Philip’s Academy Charter School of Paterson and investment and development nonprofit Building Hope have transformed and made the dream of a forever home for Philip’s students, families and the greater community a reality.
Located at 94-124 Madison Ave., Philip’s will officially cut the ribbon on its permanent location Wednesday.
“Building Hope is proud to have been part of the team that transformed what was once an abandoned property into a campus for learning and a cornerstone for community connection,” Building Hope Real Estate Senior Vice President Jerry Zayets said.
Members of the Paterson community — including Paterson Mayor André Sayegh, Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (D-Paterson), New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association CEO and President Harry Lee, Executive County Superintendent of Schools Kesha Drakeford and others — will join Philip’s CEO Dowayne Davis, school leadership, families and students for the ceremony. The Philip’s choir also will perform.
Philip’s opened in 2016 with just 60 kindergartners and now is on its way to serving 660 kindergarten through Grade 8 students under one roof. The new academic building replaces three separate spaces that previously served school students and families just a few miles away in the Paterson community.
“The new facility is important to both students and families because students and the educational community at large benefit from positive surroundings and a healthy learning environment for our children,” Philip’s parent and Board Chair Altisha Gibson said.
Philip’s provides a rigorous education to a diverse student body, accomplished in a hands-on, technology-infused educational environment that embraces differentiated instruction and individual attention in both indoor and outdoor learning spaces. The school’s programs develop students’ commitment to global citizenship, environmental sustainability and personal virtue. Philip’s’ new location adds a basketball court and a full commercial kitchen to its campus.
“As we say here at Philip’s, we are ‘One School with One Mission,’ and now we are ‘One School with One Mission’ under one roof,” Davis said. “We have the blessing of being located in a community that is rich and vibrant, and, together, we have created the right environment to unleash every student’s potential. Cutting the ribbon is about more than just opening an exceptional new space. For us, it is about opening the possibilities for our community’s youth through equitable, rigorous, relevant, and engaging education.”
Philip’s students started classes in the new academic building in April.
