The 2018-2019 school year for Philadelphia public schools began on August 27th, about a week earlier than in the previous several years. Do you think it was a good decision? Currently, the School District of Philadelphia is preparing the academic calendar for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years and is asking for feedback from families and staff that will help guide the District’s decision making when finalizing the new calendar.

The short four-question survey asks readers to rank, in order of importance, the various factors that come into play when deciding when to start and end school, how religious holidays and professional development are accounted for, testing dates and other concerns for both students and educators.

The survey will be available to the public until November 6. Anyone interested in participating can find it here.

The new calendar is expected to be finalized be the end of December.

This Saturday, you can enjoy delicious baklava and support a local initiative that delivers books to two public school libraries.

Bindlestiff Books (4530 Baltimore Ave.) will hold a special fundraising event, Baklava Benefit Sale, on Oct. 27 from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.. The event is organized by A Book A Day, an initiative co-funded by Penn Libraries, which donates newly published children’s books to two K-8 schools in West Philadelphia – Penn Alexander and Henry C. Lea.

Since the launch of the program in 2014 over 300 books have been donated to the school libraries. Eight new, quality hardcover books are delivered to each of the school libraries every month, giving kids access to intriguing books on music, art history, poetry, and street art.  Continue Reading

One more public school in Philadelphia will have their library reopened soon thanks to the great work of the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC). WePAC is opening its 14th library in the city – at West Philly’s Harrington Elementary School located at 53rd and Baltimore.

Parents, community members, and partners are invited to celebrate the reopening of the Harrington Elementary library on Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 8:45-10:45 a.m. at the school. Light refreshments will be provided (see the flier for more info).

WePAC is also looking for community volunteers for its new library program at Harrington. If interested, please contact volunteer@wepac.org for more information.  Continue Reading

UPDATE (9/5/2018): As was expected, there will be early dismissal at public schools also on Thursday, Sept. 6 due to continued heat. All School District of Philadelphia schools will dismiss students at noon, and all after-school activities including all athletic programs and professional development sessions scheduled for Thursday are canceled. 

All School District of Philadelphia schools will dismiss students at noon Wednesday, Sept. 5 due to continued high temperatures, the district has announced. All after-school activities including all athletic programs and professional development sessions scheduled for Wednesday are canceled.

UPDATE: As temperatures are forecasted to be above 90 degrees for the fourth day in a row, all School District of Philadelphia schools will dismiss students at 1 p.m. again on Thursday, Aug. 30.

Philadelphia public school will dismiss students at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 28 and Wednesday, Aug. 29 due to the high temperatures forecasted for these days, according to the School District announcement on Monday afternoon. All after-school activities, including all athletic programs and professional development sessions scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday are canceled.

School-based employees are expected to work their normal work day and Administrative Offices will operate on regular business hours.

The summer break for Philadelphia schoolchildren is coming to an end, as the 2018-2019 school year for public schools is set to begin on August 27. This Thursday (Aug. 16), the School District of Philadelphia is hosting its annual Back-to-School event at the High School of the Future (4021 Parkside Ave), from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The first 8,000 students will receive free book bags filled with school supplies. The event will also feature an on-site free Cuts and Curls salon, student enrollment services, children’s eye testing, on-location dental services, information tables, educational workshops, free giveaways and a fun Kids Zone.

For more information, please call the Office of Family and Community Engagement at (215) 400-4180 (option 5) or visit the School District website.