Since 1971, CORA Services has hosted countless family events for the community. The most recent community engagement event offered by CORA was quite a memorable shared family experience focused on the importance of early literacy and kindergarten readiness. Early childhood education and early intervention are two areas CORA knows very well. The agency has owned and operated Early Years in Fox Chase for 2 ½ – 5-year-olds for more than 30 years. CORA opened Early Years at La Salle University approximately 6 years ago. A third facility, called Early Years Huntingdon Mills, will be opening in the Olde Richmond section of Philadelphia in January of 2020 which will eventually feature an inclusion model to accommodate children on the Autism spectrum.
About 300 children and families visited CORA on Saturday, March 2, 2019, for the 2nd annual Seussville at CORA, a celebration in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday featuring arts and crafts, educational games, photos and story time with costume characters. Volunteers consisting of CORA’s staff, neighbors, local organizations and students ran the event from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit CORA’s ongoing work as a Resource Center for children and families. For more photos of the event, click here.
In conjunction with Seussville, CORA ran an art and essay contest for grade school students that yielded more than 500 entries! Children from all over the Philadelphia area submitted their creative drawing and writing pieces in competition for public recognition at the event and monetary prizes for the winners. A volunteer committee consisting of representatives from CORA’s school, community, and clinical services divisions chose the finalists in the final categories. Congratulations to the winners and thanks very much to all of the students who submitted their work to CORA!
Congratulations, today is your day! You’re off to great places, you’re off and away!
CORA Seussville Art & Essay Contest Winners
Art Contest for Grades 1 and 2:
1st Place Winner: Jeremy Ihrig, St. Anselm, Grade 1
Runner Up: Mallorey Marrow, St. Martin de Porres, Grade 1
Honorable Mention: Astin Lucien, Thurgood Marshall, Grade 2
Art Contest for Grades 3 and 4:
1st Place Winner: Elodie Breslin, Our Mother of Consolation, Grade 4
Runner Up: Connor Stevenson, Holy Innocents, Grade 4
Honorable Mention: Nakaiyah Clanton, Carnell Elementary, Grade 4
Creative Writing for Grades 6-8:
1st Place Winner: Madison Flood, St. Anselm, Grade 6
Runner Up: Kylie Hughes, St Hilary of Poitiers, Grade 6
Honorable Mention: Emma Rumer, Perkiomen Valley Middle School East, Grade 6
Elodie Breslin
Jeremy Ihrig
Oh My Future
Oh my future will be bright
Every day and every night
With my family on the left
And my friends on the right
I’ll learn to be smart
That sure is a start
To help me gain knowledge
So I can attend college
I’ll listen to my teacher
No matter when and where
Because she is the golden ticket
For me to get there.
From land to sea
That’s where you’ll find me
On an island or a boat
Lights, camera, action
Is what I’ll hear
Be sure to turn on your TV on
If you want me near
On the field, on the court
Playing a sport
You’ll never hear me whine
Because I sure want to shine
No matter what I do
It’s never for you
I do it for me
Oh, can’t you see!
Don’t worry, don’t fight
Rest assured, my future is bright!
- Madison Flood, Grade 6
