Vision
What if carrying forth William Penn's legacy today requires a flashpoint of new invention? What if our students, our city and our world need our greatest contributions now? By the light of our charter, how far can we see?
We Can See Far!
A Vision for 10 Years, 25 Years and Beyond
Re-Engineering the Academic Village
A new Lower School will reshape learning for our youngest students and unite pre-K to 12 students in a vibrant academic community.
Building on Brilliant Teaching
Opportunities to advance knowledge and teaching practice build a faculty of lifelong learners excited to collaborate with students. Those are the teachers we want to hire, inspire and retain.
Amplifying Athletics and Wellness
Facilities for physical education, health, sports and training will promote fitness for life, enhance performance, and fortify the PC athletic legacy. The new William A. Graham IV OPC '58 Athletics & Wellness Center backs our commitment to balancing academics, athletics and the arts.
Extending Our Public Purpose
Financial aid and the Center for Public Purpose connect us to our foundational Quaker values, provide access to PC for talented students, and create a learning environment and real-world experiences that benefit every student.
Evolving Our Campus Master Plan
With a focus on the environment, new and re-purposed facilities will meet the changing needs of the educational program. A new landscape inspired by the Wissahickon Gorge will provide spaces for outdoor learning and classrooms.
Ensuring the Next Decade
Bold innovation and transformative learning depend on financial sustainability, and the Annual Fund is key.
Prefer Print? View and download a PDF of our case statement for By the Light of Our Charter How Far Can We See?
Strategic Vision
The How Far Can We See? campaign will fund the vision of Penn Charter advanced in 2013 when Overseers approved Educating Students to Live Lives that Make a Difference: A Strategic Vision for the Future of William Penn Charter School.
The Strategic Vision put forward a plan to prepare students to thrive in 21st century and to make a difference.
Our Vision in Action
![Riding a Wave of Momentum]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1607985608/penn/rroxih32x7xptquxyako/GAWC_24Nov2020.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1607985608/penn/rroxih32x7xptquxyako/GAWC_24Nov2020.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1607985608/penn/rroxih32x7xptquxyako/GAWC_24Nov2020.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1607985608/penn/rroxih32x7xptquxyako/GAWC_24Nov2020.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1607985608/penn/rroxih32x7xptquxyako/GAWC_24Nov2020.jpg","width":1600}])
The extraordinary How Far? campaign has set a new goal of $125 million to complete the facilities projects central to the transformation of Penn Charter's campus.
![Teaching and Learning: A Problem-Solving Mindset]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1578411958/penn/vkq5cnb5bqwqjerqbhtg/Somers_Tour_Bailey_Green_2019.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1578411958/penn/vkq5cnb5bqwqjerqbhtg/Somers_Tour_Bailey_Green_2019.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1578411958/penn/vkq5cnb5bqwqjerqbhtg/Somers_Tour_Bailey_Green_2019.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1578411958/penn/vkq5cnb5bqwqjerqbhtg/Somers_Tour_Bailey_Green_2019.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1578411958/penn/vkq5cnb5bqwqjerqbhtg/Somers_Tour_Bailey_Green_2019.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1578411958/penn/vkq5cnb5bqwqjerqbhtg/Somers_Tour_Bailey_Green_2019.jpg","width":2200}])
John Somers OPC ’78 welcomed Penn Charter students to Bailey Green, the Buffalo, N.Y., neighborhood surrounding the headquarters of Harmac Medical Products, his international medical equipment manufacturer. Somers toured students to show how Harmac has sparked a neighborhood transformation with affordable housing, job opportunities, healthy food options, green space and more.
![How Far? Campaign: A Status Report]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1551368492/penn/crxkkzgnrdbyethfpgbr/RenderingsAerialsAerial1-Phase3.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1551368492/penn/crxkkzgnrdbyethfpgbr/RenderingsAerialsAerial1-Phase3.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1551368492/penn/crxkkzgnrdbyethfpgbr/RenderingsAerialsAerial1-Phase3.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1551368492/penn/crxkkzgnrdbyethfpgbr/RenderingsAerialsAerial1-Phase3.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1551368492/penn/crxkkzgnrdbyethfpgbr/RenderingsAerialsAerial1-Phase3.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1551368492/penn/crxkkzgnrdbyethfpgbr/RenderingsAerialsAerial1-Phase3.jpg","width":2200}])
A look back at the exceptional progress of the How Far? campaign and an overview of what's to come.
![For Learning's Sake]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1576770628/penn/ajc4dwv0kdd0mnau1zfc/student_learning_center_session.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1576770628/penn/ajc4dwv0kdd0mnau1zfc/student_learning_center_session.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1576770628/penn/ajc4dwv0kdd0mnau1zfc/student_learning_center_session.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1576770628/penn/ajc4dwv0kdd0mnau1zfc/student_learning_center_session.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1576770628/penn/ajc4dwv0kdd0mnau1zfc/student_learning_center_session.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1576770628/penn/ajc4dwv0kdd0mnau1zfc/student_learning_center_session.jpg","width":2200}])
The Student Learning Center provides opportunities for teaching and learning in a non-academic, student-led setting.
![Project Stormwater: Students Tackle Environmental Challenge]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1576702816/penn/lm1mt2dglfk634hrhrbu/4th_grade_Stormwater_management_team.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1576702816/penn/lm1mt2dglfk634hrhrbu/4th_grade_Stormwater_management_team.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1576702816/penn/lm1mt2dglfk634hrhrbu/4th_grade_Stormwater_management_team.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1576702816/penn/lm1mt2dglfk634hrhrbu/4th_grade_Stormwater_management_team.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1576702816/penn/lm1mt2dglfk634hrhrbu/4th_grade_Stormwater_management_team.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1576702816/penn/lm1mt2dglfk634hrhrbu/4th_grade_Stormwater_management_team.jpg","width":2200}])
Twelve Penn Charter fourth graders spent a week last May constructing a hyper-absorbent garden to manage rainfall in a puddle-prone corner of campus.
![Unwrapping a 20-Year Grant]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1543844582/penn/uvb2l61xynxyo2auxehn/Naveena_Bembry_Tea_Farm_Japan.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1543844582/penn/uvb2l61xynxyo2auxehn/Naveena_Bembry_Tea_Farm_Japan.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1543844582/penn/uvb2l61xynxyo2auxehn/Naveena_Bembry_Tea_Farm_Japan.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1543844582/penn/uvb2l61xynxyo2auxehn/Naveena_Bembry_Tea_Farm_Japan.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1543844582/penn/uvb2l61xynxyo2auxehn/Naveena_Bembry_Tea_Farm_Japan.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1543844582/penn/uvb2l61xynxyo2auxehn/Naveena_Bembry_Tea_Farm_Japan.jpg","width":2200}])
Naveena Bembry celebrates 20 years of teaching at Penn Charter with a professional development trip to Japan.
![Finding Balance: Wellness at Penn Charter]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1549470208/penn/d3tjxcpbwaohpdgjf0mv/Lisa_Reedich_and_students_wellness_Thumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1549470208/penn/d3tjxcpbwaohpdgjf0mv/Lisa_Reedich_and_students_wellness_Thumbnail.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1549470208/penn/d3tjxcpbwaohpdgjf0mv/Lisa_Reedich_and_students_wellness_Thumbnail.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1549470208/penn/d3tjxcpbwaohpdgjf0mv/Lisa_Reedich_and_students_wellness_Thumbnail.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1549470208/penn/d3tjxcpbwaohpdgjf0mv/Lisa_Reedich_and_students_wellness_Thumbnail.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1549470208/penn/d3tjxcpbwaohpdgjf0mv/Lisa_Reedich_and_students_wellness_Thumbnail.jpg","width":2200}])
The concept of wellness integrates with Penn Charter's educational program in various ways across all three divisions.
Begun in the summer of 2017, the VITAL Catapult Project combines athletics, physics, biology and wellness for both athletes and science students in Upper and Middle School.
![Fourth Grade Runs the World, Achieves Peace]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1543839637/penn/lb2j3ohcrs59leb95feo/World_Peace_Game_1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1543839637/penn/lb2j3ohcrs59leb95feo/World_Peace_Game_1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1543839637/penn/lb2j3ohcrs59leb95feo/World_Peace_Game_1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1543839637/penn/lb2j3ohcrs59leb95feo/World_Peace_Game_1.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1543839637/penn/lb2j3ohcrs59leb95feo/World_Peace_Game_1.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1543839637/penn/lb2j3ohcrs59leb95feo/World_Peace_Game_1.jpg","width":2200}])
Fourth grade students collaborate to resolve an oil embargo, a chemical spill, a famine and more.
Join Us
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Join us to advance our shared mission and goal to create the most challenging, exhilarating educational program.