The Calendar of The School District of Philadelphia The Calendar of ...

A Message from Dr. Leroy D. Nunery II 

Dear Educators, Parents, Community Partners and Friends, 

Let us welcome the coming school year with renewed energy and a positive outlook. For nine years the School District of 

Philadelphia has made incredible progress. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of thousands of teachers, staff members, 

parents, and concerned citizens, our District proudly ranks among the best of large urban school districts nationwide. Collectively, 

we have much to be proud of and yet we still have important work before us. 

Through our dedication to public education and our cityʼs children, we will work in concert to build a system of great schools for all 

children. Todayʼs difficult economic times will not deter us from promoting school improvement as our primary mission. Instead, we 

can meet every challenge bound by our collective will and commitment to do the right things in the right way. 

While all growth and gains underscore the importance of leadership, collaboration, and accountability, let us remember that 

“Discipline Determines Our Destiny.” 

With sincere appreciation and personal gratitude for all your support, I wish everyone – all District employees, parents, friends, and 

community partners – a very happy and productive school year. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Leroy D. Nunery II 

Acting Superintendent 

The School District of Philadelphia 

 

Dear School District of Philadelphia Stakeholders: 

This new school year promises to be an exciting one for all stakeholders, as 2010-2011 was filled with significant achievements, and 

served as the foundation from which we are to take our successes to the next level. 

Guided by Imagine 2014, The School District of Philadelphiaʼs strategic plan, we made major strides toward building a system of great 

public schools in our city. 

In 2010-2011, teachers, principals, administrators and other District staff worked with great focus, intensity and a sense of common 

purpose, and students and parents were right there with them. We have evidence that these combined efforts are making a real 

difference in terms of expected student outcomes. For the ninth straight year, the Districtʼs State test scores went up. Even with 

diminishing resources, our hopes and expectations remain high for all to succeed and achieve. 

While we have far to go, it is clear that our priorities are sound and we are making progress. For these reasons and more, we say to 

students, parents, staff members and our supporters: look for this School District to continue on an upward path. 

Sincerely, 

Robert L. Archie, Jr. 

Chairman 

School Reform Commission

SEPTEMBER 2011 

“A human being is not attaining his full heights until he is educated. – Horace Mann WELCOME to the 2011-2012 School 

District of Philadelphia Calendar. 

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 

1 2 

4 5 

6 7 8 

9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

18 

Administrative Offices 

Closed 

LABOR DAY 

19 

Conferences 

Student Voluntary 

Transfer 

Process Begins 

AUGUST 

1 2 3 4 5 6 

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 

28 29 30 31 

First Day of School 

Grades 1-12 

20 21 

OCTOBER 

1 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 

30 31 

Kindergarten, Pre-Kindergarten Head Start, and Bright Futures Parent-Teacher Conferences 

First Day for 

Kindergarten, Pre-K 

Head Start and 

Bright Futures 

SRC Meeting 

SRC Meeting 

Academic Year 

Preparation 

22 

Professional 

Development 

3 

23 24 

Constitution Day 

This year we invite you to access the 

SDP calendar online, view it 

electronically, and print it as a PDF if 

you wish. In light of current budget 

constraints, we decided to forego the 

annual expense of printing and 

disseminating thousands of hard 

copies throughout the District. 

The 2011- 2012 School District 

Calendar provides complementary 

components to the Academic 

Calendar, such as an inspirational 

thought for each month. In addition, 

you will find that special holidays, 

cultural celebrations, regional and 

national observances are noted. 

There is also a Book of the Month 

recommendation for young, middle 

and older readers, giving everyone a 

special opportunity to participate in 

the learning lives of our children. 

Book of the Month: 

For young readers… Grandmaʼs 

Gift by Eric Velasquez. 

For middle readers… One Crazy 

Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. 

For older readers… The Dreamer 

by Pam Muñoz Ryan. 

25 

26 27 

28 

29 


and Schools Closed 

30 



ROSH HASHANAH 

September 11-17 is National Arts in 

Education Week. 

September 15 through October 15 

is National Hispanic Heritage 

Month. In recognition of the historical 

and cultural contributions of Hispanic 

Americans, this yearʼs theme is 

“Many Backgrounds, Many Stories, 

One American Spirit.”


For young readers… Dear Primo: 

A Letter to My Cousin 

by Duncan Tonatiuh. 

For middle readers… Me, Frida 

by Amy Novesky. 

For older readers… 90 Miles to 

Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis. 

OCTOBER 2011 

“You must remain focused on your journey to greatness.”- Les Brown 

SATURDAY 

1 

Regional Talent Center 

The School Districtʼs first Regional 

Talent Center, housed at King High 

School, 6100 Stenton Avenue, is an 

Imagine 2014 initiative designed to 

provide learning and performance 

opportunities in the arts for students 

outside the classroom. 

A second Regional Talent Center 

opened in the fall of 2010 at 

Audenried High School, 3301 Tasker 

Street. 

Specifically, the talent centers provide 

classes in visual arts, music, theater 

and dance four days a week— 

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 

and Saturdays. 

The talent center arts curriculum is 

designed for students in grades 6 

through 12 who have a genuine 

interest in creative and performing arts 

and are willing to commit significant 

after-school and Saturday time for arts 

learning. Each student selects an area 

of study from one of the four fields— 

visual arts, music, theater or dance. 

2 3 4 

5 6 7 18 

9 10 

11 12 13 

14 15 

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 

SRC Meeting 

23 

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 

High School 

Expo 



COLUMBUS DAY 

24 

SRC Meeting 

Half-Day for Students 

(Prof. Development) 

District-Wide 

Principalsʼ Meeting 

25 26 27 28 29 


Assistant Principalsʼ 

Meeting 

Student Voluntary 

Transfer 

Process Ends 

PSSA Grade 12 Retest (Reading, Math, Science and Writing) * October 24 - November 4 

High School 

Expo 

Students interested in participating 

should contact the program manager, 

Virginia T. Lam at vlam@philasd.org. 

Ms. Lam welcomes all inquiries about 

Philadelphiaʼs talent centers. 

30 

31 

PSSA Retest 

SEPTEMBER 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 

25 26 27 28 29 30 

NOVEMBER 

1 2 3 4 5 

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 

27 28 29 30


1 

2 3 4 5 

6 7 

8 9 10 

11 12 

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

20 

21 

NOVEMBER 2011 

We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now. - Martin Luther King, Jr. 


PSSA Grade 12 Retest (Reading, Math, Science and Writing) * October 24 - November 4 

Schools Closed 

for Students 


ELECTION DAY 

22 23 

SRC Meeting 

SRC Meeting 

National Parental 

Involvement Day 

24 25 26 





VETERANS DAY 



For young readers… 

A Sick Day for Amos McGee 

by Philip C. Stead. 

For middle readers… 

Trickster: Native American Tales: 

A Graphic Collection. 

Edited by Matt Dembicki. 

For older readers… 

Black Elkʼs Vision: A Lakota Story 

by S.D. Nelson. 

November 13-19 is the 90th 

anniversary celebration of American 

Education Week. The School District of 

Philadelphia joins public schools across 

the country in recognizing and 

celebrating public education, parents 

and community partners, teachers and 

support staff, and all people who are 

making a difference in childrenʼs lives. 

We encourage the entire community to 

come together and work together to 

support student achievement, school 

improvement, healthy and safe 

lifestyles. 

HAPPY 

THANKSGIVING 

EVERYONE! 

THANKSGIVING BREAK 

27 

28 29 

30 

K-12 Report Card 

Afternoon Conferences 

9-12 

Evening Conferences 

OCTOBER 1 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 

30 31 

DECEMBER 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 

25 26 27 28 29 30 31


For young readers… April and 

Esme, Tooth Fairies 

by Bob Graham. 

For middle readers… Dave the 

Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave 

by Laban Carrick Hill. 

For older readers… Nothing 

by Janne Teller. 

December 4-10 is National Hand- 

Washing Awareness Week. 

How often do you wash your hands 

Henry the Hand says... 

1. Wash your hands BEFORE eating. 

2. DO NOT cough into your hands. 

3. DO NOT sneeze into your hands. 

4. DO NOT put your fingers into your 

eyes, nose, or mouth. 

For more information,visit Henry the 

Hand at www.henrythehand.com 

HAPPY 

HOLIDAYS 

EVERYONE! 


1 2 3 

4 5 

6 7 8 

9 10 


11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

18 

19 

DECEMBER 2011 

“People are not remembered by how few times they fail, but how often they succeed.” – Thomas Edison 

NOVEMBER 

1 2 3 4 5 

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 

27 28 29 30 

Early Childhood 

Pre-K Conferences 

20 21 

JANUARY 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 

29 30 31 

SRC Meeting 



SRC Meeting 



K-8 

Evening Conferences 

Principal and 


Meeting 

Bright Futures 

Registration Begins 



22 

23 24 

25 

26 27 



Admin. Offices Open 


28 



29 



30 31 



W I N T E R 

R E C E S S


1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 

8 9 

10 11 12 

13 14 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

22 

MARTIN LUTHER 

KING JR. DAY 

23 

JANUARY 2012 

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” -Oprah Winfrey 




NEW YEARʼS 

OBSERVANCE 



Kindergarten 

Registration 

Begins 

Schools Reopen 

SRC Meeting 

SRC Meeting 

24 25 26 27 28 

NAEP Testing (in selected schools) (Grades 4, 8, and 12) * January 23 - March 2 

ACCESS for ELLS Testing for All English Language Learners (Grades K-12) * January 23 - March 2 

For young readers… Back of the 

Bus by Aaron Reynolds. 

For middle readers… Ninth Ward 

by Jewell Parker Rhodes. 

For older readers… A Time of 

Miracles by Anne-Laure Bondoux. 

January is celebrated as National 

Mentoring Month. 

TEN Things to do in January: 

1. Become a mentor. 

2. Learn more about mentoring. 

3. Partner with a mentoring 

organization. 

4. Tell 5 friends about National 

Mentoring Month. 

5. Pay tribute to the mentors in your 

life. 

6. Find resources on mentoring. 

7. Serve your community on the MLK 

Day of Service. 

8. Make a donation to a mentoring 

organization in your community. 

9. Share National Mentoring Month 

videos on YouTube. 

10.Help children succeed 

academically through mentoring. 

For more information visit 

www.nationalmentoringmonth.org." 

January 23 is the Chinese Lunar New 

Year (Year of the Dragon) . 

29 

30 31 

NAEP Testing (Grades 4, 8, and 12) 

ACCESS for ELLS Testing 

DECEMBER 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 

FEBRUARY 

1 2 3 4 

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 

26 27 28 29

FEBRUARY 2012 

"Be the change you want to see in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi 


For young readers… Bink and 

Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and 

Alison McGhee. 

For middle readers… The Bat 

Scientists by Mary Kay Carson. 

For older readers… Lafayette and 

the American Revolution 

by Russell Freedman. 

February is Black History Month - 

The Association for the Study of 

Negro Life and History, founded by 

the "father of black history," Carter G. 

Woodson, chooses the national theme 

for Black History Month. 

In 2011 the theme was "African 

Americans and the Civil War." 

In 2012 the theme is "Black Women in 

American History and Culture." 


1 2 3 4 

5 6 

7 8 9 

10 11 

12 13 14 15 SRC Meeting 16 17 18 

19 

JANUARY 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 

29 30 31 

20 



MARCH 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 





Meeting 

NAEP Testing (Grades 4, 8, and 12) 





SRC Meeting 



PASA Testing (Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 - Reading and Math) * February 13 - March 23 




21 22 23 24 25 

February 7-11 is National School 

Counseling Week. Honor the unique 

contributions of your school 

counselors. Students succeed 

because school counselors care! 

26 

PRESIDENTSʼ 

DAY 

27 28 

PASA Testing (Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 - Reading and Math) 

ACCESS for ELLS Testing for All English Language Learners (Grades K-12) 

29 

PASA Testing - Reading and Math 

ACCESS for ELLS Testing



1 2 3 

4 5 

6 7 8 

9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

18 

Daylight 

Savings 

Begins 

19 

MARCH 2012 

Learn avidly. Question repeatedly what you have learned. Analyze it carefully. 

Then put what you have learned into practice intelligently. -Confucius 

FEBRUARY 

1 2 3 4 

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 

26 27 28 29 


Kindergarten 

Open House 

20 21 

APRIL 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 

29 30 

Half-Day for Students 


22 

PASA Testing 



PASA Testing (Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 - Reading and Math) 

PSSA Testing (Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 - Reading and Math) * March 12 - March 23 

PSSA Modified Testing (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 - Reading and Math) * March 12 - March 23 

SRC Meeting 


PSSA Testing (Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 - Reading and Math) 

PSSA Modified Testing (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 - Reading and Math) 

23 24 

For young readers… The Quiet Book 

by Deborah Underwood. 

For middle readers… Saltypie: A 

Choctaw Journey from Darkness into 

Light by Tim Tingle. 

For older readers… Heart of a Samurai 

by Margi Preus. 

March is... 

Music in Our Schools Month – Be an 

advocate for Music in Our Schools! 

Remember that music lasts a lifetime. 

National Nutrition Month – This is a 

time to think about the importance of 

good nutrition. Make healthy choices by 

eating smart and exercising more. 

Womenʼs History Month - The theme for 

2012 is Women's Education — 

Women's Empowerment! 

March 19-23 is National Youth Violence 

Prevention Week 

Students Against Violence Everywhere 

(SAVE) suggests the following themes: 

Day 1: Promote Respect and Tolerance 

Day 2: Manage Your Anger 

Day 3: Resolve Conflicts Peacefully 

Day 4: Support Safety 

25 

26 27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

SRC Meeting 

PSSA Make-Up Testing (Reading and Math) * March 26 - March 30


For young readers… Interrupting 

Chicken by David Ezra Stein. 

For middle readers… Kakapo Rescue: 

Saving the Worldʼs Strangest Parrot by 

Sy Montgomery. 

For older readers… The Firefly Letters: 

A Suffragetteʼs Journey to Cuba by 

Margarita Engle. 

April 8-14 is National Library Week. 

Celebrate the contributions of our nation's 

libraries and librarians and promote library 

use and support. 

April 15 -21 is Public School Volunteer 

Week. This week invites Philadelphia 

families and friends to assist teachers and 

administrators with every day activities by 

volunteering with your children and with 

other peopleʼs children. 

April 20-29 is the second city-wide 

Philadelphia Science Festival. Every 

April Philadelphiaʼs schools, universities, 

cultural institutions, and research centers 

unite as one to put science in the 

spotlight. Scientists and engineers 

throughout the city offer fun, interactive 

programs for Philadelphians of all ages. 

April 22-28 is the Week of the Young 

Child. During this week we work to raise 

awareness and focus public attention on 

the needs of young children and their 

families and to recognize the early 

childhood programs and services that 

meet those needs. 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 

8 9 

10 11 12 

13 14 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

22 

23 

APRIL 2012 

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. -Abraham Lincoln 




Schools 

Reopen 

PSSA Testing 

PSSA Testing 



S P R I N G 



R E C E S S 

PSSA Modified Testing (Grades 8 and 11 - Science) * April 9 - April 13 

SRC Meeting 



PSSA Testing (Grades 5, 8 and 11 - Writing) * April 16 - April 20 



24 25 26 27 28 


for Students 


ELECTION DAY 

SRC Meeting 

Modified (Grades 8 and 11 - Science) * April 23 - April 27 

(Grades 4, 8 and 11 - Science) * April 23 - April 27 

29 

30 

PSSA Testing 

MARCH 

1 2 3 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 

MAY 

1 2 3 4 5 

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 

27 28 29 30 31

1 

MAY 2012 

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. -Buddha 


2 



3 4 5 

PSSA Make-Up Testing (Writing and Science) * April 30 - May 4 

PASA Testing (Grades 4, 8 and 11 - Science) * May 1 - May 25 

6 7 

8 9 10 

11 12 

PASA Testing (Grades 4, 8 and 11 - Science) 

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

SRC Meeting 



SRC Meeting 

Primary 

Election Day 




For young readers… Ling & Ting: 

Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Lin. 

For middle readers… The Strange 

Case of Origami Yoda 

by Tom Angleberger. 

For older readers… Moon Over 

Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. 

May is Asian Pacific American 

Heritage Month. May was chosen 

because it commemorates the 

immigration of the first Japanese to the 

United States in 1843 and the work of 

Chinese immigrants on the 

transcontinental railroad in 1869. 

Together letʼs celebrate the culture, 

traditions and history of Philadelphiaʼs 

Asians & Pacific Islanders. 

May 7-11 is National Teachers Week, 

also known as Teacher Appreciation 

Week. 

May 10 is National School Nurses 

Day, also known as National RN 

Recognition Day. 


20 

21 

22 23 

24 

25 26 

Pre-Registration for Kindergarten 2012-2013 


27 

28 29 



MEMORIAL 

DAY 

30 

31 

Kindergarten 

Registration 

Ends 

APRIL 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 

29 30 

JUNE 

1 2 

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

JUNE 2012 

Children need models more than they need critics. – Joseph Joubert 



For young readers… Fiesta Babies 

by Carmen Tafolla. 

The simple rhyme scheme is 

embellished by colorful illustrations of 

multicultural babies and toddlers 

celebrating at a local fiesta. Belpré 

Illustrator Honor Book 

For middle readers… A Tale Dark 

and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz. Dutton. 

As dark and bloody as the title 

suggests, these six retellings tweak 

the classic fairy tale as Hansel and 

Gretel embark on an epic journey of 

self-discovery. 

For older readers… Departure 

Time by Truus Matti. 

An eleven-year-old mourns the death 

of her father in chapters that alternate 

between the real world and a 

dreamlike hotel staffed by odd 

creatures. Batchelder Honor Book 

1 2 

3 4 

5 6 7 

8 9 

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 

17 

24 

18 


Development 

25 26 

19 20 

Last Day of School 

for Staff 

(Organization Day) 

MAY 

1 2 3 4 5 

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 

27 28 29 30 31 

SRC Meeting 

27 

JULY 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 

29 30 31 


Assistant Principal & 


Last Day of School 

for Students 

SRC Meeting 


Development 

21 22 23 

28 29 30

1 

JULY 2012 


2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 

10 11 12 

13 14 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

Did You Know 

• All young people experience 

learning losses when they do not 

engage in educational activities 

during the summer. Research 

spanning 100 years shows that 

economically disadvantaged 

students typically lose the most 

(White, 1906; Heyns, 1978; 

Entwisle & Alexander 1992; 

Cooper, 1996; Downey et al, 2004). 

• Most students lose about two 

months of grade level equivalency 

in math skills over the summer. 

Low-income students also lose 

more than two months in reading 

achievement, despite the fact that 

their middle-class peers make 

slight gains (Cooper, 1996). 

• More than half of the achievement 

gap between low and high income 

youth can be explained by unequal 

access to summer learning 

opportunities (Alexander et al, 

2007). 

22 

23 

24 25 26 27 28 

• Children lose more than academic 

knowledge over the summer. Most 

children—particularly children at 

high risk of obesity—gain weight 

more rapidly when they are out of 

school (Von Hippel et al, 2007). 

Go to www.summerlearning,org for 

more information. 

29 

30 31 

JUNE 

1 2 

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 

AUGUST 

1 2 3 4 

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 

26 27 28 29 30 31

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