Interim
Head of School Sarah Sweeney-Denham
says, “PMFS has wonderful musical traditions
that include every student. We also have
opportunities for more in-depth experiences
with performance and theater including the
fourth grade circus, the sixth grade musical,
and the annual instrumental concert. The
opera provides a new chance to shine, particularly for the younger members of our school
community.” Plymouth Meeting Friends
School is a 3-year- old through sixth grade
Quaker school located at the intersection of
Germantown and Butler Pikes in Plymouth
Meeting, Pa. For more information about the
school, visit its website at www.pmfs1780.org
or call 610-828-2288.
Academics + Arts + Athletics
It’s rare to find a school that cultivates intellectual, artistic and
athletic depth equally well. The combination of the three A’s —
academics, arts, athletics — and the decision-making values of a
Quaker education creates an experience uniquely Penn Charter. This
interplay leads to strong, creative and resilient young people ready to
embrace, and even create, new opportunities.
FYUtXXXQFOODIBSUFSDPN
OPEN HOUSES
SATURDAY
TUESDAY
TUESDAY
A Friends School for Girls & Boys,
Pre-K to Grade 12
Oct. 13, 2012 | 2 p.m.
Nov. 13, 2012 | 8:30 a.m.
April 30, 2013* | 8:30 a.m.
*grades pre-K through 8 only
Thursday, August 30, 2012
ChESTNuT hILL LOCAL
Page 11
Back to School
Mount Saint Joseph Academy announces scholarship recipients for the incoming class of 2016
M
ount Saint Joseph Academy hosted its annual President’s
Scholars
Reception recognizing the incoming scholarship recipients for the
Class of 2016. MSJA President,
Sister Kathleen Brabson, SSJ,
along with other members of the
Administration, Admission Office,
Faculty and Staff, offered congratulations and welcomed the students
and their parents to the reception,
which featured performances by
the Mount’s Choral groups, including voice and piano scholars from
the upper grades.
MSJA President, Sister Kathleen
Brabson, SSJ, expressed her delight
as she warmly welcomed the scholarship recipients in her remarks.
She added, “I personally challenge
you to participate in all the Mount
has to offer. Know that our happiest and most passionate students
are the girls who invest themselves
early and form alliances with students and faculty.”
Mount Saint Joseph Academy
will hold its annual Open House
on Sunday, October 21, 2012, from
12 Noon to 3 PM. The Scholarship/Entrance Exam for the Class
of 2017 will be held on Saturday,
November 3, 2012 from 8:30 AM
to 11:30 AM.
Congratulations to the following incoming freshmen from the class of 2016 who received scholarships to attend Mount Saint Joseph Academy: Seated from left:
Maria Brewster, Saint Cecilia,Voice Scholarship; Kylie Ford, Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, Academic Scholarship; Kailey Ann Karabin, Mary, Mother of the Redeemer,
Art Scholarship; Madeline Lauinger, Norwood-Fontbonne, Mother St.John Fournier Scholarship; Sarah Hansell, Norwood-Fontbonne, Piano Scholarship; Gabrielle
Good, Immaculate Conception, Academic Scholarship; Laurie Metzler, St. Catherine of Siena, Academic Scholarship; Shannon Hughes, St. Genevieve, National Service
Scholarship Standing from left: Mary Buckley, Ancillae-Assumpta, Academic Scholarship; Marta Lawler, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Academic Scholarship; Dana Sargent,
Penn Christian, Academic Scholarship; Arianna Ferguson, Penn Christian, Mother St.John Fournier Scholarship; Maria Thomas, Springfield, Instrumental Scholarship;
Taylor Grey, Keith Valley Middle School, Academic Scholarship; Abigail Aita, St. Andrew, Academic Scholarship; Caitlyn Hagan, St. Catherine of Siena, Academic Scholarship; Alison McMullena, St. Philip Neri, Alumnae Scholarship (Not pictured: Sarah Haurin, St. Jude, Academic Scholarship) Mount Saint Joseph Academy, a private
secondary school for young women founded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph, has been educating founders since 1858.The Mount is located in Flourtown, Pennsylvania,
just outside of Philadelphia.
$ Save $ Subscribe to the Local
OMC
Our Mother of Consolation Parish School
Founded 1862
Catholic Values and Academic Excellence in a Parish School Setting
Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence in Catholic Education
Call to RSVP for an upcoming Observation Morning
Fri Oct 12 ͻ Tue Nov 13 ͻ Fri Dec 14
ϭϳĂƐƚŚĞƐƚŶƵƚ,ŝůůǀĞŶƵĞͻWŚŝůĂĚĞůƉŚŝĂ͕Wϭϵϭϭϴ
ƐĐŚŽŽů͘ŽŵĐƉĂƌŝƐŚ͘ĐŽŵͻϮϭϱ-247-1060
Where learning and growing
happen at a higher level.
)DOO2SHQ+RXVHV
S 2FWREHUDQG1RYHPEHU
$4XDNHU,QGHSHQGHQW'D\6FKRROIRU*UDGHV.
31 West Coulter Street, Philadelphia, PA
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Page 12
ChESTNuT hILL LOCAL
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Back to School
OMC is a Gold Mine
by Dr. Amy Giddings
G
rowing up in the Midwest,
you either went to your
neighborhood
public
school or the Catholic school.
There were no admission processes,
school visits, etc. Needless to say,
our parents thought we were crazy
when my husband and I starting
talking about finding the right
school for our children and comparing academic reputations, test
scores, extracurricular activities,
sports, facilities, and tuition costs.
It took some time before we
finally sat down and thought about
what WE wanted in a school for
our children. We wanted a school
with a safe and loving environment, small class sizes, and a culture of family involvement. Our
goals for our children are that 1)
they are kind, honest, respectful,
New Project Learn School parents, Yasemin and Afia, discuss their families' excitement over the coming school year at the and compassionate people, 2) they
school's recent Ice Cream Social.
enthusiastically work hard and
understand the value of their
efforts, and 3) they are able to discover their unique gifts and recognize the diverse gifts of others. We
feel confident that in working
towards these goals, our children
will be successful academically,
Recycle Us!
Germantown Academy announces the formation of formal Chinese Programs designed
to educate adults and children in the communities surrounding GA about the culture and
language of China. The 2012-13 slate of Chinese Programs is outlined below. These
classes run a full academic year and take place at Germantown Academy in Fort
Washington, PA. They are taught by excellent teachers who have experience with all
levels of proficiency. Registration is online only.
Children's Chinese Class (PreK-5th Grade)
The course is designed to teach children whose first language is English. This course will provide opportunities to learn about Chinese language, culture and history. Chinese Beginner, I & II classes
could be formed, as the classes will be grouped according to the student's Chinese proficiency.
Adult Chinese Class
The course will provide an introduction of China and the daily use of Chinese, as well as Pinyin, will be
the primary focus. The introduction of how to communicate in Chinese will also be covered.
SAT II Chinese Class
This course is designed to help improve students' Chinese language proficiency with the goal of passing the SAT Chinese test. Students must be at YCT Level 3 or equivalent to take this class.
www.germantownacademy.net/community/ga-chinese-programs
Classes begin September 15 - go online to see the class dates and times, and to register today!
GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
340 MORRIS ROAD • FORT WASHINGTON, PA • 19034
athletically, socially, and spiritually.
While we both have day jobs (a
professor and an engineer), we are
coaches at heart (having coached
hundreds of high school rowers
over the past 13 years). The goals
we defined are a culmination of our
own values and our experiences
working with these athletes. The
athletes who are happiest and most
successful in life are those that did
not live in high pressure situations
focused solely on academic success.
We saw that exceptional people
were those whose families were
highly involved and present in
their children’s lives and more
often than not were actively
involved in their religious communities as well.
Additionally, as a college professor at Drexel University, I see on a
daily basis that the most employable students are those that have
met these goals – treating others
with respect, communicating well,
demonstrating a capacity to work
hard, etc. These students get jobs
well before a student with only a
high GPA. But, then again, most
students with those critical skills
have high academic achievement
as well.
Fast forward to our visit to OMC
two years ago. With our own
Catholic school background, we
knew we valued a faith-based education but we hadn’t yet selected a
school. So, with our goals in mind,
we were anxious to hear what
would be discussed.
• “The school has an excellent
academic record”… This pleased
all the other parents there, of
course, and we were happy to note
it, but it wasn’t going to sell the
school to us.
• “Many students receive scholarships to some of the best high
schools”… OK, great, but still not
our motivation.
• “The teachers require a lot of
the students and will do what it
takes to make sure every student
can succeed”… Now they were
starting to talk our language.
• “There is a code of courtesy for
all of the students in the school
and all of the kids really work hard
to be awarded for their efforts in
embodying this code”… PERFECT!
• “We are a small, parish school
and
have
a
culture
of
home/school/church
working
together to develop our students,
lots of extracurricular opportunities
for students to become involved,
strong art and music programs,
CYO sports”… SOLD!
At some point during our tour,
my husband and I both became
very quiet. We both knew this
school was a gold mine. We just
weren’t sure who was going to say it
first!
Our children started at OMC
last Fall in Pre-K and Kindergarten
and we could not be happier. Each
day we find 10 more reasons why
we love this wonderful place. A
gold mine indeed!
Get Local.
Subscribe to the
Chestnut Hill Local.
Call 215-248-8813
Today.
8434 Germantown Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19118