St. Peter's School

Endings and Beginnings

tim — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:50:47 +0000

We completed the school year with a variety of traditions and activities. The annual Alumni Basketball game in which the Eighth Grade plays along side of alumni, was won by the Garnets this year. We also had a special party in honor of Mrs. Mack who completed 38 wonderful years of teaching art. Alumni, current and past parents, faculty and students came to join in the celebration. She and Mr. Mack will continue to follow their passions for art, gardening, travel, and good food. The Academic Awards Assembly occurred on Friday, June 11. Awards were given for discipline-specific achievements. The last major event was graduation which occurred on Monday, June 14. We are proud of our graduates who have been accepted by the following schools:

Academy at Palumbo
Central High School
Chestnut Hill Academy
Church Farm School
Friends Select School
Friends Central School
Haverford School
High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (voice and dance programs)
Merion Mercy Academy
Padua Academy (Delaware)
Phelps School
Philadelphia Mennonite High School
Shipley School
Springside School
St. Joseph’s Preparatory School
William Penn Charter School

Second Grade Visits the Insectarium!

wendye — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:05:08 +0000

On Wednesday, May 26th, the Second Grade visited the Insectarium, Philadelphia’s only all-bug museum and the largest insect museum in the country! The Insectarium is the only museum in America solely devoted to the study and display of insects. The Insectarium’s extensive collection demonstrated natural habitats of many unusual insects, tarantulas, scorpions and crustaceans. The children were educated and entertained by many live creatures and countless informative and interactive displays. A highlight of the visit was when some adventurous students got to taste cheese-flavored mealworms!

Guest Chefs

wendye — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:23:02 +0000

On Monday, May 17th, the Lower School teachers, along with Mr. Costello, provided and served a dinner for the families staying at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. The House provides a home away from home for families of critically ill children receiving treatment at local hospitals. These families do not have the extra time, resources, or energy to prepare or purchase meals while caring for children. Coming home after an exhausting day at the hospital to baked ziti, meatballs, garlic bread, salad, and homemade brownies (baked by the class parents) was a huge gift for these families. We were so happy to be able to make a difference!

Double Bass Master Visits

tim — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:31:51 +0000

Double bass player Ranaan Meyer amazed grades K-8 in a special music assembly on Monday, May 17. According to musicopia.net, “Ranaan Meyer began his musical studies at the piano at age four and, when he was big enough to hold it, took up the double bass at 11.” “He attended the Manhattan School of Music and graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in 2003. Beyond regular appearances with orchestras such as the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and The Philadelphia Orchestra, Ranaan is also increasingly in demand as a composer, creating unique new works for his trio Time for Three as well as for solo bass and other ensembles.”

While visiting St. Peter’s School, Mr. Meyer played classical pieces and jazz standards. He also showed how he can deftly improvise tunes based on guiding words and phrases from the audience. We appreciated his creativity, passion, humor, and inspiration. Mr. Meyer’s group, Time for Three, will soon embark on a world tour. Special thanks to music teacher Marc Silver for bringing his friend to St. Peter’s School.

First Graders Transform St. Peter’s Theater into a Rain Forest

wendye — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:25:24 +0000

The First Grade created its own “rain forest” in the theater on April 29th as a culminating activity for a month-long study of the rain forest habitat. The students made vines, leaves, and flowers, and drew pictures of animals, which were hung on columns and draped from the ceiling. The First Graders used this environment to showcase the reports and dioramas on rain forest animals that the students had produced in their classrooms.

In the weeks leading up to this presentation, the First Graders used books and other resources to find facts about their animals. The students recorded the facts in their own words, and then they organized their information into a formal report. In addition, each First Grader created a large diorama that showed his/her animal as it might be found in the rain forest habitat.

On the day of the presentation, the two First Grade classes welcomed their parents and the other St. Peter’s students to the “rain forest.” They sat next to their dioramas, read their reports to those who stopped by their tables, and answered any questions. The St. Peter’s First Grade students were very pleased to have this opportunity to showcase their hard work!

Good Deed: The Friendship Fund

tim — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:01:05 +0000

Odette Moolten was visiting her grandfather who lives in a retirement community outside of Philadelphia. The community has a gift shop with a special fund. All proceeds from the gift shop go to the “Friendship Fund” which raises money for elderly residents who can no longer afford to pay their rent. This fund ensures that no one will have to leave the community because of their financial situation. While visiting the shop, Odette discovered that some of the residents were selling greeting cards they had made. Using her artistic talents, Odette decided to create her own greeting cards to donate to the shop to help them raise money for their fund. So far, she has sold birthday cards and blank cards and she hopes to contribute more!

Good Deed-Fables for Children’s Hospital

wendye — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:32:42 +0000

Mrs. Thorell’s Fourth Grade wrote fables in Language Arts class and illustrated pictures during their computer time. The students wanted to share their stories with other children. The stories and pictures were compiled into a storybook, and the book was then donated to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Good Deed - Trash Mob

tim — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:55:05 +0000

The Upper School decided to do something spontaneous during an assembly period last week. The 5th and 6th grade students participated in a clean-up of the blocks near the school between Head House Square and 5th Street. Using our mighty orange-handled trash spears, we collected trash of all sorts and beautified the neighborhood. The students had a lot of fun!

Good Deed - 650 Books for Reach Out and Read Philadelphia

kate — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:42:11 +0000

Billy and Nick Donato and their friends McIntyre, Lexi, and Eloise Levin shared their love of reading with children throughout Philadelphia. They collected over 650 gently used books for Reach Out and Read Philadelphia, a pediatric literacy program which “prescribes” reading each day and distributes books through well and sick visits at local pediatric practices. What super “medicine”!

Good Deed - River Clean Up

tim — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:25:20 +0000

Mr. Weymouth along with his wife, son, and daughter joined many volunteers who cleaned up the shoreline of the Brandywine River in Chester County. The group found all sorts of refuse including a railroad sign, a wheelchair, a message in a bottle, and a very old shoe. In just a few hours of work, the volunteers helped clean miles of the Brandywine to return it to its pristine beauty for everyone to enjoy. Pictured are Mr. Weymouth and his son, Jack, who was trying to be humble and incognito about all of the trash they picked up.