Catholic elementary schools recognized as 2019 Archdiocesan Schools of Distinction
PHILADELPHIA >> Auxiliary Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, who oversees Catholic education throughout the five-county Archdiocese of Philadelphia, joined senior administrators from the Office of Catholic Education last Friday at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Philadelphia to honor 43 parish and regional elementary schools named 2019 Archdiocesan Schools of Distinction.
The 43 schools were recognized for either exceeding growth expectations or benchmarks in academic achievement via standardized testing. Saint Genevieve School in Flourtown, Montgomery County, and Our Lady of Angels Regional Catholic School in Morton, Delaware County, received designations in both categories.
Recognition for Growth is determined by an analysis of the Normal Curve Equivalent (NCE) scores of two consecutive years. If a class has the same NCE as the previous year, they have shown more than a full year’s growth. Taking into consideration a margin of error of +/- 5, the following schools showed between 90% and 100% growth at every grade level tested in every content area.
Delaware County schools recognized for 100% growth include Holy Cross Catholic School in Springfield and Mother of Providence Regional Catholic School in Wallingford. Recognized for 95% growth are Saint Anastasia School in Newtown Square, Saint Mary Magdalen School in Upper Providence and Saint Pius X School in Broomall. The Schools recognized for 90% growth include Blessed Virgin Mary School in Darby, Cardinal Foley Regional Catholic School in Havertown, Our Lady of Angels Regional Catholic School in Morton, and Saint Thomas the Apostle School in Chester Heights.
Schools receiving Recognition for Exceeding Academic Potential when their obtained test scores (determined by the achievement tests) are greater than their anticipated scores (determined by the ability testing). Our Lady of Angels Regional School was determined as Distinguished in Exceeding Academic Potential.
For information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, visit www.aopcatholicschools.org.
Homeless veterans at Coatesville VA Hospital need community’s help
With fall and winter on the horizon, the Herbert W. Best VFW Post #928 in Ridley Township is seeking the community’s help to provide coffee for the homeless veterans at Coatesville VA Hospital.
For the past five years, the local VFW has relied on the Delaware County community to supply the veterans with regular and decaf coffee, sugar, tea, creamer and cookies. The members of VFW #928 bring the donations straight to the veterans who are appreciative of having a hot cup of coffee.
Donations can be dropped off at the Post Home, 1801 MacDade Boulevard, Folsom, any day after 6 p.m. or on Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, call Auxiliary President Carol Rogers at 610-4611226.
Free ‘Get Fit’ classes offered in Chester on Saturdays in Sept.
The City of Chester is offering free “Get Fit” classes 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 and 28 at Chester Water (Talen Stadium), Flower St. and Seaport Drive, Chester. Sponsored by Keystone First, the classes are made possible by Councilman William Jacobs, director of public safety, and Rosetta Carter, community health director.
Local author shares insights on Muslim life in America
In her new novel, “Talk Till the Minutes Run Out – An Immigrant’s Tale at 7-Eleven,” author Benedicte Grima of Media, gives readers new insight on what it’s like to be a Muslim immigrant living in the United States.
The book explores the tale of aging and homesick Nur Ali, who is working at a local 7-Eleven and seeking asylum. Though exiled from his Pakistan homeland and inaccurately labeled as a Taliban sympathizer by the US government, he’s determined to keep his position as family patriarch. Nur Ali leads and provides for his beloved family clan back in Pakistan while living half a world away.
The novel provides readers with seldom considered perspectives on the struggles many immigrants face. Using prepaid phone cards and a landline in the inner-city 7-Eleven where he works as night shift manager, Nur Ali manages food, gifts, marriages, births, and deaths, all the events that glue a family together.
Author Benedicte Grima has deep roots in both American and Middle Eastern cultures. She grew up internationally, studied four Middle Eastern languages, became proficient in Farsi and Pashto, and conducted over 20 years of fieldwork throughout Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan – some as a Fulbright scholar. She has also worked as a language and culture interpreter among refugees and exiles in the U.S., who immigrated from those countries.
Grima has authored research in The Performance of Emotion Among Paxtun Women (1992), and Secrets From the Field (2004). This historical and ethnographic novel is created from her knowledge and personal experience with people from Swat, Pakistan.
To attain a copy of the book, e-mail grimabenedicte20@gmail.com/.
Springfield Historical Society presents program on strokes
The Springfield Historical Society will present a program on strokes 7:30 p.m., Oct. 9 at the Springfield Country Club. 440 W. Sproul Rd., Springfield. The program is open to the public and free of charge. A Q&A session will follow the presentation.
Thomas Broussard, Jr. Ph.D., a stroke educator, will present a program highlighting the differences between right-brain and left-brain strokes. Tom and his brother Robert Broussard, president of the Springfield Historical Society, both suffered strokes with very different affects due to the area of the brain attacked by the stroke.
Dr. Broussard had his first stroke in 2011. He could not read, write or speak due to aphasia, but kept a 500 page diary. He “wrote” his diary using graphs, charts and metaphorical drawings that made no sense. He will discuss the process of how he lost his language and how he got it back. While his brother Robert didn’t suffer with aphasia, both regained physical functions with intensive therapy. Dr. Broussard will discuss how both brothers’ brains learned from experiencedependent neural plasticity.
Dr. Broussard is an awarded author, public speaker, and three-time stroke survivor. He was a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, a naval officer, a naval shipbuilder, and a business owner in career development and training. He received his Ph.D. at The Heller School at Brandeis University, Waltham, MA. His work focused on helping people with disabilities get work. Stroke Educator, Inc. is committed to aphasia awareness in every state. Tom’s first three books of the Stroke Diary series will be available for sale after the presentation.
For additional information, contact Barbara Burke, VP Springfield Historical Society, at the Heritage Museum 610-9386299.
Rep. Krueger hosts senior expo in Brookhaven
State Representative Leanne Krueger will host a free senior expo 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sept. 26 at the Brookhaven Municipal Center, 2 Cambridge Rd., Brookhaven. Seniors can join exhibitors from local, state and federal agencies to attain valuable information and take advantage of programs just for seniors. The event will offer a flu shot clinic that is free with most insurance and Medicare cards.
The senior expo will also provide door prizes and lunch. For more information, call 610-534-6880.