October, 2001   Volume 15 Number 1

Rembering 9/11

School district policy mandates uniforms for all students.  White tops and khaki bottoms must be worn daily.

We are operating under a new time schedule with thirty minutes added to the school day.  School now begins at 7:41 AM and ends at 2:45 PM.  It is important for all students to arrive on time with all materials needed to have a successful day. The Twilight Program is underway from 3:00 - 6:00 PM daily.

New security measures are now in effect for the protection of  staff and students.  All visitors must: (1) present a photo ID; (2) undergo scanning with a portable metal detector; and (3) sign in the time at the front desk.  Expansion of the procedures is currently under development to include the collection of all bags at the front desk, escort to the main office, presentation of a visitor’s pass that must be worn at all times, and time sign out on leaving the building.

Mr. Stanley Markuszka, Ms. Suzanne Corvin, and Dr. Evelyn Bender spent three weeks in Japan this summer studying its history, language, and culture.  They will prepare study units to share their experiences with students and staff.

Edison staff and students will once again serve as volunteers for the NBC-TV10 Homework Helpline.  Help in all subjects is available from Mondays through Thursdays from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. at 1-888-NBC TV10.  Edison volunteers will work the phone lines the third week of every month.  Edison will also join the NBC TV10 WeatherNet Program.

Project ELECT’S (Teen Parent Center) services M.A.R.S. (Males Achieving Responsibility Successfully) to help males acquire a diploma, make the transition into employment or post secondary education and personal development.

Bridge Building Inc. is a program for minorities underrepresented in American medicine.  Sessions offer clinical experience, networking, test taking skills, workshops in problem solving and critical thinking, and social activities.  Further information is available though the school counselors.

Help is available to ninth through eleventh grade students to succeed in college through Community College of Philadelphia's TRIO Upward Bound Program.  Assistance is offered in SAT preparation, tutoring, mentoring, college visits, financial aid workshops, and college application instruction.  Students can contact the school counselor for more information.
Visit the Edison/Fareira website at www.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/edison to learn more about what is happening in our school.  

Congratulations to Israel Crespo Burgos, Bk. 411, who traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado to train for the United States  Boxing Team.  He is training in the bantam weight category.

Carmelo Rivera, Sheila Rodriguez, Jazmine Guzman, Rosa Sanchez, Johnny Thomas, and Precious Palmer served as Junior Leaders in the Freedom School for six weeks this past summer.  They worked as teachers of African American studies to fourth through sixth graders at Elkin ELementary School.  Jenis Quiñones worked at Roberto Clemente Middle School. The students did extensive reading and completed a rigorous academic curriculum.  This program is under the leadership of Congreso de Latinos Unidos.  Students will receive service learning credit for their work. Edison teachers, Ms. Betsaida Ortiz and Ms. Awilda Ortiz, served respectively as Edison  and Kensington academic advisors. Congratulations to these students on a job well done.

Forty students from Ms. Betsaida Ortiz’s Spanish classes attended the Latino Youth Conference designed to motivate students to attend four-year institutions of higher learning.    Motivation student Priscilla  Sicard won first prize while Business student Amanda Matos won second prize for their essays on the topic, Reflecting on our Past to Envision our Future.

A special thank you is extended to this year’s participants in the Puerto Rican Parade.  Ms. Elba Rodriguez did an outstanding job as organizer.  The following staff members generously gave their time in support of our school:  Ms. Heidimay Berger, Ms. Brenda Taylor, Mr. Thomas Cassidy, Ms. Sharon Ehrlich, Ms. Ruth Garcia, Ms. Joan Harris, Ms. Pat King, Mr. Albert Meinster, Ms. Betsaida Ortiz, Mr. Ben Pak, Ms. Joanne Press, Ms. Joan Rodriguez, Ms. Geraldine Surginer, Mr. John Thompson, and Mr. Manuel Valenzuela. Thanks also to the cheerleaders, Student Government members, and Marta Vargas, Edison alumna, who served as the school queen for their participation.

Multicultural SLC senior seminar students Ivonne Borrero, Merlyan Gonzalez, Wilnorka Marte-Diaz, Linda Rivera, Emily Torres, and Jonathan Zapata attended the Splendor of Florence Festival at City Hall’s Dilworth Plaza on Saturday, October 13th.  The festival was a collaboration between Philadelphia and its city sister, Florence, Italy.  The students were invited and personally escorted by Ms. Joyce Acciola Rudge, founder and executive director of the festival.  They observed Italian artisans and painters demonstrating their crafts and attended a  concert by the Arion Quartet from the Music School of Fiesole in the Mayor’s Reception Room.

The Temple University H.E.A.R.T. Program will begin its Saturday  workshops on October 27 to provide career guidance in health care.  The following students will take part this year: Maria Torres, Ashley Rivera, Geraldine Rosado, Stephanie Montes-Deoca, Jessica Alvarado, Talesha Davis, Joel Bordonado, Sonia Rivera, Devonn Weston, Pamela Torres, Tihsheem Tilghman, Jalitza Morales, Sherita Branch, Zunibel Olivares, Rochelle Smith, Brandon Jones, Anthony Morales, Victoria Harrington, Michael Carabello, Geovanny Castro, Ascia Harrison, Sigfredo Morales, Yomaira Andujar, Jennifer Garner, Edwin Flores, Jarelis Carrasquillo, and Jessica Morales.

AES (Academy of Applied Electrical Sciences) Mock Interviews will be held on Monday, November 29.  Board members will evaluate job interview skills.

The Eastern Region of the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. will sponsor a workshop for high school students at its Eastern Region Student Conference in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey.  Business SLC students Sederick Ginyard and Dell Baynard will participate.