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October 25, 2024

Dear School District of Philadelphia Community,

As the seasons change and we prepare for fall, we want to share resources and information to help support you and your family having a healthy first semester and holiday season.

School District of Philadelphia Benefits Navigator

The School District of Philadelphia has partnered with BenePhilly to support District families with signing up for important public benefits. All PreK-12 students and families can visit the School District of Philadelphia Welcome Center at 440 N. Broad Street to meet with the Benefits Navigator, Stacie Brown, and get one-on-one support with applying for health insurance, loan assistance, disability benefits, food assistance, utilities benefits and more. Appointments for currently enrolled District students and their families are available on Wednesdays from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Schedule an appointment here. Walk-ins are also welcome, though wait times may be longer!

If you cannot make it to the Welcome Center, you can find a BenePhilly Center near your home by reaching out directly to the City of Philadelphia’s BenePhilly program at 833-270-7943, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00pm. You can also visit the City of Philadelphia’s website to find additional locations and hours.

Colds, Flu and Preparing for Sick Season

Viral illnesses like colds, Flu, RSV, and COVID-19 spread more easily during the fall and winter months. As such, we recommend taking measures to protect yourselves by getting the Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as possible. The Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity is providing no-cost Flu and COVID-19 vaccines. You can register for an appointment here.

Your child should attend school if they are generally healthy and able to participate in their usual day-to-day activities. Students with colds, Flu, RSV or COVID-19 should remain home if they have an excessive runny nose, excessive coughing, difficulty breathing, fever, or if they look or act ill. Students may return to school when they are feeling well, as long as symptoms are not present or have improved, and they are fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication. We recommend that students returning to school after COVID-19 wear a well-fitted mask for 5 days after returning to school. You can find more health guidance for school attendance here.

Testing remains a critical measure to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Testing sites are available throughout the city, find a location here. The federal government is also delivering free at-home tests – four per household – upon request. Visit covid.gov/tests to place your order.

Pediatric Dental Clinic at W.D. Kelley Elementary

Did you know the district has a state of the art pediatric dental clinic for students? All PreK-12 students can receive services at the W.D. Kelley Dental Clinic, Monday and Thursday from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Services include dental screenings, checkups and cleanings, fillings, crowns, fluoride varnish and extraction emergency care. There will be FREE Dental Screenings on November 21 10am – 2pm and December 16 10am – 2pm.

Families can call 215-707-0231 to make an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome. You can find more information here.

Talking to Your Child about Vaping

E-cigarettes and vapes are the most commonly used tobacco products among middle and high school students. In addition to tobacco, vaping products can be used to vape marijuana, herbs, waxes and oils. They are illegal for any person under 21 years old, and are harmful and addictive. E-cigarretes and vapes are often flavored to appeal to children, and are sold on-line and in corner stores. You should talk to your child about e-cigarettes and vapes and the harmful effects on their body, mental health and school performance. Parents can play a key role in preventing students from vaping and helping students quit vaping. Here and here are tips for talking to your child about vaping.

We hope this information will help you and your family have a happy and healthy Fall semester!

Sincerely,

Dr. Kendra B. McDow MD, MPH, FAAP
School District Medical Officer
Office of Student Support Services