Your back-to-school guide for Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill

It’s back to school time again in Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill. NewsWorks has put together contact information for area schools and a handful of school year highlights.

Major changes to the school landscape in Northwest Philly for the 2013-2014 academic year include the closure of Germantown High School, which will now feed students into MLK High School and Roxborough High School. Other area closures include Robert Fulton Elementary in Germantown and John L. Kinsey in West Oak Lane.

Keep in mind that Theodore Roosevelt will remain open, but will no longer be a middle school and will now serve K-8. Parkway Northwest High School has relocated from Germantown Avenue to share a location at 1100 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave. with Leeds Middle School.

NewsWorks will follow all area schools throughout the year to provide readers with additional updates. If you have a school-related story idea, send your thoughts to bhickey@whyy.org or nroshania@whyy.org.

Here’s a guide to going back to school in Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill.

Crefeld School

Address: 8836 Crefeld St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19118Phone: 215-242-5545Head of School: George Zeleznik

Crefeld will continue X Block classes that take place once per week. Examples of X Block subjects include SAT Preparation, Sex Education, Cyber Safety and Everyday Survival, among others.

John Story Jenks School

Address: 8301 Germantown Ave. Philadelphia, Pa. 19118Phone: 215-248-6604Principal: Mary Linskey

Advocates for the school have recently formed a community group, “Friends of Jenks,” which seeks to raise funds for the school’s programs, including music education.

Norwood-Fontbonne Academy

Address: 8900 Germantown Ave. Philadelphia, Pa. 19118Phone: 215-247-3811Head of School: Sister Mary Helen Beirne, SSJ, Ed.D

School year activities will include athletics, clubs and service learning.

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy

Address: 500 West Willow Grove Ave. Philadelphia, Pa. 19118Phone: 215-247-4700 (Willow Grove Campus), 215-247-7200 (Cherokee Campus)President: Dr. Priscilla Sands

The school is divided into five divisions: Lower School for Girls, Lower School for Boys, Middle School for Girls, Middle School for Boys, and the Upper School.
SCH Academy continues a commitment to sustainability. Last year they were named a 2012 Green Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Projects include campus-wide recycling, waste-free initiatives in the cafeterias, and an environmental education program that begins in Pre-K.

Blair Christian Academy

Address: 220 W. Upsal St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19119Phone: 215-438-6657Executive Director: Dr. Della Blair

Extracurricular activities at the school include Choir, Glee Club, Student Government, Community Service, Rocket Club, Yearbook, World Affairs Council, Drama Club, Poetry Club, athletics and more.

C.W. Henry School

Address: 601 Carpenter Ln. Philadelphia, Pa. 19119Phone: 215-951-4006Principal: Fatima Rogers

The school continues to have an active PTA and various extracurricular activities.

Eleanor C. Emlen School

Address: 6501 Chew Ave. Philadelphia, Pa. 19119Phone: 215-951-4010Principal: Dr. Nancy Williams-Wilson

School activities include Homework Club, Special Olympics Basketball, Emlen Pride Girls Club and PSSA Preparation.

Henry H. Houston Elementary

Address: 7300 Rural Ln. Philadelphia, Pa. 19119Phone: 215-248-6608

Extracurricular activities include Art Club, Homework Club, Literacy Club, Math Club, National Academic League, School Beautification Club, School Council, Yearbook and athletics.

John F. McCloskey School

Address: 8500 Pickering St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19150Phone: 215-248-6600Principal: R. Victoria Pressley

Extracurricular activities include Knit and Crochet, Math Club, Reading Olympics, Music Class, Drill Team Squad, Penn Relay Team and more.

Khepera Charter School

Address: 144 Carpenter Ln. Philadelphia, Pa. 19119Phone: 215-843-1700Principal: Vernon Holmes

Extracurricular activities include Robotics Club, M’Siki Science Club, Dance, Ma’at Sumu Martial Arts, track, basketball, cheerleading and tennis.

Parkway Northwest High School

Address: 1100 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave. Philadelphia, Pa. 19150Phone: 215-248-6220Principal: Ethyl McGee

The school has relocated from Germantown Avenue and will now be co-located with Leeds Middle School on 1100 E. Mt. Pleasant Avenue.

Project Learn School

Address: 6525 Germantown Ave. Philadelphia, Pa. 19119Phone: 215-438-3623Educational Coordinator: Lisa Pack

A unique part of the school curriculum is “Group Time.” This consists of regularly scheduled activities that teach students to work together and make decisions, negotiate differences and take responsibility for part of a project.