School Photo

Hotep Sankofa Family

Sankofa Freedom Academy is a college preparatory community based K-12 freedom school that empowers its students to take their rightful places in the world as educators, leaders and agents of change. Sankofa Freedom Academy (SFA) builds on the Philadelphia Freedom School Junior Servant Leader model to establish a public charter school that brings together high school servant leader scholars with elementary school scholar activists to increase literacy and numeracy levels throughout the community, promote respect for scholarship, servant leadership, conflict resolution, personal, social, and environmental responsibility.
Using the essential components of the Philadelphia Freedom School model, SFA engenders in its students, staff, and community a love for learning, respect for scholarship, pride in heritage and a commitment to personal and societal transformation. At Sankofa, learning is done in a safe family oriented setting, where children and adults of all ages will teach and learn from one another. By operationalizing the adage, “each one / teach one”, Sankofa Freedom builds inter-generational learning communities in which each and every person is responsible to learn in order to teach, and teach in order to build a better world.

Peace & Blessings from Dr. Mama!

Principal Photo
We did it! What an absolutely amazing year! In the words of a song from the African American tradition, “My Soul looks back and wonders how we got over….” Today, my soul looks back and wonders how we were able find a building, renovate it, recruit 300 students, hire 35 staff members and open a school with 6 months notice. My soul looks back and wonders how we are able to bring together such an incredible, hardworking, dedicated staff to work with our children. My soul looks back and wonders how were we able to find so many wonderful supportive parents who are positive, pleasant, patient, and poised to do whatever is necessary for their children. My soul looks back and wonders how we were able to recruit so many beautiful children who love learning, love laughing, and love loving.

My soul looks back and wonders how we in our first year won top awards in the Carver Science Fair and the Horticultural Society Kids Grow Expo. My soul looks back and wonders how we were able to in our first year maintain an average of 93% attendance. My soul looks back and wonders how we were able to build such a safe and caring environment that you could count the fights all year at Sankofa on one hand!
Our play Sankofa on Stage featuring August Wilson’s Piano Lesson was nothing less than amazing! My soul looks back and wonders how we were able to establish so many positive traditions this year: Our Power of Nommo Oratorical Exhibition, Our Women’s History Door decorating contest, Our African History Celebration of Excellence, Our Move Up Day, and our Rites of Separation. My soul looks back and wonders how 92% of our high school students have earned enough credits to matriculate to the next grade. My soul looks back and wonders how 98% of our Uppers School scholars have jobs for the summer for which they will get academic credit. My soul looks back and wonders how every single grade in our school completed a service learning project that positively impacted our community: My soul truly looks back and wonders how anyone can be this blessed to be are to be given this opportunity to be a part of this great community doing this great work.

I am so grateful to all of you for your trust, your love and your support. We had a great year but we have so much more to do. We received our baseline PSSA scores and see that only approximately 35% of our children are proficient and advanced. Next year, we must do all that we can to move our school to at least the 50% proficient mark. Ultimately, we need to work so that 100% of our children are prepared to fulfill their life purpose and equip them to make this world a better place. If you haven’t filled out a parent satisfaction form, please come to the school and fill it out at the main office. We want to hear from you so that we can do an even better job next year. Please make sure that your child does their summer reading. The list and assignments are coming to you in the mail with the report cards. Look to hear from us at least twice during the summer. For those of you who are sending your children to our Freedom School this summer, see you at Harambee. For others, take care, stay healthy, and God willing, see you in the fall.
Dr. Ayesha Imani

News From the Sankofa Bird...

Sankofa On Stage featuring THE PIANO LESSON

On Friday, June 18, 2010, the Drama Department at Sankofa Freedom Academy headed by Zulu Facilitator, Sis. Brown performed Sankofa On Stage: The Piano Lesson. This play was written by honored ancestor, August Wilson. In the play, a sister and brother argue over what the legacy of their family should be. Should they opt to sell a piano that has been in their family for generations like the brother, Boy Willie suggests or should they keep it to remember to never again allow the pain of slavery and racism to tear them apart like sister Berniece insists. These parts were powerfully played by Nubians Antonio Dill and Erina White. The cast was an array of youth and elders, upper school and lower school. Lower School Students from Zulu and Songhai provided a high energy opening. Baba El, Cultural Movement Facilitator choreographed routines that helped to set a serious yet jubilant tone for the play. Zulu Facilitator, Sis. Sarah led The Chorus with Scholars from all of the lower school. They helped to tell the story in rhyming verse at important intervals. Behind the scenes, Mama Malaika, Sis. Dasha and Sis. Nia supplied sound, set design and lighting support.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Mama Ayesha Imani congratulated Sis. Brown and all of the cast and crew. She expressed how proud she was of this production and all of the great works that have been produced in our first year of Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School and her great hopes to accomplish even more next year. Good Job! Good Job!
 

Zulu Hughes’ Farmers’ Market

On Wednesday June 9, 2010, Zulu Hughes held a Farmers’ Market in Harambee Hall during lunchtime and dismissal. They sold fruits and vegetables that were locally grown to emphasize the importance of healthful eating. They encouraged Scholars and Staff to take a break from the vending machines and purchase fresh fruits instead. If sales were any indication, it was a hit! By the end of the day, the only items left were a few broccoli stalks. When asked, the Zulus said that they enjoyed providing such tasty alternatives to what they get every day.
 

Yoruba Garden Move Up Celebration

On June 21, 2010, the Mighty Nation of Yoruba moved up in an extra special ceremony in Harambee Hall. Mama Renee Sis. K & Bro. Shawn proudly gave each Scholar a certificate or graduation as well as a certificate of achievement for their strongest subjects. Then, the former nation of Yoruba performed an ode to the first grade singing that “If we can make it there, we’ll make it anywhere!”

As a finale, they showed off their superb counting skills by doing the Cupid Shuffle. Parents and loved ones came to proudly show their support of their little ones stepping up in a big way.
 

SUMMER SCHEDULE

July 6 - August 13th

Freedom School Summer Session
8am - 3pm daily

August 16 - 27th

Sankofa Summer Academy for new and returning staff

Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School 4256 Paul St. Philadelphia, PA 19124 215-288-2001