Green Woods Charter School





Wetlands Adventure! As a direct extension to their year-long focus on environmental concepts,our 3rd and 4th grade students traveled to the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, New Jersey to learn more about the ocean and marsh habitats. The day began with a beach scavenger hunt where students explored the jetty, sand, and ocean current looking for living things that rely on the marsh and ocean habitats to fulfill their basic needs. Students discovered many creatures - great and small - and learned about the special adaptations each has for life in the marsh and ocean. This exciting adventure was a culminating activity for our 3rd graders who are finishing up their year by studying birds and the specific characteristics and adaptations each has to help them fly, eat, and navigate. Our amateur ornithologists know that some birds migrate thousands of miles - many stopping along the shore to gain much needed nourishment. For our fourth grade aquatic ecologists, this trip was an opportunity to see how the fresh water in the Smith's Run (the stream at our school that they study all year) makes its way to the Schuylkill - the Delaware - and eventually the brackish marsh and the salty ocean. They also get to see, first hand, the many life forms that live at the beach. Third grade teacher, Juli Vitello, commented that the Wetlands Institute educators were truly impressed by the knowledge of our students. "The educators were blown away by what our kids know about the environment." Green Woods would like to thank the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for granting us the funds to support this incredible learning experience for our students. Click here for more and to see the photo album.

An Inconvenient Tooth An Inconvenient Tooth is a story about Murphy, Green Woods’ unofficial mascot, and an unfortunate mishap that occurred during a recent romp along the banks of the Wissahickon Creek. Murphy has been visiting Green Woods in some form or fashion since he was just 8 weeks old. Back then, he spent a lot of time in Miss Hart’s Kindergarten class. Murphy enjoyed many hours as a student in Kindergarten with the goal of him interacting with kids and learning how to be a good member of the classroom and school community. From these early interactions came “The Murphy Club” where many of our older students would take Murphy on long walks in the woods. While hiking they would learn how to care for dogs and how to keep Murphy safe from things that might be harmful. Our Murphy Club kids even helped to train Murphy to walk on a leash and listen to directions. Murphy’s goal is to one day become a reading therapy dog but he still has some intense training to do to meet that goal. For now, Murphy enjoys every opportunity to practice what he has learned from everyone at Green Woods and that is that while it is fun to hike in the woods, you also need to be very careful or you might just get hurt. More

Green Woods Charter School Finalist for 2008 Philadelphia Sustainability Award!! More

Green Woods teacher presented with Middle States Council for Social Studies Award! The Middle States Council for the Social Studies (MSCSS) recognized Jill Pescatore as a teacher in the field of social studies that makes significant contributions to the advancement of social studies education. Mrs. Pescatore received the Teacher-to-Teacher Award for innovations in social studies instruction at the 104th Annual MSCSS Conference. The Conference was held at The Double Tree Hotel in Wilmington, Delaware on February 29, 2008. The awards ceremony was be part of the Roselle Lecture and Luncheon. At this conference Mrs. Pescatore and Mrs. Kim Lewullis also presented their published unit on immigration and coal mining in northeastern Pennsylvania. They continue to create innovative integrated social studies lessons that combine social studies, language arts, environmental science, art and music. Photo from right to left: Susan Griffin, Executive Director-National Council for Social Studies; Mrs. Jill Beccaris-Pescatore, Green Woods Charter School; Eileen Wilkinson, Awards Chair, MSCSS.

Help Us Celebrate Earth Day 2008! Do you want to sponsor an Earth Day event that is strictly for the birds!! Each year, the entire Green Woods community devotes our time, energy and muscle to providing a day of service to the environment. View the press release. Click here for more information on Sponsoring this Event! View pictures from last years Event!

Read an “Interview with Governor Rendell” By: GWCS Academic Director/CEO Jean Wallace Click here for the interview.

Over the River and Through the Woods! Green Woods Charter School has a wonderful tradition of celebrating the Fall season by giving thanks for family, friends, and ... Click here for more and to see the photo album.

Discovering Decomposers The soil in forests, meadows, and fields, even soil in vacant lots or your own backyard swarms with countless creatures. On a recent hike to an area of our forest, just near Polliwog Pond, our 2nd graders set out to discover what Charles Darwin... Click here for more and to see the photo album.

4th Grade Goes Outward Bound As a charter school, it is important that we maintain our unique identity and academic focus by developing key partnerships that support and enhance our educational mission. This year Green Woods worked in collaboration with Outward Bound to bring the "Insight Program" to our 4th graders... Click here for more and to see the photo album.

8th Grade Goes Outward Bound As a charter school it is important that we find innovative ways to improve our students' academic and social experiences by developing key partnerships that support our unique mission. This year Green Woods worked with Outward Bound to bring the Urban Expedition Program to our 8th graders. Click here for more and to see the photo album.




	Current Wednesday Bulletin, September 5, 2007




	Project PEACE: Enhancing Civic Engagement through Conflict Resolution We live in interesting times involving many types of conflict. And one of the most important jobs of educators today is to teach our children how to handle conflicts that arise in creative and constructive ways. Click here for more information.


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