News from Harvard!
Green Woods CEO, Jean Wallace, attends charter school leadership institute at Harvard University.
Click here to read more
4th Grade Outward Bound
Our 4th graders spent two exciting days working with the youth leadership
experts from Outward Bound...
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Check out
the Green Woods Charter School
feature in Instructor Magazine...
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Green Woods Charter School
Finalist for 2008 Philadelphia Sustainability Award!!
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Fink Productions produced an award-winning movie for ePLANET titled Rainforest Quest which features our students hard at work.
Always doing their best to stay on top of their game, the Green Woods staff was recently introduced to cutting edge research spearheaded by Penn Professor, Dr. Theodore Hershberg. This research has the ability to positively and profoundly change the educational system nationwide. Dr. Hershberg and Claire Robertson-Kraft, contributing authors and editors of “A Grand Bargain for Education Reform” presented their many years of research and spoke of how their results will now craft a new educational reform initiative.
Reflecting on the information presented, Juli Vitello, GWCS 7th/8th grade LA/SS teacher spoke of the potential for this research to elevate the status of our hard-working teachers. “It was very gratifying to hear teaching spoken of as a profession and a career on par with other well-regarded positions. Everything they said made sense. I guess I always thought that everything would have to stay the same because of state and federal guidelines, but it looks like a giant paradigm shift would be possible and welcome.” In an e-mail exchange with CEO, Jean Wallace, Dr. Hershberg offered kudos for our own, local efforts, “I want to take this opportunity to commend you for what you know and want to learn,” Dr. Hershberg wrote, “a school leader who is truly on top of her game. What a job!”
The results of this research are undeniable and present bold ideas that can truly transform the educational system as a whole, while also offering ways in which Green Woods can look differently at our own teaching and learning. And, as always, the Green Woods team is now thinking of how best to apply all that they learned from this session: “Although, both speakers felt that the current Green Woods Charter School is too small to benefit from most of their recommended steps,” said Juli Vitello, “it is inspiring to think that we could act on their ideas in a larger setting, if we get one. Meanwhile, we could explore our test results from another angle, we could build in time for teachers to work together, and we could explore a new way of thinking.”
We’d like to send a heartfelt thank you to Ted Hershberg and Clair Robertson-Kraft for taking time to present their important research to us. It certainly left us thinking about what is possible if we are willing to open our minds and explore new ways of thinking about teaching and learning. Click here to read the PDF
GREEN WOODS TEAM AWARDED
PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL OF SOCIAL STUDIES
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AWARD!
On October 28, 2009 Juli Vitello, Kathleen Geist, and Jean Wallace of Green Woods
Charter School were awarded the Pennsylvania Council of Social Studies 2009 Program of
Excellence Award... More
7th Grade Bluebird Watching Project!
When the 7th grade science class of the Green Woods Charter School was monitoring the nest boxes on our bluebird trail, they found a female eastern bluebird sitting on 4 eggs in nest box # 19. She took off as soon as one of the students opened the box, but ... More
Museum Night 2009!
Museum Night was an outstanding success! We had more than 300 enthusiastic
visitors interacting with our student exhibitors who were simply wowed by
the breath and depth of our students' knowledge. Exhibits included a video
produced by our 8th grade documenting their
... More
Why Did the Toad Cross the Road?
This year our 8th grade worked with Lisa Levinson and other volunteers on the local DETOUR project: "Detour for Emerging Toads of Upper Roxborough." Lisa Levinson asked if our school could be involved in the community education portion of this project... More
Earth Day is every day at Green Woods Charter School in Philadelphia
"Although every teacher and student at Green Woods Charter School will be devoting themselves to a full day of environmental service this Earth Day, in reality, it’s pretty much like any other day at the school..." Click here to view the story covered by WPVI.
"Whose Words these are ... I Think I Know..."
This time of year, as I gaze out of my
office window, I can’t help but think of
my favorite winter poem by Robert
Frost. Click here to view the PDF.
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; 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.
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 ...
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...
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.
Our Past,
Our Present, and Our Future
Our nation’s future relies on a well-educated public to be good stewards of the environment
that sustains us, our families, communities, and future generations.
News from Harvard!
4th Grade Outward Bound
Check out
Green Woods Charter School
Always doing their best to stay on top of their game, the Green Woods staff was recently introduced to cutting edge research spearheaded by Penn Professor, Dr. Theodore Hershberg. This research has the ability to positively and profoundly change the educational system nationwide. Dr. Hershberg and Claire Robertson-Kraft, contributing authors and editors of “A Grand Bargain for Education Reform” presented their many years of research and spoke of how their results will now craft a new educational reform initiative. 
GREEN WOODS TEAM AWARDED
PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL OF SOCIAL STUDIES
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AWARD!
7th Grade Bluebird Watching Project!
Museum Night 2009!
Why Did the Toad Cross the Road? 
Earth Day is every day at Green Woods Charter School in Philadelphia
An Inconvenient Tooth
Green Woods Charter School
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. 
Help Us Celebrate Earth Day 2008!
Read an “Interview with Governor Rendell” 
Over the River and Through the Woods! 
Discovering Decomposers
