March 2019 | Focus on FACE Newsletter
In this Issue...
Three years ago, the School District of Philadelphia committed to ensuring every student is reading on or above grade level by age 8 in Action Plan 3.0 . The FACE Office is excited to devote an entire month to this topic in an effort to continue the enthusiasm around literacy and provide our families and staff with resources to promote this invaluable topic. Check out articles on how to engage with and increase your child's reading skills, how your school can support literacy goals and efforts, find books that are especially relevant to multilingual students and their families, and much more below. Happy reading!
FAMILY SPOTLIGHT
Learn Skills, Not Just for Parenting, but Life!
The FACE Office is thrilled to provide Family Academy: Courses and Training classes that span a wide variety of topics, including parenting and communication skills. We sat down with Carrie Spell Hansson, Executive Director of The Folke Institute for Transformative Learning, to learn about their upcoming FACT courses on emotional intelligence and difficult conversations.
Helpful Tips: Active Reading with Your Children
Looking to build your skill set for helping your child read at home? Look no further than Read by 4th , a city-wide campaign that is working to get all children reading on grade level by the time they enter the 4th grade. Check out their helpful resources, which include text message tips, active reading videos, book lists, and much more!
Kim Britt, Involved and Engaged Parent Volunteer turned School Staff Member!
Check out this awesome feature from the Mayor's Office of Education on Kim Britt, a parent, volunteer, and staff member at George Washington High School, a Community School in Northeast Philadelphia. Read about what she loves about her job and how she takes advantage of FACT classes at her school!
SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT
5 Tips for Enhancing Your School’s Literacy Events
Many schools are catching wind of hosting literacy events as a way of underscoring the importance of literacy, sharing literacy skills, and bonding the school community together. Have you been wondering how to take your literacy event to the next level? Here are a few ways you can make it even more engaging and exciting for everyone involved!
MULTILINGUAL FAMILY SPOTLIGHT
Reading List for Multilingual Children and Families
Books not only have the power to tell fictional stories, but books can also realistically represent cultures and our personal lives as well. Multilingual families can use books as a vehicle through which they can tell the story of their past, their culture, and their values. Reading books together can become a great family tradition and add to sweet shared memories for everyone. Check out this list of heartwarming tales that may resonate with your family!
FROM THE DISTRICT
Check out March's Family Academy: Courses and Training Offerings!
Check out cooking classes, learn about the alternatives to a four year degree, how to engage with your child's education through art, and much more! Don't miss out on these FREE courses offered all throughout the city. Meals are always provided; childcare and language interpretation are available upon request.
Have You Obtained Your Volunteer Clearances Yet?
End of the year class trips are fast approaching! The School District of Philadelphia requires all chaperones to obtain volunteer clearances and submit them to their school's main office to participate in class trips . Check out FACE's Volunteer Website to get a breakdown of the required clearances and how to obtain them.
Kindergarten Registration for the 2019-2020 School Year is Open!
Do you know a child who will be 5 on or before September 1st? If so, now is the time to register for kindergarten for the 2019-2020 school year to ensure they #ThriveByFive! Check out the resources linked below to help you navigate the process. Registration closes May, 31, 2019!
Parent Guardian Survey
The Parent & Guardian Survey is designed to find out what you think about your child's school. We encourage you to take the survey for each of your children! The District-wide Parent & Guardian Survey is open to parents and guardians of students in Philadelphia public and Charter schools and closes June 7, 2019 .
SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL CORNER
SAC Tip of the Month: How SACs Can Discuss, Promote, and Improve Literacy
Literacy is an important topic of discussion at most schools within the School District of Philadelphia. Take a look at some ways your SAC can examine literacy data, make goals around literacy, and promote its importance to the entire school community in March's SAC Tip of the Month!
Last SAC Academy Workshop of the School Year!
Succession Planning
April 10, 2019, 10:00am or 5:00pm
440 N Broad Street
Even though April seems early, it’s time to start thinking about next school year! In this workshop, participants will learn how to wind down the SAC school year by understanding the basics of SAC elections, how to ensure the SAC doesn’t fall apart over the summer, and how to pick up right where SAC left off in the previous year.
UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
March 4th-8th is National School Breakfast Week!
Increasing breakfast participation is one important strategy in improving
nutrition and physical activity environments, reducing obesity rates, and increasing students’ READINESS TO LEARN! Read about National School Breakfast Week and how students can access FREE breakfast and lunch every day.
Step Into College Conference
Saturday, March 9, 2019
9:00am-1:30pm
Step into College: Philadelphia's Pre-College Conference is open to all Greater Philadelphia High School students and families who would like to hear from current college professionals and experts about areas such as college and career planning, the college admissions process, how to pay for college, and the college experience.
Eat.Right.Now. is now Eat Right Philly!
Eat Right Philly decided to drop the “now,” because the program isn’t just focused on the here and now. It’s designed to empower students and families with the tools they need for a lifetime. Check out their new website, sign up for updates, and get helpful resources for staff and families!
Franklin Institute Community Nights
Monday, March 18, 2019
5:00pm-8:00pm
The Franklin Institute is pleased to present Community Nights! Everyone is welcome to join in the fun at these educational and fun-filled science extravaganzas that include The Franklin Institute's famous permanent exhibits, special programs, and hands-on activities. Admission is free and there is no need to pre-register.
Stay Connected to FACE
Interested in reading more? Want to receive regular updates from the FACE Office?

Focus on FACE will come out on a monthly basis, but if you're interested in receiving regular updates from the FACE Office about programs, events, conferences, and more, you should sign up for our FACE Updates . Subscribe for FACE Updates by clicking the button below.