SDP Connect: Spring Edition
If knowledge is power, then learning is a superpower.
— Jim Kwik
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW
AERA Community Meeting at Bethune
The American Educational Research Association – which is the largest research organization in the world – will host their annual conference in Philadelphia on April 10th. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to engage with some of the brightest minds in education research.
Phillies All-Star Students Contest
The Phillies want to hear about those students who are working hard and making a difference. Ten All-Star Students in grades PreK-12 will be selected by the Phillies based on nominations from their teachers. The All-Star Students will be recognized prior to the Phillies vs. Mets game on May 16. In addition to the recognition, each student will receive a $1,000 donation made to their school on their behalf. To nominate a student, complete the form below. All student nominations must be submitted by 4:59 p.m. ET on April 18, 2024. Submit your nomination for the All-Star Students program today! For more information click here or contact community@phillies.com.
Autism Expo
School District of Philadelphia staff and families are invited to the 14th Annual Autism Expo, hosted by the District’s Office of Special Education and Diverse Learners. The Expo is free to attend, and will take place on Friday, April 19, 2024 the School District’s Central Office — 440 N. Broad St. Attendees will have access to resources from a variety of organizations and providers who are dedicated to supporting children with autism and their families, such as: Helping Hands Family, The ARC of Philadelphia, AJ Drexel Autism Institute and more. See the flyer for more information. We hope to see you there!
Inaugural Accelerate Philly Awards
Last Friday, we held the Inaugural Accelerate Philly Awards at Martin Luther King High School. It was a wonderful and exciting event, where about 700 of us from across the District gathered to celebrate the notable progress we have made in our academic achievement. We recognized 45 individual schools for academic growth and achievement, 175 teachers who had perfect attendance, and 33 school-based colleagues that have served the School District of Philadelphia for 40 or more years!
We want to send a special thank you to The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia and our sponsors – the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, Wawa, and Visit Philadelphia for providing incredible gifts. Also, we want to send a special thank you to Principal Keisha Wilkins for being such a generous host. Later this week, you will be able to watch the video of the full event on the PSTV website here.
Senior and Teacher of the Month Winners
Teacher of the Month
Carly Barrist
Richard R. Wright Elementary School
Senior of the Month
Jayliah Johnson
Excel Academy South
Senior of the Month
Adia Davis
Abraham Lincoln High School
SCHOOL OF THE WEEK
Congratulations John B. Stetson Middle School
The Philadelphia Tribune features “Good News” from The School District of Philadelphia each week in its Learning Key section. In addition to SDP’s “Good News,” every Tuesday the Tribune names a District school as School of the Week. Every week one of our schools is highlighted for the amazing work they are doing with our students. We’re excited to announce John B. Stetson Middle School as School of the Week in The Philadelphia Tribune’s Learning Key. Read Stetson’s’s feature article in the Tribune here.
Be on the lookout for more School of the Week features in SDP Weekly and SDP Connect!
APRIL FEATURES
SDP Shines at WrestleMania XL
Big shoutout to Frank Machos, Executive Director for the School District of Philadelphia’s Office of the Arts & Creative Learning, and the District’s All-City orchestra for their outstanding performance at WrestleMania XL in Philly over the weekend!
VP Kamala Harris Visits SDP
Thank you, Vice President Kamala Harris, for taking the time to meet with and watch the solar eclipse alongside students from George W. Nebinger School and William Cramp School. Your presence made the experience truly special for them, and they thoroughly enjoyed sharing it with you!
On a Mission
Stephen Girard Elementary School and Young Chances Foundation hosted a Food Giveaway and Resource Fair to support families in the community as part of its vision and mission to strengthen its partnership with families and serve its school community in fighting poverty. This initiative is an opportunity to support community members before the last days of Ramadan.
Solar Eclipse in Philly
Yesterday, a partial totality” solar eclipse was highly visible over the city of Philadelphia. At peak eclipse, this astronomical phenomenon covered 90% of the sun. Students and staff from all across our district witnessed history as we safely enjoyed this extraordinary event together.
Did You Know: The next total eclipse in the U.S. won’t happen until March 30, 2033, when totality will reportedly only cross parts of Alaska. The next eclipse in the 48 contiguous states is expected to occur on Aug. 12, 2044, with parts of Montana and North Dakota experiencing totality.
TELLING OUR STORIES
Bright Solar Futures Academy | The School District of Philadelphia
Our Bright Solar Futures Academy at Frankford High School is PA’s first-ever program that prepares students for college and career opportunities in the high-demand solar energy industry.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Healthier Mind, Stronger You: Resources from Lyra Health
We often hear about ways to take care of our physical health, but staying mentally fit is also important for our overall well-being. Lyra Health, your mental health benefit, has prepared these resources to support your resilience. If you’d like the help of a specialist who can offer confidential care for a healthier mind, stronger you, then SIGN UP HERE For questions or concerns please contact Steffanie Makarewicz at smianulli@philasd.org.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Important Dates:
4th, 5th: Report Card Conferences (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
10th: Eid al-Fitr; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
23rd: Election Day; School closed for students and staff
Additional Important Dates:
8th: Ramadan ends
22nd – 30th Passover
22nd: PSSA testing window begins
30th: Passover ends
National Arab-American Heritage Month
Join Us in Celebrating Arab-American Heritage Month! Arab Heritage Month is an opportunity for us to explore and reflect on the history, contributions, as well as current challenges of Arab communities, students, and families in the School District of Philadelphia. To learn more about how our district is celebrating Arab-American Heritage Month visit our Cultural Celebrations website.
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr means “the feast of breaking the fast.” The fast, in this instance, is Ramadan, which recalls the revealing of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad and requires Muslims to fast from sunrise to sundown for a month. The religious holiday is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan.
Bilingual and Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month
April is Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month! The Office of Multilingual Curriculum and Programs (OMCP) within the Office of Diverse Learners celebrates our growing multilingual student population, affirms the assets that they bring to our school communities, and advocates for the educational and social equity of our multilingual students and families. This month and every day, let’s remember that advocacy for English Learners means that as educators and leaders, we: view and treat our students as immensely capable learners, demonstrate with our work and commitment to equity what it means to provide students with quality opportunities to learn, grow, and create welcoming and respectful environments for our students and families. To learn about the Bilingual/Multilingual resources and programs that the district offers, click here.
Celebrate Diversity Month
Celebrate Diversity Month takes place in April every year. It was initiated in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity of the world around us. It is a time to recognize and understand our differences, be it gender, race, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, and other factors, while honoring the common essence of humanity. To learn more about how our district is celebrating Celebrate Diversity Month visit our Cultural Celebrations website.
DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTERS
Check out what's going on in other departments around the District
Check out the Equity Coalition newsletter for upcoming events, podcasts, professional development opportunities and more!
RESOURCES
Feeling Perky
As a district employee, you have access to various deals and discounts. Check out our Employee Perks here.
Get a Little Extra
See the Office of Grant Development’s list of grant opportunities on its website. View the newsletter for more information.
Observe & Report
Your help is essential in ensuring the School District runs efficiently and fairly. Report suspected wrongdoing within the district to the Office of Inspector General here.
Spread the Word
We’re hiring. Everywhere! Know someone who’s searching? Send them to workinphilly.com for our school-based support roles & teachinphilly.com for our instructional roles.
Keep Track
Follow the District’s progress towards the Goals and Guardrails and stay up to date through research reports and webinars from our Office of Research and Evaluation.
Stay Sharp
Cornerstone has PD for all employees, some specific to Central Office.
Climate & Culture
Need Climate & Culture Resources for your school? See what’s available here.
Evaluation, Research, and Accountability
Read ERA News here.
TRIVIA
When will the next eclipse in the 48 contiguous states happen? (Full Date)
The first central office employee and the first school-based employee with the correct answer will win a prize!
Communication's Corner
The Office of Communications strives to make news, information, and resources easily accessible. Every month we will provide information and reminders to help keep you connected.
Working on a project or campaign in your office? The communications team provides helpful resources like branding and color guides, presentation templates, and photo catalogs, to help you keep your project stylish and on-brand. Just click here.
Have a story to share or someone to celebrate? Submit your story idea click here.