Calendar 2008=9 - The School District of Philadelphia

JanuaryPROMOTING RESPECTAND PREVENTING VIOLENCEA respectful caring school communitydoesn’t “just happen.”In fact, its creation is a deliberateeffort shared by teachers, administrators,students and the entire community.The reward of these efforts ispriceless—young people who havedeveloped into thoughtful, considerateand kind human beings.At The School District of Philadelphiawe think respect is best taught byexample and quality teaching, in ourschool communities, respect andresponsibility are part of our corevalues and everyday interactions.We place a high priority on helpingour students learn to resolve conflictswith others in a positive way. Further,our students learn that the purpose ofeducation incudes developingqualities such as respect and caringfor self and others, while making acommitment to equality.School District students have takenthe lead in developing programs formaking their schools conduciveplaces for teaching and learning.One outstanding example isOverbrook High School’s PantherPeace “Core,” a student-created andstudent-driven service organization.This successful anti-violence, peermediation group is now being replicatedat other District high schools.BOOK OF THE MONTH for JanuaryElementary (K-2): Just Another Ordinary Day byRod Clement.Extraordinary, fanciful drawings illustrate Amanda’s“ordinary day” at school, showing her scienceteacher as a giant insect, a classmate as anextraterrestrial, and more. At the end of the day, shecuddles up for a story with her cat, a lion namedFluffy. The plain text shows great contrast with thefantastic drawings.Elementary (3-5): You Want Women To Vote, LizzieStanton? by Jean Fritz.This biography of Elizabeth Cady Stantonunderscores the life of a woman far ahead of hertimes. Although Lizzie Stanton did not live to see thetotal fruits of her efforts, she was an outspokenfighter for women’s suffrage and fought tirelessly forequality for everyone, men and women, black andwhite. This selection, with author’s notes, abibliography, and an index, is an excellent tool forintermediate grade research.Middle School (6-8): Misty of Chincoteague byMarguerite Henry.This story is based on true incidents. Paul andMaureen help capture a wild mare and her colt onChincoteague Island off the coast of Virginia. Thehistory of how the horses came to run wild on thisisland is fascinating, and intermediate readers willwant to find the island on a map and perhapsresearch how it has changed in the past 50-plusyears.High School (9-12): Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.During his wanderings from a Southern college toNew York’s Harlem, an African American manbecomes involved in a series of adventures involvingrace, culture, and background.Paige MacKenzie, H.A. Brown School