Family Resources

The Office of Support Services is pleased to share our Fall 2025 quarterly resource aimed at supporting families and helping them connect with community services.

Our quarterly newsletter provides information about newsworthy articles, local food banks and other critical resources, district policies, and much, much more! We hope you will take a minute to read about and utilize the many community resources available to Springfield Township residents.

Social media is challenging. For more information about navigating the internet, cell phones, and social media, check out our online safety resources publication. Learn more about the meaning behind popular emojis, how cyberbullying works and how to keep your child safe from online predators.

Join the Child Guidance Resource Center for a night of screen free fun for the whole family! There will be board games, fun, refreshments, and prizes.

• Horsham Township Library- June 4th 6:30pm – 8:00pm
• Library of Springfield Township- June 23rd- 6:00pm- 8:000pm
• Elkins Park Library- May 2nd 1:00pm- 2:30pm

Sign up links are on our bulletin board: https://cgrcatod.my.canva.site/

The Springfield Township Parks and Recreation Department offers a ton of resources, activities, camps, and more to support families throughout the year. Check out their amazing Summer Guide below.

The Township also offers a variety of sport leagues for youth participants. Don't wait too long, as programs fill quickly! Fall registrations are coming up soon!

Need a cool hangout for the summer, the Free Library of Springfield Township is the place to be! Lose yourself in a book, check out a musuem pass, read to a therapy dog, and so much more. Your local library is a great resource all year long.

The School District of Springfield Township remains steadfast in our committment to equitable outcomes for each and every student. For more information about the district's Equity Action Plan or to learn about our progress, please check out the resources below.

The School District of Springfield Township feels that it is important to remember those in our community who are experiencing food insecurity. Foodfinder.us is a nonprofit website and app (for iOS or Android) that offers the location and contact information of more than 40,000 food pantries and similar food programs across the country. The FoodFinder website and app can be utilized to pinpoint local free food providers within the community.

Pennsylvania law requires that upon entry into school or transferring from out of state or out of country all children must have a physical examination and dental examination. This regulation also applies to students transferring into our school district from in-state where transferred school health records do not meet these criteria. This requirement also includes children attending public, private, and parochial schools in Springfield Township.

In addition, Pennsylvania law requires that children in all grades entering public, private, and parochial schools in the Commonwealth MUST have the following specific immunizations BEFORE entry:

• 4 doses of tetanus diphtheria and acellular pertussis (1 dose on or after the 4th birthday) (Usually given as DTP or DTaP or if medically necessary, DT or Td)
• 4 doses of polio (4th dose on or after 4th birthday and at least 6 months after previous dose given)
• 2 doses of measles, mumps, rubella (usually given as MMR)
• 3 doses of hepatitis B
• 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity

For Attendance in 7th Grade

• 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap)
• 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)

For Attendance in 12th Grade

• 1 additional dose of MCV (total of 2 doses)

If a child does not have all the doses listed above, the child’s parent/guardian must provide a medical plan, signed by a healthcare provider, for obtaining the required immunizations or risk exclusion.

NOTE: These requirements allow for medical reasons and religious beliefs. If your child is exempt from immunizations, they may be removed from school during an outbreak.

Physical examinations and dental examinations completed after July 1, 2025, will meet the State Health Regulations for the 2024-2025 school year. We encourage you to have these procedures completed by your family doctor and dentist who are familiar with your child’s health history. Please have the attached forms completed and return them to your child’s assigned school in an envelope marked, ATTENTION School Nurse, on or before September 1, 2026.

Pennsylvania law requires that children in all grades entering public, private, and parochial schools in the Commonwealth MUST have the following specific immunizations BEFORE entry:

• 4 doses of tetanus diphtheria and acellular pertussis (1 dose on or after the 4th birthday) (Usually given as DTP or DTaP or if medically necessary, DT or Td)

• 4 doses of polio (4th dose on or after 4th birthday and at least 6 months after previous dose given)

• 2 doses of measles, mumps, rubella (usually given as MMR)

• 3 doses of hepatitis B

• 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity

For Attendance in 7th Grade

• 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap)

• 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)

For Attendance in 12th Grade

• 1 additional dose of MCV (total of 2 doses)

The Children's Health Insurance Program, also known as CHIP, provides uninsured kids up to age 19 with health insurance. Most kids qualify for free CHIP coverage. CHIP coverage includes routine check-ups, prescriptions, hospitalization, dental, eye care, eyeglasses, behavioral care, speciality care and more.

To apply or renew your child's CHIP coverage, please visit CHIPcoversPAkids.com or call

1-800-986-KIDS.

All medications administered at school require prescriber and parent/guardian written permission. Please click here for the Medication Administration Consent Form.

The School Administration and Medical Staff of Springfield Township have developed a Medication Policy in the interest of protecting our children, as well as maintaining the integrity of our staff. The administration and staff of your school join the School District in urging the families of our students to follow these guidelines. The regulations were not designed to make the process of dispensing medications in school difficult for the parents - rather, to make the school environment safe for all students.

In brief: all medications, must be sent to the School Nurse in the original container from the pharmacy, marked with the student’s name, name of medication, time and dose. A written note giving the reason, time and dose, as well as permission to give the drug to the child, must accompany the medication. Unless prearranged with the school nurse, all medication will be kept in a locked cabinet in the Nurse's Office. Medications will not be given to the student without the written permission of the parent and doctor. If the doctor writes a prescription, please ask for a duplicate for the School Nurse to keep on file if the medication is to be administered during school hours. This duplicate should be sent to school with the medication in the above-mentioned manner. This policy applies to both prescription and non-prescription medications.

Here are answers to some Medication Policy Frequently Asked Questions. Should you have additional questions, please contact your school nurse.

502 W Germantown Pike

East Norriton, PA 19403

Direct: (267) 908-8813

Fax: (267) 908-8813

allison.schlegel@cctckids.org

www.cctckids.org

Mental health plays a vital role in the well-being and success of every learner. Mental Health Literacy in Pennsylvania (MHLPA) is a resource created by Project Aware to support understanding and addressing mental health challenges in schools and communities across the Commonwealth.

Al-Anon: Local 12-step support group, free, and anonymous for families and friends of person with a drug or alcohol problem

Alcoholics Anonymous of Southeastern, PA: Local 12-step free support group for individuals struggling with an alcohol problem

Aldersgate: Substance abuse education and counseling located in Willow Grove, PA

Montgomery County Office of Drug and Alcohol: The Montgomery County Office of Drug and Alcohol provides a wide range of drug and alcohol services to county residents in the areas of Prevention, Intervention, Treatment, and Recovery Support.

Narcotics Anonymous: Local 12-step free support group for individuals struggling with a drug problem.

The goal of stoAc is to educate the school community and increase understanding about Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and the stigma behind it. They promote proactive, open, non-judgemental and healthy environments through ongoing, open, and honest conversations.

• Springfield Township Opioid Action Committee - Parent Pamphlet
• Springfield Township Opioid Action Committee - Teen Pamphlet

The district is committed to providing resources for our immigrant families so that they can understand and know their legal rights. For more information about your rights, please see the ACLU Know Your Rights document.

Translation services are available for all school-based meetings, workshops, and other family events and activities. Please reach out to your child's school if you are in need of an interpreter for a school event. All documents are available in your primary language. In most cases, the district has on file your predominant language and will make every effort to provide you with translated documents. Our website and weekly newsletter have translation accessibility features.

Peter's Place is a local grief and loss organization committed to provide families and children with counseling and support as their grieve the loss of a loved one.

If you are interested in finding out more information or would like to access services, please call 610.687.5150 or email them at info@petersplaceonline.org.

Have a tip? Contact the Safe2Say Hotline. Students and parents can anonymously report threats and concerns through call, text or through the app.

Call 1-844-SAF2SAY

Download the app by searching SAFE2SAYPA

Report online at SAFE2SAYPA.org

With gun suicide on the rise and firearms becoming the leading cause of death among children in the United States in 2020, the School District of Springfield Township is pleased to present information on the importance of secure firearm storage as an essential part of home safety to the members of our school and surrounding community.

Be SMART is a framework designed to help families normalize conversations about gun safety to help prevent child gun deaths and injuries. Please take a minute to review the Be SMART framework and check out the besmartforkids.org site to learn more about how you can take responsible actions for gun safety.

Our Office of Support Services and Registrar are always happy to answer your questions regarding residency!

As a reminder, you must live in the School District Springfield Township boundaries in order to attend school here. If you move during the school year, please complete the Change of Address Form to keep your most current address on file.

The School District of Springfield Township considers students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, as experiencing homelessness. This includes children and youth who are: sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason; living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or campgrounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; living in a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a sleeping accommodation by human beings; living in cars, abandoned buildings, substandard housing or similar situations; living as refugee or migratory children due to circumstances like those described above; or abandoned or forced out of homes by parents, guardians or caretakers

Unaccompanied youth also fall under this category and can be described as a youth not in the physical custody of a legal parent or guardian and youth living on their own in any of the homeless situations described above.

These children and youth may enroll in:

• Their school of origin, defined as the school where the student attended when permanently housed or in which the student was last enrolled.
• Any school that non-homeless students who live in the attendance area in which the child or youth experiencing homelessness is actually living are eligible to attend (new neighborhood school).

An unaccompanied homeless youth with a disability may also need to have a surrogate parent appointed by the District if the youth has no one to serve in this role.

Please reach out to your building social worker for assistance with services and answers to questions regarding your child's rights while experiencing homelessness.

You can also access information on our webpage.

Elementary School Hours
Regular School Day: 8:55 am - 3:25 pm
Early Dismissal: 8:55 am - 12:00 pm
2-Hour Delay: 10:55 am - 3:25 pm

Middle and High School Hours
Regular School Day: 7:45 am - 2:41 pm
Early Dismissal: 7:45 am - 11:10 am
2-Hour Delay: 9:45 am - 2:41 pm

To report an absence to your child's school, please use the Safe Arrival system. If you are providing a doctor's note for an absence or need to get approval for an educational trip, please use the email addresses below.

• Enfield: en_attendance@sdst.org
• Erdenheim: er_attendance@sdst.org
• Middle School: ms_attendance@sdst.org
• High School: hs_attendance@sdst.org

The following are School Board approved conditions for an excused absence to be granted based on Pennsylvania School Code:

• Illness (physcial or mental)
• Quarantine
• Family Emergency including a death in the family
• Family Educational Travel, Tours, and Trips (with prior approval by SDST administration)
• Impassable Roads
• Recovery from Accident
• Required Court Appearance

Dr. Michelle L. Lutz

Director of Support Services

215-233-6000 ext. 1017

michelle_lutz@sdst.org