Entering Kindergarten and starting this blog has made me obsessed with how people get information on any particular school. So when I am completely avoiding work, I search "Jenks" on google to see which sites are conveying information to current and prospective families.

So here are some hits from a search of just J.S. Jenks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F20Ln4qOOGY

http://www.temple.edu/ur/v1n1/klee.html

If you put in Jenks and Chestnut hill you will find hits regarding the schools coverage in the Local.

http://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/issues/2008.01.17/news1.html

http://knowinghenry.blogspot.com/2008/03/public-or-private-chestnut-hill-local.html

http://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/issues/2007.01.25/news2.html

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060327&content_id=1364339&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi

Lets keep the positive information flowing.

Philadelphia Museum of Art --> November 14, 2008

The Jenks Kindergarten took a trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I did not have the pleasure of going on the trip but here are some of the highlights as told by my daughter.

They visited China and U.S.A and Philadelphia. Her favorite piece from the China collection was the “Blue Dog House” or actually known as the Dog Cage (Goulong) from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Qianlong Period (1736-1795), 1736-95.

Another favorite from the trip was the Staircase Group (Portrait of Raphaelle Peale and Titian Ramsey Peale) which was Made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 1795.

Needless to say, fun was had by all and an appreciation of the museum at this age can’t be a bad thing.

We're Making Music --> Nov 12, 2008

Wednesday evening the families of Jenks K-4^th grade students were treated to an incredible evening of music. We’re Making Music was a production organized by Ms. Williams, her student teacher Ms. Spencer and accompanist Ms. Pochettino. Ms. Williams said she couldn’t have done it with out the support of the principal, Ms. Lynskey and the other teachers.

That morning my daughter couldn’t contain her excitement. She talked about standing on the risers, the bandanna she needed to bring and was humming all morning. Although she never revealed the “secret” songs that were going to be performed!

And what a surprise it was…a packed house (standing room only) and great music by the kids. The grades sang together and solo and everyone seemed to have a great evening.

We are looking forward to the next Jenks’ event!

Jenks Kindergarten Tea

Home and School Association [aka The PTA)

One thing that has impressed us at Jenks, aside from the new principal and the excellent teachers and staff are the parents. There are very dedicated and hard working parents contributing to the mission of the school. If you are interested in Jenks, please attend a HSA (Home and School Association Meeting).

The next meeting is November 12^th at 6:30 PM.

There will also be a concert the same evening. A great opportunity to see the who community in action.

K-4^th Grade Music Concert at 6:00 PM

This Year at Jenks: The beginning

This Year at Jenks is an idea taken from Kevin Peter whose blog “Knowing Henry” has become a source of information for potential and current C.W. Henry School families.

This blog will contain personal observations of Vanessa Yingling, a kindergarten parent at J.S. Jenks, about our first year at Jenks. I hope to provide information that both current and potential parents may find helpful.

As the feeling of hope and change are in the air, I am starting this blog to add another positive voice to the John Story Jenks School community. John Story Jenks is a vibrant community located in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia. I had much anxiety about changing schools but have been very pleased these first 2 months at Jenks. I encourage other neighborhood families to visit Jenks and get to know the faculty, staff and students and I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

Here is a brief list of what Kindergarten has been doing thus far….

They have been working hard, having fun and are beginning to really get to know each other.

They write in journals everyday and are reading voraciously as they try to complete the 100 book challenge.

Believe it or not my daughter loves her homework and how wonderful to learn to love all aspects of school so young!

They are thrilled with their teachers, Ms. Tish and Ms. Donaldson and especially the student teacher, Ms. Colleen. I was surprised and pleased that they work with a different specialist each day.

Monday: Spanish/Art

Tuesday: Music

Wednesday: Physical Education

Thursday: Computers

Friday: Spanish/Art

I had the pleasure of going to Styer Orchard with the kids, where they picked apples and pumpkins and then made applesauce in class. My daughter’s favorite part of the trip was the pumpkin seeds that Ms. Colleen brought into class. They will be visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art next week. They also had a great time parading down Germantown Avenue on a beautiful Halloween afternoon.

Jenks’ students have also been involved in community events including Philadelphia Cares Day where volunteers from around the city helped to clean up the playground and school grounds. Students also helped sell pretzels and water at the Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festival.

We are very happy with our decision to attend Jenks. We love Chestnut Hill and it’s feeling of a true neighborhood, so we decided to utilize and support one of the main cornerstones of many neighborhoods, the public school.