On Monday, Aug. 25, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Tony B. Watlington Sr. visited Chestnut Hill\u2019s Jenks Academy for the Arts and Sciences to celebrate the first day of school.<\/p>\n
The visit comes as the elementary\/middle school celebrates two of its latest achievements: Jenks received International Baccalaureate (IB) World School certification two weeks ago and is in the process of becoming a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in December.<\/p>\n
Jenks Principal Corinne Scioli told the Local, \u201cIt\u2019s just a tremendous honor. I remember my first day on this job, I was sitting here over the summer, and I had a five-year plan and vision for this … gem in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added, \u201cSo on that five-year plan, I wanted to make the school an (IB school) and that\u2019s already been accomplished after four years.\u201d<\/p>\n
The IB program, aimed at students ages 3-19, offers programming similar to Advanced Placement (AP) courses, while encouraging community service and innovation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are provided with world networking, ongoing professional development, a personal consultant, and continued progress evaluations, where we submit our service learning projects and units of study that are evaluated and help us to continue to grow and align to the IB principles,\u201d Scioli said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just a certificate on the wall but a continuing living and breathing system that helps us to be the very best versions of ourselves as members of the global world.<\/p>\n
Erin Younis started teaching at Jenks in 2017, and two years ago, she became its IB coordinator. Younis told the Local, \u201cYou have three years to become an IB school. We completed it in two.\u201d<\/p>\n
The National Blue Ribbon Schools program is run by the U.S. Department of Education. Scioli explained, to achieve Blue Ribbon status, a school must \u201cdemonstrate that in a three-year period you have significantly impacted the academic success of students. And so we have made a tremendous three-year trajectory. Our student growth performance metric has been over 70%. When you\u2019re at 50%, children are guaranteed to make one year\u2019s worth of growth. At 65%, they make a year and a half\u2019s worth of growth, and at 70%, even more than that, and that\u2019s our school average.\u201d<\/p>\n
Superintendent\u2019s visit<\/strong><\/p>\n Watlington arrived at Jenks just before 10 a.m. on Monday, alongside City Councilmembers Cindy Bass and Nina Ahmad, and members of the school board.<\/p>\n Bass told the Local, \u201cThis is so important, the first day really sets the tone for the whole school year. \u2026 We want folks, our young people, to come to school, to be encouraged, and to have a sense of inclusion, and just feel happy about being here. I think we\u2019re off to a good start.\u201d<\/p>\n Reacting to the school\u2019s awards, Bass said, \u201cIt means everything. We take education very seriously in the northwest and in the Eighth District. I think that the tone set here can be replicated throughout not just the Eighth District, but throughout the entire city of Philadelphia.\u201d<\/p>\n Watlington, Bass, and Ahmad introduced themselves to students and explained what their jobs are and what they do for the city. Watlington then addressed a hallway full of students, asking, \u201cIs this the best school in the School District of Philadelphia?\u201d<\/p>\n The students cheered \u201cYes!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited to be in my fourth year working together with your principal and all of these fine individuals,\u201d Watlington said.<\/p>\n New mural<\/strong><\/p>\n Along with the first day of school festivities, parents, teachers, and students also enjoyed a new mural by local artist Paige Jalosinski. As part of the school\u2019s partnership with NoName Gallery, the gallery\u2019s owner, Jonene Lee, previously connected Jenks with four other artists to create murals. Jalosinski studies graphic design at Boston University and finished the mural on a short deadline before heading back to school.<\/p>\n In a statement to the Local, Lee wrote, \u201cWhen I opened the gallery three years ago, one of my goals was to work with Jenks. I approached Corinne about a partnership, and we\u2019ve been collaborating ever since. … I\u2019ve taught an art class there for each grade, had four artists complete murals inside the school, and Paige\u2019s is the fifth mural, which is outside.\u201d<\/p>\n Jalosinski told the Local, \u201cI\u2019ve always loved capturing nature in my work, so a floral pattern felt like the perfect choice. It gave me the chance to play with bright colors and bring more life to the space. … I also knew that a younger version of myself would love looking at a piece similar to the one created at Jenks.\u201d<\/p>\n The mural appears on the side of the school facing Ardleigh Street.<\/p>\n