EVENT ALERT: FEBRUARY 18, 2015 is DECISION DAY for GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL - Your Prayers are Needed Now!

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:


Today, February 18, 2015 is D DAY or DECISION DAY for some 40 charter school applicants in the City of Philadelphia.   THE GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL, which made their initial application presentation on December 8, 2014, with some 60 plus residents of Germantown there  to show support and cheer them on.  

The second round which took plaee on January 25 saw even more feisty supporters turn out for round two, during which the Charter School Committee fired rounds and rounds of criticisms and questions at the organization in an effort to determine who, among the 40 applicants should be one of the two to be granted a charter school commission.

The need for a school charter to resurrect the now vacant Germantown High School, and transform it into a viable educational center has never been greater.  From the day they boarded that yellow school bus and rode to the School District of Philadelphia to make their case for a new paradigm in educational excellence: THE GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL, to now:
THE NEED FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT HAVE ALSO NEVER BEEN GREATER. 

Germantown High School stands empty waiting to be transformed into GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL

 PRAY THAT the Germantown community, which has been bereft of this nearly century old school since 2013, will have an even greater school restored to them.  

PRAY THAT the Germantown Community Charter School Coalition, and Julie Carroll, who have come together, forging their considerable expertise, enthusiasm and knowledge to devise a way to have the school re-opened as  the GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL, will be granted the opportunity to do so.

PRAY THAT the original school building which had been offered to  Concordia, who was possibly looking to develop it for other purposes, will be approved for the GCCS with all the necessary financial and other requirements available as well

PRAY THAT all the experts knowledgeable about special needs students, school discipline, creative curricula, vocational and technical training, fine and performing arts, historical and cultural development - all to be a part of a comprehensive program for the new, improved, community based Germantown Community Charter School WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH AND BE A PART OF THE GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL.

PRAY THAT THE YEAR AND A HALF OF MEETINGS, PLANNING, PRESENTATIONS, NEGOTIATIONS, WILL BEAR THE FRUIT OF AN APPROVAL AND THE EMERGING OF A WONDERFUL NEW CENTER FOR THE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE FORM OF THE GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL!

A YELLOW SCHOOL BUS TOOK THE GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL COALITION TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION HEARING

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA

TODAY WE HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE OUR CASE - PRAY THAT NOT ONLY IS THE HEARING OFFICER LISTENING, BUT GOD THE LIVING ALMIGHTY HIMSELF IS LISTENING AND FINDING GREAT APPROVAL FOR WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND PROPOSE TO DO!

For those of you who are interested in the detail of the application, it can be viewed online by logging on to the School District of Philadelphia/SRC Charter School Application Hearing/Germantown Community Academy - to view a copy of the power point presentation.  Or log onto our Facebook page, Germantown Community Charter School, for more information, as well as updates of the next hearing.  The commentaries were streamed on

•  Comcast Channel 52, Verizon Channel 20 or online.

State Representative Stephen Kinsey has been an ongoing supporter of the organization, as has City Council Representative Cindy Bass, among others.   And over 1,000 signatories to our petition, as well as fifty (50) letters of support from elected officials, organizations, community leaders, and individuals - all of whom pledged their support for the Germantown Community Charter School.   The community of Germantown in particular, and Philadelphia, in general, have come together in support of quality education - a clear indication of the love they have for the City of Brotherly Love, and for the children who live here.  And with so much turmoil going on in other areas, that is indeed a good thing - an absolute blessing.  PRAY THAT THEIR COMING TOGETHER WILL NOT BE IN VAIN - OR GO UNNOTICED.

PUSH:  PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS:  

GERMANTOWN NEEDS THE GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL, and so does Philadelphia

There is still time to become part of the process - as we move forward, more will be required in bringing the school to fruition.  Each and every member of the Germantown Community is vital in this process.  We are making history in an historical community - and we invite you to become a part of it.  Anyone interested can be at the School District of Philadelphia today, February 18, 2015 at 3:30 to show your support; you CAN PRAY, and/or you can contact: 

Germantown Community Charter School

gtowncharter@gmail.com

215-843-7391

Twitter@GtownCharter

FB:Germantown Community Charter School

It's been a pleasure working with this wonderful group and chronicling the amazing manner in which they have coalesced together, leaving egos at the door, and bringing together their dedication, expertise and sense of community.  How profoundly rare and wonderful to know that that still exists.  

Now that you know, what are you going to do to help?

Stay Blessed & 

ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria

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Germantown Community Charter School committee needs you: January 15 at the SRC Monthly Meeting

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

First of all, a world of thanks to those who turned out in support of the first round of hearings on December 8 for transforming Germantown High School into Germantown Community Charter School.  We were a spectacular sea of green - and it was obvious that there is a very strong support for our proposal.


The second round of hearings for Germantown Community Charter School is scheduled for January 26 at 1:00PM.   And the regularly scheduled SRC meeting is set for Thursday, January 15 at 5:30 PM.  It is the only time that they will convene as a body, giving us an excellent opportunity to express our individual an collective support for the granting of the charter school.   It's an opportunity to speak before the board - each person who signs up to speak has three minutes to say whatever concerns in reference to establishing the school in the community.  We must stand for our children and for quality education.  

Once again we are seeking your support.  And please bring your friends and neighbors as well.  We will furnish the transportation - school buses leaving from Germantown Highschool at 4:30pm; and will also furnish Official Germantown Community Charter School Tees as well.  Snacks will be provided and we will transport you to and form the School District of Philadelphia.

As you know, Germantown High School was the only high school in Germantown, and served a broad based community.  We strongly urge everyone to come out and weigh in on the absolute necessity for having a school in Germantown.

OK Folks...time to get the word out....

Let's fill the bus!

PS: Those who received T-shirts on December 8, please wear them on the 15th.

Thank you for your support !
 

EVENT ALERT: Get on the Bus - Show Your Support for Germantown Community Charter School Application Hearing Monday, December 8th

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson


 Hello All: 

Since the unconscionable closing of thirty schools in Philadelphia, which included the nearly century old Germantown High School, a valiant group of community people have banded together to reinstate the school, which was a vital and viable part of the Germantown Community.

Their original application to have it reopened as a high school was rejected, so they were advised to apply for charter school status.  A

Monday, December 8, at 12:05 PM, they Germantown Community Charter School application will be presented before the SRC.  This group has worked tirelessly, putting together a nearly 300 page application, detailing the curriculum, format, and make up of this new school  It will be once again a vital asset to the community - the hard work has been done, but now we need you, the community to come out in droves and show your support!!

Regardless of whether you attended Germantown High School or not; reside in Germantown, or metropolitan Philadelphia, your support is needed and you can help make this application a success. 

Free buses are being provided, along with lunches for those who want to join us and show up en masse to let the SRC that you are solidly behind the proposed new Germantown Community Charter School. We're even providing free tee-shirts!!! 

There are those who claim that Philadelphians are apathetic about what's happening in their communities.  That is obviously not the case because you turned out and were pivotal in electing Tom Wolf as governor of Pennsylvania - something that was statistically unheard of until now!  
Well, while we're in the mode of setting records and breaking precedences, this too can be the next major step forward for Philadelphians.  Bringing quality and community control back to the schools.  

If you're interested and available on Monday, please either call and reserve a seat on the bus: 215-843-7391; or email us at GtownCharter@gmail.com.  

We are also looking for letters of support from individuals and organizations.   Thus far we've received letters from:  Councilwoman Cindy Bass; State Representative Stephen Kinsey, State Representative Rosita Youngblood;  State Senator Shirley Kitchen;  Cliveden of the National Trust     D&T Auto Body;  Eagle’s Nest CDC;  Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion; First United Methodist Church of Germantown;     Friends of Vernon Park;   Germantown High School Alumni Association, Inc.;       Germantown Artist’s Roundtable;  Germantown Community Connection;  Germantown Life Enrichment Center;  Germantown United CDC; Hightower Systems; Kama-Sahlor Group for Cultural Performing Arts; Historic Germantown; Johnson House Historic Site; Karen Singer Tileworks;  Landmarks (Grumblethorpe); Men Who Care of Germantown, Inc; Mt Airy Church of God in Christ;  Gtown Radio; Northwest Neighbors; Philly Office Retail;  Robert Seeley;  Rose Petals Café; Theodore Morrow Memorial Fund;  West Central Germantown Neighbors; Yes!And…Collaborative Arts;  Wyck Historic House...and the list continues to grow - 

We'd like to include your name as well. The letters should be on the business/organizations letterhead and sent directly to:  GtownCharter@gmail.com; Or via regular mail to: Ms. Julie S. Carroll, Germantown Community Charter School Committee - c/o 130 W. Walnut Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19144  

Alert your church members, contact your neighbors - if you don't want to take the bus, but want to be there for the hearing anyway, it will take place at  School District of Philadelphia - 440 N. Broad Street - Philadelphia, PA 19130.

So come out Monday, December 8, buses will be departing from the campus of Germantown High School, corner of Germantown Avenue and High Street.  Wear your tee shirts with pride and flood the School District with a sea of Germantown Green!!  

We can't do everything, but everybody can do something.  Thank you for your support!!

The Germantown Community Charter School Committee


                         

                                      
                                                  

                                                         

                                                        

                            

                        

                                          

                                                    

                                     

                

                                             

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