My name is Mercedes Amarant and I am an involved mother of two bright, inquisitive and enthusiastic children. I am writing this petition on behalf of my two children and all the children in the Pennsport neighborhood who attend Abigail Vare Elementary School. The School District of Philadelphia has slated the closing of 37 schools in June, Abigail Vare being one of them. For us, for Pennsport (our neighborhood) and the community it is unacceptable to be losing our only school.
When my family moved into the neighborhood we discovered that our local public school is filled with caring, engaged, dedicated teachers and support staff. Daily we listen to both of them share with enthusiasm about their educational adventures within this historic building. Abigail Vare ES is 110 years old. It services a diverse group of children from many backgrounds speaking many different languages. Closing Abigail Vare ES would leave Pennsport neighborhood WITHOUT a public school. Vare is the ONLY public school in the PENNSPORT NEIGHBORHOOD!
Vare ES offers Pennsport children a strong academic component, as well as educational experience that prepares them for the adult world. We have a strong special education program and an ESOL program for our bilingual children. Most of our beloved permanent school teachers have a master's degree. Abigail Vare ES has full time art, gym, and music educators. To enrich our children's experiences and encourage growth, we receive weekly visits from wonderful instrumental and woodwind instructors, as well as a nutritionist with Eat, Right, Now. Our school offers a fairly new computer lab and provides a significant amount of time for the students to be literate in our ever-growing technological world.
The passion to create exciting, educational experiences for our children does not stop there. Our teachers and staff utilize the entire Philadelphia community to help educate, support and challenge our students to excel. The Kindergarten and 1st grades travel into center city for coached reading under a program called Philadelphia Reads with local law firms. The 2nd grade participates in Reading Buddies with a local Senior Center. ShopRite works with the 3rd grade in a program called Young Consumers. The middles school classrooms are housed with interactive white boards as well as classroom laptop carts. The school encourages cross grade activities. For the students interested, there are after school clubs held by and designed by the teachers including a homework club, gaming club, and guitar club to name a few. Also parent workshops offered monthly dealing with relevant topics such as; raising children in today's world, teaching respect, and nutrition. We benefit from visits by Fleisher Arts and Drexel dancers. Abigail Vare ES is undeniably a family.
My husband and I feel very fortunate to have access to such a resourceful institution. If Abigail Vare is closed we will lose it all. The impact on our thriving, vibrant community is unknown, but it does make the future look bleak. Please take a moment and help us show the Philadelphia School District that Abigail Vare ES needs to remain open. As the children of Vare ES recite every day in the School Pledge..."Abigail Vare IS our learning place. We are making a better tomorrow today!"