Focus on FACE Newsletter | April 2023
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The 2022-2023 Parent/Guardian Philly School Experience Survey is now open! | |
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As of 2022-23, the annual District-Wide Survey has a new name: the Philly School Experience Survey (PSES). We’ve introduced a new name in 2022-23 to make it more clear that it is a survey about school communities and for school communities. Schools use the survey results to:
- Design their annual plans and secure funding for staff, programs, and materials.
- Work to improve key aspects of the school experience, like communication, instruction, and equity.
- Celebrate progress and success!
The survey should take 5-7 minutes to complete, and a student ID number is not required. The online survey is available in 12 languages and will close on May 31. Paper copies are available; please contact your school's main office for more information.
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Check back in future newsletters for updates on schools with top response rates and other resources related to the PSES. You can also learn more about the Survey at an upcoming Family Academy: Courses & Training session on Thursday, April 20, at 10:00 a.m. See below for more information. | |
Join us for family workshops in April on internet safety, the Philly School Experience Survey, and the SchoolCash Online system | | |
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School District of Philadelphia families and community members are invited to attend and spread the word about April's Family Academy: Courses and Training (FACT) workshops! Join engaging virtual learning communities and learn more about what's going on in the District and how you can support your student's success!
Keeping Your Family Safe Online and on Social Media
Thursday, April 13, 2023 @ 10:00 a.m. & 6 p.m.
Presented by Girls Inc.
Make Yourself Heard: The Philly School Experience Survey
Thursday, April 20, 2023 @ 10:00 a.m.
Presented by the Office of Research and Evaluation
All About SchoolCash Online
Thursday, April 27, 2023 @ 10:00 a.m.
Presented by SchoolCash Online & the Office of General Accounting
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Workshops are free and open to the public. Translation and interpretation services are available - learn more and request them HERE. Attendees can enter a raffle for a $25 gift card to Amazon, Target, or Walmart! Have questions about FACT? Call 215-400-4180, Option #5 or email [email protected]. | |
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During April 13th's workshop, learn about healthy habits you can teach your family so they can stay safe online – it’s called “digital literacy”! We’ll talk about spotting digital scams, staying safe on social media, and more. Check out this preview of the workshop and what you can expect. Don’t let technology pass you by – join us! READ MORE >>
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Students in grades 3-8 will be participating in the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) between April 24 and May 12, 2023. | The PSSA is an important tool that provides critical information about the academic progress of your student(s). Individual student scores help teachers identify a child’s strengths and areas for growth, which in turn allows teachers to personalize a child’s instruction to best support their growth. PSSA scores also provide information to schools and the District to support improvement and planning around curriculum and instruction. Learn more about the PSSA and how you can support your child on the PSSA website, which has resources in multiple languages. | |
Act 158 State Graduation Pathways: Learn more about new graduation requirements that go into effect for students in the Class of 2023 | In 2018, Act 158 was signed into law, outlining state graduation requirements that go into effect for students in the Class of 2023 and beyond. To graduate from high school, students must meet all local graduation requirements related to credits and coursework along with the state requirements outlined in Act 158. In Philadelphia, those requirements include earning a total of 23.5 credits in the appropriate courses and successfully completing a Service Learning Project. Students must also meet one of Pennsylvania’s five pathways outlined below to earn a diploma and demonstrate career and/or college readiness. Learn more about the requirements and get your questions answered at www.philasd.org/gradreq. | |
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Share your feedback on the 2023-2024 Code of Conduct | |
The School District is beginning the annual process of reviewing the Code of Conduct for the 2023-2024 school year. The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to:
- Outline clear expectations for all school community members.
- Provide information around student and parent/guardian rights and supports.
- Equip staff with guidelines for addressing student behavior so that our students and school communities can feel safe and grow to be successful.
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We want to ensure that the Code of Conduct serves its purpose and aligns with the Board of Education's Goals and Guardrails. We invite you to be part of this process by attending a feedback session on April 12th at 3:00 p.m. It is important that the voices and perspectives of all stakeholders are included, especially our families. | |
Have you or do you currently care for a child that has experienced the incarceration of a loved one? | |
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Nationally, 1 in every 28 children has experienced parental incarceration. The School District of Philadelphia would like to gather information on how we can best support the educational journey of children experiencing parental or familial incarceration. The Office of School Climate and Culture invites you to participate in one of our feedback sessions around this topic. This will help gather information on how we can best support the educational journey of children experiencing parental or familial incarceration. Click the dates/times below to register for the sessions.
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The Office of Early Childhood Education wants to hear from you! | Do you live in the 19140 or 19132 zip code and have a child between the ages of 3 and 6 years old who is NOT enrolled in the School District of Philadelphia’s pre-k or kindergarten? If so, we are interested to hear why you have not enrolled your child in a District program. Your feedback will help inform future District strategies and programs. LEARN MORE HERE >> | |
COMMUNITY PARTNER MESSAGES | |
Are you a community partner interested in sharing resources here? Please contact us at [email protected]. | |
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP): Connecting Philadelphians to free or low-cost internet and devices | We know how important reliable internet access is for all Philadelphians. Whether you need to access school, work, or healthcare, getting online is essential. A new federal benefit called the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will provide thousands of eligible Philadelphia households with up to $30 off their monthly internet bill. Find out if you are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program by visiting getacp.org/phl or dialing 2-1-1. For language services, press 8. | |
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The Neighborhood Literacy Fund is awarding up to $2,000 for community-driven projects that support young readers in Philadelphia | |
It’s open to literacy advocates, educators, librarians, parents—anyone interested in helping our children become the strong readers they deserve to be. The Fund is designed and managed by members of
Read by 4th, Philly’s early literacy movement and was made possible thanks to Vanguard Strong Start for Kids. This round’s application deadline is April 19, 2023. To learn more, you can always visit the website, which includes FAQs, a list of past awardees, and our favorite resources to support literacy changemakers.
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Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership has two FREE events coming up and you're invited! | |
Safety specialists Rob Weidamoyer and John Lafferty will be hosting a workshop on April 20 at 7 p.m. focused on self-protection. They will discuss tips for keeping you and your family safe while transitioning from school to home as well as safety in the home. If you have specific safety-related topics that you’d like covered, please email [email protected]. REGISTER HERE >>
Students and caregivers are also invited to an interactive music workshop with music-teaching artist Tara Middleton. This morning of music will be fun for the whole family! The event will be held virtually on May 6 at 11 a.m. REGISTER HERE >>
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Are you the parent or caregiver of a child who is struggling? Philadelphia Family Voices can help! | Philadelphia Family Voices supports families with children who are facing emotional, social, behavioral, and mental health challenges and/or autism. Our Family Peer Support Specialists are family members who have personal experience raising a child with behavioral health challenges or autism. They offer resources, provide advocacy, and help facilitate access to educational, behavioral health, autism, Juvenile Justice, and other child welfare services in Philadelphia. All services are provided at no cost to Philadelphia residents. Learn more today! | | |
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Want to receive regular direct updates from the FACE Office? Focus on FACE comes out on a monthly basis. But if you're interested in receiving regular updates from the FACE Office about programs, events, conferences, and more, sign up for our email updates! | | | | |
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