SDP Connect: February Edition
"The eagle has no fear of adversity. We need to be like the eagle and have a fearless spirit of a conqueror!"
— Joyce Meyer
Black History Month was created in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Initially called Negro History Week, the celebration expanded to a full month in 1976, in order to focus even greater attention on the contributions of African Americans in the United States and throughout the diaspora. Today, Black History Month continues to amplify and deepen the exploration and elevation of African Americans and their contributions to society through film screenings, museum exhibits, and by encouraging the study of the accomplishments of African Americans year-round. Be sure to check out the 24-25 Black History Month Calendar here.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
WAWA Catering Game Day Promo 15%!
Wawa Hoagies and the Philadelphia Eagles have always been a winning combination! If you are planning an office celebration for Game Day, Wawa Catering has you covered! We cater to groups of all sizes and have great options for all occasions. Click here to view our latest menu: Wawa Catering Menu. If you place your order to celebrate Game Day we have a special 15% off promo code GAMEDAY15 available! Offer valid thru 2/9. Visit WawaCatering.com.
Teacher and Senior of the Month Nominations are Open!
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 February is now open and will close on Friday, February 7th at 5pm. Click here to submit your nominations today!
Equity in Practice: Black History Panel Discussion
Join the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on Wednesday, February 12th 2025 from 12pm – 1pm via Zoom for a panel discussion in celebration of Black History month. This discussion will highlight the Black experience and how we can collectively uplift the Black community within our district and the City of Philadelphia. Link to Register Here.
Policy 138 Community Meeting
Join us in person or virtually on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, from 4:00–6:00 PM at Franklin Learning Center to learn about Policy 138: English Language Development and Bilingual Education Programs. Join virtually at bit.ly/policy138sdp.
School Safety Officer Awards
Nominations for the 2024-2025 School Safety Officer Awards are now open! This is a fantastic opportunity to honor outstanding School Safety Personnel who excel in maintaining the safety and security of our schools.Submit your nominations here, by April 25, 2025.
Lindback Award Applications Open
The nomination period for the Lindback Award for Distinguished Principals and Teachers in 2024–2025 is still open. Since 2011, the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation of Philadelphia has recognized school principals and teachers who exhibit exceptional leadership and humanitarianism in their school community. The Lindback Foundation will honor seven principals and 60 teachers from The School District of Philadelphia public schools who have demonstrated excellence in supporting learning at the highest levels during the 2024–2025 school year. Nominations inclusive of completed application for the teacher award must be submitted by noon on Friday, February 7, 2025. More information on the awards, application materials and guidelines, and ceremonies can be found here. For more information, email: Lindback@philasd.org
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.
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.
Roary’s Cafe at CCP
Discover Roary’s Cafe at the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP)! Open to the public and available to all SDP Central Office staff, this full-service cafeteria offers a wide range of food choices, including nutritious options. Whether you’re looking for a meal or a quick snack, Roary’s Cafe has you covered. Check out this week’s menu here!
E.A.G.L.E.S. - FLY EAGLES FLY!
Eagles fever has taken over our schools! Our students and staff are showing their Philly pride in the most amazing ways. Check out these incredible photos of Eagle Nation coming alive across our district – there’s so much spirit, you can practically hear the “Fly Eagles Fly” chants echoing through every building! Go Birds! 🦅
Senior and Teacher of the Month Winners
Senior of the Month
Gianna Tran
Academy at Palumbo
Senior of the Month
Tore James
Lankenau High School
Teacher of the Month
Kristi Schwartz
Forrest Elementary School
SCHOOL OF THE WEEK
Congratulations J. Hampton Moore 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 J. hampton Moore School as School of the Week in The Philadelphia Tribune’s Learning Key. Read Moore’s feature article in the Tribune here.
FEBRUARY FEATURES
I AM SDP - A Brand New District Campaign
Our amazing students and educators are at the heart of our strategic work to Accelerate Philly. The I Am SDP campaign is designed to tell their stories and share the many ways we are preparing our students for success after high school. It will be a multi-year campaign, annually highlighting a group of outstanding individuals who embody the District’s core values and are examples of the District’s ability to help students succeed. This year’s campaign kickoff features three extraordinary teachers who give all of themselves to our students everyday, and two 2024 graduates who are now pursuing the dreams that were nurtured as students in our schools. Take a sneak peak at the campaign.
Accelerate Philly: State of Schools
Thank you to everyone who attended the State of Schools address by our Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D.! Your support is key to shaping the future of education in Philadelphia.
Special thanks to Philadelphia Board of Education President Reginald L. Streater, Esq., and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker for their valuable contributions. If you missed the event, you can watch the recording here.
It's Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month!
February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month! This is a time to celebrate and raise awareness of the crucial role that CTE plays in preparing many of our students for careers in the local, regional, and national workforce. Visit our CTE Month website to learn more about the work of various CTE programs, participate in CTE Month events, and see our students showcasing their achievements and mastery of their technical skills. You can also participate in the celebration by shouting out CTE students and educators on social media, using #CTEMonth and #CTEphilly. Be sure to check out the CTE Calendar for upcoming CTE events around the district.
OUR PEOPLE
National School Counseling Week 2025
This week – February 3-7 – we’re honoring our talented school counselors. We hope you will enjoy reading these profiles as much as we enjoyed creating them. Remember, there are hundreds of other counselors who weren’t highlighted here, so make sure to celebrate the counselors that you know on social media using #SDPThankACounselor! Read about our amazing school counselors here.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health & Wellness
On the Goga - February Mission!
Join the February Community Challenge: The Daily Connections Challenge where we’re inviting you to strengthen the ties that matter most. This month, embrace small daily actions—like checking in, sharing a laugh, or lending a hand—that bring more warmth, kindness, and support into your life and the lives of those around you. You’ll also have a chance to win some awesome prizes! Get started with the challenge today and check out today’s daily goal 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 strengthen connections. 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!
To create a hub, utilize the attached flyer!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Important Dates
7th: Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
17th: Presidents’ Day; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
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 here.
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 is the name of the District's 5-year strategic plan?
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.