This month's newsletter is devoted to an essential piece of the School District of Philadelphia puzzle - volunteers! We are so lucky to have so many dedicated and passionate family members, community members, and partners who devote their time and energy to making our schools a better place for all children.
Read on to learn about an effort to maintain positive climate and culture at McKinley Elementary School, how School Advisory Councils have transformed several schools, and what volunteering looks like in Singapore.
We hope reading stories about our amazing volunteers inspires you to volunteer in a school, think of new ways to engage families and community members, or simply take a minute to thank a hard-working volunteer. Enjoy!
#VolunteerAppreciationMonth
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A Month's Worth of Social Media Posts to Show Your Volunteers Some Love!
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We've created a whole month's worth of posts for you to use on your school's social media accounts! Be sure to take advantage of these adorable graphics and messages!
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FACE is Getting Social! #FollowUs!
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The Office of Family and Community Engagement now has its
own
Facebook and Twitter pages! Follow us today! We're excited to answer questions, hear your ideas, and engage in dialogue about important issues.
#FACEinthe21stCentury
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Volunteer Spotlight: Shontay McClam, The U School
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Shontay McClam has been a parent volunteer at The U School, located in North Philadelphia, for just a few months, but she already loves volunteering. Learn more about what excites Ms. McClam about volunteering!
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#iVolunteerBecause:
Parents Tell Us Their Stories
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We asked a few of our all-star volunteers to share how they came to volunteer in Philadelphia schools and why they continue to do so. Be sure to read their inspirational stories!
Now it's YOUR turn!
Tell us
your
story by using the hashtag #iVolunteerBecause and tagging us @sdpFACE on Facebook and Twitter!
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SAC Members Are Volunteers, Too: Watch this Powerful Video to Learn More
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Make no mistake, School Advisory Council (SAC) Members also count as volunteers! We appreciate what each and every SAC Member does for their school community.
Check out this video to hear these families talk about how SACs have helped transform their schools for good.
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FACE Office Hosts a Trip to the PTO Today Live Expo
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Last month, FACE organized a dedicated group of family members to check out the PTO Today Live Expo in Oaks, PA. Learn more about the outing and what kinds of resources PTO Today offers!
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MULTILINGUAL FAMILY SPOTLIGHT
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Volunteering Around the World: Singapore
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Singapore prides itself on having a strong and competitive education system. One might believe that such an emphasis on test scores and academic performance leaves little room for engagement with school, but that isn’t true. The competitive nature of Singapore’s education system actually encourages family engagement.
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Community Partnerships at Bayard Taylor School
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Bayard Taylor has two new community partners, Springboard Collaborative After School Program and Girls, Inc., both of which are providing amazing opportunities to the school's students and families.
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Tips for Recognizing the Volunteers at Your School
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Showing your volunteers how much you appreciate them and their help is a great way to keep them coming back project after project, year after year. Pick up some great gift and event ideas to use on a budget!
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We've made Appreciating Your Volunteers a Bit Easier
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Check out these adorable thank you notes made by the FACE Office's Volunteer Support Team. Drop them in an email or print and deliver them like a Valentine to show the volunteers in your life some appreciation!
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Introducing: The Volunteer Toolkit for Principals!
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We're happy to announce the release of the
Volunteer Toolkit for Principals! This booklet features tips and tools for principals to recruit and manage volunteers.
Pre-order your copy and get a printed, full-color version of the Toolkit!
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McKinley School Holds "Week of Peace"
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Family Engagement Liaison Rasheeda Hancock organized a challenge to all the students of McKinley: create a more peaceful school environment.
Check out their success!
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The School District of Philadelphia Wants Your Feedback on the District-Wide Parent and Family Engagement Policy!
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The Parent and Family Engagement Policy is jointly revised annually with, and agreed on, by parents/guardians. The District is providing an opportunity to gather feedback, both online and in person, about the proposed policy changes.
You can find the policy in 11 different languages through the link to the left.
You can also
register for a focus group
to be held at District Headquarters in May, and
take a survey on the policy
, which will remain open until June 1, 2018.
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Parent/Student Surveys Still Open!
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Be sure to take a few minutes to fill out a survey for your school! Survey results help inform decisions to make our schools great for every student and family member.
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Just a Reminder
: Kindergarten Starts the Same Day as all Other Grades Next School Year!
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Beginning in the 2018-19 School Year, Kindergarten students and students in Grades 1-12 will begin school on the
same day:
August 27, 2018!
The School District of Philadelphia encourages families to register their children for Kindergarten as soon as possible so they're all ready for August 27!
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SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL CORNER
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SAC Meetings and Learning Walks at Laura H. Carnell Elementary School
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The FACE Office's AmericaCorps VISTA, Jessica Maharaj, visited Carnell in March to observe a SAC Meeting and "Learning Walk." Read more to learn about this innovative way for school stakeholders to catch a glimpse of the hard work going on in classrooms every day!
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Upcoming SAC Academy Workshops
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Recruitment, Marketing, and Communications: Creating a SAC That Reflects Your School Community
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440 N. Broad Street, Room 1080
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
10:00am OR 5:00pm
Learn new ways to think about recruiting SAC Members and attendees, how to make your SAC reflective of your school, and how to "sell" SAC to others! Refreshments and interpretation provided.
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440 N. Broad Street, Room 1080
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
10:00am OR 5:00pm
Learn how to structure your SAC meetings to make them as efficient as possible and how to handle those who may derail the agenda. Also, gain tips and skills on how to better engage members and keep them coming back to future meetings!
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SAC Academy End-of-Year Questionnaire
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The SAC Support Team is beginning to plan for our 2018-2019 School Year programming and would love your feedback on what kinds of workshops and events would be most useful for your school's SAC. Please take a few minutes of your time to take the survey found in the link below!
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SAVE THE DATE: End of Year Celebration & SAC Awards!
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Thursday, June 7, 2018
4:30pm-7:30pm
Mark your calendars for the Office of Family and Community Engagement's End of Year Celebration and SAC & Volunteer Awards! This free event, held at 440 N. Broad Street, will have tips for staying engaged during the summer, giveaways, raffles, and much more!
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UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
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April Showers Bring...More FACT Courses!
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Family Academy: Courses and Training continues in April with sessions on household budgeting, fathering, how to run a SAC meeting, and much more! Click the link below to see the April Course listings.
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Teen Evolution Experience Network (T.E.E.N.)
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TEEN is a program designed to find, identify and support high school students in alternative living situations who are interested in exploring their current and future educational and career options while investing in their future.
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Saturday, May 5, 2018
Saint Joseph's University
9am-4pm
Parents United and the Philadelphia Home and School Council will be hosting a joint Parent Summit,
bringing together parent leaders across the city to meet and build relationships, hone skills, and clarify a collective vision for the public schools parents and families deserve.
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Take Adult Education Classes Right in your Neighborhood!
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The Mayor's Office of Education and three local organizations offer
FREE adult education classes on a variety of topics, like obtaining a GED, college prep, and ESL in all 12 Community Schools. Enrollment is open through the end of April so secure your spot today!
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Franklin Institute's Next Community Night is April 24th!
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Visit the Franklin Institute for
free on select Tuesday nights, 5pm-8pm. The events include hands-on science activities, live science shows, and discount parking!
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Do you have some college credit and want to go back to school to complete your degree? Here's a great opportunity for you!
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Graduate! Philadelphia is hosting an adult college resource fair. Partner colleges and universities will be available to help adults connect back to college, figure out how many of their past credits will be accepted and provide important resources to help them navigate their path to degree completion.
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Free Library of Philadelphia to Host Lecture on School Funding
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Parkway Central Library, Room 108
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
7:00pm
Maura McInerney, Legal Director at the Education Law Center, will discuss a lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania's school funding system and the impact of legislative choices on our school children.
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William Penn Foundation to Hold Discussion on Communicating and Engaging Families
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Join the William Penn Foundation for a panel discussion about how schools, child care centers, and other organizations can improve communication with parents to better support children's academic, social, and emotional learning.
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You're Invited: The 2nd Annual School Climate Expo
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The School District of Philadelphia Office of Climate and Safety’s 2018 Climate Expo is an event that highlights and recognizes schools within the District who are utilizing innovative techniques and programs to improve their overall school climate.
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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.
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