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April-May, 2014 Volume 5/Issue 6

Sankofa Freedom

Academy Charter School

Leadership Team

Dr. Ayesha Imani, CEO

Bro. Isa Clark, COO

Baba Mwlimu Waset,

Principal

Mama Geraldine Newton, Business Manager

Bro. Elisha Tigah,

Technology Coordinator

Sis. Nieka Brown,

Middle School Coordinator

Baba Norman Bayard,

Upper School Dean

Bro. Darrius Rowser

Middle School Dean

Bro. Maurice Patterson,

Lower School Dean

Dr. Kelli Sparrow Mickens,

Servant Leadership Coodinator

Tameka Thomas

Transition Coordinator

Dione Pride,

Executive Administrator

Transformation

The 4th grade continues its fight

against food deserts through promot-

ing the Sankofa Freedom Garden.

Fifth grade campaigned against cuts in

education. The sixth grade had a con-

cern for homelessness and campaigned

for housing as a human right. The

seventh grade stood against mass in-

carceration of juveniles, and the 8th

grade is insisting that we protect our sacred ancestral burial grounds. Fi-

nally a group of middle school sisters

stood up for the Nigerian girls who

have been kidnapped from their

school. All of this was happening

while the 9th and 10th grade held

their Poetry Slam: Speaking their

truth with and for incarcerated youth.

The 11th grade sponsored their media

literacy workshops and the 12th grade

finished up their senior exhibition

presentations from their social justice

internships. The young people who

stood for justice in the 1960’s left us a

powerful legacy. I am so proud that

the scholars and servant leaders of

Sankofa Freedom Academy are con-

tinuing that legacy to this day. Our

fundi, Ella Baker, must be proud. I

know that I am!

On Friday, May 23, we had one of

the best days in our five year history.

Our scholars and servant leaders

dedicated the entire day to standing

up for freedom, justice, and equality

as they shared their year long pro-

jects that came from their essential

questions of freedom. This is what

we call our SBA to HEKA festival.

As some of you know SBA is a Ke-metic (Ancient African) term that we

interpret as “deep thought”. Heka is

a Kemetic term that we interpret as

“righteous action”. Here at Sankofa,

we believe that education is a proc-

ess designed to take us from deep

thought to righteous action; which

should result in deeper thought and

more righteous action. Of course

that is what education is about in a

real freedom school.

Well, if anyone wondered what

Sankofa is, on Friday, we sent the

message out loud and clear: Sankofa

Freedom Academy is a Freedom

School in the tradition of the free-

dom schools movement which is

celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Just like our ancestors and elders

from 1964, our children stood up

for civil and human rights for those

in our society and our world who

far too often are denied basic ne-

cessities like food, housing, and

education. Our children also

stood up for concerns in the

Frankford community that can

make it a better place to live such

as the Freedom Garden.

Over the next two editions of

the Sankofa bird newsletter, we

will feature some of the projects

from this amazing day! The day

started with a March for Justice

that began with the middle school

emerging leaders marching to Paul

street to pick up our elementary

scholars. It ended in a Rally in

Womrath Park. Children carried

signs and banners as they chanted

and cheered to bring attention to

their causes. The kindergarten

students stood up for early child-

hood education. The first grade

stoodfor healthy eating in our

community. The second grade

spoke out against hunger. The

third grade wants to bring back the

arts in schools throughout the city.

Peace and Blessings from Dr. Mama:: Still Fighting for Freedom!

Volume 5/Issue 6

The Sankofa Bird Newsletter of

Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School

4256 Paul Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19124 215-288-2001

www.sfacs.us

Sankofa Freedom

Academy Charter School

Leadership Team

Dr. Ayesha Imani, CEO

Bro. Isa Clark, COO

Mama Geraldine Newton, Busi-

ness Manager

Bro. Elisha Tigah,

Technology Coordinator

Sis. Nieka Brown,

Middle School Coordinator

Baba Norman Bayard,

Upper School Dean

Bro. Darrius Rowser

Middle School Dean

Bro. Maurice Patterson,

Lower School Dean

Dr. Kelli Sparrow Mickens,

Servant Leadership Coordinator

Sis. Tameka Thomas

Transition Coordinator

Sis. Dione Pride,

Executive Administrator

Transformation

April-May, 2014

Kemet: We are Moving to The Land of The Red

Congratulations to the Students in Kemet

that have submitted all assignments to

move to the Land of the Red! They have

worked on the Black folder since July of

2013. When you see a student in the nation

of Kemet that has moved to the red folder

give them positive affirmation for all the

hard work they have completed an still

need to complete to move to the next

folder.

From Left to Right: Sis. Aja, Sis.Tammye, Sis. Siani, Sis.Efraj, Bro.Sakwon,

Bro.Aboubacar, Sis. Shakira, Bro.Quran, Sis. Dominique, Sis.Zainabou, Sis.Ladira

Bro.Khaleef ( not shown)

Congratulations to the

A -Team!

(900 or higher)

Congratulations to the Live

Five !

Kemet

on the

campus

of Temple

for a College

Tour.

Lets Go

Kemet!

Aboubacar Doukoure: 1824

Nyeerah Long: 1624.5

Jazmear Ross: 1302

Ladira Saunders: 1231

Zainabou Dabo: 1206

Left to Right: Sis.Nyerrah, Sis.Zainabou, Sis. Aja, Sis.Ladira, Sis.Dominique,

Bro.Drew, Sis. Tianna M., Bro.Egypt, Sis. Tianna, Sis. Siani, Bro.Sakwon,

Bro.Taje, Bro.Jaylen

Students in the Land of the Red

Senior Internships

Students of Kemet were required to complete a 4-6 week internship at a site that

connected to their topic. We were able to place our seniors with many different organi-

zations in the city. Below, you will see our scholars hard at work at some of the various

sites that provided internship opportunities.

Khaleef Alexander City Controller/Jeff Hornsten

Aboubacar Doukoure UNA-GP

Sakwon-Ali Epps American Civil Liberties Union

Quran Harrison American Civil Liberties Union

Precious Thomas Woman Organized Against Rape

Tiara Wilson Councilwoman Maria Sanchez Office

Simeon Browne MFI Law Group, PLLC

Linda Brown Black Women Health Alliance

Michael Lockett Black Women Health Alliance

Samira Williams Woman Organized Against Rape

Dayonna Randall-Fletcher Woman Organized Against Rape

Siani Rojas Drexel Women Center

Shahira Travis Wissahickon Charter School

Shakera Yates-Hinton Wissahickon Charter School

Selwyn Gabriel Imani Educational Circle

Luis Martinez Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School

Taje' Oliver Imhotep Institute Charter School; Imani Educational

Circle

Anthony Davis Sankofa Charter School

Anthony Wright-Downing Big Brother Big Sister Program

Jazzmaine Lancit Best Behavioral Healthcare

Jadzeair Clark Law Office of Stephanie Sawyer

Brianna Heard Drexel Women Center

Aja Jordan-Long One Art Center

Egypt Shabazz Sankofa Charter School

Efraj Davis Lest We Forget Black Holocaust Museum

Devin Cooper Department of Human Services

Roy Schofield Wakisha Charter School

Darryl Lloyd Sankofa Charter School

Symone Nelson Black Women Health Alliance

Nyeerah Long Lest We Forget Black Holocaust Museum

Quinton Donaldson SOZA Clinic

Jaylen Price Stenton Family Manor

Zainabou Dabo Law Office of Stephanie Sawyer

Drew Jones Stenton Family Manor

Ladira Saunders Harding Middle School; Carson Valley

Ra'shawn Ladson Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)

Janiaye Brown Philadelphia Youth Advocate Program

Dominique Deverteuil Carson Valley

Tiana Johnson One day at a Time

Ryan Patterson Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)

Jazmear Ross Philadelphia Youth Advocate Program

Tammye Caldwell North Central Victims Service

Braheem Bey Emir Healing Center

Ladira Saunders:

Harding Middle School

Efraj Davis

Lest We Forget Black

Holocaust Museum

Nyeerah Long

Lest We Forget Black Holocaust Museum

Volume 5/Issue 6

Aaboubacar Doukoure

Jalen Price

Anthony Wright-Downing

Michael Lockett

Roy Scholfield

Selwyn Gabriel

Taje Oliver

Simeon Browne

Anthony Davis

Luis Martinez

Braheem Bey

Ra’shawn Ladson

Drew Jones

Khaleef Alexander

Darryl Lloyd

Egypt Shabazz

Symone Nelson

Tiara Wilson

Dayonna Randall-Fletcher

Dominique Deverteuil

Linda Brown

Precious Thomas

Samira Williams

Efraj Davis

Ladira Saunders

Nyeerah Long

Janiaye Brown

Tammye Caldwell

Aja Jordan-Long

Brianna Heard

Siani Rojas

Jadzeair clark

Jazmear Ross

Jazzmaine Lancit

Shahira Travis

Shakera Yates-Hinton

Tiara Johnson

Zainabou Dabo

Congratulations to the servant leaders and intellectual warriors of the nation of Kemet,

who successfully presented their Senior Exhibition projects before an external panel from

the community at large during the designated presentation window. You have earned

your place in the final Senior Rites of Passage Experience.

In September, the Upper School student body chose to support the Sickle Cell Disease, Making

Strides Against Breast Cancer and Heart Walks. During the first marking period, the Mighty Na-

tion of Dagara was responsible for helping our school community to prepare for our Walks for

Causes in their Servant Leadership Class. In the weeks prior to these walks, the Dagarans re-

searched the conditions, created informative posters and planned fundraisers that resulted in an

average of 45 people per walking team and over $1000.00 in donations over a two month pe-

riod. Good Job! Good Job!

2013 Walks for Causes

Nubia II: Serving Our Scholars

The Mighty Nation of Nubia II (9th grade) has begun their service with the Mighty

Nations of Yoruba (Kindergarten), Kongo (1st Grade) and Kush (2nd Grade). In the

first marking period, they delved more deeply into the Nguzo Nane, as well as the

lives and examples of our ancestors Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, William Still and

Ramon Emeterio Betances. They learned about Multiple Intelligences and the vari-

ous ways that these are made manifest in our Sankofa classrooms. Beginning in the

second marking period, they began their service with an observation to see demon-

strations of the Nguzo Nane and the Multiple Intelligences. Then, they began to as-

sist with Guided Reading. Said the Servant Leaders, “They are so sweet and cute!”

The Nubian Servant Leaders will be going to the Main Building on Tuesdays and

Wednesdays during their Servant Leadership period.

(Photo and text by Sis. Dr. Kelli)

Volume 5/Issue 6

At the Walter E. Brandon Sickle Cell Disease Walkathon

At the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk

At the Heart Walk

Page 4 Volume 5/Issue 6

KEMAX JAMBASSADORS 2014

On April 6, 2014, the first combined

team of Seniors and Juniors left for

their international service journey to

Jamaica. Three members of Kemet,

Class of ’14 and four members of

Axum, Class of ‘15 boarded flights

with their chaperones Mama Holliday

and Bro. Isa for their 10 day experi-

ence. Here are two reflections that

they posted during that time.

Servant Leaders For Life

April 13, 2014

Today I had an extraordinary day in Jamaica. We went to Reach Falls and Boston Bay Beach. It was an enjoyable experience because I got to go

to such well known Jamaican landmarks. Also, I had plenty of excitement while we were on the beach and enjoying our day. While I was enjoying

the day, I began to speak with Brother Dave who is Dr. Keith’s younger brother. We had a positive and productive conversation about his life

and about culture. He told me that he was a retired engineer, and he suffers from being 90 percent deaf in one ear. Even though he is partially

deaf, he still manages to sell merchandise on eBay to earn extra money, and he assists his brother by being an instructor for students from

Sankofa and Temple University when they come to Carleva Bay. Brother Dave told me that in Jamaica you cannot retire unless you are rich.

The reality Brother Dave told me about in Jamaica is similar to many people back home. For example, my Grandmother, who is retired, semi

handicapped, suffers from arthritis, diabetes and many more diagnoses, still manages to assist people who are in need and older than her. I always

believed that if you work hard for a long period of time then you shouldn’t have to work again. But this is barely the truth in many places outside

of Jamaica because I see this reality for my grandmother. My grandmother was a working class woman, who raised her children to be educated

and wanted more for them. Out of the kindness of her heart she still works to assist people who are in need.

-Khaleef Alexander

Overcoming My Fear

April 13, 2014

Today was AMAZINGGG! We all went to the

Boston Bay Beach and to Reach Falls. While at

Reach Falls I overcame a fear of mine. Walking

towards the cliff, accompanied by Drew and a life-

guard, I could feel my heart racing. I was beyond

frightened, but with the support of Drew and

counting to three, I took a deep breath and jumped

into the water.

That experience alone is truly life changing. I was

finally able to do something I thought I would never

do, and do it with help from my teammates. Back

at home, I never try anything, I stick to the same

schedule. I was never a “dare devil”, and I definitely

never jumped off of a cliff at the top of a water fall.

I totally believe that this affected my community

because there are plenty of students, and even

adults, in the city who would never come out of

their comfort zone to do anything. People world-

wide are affected in the same way. Not realizing

that when and if they do succeed in overcoming

their fear, it will bring them up and make them feel

so much better. Also, not to mention, they will

have a wonderful experience to share and fear to

cross off.

-Taylor Duncan.

International Trip Reflections

My name is Baba Mwlimu Waset, and I am the new Upper School

principal at Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School. I am extremely

excited to be a part of the Sankofa family, and I am enthusiastic about

working with the children here. My goal is to ensure that they are the best

and the brightest that Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School has to

offer. You should know that I am committed to ensuring academic excel-

lence in each and every student, so that they ultimately become the intel-

lectual warriors that we all know that they are capable of becoming.

I hope that you will join me in working along side all of our staff, so

that we may begin to stave off the stereotypes that are so frequently la-

beled upon our children. Our children have greatness within them, and

thus it is our job to push them and discover that greatness from within.

On Saturday, October 19,

servant leaders in the Upper School

joined thousands of families across

the Delaware Valley to lend a hand

in making strides against Breast

Cancer. Sankofa Freedom Acad-

emy, once again, happily joined

forces with others who walked in

the spirit of Umoja to advance

more and better research, so that one day breast cancer will be a

distant memory.

This year’s effort ,especially, was

led by the nation of Dagara, whose

essential question of freedom in-

volves exploring ways to help

our communities be healthier.

We hope that this month,

Breast Cancer Awareness

Month, you will make a contribu-

tion in the name of Sankofa

Freedom Academy. Although

the march is over on Saturday,

you can still donate all year long.

Please visit the Breast Cancer

website at:

http://komenphiladelphia.org/the-

race/

Winning Words from Baba Waset

Breast Cancer

Kemet Seniors Show Sankofa Leadership and Love

bacar Doukoure took action.

- At SFACS we take pride in

teaching our students to be

servant leaders to each other,

and also to members of the

surrounding community. We

believe that it is important for

our children to understand that,

given certain conditions of our

society, there are things that each individual can do to make

it better, and as a collective,

even greater things can be done.

The staff is extremely proud of

the seniors of Kemet, who lead

the drive through which we

raised over $1000, which was

presented to Isaiah’s family.

This act demonstrated love,

kindness and servitude. We

give thanks to the spirit of

Sankofa.

Join Upper School

Fight Against

Our entire community has

been mourning the lost of one

of our former students, Isaiah

Torian-Ford, who passed away

on Saturday, October 5.

The sudden death of Bro. Isaiah

especially impacted the nation

of Kemet. Bro. Isaiah started

his high school years with us at

Sankofa, as a member of Ke-met. His sister, Alisha, was a

member of the Nation of Nu-

bia. Thankfully, two seniors of

Kemet decided to do more

than mourn. Instead, Bro.

Simeon Brown and Bro. Abou-

Many thanks to all of the parents,

students, and staff who contributed to

the family of Isaiah Torian Ford in their

time of need.

The Sankofa Bird Newsletter Page 5 The Sankofa Bird Newsletter

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Annual History Bowl Competition Announcing the Winners! Nubia 2 B

Congratulations to:

Marquise Madison-Lawrence, Quashe Fitch,

Manthita Diawara and Mia Heredia

Four intellectual warriors from the 9th grade Nation of Nu-

bia 2 arose victorious through the tough battle of the annual

SFA History Bowl Competition. 2013 was the first year the

title for the History Bowl had been won by an incoming ninth

grade Nation, Dagara over the Nation of Axxum.

CONGRATULATIONS, to all of the Intellectual Scholars

that worked to prepare for this intellectual battle.

“The Rains” Tour of Philadelphia & Institute of Colored Youth

Every year students in the tenth grade study their essential question of

freedom through American History by reading , The Rains by Dr. Sullay-

man Clark. Each year we culminate the reading of the text with a site

visit to Mother Bethel Church, The Institute for Colored Youth and Col-

lege tour of Cheney University. This year the Songhai Nation and Dagara

Nation collaborated to experience this historic tour together.

Dagara & Songhai Nation Collaborate

Students in the Dagara and Songhai Nations

stood on holy ground at the Historic Mother Be-

thel Church on the corner of 6th and Lombard,

and read the Historic marker that identifies the

church as a stop along the Underground Railroad.

Making College Connections with Nubia I

While on our tour of Cheney University, we were

blessed to see our beloved Alumni, Briana Robinson-

Wallace, and Nyjia Nuble.

This year, for the first time, we are organizing an upper school parent group, to work on issues that relate specifically to the upper

school servant leaders. We want to be able to explore together the college consideration and selection process, as well as ways of

handling some of the social concerns that arise for our teenagers, such as relationship issues, substance abuse, depression, and ca-

reer exploration. We know that being the parent of a teenager brings its own kind of stress and struggle. We invite you to join the

upper school Parent Support Circle. Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month, during the time that we usually

hold our parent meetings. Parents will meet with our new principal, Baba Waset, and have the opportunity to take part in a wide

range of guest discussions and activities. If you are interested in providing leadership for the circle, please contact our new Execu-tive Assistant, and Parent Involvement Coordinator, Sis. Dione Pride at 215-288-2001. Meetings of the Upper School Parent Circle

will be held at the Penn Street Campus. The next meeting will be on November 12th at 6:00. JOIN US!

Upper School Celebrates Students of the Month

Calling All Upper School Parents: We Need One Another!

Breast Cancer Walk

Darrien Johnson

Sahir Chambers

Cassandra Boyd

Rasheeda Boelter

Jasmine Thomas

Jewel Allen-Washington

Jamil Williams

Damon Carr

Taleia Prince-Forrest

Axum

Carolyn Coleman

Justin Anson

Talia Nelson

Aminah Wilkinson

Tylia Ross

Rashid Young

Chai Holiday-Lawson

Malik Chambers

Nubia II

Davon Ward

Taliyah Barnes

Nijah Lewis

Mia Heredia

Yacob Hart

Bahsir Matthews

Krissy Devine

Amar Harris

Rasheed Ross

Marquis Lawrence-Madison

Dagara

Volume 5/Issue 6

Here are the list of scholars:

Nubia II

Devohn Ward Taliyah Barnes Nijah Lewis

Mia Heredia Yacob Hart Bashir Matthews

Krissy Devine Amar Harris Rasheed Ross

Marquis Lawerance

Dagara Darrien Johnson Sahir Chambers

Cassandra Boyd Rasheeda Boelter Jasmine Thomas


Kemet

Zainabou Dabo

Jaylen Price

Egypt Shabazz

Siani Rojas

Shakiara Boston

Aboubacar Doukoure

Sakwon-Ali Epps

Simeon Browne

NEA ONNIM

NO SUA A,

OHU

"He who does not

know can know from

learning"

The Sankofa Bird Newsletter Page 6

Dagara

Darrien Johnson Karen Rowell Taalib Prater Jamil Williams Rasheeda Boelter Robert Lee Shamira Boyer Ahnya Mack Ajeenah Ross

Axum (right): Rodney Artison, Raekwon Hamilton, Infinity

Pennington, Dayonna Farmer, Nasir Johnson, Dontae Lee, Chai Brooke Holliday-Lawson, Shequan Newton, Talia Nel-son, Ciani Fleming- Evans, Brenndan Stevens

Nubia II

Manthita Diawara, Kristan Devine, Keita Bostic, Moussa Doukoure, Evan Turner, Johura Khan, Aleya Smith, Azeize Smith, Marquis Lawerence-Madison, Diavion Northington, Nadir Dempsey, Delilah Rodriguez

Kemet: Symone Nelson, Nyeerah Long

Upper School Students of the Month

Volume 5/Issue 6

“Books are for Brothers” Middle School

A Spotlight on Sisterhood On Friday, March 28, 2014, the fifth grade girls gathered for a Sisterhood group. Our session

was designed to help us respect each other. I learned that is important to say kind words to all of the

girls in our school, no matter if someone is right or wrong. Respecting other girls is important be-

cause without it you may get into a fight. For example, we watched a video called “Jan the Bully” in

which I saw that one girl hurt another girl. In fights, anybody can get hurt, even girls. Both girls felt sad

and mad about what happened. Also, respect can help you keep friendships. In another movie we

watched, a girl lost her friend because she did not show respect for her friend. Overall, we should show respect for other girls. For instance, we wrote encouraging words on a paper for each girl in

the group to show respect to each other. Through Sisterhood group, I learned how to be more ma-

ture and respectful to the girls in fifth grade. I can specifically do this by not fighting and by showing

my friends respect. For all of the activities about respect that I described above, Sisterhood group was

fun!

-Maeva Brea

Intellectual Warriors from the Ashanti

Nation with MK Asante author of the

Book Buck

On March 14, 2014, Ashanti scholars Tyreek Walker, Tariq

Mines, Omar Long, Mylz Ward, and Sherman Jones went to

Temple University to interview author M. K. Asante about

his recently published autobiography, Buck. These brothers had previously read and spent weeks analyzing the text

through a literature circle. The group made deep connec-

tions between their own experiences and events in Buck. The

scholars were able to directly share with Professor Asante

how transformational his book has been for them. Both Pro-

fessor Asante and the Educational Psychology Department at

Temple University have commented on how impressed they

were by the Sankofa scholars’ close reading, provocative

questions, and deep thought. The Sankofa teachers couldn’t

be prouder of them.

This year, for the first time, we are organizing an upper school parent group, to work on issues that relate specifically to the upper

school servant leaders. We want to be able to explore together the college consideration and selection process, as well as ways of

handling some of the social concerns that arise for our teenagers, such as relationship issues, substance abuse, depression, and ca-

reer exploration. We know that being the parent of a teenager brings its own kind of stress and struggle. We invite you to join the

upper school Parent Support Circle. Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month, during the time that we usually

hold our parent meetings. Parents will meet with our new principal, Baba Waset, and have the opportunity to take part in a wide

range of guest discussions and activities. If you are interested in providing leadership for the circle, please contact our new Execu-tive Assistant, and Parent Involvement Coordinator, Sis. Dione Pride at 215-288-2001. Meetings of the Upper School Parent Circle

will be held at the Penn Street Campus. The next meeting will be on November 12th at 6:00. JOIN US!

Upper School Celebrates Students of the Month

Calling All Upper School Parents: We Need One Another!

Breast Cancer Walk

Darrien Johnson

Sahir Chambers

Cassandra Boyd

Rasheeda Boelter

Jasmine Thomas


Jamil Williams

Damon Carr

Taleia Prince-Forrest

Axum

Carolyn Coleman

Justin Anson

Talia Nelson

Aminah Wilkinson

Tylia Ross

Rashid Young

Chai Holiday-Lawson

Malik Chambers

Nubia II

Davon Ward

Taliyah Barnes

Nijah Lewis

Mia Heredia

Yacob Hart

Bahsir Matthews

Krissy Devine

Amar Harris

Rasheed Ross

Marquis Lawrence-Madison

Dagara

Volume 5/Issue 6

Here are the list of scholars:

Nubia II

Devohn Ward Taliyah Barnes Nijah Lewis

Mia Heredia Yacob Hart Bashir Matthews

Krissy Devine Amar Harris Rasheed Ross

Marquis Lawerance

Dagara Darrien Johnson Sahir Chambers

Cassandra Boyd Rasheeda Boelter Jasmine Thomas


Kemet

Zainabou Dabo

Jaylen Price

Egypt Shabazz

Siani Rojas

Shakiara Boston

Aboubacar Doukoure

Sakwon-Ali Epps

Simeon Browne

NEA ONNIM

NO SUA A,

OHU

"He who does not

know can know from

learning"

Page 8 The Sankofa Bird Newsletter

Dogon: 5th Grade

Front Row: Mzyah Heck,Joshua Lubin

Back Row: Zayada Flanagan,Naja Lumsden, Isaiah

Webb, Nadira Abdullah

Bambara: 6th Grade

Front Row: Jayda Gill,Tahirah Arter,Azirah Bowman,

Emani Gentry

Back Row: Jeremiah Butler, Tashaan McGill, Keyvon

Montague, Luis Padilla, Nyree Shelton

Mighty Middle School

Students of the Month

Fulani: 7th Grade

Front Row: Cion Rawls, Ousamae Fofana, Shaimeria

Tilghman, Jhanae Geiger, Paulinda Nicholson

Back Row: Sada Nianghane(Bambara), Quadirah Mor-

rison-Thomas, Jada Patterson, Heaven Pickett,

Keolobogile More

Ashanti: 8th Grade

Front Row: Lariq Byrd, Tahir Bolton

Back Row: Jada Mcleod, Aasiya Boone, Viviana Padilla,

Omar Long, Terry Monroe-McNeil, Andryanna,

Smith,Ronesha Holloway, Sierra Lumsden

The Sankofa Bird Newsletter

WELCOME TO THE READING CORNER!

SFA Lower School Family! We are hosting a library card drive!

To participate, all you have to do is follow the TWO easy steps below:

1) Fill out the library card application. Note: Even if your child has fines, please fill out the application! Children materials no longer carry a fine. Just return whatever has been checked

-out!

2) Return the form to school!

It will take about 2-3 weeks for the library cards to be processed. All cards will be sent directly to Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School (main building) and distributed to students. If you would like the

card sent to your home address, please write “MAIL TO HOME ADDRESS” at the top of the application.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in the literacy development of your child!

Peace, Love, and Reading Power!

Submission by: Sis. Katina Mackey-Green, Reading Specialist

Greetings SFA Family!

At the October Parent Meeting, I had the wonderful

opportunity to speak with the Lower School parents about the

importance of reading for 20 minutes each night. Research proves

that students who read daily acquire more words. Check out the

graphic to the right!

As we work to ensure that our scholars are reading for

at least 20 minutes every night, we need to give them access to

books. One way to do this is to use a resource right here in our

community...the Free Library of Philadelphia!

Join Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School as we host our

very first Library Card Drive! The Lower School will kick off the

drive in the month of November, and the Middle School will have

in the month of December.

I am so excited to work with the entire Sankofa village to promote

the importance of literacy!

READING IS POWER!




TEXT TALK AT HOME Scenario: Your child comes home and completes their

Liberation Work (homework) assignment for the night.

They ask you to sign off their daily reading log. You ask

them did they read. They happily say, “YES!” You sign

the log, but have no idea what they read or if they un-

derstand what they read.

Sound familiar?

As busy parents, it is very difficult to read every story,

passage, or article that your child brings home every

night. Let me let you in on a little secret. It is difficult

for teachers to read every single book that students

select from our classroom libraries. However, we

know the right questions to ask to assess their under-

standing (comprehension) of the text.

So, now I am equipping you with some questions you

can ask your child at home. If they have a hard time

answering the question, it is probably because they did

not understand what they read. Now you have insight

into how you can help your child, and can tell them to

go back and reread!

Use these questions to participate in what I’m calling

“Text Talk”. The questions listed allow you to have a

conversation with your child before, during, and after

reading. Lastly, make sure they are answering the ques-

tions in complete sentences.

Happy Text Talk Time!

READING IS POWER!

Before reading:

• Looking at the title, cover and illustrations/pictures, what do

you think will happen in this book?

• What makes you think that?

• What characters do you think might be in the book?

• Do you think there will be problem in the story? Why?

• What do you already know about the topic of this book?

• Does the topic or story relate to you or your family? How?

• Do you think it will be like any other book you’ve read? If

so, which one, and how do you think it will be similar?

During reading:

• What has happened so far in the story? Can you tell me

using sequence words? (first, then, next, after, finally, etc.)

• What do you predict will happen next?

• How do you think the story will end?

• Why do you think the character did ____________?

• What would you have done if you were the character?

• How would you have felt if you were the character?

• When you read, what pictures did you see in your head?

How did you imagine it looked like?

• What are you wondering about as you read? What

questions do you have?

• Think about the predictions you made before reading; do

you still think the story will go that way? Why or why not?

How do you think it will go now?

After reading:

• Why is the title a good title for the book/story? If you had

to give it a different title, what would be another good title

for it?

• Were your predictions correct? Where did you have to fix

your prediction as you read?

• If there was a problem, did it get solved? How did the

character try to solve the problem?

• What happened because of the problem?

• Did any of the characters change through the story? Who

changed, and how did they change?

• Why do you think the author wrote this?

• What is the most important point that the author is trying to

make in his/her writing?

• What was your favorite part? Why?

• If you could change one part, what would you change?

• If you could ask the author a question, what would you ask?

• Can you retell the story in sequence order (use your fingers

and sequence words: first, second, then, next, etc.)

• Is there a character in the story that reminds you of some-

one

you know? If so, who are they like, and why do you think

that? • Does this book remind you of another book you know?

Does it remind you of something you’ve experienced in real

life?

Courtesy of http://www.tufsd.org/

Page 9


of

Sankofa Warriors Shining Bright This Winter

Boys & Girls Basketball and the Cheer Team

Senior Captain, Anthony Wright-Downing (number 11),

passed the 1,000 point total for his high school career. You

can see him and the other seniors pictured above.

The Sankofa Lady Warriors are having their best season in school history. For the first time, Sankofa Lady Warriors have

seniors on the team, and those seniors are leading by example. Since Sankofa opened in 2009 with only freshmen, our

Lady Warriors have not had seniors on the roster. Lead by Seniors Jazzmaine Lancit, Tiara Wilson, Shakiara Boston,

Symone Nelson and Dominique Deverteuil, the Lady Warriors are in prime position to make the playoffs for the first

time in school history. You can see the improvement and growth in these student athletes, as they anchor a team of

freshmen sophomores, juniors and seniors. Special thanks to the coaches, Sis Justine and Bro Isa. Let’s support our Lady

Warriors this winter as they make a run for the playoffs.

Sankofa’s First Scholar to Reach1,000 career points!

The Cheer Leading Team

Represented us WELL!

Congrats to the Lady Warriors

2013-14 Cheer Team. They did a

great job representing us at the

City Wide Annual Cheer Com-

pletion this past December.

Their routine was excellent and

we are exciting about what they

will do next year. Thank you to

the coaches Sis Jones and Mama

Nikki!

The mighty Yoruba nation uses their Kuumba

when it comes to math. Above, we have

Kyz’ceon Walls and Zariya Smith comparing

numbers with Jaws (greater than), baby bird (less

than) and equal to.

Teamwork

Makes the

Dream Work

Kongo-Anderson Style……

During the week of 3/21,

the nation of Kongo read an

informational text telling of

the “Ways People Live”,

which provided information about ways people lived in

the Arctic, deserts, rainfor-

ests and places with four

season. Students took the

information in the text and

created a non-fiction writing

piece telling of the ways

people lived in a particular

place…. Look at our 1st

graders citing evidence from

the text!!!


They then took a swim in the ocean, as students

studied the ocean as a habitat. Above, we see that

the nation used their Kuumba, Ujima and Umoja to

create an ocean habitat that has brought the kin-dergarten wing to life in the Lower school. If you

haven’t had the opportunity to visit, come take a

swim.

Kongo-Anderson students using

teamwork for classwork..






-out!























READING IS POWER!










Sound familiar?













go back and reread!







READING IS POWER!

Before reading:










During reading:















After reading:



for it?

















one




life?



3rd and 4th Grade Writing Corner

My Favorite Season By Kayla Harris

My favorite season is summer. I am going to convince

you to like summer too. The reason why I like summer

is because it is a time when you can get water ice. Don’t

you think it is a time to get water ice in the summer? I

know! Also, summer is when you can sometimes get

water ice for free because it is so hot. Another reason

why I like summer and you should too is because sum-

mer is when you don’t have school. When you are in

school all year long, don’t you feel like you need a break?

Yes! So, summer is the time when you can relax and

chill from all of the hard work.

Spring By Jennifer Orteus

My favorite season is spring. Spring is my favorite

season because it is not too hot or too cold, it’s just

right. I also like spring because it is a time when you

can see flowers (roses are red, violets are blue). In

addition, in the spring I see flowers and I hope you

do too. I like seeing colorful backyards as I walk

past them. Lastly, spring is my favorite season be-

cause my mom lets me go outside and play with my

brothers, sisters and friends. That is why spring is

my favorite season.

Summer By Shaun Sanders

My favorite season is summer. I love summer because I get a break from school. Another reason I like summer

is it’s the best time to get a pool. Also, summer is the best because I can have fun without anyone telling me

not to. In addition, I love summer because I’m the one feeling free and wonderful. Summer is fun, warm and

the longest vacation ever. I will enjoy this summer because I have a new little sister to play with,. For me, sum-

mer is the best thing ever. I love summer!

Art Heals The Heart By Mecca Patterson-Guridy

Did you know that art can heal your heart? When people have heart problems, don't have limbs, have lupus or

any other conditions, they need happiness to help them feel better. I just discovered that people use art to

make children feel better. Children just feel free to do art, make a mess, be creative, or even make something

on your own. I remember once when I was sad, I looked at a pretty piece of art and I felt better. I really felt

good. Art really does heal the heart.

Informative Essay: Something I would like to try By Joselyn Olivencia

One activity I would like to try is gymnastics. I would like to do gymnastics because it is a very

fun activity. I love it because it makes you feel free, doing it when you’re up in the air and flipping. I am

not that type of child that who would rather stay inside and play on a mobile device. My legacy I would

want to leave is to become the world’s most famous gymnast. When I grow up I want other children

to follow in my foot steps and encourage other children to follow after their dreams and stand up for

who they are. One reason I want kids to do gymnastics is so they can grow up to be healthy and

strong in a fun way. My favorite athlete is Gabby Douglass. She is my favorite athlete because she was a big influ-

ence on me. She knew she was struggling at the time, but she didn’t quit. Everybody pushed her, but

she did not fall. She got up and did what felt right to her until she achieved her dreams of going to the

Olympics and there she did her best. Now she is a famous athlete going around the world achieving

more and more. That is why Gabby Douglass was a big influence to me. In closing ,thought about becoming an athlete and I wanted to do gymnastics so I can follow after my

aunt and influence others. That’s why I want to do gymnastics.

The Sankofa Bird Newsletter Page 11 The Sankofa Bird Newsletter









Sound familiar?













go back and reread!







READING IS POWER!

Before reading:










During reading:















After reading:



for it?

















one




life?







-out!























READING IS POWER!

Page 11

I have a recognition! I would like to recognize

Lamar Guerra as the Lower School Leader for the

month of April. Lamar has been selected as a stu-

dent of the month already this year, and he has

made the honor roll all three grading peri-

ods. Lamar proves that you don't have to be an

older scholar to be a leader. Every time I see this

wonderful brother he is demonstrating what we

expect from all of the scholars at Sankofa. He is a

wonderful Servant leader. Lamar does a wonderful

job of representing his family, Sankofa, and his Kin-

dergarten nation of Yoruba.

Lower School Students of the Month

K1- Turbin Lubin, K2- Kaylen McPhaul, 1A- Asiyah Bowman, 1B- Taj Horton , 2A- Keon Burns, 2B- Kaiyana Allen, 3A- Terferia Thomas,

Tristin Lee, 3B- Saneya Church-Webb, 4A- Gregory Askins, 4B- Aaliyah Johnson, Art- Shamirah Turner, Music- Ishtar El, Vita Saana-

Aaliyah Johnson, Drummers- Jaia Price, Reading Specialist- Asiyah Bowman, Lower School Leader- Lamar Guerra

Volume 5/Issue 6


Page 12



One of the most common questions I get asked as a Reading Special-

ist is how a parent can help their child. While each situation may be

different, there is one thing that all parents can do to help their chil-

dren practice and perfect that art of reading at home. What is it you

ask?

READ ALOUD!!! We often think that reading aloud is for our babies and toddlers.

However, even older children benefit from listening to readers who

read with expression at a “just right” pace. In the education world,

we call this modeling. Modeling is when you demonstrate a task or

skill and students learn by observing. Remember you are the first

teacher! So model, model, model by doing a read aloud every day.

Oh, and don’t forget to ask questions along way, because reading is

thinking!

Here’s to the power and magic of the read aloud!

READING IS POWER!


The lower school parents’ meeting on November 12 was a success! We enjoyed a very informative financial presentation by Sis. Aisha Blackshear, and Sis. Kathe-rine Chappelle informed us about some helpful resources available at The Free Library of Philadelphia. Baba Ras Angola was also available to address questions

about our Special Ed. Program.

Parents and students enjoyed a pizza dinner, and four lucky parents went home with Shop Rite gift cards. The Wazuri officer elections will be rescheduled for a future meeting. Please check the school announcements, and the Sankofa Parents

Facebook page for updates.

We would love for more of our parents to take advantage of everything that is of-fered at the monthly Meetings. Mark your calendar for the Kwanzaa Extravangazaa, which will take place on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, at the Sankofa An-

nex. You don't want to miss this event!

Parents’ Corner

Resources

Volume 5/Issue 6

The Wazuri Word

Page 15


of



The Cultural Arts Department

Spotlight on the Lower School Scholars and Sister Dasha

This year we have been busy using our KUUMBA in Elemen-

tary School Cultural Arts. The students have worked with

various mediums and materials including crayon drawings and

engravings, oil pastel and oil pastel resist, tempera paint, water

color and India ink, collage and tissue paper college, and much

more. We are currently working on mosaics, which I look

forward to continuing with the fourth grade when we embark

on our Community Garden Project. We are also excited to

be making our own crayons by recycling our old broken ones,

melting them, and creating new color combinations. What is

in store for Cultural Arts this month? Printmaking! Keep

your eyes open for the beautiful student work to come.

The lower school parents’ meeting on November 12 was a success! We enjoyed a very informative financial presentation by Sis. Aisha Blackshear, and Sis. Kathe-rine Chappelle informed us about some helpful resources available at The Free Library of Philadelphia. Baba Ras Angola was also available to address questions

about our Special Ed. Program.

Parents and students enjoyed a pizza dinner, and four lucky parents went home with Shop Rite gift cards. The Wazuri officer elections will be rescheduled for a future meeting. Please check the school announcements, and the Sankofa Parents

Facebook page for updates.

We would love for more of our parents to take advantage of everything that is of-fered at the monthly Meetings. Mark your calendar for the Kwanzaa Extravangazaa, which will take place on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, at the Sankofa An-

nex. You don't want to miss this event!

Parents’ Corner

Resources

Volume 5/Issue 6

The Wazuri Word

Page 15


of


Parents’ Corner

The Importance of Parental Involvement

Although parents conscientiously send their children off to school every day and expect them to do well, they can add an important extra

ingredient that will boost their children's success. Parent participation is the ingredient that makes the difference. Parents' active involvement

with their child's education at home and in school brings great rewards and has can have a significant impact on their children's child's lives.

According to research studies, the children of involved parents:

are absent less frequently

behave better

do better academically from pre-school through high school

go farther in school

go to better schools

Research also shows that a home environment that encourages learning is even more important than parents' income, education level, or

cultural background. By actively participating in their child's education at home and in school, parents send some critical messages to their

child; they're demonstrating their interest in his/her activities and reinforcing the idea that school is important.

"Involved Parents: The Hidden Resource in Their Children's Education | AboutOurKids.org." Involved Parents: The Hidden Resource in Their Children's Education |

AboutOurKids.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

Don’t miss the last Parents’ Meeting of the 2013-2014 school year on Tuesday, June 10th @ 6: 00 p.m.

FREE Stuff

Kids bowl free! All summer long…

Select bowling centers and schools around the country are participating in the first ever

Kids Bowl Free program. This program is designed by bowling centers to give back to the

community and to provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this summer.

Visit kidsbowlfree.com for details.

Free YMCA Membership for 7th Graders

Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA has partnered with the Pennsylvania State Alliance of YMCAs in p!romoting the 7th Grade Mem-

bership Initiative, which provides a FREE one-year membership to all 7th Graders in the area. Registration for the 7th Grade

Initiative program is easy. Students simply need to take proof of 7th Grade status (a roster or report card), along with a

parent or guardian to any location of the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA.

Stamp Pass

(Free zoo/museum membership for high school students)

STAMP is a major new initiative from the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance to

engage more Philadelphia high school students in arts and culture. The goal is to increase

teens’ access to all of the incredible arts and culture Philadelphia has to offer, as a means to

discovering their own identities and including culture in their menu of leisure-time options

(as we like to say: “a movie, a mall, a museum!”). The pass grants Philadelphia teens, 14-19

years old, free access to 12 area museums and attractions. https://phillystamppass.org

Summer Movie Series

at Penns Landing Every Thursday night in July and August, a

different film will be screened outdoors

on a big screen at Penn’s Landing. Bring a

blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy a great

summer treat!

Sit back and cozy up to blockbuster mov-

ies on the big screen right on the banks of

the Delaware River.

The screening will begin at dusk and, as is

the case with all events at Penn’s Landing,

admission is free. Prior to the start of

each screening will be themed activities,

coordinated with the theme of that

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http://phillystamppass.org/

http://philaculture.org/

Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School

426 Paul Street Philadelphia, Pa. 19124

Your Address Line 3 Your Address Line 4

Phone: 215-288-2001 Fax: 215-288-2099

Upcoming Events: Calendar BUSIN NAME

Building Intergenerational Communities of Scholarship, Culture, and Activism

“We who be-

lieve in free-

dom shall not

rest until it

comes!”

….Ella Baker

Sankofa Freedom Academy Board of Trustees Meetings 2013—2014 Board Meetings are held every third Monday at 6:00 pm. Meeting dates are as follows:

Jackson Mayor, Chokwe Lumumba, a human rights activist and

nationally prominent attorney who as city leader persuaded voters

to accept a sales tax to fix crumbling infrastructure in Mississippi’s

capital, died Tuesday. He was 66.

Officials said Lumumba, a Democrat, died at a Jackson hospital. A

cause of death wasn’t immediately clear.

As an attorney, Lumumba represented Tupac Shakur in cases includ-

ing one in which the rapper was cleared of aggravated assault in the

shootings of two off-duty police officers who were visiting Atlanta

from another city when they were wounded. Shakur died in 1996.

In 2011, Lumumba persuaded then-Gov. Haley Barbour to release

sisters Jamie Scott and Gladys Scott from a Mississippi prison after

they served 16 years for an armed robbery they said they didn’t

commit. Barbour suspended their life sentences but didn’t pardon them.

Lumumba served one term on the Jackson City Council and was sworn in as mayor last July. He

persuaded voters to pass a referendum in January to add a 1-cent local sales tax to help pay for

improvements to crumbling roads and an aging water and sewer system.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat whose district includes most of Jackson, said he has

known Lumumba since 1974.

“One of the reasons I was so public about my support for the mayor was that I believed once peo-

ple got to know the real Chokwe Lumumba they would find him to be an extremely bright, caring

and humble individual,” Thompson said Tuesday. “His election as mayor and very short term in

office demonstrated exactly that.”

Lumumba is the second Jackson mayor to die in recent years. In June 2009, Mayor Frank Melton

died while unsuccessfully seeking re-election in the Democratic primary.

City Council president Charles Tillman has become acting mayor, and the council will set a nonpar-

tisan special election for voters to choose a new mayor.

Lumumba was born in Detroit as Edwin Taliaferro, and changed his name in 1969, when he was in

his early 20s. He said he took his new first name from an African tribe that resisted slavery centu-

ries ago and his last name from African independence leader Patrice Lumumba.

He moved to Jackson in 1971 as a human rights activist. He went to law school in Michigan in the

mid-1970s and returned to Jackson in 1988.

Lumumba was involved with the Republic of New Afrika in the 1970s and ’80s. He said in 2013 that

the group had advocated “an independent predominantly black government” in the southeastern

United States. Lumumba was vice president of the group during part of his stint. The group also

advocated reparations for slavery, and was watched by an FBI counterintelligence operation.

“The provisional government of Republic of New Afrika was always a group that believed in human

rights for human beings,” Lumumba told The Associated Press in 2013. “I think it has been miscast

in many ways. It has never been any kind of racist group or ‘hate white’ group in any way…. It was

a group which was fighting for human rights for black people in this country and at the same time

supporting the human rights around the globe.

"Jackson, Miss., Mayor Chokwe Lumumba Dies at 66." Black America Web RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.

Ashe’ - Spotlight on Chokwe Lumumba

We’re on the web:

www.sfacs.us

Like ‘Sankofa Parents’

on Facebook

May 30 Career Day—Upper School June 13 Donuts with Dad

June 2 8th Grade Freedom Ride June 13-14 Upper School trip to Niagara Falls

June 5 Oratorical Contest June 17 4th Grade Transition

June 5 Senior Prom June 18 12th Grade Graduation

June 6 Dinner Dance—Grades 5 & 6 June 20 8th Grade Transition

June 11 Kindergarten Move–up Day June 21 Family Day at Sesame Place

“Working to Restore Excellence in Scholarship, Culture, and Community”

Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School Board of Trustees

Steve Blackburn, President

Oshunbunmi Samuels, Secretary

Jennifer Powell-Folks, Member

Nadine McNeil, Parent Representative

Toni Winston, Staff Representative

Joseph Foster, Treasurer

“One Heart, One Love, One Earth, One People”

Harambee!!

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