Head of the class: (Left to right) Raymond Neas, Fox Chase Bank branch manager; Fred Duncan, Senior V.P. of Fox Chase Bank; state Rep. Kevin Boyle; and Rob Caroselli, principal of Fox Chase Elementary School smile with students on Sept. 19.
State Rep. Kevin Boyle and officials from Fox Chase Bank visited Fox Chase Elementary School on Sept. 19 to deliver some good news.
The bank donated $1,254 to allow the students to continue participating in the popular online First in Math program.
The program was in jeopardy because the School District of Philadelphia did not have the money to pay for it.
Last year, Fox Chase, located at 500 Rhawn St., was tops in the school district.
“We beat out all the bigger schools,” fifth-grade teacher Suzanne Hickman said at an assembly in the auditorium.
Boyle (D-172nd dist.) joined Fox Chase Bank senior vice president Fred Duncan and branch manager Raymond Neas in making the check presentation to principal Rob Caroselli. Boyle contacted the bank when he learned the school lacked the funds to offer First in Math.
Hickman explained that Fox Chase ranked 66th in the nation in First in Math. Students who score 500 points in the program earn yellow wristbands, while those who score 1,000 points receive red bands.
Boyle, 34, encouraged the students by telling them he still uses the math skills he learned while a student at St. Helena Elementary School in Olney.
“You’re making Fox Chase proud,” he said.
Fourteen children were given awards for excellence in First in Math. They were Ivy Comerford, Jack McFadden, Minh Phan, Syndy White, James McFadden, Joshua Jiwanmall, Aila Kapllanaj, Robin Wu, Laila Youry, Abdelrahman Eldeib, Jason Coffer, Jimy Mullen, Radona Howard and Achsa Johnson.
The kids presented Duncan and Neas with hand-made thank you cards.
Duncan, who attended Fox Chase until third grade, promised the youngsters that Fox Chase Bank would sponsor an ice cream party for them if the school repeats as the school district champion in First in Math. ••
