HSA UPDATE

Thank you for all the engagement with Masterman’s curriculum and mission. It is wonderful to be a part of a school community that people are so passionate about. As a reminder, the HSA report on the state of Masterman and Dr. Payne's presentation on mission and vision are available on our website. The forms for report feedback and school selection process feedback are still open, and we are still actively sharing your comments with district leaders. Budget decisions for next year are being made shortly, so now is the time to make your voice heard. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 2, 3, and 4: Masterman musical

March 18: Masterman Auction! See below

March 24: Sixth grade student social

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Here are some great ways to get involved and get your feet wet in the HSA. 

Auction

There is a ton to help with! Something for everyone. Email auction@mastermanhsa.org

Newsletter 

Help put out this newsletter! Email corresponding@mastermanhsa.org 

Volunteer Coordinator 

Maintain volunteer lists and connect people with committees that need them. Email outreach@mastermanhsa.org

Social Media 

Help build community by contributing to the HSA social media accounts. Email corresponding@mastermanhsa.org 

DIRECTORY

Look for printed copies of the Masterman HSA family directory to come home with your child this week. We are proud to have gotten this project back up and running and look forward to building even more participation next time around, in the fall!

STILL ACCEPTING REQUESTS FOR GOOGLE CLASSROOM ACCESS

The HSA is coordinating with the middle school and high school deans to facilitate adding guardians to students’ Google Classroom accounts. If you aren't yet listed on your child's account, sign up on THIS FORM and watch your email for notifications.

Masterman Musical

“OHMIGOD you guys!” Don’t miss Masterman’s BIGGEST event—Legally Blonde: The Musical!

See the collaborative work of 250 middle and high school students: on stage, in the orchestra pit, and backstage in crew and tech!

$10 at the door gets you a fun show AND that warm, fuzzy feeling of seeing our students pull together, work hard, and make our school community proud!

Running just THREE nights:

Thursday, March 2 through Saturday, March 4

Ticket sales begin at 5:30 pm at the door and show starts at 6:30 pm. 

Info: kkelter@philasd.org

Debate Champs

Congrats to the Masterman debate team on cleaning up at the University of Pennsylvania invitational last weekend. In JV, Ezra Beidler-Shenk and Nathaniel Kassahun made it to elimination rounds and Ray Eggerts and Giulia Sheth made it to the top 16 in this major national tournament. In varsity, Sammie Keenan and Noah Eggerts made it to the top 16 after going 6–0 and earning the top seed.

And finally, congrats to tournament champions Henry Anastasi-Scott and Josh Cohen, who won finals with a commanding 3-0 victory! 

Watch for an item in the Inquirer highlighting our extraordinary team.

High School Winter Formal

The HSA was happy to sponsor the High School winter formal last night. Thanks to all chaperones and student leaders of the peer counseling club, especially co-presidents Jianwei Li and Oliver Joseph, for organizing a great event with 300+ students attending! Tons of food, candy, and dancing at one of Philadelphia’s hippest night clubs, NOTO: it was “Not Of The Ordinary”!

Athletics Update

Our winter sports teams are finishing up their seasons strong! Let's go Blue Dragons!!

• PPL Championships for our Girls and Boys Squash team is this week: Tuesday (2pm), Wednesday (3:30pm), Thursday (3:30pm).
• Our Boys and Girls Swim team finished the season strong with a double win last week!
• The Girls Basketball team qualified for State Playoffs in March!!

Spring Sports information will be shared with students in Google Classroom.

Spring Sports Include: Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Baseball, Softball, Boys Tennis, Badminton, Boys Volleyball, Co-ed Track.

Participation in sports requires the completion of a PIAA Physical Form which requires a doctor's signature. If your student played a fall/winter sport, the only requirement is to complete pages 7-8 of the PIAA Physical Form (the "recertification" section) for continued play in the winter sports season. The recertification section does not require a doctor's signature.

Registration Still Open for Students Run

Students Run Philly Style is a city-wide organization that supports middle and high school students in training for distance runs through clubs at individual schools and centers. Runners receive free gear, race registrations, coaching, and camaraderie, with the spring season culminating in the Broad Street Run. It has been a transformative experience for many kids who don’t initially connect with sports.

First practice is Wednesday, February 22. Students should have sign-up links in their Google Classroom feeds. Questions? Email the club sponsors at studentsrunmasterman@gmail.com or see Mr. Gilligan, Ms. Fox-Jones, or Ms. Stanford.

ONGOING:

Black History Month at Masterman

Masterman is excited to invite students and families to join us in celebrating the triumphs, progress, and innovation of the Black community during this year's Black History Month!

Check out our actions and opportunities that are available to students in the flyer to the right and in this slide deck. 

Thank you, Ms. Robinson!

STILL ON: Send in Your Stuff!

Students have organized two drives this month:

Plastic Drive

Masterman’s Youth Volunteer Corps Club is collecting Type 1 plastic. This includes mainly plastic water bottles or food containers. Please clean your bottles and drop them off in the collection box near the stairwell close to the main office. Thank you from YVC!

Canned Food and Personal Care Product Drive

Now through the end of February, HS Student Government is running a canned food and personal care product drive for Feast of Justice, a Philly-based food bank run by a Masterman parent! Canned food and personal care items (soap, shampoo, body wash, menstrual products) will be collected every morning from 7:50 to 8:15 in the first floor hallway. 

Thanks to the generosity of Masterman students and families, last year they were able to collect over 1,000 cans and products. If you are able to donate this year, we encourage you to do so! 

Mental Health Corner

We all recognize that music is an important part of an excellent education. This article points out the helpful role it can have in emotional well-being, too.

One More Day to Apply for Paid Lifeguard Training

Teens can get paid for the time they spend this spring acquiring the certification they need to work as Philly Parks & Rec lifeguards this summer.

Fab Youth Philly is partnering with Drexel University Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation for this program. They provide swimsuits, bathing caps, slides, and more. Teens will also get support with resume writing, LinkedIn profiles, and applying and interviewing for a lifeguard job. Must be able to pass a swimming test to enroll.

Who: 15–19 years old (must be 16 by June 1)

When: Saturdays, March 4–June 3, 4:00–6:00 pm

Where: Drexel University

Pay: $12/hr (with ability to earn $16/hr starting this summer)

Apply here BY FEBRUARY 20

Reminder: NHS Tutoring Always Available!

Students in all grades can drop in as needed for help from Masterman HS student members of the National Honor Society during these hours:

Mondays, 7:30am – 8:15am in Room 214 (for everyone)

Tuesdays, 8th Period in Room 312 (for HS students)

Wednesdays, 8th Period in Room 305 (for 5th- and 6th-grade students)

Thursdays, 8th Period in Room 312 (for 7th- and 8th-grade students)

This is a free resource for everyone! If you have any questions please contact the HS Dean, Mr. Gilken, at jgilken@philasd.org.