The PA Ballet program ran through September to May, ultimately ending with a final performance on May 5, 2023. Conwell Middle School students were taught three dances to practice, Jazz Dance, Bachata and The Finale Dance. The final dance, There were nine different other schools, all dressed in different colors while Conwell was dressed in green.
“Just the thought of them performing in front of lots of people, makes it all worth it,” Ms. Maria, Conwell School Secretary and After School All Stars coordinator for the school, said.
Ms. Maria has stated that the students learn discipline, cooperation and also learn how to be precise. One of the performers had also received a scholarship to a dance school, however they are going to receive this recognition later during the 8th grade award ceremony.
Ms. Maria also looks forward to more participation in the next school year and she encourages everyone to join, male and female, dancer or not, she still encourages everyone to join.
Check out the above video to see the 2022-2023 Conwell PA Ballet dancers in action, during their performance at the Cherry St. Pier on May 5.
Editor’s Note – Footage from the recital courtesy of Ms. Maria and Conwell Parent Ms. Palmer.
By A. Peralta-83 – CCB Lead Reporter with contributions by CCB Staff
Image courtesy of Conwell MMS.
On Tuesday, May 9, from 5:30 through 8:30 PM, Conwell Middle Magnet School will be hosting Philadelphia City Council’s next Public Safety Committee Hearing. At the public event, Council member Curtis Jones Jr. (4th district), chairperson of the Public Safety Committee and Council member Quetzy Lozada (7th district), will be speaking about Kensington’s crises of Crime, Narcotics and overall harmful environment for students and civilians alike.
As explained in an article published in the Philadelphia City Council Weekly Report, the purpose of the hearing is for the public to weigh in on Councilmember Lozada’s proposed Marshall Plan for Kensington. The plan is described as a way for leaders from across the city to develop solutions in collaboration with community residents.
In her resolution, Council member Lozada stated that the plan was so named after, “The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, grew out of the horror and destruction caused by World War II.” Her plan connected the horrors of World II with the current Opioid and gun violence crisis in the neighborhood.
“They chose Conwell because it is in the heart of Kensington and the Opiod Crisis,” Principal. Green said.
“They chose Conwell because it is in the heart of Kensington and the Opioid Crisis,” Ms. Erica Green, principal of Conwell Middle Magnet school, said. “Voices of the parents, students and teachers should be heard because they are all stakeholders.”
Principal Green encourages the public, residents, and especially students and their families to attend the meeting to have their voices heard.
“Voices of the parents, students and teachers should be heard because they are all stakeholders,” Principal Green said, “and the only way we can make change is if we work together for our community.”
According to Principal Green, students are expected to speak and express their concerns, opinions and worries. Some students were also asked what they would say to the City Council members during the meeting.
“Our community needs more police officers around making addicts and the homeless get proper help,” said A. Irizarry-82, Conwell eigth-grade student and president of the school’s Student Council. She added, “and ensuring no more addicts are in our community.”
Many of Conwell’s students walk home, take public transit, and travel from outside the neighborhood, which makes this a major issue and hazard for the safety of the students.
“There should be police officers to at least get people off the street,” said E. Jasper-83, an eighth-grade student. “I once ran into someone high.¨
The McPherson Square Library – Photo Credit to Bryan Belknap
Conwell Middle Magnet students and their families are invited to attend the McPherson Library Job fair on April 13, 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. The Job fair is a collaboration that includes 36 organizations and agencies offering jobs for the youth during the summer.
“Working at the library, I have seen teens struggle to get summer jobs,” said Bryan Belknap Belknap, Lead LEAP/Maker Mentor at McPherson Square Library, said in an email to the Conwell Cougars Blog. “So, we wanted an event that makes it easier for teens to get summer jobs.”
Belknap, who is organizing this event with the help from Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Impact Services, and the Friends of McPherson group, said that this is the second year the library is hosting the job fair. According to Belknap, the minimum age requirement for youth to be eligible for a summer job is 12 years old. However, Belknap said that all ages and people are welcome to attend the Job fair.
Poster Provided By Bryan Belknap – Lead LEAP/Maker Mentor
“There is no requirement to attend the event. Everyone is welcomed,” Said Belknap. “We encourage all teens that are interested in summer jobs to attend and bring a friend.”
During the job fair, students will need to create resumes and applications in order to sign up for summer jobs. Adults at the job fair will help guide students during the process and help give students valuable information about signing up for a job.
“We want to reduce the barriers that keep teens from summer jobs,” Belknap said. “Creating a resume and filling out applications are important steps in getting a job.”
The McPherson Library encourages teenagers that are interested in a summer job to attend the Job fair with their peers and friends. McPherson library is also giving out $50 and $100 in debit gift cards for the 2 people who bring along the most friends and peers to attend the McPherson Job fair.
Poster Provided By Bryan Belknap – Lead LEAP/Maker Mentor
According to Belknap, The person in first place will receive the $100 debit gift card and 2nd place will receive $50 in debit gift cards. In order to qualify for the gift card prizes, students must tag each other and use a hashtag for the event. Students are encouraged to post a selfie in front of the Instagram wall that will be presented at the job fair. Teenagers can only tag 1 person, if they tag more than one person, then only the first tag will count. People without Instagram accounts are advised to find Mr. Belknap in order for him to count them.
The McPherson Library is located at 601 E Indiana Ave, Philadelphia, PA. According to Belknap, the Job fair will be held there due to the easy accessibility and location of the library, being in a central part of Kensington.
Below is a slideshow gallery list of the attending vendors at the April 13, 2023, McPherson Job Fair.
The Watershed team, as part of the After School All Stars (ASAS) program, visited and played activities with the students present in the program. The Watershed team comprised of four coordinators: Peter, Avarree, CJ and Nathanial. They educate students about the environment, nature and its organisms.
According to Peter, their primary goal is to be able to initiate discussions that help influence the prevention of pollution, contamination and overall harm to water sources. The Watershed team plans to hopefully take students to explore and take trips to visit and work in community gardens.
“I’ve had a lot of fun in the Watershed program, they taught me things in a way I can understand.” – A. Peralta, a sixth grade student, said.
Graphic Art by A.Peralta 83
Activities that Students and the Coordinators have done were games that included hand signs, physical movement, guessing games and a mixture of all. These activities symbolized Nature and environmental related subjects.
They offer other alternative activities for students who wish not to participate in the selected game, such as coloring and paper activities and small science experiments such as kits.
“We’re really excited to get to work with students across Philadelphia to learn about Environmental Awareness” – Peter, A Watershed coordinator, said.
The Watershed program will be available on Mondays in After School All Stars. If you would like to experience the program for yourself, please contact Ms. Maria in order to sign up for After School All Stars.
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