Partnerships


RBCS takes full advantage of Philadelphia's urban resources, using the city as an extension of the classroom. Through these rich partnerships, RBCS offers exciting programs that support our students' learning experience both in the classroom and in the community.

Below is a list of the great variety of partnerships developed at RBCS.

Joint Venture Partnerships:

Powerful Voices for Kids

Our first joint venture partner is Temple University. Together, Temple's Media Education Lab and the Byerschool Foundation created Powerful Voices for Kids at the Russell Byers Charter School!

Powerful Voices for Kids is a university-school partnership, developed by Renee Hobbs, of Temple University, and Laurada Byers, that explores the development of children's literacy in the 21st century.

Elementary educators explore how media literacy and technology can be used to promote communication skills, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking by participating in a professional development program.

More than 70 elementary children enrolled at the Russell Byers Charter School had the opportunity to develop their powerful voices through a month-long summer program with activities including: digital photography, drama and storytelling, film and media production and analysis, persuasion and debate, and multimedia and video composition. The program emphasizes:


Students learning through media and technology. Images by "Media Education Lab"
  • Reading, writing, speaking and listening – the ability to communicate effectively using spoken and written language;

  • Expressive arts – the ability to express ideas creatively using music, body, storytelling, and drama;

  • The social responsibilities of a communicator – the ability to be responsible and ethical in one's role as communicator, including civility, online and real-world safety, respect for intellectual property and the ability to participate effectively in civic life; and

  • Media and information literacy –the ability to critically analyze contemporary mass media and popular culture and to compose and create media messages using technology tools; and the ability to comprehend, find, use and evaluate information and use information technology tools to solve problems, for self-expression and to create new ideas.

We incorporate research into all aspects of our work, including qualitative and quantitative studies of learning by students and teachers.

Community Partners:

The following organizations offer programs and resources that help expand the horizons to RBCS students.

Big Brother Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA (BBBS SEPA) is a donor-supported organization that enriches, encourages and empowers children to reach their highest potential through safe, one-to-one mentoring relationships. The BBBS mentoring model—which involves recruiting, screening, interviewing, training, matching, supporting and evaluating—is classified as a "Blueprint" program, making it a top prevention model for children. BBBS SEPA serves children in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties by matching them with a mentor—a "Big Brother" or "Big Sister."

The Russell Byers Charter School has one of the largest School-Based Big Brothers Big Sisters programs in the region with dozens of Russell Byers students mentored by "Bigs" from local corporations since 2004. "Littles" in Big Brothers Big Sisters School-Based Mentoring programs, such as the one at Russell Byers, demonstrate positive academic outcomes in the first year as a result of the mentoring match:


  • overall academic performance
  • performance in science
  • performance in written and oral language
  • quality and number of assignments turned in
  • fewer serious school infractions
  • scholastic efficacy
  • reduced skipping of school

For more information about partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters visit www.bbbssepa.org or call 215.790.9200.

Main Line Chinese Cultural Center


MLCCC's China Learning Program Final Performance
The Russell Byers Charter School is excited about its continued offering of Chinese language and culture to it students as well as other local children. Beginning in January 2009, the Russell Byers Charter School executed a pilot program, through the Main Line Chinese Culture Center (MLCCC), for its students on Saturday mornings. Based upon a client survey, 96% of surveyed parents thought the MLCCC learning program will provide lifelong benefits to their children. As one parent commented, "In this day and age, we as Americans need to be multi-linguistic-it would definitely help to unite our communities. I wish I had this type of program in my school back in my days…"

For the upcoming October launch, a small number of scholarships will be granted for the 12-week program to RBCS candidates. Those RBCS students who apply but are not granted a scholarship will still be able to participate in the program for a special fee. Non-RBCS students will be allowed to participate as well at $144 for the entire program.

For additional information on the Main Line Chinese Culture Center, please contact their Principal (Ms. Xia Li) at (610) 308-2624 or visit their website.

Enchanted Theatre Company Logo


Caption here

The Enchantment Theatre Company's (ETC) Magic of Masks Residency Program brings ETC Teaching Artists directly into the Russell Byers Charter School classrooms to work with students. While designed to teach performance skills, the Residency focuses on important life-skills, such as self-confidence, teamwork and communication. Through the course of the program, RBCS students will learn to express themselves and collaborate with others, becoming a true ensemble, and ultimately creating and performing an original production for an audience of their peers and families.


Caption here
Enchantment Teaching Artists begin the program with theater games to inspire the students to build confidence and work as an ensemble. Students explore exercises which teach life skills and acting skills including: energy, eye contact, spatial awareness, teamwork, body language and stage movement, communicating ideas, memorization, improvisational skills, and storytelling. ETC Teaching Artists teach students magic tricks focusing on fine-motor skills, hand/eye coordination and following step-by-step directions. ETC Teaching Artists work on character development using masks and puppets. ETC Teaching Artists and students explore storytelling identifying theme, setting, characters, world of the story, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution and moral/lesson. ETC Teaching Artists incorporate movement and original sound. Once the performance piece is shaped, RBCS students create costumes and props using found objects and craft supplies. Using the original materials the students rehearse their performance piece and share it with an invited audience.

Philadelphia Outward Bound


RBCS offers Outward Bound activities during the course of the academic year for 3rd through 6th grade students. A sequence of focused, cohesive and transformative Outward Bound experiences are offered at school, the Philadelphia Outward Bound Center (POBC), and in the wilderness. The activities are designed to challenge students as a group through collaborative problem solving, constructive communication, and team building initiatives. As individuals challenge themselves and tackle their fears, they build self-confidence, understand the value of effective leadership and develop a sense of trust and teamwork. The overall goal is to drive not only individual growth, but to explicitly create and maintain a healthy, supportive and connected school culture. For more information, please check out our Outward Bound updates as part of our ABC Leadership Program.

Philadelphia Museum of Art


The Philadelphia Museum of Art partners with RBCS to host the 20 week visual arts education RBCS Art Club Program for 5th and 6th grade students. The Delphi Project Foundation covers all costs of the Art Club, which includes art supplies, transportation to the museum, exhibitions and celebrations and healthy after-school snacks.

The goals of the program are to develop self-expression through art, to enhance critical thinking skills through artistic problem solving, introduce students to career opportunities in the visual arts through interaction with Museum staff, and to provide a safe, welcoming and supervised environment where students can spend after school hours in stimulating, creative activities with friends.

Students work with a variety of artistic media including painting, ceramics, sculpture and printmaking. The students are exposed to a multi-cultural curriculum, studying art from places such as China, India, Europe and Japan. A special emphasis is placed on African America and Latino contemporary artists.

After the 14th week of the program, The Philadelphia Museum of Art holds an exhibition of student work in its Education Gallery. To celebrate the exhibition and the students' accomplishments, the students and their families are treated to a special reception at the Museum and a performance in their honor.

Additionally, RBCS has partnerships with the following organizations:

Funding Partners:

National Recreation Foundation generously funds the ABC Leadership Program.

ABC Leadership Program

With the help of the National Recreation Foundation's incredible generosity, RBCS has launched the ABC Leadership Program. Through this program RBCS aims to use recreation as a positive force, promoting our students' physical, mental and social health. Components of ABC include:

  1. Adventure: the low ropes challenge course building self-confidence, leadership and trust; the Philadelphia Outward Bound Camp offers physical activities such as canoeing and hiking.

  2. Bound for College: local college visits and Career Day expand horizons for urban youth, encouraging students to aspire to lofty goals.

  3. Competition: chess team, ballroom dancing and debate offer opportunities to learn lifelong hobbies and engage in healthy competition and good sportsmanship.

The program is already off to a great start! Check back for updates on all the exciting ABC activities!

Spring 2009 Snapshots:

Adventure


3rd through 6th grade students participated in half-day and full-day initiatives with Outward Bound!

Bound for College


6th graders traveled to Washington D.C. for a two-day, one-night trip to visit Howard University, George Washington University, and the sights of our Nation's Capital.
Competition


The Russell Byers Knights Chess team took home 1st prize in the Pennsylvania State Scholastic Championship and 8th prize in our division in the U.S. Chess Federation SuperNationals Tournament in Nashville!


RBCS's ballroom dancing team competed in Dancing Classrooms Philly Colors of the Rainbow Final Competition!