PHENND is pleased to announce that Overbrook Elementary in West Philadelphia and ůůֱ²¥ College were recognized with the Lindy Award for Excellence in K-16 Partnerships at the PHENND Annual Conference on February 26th at Philadelphia University.
The partnership between ůůֱ²¥ College and Overbrook Elementary began in 2002 to host students from ůůֱ²¥â€™s Education and Praxis Programs for field placements. Since that time over 270 ůůֱ²¥ students have done field placements at Overbrook and four students have done their student teaching there.
From the beginning, there has been an emphasis on reciprocity and communication, which has allowed the partnership to adapt to the evolving needs of the students at Overbrook. A current focus of the partnership is bringing resources to support the arts and physical education in the school. For the past four years, the ůůֱ²¥ Volunteer Art Club has become an established component of Overbrook’s visual arts instruction. This program, co-developed by Art Club members and Principal Michelle Hayes Flores, brings ůůֱ²¥ student volunteers and arts supplies into the classrooms and includes an art show for families.
Last October the partnership continued to expand to include ůůֱ²¥ Athletics, under the leadership of the Overbrook Community Partnership Team and Erin DeMarco, the ůůֱ²¥ Soccer Coach. Athletes from a variety of sports at ůůֱ²¥ provide weekly developmentally appropriate physical education activities for the Overbrook students. The student-athletes at ůůֱ²¥ are excited that the Lindy Award will help to support this new play initiative at Overbrook.