First up on Kenney's listening tour of Phila. schools: Penrose Elementary

As Mayor Kenney's official black SUV rolled up, high-pitched cheers erupted from the steps to Southwest Philadelphia's Penrose School and the rat-tat-tat of the drum line started inside the building.

"He's here! He's here!"

Kenney shook hands with the second-grade welcoming party, standing in a line with "Welcome, Mayor Kenney" signs and shy smiles.

"Thank you for having me," he said. "Should we go inside?"

The mayor has said he will visit one school a week as a nod to his focus on education and two big promises: making pre-K education available to every child in Philadelphia, and putting in place "community schools" - campuses that offer residents access to health, counseling and social services, and community development programs.

Penrose's hallways were clogged with a long line of parents, many of whom tried to snap photos or introduce themselves to the mayor, who was accompanied by Second District City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson.

"The more you're with these kids, you see how great they are and how much potential they have . . . and we need to provide those resources, whether it's books, supplies," Kenney said. "You can always complain and throw up your hands about Harrisburg and funding, it's not going to help us.

"What's going to help us," he continued, "is all of us together, the community, philanthropy, corporate community, elected officials, parents, get together and help these schools, because these kids are worth it."

Consuela Astillero had come all the way from West Philadelphia to watch her 10-year-old granddaughter, Taliah, and the rest of the drill team give a five-minute performance. She called the mayor "awesome," but really brightened up talking about the drill team leader.

"She does such a good job for them and for the community," Astillero said. "They really need her."

Penrose, a K-8 school on a multibuilding lot at 2515 S. 78th St., has many needs: Every child lives below the poverty line, and one in five students has a disability, according to the Philadelphia School District. About 81 percent of the student body is African American.

As the drill team posed for a photo with Kenney, Azamit Gebrehiwot, 13, waited to hand him a stack of neatly handwritten letters on loose leaf paper in which her eighth-grade class had outlined some suggestions for improving the school.

"We're talking about how Philadelphia schools are different," she said. "We don't have activities and our books are old."

If she had unlimited funds, Gebrehiwot said, she would love to add a music program at Penrose. She'd want to sing in the choir.

Kenney took the letters and promised to read them on the ride back to City Hall.

He continued on to a kindergarten classroom, where kids sat on the floor listening to their teacher read a book about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"You know, the best thing you could do to honor Dr. King is get a good education and a good job," Kenney told the kids.

At an art classroom, Kenney talked with third graders making cards for Police Officer Jesse Hartnett, shot last week by an assailant who said he did it in the name of Islam.

Wayne Campbell, 8, listened intently as Kenney talked about visiting Hartnett in the hospital. The whole time, Wayne held onto the note he had written to Hartnett, decorated with a superhero shield with the letter "H."

The letter read:

Dear Officer Hartnett,

How are you feeling today? I'm so sorry you got shot. So we are giveing you a get well soon card. I'm glad you fought back. Maybe you can come to Penrose School. You are a true hero so get well soon Officer Hartnett.

Kenney also took some pointed questions.

"How did you become mayor?"

"How much money do you have?"

"Are you happy you became the mayor?"

"How do you get expired?"

"Expired?" Kenney asked. "I'm still here."

"Inspired!" a girl corrected herself.

"Guys like you," he said. "I'm really happy to be mayor when I'm in schools with you."

Kenney said future visits will be much quieter, and will include one-on-one talks with principals. Kenney gave Penrose principal Huie Douglas the number to his cellphone before he left.

jterruso@phillynews.com

215-854-5506@juliaterruso