The Computer Technology Institute offers two program paths: the Computer Technology Program, a nationally accredited, 15-month course leading to an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree in software, computer support and Web design; and the Medical Office Specialist Program, a 9-month course focusing on business and medical software applications.

In addition to courses offered through the Computer Technology Institute, the MCC offers the publicly funded Workforce Development Program, providing short-term training to help students develop the administrative and technical skills necessary for entry-level employment in business and medical fields.

For more information on MCC, visit metropolitancareercenter.org.

Grant to CHC for Non-Profit Training

Chestnut Hill College announced that is has received a $10,000 Non-Profit, Capacity-Building grant from PHENND (Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development). The grant is one of 36 Learn and Serve America grants distributed by The Corporation for National and Community Service. Chestnut Hill College was among four member schools in the Philadelphia area to receive the grant.

The grant funds will continue to be used to offer free workshops, seminars, and other training experiences at the College for non-profit staff and leaders in the local community. Seminars and training offered through the second year of the grant will be more in-depth and will be focused on deepening the impact the organizations have on their clients.  These workshops and training experiences will help local non-profit organizations by partnering with the College to create programming that will benefit and serve their unique needs, utilizing the College’s campus, staff, and community. This year, the grant helped to fund workshops on volunteer management, starting a non-profit and effective communication and conflict resolution. 

For information about workshops and trainings contact Ryan Murphy, director of service-learning, at 215-248-7032 or email murphyr@chc.edu .

Springside to Get Solar Roof System

State Sen. LeAnna Washington announced on July 8 that Blue Renewable Energy, LLC was awarded a total of $398,756 in solar energy grants to assist in the purchase and installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at two area school campuses, including one in the Northwest.

“Solar energy is gaining in popularity because it is a clean, environmentally safe and economic source of power,” Washington said.  “I am happy to see these two projects put into action, as they will ensure more energy efficiency at these two locations and more cost efficiency in the long-run.”

The project at the Springside School campus, 8000 Cherokee Street in Chestnut Hill, will receive $271,656 for a cumulative 194 kW solar photovoltaic system on six connecting rooftops of facilities on the campus. The system is expected to generate 214,129 kWh annually, providing 66 percent of the facility’s electricity demand.

Row the Schuylkill with MALT

How many of us have wondered what it must be like to glide effortlessly along the Schuylkill River in a rowing shell? Join Mt. Airy Learning Tree on Boat House Row (home of numerous world and Olympic champions) to learn how to row, or advance yourself in your skills. These courses will provide one of the best vantage points in the city to watch seasons change in Philadelphia. Open to adults 18 and up, with varying levels of rowing experience, these courses will equip you with the fundamentals of proper sculling technique, safety and boat handling skills. Rowing is a strenuous sport that requires flexibility and stamina, so expect a total body workout. Wear sneakers, close fitting (such as Lycra) shorts or tights and no baggy t-shirts.  You must be able to swim to sign up for the course.

This is a six-week course meeting once a week. It is mandatory that you make one of the first two meetings of the course. Rowers will be grouped by ability. Meet at #4 Boathouse Row, Kelly Drive.  Note: Due to regattas some sections will meet on different days of the week for a single class session.

Session A is Tuesday, July 20 - August 24,  5:30 - 7:30 p.m., with Kay McDonald.

Session B is Thursday, July 22 - August 26, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. with  Brannon Johnson.

Session C is Saturday, July 24 - August 28, 10 -11:30 a.m. with Brannon Johnson. 

To register please call 215-843-6333 or visit our website at www.mtairylearningtree.org

Water Aerobics

Waterview Recreation Center will be sponsoring a Summertime Water Aerobics class to be held at Pickett Pool at Wayne and Chelten avenues.   The class will be held three days a week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9-10 a.m.  Classes run through the last week of August, the exact date as yet to be determined.  For the month of July, the fee is $60 for the three weekly classes.  August will be pro-rated.  For more information or to register, call Beverly Rolfsmeyer at Waterview at 215-685-2229.

For Those Losing a Loved One

Keystone Hospice , 8765 Wyndmoor Avenue, will hold its fourth annual bereavement camp, Keystone Kids Camp, on Saturday, July 31, and Sunday, August 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, at the Carson Valley School, 1419 Bethlehem Pike, in Flourtown.

Michelle Brooks, MSS, LCSW, Director of Bereavement Services for Keystone Hospice, and Laura Thomae, Music Therapist at Keystone Hospice, said the camp is intended for children ages 6-13 who have experienced the loss of a loved one, with therapies designed to allow them to explore their grief within a safe, supportive, and engaging environment.

Through music, art, and dance/movement therapeutic activities, discussion, and participation in a memorial service, children will have opportunities to address their feelings creatively and develop supportive coping strategies for healing and living with their loss.  They will also have an opportunity to connect with other children who have also experienced loss.

Families are invited to join the children and Keystone Hospice staff  at the school on Sunday for closing ceremonies from 2-3 p.m. and for a picnic.

A $30 activity fee per child includes both days’ activities and lunches, with a $5 charge for each additional child in a family. Scholarships are available.

Transportation to and from Keystone House will be available for those who require it.

For reservations and registration, call  Michelle Brooks or Laura Thomae at  Keystone Hospice, 215-836-2440. Registration is limited.

Keystone was the first hospice in southeastern Pennsylvania to provide pediatric hospice services, and in 1997, established Keystone House, the first residential hospice in  southeastern Pennsylvania. For information call 215-836-2440.

Youth Leadership Camp at Grumblethorpe

Grumblethorpe, 5267 Germantown Avenue, is looking for middle school youth ages 11 – 14 to attend their annual free Youth Leadership Camp from July 12 – 23.

The leadership camp, which has been running for 6 years, involves training in craft and cooking projects and learning how to give tours of Grumblethorpe, a historic house built in 1744 and lived in by the Wister family for 166 years.

In addition, campers will travel to HMS School in West Philadelphia to offer classes for handicapped children for 6 of the 10 days of camp. Grumblethorpe will be a field trip destination for paying groups during this time so that campers can practice their skills and provide an educational, fun experience to other children. We will also be taking field trips to historical sites in Philadelphia as a part of learning more about the history of their city.

This camp is for youth who want to learn more about Grumblethorpe and become a part of a growing and active youth board, which is currently made up of 15 middle and high school students from several schools in the city.

For more information and a camp application, call 215-843-4820 or email Diana Thompson at Grumblethorpe@philalandmarks.org.

Host Families Sought for Foreign Students

Recently, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in an address to a group of AYUSA high school exchange students visiting on the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, commended the students on their courage in coming to the U.S. and thanked the American families who had welcomed them into their homes for the school year. 

“I don’t think I would have been as courageous when I was your age to leave my home and go someplace that seemed really far away,” said Secretary Clinton from the Dean Acheson Auditorium in the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.  “So I join in commending you for taking this opportunity to see what it was like in the United States. And I also want to thank the host families for opening up their homes to each and every one of you. We obviously could not run this program without them.”

AYUSA is currently accepting applications from families interested in hosting an exchange student for the 2010-2011 school year. 

There is no “typical” American host family and having school-aged children is not a requirement.  Host families include married couples with or without children, empty-nesters, single parents, and even grandparents.  Exchange students are placed with students in both rural and urban communities – in small towns, on farms, in the suburbs and in big cities. 

Host families are asked to provide a safe, warm and nurturing environment while sharing their American culture with their student. A host family’s financial responsibility is minimal. Host families provide three meals a day and a bedroom (either private or shared with a host sibling of the same gender).  Each student is supported by a professionally trained Community Representative from AYUSA that is assigned to work with the family and student for the entire program. 

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program was established in October 2002 and is a U.S. Department of State sponsored program that provides scholarships for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend an academic year in the U.S. AYUSA is one of the partner organizations that pairs YES students with U.S. host families.

For more information about hosting a foreign exchange student, or to meet prospective students, please visit AYUSA’s website at http://www.ayusa.org.

Science and Arts Camping

Mayor Michael Nutter has announced that the City of Philadelphia is ”kicking off a summer of learning”. The Summer Learning and More (SLAM) program is in place and ready to give Philadelphia’s children the opportunity to have fun while engaging in learning activities that will prepare them for a successful return to school in the Fall.

Studies have shown, that children who participate in  structured learning activity during the summer months do better than children who don’t, when they re-enter school after summer vacation.

Artology is no stranger to this concept. In the summer of 2007, BuildaBridge piloted its first two-week Artology program, a science and art summer day camp for 4th-6th grade students, most of whom were coping with homelessness. Now Artology has  three times as many students from when it started and has expanded to seven weeks.

Lead by professional artists, science teachers, and graduate medical students, participants have trekked through Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park system armed with magnifying glasses, sketchbooks, and cameras. Through hands on dynamic learning, Artology is designed to spark curiosity in students who have all too often been robbed of the joy of learning and many of whom are unaware of Philadelphia’s vast natural splendor.

Artology’s summer day camp, combining art and biology, will be held at Second Baptist Church of Germantown, 6459 Germantown Avenue. There are two sessions: June 28 to July 23 for grades 6-8, and July 26 to August 13 for grades 4-5. Hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Artology is still accepting applications and slots are filling up fast. Though there is a $25 registration fee, Artology’s Director, Charlene Melhorn states: “Artology is committed to ensuring that every child who wants to attend is able to - regardless of their financial circumstances.”

For more information on how you can enroll your child in Artology summer day camp please call 215-842-0428.

Summer Reading at Free Library

The Summer Reading program of the Free Library of Philadelphia is set to celebrate a new season of events, activities, and special games and prizes all in the name of reading! Running from June 16 through August 11, Summer Reading supports literacy by encouraging more than 57,000 children and teens to read during the summer months—studies continue to suggest that the simple act of reading six or more books during the summer can help students avoid “learning loss” and even make gains in their reading levels.

The annual program features a special game board that helps students keep track of their reading progress, and “players” have chance to win prizes from participating sponsors.

For the second year in a row the Free Library will also offer a bi-lingual program at 11 branches selected for their large Spanish speaking populations. Telemundo, the Spanish language TV station, partnered with the Free Library to translate materials and provide additional promotional and programmatic opportunities. 

Summer Reading is supported by co-lead sponsors Verizon and Wachovia, a Wells Fargo company, as well as the PKG Foundation, the Philadelphia City Institute Board of Managers, the Patricia Kind Family Foundation, and the UGI Corporation.

Special prizes have been donated by a number of regional businesses and organizations.

For more information and to sign up for the program, visit freelibrary.org/summerreading, call 215-686-5372, or visit your local branches.

Big Backyard

The Big Backyard Cooperative Preschool is hosting its annual summer camp for children aged 3 to 6 years during the four full weeks in July. Families are invited to sign up for two, three, or four weeks of summertime fun.

Camp begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 2:30 p.m., although caregivers are also welcome to pick their children up at 1 p.m. Each week’s activities are based on an enriching theme, such as camping, bugs, robots, pet care, and more. The day is fully packed with crafts, music, and plenty of outdoor time in the school’s large, fenced play area, including sprinklers and other daily water play. Children should wear bathing suits and bring towels, a snack, and lunch.

The Big Backyard is a licensed, accredited, parent-run cooperative preschool in the back of the Grace Epiphany Episcopal Church, 240 East Gowen Avenue. The school was founded in 1952, and serves kids aged from two years, seven months to pre-k. For more information about summer camp call 215-248-0919 or e-mail cordeliaj@gmail.com.

Kids Learn About Electricity This Summer

Philadelphia County students entering second through sixth grade are invited to register and attend GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer program, a free and fun experiment-oriented course taught by certified teachers to groups of 15 students in two age groups: children entering second and third grades (Level I) and children entering fourth through sixth grades (Level II).  GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer is administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in partnership with local libraries.

Science in the Summer program will teach Philadelphia students about the wonders of Physical Science and Electricity. Students will learn about magnetism, static electricity, electrical currents and circuits.  Students will make a compass and an electromagnet and use an electrostatic generator. 

GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer program consists of two-day sessions.  Two-day Saturday sessions also will be offered at select libraries.  Program times vary.  Please check with each library for specific start times.  Visit www.scienceinthesummer.com for updated course dates or call your local library for information.

Registration for all Philadelphia Libraries begins May 24. Parents must register their children in person at the library they wish to attend. For more information visit www.scienceinthesummer.com or your local library.

Northwest library branches and course dates include: Falls of Schuylkill Branch, 3501 Midvale Avenue, course dates July 15-16, library phone number 215-685-2093; Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library, 68 West Chelten Avenue, course dates July 15-16, and July 10 and 17 (Saturday sessions), library phone number 215-685-2152; West Oak Lane Branch, 2000 Washington Lane, course dates July 8 – 9, library phone number 215-685-2843.

For more information visit scienceinthesummer.com, call your local library or Kristin Sawka at 215-686-5372.                    

Art and Music Program From Tranestop and Crump Gallery

TraneStop Resource Institute, a 30-year old non-profit music organization, in concert with Lucien Crump Gallery Art Education Resource Center, a non-profit art education organization, is inviting principals, counselors, teachers and parents of school students between the ages of 12 and 15 years to refer students for participation in an art and music program designed to build expressive and leadership skills and to help young people curb aggressive impulses.

The program – P.R.I.S.M. (The Art and Music of Expression and Leadership) – is a component  of TraneStop’s  Horns 4 Guns Project.  Our PRISM program  will be conducted on Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Lucien Crump Gallery, 6380 Germantown Avenue, with occasional field trips into the community.  Our staff includes artists, musicians, educators, mentors  and counselors.  The program will be conducted in three independent phases, with completion ceremonies following each phase. 

Phase 1 is May 29 to July 24,  Phase 2 is September 11 to November 13, and Phase 3 will run February 5 to April 9, 2011.

Participants will be awarded certificates of completion for the first phase on Sunday,  July 25, during TraneStop’s 15th annual community concert,  at which time students will have an opportunity to showcase their art and creative work and/or  to perform music or original spoken word/poetry from the stage.

Participation is by interview only.  Interviews will be conducted on Saturday, May 22 and May 29 at 11 a.m. at Crump Gallery.  Interested students are also invited to interview without referral. Written parental/guardian permission is required.

Phase one of this program is sponsored in part by United Parcel Service.

For information, contact the TraneStop  Resource Institute at 215-438-3178, fax 215-438-5704, email Thetranestop@comcast.net; or the Lucien Crump Gallery Art Education Resource Center, 215-843-8788, fax 215-843-0200.

Team Waldorff Takes on Broad Street Run

It was a hot day with record-setting 90+ degree heat, but Team Waldorf joyfully participated in the Broad Street Run, a 10 mile race that starts at Central High School and ends at the Navy Yard in South Philly.

Eight alumni, parents and friends of the Waldorf School of Philadelphia (WSP) made up Team Waldorf, a group of committed runners, who each raised $1,000 and trained for months for the grueling run, all for a great cause to raise awareness and money for the school.  The Team included Adam Zihar, Neil Jenkins, Brenda Littlejohn, Tash Osborne, Liza Herschel, Kira Gartner and Amy and Lisa Phillips.  Neil Jenkins finished first of the group at 1 hour 22 minutes while Adam Zihar came in second at 1 hour 27 minutes. Another group of parents and staff volunteered to work at a water station.

The race was a first for Amy Phillips, WSP Alumni Class of 2007 and junior at Central High School, who ran on Central High School’s Cross Country Team this past fall and decided to give it a try, along with her mother, Lisa Phillips.  Encouraging each other along the way, Amy and Lisa started running in January and together put in over 225 miles of training.

“It was a challenge dealing with the hot weather, so I was very happy to see the finish line. Being a part of the team was a way for me to give back to the school that has given me so much,” said Amy Phillips.

The Waldorf School of Philadelphia offers early childhood through eighth-grade programs in a lovely greystone building on a beautiful campus in Mt. Airy. All proceeds will support the scholarship programs at the school. 

The West Oak Lane Charter School  Board of Trustees will hold their May meeting on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 9:00am at the Francis Cope House at the Awbury Arboretum.

Northwest Student Takes Top Honors at Moot Court Competition

By PATRICK COBBS

Staff Writer

Germantown resident and Central High School senior Matthew Palmer knows how to make a point. In fact, he makes them so well that not only did he stand out this year as the top prize winner in the 2010 National Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Moot Court Competition at Drexel University on March 21, he turned some heads along the way as well.

“I thought he was incredible, and better than many of the lawyers that I’ve seen argue in court,” said Gwen Stern, director of the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project at the Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University.

Stern founded the moot court program as a way to inform high school students about their constitutional rights. The yearly competition invites student litigators from cities across the country to argue cases against each other. This year’s case, based on Pennsylvania schools that spied on students using hidden cameras, was meant to showcase the scope of privacy rights. 

Stern saw Matthew compete in the finals, which were decided by real Philadelphia judges, and she was blown away by his calm under pressure.

“He was totally prepared, had a lot of poise, responded to questions without flinching. He just was very impressive,” she said.

There are a few reasons for Matt’s success. First, he had stiff competition within his own team. Fellow Lancer Judee Pope took the second place prize on the same day. And thanks to the University of Pennsylvania law students who came to help the Central team prepare for its competition, he also learned a few tricks to deal with the judges’ tough interrogation.

“You say, ‘that’s a good question Your Honor’ and smile,” he said. “That gives you like five more seconds to think.”

Matt was assigned to represent the school district, unfortunately he said, “the bad guy.” Rebuttal was his strength.

He doesn’t like to call what he did in the finals “mocking” his opponent, but she did use the word “atrocity” in her summary argument. Atrocity - cheating is an atrocity. Being kept from properly educating students is an atrocity, if you want to talk about atrocities.

“Everybody just started laughing,” Matt said. “I was like, ‘Is that good or bad?’”

But it turns out that Matt has had some practice at rebuttal and debate experience before moot court. Chores, homework, whether to give up the computer to his little brother Mark, age 11 – someone with solid rebuttal skills himself – is all a matter off debate in the Palmer house.

“I’ve been telling him he was going to be a lawyer since he was a little baby,” said Floyd Palmer Jr., Matt’s father.

And about his poise under pressure, a smitten Melissa Talley–Palmer, who has made up a kind of ‘portable Matthew’ in the form of a full color fold-out pamphlet of her son as he gets ready for college in the fall, may have the answer. Complete with studio photos and a vita that documents Matt’s career as a child actor and model (he was featured in a Chuck E. Cheese commercial when he was a kid) one thing the portable Mathew shows is that stage fright is probably not an issue.

Matt admitted that he might not have gotten into moot court for all the right reasons: two excused absences from school and free food all day. But, jokes aside, he is one for trying new things, and for putting his heart into them.

After all, he was a part of the class, who, their junior year revived the Ultimate Lancers from past oblivion. Ultimate, that is, as in Frisbee.

Something of a cross between football and soccer, but without so much hitting and every bit as much running, Ultimate Frisbee is not a very popular game in city schools, he said.

“At first it was like, ‘Frisbee? Why do you guys play Frisbee?’” Matt said of his classmates’ response to the team.

But with a sturdy three and three record this year and the wintertime distinction of running the Central hallways with the wrestling team, which runs a lot, Matt said, the team has slowly earned respect at the school. It helps that when people try out for the squad, assuming anything with Frisbee in it will be easy, they tend to be a little humbled.

“People are like, ‘Well I can play Frisbee’ and then they try it and it’s not pretty,” Matt said.

As college approaches Matt is delighted he’s already been accepted to his first choice school, the University of the Arts in Center City. He plans to major in multi media production. But with Gwen Stern’s encouragement he recently applied to Drexel “super extra late” just to see what would happen. He’s never seriously considered a career in law before but the idea is starting to gain some appeal. It could be all the encouragement from his classmates since the moot court victory.

“I’m already starting to be called Little Cochran,” he said.

Historic Camping This Summer at Wyck

Last year’s campers created this natural structure from found objects in Wyck’s gardens.

“Wyckedly” fun summer camps will be taking place at Wyck Historic House and Gardens, 6026 Germantown Ave.

Join camp director Lori Litchman for one or two weeks of playing, creating, exploring, learning, and constructing for children ages eight to twelve. Camp runs from  9 a.m. -3 p.m. every day and takes place outdoors in the gardens at Wyck. All materials are provided, and children need to bring a lunch and drink.

While there will be structured activities, there will be plenty of time for independent exploration and imaginative play.

Camps include: August 2 – 6, Native American Life.  Have you ever wondered what life was like for Native Americans? During this week of Wyck’s camp, you’ll find out! Some of the activities include making bows and arrows, beading, making clay pots, face painting, building structures out of found items, and Native American games and toys.

August 9 – 13, Colonial American Life. Life as an early American child was much different than what we are used to. During this week of camp, we’ll explore what it was like to grow up during this time. Some activities include making toys and playing with early American toys (like stilts and potato sacks!), making jam and tea, soap whittling, and how to tie knots. 

Space is limited so please register early. Early-bird registration is $150 per child/per week. Registration and payment must be received by May 1. After May 1, Wyck members pay $165 per child/per week,  non-members $185 per child/per week.

For more information call 215-848-1690, visit www.wyck.org  or email llitchman@wyck.org.

Mentors Sought

Attention parents, guardians, and friends. Connections Training Services Mentoring Program, a program established to make an impact in the life of a child whose parent or household member is incarcerated, is looking for mentors age 21 and above, as well as mentees between the age of 4-18, living in the Philadelphia area, who want to attend fun and exciting events throughout the year.

For more information call 215-430-0381, ext.5535.

Simon Gratz Reunion

The Simon Gratz High School Class of 1980 will hold its 30-year class reunion on October 23, 9 p.m. – 1 p.m., at Romano’s, 1523 Wingohocken Street, Philadelphia. For

ticket information call 215-360-1831 or e-mail simongratz8980@yahoo.com or marelaing0103@yahoo.com.  

GFS Stars in MathCounts

The GFS Middle School MathCounts club: (front row) Matt Wilson, Oliver Fox, Veena Advani, Annie Block; (center row) Taara Advani, Camille Choe, Sophie Trotto, Liana Spiro, Madie Lee; (rear) Leland Reardon and coach Matt Zipin.

On Saturday, Feb. 13, when most of Philadelphia was sleeping (or digging out), the Germantown Friends School MathCounts team earned second place in the Philadelphia Chapter competition against ten other schools at Temple University. Lee Reardon of Mt. Airy, a GFS 8th grader, finished first overall in the city.

The official GFS team consisted of all 8th graders: Lee Reardon, Veena Advani (who finished in the top ten), Oliver Fox and Camille Choe. Four additional GFS contestants took the same tests: 8th grader Madie Lee and 7th graders Taara Advani, Liana Spiro and Sophie Trotto. All of the GFS participants finished in the top half of all contestants.

Lee and Veena, by virtue of a top-10 finish in the written part of the competition, competed in the CountDown Round, where two contestants face each other in a one on one duel to see who can answer questions first. Lee not only won the written competition but won the CountDown round as well. He will be going to the State competition at the end of March, representing GFS, for the second year in a row.

The GFS MathCounts team is coached by two Upper School math teachers, Matt Zipin and Dave Mraz.

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