Meet the CSFP Scholars

Answer: (1) It teaches values  and (2) I fell in love with Holmesburg Baptist Christian Academy’s curriculum as compared to our public district’s. When my daughter first went to Holmesburg, she was learning algebra in first grade, so the school got me hooked. I didn’t learn algebra until high school myself. I compared Holmesburg’s curriculum to that of my husband’s cousin’s school. He was in fifth grade when Jayla was in second grade, but she was using his book as a reference. Holmesburg is really advanced. 

Question:  Why do you think that it is important for your child to get an education at a tuition-based school?

Answer: Public school was great when I was younger, but now I think that the public school system became too political. I want to invest in my children now, so that they become successful later.   

Question:  How did you feel when you were notified that you won the CSFP lottery?

Answer: First, I thanked God because I never even heard of scholarships [before CSFP]. I saw CSFP’s lottery on the internet, applied, and then I got it on the first try. Afterwards, I had heard of other families who had been applying for years and did not win. I was ecstatic, and I thank God all day long because it is meant for my children to go to Holmesburg Baptist Christian Academy!

Question:  How does your scholarship from Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia affect your life?

Answer: It helps me to send more than one of my children to Holmesburg. Because of my finances for the past two years, I would not have been able to financially afford tuition for that school. We really would have been struggling. This year, I had been debating whether to put my children in charter school or home schooling them because I would not put them in public school. I had my daughter in public school for two or three months, and every day she would come home from school telling me that either one of the kids was cursing at the teacher, the kids were cursing at each other, they were fighting, or the teacher was yelling at the kids, basically calling them names. She was only in that school for two months. So, I could not wait to get my children out of the public school. I was trying everything to get my children out of that school. I am not trying to say that every public school is bad. I would just say that the two public schools that I dealt with, which were our neighborhood schools, were bad. 

Question:  Why is it important for Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia to provide scholarships to children in Philadelphia?

Answer: Because of public schools like those in my area. The more structure a child has, the more of his or her natural potential he or she can show. You really don’t know how smart your child is or what they can do until you put them in that right environment. If the child is stressed out, feels like he or she has to defend himself or herself all the time, is scared, or does not do certain things because he or she might be seen a certain way, then he or she is not going to try to do or cannot do his or her best. This is because of the environment. 

Question:  What would you tell others about Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia?

Answer: Don’t think that because there is a lottery, you won’t get chosen. Don’t second guess your hard work. Not only does CSFP give you money, it helps you with other resources like CSFP’s Weekend at the Academy, which I love! CSFP has different activities and resources for people who don’t have the income necessary to send their child to a private school. 

Question:  What is your biggest challenge as a family living in Philadelphia?

Answer: I wouldn’t say my challenge is in Philly per se, I would say that my biggest challenge is in this neighborhood. My biggest challenge is letting my children have friends in this neighborhood because most of it is negative. We go to church every week, and I try to make sure that my children stay biblically grounded, so I don’t want the outside influence on my children. Raising kids in this area is the biggest challenge. 

Question:  What are you most excited about for this new school year?

Answer: Gymnastics. I have been trying to get Jayla into gymnastics forever. She is really strong, and she has been able to do the monkey bars since she was 4 years old. When I saw that, I knew that she should be in gymnastics, but I just didn’t have the funds before for that. 

Linda Lewis (Principal of Holmesburg Baptist Christian Academy)

Question: How would you describe this child? 

Answer: Jayla is a bubbly, outgoing child. She always has a smile on her face. She is extremely respectful and helpful. She is always looking for ways to help.

Question: Where do you see this child in ten years?

Answer: I see Jayla maybe in social work or social services. She is concerned, loving and a little bit quiet. She has a soft heart. I definitely see her going on to college.

Question:  What is your favorite thing about your school?

Answer: The home environment, the family environment. We know all our children. I don’t feel like I come to work. I feel like I am coming to see my other, extended family. I think that is the greatest thing about our school. People keep coming back. I had a mom come in this morning to pick up an application to bring her daughter back to 5th grade this year. She lost her job when her daughter was finishing third grade and she couldn’t bring her back last year. She now has a job and wants her daughter back at this school.  So, they just come back. Every child is known and the school is sort of their home away from home. 

Question:  Why do you think that it is important for this child to get an education at a tuition-based school?

Answer: I personally believe that children and parents should have the right to choose a school for their child—whether it is a tuition-based, charter or local public school. I am supporter of vouchers. I think as a parent, you should have the right to choose what school you want to send your child to. I do think that each tuition-based school or private school is unique and different –different philosophies, different missions. You should have the right, as a parent, to choose the school that has the mission and the philosophy that meets your needs, your beliefs and your value. You should not be forced to send your child to the corner public school because that is all you can afford. 

Question:  How did you learn about Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia?

Answer: Actually, CSFP sent us information several years ago. CSFP approached us, and we have been an avid supporter promoting CSFP ever since then. 

Question:  Do CSFP scholarships make a difference in your school? How?

Answer: They certainly make a difference in our school. They increase our enrollment. If there were more scholarships, it would increase it a little bit more. It allows the parents who would otherwise not be able to send their child to a private school to have their children here. People that want their children here want what we have to offer. So, they are supportive of our programs. I also find that usually those parents, the exception might be a single parent that work long hours, are usually more involved in school activities. They are the ones that are always here for meetings, helping with lunches, and driving for class trips. 

Question:  Why is it important for Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia to provide scholarships to children?

Answer: I think that to be able to give parents the choice so that they choose what school they want their child to attend. 

Question:  What would you tell others about Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia?

Answer: I start advertising CSFP with my back-to-school information in January when I do my back-to-school night and hand out re-registration packets. Last year, we had CSFP staff come and talk to our parents about it. I tell them this is the best scholarship out there.  We just tell them that CSFP is the best out there! And, I mean that.  It gives the parents exactly what I said: their choice regardless of what school they want to send them to, whether it is a Hebrew school, Christian school, or a Roman Catholic School. It is totally up the parent, and CSFP does not show any type of bias. I just think that it is a great program! 

Question:  What is your biggest challenge as a Philadelphia school?

Answer: Recently, our biggest challenge has been the economy.  I see more and more parents without jobs. When they get jobs, either they are so far behind in financial commitments that they cannot afford the added burden of tuition or they are not making what they were making before. 

Question:  What are you most excited about for this new school year?

Answer: Having my children back – I miss them! The summer is so quiet around here. Every year I have a theme for the school year. One year, we did “M and Ms” and we concentrated on math and manners, which is sorely missing in our young people today. Last year, we worked on nutrition and we focused on healthy lunches and health snacks. I banned some things from the lunchroom. This year, we are working on Colossians 3: 23-24.  Which means when you do something in service, whether it be feeding the homeless, whether it be collecting coats for a mission, whether it be sending Christmas cards to servicemen, you are not actually doing it for them, you are doing it for the Lord. So, our emphasis this year for our young people and our teachers is on service. And all the classes are going to have their own service projects. I am excited to see what kind of service projects come out of the individual classrooms as they reach out in the community. We also added the Math First program this year where the children all enroll in that program. They go online and compete with other schools using this program. 

 

Question: How would you describe your child?
Answer: Jayla is opinionated and a sweetheart. She is talkative and inquisitive. She is always asking questions and debating. 

Question: Where do you see your child in ten years?
Answer: I see Jayla going to college to study law.

Question: What is your favorite thing about your child’s school?
Answer: (1) It teaches values and (2) I fell in love with Holmesburg Baptist Christian Academy’s curriculum as compared to our public district’s. When my daughter first went to Holmesburg, she was learning algebra in first grade, so the school got me hooked. I didn’t learn algebra until high school myself. I compared Holmesburg’s curriculum to that of my husband’s cousin’s school. He was in fifth grade when Jayla was in second grade, but she was using his book as a reference. Holmesburg is really advanced. 

Question: Why do you think that it is important for your child to get an education at a tuition-based school?
Answer: Public school was great when I was younger, but now I think that the public school system has become too political. I want to invest in my children now, so that they become successful later.   

Question: How did you feel when you were notified that you won the CSFP lottery?
Answer: First, I thanked God because I never even heard of these scholarships before. I saw CSFP’s lottery on the internet, applied, and then I got it on the first try. Afterwards, I had heard of other families who had been applying for years and did not win. I was ecstatic, and I thank God all day long because it is meant for my children to go to Holmesburg Baptist Christian Academy!

Question: How does your scholarship from Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia affect your life?
Answer: It helps me to send more than one of my children to Holmesburg. Because of my finances for the past two years, I would not have been able to financially afford tuition for that school. We really would have been struggling. This year, I had been debating whether to put my children in charter school or home schooling them because I would not put them in public school. I had my daughter in public school for two or three months, and every day she would come home from school telling me that either one of the kids was cursing at the teacher, the kids were cursing at each other, they were fighting, or the teacher was yelling at the kids, basically calling them names. She was only in that school for two months. So, I could not wait to get my children out of the public school. I was trying everything to get my children out of that school. I am not trying to say that every public school is bad. I would just say that the two public schools that I dealt with, which were our neighborhood schools, were bad. 

Question: Why is it important for Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia to provide scholarships to children in Philadelphia?
Answer: Because of public schools like those in my area. The more structure a child has, the more of his or her natural potential he or she can show. You really don’t know how smart your child is or what they can do until you put them in that right environment. If the child is stressed out, feels like he or she has to defend himself or herself all the time, is scared, or does not do certain things because he or she might be seen a certain way, then he or she is not going to try to do or cannot do his or her best. This is because of the environment. 

Question: What would you tell others about Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia?
Answer: Don’t think that because there is a lottery, you won’t get chosen. Don’t second guess your hard work. Not only does CSFP give you money, it helps you with other resources like CSFP’s Weekend at the Academy, which I love! CSFP has different activities and resources for people who don’t have the income necessary to send their child to a private school. 

Question: What is your biggest challenge as a family living in Philadelphia?
Answer: I wouldn’t say my challenge is in Philly per se, I would say that my biggest challenge is in this neighborhood. My biggest challenge is letting my children have friends in this neighborhood because most of it is negative. We go to church every week, and I try to make sure that my children stay biblically grounded, so I don’t want the outside influence on my children. Raising kids in this area is the biggest challenge. 

Question: What are you most excited about for this new school year?
Answer: Gymnastics. I have been trying to get Jayla into gymnastics forever. She is really strong, and she has been able to do the monkey bars since she was 4 years old. When I saw that, I knew that she should be in gymnastics, but I just didn’t have the funds before for that. 

Linda Lewis (Principal of Holmesburg Baptist Christian Academy)

Question: How would you describe this child? 
Answer: Jayla is a bubbly, outgoing child. She always has a smile on her face. She is extremely respectful and helpful. She is always looking for ways to help.

Question: Where do you see this child in ten years?
Answer: I see Jayla maybe in social work or social services. She is concerned, loving and a little bit quiet. She has a soft heart. I definitely see her going on to college.
Question: What is your favorite thing about your school?
Answer: The home environment, the family environment. We know all our children. I don’t feel like I come to work. I feel like I am coming to see my other, extended family. I think that is the greatest thing about our school. People keep coming back. I had a mom come in this morning to pick up an application to bring her daughter back to 5th grade this year. She lost her job when her daughter was finishing third grade and she couldn’t bring her back last year. She now has a job and wants her daughter back at this school.  So, they just come back. Every child is known and the school is sort of their home away from home.