Academy at Palumbo Newsletter – Week of March 12, 2018

Posted on March 15, 2018
Categories: News

Academy at Palumbo Newsletter

Week of March 12, 2018
Griffin Pride: Nothing Less Than Success!

It’s scholarship season! Take some time to apply for a few or many.
Plenty of new scholarship opportunities have been added this week! 

Weekly Updates

CONGRATULATIONS to Kevin Simpson for being named Office Depot’s Senior of the Month! Kevin was nominated by Mr. K and Ms. Young. He will be awarded with a $500 check at the SRC meeting on Thursday.

WEDNESDAY 3/14/18
Interim Reports due. Be sure grades are updated in the SIS. 

  • Student protest – 10:00 am – Please refer to email  sent by me on 3/5/18 and the SDP message to parents for guidance regarding nationwide student protest on gun laws.

FRIDAY 3/16/18
Professional Development – 12:35 pm in the library. If you would like anything to be added to the agenda please email Ms. Bond by COB Monday.

March 14 Protests

This is Ms. Thompson with an important announcement for parents regarding March 14. As you all may be aware, on March 14th students from all across the nation are planning to walk out of school for 17 minutes in solidarity with the Florida students involved in the horrific shooting and in support of improved gun laws. Principals please designate safe areas for your students.  After 17 minutes all students are expected to return to their school building.

It is our hope that students who chose not to join the events remain inside the building and we will resume a normal schedlue. 

In the event that our students choose to particpate in the events, and even if they choose to continue to exercise their right of peaceful protest by joining other events in the city, the school staff will not be forcing students back into the building. Staff members will be monitoring the perimeter of the building to ensure student safety. 

I urge you to have serious conversations with your children about standing up for their beliefs while respecting the rights of others. This generation of students may be the ones who will bring about much needed change, and as adults we want to support them and listen to thier voices. As families we’re asking that you bear the responsibilty of where you stand on current issues and lead your child accordingly. Thank you. 

Parent & Family Portal
We are excited to announce that the new Parent & Family Portal is live!

You can now log on to access up-to date information about your child’s attendance, schedule, grades and more. To log in to your current account or to set up a new account, go to www.philasd.org/pfportal.

Contact FACE at ask@philasd.org or 215-400-4000 for help with logging in or using your Parent & Family Portal account.

Arts Department
Check out the Art Department’s fundraising page and consider donating!! If unable to donate, share the page on your social media outlets. Thanks.

#weCANdothis
 Academy at Palumbo Art Department 2018

School Musical

If you would like to support the musical by purchasing tickets or donating, please contact Mr. Jordan or Justin McDaniel at jmcdan@sas.upenn.edu.

Home and School Association
The Home and School Association needs your support! This year we are making an effort to raise money for several school projects including a fund to help students pay for field trips, the hiring of homework tutors, university/college admissions advisors, and SAT preparation specialists, special funds for student clubs and after school activities, and school repair and beautification projects. If you would like to donate to the HSA and support the Academy at Palumbo, you will also receive receipts for tax deduction purposes for your donation. To donate through PayPal, just go to your account (if you don’t have one, it takes less than a minute or two to set one up online through their website) and make your donations to: palumbogriffinshsa@yahoo.com

Student Activities and Clubs
Find a list of school clubs and activities offered here.

Student News

Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4

Sports

See the online schedule here.

Programs and Resources

Philly Tutors Math Tutoring at Blues Babe
One-on-one or small group tutoring sessions will run Thursdays 3:30 – 6PM, March 15 to June 7 at Blues Babe Foundation (2233 N Broad St). Learn more and register here.

Temple University Pre-College Summer Programs
High school students are eligible to apply for a variety of programs and courses taking place on Temple’s campus this summer. Opportunities include music and dance programs, earning academic credit, architecture and environmental design, engineering and more! Apply by March 18 for the Summer Academy to have the $55 application fee waived. Learn more here

WesGold Fellows Internship Program (deadline April 30)
Current juniors and seniors at Philadelphia high schools are eligible to apply for this internship. There is no cost and the program will run from June 25 – August 17, 2018.

“The WesGold Fellows is a paid eight (8) week summer internship for high school rising juniors and seniors. This program aims to provide students with an intimate view and understanding of multiple components of financial education, college planning, personal and career development. WesGold Fellows is all-encompassing and empowers interns through various avenues: classroom instruction, guest lectures, and field trips to name a few.”
Learn more and apply here.

Penn High School Programs (deadlines May 1)
“Penn delivers the challenge of an Ivy League curriculum to academically talented high school students seeking a pre-collegiate experience. Explore Penn’s historic campus, engage with leading faculty and build intellectual connections within accelerated two, three or six week Penn Summer High School Programs.” High school students of all years are eligible to apply. Financial aid is available. Learn more about the different programs here

Opera Philadelphia’s Backstage Pass
“This February Opera Philadelphia is launching a new career-based initiative focusing on the careers available behind the scenes. This program is geared towards 11th graders, but is open to all high schools students.

Backstage Pass is a FREE program that will give your high school students an overview of the many exciting, well-paying job opportunities in the theater technical arts. These union-based trades such as Carpenters, Electricians, Wardrobe, Hair, Makeup, and Ushers workers will all represented. Students will learn how these jobs work in all forms of live theater, motion picture and television production, trade shows and exhibitions, television broadcasting, and concerts as well as the equipment and construction shops that support all these areas of the entertainment industry.

The participants in the Backstage Pass program will meet with professionals working in the various technical theater arts. They will have a chance to observe the various jobs through site visits and demonstrations, helping to build their network for the future. The program will culminate with each participant given the opportunity to apply for the various summer internships that are available.”
Learn more and register here

College of Engineering Summer Program, University of Wisconsin (deadline April 2)
Eligible students: Current sophomores and juniors. Students who will be first in their families to attend college, low-income students, students of color, and women are especially encouraged to apply.

Content focus: ESP is a 6-week residential program designed to engage students who would like to explore careers in engineering. Students take courses in math, physics, chemistry, engineering, and technical communications and fill their day with other structured programming such as industry site visits, field trips, guest lectures, workshops, and faculty mentoring. 

Timing: June 16 – July 27, 2018
Length of program: 6 weeks, on Univ. of Wisconsin’s campus
Cost: Free

Learn more and apply here.

University of Wisconsin – ProCSI (pronounced “proxy”) (deadline June 15)
Eligible students: For current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors

Content focus: Students get to have fun discovering how important computer science and engineering are to modern research.

Timing: July 15-20, 2018 on Wisconsin’s campus
Length of program: 6 days
Learn more and apply here.

Crimespotters Law and Society Week Event (Thursday, March 1, 9AM – 12PM @ Community College of Philadelphia, Pavilion Building, Welcome Center)
“High school students are invited to join us for an investigative day where they will have the opportunity to experience facets of law-related careers at the College, including a demonstration of real-life examples of how geospatial technologies were successfully used to aid law enforcement in providing evidence that was used to convict individuals. Led by Deirdre Garrity-Benjamin, assistant professor and Geographic Information Systems program coordinator

Following the workshop, students will be led on a brief College tour as they participate in an interactive scavenger hunt through the Social Science and Justice Career Fair where they will meet and talk with visiting representatives from law fields, including the FBI, police, crime labs and more.”
Learn more here.

QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program (deadline March 21)
High school juniors are eligible to apply for this program, which provides free college prep resources to low-income students. Unique opportunities for QB College Prep Scholars include receiving full college summer program scholarships, fully-subsized college campus visits, one-on-one mentoring and exclusive scholarship awards. 

“College Prep Scholars are uniquely prepared to gain admission and full scholarships to top-tier colleges through QuestBridge. The majority are also selected as Finalists for the National College Match. Being selected as a College Prep Scholar is a notable distinction that celebrates your achievements and gives you an early start in applying to college.”

Summer Music Technology Program (deadline April 20)
High school students are eligible to apply for this free one-week music technology camp that uniquely integrates STEM with the Arts & Design.

“Using music, something all students are familiar with, we are able to explore technical concepts in a way that is engaging and impactful on students’ lives. Our hope is to engage with students who may not have otherwise considered science, computing, and engineering, particularly those from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM. All SMT activities involve hands-on, project-based learning, to explore sound synthesis, instrument acoustics, audio effects, artificial intelligence for music recommendation, musical app development, creative robotics, and much more!”

The program will run from August 6th to August 10th, 2018. Learn more and apply here.

Monday Cooking at South Philadelphia Library (every Monday, 4 – 6PM)
Learn about plant-based cooking through this hands-on community experience led by Chef Char Nolan, with exciting new recipes every week!

Family & Community Engagement
FACE serves as a central resource for engaging parents and families with their childens’ academic lives. Learn more and get involved here.

Al Bustan Spring Percussion Classes
Al-Bustan is offering spring percussion classes for adults and youth ages 12+. The classes are taught by Hafez Kotain on Tuesday nights at The Rotunda.

“Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture is dedicated to presenting and teaching Arab culture through the arts and language. ‘Al-Bustan,’ Arabic for ‘The Garden,’ offers structured exposure to the language, art, music, dance, literature, and natural environment of the Arab world. Al-Bustan promotes cross-cultural understanding among youth and adults of all ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds through artistic and educational programs.”

Let’s Get Ready
Let’s Get Ready seeks to improve college accessibility to low-income students. Enroll now for a free 9-week program beginning February that provides SAT tutoring, college counseling, and mentoring from college student volunteers.

PhillyCoder Dojo 
Learn to code for free at this weekly program. PhillyCoder Dojo equips youth with creative coding and development skills, opening a door of future possibilities for students. Locations and dates are located here.

Mighty Writers
Interested in writing? Mighty Writers runs free daily workshops all across Philadelphia for writing as well as teen programs, mentorships and college prep resources. Visit the online calendar here.

After School Activities Partnerships 
An online directory of hundreds of community-driven after-school activities and resources for Philadelphia youth. Visit the event calendar here.

More College Access Resources

Scholarships and Contests

The Philadelphia Foundation Scholarships
A comprehensive list of more than fifty scholarships available to high school students.

American Association of Blacks in Energy Scholarship (deadline March 15)
“The American Association of Blacks in Energy is a professional association composed of African Americans in the energy  industry. Through its Scholarship Program, the Association seeks to help increase the number of African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans (underrepresented minorities) in energy related fields. By doing so, we help our nation address a critical need and a challenge to our future economic vitality in the world market.

Individual chapters of the American Association of Blacks in Energy have different awards and awarding amounts. The top candidates from each chapter are sent to compete for a $3,000 Regional and a $5,000 National Award. 

The Philadelphia Chapter of AABE will award six (6) scholarships in 2018: each valued at $2,000.”

Learn more and apply here.

Watkins Oratorical Scholarship Contest (confirm attendance by March 16)
“The Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated is pleased to announce the 2018 Dr. Thomas H. Watkins, Sr. Oratorical Scholarship Contest. As demonstrated by notable Alpha brothers, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Paul Robeson, the ability to motivate and inform others through the art of public speaking is an exemplary skill and warrants celebration. To that end, Rho Chapter invites college-bound males in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas in grades 9 through 12 that have some experience or interest in public speaking to compete in its annual oratorical competition.” Learn more and apply here.

COMTO Philadelphia Scholarship (deadline March 23)
Minority high school seniors are eligible to apply for a variety regional scholarship awards ranging from $1000 – $3000. are Learn more about the different scholarships and apply here.

Ivy Legacy Foundation (deadline April 1)
Graduating seniors are eligible to apply for a variety of regional scholarship awards ranging from $1000 – $2500. Learn more and apply here.

Asian Bank Scholarship Program (deadline April 15)
High school seniors residing within Philadelphia and surrounding counties are eligible to apply for this $500 scholarship award. There will be up to eight scholarship recipients. Learn more and apply here.

Dunkin’ Donuts Philadelphia Regional Scholarship Program (deadline April 15)
Palumbo high school seniors are eligible to apply to this $2000 regional scholarship. Twenty-five students will be awarded a scholarship! Learn more and apply here.

Black Women’s Education Alliance Philadelphia Scholarship (deadline April 16)
Graduating African American senior students are eligible to apply for this scholarship award. Learn more and apply here.

PFCU Scholarship Program (deadline April 27)
“Philadelphia Federal Credit Union is pleased to offer an Annual Scholarship Program to award selected young members with funds for their continuing education.

PFCU created the Scholarship Program in 2004 to further our philosophy of giving back to members and the communities that we serve. Our commitment to the young leaders in our communities demonstrates a firm belief in their ability to pursue their life’s desires and dreams.

Four $2,500 scholarships are awarded to high school seniors that are members in good standing of the Credit Union. Applications require transcripts, a teacher’s reference and two completed essay questions.”

Learn more and apply here.

Born With Purpose Book Scholarship (deadline May 4)
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” — Malcolm X

High school seniors are eligible to apply for this $250 eligible scholarship award. Learn more and download the application form here.

“How U Survive Through Life Everyday” Scholarship (deadline May 14)
“The Young Chances Foundation HUSTLE Scholarship was established in 2018. The mission of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to individuals that are enrolled in school, juvenile centers in the city, colleges and universities. Preference will be given to students who attended high school in the Philadelphia County. The Young Chances Foundation HUSTLE Scholarship principally targets academic and social programs; however, consideration is also given to alternative accomplishments and achievements during the school year.”

Philadelphia high school students with financial need are invited to apply for this annually awarded scholarship. Learn more and apply here.

Drexel Engineering Scholarship (deadline May 18)
Graduating seniors planning to attend Drexel University College of Engineering are eligible to apply for several scholarships. Learn more and apply here.

Thole Essay Contest (deadline May 18)
All high school seniors are invited to write an essay based on any aspect of the US constitution. One student from each participating high school will receive a cash price. Learn more here.

College Fairs Online Annual $1000 Scholarship (deadline June 1)
“Any student can apply online. The guidelines are listed on the site and are very simple. Students must participate in a virtual fair as well as sharing on social media sites. It’s as easy as that!” Learn more and apply here

Valley Forge Military College Scholarship (deadline August 1)
This scholarship provides students with guaranteed admission and a partial scholarship to Valley Forge Military College. Learn more and apply here.

PhillyGoes2College
“PhillyGoes2College guides students through the process of applying and transitioning to college and other secondary opportunities. Whether you’re going for the first time or coming back as an adult, we’ll help you find the right programs, community resources, and financial supports to be successful.”

Find an online list of national and Philly scholarship opportunities here as well as other resources on the website.

Scholarships for First-Generation College Students
These scholarships are specifically awarded to high school seniors who will be the first in their family to attend college.

Horatio Alger Association Scholarship Program
High school students with financial need pursuing a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree or certificate program are eligible to apply for scholarship awards ranging from $6000 to $25000. This scholarship program “specifically assists high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives.” Read more and apply here.

Volunteering

Food Not Bombs
Help prepare and/or distribute vegetarian meals served to the public without restriction. Food Not Bombs is a volunteer-driven worldwide movement committed to nonviolent social change.

  • Cooking takes place at Ahimsa House in West Philadelphia three times a week (Thurs 3-5PM, Friday 2:30-4:30PM, Sun 2:30-5:30PM).
  • Food sharing takes place Thursdays 5-6PM @ 46th & Market, Fridays 4:30-5:30PM @ Malcom Park and Sundays 6-7PM @ The Franklin Institute. Full schedule details here.

Philly Reading Coach
Support literacy for elementary students by becoming a volunteer reading coach.

MANNA
Help prepare meals for individuals with serious illnesses in need by helping cook, bake and prepare meals in the MANNA kitchen.

Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission
Help serve meals to the homeless during daily lunch and dinner services. Application here.

Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer to help build and repair homes for those in need across Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society
Support and care for homeless animals by volunteering at a PAWS adoption center.

Mural Arts Philadelphia
Connect with the Philadelphia community through public art.

City Life

Free Museums in Philadelphia

Southern Foodways Panel Discussion (Monday, March 15, 6 – 8PM @ FLP Culinary Literacy Center)
“In the stories of Jacqueline Woodson, cooking traces the roots and routes of families and memories. Join pre-eminent scholars Dr. Jessica Harris and Michael Twitty for a discussion faciltated by local chef and food writer Valerie Erwin. They will explore the food traditions that inspire contemporary African American cuisines.”

The Free Library of Philadelphia Culinary Literacy Center is located at 1901 Vine St, 4th Floor, Skyline Room.
Learn more and register here.

Winter Fountains on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (through March 18) 
“The free, outdoor Winter Fountains exhibition illuminates the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this winter with a stunning nighttime display of surreal, glowing videos projected on to four large domes. The dazzling works — inspired by the Parkway’s grand fountains — are a centerpiece exhibition of Parkway 100, the city’s 14-month celebration commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the avenue’s groundbreaking.”
Watch a stunning video of the display here.

ACCESS Card
Visit over thirty five local museums, science centers, gardens, historic sites and cultural attractions at a rate of $2 per person. Residents who “monitor their government issued cash, food, or medical benefits with an EBT card” are eligible to become an ACCESS Cardholder. One ACCESS card enables up to four family members attending at the discounted rate. 

Indego30 Access Pass
Enjoy biking around Philly? Individuals with an ACCESS card can enjoy unlimited 1-hour trips using Indego bikeshare for $5 per month.  

Students at Museums in Philly (STAMP) Pass
Open to all Philadelphia high school students, the STAMP pass offers free admission to Philly museums, attractions and special events. STAMP seeks to increase teen access to Philly’s vibrant art and culture scene.

Free Events at the South Philadelphia Library
An online directory of daily events and resources including career workshops, learning CPR and even jazz concerts.

More Free Things to Do

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Palumbo Newsletter compiled by Michelle Lyu and Justin McDaniel.
For any questions, please contact Justin McDaniel at jmcdan@sas.upenn.edu