October 2016… Healthy NewsWorks was pleased to welcome three new Philadelphia schools into the program this fall: Community Partnership School, St. Frances Cabrini Regional Catholic School, and St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic School.
They are among 15 schools participating this year in Healthy NewsWorks, offering elementary and middle school students the opportunity to learn about health and gain hands-on journalism experience.
Third graders at Community Partnership School have already drafted an article on the benefits of sweat and held a press conference to discuss the school’s new Running Club. Their teacher, Tyler Conway, said that “students are learning the benefits of being healthy and active, all while getting to know the adults in our building on a more personal level.”
The skills and confidence that students gain help them succeed in other areas as well. As Mr. Conway noted, students “are learning interview skills that allow them to be better speakers, listeners and writers. … They are able to make connections from Healthy NewsWorks lessons into their everyday encounters with other subject areas and as a result are providing themselves with the necessary practice in order to master writing skills in all content areas.”
St. Frances Cabrini and St. Raymond of Penafort are the latest Independence Mission Schools to establish Healthy NewsWorks programs. They join St. Veronica School and St. Martin de Porres Catholic School, now in their second and third years, respectively.
—By Adele Thornton, Healthy NewsWorks volunteer
