The 2023-2024 school year begins Tuesday, Sept. 5. In anticipation of extreme heat conditions next week, with temperatures reaching mid-90’s, the School District of Philadelphia has issued an Extreme Heat Protocol for the public schools without air conditioning or inadequate cooling (see the list below).

These schools will follow the schedule below for Tuesday, Sept. 5 through Thursday, Sept. 7.

• Tuesday, Sept. 5 – Wednesday, Sept. 6: Students will attend schools in the morning and then be released on an early dismissal schedule.

• Thursday, Sept. 7: The District will continue to monitor heat conditions. Any decisions about Thursday or Friday will be announces by 12 p.m. on the day before.

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Bartram’s Garden.

September is almost here, and while the weather is still very warm, it’s nice to spend time under the tree canopy at two beautiful historic green spaces in West Philadelphia – The Woodlands and Bartram’s Garden. Both places are hosting some great, free events for all ages next month, including nature nights and walks, craft and food fests, meditations workshops, biking classes, and more! Here are more details:

Events at The Woodlands (40th and Woodland):

Nature Nights: Bat Night
Fri., Sept. 8, 6 – 8 p.m.

Explore The Woodlands after dark (during a full moon!), look for bats, and learn how to become a Citizen Scientist. You can also learn about birding and maybe even spot an owl! This family-friendly event includes a storytime from the Walnut Street West Library, a bat walk, and an opportunity to visit the Philadelphia Orchard Project Learning Orchard at The Woodlands. Pre-registration is recommended (click here).

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Instagram photo (@myphillypark).

If you like to stay active, meet new people, and have fun outdoors, this great program by the Fairmount Park Conservancy may be something you need. We Walk PHL is a free walking group that meets several times per week at various public parks. Currently, all are invited to join the group during the upcoming Fall season.

Walks begin on September 1st. Locations in West and Southwest Philly include: Carroll Park, Clark Park, Cobbs Creek Park, Malcolm X Park, Tustin Playground, Bartram’s Garden, and more. Please check the image below for additional locations and walk schedules.

We Walk PHL, which launched as a pilot program in 2017, seeks to “promote positive health outcomes, increase use of Philadelphia’s park system, and create opportunities for people to pursue fitness goals while meeting their neighbors.” It is a partnership between Fairmount Park Conservancy, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (Get Healthy Philly), and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

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The Calvary Center for Culture and Community (CCCC) and Calvary United Methodist Church, the two organizations located in the historic church building at 48th and Baltimore, have announced plans to install a much-needed HVAC system, which will provide heating and air-conditioning in the building. The building utilized an old boiler system for years and now has no heat, according to Gay Carducci-Kuhn, CCCC Board member and Curio Theatre Company managing director.

To help raise funds for the new system, the HVAC @ Calvary Matching Gift Campaign has been created. The goal of this fundraising campaign is to match the $100,000 grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places. Over $65,000 has been already raised, so the goal is not that far away.

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Scribe Video Center is hosting its annual Street Movies!, a free screening series for audiences of all ages that tours neighborhoods around the Philadelphia region, bringing a program of independent film – fiction, animation, documentary, and youth and community produced work – from around the world to local parks, lots, playgrounds, and community spaces.

This Saturday, Aug. 26, the Street Movies! series will make a stop in West Philly for a screening in Saunders Park Greene (39th and Powelton). The screening is co-hosted by Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, the Arab cultural organization based in West Philadelphia. The screening, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will include the following short films that focus on diasporic Arab experience:

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The University of Pennsylvania has announced that portions of Spruce Street will be closed next week to all vehicular traffic to accommodate their students moving into campus for the 2023-2024 school year. Street closures will take place every day from Monday, Aug. 21 through Friday, Aug. 25, except Thursday, Aug. 20.

Here’s the schedule and locations of street closures:

Spruce Street will be closed between 34th and 38th Streets from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

Spruce Street will be closed between 38th and 40th Streets from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25.

Motorists should expect delays in these areas during this timeframe.

SEPTA buses that travel on Spruce Street will be on detour. Please check the SEPTA website for detour information.