The following information is from Kristen Larson, Vice President of the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts:

RICHMOND, VA,  January 9, 2012 – Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, (PHSSA) the State’s first elementary charter school and a Richmond Public School, opened its doors today at the Patrick Henry School Building on Semmes Avenue after six months of renovations.

The location of the PH building plays heavily into the school’s STEM based curriculum and the use of the Forest Hill Park in that curriculum.

Upgrades to the almost 90 year-old school building include ADA upgrades, life safety improvements, as well as historical restorations such as hardware, doors and windows. Funds were obtained to renovate the building via fundraising, state historic tax credits and a small loan.

A $150,000 grant from the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation was used to upgrade the cafeteria with a new ceiling, lights, cafeteria tables and equipment. The Jacquemin Family Foundation donated $50,000 for library renovations that included new carpet, ADA accessibility improvements, paint and HVAC upgrades.

PHSSA Board members, Richmond Public School members and administrators, Virginia Secretary of Education Laura Fornash, parents, and community members welcomed the students and staff as they arrived on Monday.

“This is momentous day for the school and the City,” said Sharon Burton, PHSSA Board President.  “The City is gaining back a piece of its history with this newly renovated Richmond landmark and the school has finally entered its permanent home.”

The school opened in 2010 and has been operating out of Woodland Heights Baptist Church – Education Center for the last year and a half.  The school currently has 185 students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade.

PHSSA is accredited and received passing State Standards of Learning (SOLs) scores from Virginia Department of Education for its first year of operation. PHSSA students scored 97 percent in Mathematics and 92 in English, both outscoring the state.  Additionally, PHSSA students scored 83 percent in both History and Science.

Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (PHSSA) is a kindergarten through fifth-grade school based on meaningful parent, educator, and community involvement. The school will provide the children of our diverse community with an academically rigorous science- and arts-based curriculum that emphasizes environmental awareness and social responsibility.

Click here for more information.

The Benedictine Society agreed to continue to operate the school, to develop a long-term plan for its future success and move forward with plans to relocate to the abbey. The loan was repaid to the congregation and rolled into the abbey’s existing debt for school expenses, for a total of $2.7 million. Both the school and the abbey were used as collateral on the loan, Walsh said.

Last month, the society entered an agreement with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to pursue the sale of its North Sheppard Street school building. The academy would be relocated to the society’s Mary Mother of the Church Abbey in Goochland, a move some alumni and parents say will destroy the fabric of the school.

Click here to read the entire article at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The event will include: A welcoming speech, review of the process and a family lottery selection.  A lottery will be performed for first, second and fourth grades. All applicants for kindergarten, third and fifth grades were accepted. Parents, potential students, PHSSA Board members and community members are expected to attend.

Where: PHSSA at WHBC-EC, 611 West 31st Street, Richmond, 23225.

When: Monday, February 28th at 6:30 p.m.

About PHSSA: Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (PHSSA) is a kindergarten through fifth-grade school based on meaningful parent, educator and community involvement. The school will provide the children of our diverse community with an academically rigorous science- and arts-based curriculum that emphasizes environmental awareness and social responsibility.

About Public Charter Schools: Charter schools provide public education options for parents and students.  Charter schools are allowed increased flexibility to operate and to adapt to the educational needs of children, and to maintain high levels of accountability to students, parents, the community, and the state to provide a high-quality education.

Currently in the Commonwealth of Virginia, there are 4 public charter schools, including PHSSA.  Nationally there are approximately 4,600 public charter schools operating in 40 states and Washington D.C., serving approximately 1.3 million students, with 365,000 students on charter school waiting lists.

– The information above was provided by Kristen Larson, a PHSSA board member.

The Patrick Henry Building, located at 3411 Semmes Avenue, will be the permanent location for PHSSA when renovations are completed.  The school currently operates out of Woodland Heights Baptist Church Education Center, located at 611 West 31st Street, approximately three blocks from the Patrick Henry Building.

The rent on the building will be one dollar a year.  PHSSA Board delivered payment yesterday for the first year of rent along with the signed lease.

“This is a significant turning point for the PHSSA board, staff and families that have been waiting for months to get these details finalized,” said Sharon Burton, PHSSA President.  “We are anxious to get started on hiring contractors and obtaining permits to get the construction underway in the Patrick Henry building in late winter/early spring timeframe.”

PHSSA is planning on renovating the building in three phases.  The first phase will include the lower library level, the cafeteria level, the first level of classrooms and an administrative area to accommodate about 200 students for the 2011-12 school year.  The later two phases will include the auditorium, the second level of classrooms and the west wing of the basement.

Renovations include upgrading the building so that it is ADA compliant, life safety upgrades, as well as electrical and HVAC updates.  The estimated cost of building upgrades is approximately $1 million.

PHSSA is the first elementary charter school in Virginia. The school’s charter was signed in May 2008.   The school welcomed 150 children in kindergarten through fifth grade from all over the City of Richmond in August 2010.

– The information above was provided by Kristen Larson, Board Member with PHSSA.

Embattled Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts vice president Reggie Malone has charged his fellow board members with fiscal mismanagement, incompetence and even attempts to misappropriate funds, threatening to expose the school’s alleged troubles. But with just hours remaining before a special meeting of the Patrick Henry Board, during which it seems likely that Malone will be voted out, a different picture is emerging — one that reverses the roles that Malone has attempted to cast.

Click here to get the rest of the scoop at Dovi’s Richmond Magazine blog.

The Lunch Date with the Future event will feature a formal lunch, served to invited guests by PHSSA 4th and 5th graders.  This event is a benchmark in the Lunch Date with the Future program that emphasizes manners and business etiquette and is integrated into the daily lessons of the PHSSA student school days.  The program’s mission is to teach skills to students that can be incorporated into their lives in and outside of the classroom.  PHSSA fourth and fifth grade teacher and program administrator, Kelly Elias, develops the curriculum each year, educates the children, and works with community volunteers to ensure the program operates smoothly.

Where: PHSSA, 611 West 31st Street

When: Friday, October 29, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Who:  Attendees will include community members, business owners and educators.

About PHSSA: Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (PHSSA) is a kindergarten through fifth-grade school based on meaningful parent, educator and community involvement. The school provides the children of our diverse community with an academically rigorous science- and arts-based curriculum that emphasizes environmental awareness and social responsibility.

About Public Charter Schools:  Charter schools provide public education options for parents and students.  Charter schools are allowed increased flexibility to operate and to adapt to the educational needs of children, and to maintain high levels of accountability to students, parents, the community, and the state to provide a high-quality education.

Currently in the Commonwealth of Virginia, there are 4 public charter schools, including PHSSA.  Nationally there are approximately 4,600 public charter schools operating in 40 states and Washington D.C., serving approximately 1.3 million students, with 365,000 students on charter school waiting lists.

– The information above was provided by Kristen Larson with PHSSA

If applications exceed space, which is an estimated 12 spaces, a lottery will be performed. Families will be notified of enrollment by July 30th.

Patrick Henry School is the first elementary charter school in Virginia. The school’s charter was approved in October 2008. The school will welcome children in kindergarten through fifth grade from all over the city of Richmond in August 2010.

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Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (PHSSA) is a kindergarten through fifth-grade school based on meaningful parent, educator, and community involvement. The school will provide the children of our diverse community with an academically rigorous science- and arts-based curriculum that emphasizes environmental awareness and social responsibility.

– The information above was provided by Kristen Larson PHSSA Director of Public Relations

A new piece about Patrick Henry School is up at Richmond.com. It’s the fifth in a series I’ve written about what is set to be Richmond’s first charter school, set to open in August.

“We did get an extremely important vote on Monday that Pam Boyd will be hired by July 1st as PHSSA principal,” said Kristen Larson, Director of Public Relations with PHSSA. “She is now working with [Richmond Public Schools] on all things related to the school — meals, testing, finances, staffing, etc.”

Click here to read the entire article.

Click here to read my last piece on PHSSA.

Click here for more background on PHSSA. ]]> http://fdhub.net/patrick-henry-to-open-aug-11/feed/ 0 http://fdhub.net/school-board-says-phssa-will-open-in-august/ http://fdhub.net/school-board-says-phssa-will-open-in-august/#comments Mon, 10 May 2010 13:43:37 +0000 FTRea http://fdhub.net/?p=4207 A new piece about Patrick Henry School is up at Richmond.com. It’s the fourth in a series I’ve written about what is set to be Richmond’s first charter school.

The Richmond School Board will allow the new charter school, Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, to open in August. However, until the 90-year-old Patrick Henry School building at 3411 Semmes Ave. has been made compliant with federal regulations, classrooms at Woodland Heights Baptist Church at 611 W. 31st St. will serve as the temporary home for the school.

Click here to read the entire article.

Click here for more background on PHSSA.