PA March for Life

"I've heard people describe this event as one of those pivotal moments in life," said Lin Podolinsky, director of operations for the Christian Family & Children's Center. "We have seen some more interest with our students going this year, and that is excellent," she said. Among those riding to the march with the Christian Family & Children's Center, it will be up to each individual what particular message they may voice or display on a sign", Podolinsky said. "We want to exemplify a Christian worldview," she said. "Beyond that, we don't have any guidelines." 

You can read the full article, written by Jeff Himler, on triblive.com. 

School Choice Town Hall

Our executive director, Dr. D. Merle Skinner, participated in school choice town hall on October 22, 2020. "Throughout the evening, several supporters of school choice spoke abou tthe subject to a socially distanced audience and those tuning in virtually. The consensus they all agreed upon was that parents and students should be able to take their tax dollars and apply them to whichever institution they chose, whether that be a private school, homeschooling, or a charter school. [Corey] DeAngelis [keynote speaker and director of school choice at the Reason Foundation] compared school choice to shopping at the grocery store, using the example that if a shopper isn't satisfied with their experience they can take their business elsewhere. 'In any other sector, if you're not provided service you can walk,' he said".........  

You can read the full article, written by Joshua Byers, on tribdem.com. 

Tom Smith (left), principal of Bishop McCort Catholic High School, and Merle Skinner, executive director of the Christian Family and Children’s Center, listen as Corey DeAngelis, keynote speaker and director of school choice at the Reason Foundation, shares his thoughts at the school choice town hall held at GapVax Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020.

Huawei Webinar: Remote Learning (Education at a Digital Crossroads)

Remote learning has been transforming the education landscape recently, but lack of access to technology and the internet makes the transition difficult for many Americans. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 9 million schoolchildren face difficulty in online learning, and 14% of children ages 3-18 don't have internet access.

Furthermore, a recent Microsoft study shows that 163 million people do not have high-speed internet to support conference calls or video streaming, which makes remote learning challenging. With that said, the need for connectivity has never been more urgent for supporting human development and everyday communication. 

The Center's Executive Director, Dr. D. Merle Skinner, participated in this international webinar on tech access to schools and tech integration. They discussed efforts to bridge the digital divide in the U.S. and how remote learning shapes the future of education.

 Inside the outbreak: Teaching & feeding

Families and educators search for creative solutions during the pandemic

Brielle Landman, a 10th grader at Champion Christian School in Champion, Pa., said her ADHD makes it difficult to keep to a schedule on her own.

“I struggle a bit more being out of the classroom,” she said about the prospect of long-term online assignments. But on the “bright side,” she said she’s finding more time to practice piano, read books, and spend time with her parents.

Champion Executive Director D. Merle Skinner said faculty and technology staff are available to students “personally, online, and on-site.”

To read the full article, written by Bob Brown, visit the World website.

Dr. Merle Skinner on Focus 4