Weekly Updates - Students/Parents

The Academy at Palumbo community extends our deepest condolences to our secretary Brooke Robinson-Mims and her family on the unexpected loss of her husband, and our dance teacher, Mrs. Fisher on the heartbreaking loss of her mother. During this incredibly difficult time, we want their families to know that they are not alone. As a school community, we are coming together to offer our love, support, and care. To help ease some of the burdens during this time, the Home & School Association had established a Meal Train to provide meals and support for the families. We hope this small gesture brings comfort and reminds them that they are surrounded by a community that cares deeply for them. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mims and Fisher(Stone) families during this difficult time.

Brooke Mims - https://www.giveinkind.com/inkinds/C1G6T3E

Sheila Fisher - https://www.giveinkind.com/inkinds/C7F9L0R

Monday, October 19, 2026 - Regular Bell Schedule

• Senior Portraits - Room 312

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 -Special Bell Schedule

• PSAT Day - Grades 9-11
• College Visit Day - Grade 12

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 -Regular Bell Schedule

• Open House
• Senior Portraits - Room 312

Thursday, October 22, 2026 - 1 Hour Advisory Bell Schedule

• Community Meeting
• Senior Portraits - Room 312
• Financial Literacy Trip (Bouwman)

Friday, October 23, 2026 - 1 Hour Advisory Bell Schedule

• Community Meeting
• Senior Portraits - Room 312
• Kimmel Center Trip - Hoffman
• BSJ Movie Day - 6th & 7th

The Palumbo STEP Team will be starting weekly groups in November to support students experiencing struggles with depressive symptoms or diagnosis, as well as a seperate group for those finding it hard to engage socially or in classroom activities without significant anxiety or stress response.

These groups are a great opportunity for students to share your experiences with others navigating similar things, while developing helpful knowledge and skills to increase your ability to navigate undesired difficulties in your everyday life.

If you are interested in working to grow closer the best version of you, please fill out the interest form below.

Feel free to contact the Palumbo STEP Clinical Coordinator with any questions.

Ehren Remal, LCSW - eremal@philasd.org

STAY CONNECTED TO THE HSA:

Website | palumbogriffinshsa.com

Facebook | palumbogriffinshsa

Instagram | pgriffinshsa

Email | palumbogriffinshsa@gmail.com

Scan the QR Code for the HSA Newsletter

This year's theme: I AM a Dreamer

The details:

· Who can enter: SDP students in grades 6–12. No design experience required!

· Submissions: Now through Friday, October 23

· Public vote: Tuesday, October 27 to Friday, November 6

· Winner announced: Week of November 16

· Prizes: $1,500 for 1st place (plus their design produced and sold as official Back the Bell merchandise), $500 for 2nd, and $250 for 3rd

· How to enter: thefundsdp.org/backthebell

Submission guidelines:

· File format: A high-resolution PNG is preferred so the design can be resized without pixelating. Artwork made on paper or another physical medium should be scanned, not photographed.

· Theme: The artwork should reflect this year's theme, I AM a Dreamer. There are no other content requirements.

· One entry per student: If a student submits more than one design, we'll reach out after the submission window closes to ask which one they'd like to move forward. If we don't hear back in time, we'll use their most recent submission.

· A tip for students: Voters have connected most with designs that carry a meaningful story or message. Artwork that ties the theme to a student's own experiences often stands out during the public vote.

One of the District's priorities for this school year is creating deeper partnerships with parents and families, and supporting them in staying engaged in their child’s academic journey. Today, we are happy to announce that we are making it easier than ever to do just that! This fall, there are several new features to the Infinite Campus Family Portal that families and District staff should know about.

What’s New?

In addition to the usual access to grades, schedules, transcripts, report cards, and immunization records, parents and guardians are now be able to view:

• Assessment Data: Track how students are performing on standardized state and local assessments for the current and past school years.

• Summary Attendance Data: Get a quick, high-level snapshot of student attendance for the current and past school years.

• Summary Suspension Data: Stay informed on student in-school and out-of-school suspensions for the current and past school years.

• Electronic Absence Notes: Submit absence notes for future absences digitally in the Family Portal.

Resources for these new features can be found on our Family Portal website here.

For those that don’t have an Infinite Campus Parent Portal?

• Here’s a brief video explaining the Infinite Campus Family Portal.

• Parents and guardians can sign up for the Family Portal by following this step-by-step guide.

Here's a link to class pages on our website. It's currently updated with Class of 2027 info., but will be filled with all class' info. as information becomes available.

I hope everyone is having a healthy start to the year! There are important vaccines required for high school, if you have received a phone call, email, or letter at home stating that your student is missing any required vaccinations please schedule them asap and reach out to Nurse Jane: 2154008130 or jcruice@philasd.org with the scheduled date.

If you believe your student has received all the required vaccinations please send along a copy of the health record to the nurse by email or drop it off to the nurse during the school day.
For many students in 12th grade, the missing immunization is the 2nd dose of Meningococcal Conjugate (MCV4) which is required before beginning 12th grade. (The 1st dose should have been given before entering 7th grade.) This meningitis vaccine is different from the MenB vaccine, the MenB is not one of the required immunizations for school.
All students are at risk of exclusion from school if their immunizations are not up to date.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns!

Community meetings l build a shared sense of belonging and open communication between students, teachers, and staff by:

• Building Trust: Creates a safe space for honest conversations and feedback.
• Strengthening Connections: Helps students feel seen and valued by their peers and teachers.
• Improving Attendance: Fosters an inclusive environment that encourages students to show up and engage.

Beginning Thursday, September 24, each advisory will begin their Community Meeting at the same time so that we are all participating in a shared experience: One Palumbo - One Voice! An announcement will be made to begin the Community Meeting. During this time, all students should be in their advisory. Students should use the restrooms before and after community meeting time. If you are involved in a pre-approved, supervised activity such as Youth Court, you will be allowed to attend that activity. You should not be out of advisory without a hall pass.

This is a reminder to students that attendance to Advisory (which shows up as Seminar on your roster), counts as a grade and towards your graduation credits. Some teachers report that there are students they have only seen a few times in advisory. Many students are coming to school late and missing advisory. This will end up negatively impacting your grades and GPA. You cannot earn honor roll status with a grade below a B. Please make sure to make every effort to get to school on time. Even if you arrive late, you should check in with your advisor to let them know you're in school and be marked late rather than absent from advisory. The chart below shows the number of unexcused absences to advisory and the corresponding report card grade for each quarter. Excused absences do not count against the student. Excused absence notes can be turned in to the main office, or by using the link at the bottom of this newsletter.

Many have inquired about where to purchase custom Palumbo swag. Visit the online spirit shop to design your own Griffin Gear!

*Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) College Fair.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

The School District of Philadelphia Building

440 N. Broad Street (in the Atrium), Philadelphia, PA 19130

Universities you'll meet at the fair:

• Cheyney University

• Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield)

• East Stroudsburg University

• Indiana University of Pennsylvania

• Kutztown University

• Millersville University

• PennWest University (California, Clarion, and Edinboro)

• Shippensburg University

• Slippery Rock University

• West Chester University

No registration required! Just show up ready to explore. The flyer is attached, and you can learn more at www.passhe.edu/collegefair.

One tip that makes a big difference: students should bring several copies of their unofficial transcript. It's the key to those on-site decisions.

2026 HBCU Fair

The School District of Philadelphia's Office of Postsecondary Readiness is proud to announce the 28th Annual Malcolm Bernard Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) College Fair on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, from 3:30 to 7:00 PM at Martin Luther King High School, 6100 Stenton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138.

Here's what your students can look forward to:

• Exploring college options face-to-face with HBCU admissions professionals

• Scholarships, application fee waivers, and instant admissions

• Expert workshops and panels

Many colleges and universities will be offering on-site acceptances, so encourage your students to bring copies of their unofficial transcripts—they could walk in as an applicant and walk out as an admitted student.

Please share the attached flyer with your students and encourage them to register early. Registration is REQUIRED at tinyurl.com/hbcufair26 or by scanning the QR code on the attached flyer.

Questions? Reach out to Dolores Adriaanse at dadriaanse@philasd.org.

FREE Virtual Financial Empowerment Workshop Series!

Our school has partnered with Financial Scholars to offer personal finance education to our students and families!

• Are you looking to take charge of your finances?
• Could you benefit from financial education?
• Want to learn more about Budgeting, Borrowing / Credit, Insurance, Real Estate & Building Equity, Paying for College, and Investing?*

Join us for a FREE, six-week virtual financial empowerment workshop for school staff, parents, and caregivers!

The virtual workshops will be held on Monday evenings from October 19th – November 23rd from 7:00PM – 8:00PM on Zoom.

The first 20 people who register will receive a $250 contribution to their child’s 529 or other qualifying education savings account once they have attended all six sessions! (Only one contribution will be made for each qualifying registrant caregiver/parent)

CLICK HERE TO RSVP TODAY!

*Information provided in these seminars is for educational purposes only. Financial Scholars does not provide investment advice. Everyone’s financial situation is unique, and the products and strategies discussed may not be right for your circumstances.

Be sure that you join your graduation year's Google Classroom. Class of 2027 has a new classroom so all seniors need to rejoin:

CLASS OF 2027: w36auf3l

CLASS OF 2028: 3agcre4

CLASS OF 2029: idmyhyep

CLASS OF 2030: ab7utgnw

All students living 1.5 miles or greater from the school (1100 Catharine St.) are eligible to receive a Septa Fare Card. The card is good until the student graduates from high school. Fare cards will be distributed at new student orientation or during the first week of school. Current students should use their existing fare cards, so please keep them in a safe location over the summer. New 10th, 11th & 12th grade students who are transferring will receive a new fare card if eligible. All students are able to travel to school for free on the first day of school. For fare card questions email Ms. Khadiyah at kbunion@philasd.org. Please see the district’s website for more information on Fare Cards.

Students may not use phones during class for non-instructional purposes. Teachers may either require students to keep phones in their bags (not in their pocket), or keep phones in a wall-hanger. Students are allowed to use phones responsibly before school, after school, and during their assigned lunch period. We highly encourage parents/caregivers to call the school's office at 215-400-8130 if they need to contact their student.

Consequences for students in violation of the policy are as follows:

1. After the first infraction teachers will have a private conversation with students
2. After the second infraction teachers will call the student’s home
3. After the third infraction students will be referred to the dean’s office. Thereafter the dean will follow progressive discipline according to the code of conduct.

You may use this electronic form to submit an excuse for your child's absence from school within three days of the absence. A doctors note must be provided after three consecutive days of absence. After 9 parental excuses, a doctor's note will be required. Be sure to complete each section below to ensure the excuse is accepted. Written notes are also accepted in the main office. All request are subject to administrative approval.

WAYS TO REQUEST AN EXCUSED ABSENCE:

• Complete this form within three days of the absence.
• Send a written note within three days of the absence
• Call 215-400-8130 on the morning of the absence.