SDP Connect: April Issue
Each day you are leading by example. Whether you realize it or not or whether it's positive or negative, you are influencing those around you.
- Rob Liano
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Virtual Core Instructional Vendor Presentations
The Office of Curriculum & Instruction has selected the Core Instructional Resource vendor finalists for the major subject areas. Each has agreed to perform a lesson showcase for the School District community, to give us an opportunity to understand how their products will benefit our students and teachers in their classrooms. Starting April 10, 2023 School District employees are invited to view Core Instructional Resource Vendor Presentations & Lesson Showcases, and provide feedback on each. The virtual presentations, organized by content area, will be uploaded onto our Core Instructional Resources website here.
Student Board Rep Applications
The Board of Education is inviting current freshman and sophomores to bring student voices to the Board by applying to become a Student Board Representative or Alternate for the 2023-2024 school year. Please spread the word with the eligible district or charter school students you know and encourage them to apply online here until April 28, 2023. For more information about the application process, please visit the Board’s web page or email schoolboard@philasd.org with your questions.
Research Roundup
The Office of Research and Evaluation hosts a regular Research Roundup webinar to share data/research on a variety of topics. Our next Research Roundup is Wednesday, April 12 from 3-4 pm, and will be on the topic of student attendance. We’ll review research about the importance of attendance, look at how attendance is measured and monitored in the District, and discuss recent attendance trends. Please register here if you’d like to attend!
The FUND’s Dress Down Day
The FUND’s Dress Down Day is back! This annual t-shirt sale has raised over $170,000 to date, putting money directly in the pockets of local schools. Since 2018, your contributions have helped enrich the lives of district students, funding field trips, STEM supplies, updated technology, library books and much more. It couldn’t be easier to get involved in Dress Down Day. Just purchase a t-shirt here, and choose which school you’d like to support! Each t-shirt sold raises $20 for the school of your choice.
76ers Spirit Day
Philadelphia Academies, Inc. along with the Philadelphia 76ers, is inviting all K-8 schools to participate in 76ers Spirit Day on Friday, April 14th. How it works: On 76ers Spirit Day, each school must submit a photo and/or video of students showing their Philadelphia 76ers pride by wearing their best 76ers gear (red, white, and blue). As a result, the 76ers will host a pep rally at the school with the best photos and/or videos. Be sure to submit all photos and videos here. All photos and/or videos must be uploaded by Monday, April 17th. Please see the flyer for more detailed information. For questions, please contact Ari Watson at ariswatson@76ers.com or (302) 256-3175.
Phillies All-Star Student Contest
Is there a student in your class who deserves to be recognized for going above and beyond whether inside or outside of the classroom? The Phillies want to hear about 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 have the opportunity to be recognized prior to a Phillies game this season. All student nominations must be submitted by 4:59 p.m. ET on April 20, 2023. Submit your nomination for the All-Star Students program today! For more information click here or contact community@phillies.com.
OUR PEOPLE
50 Years at SDP!
Deborah Moore, Executive Assistant for the Deputy Chief at the Office of Student Enrollment and Placement, recently celebrated a major milestone at SDP: 50 years of service! She’s been serving our students for 50 years and is still going strong. “I hope she has 50 more years to give us,” Deputy Chief Ericka Washington, said. “She has just been wonderful, and I love her with everything.” Her love for the children is evident as she spoke with CBS about her 50-year anniversary at SDP. “I’m very happy,” Moore said. “I’m happy I was able to mark this momentous occasion by helping our families and our children.” Congratulations Deborah, and thank you for your many years of service and commitment to the children of the Philadelphia School District. Watch more of Deborah’s story here.
Lozzi’s Heart of Learning
Congratulations to Louis Lozzi, a teacher at Robeson High School on receiving the Citadel Heart of Learning Award. Every year, Citadel Credit Union honors teachers across the Greater Philadelphia area in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Lancaster and Philadelphia counties with the Citadel Heart of Learning Award. Mr. Lozzi’s recognition is well-deserved as his work as leader of the Paul Robeson High School Math & Science Department and member of the school leadership team has been the driving force for helping Robeson achieve a 95% annual graduation rate, significantly higher than the Philadelphia average of 70%. With personal endorsements from Mayor Jim Kenney and the City Council of Philadelphia, Lou Lozzi is not only committed to advancing student achievement, but his program initiatives and community partnerships have also become models for providing equitable opportunities for students of color in the city of Philadelphia. Read more about Mr. Lozzi’s award and accomplishments here.
Trading with Mr. Jarret
Elvin Jarret, a 4th-grade teacher at Mayfair Elementary School is introducing building trades to students as they’re learning plumbing, electrical, masonry, and carpentry. Mr. Jarret is giving his students hands-on experience That hands-on experience landed 8th-grader Arielys Velasquez a full scholarship to Mercy Career and Technical School, where she’d like to study nursing or construction. On his days off, Mr. Jarret can be found teaching shop from inside his decked-out RV that can also be found outside Roosevelt Elementary School in Germantown. “I call the trades ‘the great equalizer,’ it’s what you put in, that’s what you will get out of it,” said Jarret. Read more of Mr. Jarret’s story here.
Senior & Teacher of the Month Winners!
SCHOOL OF THE WEEK
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 Laura W. Waring School as School of the Week in The Philadelphia Tribune’s Learning Key. Read Waring’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
All Are Welcome
In June 2021, the Board of Education passed a resolution stating “Philadelphia public schools are safe havens for immigrant students” and called for “updated guidance and training for District stakeholders around keeping this commitment.” We’re proud to announce that as of February 2023, Philadelphia was designated a “Certified Welcoming City” by Welcoming America. This formal designation recognizes cities that have created policies and programs reflecting their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion. Philadelphia has policies, practices, and programs that are inclusive of immigrants – including those set by the Board of Education. Read more about Philadelphia’s designation here.
Mini Nurse Academy
The students at General George Meade School in North Philadelphia are participating in an eight-week after-school program called the Mini Nurse Academy. The program was created by the National Black Nurses Association. Its mission is to introduce more Black and brown students to the profession of nursing in the hopes that they may one day join the workforce. The Mini Nurse Academy is designed for children in grades three through six in predominantly Black and brown neighborhoods. Read more about the debut of the Mini Nurse Academy at the Meade School here.
Science Rules
Congratulations to the Science Olympiad teams at Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School, Central High School, and William M. Meredith School. For the first time in SDP history, not only one but three district schools have advanced to the state tournament. Science Olympiads involve events in biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, Earth science, ecology, astronomy, and more. This year, our students at Masterman, Central, and Meredith worked diligently and advanced to the state tournament. Congratulations to all of our students and coaches! Want your school involved? Fill out this Google Form for the 2023-2024 Science Olympiad. For more information, contact Chris Sikich at csikich@philasd.org.
TELLING OUR STORIES
The Unified Sports Program
The Unified Sports Program at the School District of Philadelphia fosters a culture of inclusion by providing opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities to participate in sports activities with their non-disabled peers. Baldi Middle School, which was the first middle school in Pennsylvania to be honored as a National Banner Unified Champion School from Special Olympics Pennsylvania, is one of 42 schools in our District that participate in Unified Sports.
Health & Wellness
Headspace: Meditation Made Simple
Headspace is proud to support Pure Edge and K-12 educators through a free one-year subscription! Studies show Meditation can help with personal well-being. With short, easy-to-follow meditations, you’ll learn breathing, visualization, and focus-based exercises that are designed to help you live a healthier, happier life. There are meditations for stress, sports, sleep, focus, and creativity. Train your mind for a healthier, happier life. It’s a personal meditation teacher, right in your pocket! Learn whenever you want, wherever you are. It only takes a few minutes to change the rest of your day. To view this offer and other exciting SDP Benefits, visit our Employee Benefits website.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Important Dates
- 4/14 – Professional Development Half Day (3-Hour Early Dismissal)
- 4/21 – Eid al-Fitr (Schools and Administrative Offices Closed)
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.
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.
OFFICE SPOTLIGHT
THE OFFICE OF STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES
The goal of the Office of Student Health Services is to support every student’s academic program by removing barriers to learning. We work with teachers, principals, parents and outside support staff to meet students’ medical and health needs by performing state-mandated screenings and maintaining immunization compliance and safety procedures set forth by the state. Our Office strives to work collaboratively for every District student’s well-being, growth and educational success.
The goal of the Office of Student Health Services is to prevent disease and maintain the health of our students, which enables our students to focus on their education and be able to achieve their full potential. School District nurses provide medical care for student illnesses, injuries and emergencies. Additionally, school nurses maintain health and immunization records on all students, perform state-mandated health screenings, administer doctor-prescribed medications, perform nursing procedures, assist physicians and dentists with school examinations, provide health counseling and referrals, provide classroom instruction on health-related topics, and serve as a parent and classroom consultant in health-related matters.
School nurses help students understand normal growth and development; promote health and safety; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively work with other members of the medical and educational teams to promote each student’s optimal level of physical, mental and social wellness and encourage success and achievement during and beyond the school setting.
The School District of Philadelphia has over 270 Certified School Nurses serving the public and nonpublic schools in the City of Philadelphia.
Upcoming Health Insurance Renewal Events
For families who get health insurance through the state, the time to renew Medicaid, Medical Assistance or CHIP insurance is now! The School District is hosting two upcoming events (details below) where families can learn more about the renewal process. Both events are open to all families, regardless of citizenship status. If you know any families who might benefit from these events, please share this flyer, which provides the information they need to participate.
Virtual Resource Forum on Obtaining Health Insurance and Renewing Medicaid/CHIP
April 12, 2023 from 5-6pm | Register here: bit.ly/sdpforum2
In-person Health Insurance Navigation & Assistance Event
April 19, 2023 from 4:30-6pm
School District of Philadelphia Education Center Atrium
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.
TRIVIA
Which SDP school was the first middle school in Pennsylvania to be honored as a National Banner Unified Champion School from Special Olympics Pennsylvania?
The first central office employee and the first school-based employee with the correct answer will win a prize!
We are pausing the poll to review the data we collected in the fall and make plans for putting your feedback into action. The poll will return in the coming months.
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.