SDP Connect: Fall Edition
“If you look behind every exceptional person there is an exceptional teacher.”
— Stephen Hawking
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Senior and Teacher of the Month Nominations are Open
The Senior and Teacher of the Month Initiative for the 2024-25 SY launches this month. This school year – October through May – we will celebrate seniors and teachers who are consistent exemplars of determination and commitment to education. The nomination window for October is now open and will close on Friday, October 4th at 5pm. Click here to submit your nominations today!
Equity in Practice
Join the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion virtually on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024, from 12pm – 1pm for our LGBTQ History Month Panel Discussion, where we will highlight the importance of LGBTQ history and how that history continues to shape our district and society today. Panelists will include School District of Philadelphia staff and Community Advocates. Register here.
Academic Calendar Survey
The School District of Philadelphia is in the initial stages of developing the Academic Calendars for school years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. Our goal is to create calendars that support student learning and meet the needs of students, families and staff, while adhering to various requirements from PDE and Collective Bargaining Agreements. By October 9th, please complete the Academic Calendar Feedback Survey and share with your school communities to provide input on the upcoming two academic calendars!
Voter Education Virtual Summit
We are thrilled to invite you to the Voter Education Virtual Summit on October 7, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. This event is open to teachers, students, and community members eager to learn more about the power of their vote and its influence on local, state, and national elections. One of the highlights of the summit will be a student-led panel discussion where students will engage directly with policymakers about the issues that matter most to them. This is a unique opportunity to hear firsthand what our young voters are concerned about and to discuss how their voices can impact policy decisions. Please register here to join us for this engaging and important event.
School Marketing & Communication Toolkit: A New Resource for Promoting Your School
Do you want to be better equipped to show off your school, shout out your amazing staff and students, and attract more people to join your school family? The new School Marketing & Communication Toolkit is for you. This toolkit is especially timely right now as we are still early in the fall — enrollment is ongoing, and school selection is open. It is intended for all schools that desire to improve their brand image, and use modern tactics to communication more effectively with their communities. Download the new School Marketing & Communication Toolkit and share with your school leaders and staff.
Cirque du Soleil
‘Twas the Night Before… is Cirque du Soleil first holiday show, based on the classic poem “A Visit from Saint Nicolas” by Clement Clarke Moore. Memorable lines from this cherished classic inspired Cirque’s story about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of the holidays. Special Offer for SDP Educators and Family: View the offer on our Employee Perks Page and save up to 20% off select seats/dates. For groups of 10+ ONLY, please contact natalieh.brown@cirquedusoleil.com to save up to 25% and reduced handling fees. The show will be held at The Met from December 19th – December 29th.
OUR PEOPLE
Philadelphia Region's Most Influential African Americans
We are thrilled to congratulate Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D. and Philadelphia Board of Education President Reginald L. Streater, Esq. on being recognized as two of the Philadelphia region’s Most Influential African Americans by The Philadelphia Tribune! This esteemed honor celebrates their exceptional contributions to the community through their leadership, dedication, and service. Thank you both for your inspiring work!
Philadelphia Eagles Coach of the Week!
Congratulations to Coach Damon Brockington, who was recently named Eagles Coach of the Week! A Frankford High School alumnus, Brockington has led the Pioneers to remarkable success, earning a division title and an undefeated season in his first year as head coach. His dedication to his students and the community extends beyond wins on the field. Through his leadership and mentorship, he’s inspiring the next generation of Frankford football players. Keep shining, Coach! Read more about our Eagles Coach of the Week here.
Excellence at Masterman
Congratulations to Elizabeth Taylor of Masterman High School for being awarded the 2024 McCullough Prize for Excellence in American Public History! This honor recognizes her dedication to teaching and her commitment to inspiring students through important local history work. We’re proud to celebrate Philadelphia educators like her!
SCHOOL OF THE WEEK
Congratulations Anne Frank 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 Anne Frank School as School of the Week in The Philadelphia Tribune’s Learning Key. Read Anne Frank’s feature article in the Tribune here.
OCTOBER FEATURES
NFL Latino Youth Honoree
A big congratulations to Josleyn Rodriguez-Almendra from Olney High School for being nominated and selected for the prestigious NFL Latino Youth Honors, which recognizes outstanding high school tackle and flag football athletes from around the country for their academic and athletic excellence! She was celebrated at Lincoln Financial Field and even received a custom Philadelphia Eagles jersey to commemorate the occasion!
Heart Safe Schools
Exciting news! The Youth Heart Watch Program (YHW) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), in partnership with Project ADAM, has recognized six schools in the District as the first Heart Safe schools!
Congratulations to:
Bridesburg Elementary School
Watson Comly School
Horace Furness High School
James Rhoads School
School of the Future
Allen M. Stearne School
SDP is committed to designating all schools as Heart Safe in the coming years. Together, we’re creating a safer environment for our students!
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health & Wellness
World Mental Health Day
Celebrate World Mental Health Day, Together! Navigating your emotional health, whether at home or in the workplace, can be challenging. And at times, it might feel like you’re facing life alone. But we’re here to remind you: you’re not. Emotional well-being and a sense of belonging go hand in hand, yet one in three people worldwide say they experience loneliness. The good news is that you can overcome feelings of isolation and build deeper connections with those around you—and it starts with prioritizing your mental well-being. This World Mental Health Day, we want to remind you that through your Lyra benefit, you and your eligible household family members have access to #8 confidential mental health coaching or counseling sessions per person, per year, at no cost.
Visit philasd.lyrahealth.com to register. Activating your free account allows you and your family to:
- Book an appointment: Whether you’re seeking support for yourself or a family member, Lyra will match you with the right well-being program for your needs and connect you to an expert who can help.
- Explore Lyra’s digital self-care resources: Improve your mental and emotional well-being and learn practical tips through meditations, educational articles, videos, and more.
- Access Lyra whenever, wherever: Downloading Lyra’s mobile app makes it easy to schedule sessions and gives you 24/7 access to our digital self-help library.
It’s OK to not be OK and to ask for help if you’re not feeling like yourself. And we hope accessing your Lyra benefit gives you a greater sense of belonging and togetherness this World Mental Health Day, and beyond.
On the Goga October Challenge!
Join the Monthly Mission: Building Relationships Challenge to prioritize connection and friendships in the workplace! Get started with the challenge, October 1, and check out your first weekly mission by logging into the School District of Philadelphia Hub.
How it works | Each week of the challenge, you will be prompted to complete a new activity to build stronger relationships with your coworkers. To find the challenge, click on the first image in the primary carousel on your home page or select the menu icon in the top right corner and select Monthly Mission Challenge and scroll down to view and complete the mission!
How to win | For each mission completed, you’ll earn a raffle entry to win a prize. Complete all 4 missions to be entered to win the grand prize! See the flyer here.
Lyra Mental Health Services
World Mental Health Day is on October 10th. This World Mental Health Day, remember that your Lyra Health benefit offers 8 free, confidential mental health coaching or counseling sessions per person, per year. Prioritize your well-being by registering at philasd.lyrahealth.com. Get matched with an expert, access a library of self-care resources, and connect whenever, wherever through the Lyra app. Support is here for you and your eligible household family members. Activate your account now and start building stronger mental health. Please see the flyer for more information.
Health Lifestyle Tips & Recipes, October Edition
The office of Leaves, Accommodations and Wellness is excited to provide you with our October Edition for the 2024 Healthy Lifestyle Tips & Recipes. For this month’s healthy tip, Limit the Fast Food in Your Diet! For our October healthy recipe, you’ll find the quick Miso Chickpeas & Avocado on Toast recipe.
SDP Mental Health Workshop on October 8, 2024
As we approach World Mental Health Day, the Office of Leaves, Accommodations and Wellness is excited to offer a free, interactive workshop: “Mental Health 101”. This is a unique opportunity to prioritize your well-being, understand the importance of mental health, and learn practical tools to support yourself and others.
Workshop Details:
When: October 8, 2024, 4:00-5:00 PM
Who: Presented by Dr. Gabe Corpus, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in emerging adult mental health
What to Expect: Demystify what mental health really is and how it impacts your daily life, Learn how to reduce stigma and transform your well-being at work and home, Explore practical tools like mindfulness, self-care, and gratitude, Practice a new skill to take the first step towards positive change
Don’t Miss Out! Space is limited for this valuable workshop. Register now to secure your spot. We hope to see you there!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Important Dates
3rd: Rosh Hashanah; Schools closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
25th: Staff Professional Development (Full Day); School closed for students
Additional Important Dates:
14th: Indigenous Peoples’ Day of Learning (In-school day)
National Custodian and Maintenance Appreciation Day
National Custodian and Maintenance Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on October 2nd to recognize the work of custodians who keep public spaces, schools, and workplaces clean and organized. Thank you to all of our SDP custodians and maintenance workers, we appreciate all that you do! Let custodians and maintenance workers know you appreciate their work by saying “thank you” when you pass them today.
World Teacher’s Day
World Teachers’ Day is an international day held annually on October 5th to celebrate the work of teachers. Established in 1994, it commemorates the signing of recommendation by the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Thank you to all of our amazing teachers!
National Coming Out Day
October 11 is National Coming Out Day. National Coming Out Day is a day that celebrates and recognizes the LGBTQ+ community and their journey towards self-acceptance. It is a day where individuals can choose to share their sexual orientation or gender identity with their loved ones and friends, or simply celebrate their true selves. Learn more about National Coming Out Day and upcoming LGBTQ+ events on the District’s Cultural Celebrations Page.
World Mental Health Day
October 10 is World Mental Health Day. Your mental health is a priority. Your happiness is essential. Your self-care is a necessity. Check out the mental health resources that SDP offers our staff on the District’s Wellness Page.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 14 is Indigenous People’s Day, a day to honor the contributions that Native Americans have made to the world, to celebrate their culture, and to raise awareness of the challenges they face. Learn more about Indigenous People’s Day here.
National School Bus Safety Week
October 21-25 is National School Bus Safety Week. National School Bus Safety Week is the ideal time to reinforce bus safety rules among students. We also want to express gratitude to our bus drivers and staff for their hard work and professionalism as they ensure our students are transported safely everyday.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month! We couldn’t be more honored to acknowledge the many contributions and accomplishments of Hispanic Americans who have paved the way for others to succeed. Click Here to see a full list of cultural events or holidays celebrated by our diverse School District community.
National Principals Month
October is also National Principals Month! Principals set the tone for the entire school community with strong leadership, school spirit, and care for students, teachers, staff, & families. We celebrate you for everything you do! Thank you to all of our principals for your amazing leadership and tireless efforts every day. We appreciate you!
World Bullying Prevention Month
October is World Bullying Prevention Month and we believe that every child has the right to a safe, welcoming and inclusive school environment. It takes everyone doing their part to STOMP Out Bullying and promote equity and unity in our school communities. We thank each of you for your continued collaboration in supporting the learning environments that every child needs to succeed in school. You can find resources to prevent and address bullying here.
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!
SCHOOL LEADERS NEWSLETTER
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.
Evaluation, Research, and Accountability
Read ERA News here.
Stay Sharp
PowerSchool has PD for all employees, some specific to Central Office.
TRIVIA
What year did Eagles Coach of the Week, Damon Brockington, graduate from Frankford High School?
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.