About HSA
The Home and School Association (HSA) of the Science Leadership Academy proudly comprises our dedicated parents, guardians, and educators. Your efforts in fundraising and volunteering are the backbone of our support for the school. If you’re a parent or guardian, we encourage you to join — you’ll have voting rights in the HSA.
Our goal is straightforward: to continuously improve SLA, creating the best learning environment for our students. We’re here to enhance collaboration and understanding between everyone invested in our children’s education — teachers, staff, administrators, and guardians alike. Together, we make SLA thrive!
We’re committed to supporting various school initiatives, from maintaining Jeremy Spry’s crucial role as program coordinator to enabling sports, enhancing classroom projects, subsidizing field trips, and celebrating our seniors with gifts.
Building Community Spirit: Join us in boosting camaraderie through events like Back to School Night, New Family Night, Educon, and our exciting Spring Social.
Supporting Educators: We show our gratitude for the school’s backbone—our teachers—through Teacher Appreciation Events and supplemental funding. Help celebrate their hard work and achievements.
Guiding School Policies: Your voice matters. Collaborate with the administration on school concerns, including budget allocation and other significant decisions.
Volunteering Opportunities: Lend a hand and enrich our school’s culture and events. Your involvement is the key to our collective success!
Board Members 2023-’24
Board Members
President:
Daphne Hawkins Parker
Executive Vice President:
open
Communications Vice President:
Erin Richburg
Volunteers/Events Vice President:
Karima Ropel
Treasurer:
Marc Hensley
Co-Treasurer:
open
Recording Secretary:
Monika Jest
Parent Representatives
Fuel the Rocket Campaign Manager:
Iwan Baranky
Auction Chairs:
Farah Kapoor & Daphne Hawkins Parker
Senior Parent:
Gerline Harb
Junior Parent:
Iwan Baranky and Farah Kapoor
Sophomore Parent:
TDB
Freshman Parent:
JJ Shirley
Alum Parent:
former HSA president Rashedah Parks
BY-LAWS
A big focus of the HSA is to plan fundraising events and initiatives. These include:
EduCon
Since 2009, SLA has hosted EduCon, an innovation conference, to provide teachers and administrators a space for discussing the future of learning and teaching and all that makes a school a school. Over the course of three days, attendees attend educational sessions, hear from students and speakers, and participate in conversations. HSA plays a role in helping to greet and check in guests. We support the students and staff throughout the three days with meal preparation, set up, clean up and any task that helps to make the conference a success. For more information about EduCon, view the WEBSITE.
Fuel the Rocket | Annual Appeal
At SLA, we have been incredibly fortunate to be able to count on the support of our families to help close the gap between what we need and what we can afford. Each year, we launch a FUEL THE ROCKET CAMPAIGN, and we count on families to ensure we reach our goal. Money raised goes directly to making sure that the program of an innovative, authentic, inquiry-driven, technology rich education is able to continue. In the past, contributions have funded our Independent Learning Project administration, part or all of a teaching position, our laptop program, and helped to ensure that our many programs like Digital Video and Engineering have everything they need to support our students—and much, much more. We could not be the school we are without your support. If you’d like to support this year’s campaign, please visit our DONATION page.
Spring Social & Silent Auction
The annual Spring Social sponsored by SLA’s Home and School Association is a festive evening for adults only. Parents, teachers, and friends of SLA come together at a venue outside of the school to enjoy a social night and a fantastic silent and live auction. Proceeds from the evening are used to enhance learning at SLA. Enjoy food, drinks and good company in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Previous years, the Spring Social was held at the Ethical Society.
This years Spring Social will be Friday May 10th, 2024
For more information or to get involved, please contact hsapresident@scienceleadership.org .
School Store
The school store is operated by the Home and School Association. It is currently under construction at our new building on Green Street but, once it is open, it will be home to lots of SLA gear such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, car magnets and pajama pants. Students, staff and visitors can purchasel Raman, sweet and salty snacks, healthy treats and drinks. The store operates during school hours and is run entirely by volunteers.
The school store is also open during the school day. Your student can buy any of this great SLA gear in person, in addition to snacks and drinks!
If you would like to volunteer or get more information, please contact hsafundraising@scienceleadership.org.
Science Leadership Academy, Center City
1482 Green Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 400-7830