A N N U A L2014-2015

R E P O R T

celebrating

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A s you’ll see highlighted on the pages of this booklet, it’s an exciting time for all of us con-nected with Community Partnership School. Our essential work of providing a high-quality

and affordable early childhood and elementary alternative in Philadelphia continues to expand in depth and impact, and we’re poised for so much more!

We enter our tenth operating year buoyed by steady growth, increased support, and sharp-ened clarity of purpose. We are

stronger than ever and eager to forge our next ten years. Talk to those connected to CPS across constituent groups, be they parents, students, staff members,

or trustees, and you’ll hear the same excitement about our

work, our impact, and our prospects for the future.

Your generous contributions to CPS, in opening doors on our behalf, assisting both in and out of classrooms, and donating significant dollars throughout the year, fuel our success. We look forward to sharing more highlights from our decade of achievement as the current school year pro-gresses. We appreciate your involvement. It’s a necessary part of what makes Community Partnership School strong.

Eric C. Jones Jocelyn A. HillmanHEAD OF SCHOOL CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Leadership Letter HIGHLIGHTSViolin LessonsUsing previously donated violins, Temple University music student Liv Gusmano provided violin lessons to twelve students after school, and they were able to share what they’d learned over the course of the year at a Community Meeting in the spring.

Celebrate CPS: An Eve-ning in

TuscanyCPS Board

member and Co-Founder of The Vetri Family of Restaurants, Jeff Benjamin, was honored on April 28, 2015 at a Tus-cany-themed event where over 450 guests were in attendance. Between ticket sales, sponsorships, silent and live auctions, the night grossed over $425,000 and was a memorable evening for the CPS community.

20142015

Eric Jones, Head of School,then and now

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*Cover photo: First CPS class in 2006

DonorsInspiration Circle$50,000 and upComcast of Pennsylvania, Inc.Elizco, Inc.Gail FahrnerMarjie Findlay & Geoff FreemanThe Barra FoundationJocelyn & John HillmanJKG Florida Business CorpOriglio BeverageMargie & Andy RookeJeff & Janine Yass

Innovator Circle$25,000–$49,999Aetna FoundationLynn & Chris GadsdenDavid HaasThe Lily FoundationMr. & Mrs. John MiddletonThe Moses Feldman

Family FoundationPhiladelphia FinancialSEI InvestmentsUHS of Pennsylvania, Inc.Anne & Charlie Wilmerding

Opportunity Circle$15,000–$24,999The Charter FoundationThe Copernicus Society

of AmericaFieldstone 1793 FoundationCarolyn & Michael JacobsSteven Korman

Maguire EnterprisesJeffrey T. Sultanik &

Judith A. ClymanVertexThe Wright-Hayre Fund of

The Philadelphia Foundation

Community Circle$10,000–$14,999Bayada Home Health CareThe Day & Zimmerman Group, Inc.Duff Co. Manufacturer & DistributorWilliam Harral, IIIPenelope HarrisThe Jerome Jacobson FoundationJosephine KleinQuin, Cameron, Kelly

and Mark KormanLincoln Investment GroupM&T BankThe Neubauer Family FoundationNFIMaris OggOsage IndustriesPNC Bank International/

Capital AdvisorsPhiladelphia ContributionshipSeed The Dream FoundationStantec Architecture, Inc.Susquehanna Bank

Head of School Circle$5,000–$9,999Altus Partners, Inc.Gary D., Mary E. & Douglas C. Ammon

John K. BinswangerBioCoat, Inc.Mr. & Mrs. Casey ConnellyCoventryCozen O’ConnorMr. & Mrs. Moses FeldmanThe Mark & Vivian Greenberg FamilyThe Hirshorn CompanyThe Doctors HodgesMajorie & Jeffrey HonickmanMichael & Samantha JordanBilly & Melanie KingMr. & Mrs. Bert KormanWilla H. KravitzSuzanne B. PerotPhiladelphia Insurance Cos.Republic BankTaylor & Allison RookeLawrence Saunders FundTD Charitable FoundationJames & Ginny UngerThe Vetri Foundation for ChildrenMr. & Mrs. Peter A. VogtDr. & Mrs. Sankey Williams

Scholar Circle$1,000–$4,999Drs. Paul & Melissa AndersonMr. Eric D. Ashton & Mr. Brian FaganAramarkChristopher BaileyAnnette BenjaminJeff & Melissa BenjaminClarke & Barb Blynn

FIN

AN

CIA

LS In 2014-2015, CPS had operating revenue and

expenses of approximately $1.7 million and ended the year with a balanced budget.

An audited financial statement is available upon request.

Tuition and Fees: 6% Donor Contributions: 76% Fundraising Events: 17% Other Revenue: 1%

Instructional Programs: 69% Administration: 18% Fundraising: 13%

REVENUE EXPENSES

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Donors continued on page 5

A s Lynn Gadsden was in her final year as Board Chair at Germantown Academy in 2001, Jim Connor, the GA Head of School began discussing the idea of creating an independent

school for low income families. Lynn recalls Jim stating that, “Independent schools educate 1-2% of the population and produce 90% of those who are leaders in the work force.” This strongly resonated with Lynn, as she felt that everyone should have the chance for a quality education, no matter where they lived. She wanted to give back and she found this to be her opportunity to do just that. As part of a committee of dedicated volunteers from the GA community, Lynn and Charley Muir, former

Lower School Head at GA, led the charge in the early stages of CPS development. The

task was enormous, including raising $1 million in donor support, securing a location at The Honickman Learning Center and researching local schools for best practices. As the CPS Board of

Trustees was formed, Lynn became the founding Board Chair.

CPS opened in 2006 with 34 students in grades pre-Kindergarten through first, and also included an after-school program. Lynn comments, “In the beginning, CPS was a vision, and our initial investors were willing to take a chance on this vision with us. CPS is a success on many levels—97% of our kids are in quality middle and high school programs, on track to graduate on time, and are successful. The people who believed in the vision are being rewarded by what our children have achieved.”

Lynn Gadsden, Board Chair Emeritus

L O O KB A C K

Board, Staff, Parents, and Students reflect on the founding and early days of

Community Partnership School

Lynn Gadsden

Eric AshtonJane BonenbergerCarlana BrownCharles BrownAmy ConnellyTeri DodaroBill EichnerSusan FeldmanAdia GarrickJohn GoodLiv GusmanoMike IngramCarolyn JacobsDailahn JamesSusan LaPalombaraDebbie MillerBetty PittRod PlattMargie RookeDebra SchwartzLaurel Stack

Bob SmithKezirah Vaughters

Megan Vetri

VOLUNTEERS20142015

Zahir, class of 2012

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ust two years after Community Partnership School opened, Joseph and Tara Hale

were beginning to think about schooling for their two young girls. Their oldest child Jalia was poised to begin school at a time when quality school options in their neighborhood had become scarce. A visit to their local school showed them a deteriorating building, crowded classes, and an unstructured learning environment. As parents and educators, they knew that their children would not thrive under these conditions.

When Joseph learned about CPS through a friend, he and his wife knew that it was the place for their family.

Since Jalia started at CPS, the Hale family has grown—and not only in number. Now at three, the Hale children—Jalia (class of 2014), Janiya (class of 2017), and Joseph

III (class of 2020)—have learned teamwork, empathy, and a sense of justice during their time at CPS, which has been a “springboard” for other opportunities. Jalia is now thriving as a middle school student at Phil-Mont Christian Academy. CPS has evolved over the years since the family began their journey, but the integrity and structure of the program has remained

the same. Joseph reflects that since the beginning, families and staff have been

“all-in” for the students’ education, and many of those core families like the Hales are still heavily involved at the school.

Hale Family

D eb Flores knew she wanted to teach at an independent

or private school to be an effective teacher and work towards the educational equity that she strongly believed in. When reflecting back on her decision to become a teacher at CPS during its founding year in 2006 she says, “The CPS school model made sense to my head and to my heart. During CPS’s first year, we were all hands on deck. Things felt chaotic at times—12 hour days with no support or after-school staff. The students were here until 6pm with the after-school program, and at the end of the day we were tired.

But we were all here because we believed in the mission,” Deb reflects.

“A lot of what the staff and students took away from that first year was in response to what they

learned about each other. We would try something new with the students, see what worked, and then change it if we needed to.” Deb and other staff members were grateful when Head of School, Eric

Jones, came on board the following school year in 2007. “We now had a leader who could make decisions and guide the school in an intentional way. Eric helped to put meat to the educational philosophies that we so strongly believed in.”

Deborah Flores

“MY CHILDREN ARE WELL

“THE CPS SCHOOL MODEL MADE

THEY’RE GROWING UP IN.”

–JOSEPH HALE, CPS PARENT

PREPARED ACADEMICALLY

SENSE TO MY HEAD AND HEART.”

AND SOCIALLY, AND HAVE HAD

–DEBORAH FLORES,

EXPERIENCES THAT ALLOW THEM

FIRST KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

TO SEE THAT LIFE IS MORE THAN

THE SIX NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCKS

J

Eric AshtonJane BonenbergerCarlana BrownCharles BrownAmy ConnellyTeri DodaroBill EichnerSusan FeldmanAdia GarrickJohn GoodLiv GusmanoMike IngramCarolyn JacobsDailahn JamesSusan LaPalombaraDebbie MillerBetty PittRod PlattMargie RookeDebra SchwartzLaurel Stack

Bob SmithKezirah Vaughters

Megan Vetri

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Jeanette W. BrewerEdith Wells BristolThe Bryn Mawr Trust Company Stephen & Ivy CohnPatrick P. CoyneJanney Montgomery ScottSean & Tracy DowlingDrexel UniversityJaimie & David FieldThe Engle FoundationSaul Ewing LLPJohn T. FischerFirst Trust Financial

Resources LLCBeth & Tom GadsdenLynne & William GarboseArlin & Paula Yudenfriend GreenDavid & Christin GregoryTiffany & Bill GrossLisa GrotenMr. & Mrs. Charles HaldemanHand in Hand SoapHenrietta Tower Wurts MemorialTricia & Jason HillFrancesca & Joe HoeffelWilliam HolmesThe Honickman FoundationJudge Renee Cardwell HughesInPosseMs. Audrey Jakab &

Mr. Alejandro BerlinJ.McLaughlinKatherine & Douglas JordanKen KilbaneScott KollinsKorman CommunitiesKurfiss Sotheby’s

International RealtyLetter 27Mr. & Mrs. D. Christopher LeVineJoanna McNeil Lewis

Robin LloydDayle & Ryan MalloyMr. & Mrs. Samuel MarshallBarbara & Robert F. McCammonMr. & Mrs. Peter McCauslandMeredith & Brian McCormickCharlotte McInes & Ken LawrenceConstance & Lawrence

McLaughlinMr. & Mrs. Collin F. McNeilJ. Miller & Associates LLCMr. & Mrs. Hugh MoultonCharley MuirStarr & Minturn OsbornePen Bryn Fund of the Maine

Community FoundationMarsha & Jeffrey PerelmanThe Philadelphia EaglesPREITMr. & Mrs. Seymour S. Preston, IIITodd Rogers

St. Thomas’ Church WhitemarshLiz & Jay ScottKathleen & Frank SeidmanCharles L. SheppardTed & Laurel StackMrs. James M. StewartStimmel Consulting Group, Inc.

Donald ThatcherThreshold Group, LLC

Mr. & Mrs. Bob TrejoMr. & Mrs. Archbold Van BeurenMargaret B. Wallis

The Wisteria Foundation

Keith M. Williams, Sr.Mr. & Mrs. David WilmerdingWilliam & Kelly Yoh

Social/Emotional Learning and 5th Grade PlaySchool counselor Eliza Taylor led the school in taking on the

“Open Circle” curriculum, a Wellesley College-devel-oped method that teaches students skills in self-regula-tion, peaceful problem solv-ing, and empathy. Fifth grade applied these lessons to develop, write and perform an original play, “Square Pegs, Round Holes,” dealing with the themes of difference, friendship, and self-love.

Business Leaders BreakfastIn partner-ship with Phila-delphia Financial, CPS hosted a breakfast for busi-ness leaders on February 18, 2015 titled “Transform-ing Inner City Education: Independent Schools, Early Starts, and The Common Good.” Business leaders from throughout the Phila-delphia region gathered for breakfast, networking, and a lively discussion on urban education.

Vetri Foundation for Children CPS worked with longtime partner Vetri Foundation for Children to provide a fresh, nutritious, and delicious lunch served family-style each week in tandem with culinary educa-tion in their classrooms. Fifth grade students participated in the second year of the Vetri Foundation’s special cooking class series after school. (See photo to left.)

Viyon, class of 2014

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Donors continued from page 2

Mentor Circle$500–$999Roland AddisMarvin & Carol BankMr. & Mrs. Lawrence BodineMr. & Mrs. W. Thacher BrownDr. Ernestine CarterMr. & Mrs. Leon ChainMarlene ColbeckMr. & Mrs. Tristram ColketBrian & Elizabeth DoveyThe Drew A. Katz FoundationPaul FeinAmy A. Fox & Daniel H. WheelerMr. & Mrs. Bruce GoodmanMr. & Mrs. Geoffrey HoyesErnest JonesKent KeimJack & Leelee KirkpatrickLincoln Financial FoundationElizabeth LyonsMaurice McCarthyJohn & Evie McNiffBritton H. MurdochGregory & Katie O’LaughlinValerie PattersonMr. & Mrs. Robert PeckRegan Construction Co.Mr. & Mrs. J. Barton RileyTheresa & John RollinsKreamer RookeMr. & Mrs. Kyle SalataMarion Boulton StroudMr. & Mrs. William WardenH. Drake & Sandra S. WilliamsMr. & Mrs. Kent WillingMr. & Mrs. Theodore V. Wood III

Honorary GiftsIn Honor of:Cecelia AndrewsMargot FergusonEmma Bechill:John Bechill & Lauren YoungMaddy Booth:Marjorie & Jeffrey HonickmanDr. Ernestine Carter:Jeanette W. BrewerLynn Gadsden:Mr. & Mrs. Bruce GoodmanNonie Gadsdenthe Greenbaum Family:Lauren MenkowitzJohn Haas:David HaasJocelyn Hillman:Marlene ColbeckMaryanne & Rick SmithLynn & Chris GadsdenMark Korman:Scott KollinsAlan Lasdon:Amy GamburgRobert

McNeil, Jr.:Fieldstone

1793 Foundation/ Mrs. Henry A. Jordan

Mary Morris:Donna MadgeClayton Platt:Carlotta RiceRobert Polk:Ernest WongMichael BlumMarilyn AckelsbergCourtney Portlock:Holly CohenMargie Rooke:Zoe V.A. WellsJackie Schlichthernlein:Willa H. KravitzElizabeth Shober:Mr. Charles SwopeMarilyn Specter:Robert P. WermuthLaurel Stack:Jocelyn & John HillmanJeff Sultanik:Vivian DavisJanine & Jeff Yass:Seed the Dream Foundation

Parent Education ProgramIn addition to the five all-school family nights that included a Vetri cooking demonstration, a literacy discussion and book give-away, and social/emotional learning education, the Office of Family Life imple-mented relevant program-ming that met a broader range of our families’ needs.

In PosseLocal engineering and design firm In Posse designed an introductory engineering curriculum for CPS students, which included a look at different types of engineers and a tour of the building to learn about the different structures and how they function. The lessons culminated in a spring Engineering Day, where students could apply what they’d learned with hands-on projects.

Alumni ProgramThe CPS Alumni group grew to 47 students in 2014-2015, and included our first high school freshman class, who graduated from CPS in 2011. The alumni participated in several social events this year, including a back-to-school celebration, Winter Social, and a year-end gathering. These gatherings provided an opportunity for alumni and parents to connect with each other and CPS staff.

Sena, class of

2012

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Donor listing reflects contributions of $500 and above received between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. We apologize for any errors or omissions.

Supporters$100–$499AdminServiceChad & Robin AbramoChristy AdamsArturo AlvarezCecelia R. AndrewsSharon AngleJennifer ArevaloSteven David AverbuchJeff & Tisa BaenaPhillip BaerMr. & Mrs. Chris BaileyHolly BaileyVirginia S. BaltzellKaren BaroneJoseph & Kim BavariaJohn Bechill & Lauren YoungPatricia BeckDavid BermanMichelle BevanStephanie BielloCharlene BierlKevin BlackneyGeorge BochettoJean G. BodineNancy BousumMaurice BraswellBryn Mawr CollegeChristopher BryantAmy BurnsDrew CallaghanMr. & Mrs. Robert Callahan

& Deborah Marcia W. CampbellGabriel CanusoBryan CarterSusan & Cummins Catherwood, Jr.Sherrea S. ChadwinNicole CharlesWilson ChenMr. & Mrs. Joseph & Lynn CheslockMr. & Mrs. Greg ClowerCarolyn CohenAnita ColesKatie & Pete CommonsLise CorsonMichala CostelloLinda P. DaneseToby DavidovCaroline R. DavidsonSusan Gray DetweilerRoberta DevineRichard G. DevlinMr. & Mrs. Bruce Doman

Dunleavy & AssociatesAnne E. DunnDebra & Carleton ErdmanSandra EsnerSergio EstrellaElizabeth FarleyMargot FergusonStephen FinskeRev. & Mrs. Ernest L FloresKen FoleyAnita & Ted FranchettiNonie GadsdenMichael GadsdenChristy GallowayPeter GauntWendy GauntJudith L. GayDaniel & Kathy Geary Richard GenzerSusan GeyelinElise GeyelinMr. & Mrs. Howard GleitRichard GordonDonald K. GrossNancy HarrisMr. & Mrs. Philip HarrisBrian & Jennifer HaynesRyan HaywardPatricia HaywardAlfred HaywardRebecca S. HeiderAdam HellegersPaul HenryEileen P. HillDavid HochhauserAmy L. HornerMorton Howard IIICynthia Y. HylerNeal & Jennifer JacobsCraig & Sally JohnsonEric & Catherine Bennett JonesKaren JonesMelodie G. KarrDonald KligermanBarbara KlockTom & Linda KnoxKevin KohlerBradley & Pamela KormanJazmin & David KronKenneth P. KunsmanDoris LangermanTheodore LeBowGail LeBowPak LeeHelen Lilley-RobinsonMrs. Jeffrey Lindsey

Margaret S. LloydEric LochnerSara Lomax-ReeseToney Lucas, Jr.Kimberly C. MacaioneMr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Mac CroryDonna MadgeJulia K. MaherCynthia MannettaStephen MarchetteNina MarkeyJoseph MarshallKathleen O. MarshallThelma MayElizabeth MayElizabeth McCauslandHannah McFarlandAndrew & Theresa McKeonCarole & Howard Medoff Lauren MenkowitzBill Mignucci, Jr.Todd MillerCarol MomjianJennifer & Joseph MonahanSteve & Kim MorrisCharlotte L. MorrisonPeter NiedlandJessica NotoJeremy NowakMr. & Mrs. Charles W. OgelsbyMr. & Mrs. Dean PappasJohn L. PendergastChristopher Petersen

& Tracy HartmannHarry PhilbrickDaniel N. Pickens & Ina LipmanJohn & Susan PickeringMr. & Mrs. Henry PittSusan PittChristopher G. PlantClayton T. PlattRobert L. PolkAmy Pollick

Donors continued from page 6

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John PooleBrette PopperShirley PrestonPat & Mary RandlesJeff & Karen ReganKrista ReichardCarlotta RiceLinda R. RidolfiElizabeth RipleyBrian RobbinsAdam RobenJohn RobertsValentina RodowiczSchuyler W. RookeMr. & Mrs. Gerald RorerGreg RorerEmily & Louis RubinfieldMona SchonbrunnDr. Alex SchuhJoe SensenbrennerBeth Shapiro & Mike TorreyEdmund K. Sherrill & Elizabeth

SherrillJennifer G. SlobotkinRobert SmithMaryanne & Rick SmithJonne SmithSmith Insurance Associates, Inc.Farnaz SokhanvariCeleste SpadacciniAllyson SpaventaMr. & Mrs. Peter G. StanleyMelanie StecuraAnn R. StephensonDeborah StoneMr. & Mrs. Paul J. SulekSweet Union Baptist ChurchCharles SwopeMr. & Mrs. Michael A. SzczepkowskiDrs. Philip Tankel & Barbara LevinNicole TellTim & Lindsay TownhillBeth VaccaroJoan VaughanKezirah M. VaughtersEmily & Charles WagnerVirginia WatersJulie WelkerRobert P. WermuthJoyce WilliamsErnest WongMr. & Mrs. Jack WyszomierskiMichael YoungLisa YoungShelley ZeichnerLinda & Brooks Zug

FriendsUp To $100Marilyn AckelsbergDonna J. AndersonJames AversanoJane C. BallardGregory H. BarberLeon BarsonGrace BhakMarie BinkowskiDan BreedenJennifer BrodskyBrenda BrooksDonna M. BrownMs. Paula BudinJJ ChapmanJoyu ChenErica L. CheslockHolly CohenVictoria CollinsMargaret DavidsonVivian DavisDean DenisonGerald T. DevlinThao P. DoDorothy H. DoughertyLouisa DubinTimothy EnglertSydney FinkJames FitzpatrickKate FredlundAllison FumoAmy GamburgThe Gaunt FamilyAmber GayBrandon K. GayJuliet GayAnthony GeyelinErin GeyelinElizabeth GiampaWilliam GibsonGlaxoSmithKline (GSK)Betty R. GrantMary Elizabeth GriffithsJewell L. HallMr. & Mrs. James H. Hamilton, Jr.Takiyah HarrisLauren HayeMichael HaywardNancy HazleJennifer HerensCarol A. HillNathan HuiMr. & Mrs. Roger P. HullebergWilliam & Dectora JeffersLeah Kellar

Erin KelleyDenise D. KennySarah KimMr. & Mrs. David LamptonSamson LeeJune LiTom LienPei Xiong LiuAmanda San J. LooMs. Alice Loper & Mr. Mark StraubelNicholas MatteoJill McCreaTracy McNamaraRyan McNamaraAnthony MorettiMaryanne O. MuranoSaraswathi NainiPrathap NainiKatie & Philip NeffRichard C. O’HernCarolina PinoDavid Andrew PittGail RamsayMatthew RipsomMichele M. RodgersEvelyn RogersMr. & Mrs. Michael RomanHaley SamsiRachel SquireRachel TilneyMr. & Mrs. Paul A. TurnerChristopher VisentinKatelyn WallsZoe V. A. WellsClinton WigginsBarbara C. WinokurLong WongAvram YugrakhSusan B. ZemelWen Shan Zheng

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Abington Friends School Academy for the

Middle Years NorthwestAgnes Irwin SchoolBishop McDevitt High SchoolChurch Farm SchoolFrankford Friends SchoolFriends Central SchoolFriends Select SchoolGermantown AcademyPhiladelphia High School

for Girls

Jocelyn Hillman, Chair

Mary E. AmmonEric AshtonJeff BenjaminChristopher BoccellaDr. Ernestine J. CarterNicky CharlesSean DowlingDeborah Flores*Eleanore H. Gadsden,

Chair EmeritusBrian HaynesCarolyn JacobsEric C. Jones*

Greene Street FriendsThe Haverford School Hill-Freedman World AcademyHope Partnership for EducationLaSalle College High SchoolNorwood Fontbonne AcademyThe Philadelphia SchoolSpringside Chestnut HillSt. Joseph’s Preparatory School Waldron Mercy AcademyWilliam Penn Charter SchoolWissahickon Charter School

Shanon S. Levin, EsqMeredith McCormickJoseph C. MonahanStarr OsborneFelipe Ossa*Rev. Robert L. PolkJoe QuinonesMary Randles*Karen ReganMargie RookeHaley Samsi*Jeffrey T. SultanikAntonio Williams*Keith M. WilliamsAnne Wilmerding

Middle and High School Acceptances for CPS Alumni include:

Community Partnership School Board of Trustees 2014-2015

Community Partnership School1936 N Judson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19121CommunityPartnershipSchool.org215-235-0461

STD NONPROFITUS POSTAGE PAIDSOUTHEASTERN, PAPERMIT #50

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Amber, class of 2013

* Denotes Ex-Officio Members