Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Rings Market's Opening Bell

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, the independent Pre-K–12 school in Northwest Philadelphia, yesterday rang the NASDAQ Opening Bell, which began the trading day on The NASDAQ Stock Market to celebrate the first anniversary of its Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL), and announce the launch of a Venture Incubator where students will work alongside and under the guidance of seasoned entrepreneurs. The school, which has been recognized for its work in the entrepreneurial leadership space, announced in March that it had received a grant from the NASDAQ Education Foundation for its innovative academic programs. Dr. Priscilla Sands, SCH Academy President, and Richard A. Hayne, Chairman, President, and CEO of Urban Outfitters, Inc. and SCH Academy Board Chair, were on hand to ring the bell.

The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, which launched in September 2012, complements SCH Academy’s rigorous college preparatory curriculum, giving students the skills and mindset to distinguish themselves in higher education and beyond. The Pre-K–12 curriculum offers practical and real-life exposure to accomplished social and business entrepreneurs, as well as civic and academic leaders.

The newly launched Venture Incubator will offer students of all ages the opportunity to develop and build for-profit and non-profit organizations with guidance from accomplished entrepreneurs. Students will also have the opportunity to work alongside other entrepreneurs who have come to the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership for assistance from the SCH Academy team and network.

In her NASDAQ Opening Bell ceremony remarks, Dr. Sands announced the formation of the Venture Incubator, stating, “Our students and their work are at their best when they collaborate. The Venture Incubator will give them opportunities and access at very young ages to test and challenge their entrepreneurial mindset.”

“The curriculum development and innovation of SCH Academy, driven by both Dr. Sands and the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, are cutting-edge and visionary. I’m pleased to be associated with this institution and look forward to continued collaboration,” said Hayne.

The 2012–2013 SCH Academy Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership saw:

●      Fifth, sixth, and seventh grade girls establish an international micro-financing initiative to fund women’s health issues in developing countries using proceeds from eggs sold by students through their egg-farming program.

●      Seventh grade boys prototype, fund, design, fabricate, and sell iPhone cover creations made with a laser cutter.  

●      Sophomores and juniors research, plan, and fund their own international service learning expeditions to Cambodia and Russia.

●      Fourth grade girls research and design an outdoor play space to be built in 2013-2014, pitching and securing funding from McLean Contributionship.

●      First grade girls received honorable mention from NASA in the NASA Space Apps Challenge.

About Springside Chestnut Hill Academy

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy is an independent school offering a rigorous college preparatory program that goes beyond the expected to deliver an unparalleled academic experience. The school’s unique model is distinguished by single-sex education for the lower grades (Pre-K through 8) followed by a coed Upper School. In 2012, SCH Academy established the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) to complement its core curriculum and give students the skills and mindset to distinguish themselves as leaders, breakthrough thinkers, and imaginative problem solvers. The school is situated on a 62-acre campus in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia and serves 1,100 boys and girls from more than 90 zip codes and internationally. SCH Academy is the product of the 2010 merger between Springside School and Chestnut Hill Academy and combines nearly 300 years of academic excellence.