Save Sheppard School

#TBT The CSPR process claims it is a collaborative process to ensure all children have access to a great school close to where they live - Today marks exactly one year since the community came out to stand in solidarity and demand that if that's true, then the School District and CSPR consultants must hear the testimonies of our staff, students, families, and community partners who want to save Sheppard! For months, we spent each weekend canvassing the entire school catchmen...t to make sure everyone knew about the CSPR process, the CSPR recommendations for Sheppard, and our demands to not only keep Sheppard open but to keep the needs of our students at the center of every decision being made for our school. Our efforts paid off, as we had over 100 people show up to the CSPR community forum to make their voices heard. Even a year later, the momentum is still going strong! While it remains unclear what will happen to Sheppard through the CSPR process, we can guarantee that we will continue to fight for our school, our students, and our community! #SaveSheppard #SupportSheppard #SheppardStrong

Let's go 76ers! #TBT to a special visit from our city's very own basketball team to talk to Sheppard students about the importance of physical activity - They had so much fun playing games, attempting challenges, and meeting some of the basketball players, cheerleaders, and mascot of the Philadelphia 76ers. We foster a comprehensive learning environment at Sheppard that not only focuses on the traditional academic education but also art, cultural, and physical education. We work to build community partnerships, plan special activities, uphold school-wide traditions, and more to ensure our students have access to regular opportunities that are educational and memorable because we believe our students deserve the world #SaveSheppard #SheppardStrong #SupportSheppard

Teacher turnover is a serious issue in the School District of Philadelphia but not at Sheppard! In fact, we stand out for our veteran teachers: https://www.inquirer.com//philadelphia-schools-sheppard-el The small learning community at Sheppard offers so much for our students and staff, and it has for generations! The secret to our success: We're in it together. ... Colleen McFadden, who's been at Sheppard for 20 years, said it best, This is not a school where you come in, close your classroom door, and work alone. Knowing every other teacher in this building has my back really helps. We’re family. #SaveSheppard #SupportSheppard #SheppardStrong (Pictured: Sheppard Staff, February 2020)

#TBT to the innovative ideas that come from Sheppard students during STEM class, creating gadgets and gizmos with Legos to show off to their teachers and peers. At Sheppard, we value taking an interdisciplinary approach to make learning both challenging and engaging, and it pays off: Our School Progress Report (SPR) scores have been increasing in every subject area! When a community is dedicated and determined to creating a positive learning environment, the opportunities ar...e endless - This has been the case at Sheppard for generations, as we continue to take matters into our own hands to ensure the needs of our students are met. #SaveSheppard #SheppardStrong #SupportSheppard

We're bringing back the fabulous, Ms. D, who works with Sheppard through The Philly POPS! She spoke on behalf of our school at the January School Board meeting, and her wisdom must be shared: "Good evening! My name is Diane Dannenfelser and I was a Music Teacher in the Philadelphia school district for 40 years, most of those years at GAMP. In one of my several retirement jobs, I run a music program at the Isaac Sheppard School - a school which is in danger of being closed. ...And so I say what you already know: Small Learning Communities work! On paper, the data may suggest that it is not practical to keep Isaac Sheppard open: enrollment is small, the building is not new, the neighborhood is not desirable, the space is underutilized. But the data does not speak to the things which make this little school exceptional: a dedicated staff with almost no teacher turnover (that is: 99% teacher retention rate!), a small learning community where every student is well known and cared for by all teachers and staff, partnerships which support the school with music, dance, food services, and many other forms of enrichment, a safe space which shines a bright light of hope in an area where so many are in need. PLEASE revisit the decision to close Isaac Sheppard. Statistics and data do not always lead the way to a good decision. In this case, it will be devastating to these children, and this endangered community. Please open your hearts and visit our wonderful little school again once we are fully open. Your decision on this issue will have a huge ripple effect. Invest in this small but wonderful learning institution. Expand the Kindergarten. Add a fifth grade. Help the light that is this special school shine brighter. Our children deserve this, and so much more. I leave you with these thoughts: One size does not fit all and Small learning communities work. Keep ours safe! Thank You and be well!" #SupportSheppard #SaveSheppard #SheppardStrong

Yesterday, Sheppard staff set up their virtual classrooms outside in below-freezing temperatures to take a stand and demand safe schools for all students and school staff! #notuntilitssafe #SheppardStrong #SupportSheppard #SaveSheppard

Sheppard students are saying LET IT SNOW in their new stylish and cozy winter gear! #TBT and thank you to our partners, Independence Blue Cross and the HTN Network, who visited Sheppard last month and supplied our students and families with winter coats and other gifts, just in time for a week of snow! The Sheppard community has so many dedicated staff, families, and community partners, who put in time, effort, and resources to ensure each and every student is taken care o...f - both at school and at home. That's what makes our school #SheppardStrong! #SaveSheppard #SupportSheppard

Join Parents United for Public Education, Philly Healthy Schools Initiative and Philadelphia Home and School Council to discuss our public school buildings, and what has been done and needs to be done to re-open them safely.

Families, staff, and community partners have been lining up to speak on behalf of Isaac Sheppard Elementary at the monthly School Board meetings, but new changes by the School Board have set out to limit the number of participants - We say that ALL voices deserve to be heard when the state of our schools are at stake! Here is the testimony from Candi Adams, an active parent volunteer at Sheppard, who has been unable to present her testimony at both the December and January Sc...hool Board meetings. "I’m a parent of a student at Sheppard. I must say he loves his school. I could not see my child going to another school. If he could stay at Sheppard until high school, Sheppard would be it. Sheppard does a lot for kids, parents, and the community. Kids and parents feel safe at Sheppard because the staff makes you feel like family. The love and work the staff has and does for the kids and parents is amazing. I was scared to send my son to a school in my community until I seen Sheppard. Now I don’t want him to leave. Not only do the staff love their kids, they love the community. Once a week, they give produce fresh to families in need. What school you know does this? The school gives our community hope and safety for our kids and the area. Sheppard is small and also has history, but the love and care that comes out of the school and also goes in is bigger than any small building or history. Parents from around the community, families, neighbors, and staff love Sheppard. If you take Sheppard away, what good will our community look forward to in the future? Please keep Sheppard open. It’s one good thing we have in our area. Thank you from a parent at Sheppard!" #SaveSheppard #SheppardStrong #SupportSheppard

#TBT to warmer days that could be spent on outdoor adventures without bundling up in coats, hats, scarves, and gloves! We're thinking of one of our favorite extra-curricular activities at Sheppard - Cub Scouts through Boy Scouts of America. Each week, boys and girls alike stay after school to learn what it means to be a Cub Scout, through discussions, games, and activities. Last year, our Cub Scouts had so much fun on a weekend Scouting adventure (pictured below), a chance t...o leave the city for the day and apply their Scouting knowledge and skills! The Cub Scouts at Sheppard become great leaders who uphold and model our school's values of being respectful, responsible, and always doing their best. We are looking forward to the day we can safely return to our building and to the extra-curriculars, like Cub Scouts, that bring our students so much empowerment and excitement! #SaveSheppard #SupportSheppard #SheppardStrong

Colleen McFadden Lutz Sheppard is in our church. Why aren’t you in any of the pics?!

Calling all PARENTS & GUARDIANS: Taller Puertorriqueño is hosting weekly virtual ADULT art classes for 6 weeks, starting on Tuesday, 1/26 for Spanish-speaking folks and Thursday, 1/28 for English-speaking folks. The classes will include an exploration into dance, origami, creative writing, and more!... Please contact Christina Castro-Tauser at [email protected] or Dora Viacava at [email protected] for more information.