March 2022 | Focus on FACE Newsletter
FEATURED
I ♥ Parent Portal Continues Through March 27 - Sign up Today!

Sign up for a NEW Parent Portal account between now and March 27th and be entered to win an iPad or $50 Visa Gift Card!*
The School District of Philadelphia’s Parent Portal is the best way for you to keep up with your child’s progress at school. It provides direct access to your child’s grades, attendance, and standardized test scores. It also notifies you about late buses or closures due to inclement weather and so much more!

If you open a new Parent Portal account between now and March 27th, your name will be entered into a raffle for an iPad or $50 VISA Gift Card. Learn more information about the raffle here.

Additionally, the eleven schools that increase their portal accounts the most during this initiative will receive rewards. We will keep you posted about the campaign in next month's newsletter. Don't wait - sign up today and get connected!
Parents/Guardians from the following schools were winners from the first raffle drawing. Congratulations!
SCHOOL & FAMILY SPOTLIGHT
You Won't Want to Miss March's Lineup of Family Academy Workshops
Family Academy: Courses & Training (FACT) is the FACE Office's workshop series for parents, guardians, community members, and beyond. Join us on Zoom for as many workshops as you would like; registration is not necessary and information to join can be found on the FACT Website Calendar.
Tuesday, March 1: School Budgets

Thursday, March 3: Thriving through Displacement

Tuesday, March 8: Science and Stories: Making the Most of Family Storytime

Thursday, March 10: Understanding Your Child's Brain
Tuesday, March 15: The Effects That Trauma & Toxic Stress Have On the Brain & Body

Thursday, March 17: School Profiles and District-Wide Survey Data Overview

Tuesday, March 22: Restorative Techniques

Tuesday, March 29: Powerful Play

Thursday, March 31: Digital Citizenship
Workshops occur at both 10 AM and 6 PM on the days they are scheduled. Interpretation is available in Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish for evening sessions only upon request.
Questions about Family Academy: Courses & Training (FACT) can be directed to fact@philasd.org.
From Chalkbeat: "Lessons in the Laundromat: Philly Initiative Promotes Literacy in Everyday Spaces"
Chalkbeat recently featured Read by 4th's Reading Captain program and their work to promote literacy in all spaces. FACE Liaison Carmen Colon is featured for her volunteer work, along with fellow Reading Captain Iris Hernandez. Read more about their efforts and partnership with Laundry Cafe and how you can get involved with this effort!
FROM THE DISTRICT
The 2021-22 District-Wide Survey Opens March 14!
Beginning March 14, parents and guardians of Philadelphia public school students will be able to complete this year's District-Wide Survey.

The survey asks questions about key topics that matter a lot for our schools. District and school leaders can use response information to understand strengths and challenges across all schools and in each school. Families and community members can also look at the information to get a better idea about different schools.

Participation in the confidential survey is voluntary and school officials will not know who completed a
survey or how you responded. Learn more in preparation for the survey opening and thank you in advance for participating!
Kindergarten Registration for the 2022-2023 School Year is Now Open!
Will your child be five on or before September 1, 2022? Don't delay - register them for kindergarten today! Learn what documents families need to start and how you can enroll on the Office of Student Enrollment and Placement's website.
The 2020-2021 School Progress Report on Education and Equity (SPREE) is Now Available
In December 2020, the Board of Education established the Goals & Guardrails, which set clear priorities for what our students must know and be able to accomplish and describe the conditions that must be in place at each school to empower our students to succeed in and beyond the classroom.

The School District has set 5-year targets that schools need to meet to show that they are making progress towards the Goals & Guardrails. The SPREE is a critical tool that shows each school’s progress towards the annual targets and its performance on other important measures like attendance and graduation rates. All District stakeholders are encouraged to learn more and explore the data and related guides.
FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Octavius Catto Scholarship: Free College and the Support You Need to Succeed
Established in 2021 in partnership with Mayor Jim Kenney, the Octavius Catto Scholarship provides first-time, full-time students at Community College of Philadelphia the opportunity to attend college debt-free. In addition to covering the cost of tuition, Catto Scholars also receive a monthly stipend, funding to cover the cost of books, meals, and transportation, as well as one-on-one coaching to ensure that they stay on track. Read more about how you or a student in your life may qualify!
Enrollment is Open for Winter and Spring Out-of-School Time (OST) Programs! 
There are plenty of Out-of-School Time (OST) programs happening right now for the child or youth in your life. Students of all ages can check out the OST Program Locator to find something new.
Virtual Tutoring for Students with Housing Insecurity
The Satellite Learning Program through The Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND) is offering free tutoring for School District of Philadelphia K-12 students who qualify under McKinney-Vento. The tutoring will be virtual. Tutors can also assist with SAT/ACT prep or navigating the college admissions process. Get more details about eligibility and enrollment here.
Scholarships Available for Penn Museum Anthropology Camp
Celebrate summer fun and learning through the Penn Museum’s world-renowned collections. Each week features an exciting theme with hands-on workshops, expert talks, gallery exploration, and more. A limited number of need-based full and partial scholarships are available until April 15, 2022. Learn more about how you can apply for your child(ren) today!
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