Merlin Thomas, Greenberg School, 2009 The Calendar of The School District of Philadelphia September 2009 to July 2010 2009-2010 SRC CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE To the Entire School District Community: I ask for your partnership moving forward because we all have a role to play. Teachers must strive for excellence in the classroom. Administrators must Welcome back to school for the 2009-2010 academic year. I am truly support teachers and create excellent schools. Parents and guardians must excited to be a part of The School District of Philadelphia during what is ensure that their children are at school on time every day and prepared to going to be an exhilarating year full of change and opportunity for our learn. Above all, students must embrace learning, participate in class, com- students, parents/guardians, teachers and administrators. plete homework assignments, and study hard. One of the School Reform Commission’s first actions at the time I was There is much work to be done this year and many decisions to be made named Chairman was to approve a strategic plan for the School District, about how the vision in our strategic plan will be realized. However, I Imagine 2014. I was impressed with how a community as large and diverse have been inspired by what the School District community has achieved as the School District community could work together over many months thus far and am confident that together much will be accomplished this to articulate a common vision for what high-quality education means and school year. then develop a specific plan for achieving it. Moreover, I believe that several tenets of the plan—such as reducing class size, the Renaissance Once again, welcome back to school, and best wishes for a successful year. Schools initiative and the move to weighted student funding—underscore the philosophy of the School Reform Commission that equity and school Sincerely, choice are fundamental to creating a system of successful schools for our students and our city. As the School District builds on a foundation of impressive academic Robert L. Archie Jr., Esq. growth as measured by seven years of rising PSSA scores, by implementing the Chairman strategic plan, the School Reform Commission will continue to build on the School Reform Commissiontarget its good governance foundation laid over the past several years. This means resources there. However, this is just the conducting our business in public, listening and being responsive to the first phase of what the SRC expects to be a community, adopting budgets that are balanced and reflect the priorities of multi-year commitment to expand our strategic plan, and placing the educational needs of our students first. reduced class size to other grades and additional Philadelphia public schools. Again, research clearly shows the powerful effect of student exposure to the arts. That is why we have provided additional funding this year so that 2 SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE Dear School District of Philadelphia Family and Community Members, The beginning of a school year is full of promises student success is our responsive to school, family and community needs. and possibilities. Imagine the high hopes every top priority, I believe So long as we continue to work together, our child brings to the first day of school and think we can look forward children’s dreams will no longer be deferred but about how the children are depending on us to to a great year. delivered. make them happen. That, my friends, is how we Meanwhile, let’s not measure our success. Can we do this? Yes, we can forget what President We have traveled a good distance but we still have a and we will because it is our responsibility to Obama often says, long way to go to ensure that ALL Philadelphia’s develop the promises and possibilities of their "It’s cool to be smart!" children have fair and equal access to the education young lives. and opportunities they deserve. Our strategic plan, This is also an ideal time to reflect on what we Imagine 2014, is in full Special thanks to the School Reform Commission, believe and to renew our determination to live swing. Implementa- our elected officials, and all our corporate and each new day according to our beliefs. That said, tion and project community partners for their ongoing support. let’s always remember that: teams are working Nothing less than the engagement of the entire hard at helping us to community will help us to realize every promise 1. Children come first; build a system of great schools for ALL students— and possibility outlined in our strategic plan, 2. Parents are our partners; with great staff, quality choices, accountability Imagine 2014. 3. Victory is in the classrooms, facilitated by a structures for adults, and world-class operations. strong instructional leader in the principal’s Respectfully, office; Parents continue to be terrific partners in 4. Leadership and accountability are keys to the education. Thousands have attended the success; and Superintendent’s Monthly Parent Roundtables, and 5. It takes an entire community to ensure the just as many have visited our Parent and Commu- success of its public schools. nity Resource Center at “440” and attended classes Arlene C. Ackerman, Ed.D. at the District’s Parent University. The active Superintendent For all of us, students and staff, the secret of getting participation of parents is growing stronger every The School District of Philadelphia ahead is getting off to a good start. With teamwork, day. As a result, our children are achieving at collaboration, dedication and the conviction that higher levels and District initiatives are more 3 The Superintendent’s Parent and Community Engagement Initiatives The first year of Superintendent Arlene Parent and Community Ombudsmen Ackerman’s administration at The School For the first time, in 2008-2009 the School District District of Philadelphia was marked by recruited and hired 128 parent and community ombudsmen and assigned them to schools and many successful innovations aimed at regional offices. For 2009-2010, 165 schools are strengthening services for parents and expected to have ombudsmen on staff. The ombuds- the community. men build school, family and community connec- tions, respond to questions from parents and other stakeholders and assist in resolving concerns. Superintendent’s Parent Roundtables Contact: Your child’s school. In 2008-2009 Superintendent Ackerman met seven times with parents in dialogues called Faith-Based Partnerships roundtables. These evening sessions gave parents an opportunity to meet and speak with the At present, 169 District schools have faith-based Superintendent, ask questions, air ideas and partners. The partnerships take many forms, guided concerns, and provide the Superintendent and by the needs of the schools being paired with the staff with a chance to update parents on key resources of nurturing local congregations or faith initiatives. A full schedule of Parent Roundtables partners. Secular activities such as mentoring, will continue in 2009-2010. Contact: Office of sports, drama, games and homework assistance are Parent, Family and Community Engagement and the most common after-school activities supported Faith-Based Partnerships, 215-400-4180. Kimiera Seobreeze, Overbrook High School, 2009 by these partnerships. Contact: 215-400-6626. Strategic Planning Parent and Community Resource Center Parent University of Philadelphia As a result of unprecedented outreach, more than Located in the School District Education Center The School District of Philadelphia’s Parent University 3,000 Philadelphians provided input on every aspect at 440 N. Broad Street, this facility is staffed by offers free classes and workshops to accelerate of the draft of the District’s five-year strategic plan, multi-lingual personnel who provide one-on- student and parent learning outcomes and Imagine 2014, at regional community meetings, one help with student and school-related strengthen parenting skills and knowledge. Most listening sessions, and meetings held specifically for information and programs. A broad array of classes are held at the School District Education students. Since the strategic plan is a living docu- resource materials and computers with internet Center. The only requirement to enroll is that the ment, this public engagement effort will continue as access are available here for parents. Hours are individual is a parent of a child currently enrolled the plan is reviewed and updated. Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in a School District of Philadelphia school. Contact: 215-400-7272. Contact: 215-400-4180. 4 Welcome Welcome to the 2009-2010 academic year in Word of the Week Book of the Month The School District of Philadelphia! Tips for mastery of the Word of the Week Discussions to have with your child after reading the Book of the Month This calendar includes all the important school Day 1: Look the word up in the dictionary; • What can you tell me about the book you read? dates, including holidays and closures and put the definition in your own • Did you like the book? Why or why not? special academic dates such as report cards and words. • Was your book fiction or non-fiction? How do you District-wide testing. Day 2:Use the word in a sentence. know? Day 3:Learn to spell the word. • Who were the characters in the book? Who was your In addition, the Word of the Week and Book of Day 4:Find two words with a similar favorite character? Why? the Month features will help you participate meaning. • Where does the story take place? (What is the setting?) with your children in their academic pursuits. Day 5:Find an example of the word or its • Was there a problem in the story? Was it resolved? How? meaning.