đ« When schools move âtough-to-teachâ kids | Morning Newsletter
And unclaimed mystery mail.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Wake up, itâs Wednesday.
It may be slightly warmer out, but beware the icy glaze lurking on streets, sidewalks, and driveways.
A Philly school principal told The Inquirer theyâre experiencing what they call âthe season when we get charter kids.â Todayâs main story digs into a practice that several administrators claim drives troubled students from charters to district institutions.
Also in this edition: We stop by a Christmas Village hut using the element of surprise to sell unclaimed mail packages.
â Paola PĂ©rez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Itâs not unusual for students to switch schools after the school year begins. However, some Philly principals point to one âconcerningâ trend behind a bump in transfers from charters.
The Inquirer spoke with a dozen current and former district administrators who say some pupils with behavior problems are pushed by charters out to Philadelphia School District schools. Charter leaders dispute claims that kids are sent to district schools over disciplinary issues.
Charter-to-district data: Over the past three years, the number of charter students transferring to district schools increases every month throughout the school year. âItâs not talked about, but in the schools, itâs no secret,â said one principal about the increase.
Deep frustration: The bar is much higher for district administrators to remove students; they âcanât turn kids away,â another principal said. Making matters more difficult is a lack of additional funding to attend to more students.
Notable quote: âItâs just not fair,â said a third principal. âWeâre not getting their best kids.â
Philly schools reporter Kristen Graham reports on the challenges district schools face as they take on charter school students.
đ€ Now Iâm passing the mic to columnist Stephanie Farr.
Emma Zielinski wasnât sure how her business selling unclaimed mystery mail would fare at the Christmas Village in Philadelphia this year, or if sheâd even be accepted into the holiday market at all.
âI didnât think theyâd take us because weâre not handmade, but when I picked up my vendor badge they were like, âWeâve been waiting for you to apply!ââ she said.
As it turns out, thousands of people from across the region have also been waiting for the chance to buy orphaned packages that never found their way home and nobody went to look for â the contents of which remain shrouded to both Zielinski and the buyers until after they are purchased.
âThe Christmas Village has really turned my business upside down,â she told me. âI donât think anyone realized this was going to happen.â â Stephanie Farr
See whatâs inside the bags going from $10 to $40 a pop.
What you should know today
A Philadelphia judge denied summoning a colleague to his courtroom over a criminal case. Courtroom recordings call his account into question.
The 10-year-old boy who was severely burned in the Northeast Philly plane crash was headed home on Tuesday after spending nearly a year in the hospital. âItâs the best thing ever that heâll be home for the holidays,â his grandmother said.
Hundreds gathered Wednesday morning to bid farewell to Andy Chan, the Philadelphia police officer who died six years after a motorcycle crash.
A 63-year-old woman riding as a passenger in an Uber vehicle was killed Monday morning when a man allegedly fleeing a warrant crashed a car into the Uber in North Philadelphia, police said.
The well water used by a Montgomery County school located near a toxic landfill has tested positive for human-made polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS.
All 17 members of Philadelphia City Council have indicated they will seek reelection in 2027. That would be the first time in at least 75 years.
A Philly landlord whose intimidation campaign against a tenant led to a deadly confrontation was sentenced Tuesday to 9 to 18 years in prison.
The woman who was captured on video rage pooping on a car during a Delco roadway dispute in April entered into a first-time offender program.
Chester County is rolling out a fleet of propane public buses, with plans to build its own fueling station to reduce costs and as part of a climate action plan.
Sports apparel store Rally House plans to open its first Center City location. Its new spot would bring continued momentum to the retail corridor around Rittenhouse Square.
đ§ Trivia time
In December of 2022, Jalen Hurts gave diehard Eagles fan Paul Hamilton a historic touchdown ball at MetLife Stadium.
What happened next, according to a lawsuit?
A) Hamilton tried to sell it on eBay for $1 billion
B) Security officials accosted and detained Hamilton
C) Hamilton hurled it at a Giants fan
D) None of the above
Think you got it? Check your answer.
What (and whom) weâre âŠ
đ Riding along with: The Cherry Hill Santa tour bringing Christmas cheer around snow-dusted South Jersey.
đ€« Ranking: The Philly regionâs loudest and quietest hospitals.
đ Learning: How Pennsylvania grows 720,000 Christmas trees a year.
đŹ Watching: The first trailer for Disclosure Day, Steven Spielbergâs new movie filmed in New Jersey.
đŹ Analyzing: Why Philadelphia loses promising biotech firms to Boston, San Francisco, and San Diego.
𧩠Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Pennsylvaniaâs first surveyor general, and namesake of a new elementary school in Northeast Philly
HAMEL SMOOTH
Email us if you know the answer. Weâll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Tracey Slobotkin, who solved Tuesdayâs anagram: Adolis GarcĂa. The Phillies signed the free-agent outfielder to a one-year contract, which major league sources said is for $10 million. Here are five things to know about the newest Phillie.
Have a good one, and Iâll catch up with you again tomorrow.
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