SDP Connect: Spring Edition
"Spring: a lovely reminder of how beautiful change can truly be."
— Anonymous
WHAT'S HAPPENING
The Board Adopts New Policies
The Board of Education has recently adopted new or revised policies. Alongside these policies are updated procedures documents. Please review THIS LIST of new/revised policies and consider how they might impact your day-to-day work. Contact lpeterson2@philasd.org with any questions or concerns. Click here to learn more.
24-25 Philly School Experience Survey for Parents and Guardians is Open!
Spread the Word! The 2024-25 Philly School Experience Survey is open now for all District parents and guardians. Let your voice be heard! Access the survey here.
Parent and Family University Kick-Off Tour!
Parent & Family University provides free resources, courses, and support to help parents & families engage with their children, schools, and community. Parent & Family University leverages resources and supports to invest in students, parents/guardians, and families through four key areas: Student Attendance & Achievement, Health & Wellness, Adult Learning, and Financial Literacy. Learn more about the Parent and Family Kickoff Tour here!
Senior & Teacher of the Month Nominations are Open!
This school year – October through May – we are celebrating seniors and teachers who are consistent exemplars of determination and commitment to education. The nomination window for March is now open and will close on Friday, April 4th at 5 pm. Click here to submit your nominations today!
IBX Honor Roll!
Is there a teacher who has made a difference in your life or the lives of others? We want to hear about them! We will honor one teacher a month from April through September. If your teacher is chosen as a winner, they will receive:
- An on-field experience and recognition at a 2025 regular season home Phillies game
- A $500 Visa Gift Card
- An IBX swag bag, including a Phillies jersey and cap
- Recognition on ballpark concourse signage and IBX social media
- A behind-the-scenes ballpark tour on a non-gameday to share with students or staff
Learn more and nominate here.
All New Research Roundup
In our April “Resource Roundup” we will review the extensive resources available on the School District of Philadelphia’s Open Data website. We’ll take a tour of the available data, provide some context about what data we post and why, and offer examples of how our data can support your work. We will also be joined by three guest presenters who will share how they use these resources in their work: Dr. Brandy Blasko from the Office of School Safety, Dylan Van Duyne from the Office of Professional Learning, and Michael Hollander, Vice President of Data and Innovation at Heights Philadelphia.
Thursday, April 3, 2025, 3:00 – 4:00 PM. Register now to receive the Zoom link!
Equity in Practice: Arab-American Culture
Join the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 12pm – 1pm for a panel discussion in celebration of Arab American Heritage Month . The goal of the discussion is to highlight Arab-American culture, traditions and history. This discussion will include student leaders and representatives from Temple University`s Arab Student Society. Register Here
Our Class, Our Future!
Get ready to cheer on the future—our graduating seniors are stepping into their next chapter! Join the “Our Class, Our Future” celebration on May 29, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM at The Dell Music Center. Register your school by April 25, 2025, to secure a spot and enjoy provided transportation for far-off schools. Let’s make this a day to remember— Register now!
9th Grade on Track
We know that 9th grade is a critical time for students and an important factor in their long-term high school success. To ensure our students are “On-Track” and prepared for graduation in four years, we’ve implemented our 9th Grade On-Track (9GOT) strategy as part of Philadelphia Academies, Inc.’s 9th Grade Success Network (9GSN). The District is pleased to announce the expansion of our 9th Grade On-Track strategy.By expanding the 9GOT strategy and growing the number of schools within PAI’s 9th Grade Success Network, we are collectively able to reduce dropouts and increase four-year graduation rates. To learn more about our 9GOT work, including access to resources and recent success story profiles of Mastbaum’s students, educators, and administration, please visit our website here. Be sure to check out the latest story in The Philadelphia Inquirer about the 9th Grade On-Track initiative as well!
New Academic Calendars
The Board of Education adopted academic calendars for SY 25-26 and SY 26-27. You may view both calendars on the District’s website at www.philasd.org/calendar. We have also provided an executive summary and FAQ document on our website with more details on our rationale and decision-making process.
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.
Senior and Teacher of the Month Winners
Senior of the Month
Daniella Liang
Julia R. Masterman School
Senior of the Month
Sabree Weathers
Mastbaum High School
Teacher of the Month
Sarah Apt
Olney High School
SCHOOL OF THE WEEK
Congratulations Avery D. Harrington 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 Avery D. Harrington School as School of the Week in The Philadelphia Tribune’s Learning Key. Read Harrington’s feature article in the Tribune here.
APRIL FEATURES
WILL SMITH SHOPPING SPREE
Overbrook High School students experienced the surprise of a lifetime—a shopping spree with Philly’s own and Overbrook alum, Will Smith! Huge thanks to Will for making this unforgettable moment happen for our students! Watch the episode below!
STUDENTS WIN PR PITCH!
Congratulations to the talented students from The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) for showcasing their creativity and communication skills at the first-ever Klein College Mock Pitch at Temple University! They impressed industry professionals with their strategic thinking and originality, earning them the top spot in the competition. This experience gave students a real-world look at careers in advertising and public relations—preparing them for bright futures in media! Read more about their success here.
CUTTING-EDGE STEM LEARNING IN OUR CLASSROOMS
Philadelphia teachers are bringing cutting-edge research into the classroom! Max Lawrence (Science Leadership Academy at Beeber) and Kayla Gay (Cook-Wissahickon) are transforming STEM learning through the Center for Engineering Mechanobiology’s program—from building Venus flytrap models to simulating liver elasticity. Their work is inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers!
Read more about how the CEMB is empowering students and teachers here.
CARE BAGS EVENT AT CENTRAL OFFICE
Spring Point Partners and the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia helped create Care Bags for select students. These bags contained personal care items, a $50 gift card, and stress relief tools. Students from Camp Akili and ECYEH programs could pick up their bags at the Clayton Education Center on March 26th, with delivery arranged for those unable to attend. Participating schools included George Washington, High School of the Future, Bartram, Kenderton Elementary, Kensington, MLK, Roxborough, Duckrey, and YES Philly.
SDP Students Win at the 2025 Flower Show
Congratulations to W.B. Saul High School and Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School for their outstanding achievements at the 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show!
Saul earned a PHS Silver Medal for their exceptional educational exhibit. Lankenau was recognized with the Special Achievement Award for Education (under 1,000 sq. ft.) for excellence in environmental education.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
On the Goga - April Challenge!
The Power of Pause Challenge is here!
This April, we’re inviting you to embrace The Power of Pause with simple, practical ways to slow down, reset, and find moments of stillness in your day. By taking small intentional
pauses, you can cultivate more clarity, calm, and balance—helping you feel more present, focused, and refreshed in both work and life.
● Daily Wellbeing Challenge activities are available starting April 1st
● Access Challenge activities directly in your Wellbeing Hub
● Completing an activity earns you one raffle entry for a prize!
● Completing 10 activities gets you entered into the GRAND PRIZE raffle!
Make every day count this month! Head over to the Wellbeing Hub to
get started.
Sign up here.
To create a hub, utilize the attached flyer!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Important Dates
14th-17th: Spring Recess; School closed for students and staff
18th: Good Friday; School closed for students and staff; Administrative offices closed
Additional Important Dates:
21st: PSSA testing window begins
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.
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr means “the feast of breaking the fast.” The fast, in this instance, is Ramadan, which recalls the revealing of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad and requires Muslims to fast from sunrise to sundown for a month. The religious holiday is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan.
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.
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.
DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTERS
Check out what's going on in other departments around the District
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 are the names of the two teachers who are transforming STEM learning through the Center for Engineering Mechanobiology’s program?
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.