St. Philip’s Academy • 342 Central Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103 • 973.624.1164 • www.stphilipsacademy.org

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P i o n e e r i n g 2 1 s t C e n t u r y E d u c a t i o n

A school’s curricula is like a varied garden that needs constant tending, sunlight and water to thrive. In the 21st century, there are a myriad of academic and educational proficiencies that we want our students to develop. Neglecting any might impede our students’ full promise and growth. The world we now find ourselves in bears less and less resemblance to the last century, when most curricula was designed for a vastly different world. In our ongoing effort to keep pace with societal changes and meet our students’ needs, we feel it is time for a deep redesign of our curriculum around the triad of Relevant Knowledge, Higher

Order Learning Skills and Character Development.

Relevant Knowledge and Experiential LearningMany students miss out on motivation to learn because no real-world connec-tion is made to what they are learning. Discovering this relevance is critical not only to students’ desires but also to their understanding of how knowledge func-tions economically and socially in the real world.

Higher Order Reasoning SkillsThere is general consensus on what

these skills, often called “the Four C’s,” are: Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Creativity and Communication. Developing them has been important to the Charter School Founders, as we view their mastery as vital to students’ absorp-tion, retention and application of deep knowledge.

Character DevelopmentIn an increasingly complex world, we rediscover the importance of teaching character and citizenship. Performance-related traits such as resilience, persis-tence, discipline, open-mindedness, and

Spring 2013

Keeping Our Curriculum Current for a New Century and a New Charter

Continued on page 6

Left: Kindergartners celebrate Black History month at St. Philip’s; Right: Creating a masterpiece in EcoArts

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Words of SupportDear Friends,As you know, St. Philip’s Academy is in the process of converting to a charter school. This may sound like a major change but we want to assure you that our culture and founding values will remain intact. Many of our supporters have also noted that this conversion will actu-ally allow us to live more fully

in our mission to serve an even greater number of urban students.

By employing a blended financial model of public and private funding, we will be able to sustain and grow our robust educational programing just as the great public universities have done. The additional funding provides critical dimensions to our program that are indispensable to a 21st century education. It would be detrimental to our students if we had to compromise on even one of the following components:

• EcoSPACES (10 unique learning environments that support environmental sustainability, global awareness and wellness)

• DCT Literacy (Digital, Communications, Technology)

• Seed-to-Table Healthy Lunch Program

• Philosophy, ethics and character development as academic domains

These critical dimensions are written into our charter, which was approved by the state. Supplemental funding, however, must come from private fundraising. In order to continue these special programs in our state of the art facility, we need your help and continued support.

What you might not know about upcoming fundraising:

• St. Philip’s Academy is still fundraising for the Annual Fund to meet the vast need of our 2012-13 school year, and will continue to do so annually, even after conversion.

• The school is also burdened with one-time conversion costs in advance of September 2013.

• State funding will not arrive until December of 2013. Until state funding arrives, we will have to exist entirely on private funds.

• State funding will not entirely cover the cost to educate, leaving the school with a $2 million gap.

• A public/private partnership will mean the difference between adequacy and excellence.

Myths about charter schools and St. Philip’s upcoming conversion:

• Now that St. Philip’s is converting, they don’t need my support anymore. This is simply not true. We need your support more than ever as the school widens our net to serve more students and expand our horizons.

• Philip’s Academy Charter School will be an entirely new place; I won’t even recognize the school I’ve come to know and love. Again, this is completely untrue. If you walk the halls next September, you will hear the same lessons being taught, see the same students skipping down the hall and meet the same faculty, who have developed the highly innovative educational program and a school culture where “love is the basis of state.”

I hope this clears away any questions or misconceptions you may have had regarding the school’s conversion. Please feel free to contact me, or anyone on our Advancement Team for further clarifica-tion or to schedule a tour at 973-624-1164.

Always,

Miguel J. BritoHead of School

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Words of Support

Charter Conversion

“St. Philip’s Academy, or as it will be known after the conversion, Philip’s Academy Charter School, under Miguel Brito’s wise and forward-thinking leadership, has confirmed what we all know that it is a bold and positive model of what our nation’s schools can be. Knowing that children from all over Newark may have the opportunity to learn

and grow from now into the distant future in a beautiful facility from excellent teachers is testament to the visionary leadership at St. Philip’s. This private and public partnership gives me hope that perhaps we can actually make progress in addressing our profound educational needs, particularly in the inner cities.”

“Newark is in a race to become the first urban city in America to provide a system of excellent schools for every child. For many years, St. Philip’s Academy has been a bright spot of excellence in our city. There

is no doubt that as a charter school, St. Philip’s will continue and expand upon this tradition of excellence and innovation.”

Mayor Cory BookerCity of Newark

Ms. Mosle’s work in The New York TimesSt. Philip’s English Teacher, Sara Mosle, splits her time between St. Philip’s and The New York Times, writing columns in the paper and stories for the magazine. A catalog of her great work can be found by clicking on her photo on our faculty and staff listing or under our ‘Support Us’ page on our website.

“We are so thrilled that Philip’s Academy Charter School will be a resource for more children and their families from the local urban areas.  St. Philip’s Academy has a tradition of developing lifelong leaders and learners and with the conversion to a charter school, will continue to elevate and inspire our children.   We could not be more excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for all of our children.” Craig and Khadijah Drinkard, Parents

“Having been immersed personally and professionally in the public school, public charter school, and independent school landscape of Newark for several years, as educators and as parents, my wife and I have a unique perspective. We can wholeheartedly attest that Philip’s Academy Charter School has the proven ability to not only deliver efficiently and effectively on its amazing vision for multiple decades but to do so with immea-surable love and enthusiasm.”

Imani and Monique Moody, ParentsNewark Legacy Charter SchoolLink Community School

“St. Philip’s Academy’s conversion to a charter school will give the children and families of Newark, East Orange, and Irvington a wonderful and precious gift. Philip’s Academy Charter School will be in a unique position to extend the already proven educational model of St. Philip’s, impacting more lives and opening doors to many more children in the area.  I’m proud to be a supporter of this gem of a school in the Central Ward.”

Leah Kronthal, Donor

Sally WalshDunbar Educational ConsultantsVolunteer at St. Philip’sFormer Head of the English Dept. Delbarton School

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theFriends of St. Philip’s

Junior Committee

Past Events:

The Junior Committee of St. Philip’s Academy recently hosted a “friend-raiser” cocktail party in Manhattan. “Candy Canes & Cocktails” helped to introduce new people to the school and raise money for the annual fund.

Upcoming Events:

Spring Cocktail Party - June 21stVisit www.stphilipsacademy.org/junior for more details

Join the Junior Committee:

• Make a difference in the lives of urban students

• Network with other young professionals

• Attend fun and unique events in NYC & NJ

flexibility are critical to students’ ability to pursue academic, professional and personal goals. Equally important are a sense of justice, empathy, ethics, and honesty that lead to moral development.

Curriculum DriversTechnology and Digital LiteracyWe look at technology not only as a vast set of learning tools but as a way to

Continued from page 1 connect with diverse multitudes around the globe and as a resource for solving new problems as they arrive in the real world.

Environmental Citizenship, Sustainability and NutritionEcoSPACES focuses on passion for our community, the planet at large and the health of our bodies. The program uses multiple learning environments, such as

Keeping Our Curriculum Current for a New Century and a New Charter

our Teaching Kitchen, Rooftop Garden, Dining Hall, and an Aeroponics indoor growing unit to awaken students’ hearts and minds.

We endeavor to create a community where every individual feels safe physi-cally, emotionally, socially, and culturally thereby unleashing all our students to discover a unique pathway to success and growth.

S ILVER S PONS OR S

BR ONZ E S PONS OR S

To get involved with the Junior Committee or attend an event contact juniorcomm@stphilipsacademy.org

Junior Committee Leadership Team:

Claire Leblanc, Andrea Geroldi &

Catherine Buell

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theEvents

SILVER SP ONSORS

B RONZE SP ONSORS

Events

Dream Maker GalaMarch 16th, 2013 | Hyatt Regency, Jersey City

The Gala raised over $200,000 to support

the students of St. Philip’s Academy.

Above: Alex &

Cassaundra Karnal,

Adam Eskin & Amanda

Albrecht, Dan &

Catherine Buell, Melina &

James Hefelfinger, Amy

Peloquin & Logan Moore,

Jess Egan & Scott Buell.

Left: Towada & Shoji Ito,

Wendy Newman.

Left: Students sing as guests arrive. Right: Ranesha Hunt & Stacie Taborn-Mentor.

Above: Gerald Harvey, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Tom

Hooper, Chief Advancement Officer, Miguel Brito, Head

of School, Virginia Birch, Bill Birch, Trustee, Tyler Farrand,

David Farrand, Former Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Below Left to Right: Matt Mierswa & Regina Lauricella,

and Nell Yong Mei & Claire Leblanc.

Gary DeBode & Archie GottesmanStephen & Betsy Buell

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St. Philip’s Academy 342 Central Avenue Newark, NJ 07103

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One visit and you’ll understand why St. Philip’s is a special place.

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