The J.S. Jenks Home and School Association
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Who we are
The Home and School Association (HSA) is a voluntary support organization for J.S. Jenks Elementary School.
We welcome all parents with children currently enrolled in Jenks, faculty, and staff. Our mission is to
actively participate in the enrichment of the students' learning experience and provide a variety of support
for teachers and staff. We also sustain an extensive number of partnerships with organizations in Philadelphia
that benefit the school and strengthen our ties with the larger community.
The HSA meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6:30 - 8:00. Our agenda is determined by current
projects as identified by parents, teachers, staff, students, and the wider community.
Home and School Council - Gerald Wright, Karen Ampomah
Rep to the Chestnut Hill Community Association - Pat Mooney
Officers are elected yearly, except for presidents who serve two years on a staggered basis. Submit
nominations to the HSA secretary prior the penultimate meeting in May.
What We Do [It's not just bake-sales anymore!]
I. Fundraising
II. Cultural Enrichment
III.Teacher and Staff Support
IV. School Beautification
IV. Public Relations and Advocacy
I. Fundraising
The most basic activity that HSA actively pursues is fundraising. Throughout the year we sponsor a large
variety of activities in which the children and the community can be involved in raising money that will
benefit Jenks. Some recent examples include running a Jenks booth at the Fall for the Arts fair in Chestnut
Hill which featured pretzels, baked-goods, and a craft activity; the Cherrydale gift catalogue drive; periodic
bazaars; Box-tops for Education, etc.; applying for special grants. These activities are both hard work and
fun. HSA is always open for new fundraising ideas as well as more people-power for the ongoing projects that
happen on an annual basis.
II. Cultural Enrichment
This area has many possibilities some of which can include booking special assemblies for the children, leading
special clubs such as the Lego robot building project, organizing field trips, organizing and sponsoring
after-school programs with various arts and sports organizations, as well as smaller scale events such as
reading to a class, playing a musical instrument, volunteer homework help, or bringing any other skill you
may have into the classroom.
III. Teacher and Staff Support
HSA offers an annual $50 allotment for each teacher for supply needs that fall out of the purview or means
of Ms. Eisenberg's school budget. Not all teachers use their allotment, and other extra monies, give HSA
the ability to help other teachers out with larger requests.
IV. Environment
Money is allotted to further beautifying and maintaining an attractive, safe, and clean building and grounds.
We work in conjunction with several community groups to achieve this goal.
V. Public Relations and Advocacy
In the interest of attracting enrollment and strengthening community ties, we pursue a number of public
relations efforts. These can include open houses, articles in local newspapers, tapping local businesses
to sponsor the newsletters, and gathering donations for various fundraisers. In the interest of making our
presence felt on regional and District level and securing the best resources for our school, we maintain good
relationships with several key people in the Philadelphia school district infrastructure.
What can you do?
Join, or better yet, chair a committee. Pick an aspect of the school you are interested in improving or
enriching, develop a specific project that would benefit that interest, get other parents on board, and
get to work using your expertise, ideas, and resources!! The HSA always has numerous projects that are
in place that need fresh leadership; but it also welcomes new projects as long as you can supply the
man/womanpower. Contact anyone on the board to find the appropriate person to talk to about your ideas.
The HSA encourages all parents to participate in any way they can and will be happy to support your efforts.
You can make a difference in your child's education! |
