SDP Connect: Thankful Edition
"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."
— Harriet Tubman
American Education Week (AEW) is November 18-22, 2024
A special thank you to every SDP employee for a job well done! Let’s celebrate all we have done, and all we will do together! Keep an eye on your email during American Education Week for a daily ‘thank you’ message and a few fun surprises.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Community Conversations
As you have likely heard, we have launched our community conversation across the city and virtually to hear from family members, students, staff, and the community at large. We encourage you to attend a session or two, so that you can hear what is being uplifted by our community. We will formally review what is shared at the sessions at a later project team meeting. You can see the session schedule and register here. Please share this opportunity with your networks.
Family Math Fall Festival
Fall in Love with Math at our Family Math Fall Festival! Happening Saturday, November 9th, 11 AM – 2 PM at Temple University! Enjoy math games, food, farm animals, golf, giveaways, and more! Don’t miss out on the excitement! Learn more here. Be sure to share with your school community and we’ll see you there!
Reminder to Complete Power School Training
This is a reminder that the required Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Overview asynchronous training was assigned to all staff in the PowerSchool professional development platform in August. Click HERE to access the training in PowerSchool, and complete it as soon as possible if you have not already. The stepper with instructions for how to complete courses within a PD Playlist in PowerSchool is HERE and the screencast is HERE. You must click “I’m Finished” in PowerSchool to receive completion credit. Completing this training is mandatory, as the Office of Civil Rights requires.
Recharge & Restore: Weekly Mindfulness-Based DeStress Sessions
The Office of School Climate and Culture is excited to offer For You, For Now, a stress management series, brought to you by our partner, Inner Strength Education. Each week, you’ll have two opportunities to practice simple, effective, evidence-based techniques to help you relax and recharge. Each session offers a variety of exercises and reflections, helping you release stress and tension through breathwork, movement, journaling, and more. Thirty-minute sessions will be offered at both noon and 1pm on Thursdays, beginning November 7.
If you’re interested, please sign up through PowerSchool. Invest in your short-term peace and long-term well-being with these weekly sessions tailored for educators.
Equity in Practice
On Wednesday, November 13th, 2024, from 12pm – 1pm, The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will host a panel discussion highlighting the importance of Native & Indigenous History and how we can work collectively to uplift the Indigenous community at the School District of Philadelphia. Panelists will include School District of Philadelphia staff and Community Advocates.
If interested in attending, please register for the event HERE.
Transgender Remembrance Coffee House & Open Mic Night
Join us for Transgender Remembrance Coffee House & Open Mic Night on Wednesday, November 20th, 4-6pm. Share poetry, art, and other forms of expression that affirm and acknowledge the transgender experience. Interested? Click here to register.
Breaking Ground
The School District of Philadelphia, Board of Education, District leaders, and elected officials came together to break ground on the new Thomas Holme Elementary School! This three-story, 88,000-square-foot facility is set to bring 21st-century learning to life. We’re especially proud of our students, who helped shape the school’s design—collaborating with architects to model playgrounds and contributing to the building’s facade and stormwater management plans. Construction is expected to finish by late 2025, and we can’t wait to see this incredible vision come to life!
OUR PEOPLE
Well Done Ms. Toney!
Huge congratulations to Marsena Toney, Special Education Teacher at Jenks Academy for the Arts and Sciences. Ms. Toney was honored as Special Education Teacher of the Year by Philly AIMS, a prestigious organization at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine dedicated to enhancing education and services for students with autism. This well-deserved recognition is a testament to Ms. Toney’s exceptional dedication and talent. Her reputation for excellence is so renowned that families of special needs students are actively choosing Jenks Academy just to have the opportunity for their children to learn from her. We are beyond proud to have her! Congratulations Ms. Toney!
Employee Wellness at SDP
We are excited to announce the launch of the inaugural SDP Wellness Grant, made possible by the Leaves, Accommodations & Wellness Office and our partner, Independence Blue Cross! A total of 81 schools across the District
will enjoy wellness events throughout the school year, including Yoga Classes, Massage Chairs, Healthy Smoothies, a ‘Day to Celebrate Me’—a day dedicated to recognizing and supporting staff well-being—and so much more!
The Extra Yard
Congratulations to Michelle Gueco from McKinley Elementary and Richard Washington from Logan Elementary! Both were presented with $2,000 grants during a Temple University game, as part of the Extra Yard for Teachers initiative through the College Football Playoff Foundation. This recognition celebrates exceptional educators and school leaders like Michelle and Richard, whose dedication is making a meaningful impact in Philadelphia.
Senior and Teacher of the Month Winners
Teacher of the Month
Tamika Knight
Middle Years Alternative (MYA)
Senior of the Month
Anthony Spady Jr.
Strawberry Mansion High School
Senior of the Month
Angelica Yim
Frankford High School
SCHOOL OF THE WEEK
Congratulations Eleanor C. Emlen 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 Eleanor C. Emlen School as School of the Week in The Philadelphia Tribune’s Learning Key. Read Emlen’s feature article in the Tribune here.
NOVEMBER FEATURES
Philly at Prince's Paisley Park
This fall, Hill-Freedman World Academy students collaborated with Minnesota’s High School for Recording Arts on an inspiring music project. Inspired by Philly and the Twin Cities, they co-created original songs. The culmination was a performance at Prince’s iconic Paisley Park for the RemixED Conference. Our students’ track “Philly” promotes nonviolence and unity. Kudos to Deshaun Alston, Naika Saint Pierre, Isaiah Brown-Sheaff, Jaden Alvin, Makidi Ku-Ntima, and Isaiah White-Johnson!
Please check out another song our students performed!
POWER Buses
Exciting news for the School District of Philadelphia! We celebrated the arrival of 38 propane-powered buses from Blue Bird Corporation with a fantastic ribbon-cutting ceremony. This is a significant step towards a greener future for our students and community! A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this possible!
POWER Up
Superintendent Watlington joined The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia’s President and CEO, Kathryn Epps, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence for the launch of POWER Up at Feltonville School of Arts & Sciences! This initiative provides in-school mentoring for middle school students in the District, aiming to empower those in communities impacted by high gun violence. Implemented in three schools, POWER Up focuses on creating a safe and nurturing environment for students to thrive.
PSTV Ribbon Cutting!
The School District of Philadelphia held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the renovated studio for Philadelphia Schools TV (PSTV). The new, state-of-the-art facility includes a podcast booth, editing bays, a broadcast control room, sound stage, photography and gaming rooms, and a music studio. Over the past nine years, PSTV staff have partnered with students across the District to elevate their voices through media creation and provided students with real-world experience in various media production roles
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health & Wellness
Flexible Spending Open Enrollment Announcement
Time to Enroll! Flexible Spending Account Open Enrollment is here. The Open Enrollment period for the Flexible Spending Account is November 1-November 30. This is your chance to elect a medical or dependent care account for 2025. Employees can enroll here.
The School District of Philadelphia is pleased to offer you valuable Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Commuter pre-tax benefits. Elections are annual for medical and dependent care FSAs and monthly for Parking/Transit/Bicycle FSAs. By using pre-tax dollars, you are essentially saving 30% on your eligible medical, pharmaceutical, dental and eye care costs! The funds are deducted from your paycheck before taxes are applied – allowing you to save money. All employees must re-enroll every year. Sign up at the FSA Enrollment website. Please check out this Understanding Flexible Spending Accounts Document to learn more.
Contact the FSA vendor at 1-800-307-0230 between 8:30AM – 5:30PM EST Monday through Friday or benefits@philasd.org.
The Office of Leaves, Accommodations, and Wellness wants to help you start your new year resolution early. All School District of Philadelphia employees are able to take advantage of a free membership through the end of the year at Retro Fitness! Please see the attached flyer for details.
Great American Smokeout
Quitting smoking isn’t easy. It takes time. And a plan. You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with day one. Let the Great American Smokeout event on Thursday, November 21st be your day to start your journey toward a smoke-free life. You’ll be joining thousands of people who smoke across the country in taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing your cancer risk. Learn more here.
In addition, you can utilize the District’s smoking cessation program, QuitNet by visiting or scanning the Member Portal (ramphealth.com) or the attached flyer. Here you will receive 1:1 sessions with a trained coach to help you begin your journey to a smoke-free life!
November On the Goga Challenge!
This month our challenge is Celebrating Milestones. During this challenge you’ll be encouraged to explore and celebrate your personal growth over the next month with daily prompts! Reflect on past achievements, set future goals, and recognize the significant moments that have shaped your journey. You’ll also have a chance to win some awesome prizes!
Get started with the challenge, November 1, and check out daily goals by logging into the School District of Philadelphia Hub. How it works | Each day of the challenge, you will be prompted to complete a new activity to celebrate personal growth. You can find the new daily prompt right at the top of the homepage on your School District of Philadelphia Hub. Check off your daily prompts as you complete them or simply choose to skip a prompt and try a new goal the next day. How to win | Earn raffle entries by completing daily prompts for a chance to win awesome prizes by completing daily activities! Click here to access the Hub or utilize the attached flyer! Login (onthegoga.com)
November Healthy Tip: Swap Ingredients!
We’ve all been there before, you’re in the middle of baking/cooking when you realized that you are missing a main ingredient. Many times, there are plenty of ingredient substitutions that you can implement that you likely do have in your pantry! What’s more, many of them are actually healthier than their standard counterparts. You may just find that you like the healthier versions more than the standard ingredients. Below are a few substitutes! Greek yogurt for sour cream: Greek yogurt is higher in protein and lower in fat than other dairy products and it can be used in place of sour cream or oil. It’s not always a one-to-one ratio, so you could try replacing half and do some experimenting with different recipes.
Honey for sugar: It’s tough to avoid all forms of sugar, so switching to more nutrient-dense options like honey can help ensure that you’re not consuming totally-empty calories. Honey is rich in vitamins and minerals and has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. What’s more? Honey doesn’t send your blood sugar levels in a tailspin the way that white sugar does, so you’ll experience less wacky cravings and shifts in energy levels.
Black beans for flour: Beans in brownies may sound a bit bizarre, but don’t knock ’em until you try ’em. Pureed black beans add a hit of protein and fiber, and they can be used instead of white flour in brownie recipes. Go ahead and use one cup for one cup.
Nut flour for flour: Options abound when it comes to baking flours, and nut flours (e.g. almond flour)are one of the best choices for you. They’re gluten-free, lower in carbs, and higher in protein than white flour. One cup of flour can be substituted with ¼ nut flour + ¾ cup wheat flour or 1 cup nut flour + ½ teaspoon rising agent in recipes for cookies, sweet breads, and cakes, for example.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Important Dates
15th: Term 1 Report Card Conferences (Full Day); School closed for students
27th: 3 hour early dismissal for students and staff
28th-29th: Thanksgiving Recess; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates:
11th: Veterans Day (In-school day)
Veteran’s Day
Veteran’s Day is November 11th. Veteran’s Day is celebrated to honor and thank those who served in the United States Armed Forces. Veteran’s Day is also an opportunity to acknowledge the courage and dedication of veterans’ service to our country. Please be sure to attend the District’s Veteran’s Day Event at our Central Office location (440 N. Broad St.) on Monday, November 11, 2024, 9:00 am – 9:30 am.
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day is November 28th. Thanksgiving Day is an annual national holiday in the United States and Canada, celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. It is a day when families and friends gather to express gratitude for life, health, family, friends, food, and other blessings.
National School Psychology Week
During the week of November 11-15th, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and schools across the United States will mark National School Psychology Week (NSPW). This week celebrates the contributions of school psychologists and the important role they play in schools and communities.
Transgender Awareness Week
Each year between November 13 – 19, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility about transgender people and address issues members of the community face. Learn more here.
Homeless Youth Awareness Week
Pennsylvania’s Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Awareness Week is November 11–15, 2024. This week highlights the importance of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which ensures that homeless students have access to the same education as other students. As many as 2.5 million youth per year experience homelessness. All District staff are invited to wear a RED shirt on Friday, November 15 to show solidarity and bring awareness to youth and families experiencing homelessness. Schools are encouraged to take a group photo of everyone wearing red, and show your support by posting the photo on social media using #IWILLBEYOURVOICE and tag @PHLschools. Please see this flyer for more details.
Native American Heritage Month
November is Indigenous Peoples’ History Month! It is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages, and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Island communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.
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 specific science program does Teacher of the Month, Tamika Knight, participate in? (Teacher of the Month article)
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.