September 2018 | Focus on FACE Newsletter
In this Issue...
School's back in session! FACE is excited to welcome back our families, community members, staff, and partners to the 2018-2019 school year.

Inside this issue of Focus on FACE , you'll find tips on how to get your child to school on time everyday, ready to learn (it is National Attendance Awareness Month, after all!), learn about how to stay healthy in the cooler weather, and how to start your School Advisory Council off on the right foot this school year!
FEATURED
Nominations Open for the 2018-2019 Family Engagement Awards!

Don't wait - Nominate a family engagement superstar today!

Applications Due: 12:00 PM October 3, 2018
How to Be an #AttendanceHero
Celebrate National Attendance Awareness Month! Get some tips and tricks from this Attendance Toolkit from Read by 4th.
FAMILY SPOTLIGHT
Six Simple Ways You Can Help Your Student Get to School On Time—Starting August 27
Getting to school on time is extremely important so that your child can start their day off on the right foot. Being late not only results in tardies, but it can also result in a frantic and flustered start to the day. If your child is late, they might miss important morning announcements, morning work, or, most importantly, breakfast!
Photo: Hidden City Philadelphia
Places to Stay Active During the School Year: Philly Edition
School is back in session, but that doesn’t mean students need to completely stop their summer activities. Here are some places around Philadelphia where you and your child can stay active even during the school year.
MULTILINGUAL FAMILY SPOTLIGHT
Back-to-School Traditions: Germany
Have you ever wondered what back-to-school season is like in other countries?

Germany has a special day to mark a child's entry into school. “ Einschulung ,” or Enrollment Day, occurs on a Saturday—that’s right, school on a Saturday!—and involves the entire family.
SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT
How to Start Off the Year on the Right Foot with Your Child’s New Teacher
Getting answers to your questions and calming all your worries depends on one thing—getting to know your child’s new teacher and starting the school year on the right foot, and Focus on FACE is here to help! Read on to get some tips for bonding with the important new adult in your child’s life.
Academic Parent-Teacher Teams Come to Philadelphia
Starting in the 2018-19 school year, the FACE Office, with support from the William Penn Foundation and WestEd, is bringing Academic Parent-Teacher Teams to nine public elementary schools. Academic Parent-Teacher Teams are revolutionizing the way families and school staff interact and work together—find out more about this awesome program below, and stay tuned for updates throughout our first year!
FROM THE DISTRICT
Check Out Our New Uniform and Important Events Page!
The FACE Office is happy to share two new websites where parents, families, and the community can visit and find information on school uniforms and dates and times for important school-wide meetings and events. Check them out!
Rapper Meek Mill Donates 6,000 Backpacks to Philly Schools and Visits Blaine Elementary School
On Wednesday, August 29, rapper Meek Mill and Dreamchasers announced their donation of more than 6,000 backpacks to 12 schools throughout the School District of Philadelphia. The announcement took place at Mill’s alma mater, James G. Blaine Elementary School, where he personally handed out backpacks to several students.
A Huge Thank You to All Who Participated in the 10th Annual Back 2 School Event!
One of the FACE Office’s favorite parts of back to school season is the Annual Back 2 School Event, celebrating its 10th year this past August. Thousands of families, community members, and students attended the end of summer bash at School of the Future in West Philadelphia. 
Annual Parental Notifications
SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL CORNER
School Advisory Council Tip of the Month
This school year, Focus on FACE will provide a School Advisory Tip of the Month as a resource to make the recruitment, productivity, and efficiency of your school's SAC all the better!
Back to School Nights are a great opportunity to recruit new SAC Members and attendees at your school. Schools often will have family engagement tables or flyers for interested individuals to learn more about what is offered at their schools. Look out for SAC Information Flyers and SAC Interest Forms to get involved in your school's SAC today!
Start the SAC School Year Off on the Right Foot with SAC Training Materials!
Looking to find some unique ways to recruit SAC Members? Is your school's SAC writing bylaws this year? Check out our archived SAC Academy Training Materials to help you start the school year off right!
UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
Are you pregnant or parenting and working to finish high school or a GED? Do you know anyone who is?
The School District of Philadelphia's Policy 234 for Pregnant/Parenting/
Married Students was expanded and formally adopted last Spring. This policy includes guidelines around making reasonable adjustments to facilitate the equal access and  full  participation of pregnant and/or parenting students in their academic and extracurricular programs.
Apply to Attend the 2018 National Family Involvement Conference!
The Family Involvement Conference will be held October 14-17, 2018 in Harrisburg, PA. Applications to attend are due September 21, 2018 and a random drawing to select participants will be held on September 26, 2017 at 10:00am at the School District of Philadelphia.
Franklin Institute Continues Community Nights in the Fall
Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 5:00pm
Everyone is welcome to join in the fun at these FREE 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.
Looking for After School Activities for Your Kids? ASAP has Got You Covered!
After School Activities Partnerships' Directory of After School Programs features thousands of activities in more than 1,000 sites across Philadelphia. Look out for the directory in the Philadelphia Daily News or visit the online directory to find opportunities.
Stay Connected to FACE
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