News and Announcements
A Summer of Arabic
June 10, 2010
Independence Charter is sending 30 students to Al-Bustan Day Camp this summer! ICS has just received a federal grant that will support this initiative.
Independence Charter is pleased to be able to offer this wonderful opportunity to study Arabic language and culture in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia to our students free of charge. The three week program is open to incoming second graders through graduating eighth graders on a first come first serve basis. In order to participate in this free program, students must register for the full three week program.
If you are interested in sending your child to this program, please complete a registration form. Your registration form must be received by FRIDAY, June 18.
Transportation to and from the camp is the family’s responsibility. Families with financial needs (i.e. needing tokens) may note on the registration form that support is needed. Once we have identified the participating students, we can help facilitate sharing the information should parents wish to organize a carpool or public transit group travel.
July 5-23: Al-Bustan Camp 2010
July 5-23, Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm
Springside School, Chestnut Hill
8000 Cherokee Street, Philadelphia, PA 19118, (215) 247-7200
Al-Bustan’s 9th summer of Camp is held July 5 – 23, 2010 at Springside School in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia. This year’s theme explores the arts, culture and environment of the United Arab Emirates, and features two Emirati artists-in-residence.
Al-Bustan Camp is an Arabic language and cultural day camp where children and youth develop new language skills and appreciate Arab arts and culture while making new friendships and exploring nature. Open to children and youth of all ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds, “Al-Bustan”, Arabic for “The Garden”, encourages dialogue, respect, understanding, and celebrates diversity.
The camp is open to elementary (2nd to 5th graders), middle (6th to 8th graders), and high school (9th to 12th graders) students of diverse backgrounds. A program in MUSIC, DANCE, DRAMA, ART, POETRY, and SCIENCE, along with ARABIC language, makes for a fun and richly engaging experience. Participants do not need to know Arabic to participate, but must be interested in learning the language. Since understanding culture is a critical part of learning another language, immersion in cultural activities is an integral part of the camp experience. For more information about the program, please visit the Al-Bustan camp website.
