Read details on public and private transportation, including the Center City shuttle. Contact Tatiana Koltsova at 215-844-3460 ext. 132 or tkoltsova@penncharter.com with questions.

US supply list

MS Supply List

Please note that any supply needs for Lower School will be communicated by the teacher.

Instructions

MSB Direct Bookstore

Students who are participating in the laptop loaner program are encouraged to pick up their MacBook Airs before orientation.

Laptops can be picked up in the Tech Office in Room 109 of the Upper School the week of August 19-23 from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM each day. If you have any questions about the laptop loaner program, please contact Dan Volpe.

The US daily schedule features an 8-day rotation, with a combination of 50- and 70-minute classes, as well as a designated block each day for community time. This year, community time includes advisory, assemblies, Meeting for Worship and flexible time. Community Time schedules will be shared with the Upper School community in the Week Aheads.

Important elements to note are:

• The school day begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Lunch each day is 12:25-12:55 for all Upper School students. Many clubs and activities will meet during lunch; more information about the club and activities schedule will come after the beginning of school. 

Please note that students will be given their specific schedules on their respective orientation days, and the PC hub will open for them on that day as well. 

The MS daily schedule features an 8-day rotation, with a combination of 40- and 55-minute classes, as well as a designated block each week for advisory, Meeting for Worship, clubs and assemblies.

Important elements to note are:

• The school day begins at 8:10 AM and ends at 2:35 PM, Monday through Friday.
• Middle School Assembly is on Monday, Advisory is on Wednesday, and Meeting for Worship is on Thursday.
• Lunch each day is 11:55 AM - 12:25 PM for all Middle School students. 

Please note that students will be given their schedules on their respective orientation days, and the PC hub will open for them on that day as well. 

• The school day begins at 8 am and ends at 3 pm, Monday through Friday.
• Before-school care begins at 7:30 am.
• After-school care runs from dismissal through 6 pm.
• Lunches and recesses for all grades take place between 11:20 and 12:30 pm.
• Meeting for Worship is held every Wednesday morning.

All students in the Upper School (grades 9-12) will be required to participate in two A40 activities.

An A40 activity is defined as an activity based on academics, arts, athletics, or acts of service that includes at least 40 student hours of participation. Of these two A40 activities, it is required that one of these activities include an Athletic or Arts. Students will learn more about fulfilling their A40 during orientation and are encouraged to take advantage of these varied offerings. 

Lower School Auxiliary Programs

Our lower school auxiliary programs include our after-school program (ASP), after-school program complement (ASPC) and enrichment offerings.

• Please visit our Lower School Auxiliary Programs webpage for detailed information on offerings for grade levels and to register.
• For ASPC, registration will close as classes are filled.
• For regular ASP, registration closes on Monday, August 28.

Enrichment Offerings

Enrichment offerings for grades 3-5 will begin on Tuesday, September 19.

• These are the enrichment session dates for the year:
  • Fall (Sept. 19 - Nov. 9)
  • Winter (Jan. 2 - Feb. 15)
  • Spring (Apr. 2 - May 23)

If you have questions, please afterschool@penncharter.com or our Auxiliary Programs Administrator, Jenny Gómez.

Picture Day dates:

Tuesday, September 3 - Picture Day for Upper School

• 10th grade: 9:30 am - 2 pm
• 11th grade: 10 am - 11:30 am

Wednesday, September 4 - Picture Day for Middle and Upper School

• 6th, 7th & 8th grades: 9 am - 11:30 am
• 9th grade: 9:30 am - 2 pm

Friday, September 13 - Picture Day for Lower School 
Thursday, October 10 - Retakes

Photo ordering: parents/caregivers will receive a link to view and order photos in the weeks following Picture Day.

• Review the Picture Day Flyer for additional information.
• Visit the Schoolhouse Pictures website for ordering details.

It's not too early to order your Class Record, and, in fact, early purchases help the yearbook staff with early expenses.

Yearbooks for non-seniors are $75 each, plus a small processing fee assessed by Jostens. (Seniors get a $10 discount.)

Parents, caregivers, family members and well wishers can purchase yearbook congratulatory messages for seniors by visiting the Jostens' website.

The 2024-25 academic year begins Thursday, Sept. 5. As is our custom, we will have a special schedule opening day and it will be a special dress day as well. No athletic wear or ripped clothing: Please dress well. Regarding the dress code for the coming academic year, we will continue with last year's dress code.

Dress Code

Penn Charter’s dress code is based on the following basic assumptions: 

• Students and community members have a responsibility to set an appropriate aesthetic.

• The Quaker testimony of simplicity, as well as gender and socio-economic equity are guideposts for our decisions about dress code.

• The school has the responsibility to set reasonable standards of dress.

• The standards of dress should not attempt to be responsive to current changes in style.

• The dress code should be understandable, enforceable, and consistent.

• There are occasions within the school year that call for different standards, like special dress days (see below).

• Students and faculty are responsible for attending to people, not to bodies and clothes.

• The dress code is informal, but we expect our students and faculty to wear clothing that furthers the primary objective in our community: learning.

Acceptable: 

• A shirt with fabric on the front, back, and sides (under the arms)

• Pants, skirts, leggings, or shorts with no holes or ripped patterns

• Shoes with closed toe and backing (no open toe or open back footwear)

• Athletic shorts, sweatpants, and similar sportswear as long as the material has no holes or ripped patterns

• Religious headwear 

• Jackets and hoodies with hoods down

• Headwraps or headbands that do not cover the face (no bandanas)

Prohibited: 

• Flip flops or open back shoes 

• Leggings, pants, jeans, skirts, sweatpants, or shorts with holes or ripped patterns

• Hats, hoods, or sunglasses inside 

• Any item that obscures the face or ears including bandanas (except religious observance)

• Visible, conspicuous underwear or bras

• Camisoles (as a shirt or undershirts)

• Shirts that expose midriff 

• Sleepwear or pajamas

• Clothing or accessories with hate speech, profanity, camouflage, violent language or images, drugs, alcohol, or any illegal item or activity

• Politically charged clothing, or other items

• Any item deemed inappropriate and/or offensive by faculty

Special Dress:

• On “special dress” days, students are required to dress more formally than usual, including:

  • Collared shirts (tucked in), button down shirts, knit shirts, sweaters, blazers, suits

  • Dresses, skirts, khaki pants, or dress pants

  • Dress or shirt straps at least three fingers of width

Introducing the Penn Charter App

Penn Charter community members interested in easily accessing school information from their mobile devices can now download the official Penn Charter app from Apple's App Store or Google Play.

The app's features include:

• Athletics schedules and results that can be filtered by team
• All-school calendar
• Lunch menu
• Parent Post announcements
• Recent news posts
• Faculty/staff directory
• PC Flickr photo albums
• + More! 

Users who wish to receive notifications through the app when certain PC email communications, such as the weekly Parent Post, are distributed can also sign up to receive these alerts in the app under the "More" tab.

Watch this video to learn how to navigate the app. All community members can download it from Apple's App Store or Google Play.

Note: The app draws content from penncharter.com, not the Hub, and does not require a password.