SPRING GARDEN SCHOOL

Family Handbook

2025-2026

Ms. Raqueebah Burch, Principal

Contact Information- How to get in touch with Principal Burch

#WeGROWMINDSEVERYDAY!

Connect with Ms. Raqueebah Burch, Principal of Spring Garden School

Please Sign up for Class Dojo

Email: rburch@philasd.org

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Phone: (215) 400-7610

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2025-2026 School Calendar

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SDP Academic Calendar SY 25-26.pdf

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School District of Philadelphia Administrative Organization

Dr. Tony Watlington, Superintendent of Schools

We are a part of Learning Network 4, our Assistant Superintendent is Dr. Jamina Clay

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School District of Philadelphia Mission and Vision Statement

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Mission Statement

In The School District of Philadelphia:

All sectors of public education in Philadelphia will work with urgency to provide every student with the opportunity to achieve positive life outcomes in partnership with diverse families, educators, and community members who are valued and respected.

Vision Statement

To prepare students to imagine and realize any future they desire.

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Our School Mission Statement:

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Spring Garden School recognizes that each child is an individual and learns in different ways. Therefore, Spring Garden respects the individual needs of its students, fosters a caring and intellectually enriching environment, and emphasizes the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development of each child.

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We will take action to eliminate barriers as we strive for educational equity for all student groups in the Spring Garden School. We will provide an accessible, multicultural community, in which civility and respect are fostered, and discrimination and harassment are not tolerated. We are a school community that celebrities and honors every unique individual member and the multifaceted experiences that they bring to the school. We believe that embracing our diversity leads to social/emotional and academic excellence.

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Spring Garden Expectations

We encourage and expect our students to:

• Come to school on time every day ready to learn and work hard. Students prepared for learning are on time and ready to learn and do their best.
• Bring necessary materials
• Complete in school assignments
• Learn and perform to the best of their ability
• Know and follow all class and school wide expectations
• Be responsible for their actions
• Respect all members of the Spring Garden Community

Spring Garden Expectations

We encourage our families to:

• Support all school policies
• Participate as appropriate in decisions related to your child’s education
• Have and express a positive attitude towards school.
• Praise your child every day for something he or she has done.
• Have a special place to display your child’s work when it is brought home from school.
• Participate in school activities, especially Back-to-School Night and Parent-Teacher conferences.
• Keep the lines of communication open with your child’s teacher. Please feel free to inform the teacher or other staff members of any family situations that could affect your child’s behavior or performance in school.

At Spring Garden we are…Respectful, Responsible, Safe, Prepared

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P.B.I.S. Matrix

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PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention & Support)

A System for Student Success

• PBIS is a systems approach to discipline that emphasizes prevention, instruction on social skills, and data-based decision making to both reduce problem behavior and improve academic performance. Where typical discipline approaches are reactive, PBIS is proactive and teaches students expectations before negative behavior occurs.
• PBIS is a way of thinking about behavior and it requires pro-activity and preplanning to prevent or decrease challenging behavior. PBIS seeks to understand why the challenging behavior occurs-the behavior’s function or purpose by using a process called functional assessment to understand the behavior’s function or purpose. At Spring Garden, we have established behavior expectations in the classroom, halls, cafeteria, playground and public bathrooms.

Cell Phone Policy

Cell phone policy 2025-2026

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Spanish Translated copy of Cell phone policy

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For our Kindergarten Parents

Spring Garden Kindergarten Handbook

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Spring Garden Family & Extra Curricular Activities

We will provides many rich academic and social learning experiences for children inside and outside of the classroom. We believe that school assembly programs, field trips, and other enrichment activities play an important role in a child’s overall development. We also believe that our families and school community are vital to our school and its mission to encourage student success. The following is merely a sampling of the programs, assemblies, and enrichment opportunities that we offer our students and families:

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Monthly Meetings Targeted Tutoring Winter and Spring Band Performances

Math Night Parent Workshops

Literacy Night Scholastic Book Fair

Student Leadership Assemblies

School Field Trips Snacks with Special People

Spring Garden Arrival/Dismissal Procedures

Breakfast: 7:45 a.m. -8:15 a.m. Line up: 8:15 a.m. Dismissal Time: 2:54 p.m.

Spring Garden Elementary is in session from 8:15 am to 2:54 pm. Students are dismissed to their busses, after care programs, and parents for pick-up starting at 2:54 pm. Children are not considered late until 8:25 a.m., and must report to the office for a tardy slip. If you drop your child off in a car, please let him/her out in a safe location in front of the school on Melon Street or in back of the school.

Arrival And Dismissal Procedures cont’d

There will be no morning recess. At 8:15 a.m. teachers pick up from the school yard on the assigned lines (2-6) and they are escorted quietly to begin their day. We are asking that parents remain along the gated area to prevent crowding in the lines. Staff are assigned daily to monitor and supervise arrival and dismissal.

Dismissal

We request that parents contact the office prior to 2:00 p.m., if they have a special dismissal request. For safety purpose, non-school personnel are not permitted to go to classrooms. All adults will be required to show appropriate identification to the school office. Early dismissals after 2:00 p.m. are highly discouraged.

After School Activities

After School Activities: At the current time, there are no extracurricular activities offered after school at the start of the year. All families will receive notice when our after school programming begins. However, once extracurricular programming begins, families are responsible to pick the child up at the designated time.

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Assessment and Evaluation

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Teachers will assess each student’s academic performance at the beginning of the school year with a district approved diagnostic tool. This assessment will include, but is not limited to, reviewing records from the child’s previous academic year and school (s) where applicable, observing the student, and administering assessments during the first weeks of the school year. This information will help us develop learning goals and objectives for each student that are aligned with Pennsylvania state standards. Teachers will use a variety of assessment methods, strategies and instruments including but not limited to:

• Portfolios - Math and ELA
• Writing samples
• Self-assessments
• Online diagnostic tools
• Informal tests
• Rubrics
• Student journals
• Curriculum-based assessments
• Anecdotal records

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Progress Reports/ Report Cards/ Conferences

In order to keep students and parents informed about each student’s progress, progress reports will be sent home mid-way through each marking period (some teachers may send them more frequently). Parents are to review the progress reports and send them back to school signed. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the school as soon as possible.

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Spring Garden School Title I Parent Involvement Policy

Will be sent home week 1 of school and again during Back to School Night, September 11, 2025.

Spring Garden School Title I Home & School Compact

Form will be sent separately in communication Folder

Acknowledgements: Student, Parent, In-School Photography Release

Form will be sent separately in communication folder

Emergency Contact Card

The emergency contact card for the 25-26 School year will be included in the welcome packet.

Please complete and return as soon as possible so that we may have current emergency contact information on file in the main office in case of an emergency. Please complete and return to school with your child.

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Attendance

The attendance policy for the School District of Philadelphia strictly adheres to the guidelines provided under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania’s Department of Education.

If your child is absent, please call the office at (215) 400-7610, send a Dojo message to your child’s teacher, send in an absence note (blank provided in the communication folder) . You may also send an email to: ctaylorbrendza@philasd.org

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Not only is regular attendance essential for academic success, but it is the law under the School Code of 1949, and excessive absences are reported to the courts.

Research has linked excessive absences to lower grades, and eventually will cause students to fall behind. Students with the best attendance records will achieve and retain more.

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Guidelines for attendance

1-10 days absent:

• Although your child is expected to be in school daily, there are reasons that are considered lawful excuses. PA State law requires that all students who return to school from an absence MUST have a written note from the parent/guardian within 72 hours, stating the reason for the absence, even after you have called the office.
• Upon receipt of a parental note, lawful absences are excused if your child was ill; if there is a death in the family; or for religious instruction or observation of a religious holiday. All other excuses must be approved by the school Principal.
• School require a doctor’s note for a student who is absent more than five (5) consecutive days. Remember: doctor’s excuses are needed to return to school for strep throat, conjunctivitis, polio, diphtheria, impetigo, and scarlet fever.

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Attendance cont’d

If a child arrives in school after the stated time, he/she will be marked “tardy”. Parents are required to come to the office with the tardy child. Tardiness also requires a note of explanation or call from the parent/guardian.

10 or more cumulative days absent:

• If your child has exceeded 10 or more you will receive a letter and be asked to come in for a meeting with our school counselor.

Communication between Home & School

Weekly Blue communication Folder (new)

Teacher/ Classroom Dojo

Quarterly newsletter from the Principal (Dojo)

Spring Garden webpage (school page)

https://springgarden.philasd.org/

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Confidentiality

As a school community, we take the confidentiality of student data very seriously. Please know that staff are aware of the professional practice of refraining from speaking in hallways, and byways identifying students by name and discussing academic/behavioral issues.

FAQ: Birthday Celebrations

During this time of heightened states of precaution and safety awareness, food allergies, equity to all students, cupcakes, food, and treats from home are not being permitted.

Please contact me should you have questions and or concerns in this area.

Thank you for your understanding,

Raqueebah Burch

Principal

Field Trips

Field Trips Are Highly Encouraged!!

The Expectation is 1 per grade at minimum

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Teachers will plan Field Trips as an extension of classroom learning.

Fire Drills

Fire Drills: Monthly

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Fire drills must be held on an average of one per month. You will be informed when the first one of each year is to be held. You will be informed at other times if it is in the best interests of the children and staff.

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Lockdown: Yearly

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We will use the term “lockdown” on the public address system should we need to secure the building. When a “lockdown” is announced, teachers should lock their doors and not issue passes for any reason.

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Parents will be informed of a Lockdown drill and in the event of a real drill either by Dojo message and or letter from Principal Burch.

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Lunch and Recess: Lunches followed by recess

Cafeteria Schedule Lunch and Recess

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Lunch A: K-2 10:15

Lunch B: 3rd-4th 11:00

Lunch C: 5th-6th 11:45

Lunch D: 7th/8th 12:30

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Nurse and Health Services

Please meet Nurse Bevan. Please look for a letter of introduction in the coming weeks. We will have a nurse daily to provide care to your child/ dren.

COVID 19 Safety

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The mask mandate for PA schools has been lifted. Mask wearing is Optional. Masks will be available for replacement should you send your child in with a mask. Healthy hygiene habits are still encouraged with hand washing as a practice.