Return to Hybrid Learning for Grades 6-8

Starting next Monday, 5/10, our students who opted in to hybrid learning in grades 6 through 8 are returning to in-person instruction in a hybrid model for the first time in more than a year! WELCOME BACK!

Our deadline for opting into hybrid learning for students in grades 6-8 passed last Tuesday 4/27, and thus the following information is only for families who opted into hybrid learning. Those families should read the following letter and hybrid learning guide, which have details regarding your child's return to school for hybrid learning:

• Letter to Hybrid Families: Grades 6-8

• Hybrid Learning Family Guide: Grades 6-8

Hybrid Learning Family Guides

These guides are meant to serve as a resource for our families whose children are returning for hybrid learning. Please know that reopening and COVID are developing situations, and any changes to our program will be communicated to you as soon as possible. In the event we need to update these guides, we will send it back out to you detailing and highlighting the information and procedures that have changed.

• Hybrid Learning Family Guide: Grades 6-8

• Hybrid Learning Family Guide: Grades 3–5 & 6–8 (Complex Needs)

• Hybrid Learning Family Guide: Grades K-2

No Confirmed COVID Cases Since Week of 4/19!

We have not had any confirmed cases of COVID since a student or staff member at Lea tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday 4/13 and on Tuesday 4/20, respectively, for a total of 2 positive COVID cases since we reopened for hybrid learning. In accordance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other state privacy laws, we cannot share any additional information about the persons. However, please know that the individuals self-isolated and did not return until all CDC guidelines were met.

For more details about our most recent positive COVID case, please refer to the letter that Principal Gerwer shared:

• 4/20/21 Letter to Families

PSSA Testing

We have updated information related to Pennsylvania's annual standardized test, the PSSA. Please read each document linked below, and if you have any questions or concerns, please contact our school's PSSA test administrator, Ms. Harris (jdharris@philasd.org).

• PSSA Family Information Letter: Lea

• PSSA Family Information Letter: School District of Philadelphia

• PSSA Accommodations Overview for Parents

• PSSA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• PSSA Electronic Devices Policy

District Parent Survey

The School District of Philadelphia has released its annual District-wide Parent & Guardian Survey, which is designed to find out what you think about your child's school. The survey closes on May 14, so please take the time to complete it before then!

• District-wide Parent-Guardian Survey = https://webapps1.philasd.org/parentsurvey/

Facilities Updates

We have two current facilities projects happening at Lea. The L-Wing section of our school building (located closest to Spruce Street) will be demolished over the course of the following few weeks. The school district and its contractors will be taking every possible safety precaution to ensure that this work is done in a safe manner that does not impact students and staff who are in attendance for hybrid learning.

Also, the Philadelphia Water Department is currently doing some work in the Big Schoolyard related to the yard's stormwater drainage system.

If you have any questions or concerns about either of these projects, please contact Principal Gerwer (agerwer@philasd.org).

School Calendar

Scroll down to the bottom of this Lea Express webpage to see our Lea School Calendar, which is also linked on the home page of our school website. It contains information about school programs and events.

Summer 2021 Programming

We are excited to announce a diverse set of summer programs providing unique enrichment opportunities for Philadelphia students of all ages!

Lea's UACS program will operate in-person summer programming out of two locations this summer:

1. UACS will operate our annual K-8 Summer Camp at Penn Alexander School (PAS) located at 4209 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

2. UACS will partner with the District to operate a summer program site at the Powel/SLA-MS School located at 3610 Warren St, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

To enroll your child in one of these programs, follow the directions below:

1. PYN WorkReady programs for students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades are back in 2021! Learn and earn with our UACS Career Exploration and Internship programs. Please go to workready.org, then click on “Apply Now”to start your application. Please use referral code "c113" to get connected to the UACS PYN program.

2. Sign up for the UACS 1^st -8^th grade Summer @ Penn Alexander School! We are planning a fun-filled learning experience for all students with a focus on literacy exposure, math strategies, social-emotional learning opportunities, sports, art, music, and more! REGISTER NOW by completing the online UACS Enrollment Survey.

3. Sign up for the School District of Philadelphia's Summer Academic programming! As an OST partner, UACS staff will supplement the city's and district's academic programming with fun and engaging after-school activities! REGISTER NOW by completing the online District summer program registration form to reserve your child a seat for summer programming: SDP Elementary Summer Program Registration 2021

Alternatively, Lea's other out-of-school-time partner, Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership (PAEP) will offer virtual summer enrichment programming for students interested in virtual-only programming. To register for PAEP's virtual summer program, email the PAEP Education Director, Mr. Andrew Moran at amoran@paep.net.

If you have any questions or concerns re: summer programming, please contact Ms. Arttia Watts (arttiaw@sas.upenn.edu) from UACS as well as Lea's Partnerships Coordinator, Mr. Rich (rjliuzzi@gse.upenn.edu).

BOOST Tutoring

Would your child benefit from tutoring? Our UACS After-School Program is currently taking referrals from teachers and families for its UACS BOOST Tutoring Program!

UACS is currently offering 2 types of tutoring support:

1. Open Tutoring Sessions (Drop-In): Monday - Thursday 4:00 - 6:00 PM

   • Students must log into the open session, inform the coaching team of their need(s), and be assigned a coach or mentor who will work with the student in tutoring breakout rooms on any or all of the following: homework help, daily assignment completion, project management skills, and mentorship

2. 1-1 or Small Group Sessions (By Appointment): Monday - Thursday 4:00 - 6:00 PM

   • Students must log into the daily UACS program links, inform the coaching team that they want to sign up for 1:1 tutoring , and be matched with an UACS after-school coach/mentor to identify specific needs and schedule appointments to meet with coaches/mentors on a weekly basis to work on any or all of the following: academic skill development, specific content area support and development, social and emotional skill development .

If you are a teacher or parent interested in referring a student for tutoring, please follow these steps:

1. Step 1: Complete the UACS BOOST Tutoring Referral Form: https://forms.gle/2774p6C3acdD7Xcv8

2. Step 2: Visit the UACS After-School Program website to gain access to the program meeting links to connect with tutors.

   • K-2nd grade link: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/94081671429

   • 3rd-5th grade link: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/94081671429

   • 6th-8th grade link: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/94028048995

For more information, please contact our UACS after-school program director, Ms. Arttia Watts, at arttiaw@sas.upenn.edu or 215-435-0314.

UACS After-School Program

Our UACS after-school program for students in Grades K - 8th operates Monday through Friday from 3:00 - 6:00 pm online. Students can log in for homework help, tutoring, and different after-school clubs and activities, which are outlined in our K-5th grade schedule and 6th-8th grade schedule.

Visit the Lea UACS after-school program website for program information, activity descriptions, and to enroll your child. Please feel free to contact our UACS after-school program director, Ms. Arttia Watts, at arttiaw@sas.upenn.edu or 215-435-0314.

PAEP After-School Program

Our PAEP after-school program for students in Grades 5th - 8th operates Monday through Thursday from 3:30 - 6:30 pm online! If you're interested in signing up and attending, follow this link for program information and to enroll your child. And please feel free to contact our new PAEP after-school program coordinator, Coach Eric Middleton, at emiddleton@philasd.org.

University City Arts League

University City Arts League (UCAL) is offering daily arts after-school programming to provide accessible activities in a safe and quarantined environment. Follow the link for details.

• Days: Monday - Friday

• Times: 3:00 - 6:00 pm

• Dates: Spring 2021

• Class Info: Families can visit our website for more information regarding prices, agreeable payment plans, and our full safety procedures: http://www.ucartsleague.org/classes/after-school-classes/

After-School Programs Page

Lea hosts various extended learning opportunities and out-of-school-time programs (programs during after-school hours and/or the summer) for our students.

We list information about these programs on our Partners @ Lea website on the After-School Programs page.

FamiLea Survey & SDP Parent Survey

We want Lea Elementary School students, families, and staff to participate in our school's strategic planning process as we prepare for the 2021–2022 school year and beyond. To do this, we want to connect with every Lea family before the end of the school year in the hopes of learning about your family's experience at Lea, as well as your hopes for your child's education and our school. We've created the FamiLea Survey linked below as one way to connect with our families, and ask that you take time to complete the survey (5-15 minutes) before the end of the school year.

• FamiLea Survey = https://tinyurl.com/familea-survey-spring-2021

The School District of Philadelphia has also released its annual District-wide Parent & Guardian Survey, which is designed to find out what you think about your child's school. The survey closes on May 14.

• District-wide Parent & Guardian Survey = https://webapps1.philasd.org/parentsurvey/

Home & School Association (HSA)

The Home and School Association (HSA) of Henry C. Lea Elementary aims to provide support to Lea students, families, and staff, and we encourage ALL families to participate in the HSA! Whether it’s managing the school book fair, supporting school events, raising money, or rounding up volunteers to help clean teachers' rooms, we are ready to help.

Next HSA Meeting: April 28th

• Link: HSA Zoom Meeting

• Time: 7:00 – 8:00 pm

• Fall 2020 dates: 9/23, 10/28, 11/10, 12/9

• Spring 2021 dates: 1/27, 2/24, 3/24, 4/28, 5/26

Last HSA Meeting

Click on the following link to read a summary of the last HSA meeting: Lea HSA Meeting Summary

If you want to get involved in HSA:

• Come to one of our monthly Zoom meetings!

• Email us: leahomeandschool@gmail.com

• Visit the HSA website: https://lea-hsa.wixsite.com/support

School Advisory Council (SAC)

We encourage ALL families to participate in our School Advisory Council (SAC), which is a peer-elected, collaborative team composed of family members, the school principal, teachers, and other school-based staff, students and community members. Our SAC champions the work for improved student achievement, effective teaching in the classroom, family and community engagement in the educational process, and communication and support between home and school. Our SAC focuses on data-driven, strategic conversations that center on the three primary focus areas mentioned above.

Next SAC Meeting: May 20th

• Link: SAC Zoom Meeting

• Time: 5:30 – 7:00 pm

• Fall 2020 dates: 9/17, 10/15, 11/19, 12/17

• Spring 2021 dates: 1/21, 2/18, 3/18, 4/15, 5/20

Last SAC Meeting

Click on the link to read a summary of the last SAC meeting: Lea SAC Meeting Summary

If you want to get involved in SAC:

• Come to one of our monthly Zoom meetings!

• Contact our SAC Organizer, Molly McGlone (mcglone.molly@gmail.com, 608-213-4443), or our Family and Community Engagement Coordinator, Mr. Brown (antbrown001@gmail.com).

West Philly Book Bins

Looking for FREE BOOKS and for something fun to do? Check out the network of BOOK BINS in West Philly! You can get free books at these bins any time, and if you want a prize, visit all the bins in your grade group and unscramble the letters you find on each bin. See the attached flyer to learn more or read on below!

Philly Hope Line

Please see attached a flyer for the Philly Hope Line, which is available to all District students and families. The Philly Hope Line connects people with counselors to help provide support with stress and mental health concerns, including coping during the holidays and coping with COVID-related stress and loss.

Family Programs Page

Lea hosts various programs, events, and activities for our families. We list information about these family programs on our new Partners @ Lea website under the Family Programs page. Use the links below to explore and learn about our current family and adult programming and partners.

1. PennSmiles Mobile Dental Clinic

2. Family Stabilization Programs

3. Family Academy Courses and Training (FACT)

Family and Community Engagement Liaison

Our Family and Community Engagement Liaison is Mr. Anthony Brown. He is responsible for providing Lea families, parents, and caregivers with support in many ways. Mr. Brown is always here to help solve issues, address concerns, provide information, connect the right people, and generally make things work more smoothly for our families.

Mr. Brown's contact information is:

• Email: antbrown001@gmail.com

• Phone: 215-400-7660

Health Office Updates

1. Shout out to all the hybrid students for doing great job with masking & social distancing!

2. FREE rapid COVID-19 testing for Lea families! Click here for locations or register at testphl.org.

3. The COVID vaccine is free & available for all Philly residents 16 & older! Click this link to set up an appointment or visit the Convention Center walk-up sites. The University of the Sciences (USciences) will also have 2 walk-up clinics on April 13 & April 22 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm @ 730 S. 43rd St.

4. Lea will kick off our award-winning Open Airways program for 2nd-5th graders with asthma on May 10th!

   1. This 5-session program will be held from 3:00 - 4:00 pm on these dates: Mon 5/10, Tue 5/11, Wed 5/12, Mon 5/17, and Tue 5/18

   2. Learn more: https://youtu.be/EVOWv2LS4CM

   3. Sign up! : https://tinyurl.com/3tkcbcc6

PennSmiles Dental Bus

Bad news: Cavities have sky-rocketed since COVID-19 quarantine!

Good news: Penn Dental Bus is still providing excellent, free, and safe dental care at Lea! 🦷

If your school-aged children need dental care, call to make an appointment: 267-463-6571