Spring is Here!
Spring has sprung around the district! Spring sports have started, students are busy preparing for graduation and move-up celebrations, and our students are preparing for annual state assessments.
While buildings are buzzing with activity, our equity action plan is also in full swing. Affinity groups are meeting regularly across our buildings to share their thoughts, plan activities, and provide education to students and staff alike. Our efforts to root equitable practices in everything that we do took flight this year through the Middle School's spring production, The Wizard of Oz with a sensory friendly show opportunity offered on Thursday night. And our Family Wellness Fair offered all families and community members with an opportunity to meet a variety of community organizations, from mental health agencies to dance and karate studies, to private tutoring businesses.
Holiday Education and Recognition
As part of the district's committment to equitable practices and belonging, our students are learning about various holidays and important events from around the globe. From Lunar New Year, Passover, and Ramadan, our teachers and students are providing all members of the Springfield Township with opportunities to learn more about our student's unique backgrounds.
During the Spring of 2023, our students will have opportunities to learn about the Passover Seder, receive accommodations to respect the Ramadan holiday, and receive education on Norwuz.
For more information about the many holidays celebrated in our community, check out these resources:
Springfield Equity Statement
Recognizing the diversity of our community, The School District of Springfield Township is committed to and accountable for advancing equity and excellence for all of our students. We, in the School District of Springfield Township, endeavor to provide equitable opportunities for high level, meaningful, and engaging learning experiences for each and every student, regardless of racial/ethnic background, economic condition or other dimension of identity or difference.
We recognize that in order to achieve Educational Equity we must apply principles of fairness and justice in the allocation of resources and work toward the elimination of institutional barriers to access and opportunity. We aim to ensure that funding, policies, practices, and initiatives will enable every student to receive what they need to maximize their success. In order to foster growth toward equity, we must engage in continuous reflection and ongoing measurement of our efforts.
Year 1 (2022)
- Adopt and enforce an Educational Equity Policy (Complete)
- Identify administrator responsible for conducting review and analysis of data and leadership of EAP (Complete)
- Communicate the purpose and goals of the EAP broadly and consistently (Complete)
- Support conversations in the classroom that help students to be prepared for difficult topics and conversations around equity (On-going and embedded in practices)
- Improve safety for marginalized students, including students of color and LGBTQ+ students (Area for continued growth)
- Utilize analytics to assess the impact our communication has on students and families (On-going and embedded in practices)
- Create feedback/communication system for parent teacher conferences (On-going and embedded in practices)
- Provide training for ALL district staff on equitable practices that are able to be implemented in the classroom and across district offices (On-going and embedded in practices)
Student and Staff Surveys
Year 2 of the Springfield Township Equity Action Plan focuses around collecting and using data to drive our actions. As such, the district is committed to providing opportunities for students and staff members to provide feedback about a variety of equity topics, including belonging, trauma-informed environments, and ability to facilitate difficult conversations.
Students are currently provided a short, 20 question survey in the fall, winter and spring each year. This survey asks students to share their sense of belonging in the school and community. Data from this survey is used to determine building climate and areas of focus for our equity action plan.
Our staff members will have opportunities this spring to participate in mini surveys on a variety of equity minded topics. This staff feedback will help us determine appropriate professional development topics, group staff members for professional learning communities, and find out how staff members can support specific equity initiatives.
Important Information for Students Celebrating Ramadan
The following information was sharing with district staff to provide information about our students who observe Ramadan:
Dates of/for Ramadan are as follows: March 22nd through April 20th
In the Islamic calendar, the 9th month is called Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating or drinking throughout the day, from sunrise to sunset. Once sunset arrives, Muslims break their fast with a meal called Iftar. Dates are commonly eaten first during Iftar, and then the sunset prayer or Maghrib is performed. Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection and devotion for those of the Islamic faith. Many Muslims perform acts of charity during Ramadan. The end of Ramadan is marked by a celebration called Eid Al Fitr. On the day of Eid, Muslims attend a congregational prayer and celebrate with family and friends to mark the joyous event. Here are some considerations for teachers during Ramadan:
be conscious of playing games or issuing rewards that involve any food, including candy
do not host parties or other events during class time that include food.
avoiding consuming food and beverages in front of these students whenever possible
rearranging high stake exams to be done during the morning sessions closer to when Muslim students have eaten
offering alternative, i.e., less intensive, activities during PE classes
offering short breaks during lessons
avoiding questioning a student if they are fasting or not
not planning tests or exams on a recognized religious holiday like Eid-al Fitr
Equity Plan Updates
- The Winter Student Belonging Survey was administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in late February and early March. A preliminary data review indicates that over 93% of all students surveyed indicated that they feel like a part of their school.
- District administrators have worked with building principals to plan additional steps for embedding equitable practices into each school
- Yom Hashoah or Holocaust Day of Remembrance will be observed through MS and HS students from the Jewish Affinity Group visiting Enfield's 2nd grade classrooms to read a book on separated families during the Holocaust and on April 14th a Holocuast survivor will visit the high school for a student assembly.
- The district applied for an MCIU grant that will provide additional funding for trauma-informed practices professional development for all staff.
DVCEE District Membership
Our district is a proud member of the DVCEE, Delaware Valley Consortium for Excellence and Equity, an organization sponsored by the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Springfield Township is proud to continue our membership and work collaboratively with the 37 other districts in the Greater Philadelphia region to enhance equitable educational practices for all students.
For more information on DVCEE, please visit their website.
Yom Hashoah: Holocaust Memorial Day
This year, April 27th marks Yom Hashoah or Holocaust Memorial Day. This day commemorates the murder of over 6 million Jews during World War II by the Nazi party and their collaborators. The day was originally established in April of 1959 for the "commemoration of the disaster which the Nazis and their collaborators brought upon the Jewish people and the acts of heroism and revolt performed."
In Isreal, flags are flown at half staff and ceremonies are held to remember and honor those who died and resisted throughout the Holocaust.
The Proudest Blue
By Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali, illustrated by Hatem Aly
A picture book about the hajib.
Reading Level: 1.6
Available at Enfield and Erdenheim
All Are Welcome
By Alexandra Penfold
All Are Welcome invites children to step into a school where everyone is received with open arms.
Reading Level: 2.0
Available at Enfield and Erdenheim
Omar Rising
By Aisha Saeed
Omar gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is awarded a scholarship to an elite private school, but little does he know the mistreatment that is waiting for him.
Reading Level: Young Adult
Available at Springfield Township Middle School
It Wasn't Me
By Dana Alison Levy
When Theo's art project is vandalized, six students from diverse backgrounds are forced to band together to figure out the culprit.
Interest Level: Young Adult
Available at Springfield Township High School
