A letter from a J.S. Jenks Alumna

I received a wonderful email from a J.S. Jenks Alumna recounting a memory from her years at the school......

Hi
I just wanted to write to say that I LOVE your blog about Jenks.

I attended Jenks from '84 to '91 before transferring to Masterman for 7th-12th grades. It was a wonderful experience for me. Sometime in 4th or 5th grade my mother thought I should visit some of the local single-sex private schools to see if I wouldn't be interested in a different type of classroom environment. It was an interesting experience, but the thing that stands out for me is that I had the opportunity to take a math test with the rest of the class at Springside and it covered material that we had finished far earlier in the year. I was the only student to get 100%. That, and my indignation at the befuddled expressions of private school parents when they found out that a bright little girl like me went to Jenks, kept me in the public system through my senior year.

I am so glad to know that Jenks continues to be a shining example of what a public school can be. You are doing a great service for the school and the community that has often overlooked it.

Elizabeth (Pearson) Sunflower~

Come and meet the Dean of Students: Ms. Christina Moore.

Kindergarten Tea on March 16th

Come and meet current and potential J.S. Jenks Parents.

2009 Annual Report and School Performance Index (SPI)

The 2009 Annual Report for the Philadelphia Public Schools is now available on the district website http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/a/accountability/school-annual-reports
Download from the Northwest group. We are consistently in the top 25% of schools (they only segment by quartiles).

There is a new index from the Office of Accountability that was introduced with the plan for the Renaissance Schools. The School Performance Index (SPI)is calculated using a different algorithm to compare schools 1. Relative to the District Overall and
2. Relative to Similar Schools. The SPI is reported on a 1-10 scale (1 being the best). http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/a/accountability/school-performance-index-spi
(download the Northwest data)
We are in the 2 ranking, the top 20% of all schools. And ranked 4 among like schools. The SPI page allows comparison of scores etc to similar schools in the area.

Jenks' Parents and the SRC

Meetings are a regular part of my "day job". So when it was suggested that we gather a group of parents to attend the School Reform Council meeting in January, I was supportive but not enthusiastic. I am sure other parents also felt the same way about yet another meeting....BUT J.S. Jenks really made an impact. We had 9 parents support our 3 parent speakers. Many more parents were supportive but unable to attend an afternoon meeting.

The meeting was delayed and relatively long but from my vantage point well worth the effort. We had a spectacular team of parents speaking for the school an in particular regarding a proposal submitted by the principal last March. Gerald Wright, Bob Previdi and Julia Reeb were articulate, passionate and to the point. Although the outcome is yet to be known, we captured the attention of the SRC council, Dr. Ackerman, the Regional Superintendent, Penny Nixon and a recruit for the “potential parents” list-serv.

I really have not felt so good after a "meeting" in a very long time:)

I had so much fun learning.....

My daughter told me that she was having so much fun learning she didn't believe Ms. Smith that it was time for Music. Yes, she may know what to say to make my day but I do think she has a great time at school each day....and loves learning!

J.S. Jenks Open House

What can the school offer your child and family and how can YOU become involved in your neighborhood school.