Philadelphia School District
Communities in Schools
Center for Literacy
A New “Oasis” within the
Promise Academy Way
6 new Promise Academies established in
2010 in effort to reform six of the lowest
performing schools within the school
district of Philadelphia. Our Oasis
program is one of it’s kind operating
within a Promise Academy
Promise Academy philosophy …..
1. Children Come First
2. Rigor, Relevance and Relationships
3. Parents are Partners
4. Community Engagement
5. Reform , Reinvigorate and Rebuild
“YES WE CAN”
University City High School
Then……
 Established in 1971 as West Philadelphia University City
High School
 Developed in partnership with Drexel University and
University of Pennsylvania as a “Science and Mathematic
magnet school
 University City sits in the heart of “Black Bottom” one of
the toughest and blighted neighborhood in the City of
Philadelphia
 Over the years, evolved into one of the lowest performing
schools in Philadelphia
 In 2009,Spring PSSA scores Math 5%
Reading 9%
 SPED 5.3%
Attendance 74%
University City High School
Now….2010
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Facilities “make over”
75% Brand New Staff
Promise Academy Model
4 small learning communities (Arts and Humanities, 9th
Grade Academy, Oasis and S.T.E.M.)
 Partnerships with UPenn, Drexel to support our S.T.E.M.
initiatives
 Increases in student attendance and academic
achievement( Based on Fall 2010 predictive)
 Math 20.79
 Reading(ELA) 31.56
SPED 22.3
Attendance 81.3
 University City still sits in the heart of “Black Bottom” one of the toughest and
blighted neighborhood in the City of Philadelphia
Oasis Overview
 Purpose: To provide an accelerated curriculum to
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students who are over-aged and under-credited
Population: 85 enrolled students-Grades 9-12, Ages 1519 (contract allotment-120 students)
Students have the opportunity to earn 13 credits over
the course of the school year
The school year is divided into 4, 10 week Modules
Students take 4 courses each Module
Oasis Staff
Name
Subject
Jafar Barakat
Assistant Principal
Jackee Staples
Academy Leader
Felicia Stone
School Counselor
Bob Casey
English
Matthew Roy
Social Studies
Matthew Byrne
World Language
Frank Ortiz
Science
Barbara Bess-Pashak
Science
El Fairworth
Special Education
Erik Wolf
Health/Physical Education
Julia Inslee
Reading Specialist
Philadelphia School District
Support Staff
Name
Position
Felicia Stone
School Counselor
Lynn Hubbard
Social Worker
Catherine Baker
SBIS
Eric Kellich
Oasis Roster Chairman
Elana Evans
Advisory Coordinator
Tracey Goodson
Student Advisor
Christine Stone
Student Aide
Communities in Schools
Mission Statement:
To surround students with a community of support,
empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
CIS in Oasis
Name
Position
Jamie Racanelli
Senior Site Manger
Jackee Staples
Academy Leader/Site Mngr.
Rachel Koppenhaver
Site Coordinator
 CIS oversees Oasis Programs at University City Promise
Academy, as well as Gratz and Overbrook (UC is the only
Oasis program with an full in-house support staff.)
Center for Literacy
Mission Statement:
To provide a range of literacy services, including
reading, writing, math, life and work skills, to help a
diverse population of learners meet their needs and
achieve their personal and employment-related goals
CFL in Oasis
 Provide literacy instruction to students who are
functioning below a 6th grade level in reading
 Goal: Students below a 6th grade level in reading will
improve by 2 grade levels by the end of the school year
Name
Position
Stephanie Korber
Director of Youth Education
Caroline Munden
Program Manger
Julia Inslee
Reading Specialist
How are We Different?
Oasis Academy
UCHS Academies
 Start time: 8:50am
 Start time: 8:00am
 4 by 4 periods
 47 minute periods
 72 minutes
 7 credits per year
 13 credits per year
Technology
DOL grant funds for technology:
1. Smart boards
2. 96 Mac laptop computers
3. Projectors
Computer programs in use in the classrooms:
1. Apex
2. Achieve3000
3. Read 180
Incentives and Perks
 Raffles, Gift cards, movie tickets-Prizes for behavior,
attendance, and grades
 Field Trips
 Awards Ceremony for each module-luncheon to honor
and acknowledge student achievement for attendance,
behavior, honor roll, and excellence in each subject
area
Successes
 Last year we started with one 12th grader. We
graduated 5 students at the end of the year.
 Last year, every student moved up at least 2 grade
levels.
 Last year, about 80% of students below a 6th grade
reading level increased at least 2 grade levels.
 We have more parent communication this year than in
the past.