Parkside: Their Future Awaits Them

Philadelphia’s School of the Future in Parkside held its first graduation ceremony since it opened in 2006 on June 15, 2010.

A place where the students, or “learners” as Principal Rosalind Chivis refers to them, receive preparation for the real world with courses designed to push them to solutions, the School of the Future sits perched on a rolling hill at the bottom of Parkside Avenue in Philadelphia, with the Philadelphia Zoo around the corner and several cultural institutes in its backyard.

There were plenty newsworthy events happening when we got there. A new school was in the midst of what looked like a truly high-life commencement ceremony followed by a reception with food and beverages for the families and learners.The school had 100 percent of its graduating class receive letters of acceptance for a higher learning institution or trade school. And, a Microsoft venture felt the success of an attempt to reform public education through innovation and technology.

In a sea of red caps and gowns, and family members dressed-to-impress, the corner of 40th Street and Parkside Avenue was the place to be for the first half of the day. Microsoft’s experimental partnership with the Philadelphia School District finally felt like a success.

There were plenty of stories happening when we got there. And we can’t wait to share some of them with you.

By Tara Moore and Jessica Arnold, Team 7, Mantua/Parkside