Jenks Academy for the Arts and Sciences is set to welcome students back on Aug. 26.
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Jenks Academy for the Arts and Sciences is set to welcome students back on Aug. 26, with the school making significant strides toward International Baccalaureate (IB) authorization while getting strong community support for the effort.
Principal Corinne Scioli announced that the school completed its IB candidacy visit in May and aims to achieve full authorization by September 2025.
There will also be many new faces. This year, Jenks welcomes more than 40 new kindergarteners and several new staff members. New additions to the team include physical education teacher Timothy Fry, fifth-grade teacher Takiyah Perkins, middle school math teacher Michelle Hall, and special education teacher Kathleen Watkins.
"We embody the core values of our mission and vision as caring, responsible and reflective practitioners," Scioli said. "Our staff continuously engages in professional learning communities to intellectually prepare rigorous academic practices while prioritizing equity and the well-being of our children."
The IB program, coordinated by Erin Younis, emphasizes inquiry-based and student-centered educational frameworks with responsible action at its core. It has spurred numerous community partnerships, including collaborations with Ronald McDonald House, Meals on Wheels, St. Jude's of Philadelphia, and Germantown Community Fridge.
Continuing initiatives this year include a financial literacy program, a STEAM entrepreneur program, and expanded sustainability efforts in gardening. The school is also partnering with Mindfulness through Movement and Quintessence Theatre group.
Community support extends beyond the classroom. The Home and School Association (HSA), led by parent Bonnie Soriano, recently established itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It will oversee committees such as Friends of Jenks, Jenks Dads On Duty, and Jenks Moms On Mission, working collectively to ensure the school thrives "beyond the walls of its school."
The school's commitment to creating welcoming spaces is also evident in recent improvements to the historic building. New murals adorn interior stairwells, created in collaboration with No-name Gallery owner Jonene Nelson, parent of a third-grader. The gallery also worked with art teacher Jon Tietz on "Peace Pavers," which will form a peace walk around the campus to commemorate students' initiative to combat hate with love.
Scioli has invested significantly in enhancing the school's facilities. She used funds from her Lindback Distinguished Principal Award to purchase state-of-the-art collaborative seating for the dining hall, which will double as a space for IB and STEAM programming.
The Jenks library, established in 2022 as one of Scioli's first initiatives, continues to grow. It now houses hundreds of new books that students enjoy during their designated library time each week. Plans are in place to add additional bookshelves and reading nooks to the existing library space this school year.
"We cannot do this work alone and are grateful for the generosity of our community and partnerships," Scioli emphasized. "We look forward to a successful school year ahead!"
