American Province Ministry Connections
March 2021
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Hope Partnership for Education
Rose Martin, RSM - Executive Director
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Schooling at Hope looks a little different these days. Students wear masks, sit at desks spaced six feet apart, and use Chromebooks instead of textbooks. In between math and reading lessons, you might see middle schoolers practicing boxed breathing or taking a virtual nature walk through a lush green forest, each an effort to relieve the anxiety of living in these stressful times. |
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In the midst of a global Pandemic, Hope students are still “making learning work” in our own school building and beyond. 7th Graders recently began participating in the Model UN/World Affairs program. Students spent time researching the topic Reducing Illness and Death from Pollution in Iran, Italy, Mexico, Mozambique, South Korea, and Yemen. Middle schoolers had the explored their cultures and learn about the backgrounds of people in their countries of origin. The next time you see a Hope 7th Grader, don’t be surprised if they greet you in three or more different ways.
While a great deal has changed about the way we learn at Hope, our core values remain intact. In response to a recent journal prompt, “If I had a magic wand, what would I wish for,” a number of middle schoolers expressed compassion for others and a desire to change the world for the better. One student wrote:
“If I had a magic wand, firstly, I would want to change how society is today. I would change it into a peaceful, safe environment for all. Also, I would fix our climate problems and make sure that all children and animals are safe and healthy. Next, I would make all the trash in the world disappear so we can have clean air. Okay, so after that, I would want to make sure I have a stable, successful, happy, safe, and long life. I would make sure that my family and close friends are safe and can also live a happy life.”
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Washington School for Girls (WSG)
Dr. Beth Reaves - Head of School
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Washington School for Girls (WSG) has recently started a Robotics Club as part of its after-school program. Congratulations to Angela, WSG 6th Grade, who earned the “Judges Award” after representing WSG’s Robotics Club at the First Lego League competition! Out of the 18 teams that participated in the competition, Angela was the only student to earn this award. Her “unique efforts and performance” impressed the judges, as she demonstrated professionalism, knowledge, and perseverance. WSG is so proud of Angela. |
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The Robotics Club included seven 6th and 7th Grade students who participated in this year's virtual competition. The First Lego League competition had two main components: the Innovation Challenge and a Robot Competition. For the Innovation Challenge, the team developed the idea to create an app that motivates others to exercise. The app would customize a music playlist to align with an individual’s running cadence. For the Robot Competition, the students worked with Mrs. Simpkins, the STEM robotics coordinator, to build and code a robot that could perform various tasks: step counter challenge, the bench challenge, and the dance challenge.
Congratulations to the WSG’s Robotics Club for a job well done!
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Providence Center
Siria Ana Rivera - Executive Director
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Providence Center received special recognition in February from the Census Bureau for its collaborative work with Philly Counts. |
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Philly Counts is a city-wide imitative to heighten awareness regarding the importance of proper representation for communities of color in the 2020 Census. This year census work was significantly more difficult than in previous decades. Clearly, the current pandemic imposed yet another challenge on those very communities who do not need one more issue to juggle in already complex lives, even without COVID. |
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Admittedly, the deadline for completion of the Census survey was pushed back several times in efforts to make up for the difficulties in engaging community members within the new social distancing norms. Unfortunately, this extension could not address the technology divide present in underserved communities such as Fairhill, where Providence Center is located. Many in the community were without any access to the online survey. Additionally, severe delays and/or other realities in USPS deliveries caused many of the hard-copy surveys to be lost or never delivered. Amazingly, even with these barriers Providence Center's staff and Youth Advocates were able to reach out to over 3,000 individuals in the Fairhill region via phone banking and no-contact canvassing. Our PC community also set up no-contact sign-up tables, outfitted with the necessary technology, for those who needed assistance completing the census form online. Without a doubt, and proudly so, Providence Center is a living testament to the Society’s 175th Anniversary “tagline” – Love & Serve!
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Sponsored Ministries of the Society of Holy Child Jesus
Casa Cornelia Law Center * Providence Center
Co-Sponsored Ministries of the Society of Holy Child Jesus
South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project (LAMP) *
Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep * Hope Partnership for Education *
Cristo Rey New York High School * Washington School for Girls
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Ministry Connections is a monthly publication highlighting ministries sponsored or co-sponsored
by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.
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