Palumbo Updates - Students/Parents

* New/updated info.

Monday, September 22, 2025 - Regular Bell Schedule

Tuesday, September 23, 2025 - Rosh Hashanah - Schools Closed

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 - 1 Hour Advisory Bell Schedule

• 12th Grade Town Hall

Thursday, September 25, 2025 - 1 Hour Advisory Schedule

• OPEN HOUSE
• Phila. Financial Scholars special presentation (2-3 PM)
• College Info. Night 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Friday, September 26, 2025 - 1 Hour Advisory Schedule

• 9th Grade Town Hall

Class of 2026 parents & guardians - Come out and join our counseling team as they provide a comprehensive workshop that will assist you in navigating the college admissions process. We recommend in-person attendance, but there is a link available to join virtually. https://tinyurl.com/collegeinfo2026

Congratulations to the 2025-26 Philadelphia's Youth Poet Laureate, our very own Rashawn Dorsey! Please see the official announcement here, as well as a clip from the award ceremony. We are so proud of this accomplishment and can't wait to see the doors that will open for Rashawn!

Congratulations to our Students Run team for completing the Philadelphia Distance Run this weekend!

We are excited to invite parents and community members to join Palumbo's School Advisory Council (SAC).

A School Advisory Council (SAC) is a collaborative team that works to improve student achievement, effective teaching in the classroom, and parent and
community engagement in the educational process. We meet monthly virtually on Wednesdays at 8:30 AM and participate in conversations by using and addressing school data. We are focused on improving academic achievement, school climate, and family engagement.

Our first meeting will be taking place on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 8:30 AM.

If you are interested in participating please complete this Google Form to get more information, the Zoom information and the SAC meeting dates for this year.

The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) is a group of motivated student leaders, hand-selected to serve as co-creators and strategic advisors to the Superintendent. This council exists to ensure that student voice is not just heard, but is positioned as a critical informer of the District’s decisions. Councilmembers will directly inform district leadership, helping to shape the future of the School District of Philadelphia.

SSAC members act as crucial liaisons between their school communities and the Superintendent. They will identify pressing issues, propose student-driven solutions, and strengthen the connection between students and district decision-making. This focused group provides students with a unique opportunity to lead with curiosity and care, build essential leadership skills, and gain exposure to postsecondary and career opportunities.

We are seeking your help in identifying candidates for the council and encouraging them to apply. This document provides more information about the commitment and the responsibilities of a councilmember.

Students can access and complete the application HERE. Feel free to forward this email to students you have in mind. The deadline to apply is by the end of the day on September 30, 2025.

• HBCU College Prep Initiative, "First Thing's First" Virtual Session: Join the HBCU College Prep Initiative on Wednesday, 9/24 at 7:30 pm for this month's virtual session discussing what you need to know/do after deciding to attend an HBCU. Each month, this group will discuss a different topic related to HBCU preparation and enrollment. Students and families can register for next week's session HERE. Flyers are attached.
• FAFSA Kickoff: The Office of Postsecondary Readiness will host this year's FAFSA Kickoff event at the Central Office on Wednesday, 10/15 from 3:30-7:00. Support will be available for students and families to complete their FAFSA, and gift cards will be made available for folks who start and/or complete their FAFSA. Students should register HERE.

If your student is new to Palumbo, and has a 504 Plan please reach out to their counselor to ensure that we have a copy of the plan. This is especially important for students coming from non-school district schools. The 504 plans do not automatically transfer to us from outside of the district.

Counselors:

Last Name A-G - Thomas Shanks - tshanks@philasd.org

Last Name H-P - Chloe Gerbec - cgerbec@philasd.org

Last Name Q-Z - Qiana Pray - qpray@philasd.org

Save the Date–Malcolm Bernard HBCU Fair: The Office of Postsecondary Readiness will be hosting the 27th Annual Malcolm Bernard HBCU Fair on Wednesday, 11/19 from 3:30-7:00 at Martin Luther King High School. Students should bring copies of their transcripts, as some schools may be doing instant decisions. Student registration is REQUIRED at this link.

Welcome back Students, teachers and staff! We hope that everyone had a great summer. Academy at Palumbo Home and School Association in collaboration with Principal Thompson wanted to help ring in the 20th Anniversary with a total remodel of the 1st floor Hallways, main office, bathrooms and Main Entrances. We wanted to show everyone that steps into the Academy at Palumbo building what Griffin Pride is all about!! We want to say Thank you to all the volunteers that helped get everything done before the start of school.

To the families at Palumbo, we will have our 1st Home and School meeting of the year before Back to School night on 09/11/25 @ 5pm. We would like any families interested to attend and learn more about the HSA and how we can work together to make Palumbo a great place for our children. You can join the HSA and attend meetings, volunteer time to help with school or HSA events and you can donate to the Griffin Fund by using the QR Codes below. To learn more please click here.

Starting on the last week of school 2025, The hallways were cleared and a base coat of paint. Over the course of the summer with the collaboration with Principal Thompson, HSA board and volunteers of the Palumbo families got to work and created a total facelift to the 1st floor hallways, bathrooms, main office and main entrances. The 1st floor has a totally NEW look and we are happy to help add to the celebration of Academy at Palumbo's 20th year anniversary!!

FUNDING FOR THE 1st FLOOR REMODEL: Much of the furniture, paint, lights, supplies and other items were purchased upfront so the space would be ready for the start of school. We are still fundraising to cover the cost of those purchases.

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 20th – November 24th from 6:30PM – 7:30PM 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!

Every year (now in its 18th year) Operation Homefront hosts the Military Child of the Year® Awards. The awards are open to military children between the ages of 13-18. There are 7 recipients 1 child from each branch of the services and each recipient receives $10,000 CASH, a laptop, other donated goodies, and a 3-day trip to Washington, DC with us and their families.

Children are entered by nominations. Anyone that knows a military child can nominate any military child. So, you may nominate your students, friend’s children, children can nominate their siblings and best friends and so on. The awards are open to Active Duty, Reserves AND Veteran children. Nominations will be opening on September 3rd

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 doctors 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.