2011 Philadelphia Mennonite High School All rights reserved. office@pmhs98.net pmhs98.org
Mennonite
History
Philadelphia Mennonite High School draws from Philadelphia's rich tradition of diversity by providing educational excellence
for students of diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.
Mennonites are a branch of the Christian faith with roots in
the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Part of the group known as Anabaptists (because they rebaptized adult believers), the Mennonites
took their name from Dutch priest Menno Simons who helped lead the movement to prominence in Holland by the mid-16th century. While
some Mennonites fled to Russia to escape persecution, Swiss German Mennonites migrated to North America in the 18th and 19th centuries
settling first in Pennsylvania then eventually across the Midwestern states. Today, even though large Mennonite populations can be
found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas and Canada, the largest Mennonite population resides in Africa. Modern day Mennonites
number almost 1.5 million worldwide, with churches in North and South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. Mennonites are known for traditionally
emphasizing peace, justice, simplicity, community, service and mutual aid.
Transformative Education
In 1993, a task force
formed and met with a group of culturally diverse Philadelphia Mennonite pastors. In 1996, a Board of Directors formed for the new
high school. A Search Committee was soon brought together to find a dedicated principal to lead this new venture. God sent Dr. Barbara
Moses. Although a non-Mennonite, Dr. Moses exhibited a strong commitment to God, church family, and was very much in agreement with
Anabaptist beliefs. The board purchased a three-story school building on a quiet street near the Art Museum in early 1998. Full time
teachers were interviewed and hired for the fall semester and 53 students enrolled for the first year. We graduated our first class
in 2000 and have had 100% college acceptance for our graduates ever since.
Students are exposed to higher education every year
that they attend PMHS. They visit colleges on day and overnight excursions. Along with this, all seniors must take a College Prep
class. All students are able to take advantage of dual credit enrollment classes at Community College of Philadelphia, St. Joseph's
University and Eastern University.
Service As A Way of Life
Our service component gives our students an opportunity
to expand their horizons, develop new skills and relationships. Our students travel around the greater Philadelphia area serving in
schools, community centers, businesses and organizations. Our students serve as reading mentors, library assistants, tutors, etc.
This kind of experience continues to develop their work ethic and prepares them for higher education, the professional world and volunteerism.
PMHS students log over 10,000 hours a year. They volunteer every Friday afternoon (depending on the grade). Our seniors volunteer
in a profession that interests them.
Healthy Relationships
PMHS works at building a safe community with its students, staff and
faculty. In this setting, students are not only respected but held accountable to the school’s zero tolerance fighting and anti-bullying
strategies. The school encourages healthy relationships between faculty and students by providing mentoring and conflict management
training based on Mennonite traditions for everyone. PMHS students benefit from this type of community by being open to one another
and by using the world as their classroom. Historically, Mennonites have championed non-violent approaches to conflict and social
justice. The school helps students develop local expressions of non-violent practices. There has not been 3 fights since the
school opened in 1998. Examples of this is the successful conflict management training class offered by PMHS students at a local K-8
public school.
Real World Learning
Our students are encouraged to expand their horizons. During the freshmen year, they
explore local educational sites in Philadelphia. In sophomore year, they travel statewide. In their junior year, they travel somewhere
in the United States. In their senior year, they travel outside of the United States.