September 11, 2006 marks five years since the World trade Center tragedy in New York City. The memories linger in our minds like a childhood nightmare that repeats, and repeats...and repeats.

What do those closest to "Ground Zero" feel today? Are New Yorkers feeling safe, or are they living each day in fear? Are any of us "safe" from terrorists? Are we doing enough in 'the war on terror'?

We will travel via Greyhound bus, from Philadelphia on September 11th to Ground Zero, the World Trade Center to bring you the reactions of New Yorkers to those and other questions. Although we will not be at the annual commemoration at the former World trade Center site, we will be meeting with officials of the fire and police deprtments of New York City. The mayor's press office has extended privileges to The Girard JOURNAL staff, "Credentials" issued by them to major and network media outlets have been extended to us as well.

We will begin our video montage with fellow passengers aboard our Greyhound bus. Why are they traveling to New York today? We will inform them of our trek's purpose and record their reactions. Once we arrive in New York we will travel from the MTA "E" Train to the Financial district, once there we'll walk the streets to the former WTC site and stop and interview citizens along the way. It's bound to be a media circus in the city as every major media outlet will likely have some "Five Years later" coverage. Sources tell us that well over 2000 journalists and media representatives will be in attendance.

Joining The Girard JOURNAL staff editor D. Michael Blackie, will be former Girardian Michael Godio, and North Philadelphia resident and Community Academy high school sophomore Emanuel Pagan. Both young men are eager to see this project through from concept to production. Your Girard JOURNAL news team will share post-production and editing responsibilities to bring you the final version of our journey, as soon as posible.

Our completed project may be aired on Girard's cable TV network, or public television channel WYBE-TV 35 and available on tape and/or DVD. Post-production will likely take place at GETS [Girard Educational Technology Services] on campus. Girard College has a fully operational broadcast studio and digital broadcast capabilities.

Meanwhile, stay tuned to this blog for updates and future posts as the school year begins. Other exciting media opportunities exist for students, and there's a possibility of a "LIVE" call-in radio talk show featuring Girard College students responding to the violence in their home communities.

For more information about media activities at Girard College this summer log onto our page at http://GirardJOURNAL.blogspot.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: Emanuel Pagan is being replaced by Northeast Philadelphia resident Mike Walsh, and we are being joined by Mr Carlton Hipps, founder of Philadelphia Peace Inititaive. Our most sincere condolences are offered to the Pagan family on the sudden death of Antonio Pagan Maysonet, Emanuel's paternal grandfather.
Special thanks to Mr Keith Steininger at Girard Educational Technology Services (GETS) and Matthew Kelly, press aide, New York Mayor's Office.

Camp Girard 2006, the summer day camp program at Girard College www.girardcollege.com gets underway Monday morning, June 26th. This year a record number of campers from the school, the surronding community and partners in the community have registered. Well over 420 campers, staff, program specialists and counselors will experience six weeks of summer fun in the sun.

The theme of the camp experience this year is "A Movement of the Mind, Body and Soul" and will focus on, what else...? Movement! Books that have been made into movies, the civil rights movement, the women's movement, music, dance, poetry (the 'beat' movement to "Slam" poetry.) all that and much more.

Camp Directress, Shira Woolf-Cohen has assembled a professional and seasoned team of camp staff. This is her fifth year leading the Camp Girard staff. "I remember being here with five counselors" says Shira. Since it's inception five years ago, Camp Girard has grown, and grown to its fulest capacity yet. This year with nearly 370 campers and a staff at 45 and still growing.

The Camp Girard Program runs Monday through Friday on the campus of Girard College at College and Corinthian Avenues. Camp begins at 8 am and runs through 5:30 pm. Campers have a full day of activities. While Shira cautions "This is a learning environment. Camp Girard is an academic day camp." she also admits it's a lot of fun. Campers experience math enrichments, reading (Book Clubs), Electives like Journalism (this year which will include a media segment encompassing print, broadcast and photography), science enrichments and leadership development focused on service learning opportunities. "it's not your average day camp" says Woolf-Cohen.

For more information about Girard College cal 215-787-2600 or log onto their web page. For camp information, call the camp office at 215-787-4496.

The Girard JOURNAL
http://GirardJOURNAL.blogspot.com

The Girard JOURNAL http://www.GirardJOURNAL.blogspot.com is the student voice, on-line newspaper of Girard College in North Philadelphia www.girardcollege.com As the school addresses its diversity, at issue with some, The Girard JOURNAL is embracing diversity on campus.

Begun by an after school program facilitator, The Girard JOURNAL will encourage both middle and high school students at the prestigous private boarding school to consider careers in the journalism and media fields. Adopting service learning concepts and providing students an opportunity to reflect on their contribution, The Girard JOURNAL is already making progress.

It's founding grew out of 'enrichments' offered to students touching on creative writing-and journalism. Students much preferred the internet and 'computer time' to writing with pen and paper. With the semester ending, and summer camp approaching The Girard JOURNAL was begun as a way to keep off-campus students connected to the community behind the walls over the summer months. The school sponsored print newspapers are overseen by teaching faculty not present at the school during the summer.

The staff of The Girard JOURNAL is made up entirely of students, and the Camp Girard staff editor. That student staff is diverse and represents a true picture of the population of the school. The staff editor is caucasian; a Senior Writer, a High School sophomore is Asian as is a new middle school (7th Grade) student; an African American female; and a Latino male complement the two other African American males, one in 8th grade and one a high school freshman. Recruitment of student reporting staff is ongoing and the recruitment is using Girard's "Diversity Initiative" as a guiding set of principles.

The school recently partnered with the National Multicultural Institute www.nmci.org in Washington, D.C to address the diversity issues at Girard. A preliminary report was prepared and available on the school website; a full report and plan for implementation is due the end of May.

Girard College offers a private, residential boarding school to income eligible, academically capable students in grades one through 12 regardless of race, sex or national origin. See the school's website for further details on the strategic plan; the diversity initiative and information on admissions or Camp Girard. For The Girard JOURNAL log on to http://www.GirardJOURNAL.blogspot.com

Girard College celebrates "Founder's Day" 2006 on Saturday, May 20th. This annual event is a celebration of the birthday of philanthropist, merchant, and banker Stephen Girard-for whom the school is named. Girard bequeathed a large sum to the city of Philadelphia and its charitable institutions.

Founder's Day brings together alumni and current students; staff and faculaty and a host of interested others. Highlights this year include a campus luncheon in the armory and an alumni "Reunion Dinner" in Founder's Hall. During the afternoon there will be open tours of the Girard Collection and all day, simultaneous events that will take place on the campus.

For full details go to www.girardcollege.com and click on the headline for Founder's Day

Girard College
2101 S. College Avenue
Phila., PA 19121
215-787-2600

#3 Merchant Hall

Staff of Camp Girard at Girard College are getting ready for a new year of great programs. Camp Girard begins on June 26th and runs through August 4th at the tuition-free, private boarding school at Girard and Corinthian Avenues in North Philadelphia.

Camp Girard is open to neighborhood youth, as well as students of the prestigious school. "It gives them a taste of what it's like 'behind the wall'" said a camp staffer.

Girard College is the legacy of philadelphia tycoon Stephen Girard. www.ushistory.org/Girard The richest man in America at the time of his death. He left the city of Philadelphia, through his last will and testament, a healthy endowment--and the school, his namesake. Of course, it was at that time a school for "poor, white boys" only. Now, nearly 87 percent African American, and nearly half of that population female Girard College is a different place than you may remember.

Steeped in rich tradition and history, Girard offers students regardless of race or gender, an opportunity to learn. That opportunity, is offered in a protected, pastoral environment. You won't read about "Violent Incidents Down" when it comes to Girard College. Those incidents are non-existent. "It's like stepping into a time warp" siad a staff memeber of the after school program. "These kids are different. It's a decided difference" he said.

Camp Girard gives "outsiders" a look inside, and a daily look at life on-campus of the 43 acre inner city fortress. Unlike the school, Camp Girard is not tuition free, but some scholarship assistance is available to underwrite the $80.00 weekly camp fees. That fee includes daily program, three meals and a caring, concerned and competent staff. Camp directress, Shira Woolf-Cohen has assembled an impressive cadre of program staff and offerings to make the trip behind the walls worth the price.

Staff training begins next week, and throughout the season. The camp will be prepared by staff for camp participants about a week prior to opening. Meanwhile, the school's after school component, called G-SAP is winding down as Camp Girard takes center stage for a summer of fun in the sun.

Speaking of center stage: the all school "Spring Concert" happens on Thursday, May 11th on the High School auditorium stage. More information on admissions, Camp Girard and the concert can be found at www.girardcollege.com

Girard College is a tuition-free, private boarding school for children in grades 1 through 12, who have limited family financial resources.

You can learn more about Girard College and Stephen Girard on "Wikipedia" by accessing the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girard_College

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Girard

The Girard JOURNAL Staff
http://GirardJOURNAL.blogspot.com

As school winds down and the temperatures go up, tempers will flare, people will get hurt. It's "Summer in the city". At Girard College www.girardcollege.com , students are getting ready for Camp Girard 2006. The annual Summer Camp program is open to Girard students as well as the surrounding community. It's a great opportunity for community youth to get a taste of the on-campus experience of the residential boarding school for academically capable students. Girard College accepts students from grades 1 through twelve.