Chester Upland School of the Arts
In 1994, Associate Professor of Music John Alston founded the Chester Children's Chorus with the hope it would imbue young people with the joy of learning through music and performance. His efforts to expand upon the successful model of the Chorus culminated this fall with the opening of the Chester Upland School of the Arts. Students there, currently in pre-K to second grade, are immersed in a curriculum that combines rigorous academics with music, dance, and visual arts. Read more about the school and John Alston in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
From the beginning, Alston has worked closely with Vice President for College and Community Relations Maurice Eldridge '61 to make the chorus, and now the school, a reality. Eldridge, a lifelong educator, says both projects represent community building at its best.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Congratulations! What an inspiring success story.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:23 am
We are so proud that Swarthmore has such an important tie to the community of Chester. How do we make a financial contribution to the school?
October 31st, 2008 at 4:13 pm
As a retired educator, I believe that this is an effort that deserves our support. I have seen the positive results of a similar, though public, arts school in the inner city (Columbus, Ohio).
October 31st, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Thank you so much for your interest in supporting our efforts in Chester. Gifts can be directed to The Chester Fund for Education and the Arts (or simply The Chester Fund) c/o Wendy Emrich, 510 Westminster Avenue, Swarthmore PA 19081.
We are very excited about the progress of this venture.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Dear Sunny Noragon, thanks for your observation and supporting comment. This too is a public school with a private, 501 (c) 3, partner. The Chester Fund, which raises money and offers services to enhance the school's ability to offer an integrated arts curriculum as well as to teach several disciplines in the arts (dance, music, visual arts). Happily, the partnership with the Chester Upland School District is a very positive and mutually reinforcing one enjoying broad community support.
cheers,
Maurice