Calendar 2008=9 - The School District of Philadelphia

October ANTI-TRUANCY to make sure their children attendIf children are not in school, they can’tlearn. It is critically important thatchildren come to school, on time,every day.Truancy and not attending class aresome of the first signs of trouble.When young people routinely skipschool, they are indirectly telling theirparents, school staff and the communitythey need help.What’s more, students who becometruant and eventually drop out frequentlyset themselves up for alifetime of struggles.In an effort to see that every childattends school, The School District ofPhiladelphia partners with localcommunity-based organizations whohire and train Parent Truancy Officers(PTOs). The PTOs work with theirassigned schools to contact theparents/guardians of truant studentsby telephone. PTOs also meet withparents/guardians in their homes andat school, and make referrals toagencies that may help address familysituations that are contributing tostudents’ absences.In addition to the powerful incentive ofsupporting their children’s education,there is another incentive for parentsschool, on time, every day. Parentsare legally responsible to ensure thattheir children are attending school.BOOK OF THE MONTH for OctoberElementary (K-2): The Little Scarecrow byMargaret Brown Wise.Although yearning to go out into the cornfieldwith his father to scare crows, Little ScarecrowBoy must wait until he is bigger. The rhythmictext illustrates the youngster’s growingindependence. Big, sunny illustrations lit by thesummer sun highlight the young scarecrow’stalent for making faces.Elementary (3-5): Smoky Night by Eve Bunting.When the Los Angeles riots break out in thestreets of their neighborhood, a young boy andhis mother learn the value of getting along withothers no matter what their background orethnicity.Middle School (6-8): The Boggart by SusanCooper.When Emily and her family return to Canadafrom their trip to Scotland, where they visited thecastle they had inherited, strange things begin tohappen. Could it be possible that she hasaccidentally trapped an invisible, mischievousspirit - the Boggart - in her computer? Will thespirit continue to wreak havoc for Emily and herfamily? Emily must discover how to send thespirit back to Scotland.High School (9-12): Ender’s Game by OrsonScott Card.Ender, who was created from geneticexperimentation, may be the military geniusEarth needs in its war against an alien enemy.Anastasiya Bachmanova, Central High School, 2008