William Penn Charter School

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William Penn Charter School

Established in 1689 by William Penn, Penn Charter is a coed Friends school, pre-K to 12, on 47 acres
(235)

09/18/2026

Many thanks to everyone for coming to the breakfast reception for the Third Annual Faculty & Staff Art Show. With 33 participants, this is our largest show yet. About a third of the artists were first timers, and submissions ranged from paintings and photographs to fabric art, crochet and stained glass. We are hoping that this show continues to inspire the creativity that resides in all of us.

09/17/2026

On September 10, students and faculty from Penn Charter and Germantown Friends visited the Science History Institute Museum & Library, where they were among the first students to learn about chemically and functionally defined synthetic cells. After receiving a warm welcome and museum introduction from Grace Sharples Cooke, Director, Office of the President, and member of the Science History Institute's Leadership Team, and Jesse Smith, Museum Director, students heard from Biotic co-founder Dr. Drew Endy, Ahmed Best, who provided the voice and motion capture for the character Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars franchise, and co-founder of the synthetic cell company Synlife Dr. Kate Adamala.

Unlike earlier work on minimal cells that carved down living cells, SpudCell is built entirely bottom-up from individually purified, non-living components. It is the first time such a system has demonstrated a complete cell cycle. It was truly an exciting experience for PC!

09/15/2026

Today marks one week from the first day of school, and if you feel like you've been seeing Interim Head of School Dennis Bisgaard everywhere, that's because he has, in fact, been everywhere. From speaking at the All-School Assembly to playing basketball with Class of 2027 on the Senior Retreat, greeting parents at the PCFA Volunteer Kick-Off event and the Welcome to the New School Year Coffee, he has been making the rounds. At a department head meeting last week, student representatives from all three divisions gifted him with some Penn Charter swag. "From my first visit to campus with my wife, Monica, I was struck by the warmth of this community and the way Quaker principles are woven into the life of the school," Dennis wrote in his most recent email to the community. "There is a strong sense of both history and purpose here, and I am honored to be part of it." We are honored to have you as part of our community!

09/11/2026

On September 11, 2001, 25 years ago, Penn Charter students gathered in the Meeting Room upon hearing that the Twin Towers had been attacked.

Two OPCs, Kenneth Caldwell OPC '89 and Peter Ortale OPC '83, lost their lives that day. Kenneth Caldwell's mother, Elsie Goss-Caldwell, has a mural on the side of her business at 56th and Thompson streets in West Philadelphia that includes both Peter and her son. This year, she will visit Ground Zero. "I can't take them all to New York and take them to the museum or all that, but they can focus on these loved ones and that's what's important — to keep all of their memories alive," she told CBS News.

We will honor Kenny and Peter at the 21st annual Run for Peace next Saturday, Sept. 19 at 8:45 a.m. on Penn Charter's campus. PC students, faculty, staff, families and friends are invited to come together to celebrate the lives of Kenny and Peter and to promote unity through a 5K run and one-mile family fun walk.

The cost of the run is $25 and proceeds benefit the Peter K. Ortale and Kenny Caldwell scholarship funds. Participants will receive a limited-edition Run for Peace T-shirt. Penn Charter students are free of charge and are welcome to purchase a T-shirt when they register. We send much love all those mourning today and every day for those they lost that day.

We invite you to register in advance here: https://www.penncharter.com/form/~form-uuid/68a5345e-8220-439c-8214-255aa454e43e

09/10/2026

Last week, the Class of 2027 returned from the Senior Retreat in Pinemere in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

"The Senior Retreat is an incredible tradition and sets the tone for the year. It gives seniors a space to challenge themselves, ask difficult questions, be kids, and truly play before the grind of senior year begins," said Sharon Ahram, 12th Grade Dean. "It is a chance for the senior class to be fully present with one another, free from the distractions of screens, while discovering who they are as a class, worshiping together, reflecting on the legacy they want to leave, and thinking about how they want to show up for one another. The year ahead is theirs to shape, together."

09/09/2026

We're so excited to have all our students back for the 2026-2027 school year! Campus is buzzing with excitement (and maybe a few jitters) as students and teachers bring classrooms to life, sports teams take over fields, courts, and the Graham, choral groups warm up their voices, musicians pull their instruments out of storage, and so much more.

"Never worry alone," Interim Head of School Dennis Bisgaard told students at the first All-School Assembly of the year. In other words: always reach out. Class of 2027 Clerk Vivek P. emphasized that there is a place for everyone at Penn Charter: a community that reflects the light in everyone, making space for each student to shine.

09/03/2026

When you're over 100 years old, you do need a touch up every once in awhile. This summer, our facilities team turned their attention toward the oldest building on campus, the Upper School. Renovations included restoring our beloved clock tower, replacing windows in the front of the building and giving the dining hall an extreme makeover. We officially dedicated and refreshed the Granger Gallery, named for Randy Granger Hon. 1689, who taught art at Penn Charter for 47 years. You'll also find the new vending machines in the cafeteria, the product of a student-led initiative. Plus, this is the first school year where all divisions will be cell-phone free zones—something Penn Charter was definitely not thinking about 100 years ago.

We're so excited to welcome you back!

09/02/2026

As of today, it's been one full year since students first set foot in our brand new Richard A. Balderston OPC '69 Lower School. It's impossible to sum up a full year of learning, loving, building, exploring, playing, connecting...and so much more. But here's a small sample.

Address

3000 W School House Lane
Philadelphia, PA
19144

Telephone

+12158443460

Website

http://www.penncharter.com/

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