Let's Appreciate our Accomplishments
Reflecting on a Successful Academic Year
June is here ... and so are many reasons to celebrate!
As the 2016-2017 school year closes, I would like to recognize the CORA team of therapists, counselors, teachers, aides and support staff who have worked tirelessly this year, at times in spite of unforeseen challenges. These individuals are skilled, poised and passionate about the integrity of their work, but most importantly, they exhibit such care and concern for their clients and students who are always the first priority. The development and success of children and families who trust CORA's reputation for service excellence when at their lowest points in life remains at the heart of the matter.
Creating opportunities for success is something that CORA does at many levels. Our Early Years locations in Fox Chase and on the campus of LaSalle University have both flourished this year earning Keystone Star 4 Status. CORA continues its work in the community with children and families throughout the summer months across all programs and departments. Evaluations of our programs and service delivery is ongoing and imperative to create opportunities for sustainable impact and addressing the most prevalent issues facing our community. I am grateful to our staff for their continued dedication and to the communities we serve for trusting CORA for 45 years.
Finally, we celebrate all fathers this June. Whatever your biological connection to the ones you love, you are a source of strength, honor, guidance and most importantly, love, for those who love you. You set an example that is unrivaled in a child's life. Happy Father's Day to all!
CORA will continue to celebrate this June with the 8th Annual CORA for KIDS Golf Class on Monday, June 27th at Philmont Country Club. This year's event is shaping up to be one of the best on record across the board - all to benefit the programs and services offered by CORA. Stay tuned for photos and a recap of the event with our friends and guests from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The Preston & Steve Show from WMMR.
Thank you for all you do to support CORA. Our work matters because of you. Have a fantastic summer!
AnnMarie Schultz, CEO and President
|
|
|
CORA Kids Collage
CORA smiles when our children feel proud of their accomplishments.
 |
|
|
Our educators include art throughout the year to help children develop their cognitive, social, and motor abilities. Art
and Music mediums are seen in our early years preschool.
Check out the album here.
|
CORA serves over 200 students with Afterschool clubs and Summer Camp Programs. Our youth build friendships during out-of-school time services to develop strong character traits. To learn more about CORA's camps, contact Kyle Rouse at 215-200-2889
|
Temple University's OT students teamed up with CORA Occupational Therapist at Simon Gratz Mastery Charter High School to develop a snack store for students in the Autistic Support classroom.
|
|
|
School Services: Counseling
Special Relationships that bond our Staff to the Students
Benjamin is a ten year old boy with a rare form of atypical HUS which compromises his immune system, requiring him to receive blood transfusions every two weeks. This rare disease has led to retinal hemorrhaging that resulted in Benjamin's visual impairment.
Ben's first few years of school were spent in the Norristown School District, where he was not relating with classmates. His parents eventually made the difficult decision to transfer him to a private Philadelphia school that would require Ben to commute over an hour from their home. Benjamin was enrolled in St. Lucy School for Children with Visual Impairments, and he and his parents have been overjoyed with their decision to change schools. St. Lucy is located on the campus of Holy Innocents in the Juniata section of Northeast Philadelphia. At St. Lucy, Ben is surrounded by many classmates who are coping with medical challenges. His mother credits the teachers and CORA as having a significant impact on her son.
Patty Faix, CORA's Counseling Program Coordinator of Nonpublic Schools, became involved with St. Lucy's several years ago when Principal Sister Lisa Lettiere requested a support group for students with medical challenges. For the past two years, Patty has offered a weekly support group for selected students at St. Lucy. These meetings have given participating children the opportunity to explore their feelings, discuss areas of concern, and develop coping skills along with creating strong friendships. Patty has developed a special bond with these children who refer to counseling session days as their "favorite day of the week!"
Benjamin's mother, Natalie, commented, "Counseling has helped him with expressing how he feels and his overall emotional well-being." His Tuesday sessions with Patty have become such a priority that Ben requests that doctor's appointments and blood transfusions not be scheduled on days that he has counseling! His mother stated that she is "grateful to CORA because my Benjamin has become self-assured and a happier child altogether."
|
Community Service Division
Utilizing Arts to Build Confidence
CORA 's
Community Service Division oversees two afterschool
and summer projects in local schools.
CORA's
program at
Northwood
Academy Charter School
serves over 80 children
during the school year and 120 during the summer through a
variety
of
activities
and clubs to keep students engaged with learning in
a
safe and fun environment.
In addition to its regular programs, CORA collaborates with external partners to introduce and enhance special skills and interests best provided by specialists in their fields. One such collaboration was with
ASAP (Afterschool Activities
Partnerships
) to bring drama club
activities
to the youth
during the past
school year to develop positive behavior and creative expression.
Katie Tidey, CORA's Northwood Site Coordinator, comments that
..."exposing young people to art and culture can have a big impact on the growth of children. Our drama instructor, Susan Chase, works with students in 3rd and 4th grade. Throughout the year our kids that were involved in the arts have improved with their critical thinking, and verbal skills."
One third grade student
became a shining star through her involvement in drama club.
Her role as Mowgli in
"
The Jungle Book
"
helped her break out of her shell to show her true spirit. The Northwood Drama Club, facilitated by Ann Clayton, enabled students to have a deeper understanding of theatre and to how to work collaboratively with others. In May,
CORA kids joined all of
the
OST Drama
clubs throughout the city
who
came together for a culminating club showcase to perform five minute version
s
of their play
s
.
CORA's
"
The Jungle Book
"
will be performed
in its entirety
on Friday, June 15th at the Northwood Charter School gymnasium, and
guests are welcome.
Afterschool Arts programming such as this is a great example of how
CORA values the importance
of the
A
rts to children
's
optimal
development
as
Arts learning improves motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork.
CORA is very grateful to ASAP for its continued support of children's services through programs such as drama club.
|
|
COME AND JOIN US FOR A PARENTS NIGHT OUT
Saturday, June 18th
7960 Dungan Road, Philadelphia PA 19111
7 - 10 PM
$25.00 Pre-Sale $30.00 at the Door
Proceeds from our event will benefit Early Years outside summer equipment.
|
|
|
|
|
