About the author
Moira Moody was an intern at the Notebook this summer.
Notebook celebrates 10 years of publishing, throws a party
by Moira Moody
Last spring marked a major milestone in the Philadelphia Public School Notebook's history: the independent, quarterly newspaper completed its first decade of publishing.
To celebrate, the organization published a 32-page 10th Anniversary issue with a special pullout section about the history of the paper, and then packed the house at a gala event that attracted 300 supporters and raised $36,000 to help sustain the Notebook's work.
The June 8 celebration at the University of the Arts - titled "Only the Beginning" - brought out a diverse crowd of parents, teachers, students, and community members along with District, city and business officials to honor the organization's consistent work of informing Philadelphians about quality and equity issues in the public schools.
Guests mingled to the rhythms of the Latin band Los Pleneros del Batey and the talented Grover Washington Junior Middle School Jazz band. The partygoers also bid on silent auction items, watched a video documentary about the Notebook's history, and partook of an enormous birthday cake.
A dedicated planning committee and many loyal readers who wanted to honor the organization's blend of honest reporting and educational advocacy were key to the gala event's success, said Notebook Editor Paul Socolar.
"The hopes and the determination of people who care about quality public education have made the Notebook worth publishing, and this is what has sustained us over the past decade," Socolar told guests at the event.
Recognition was given to a few long-time stalwarts of the Notebook, including outgoing Community Outreach Coordinator Amy Rhodes, who is now studying to become a high school social studies teacher. Patricia Ludwig was recognized for her design work for the Notebook over the past seven years, and retiring teacher and ongoing Notebook editorial board member Ron Whitehorne was honored for over two decades of helping build stronger teacher-community partnerships.
Notebook Advisory Board member Len Rieser, one of several key volunteers who have been involved ever since the first issue was published in 1994, connected the strengths of the event with those of the Notebook as an organization.
"The Notebook has been a vehicle for a very broad and inclusive conversation about public education here, and the event reflected that. The group of people was really extraordinary," said Rieser.