NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 28, 2023
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Enjoy Your Last Week of Summer!
It’s not quite Pumpkin Spice season yet, but fall is right around the corner, and we are just a little over a week out from the first day of school on Tuesday, Sept. 5! We hope you are just as excited as we are to kick off the new school year.
Read below for important updates and information!
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HSA and SAC Meetings
Mark your calendars for the first SAC meeting September 6, and the first HSA meeting September 19! More details to come.
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First Day of School Arrival
We are so excited to see everyone at Masterman on September 5! As a reminder, Middle School students will enter via doors on the patio (facing Spring Garden St.) and High School students will enter through the 17th St. door.
If you plan to drop students off, please be aware that there is often heavy traffic around the city and immediately around the school for the first few days. We advise you to leave extra time, pay extra attention to safety, and consider dropping your child off a block or two away from the school. More details on the "nuts and bolts" of first day procedures will be sent via the Parent Portal and the Grade-Level Google Classroom pages next week. Stay tuned!
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September 1st Is the Date to Wait For!
Families should be aware that rosters, schedules, and other details for the fall are still in process until September 1. The way the school district manages student course information makes it visible before it is finalized, so what you can see now may still change.
Teachers have been asked to post their supply lists by September 1 as well. Those will be available on the masterman.philasd.org homepage and we will include a link in our next newsletter for reference. Nothing but your rested and ready student is required for the first day of school, but for families who are eager to get supplies before school starts, they will be posted on Sept. 1. Supplies can be brought into school over the first two weeks.
As a reminder, you can find summer assignments for each grade HERE. Also, don't forget about required medical forms. You can find links to forms on the nurse's section on the Masterman website or email our school nurse, Ms. Bagley at ebagley@philasd.org
Keep an eye out for for announcements soon about an Zoom welcome and Q&A for new families and back to school night!
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Families Who Are New to the District
In order to access your child’s schedule and other information in the school district online portal, you will need their Student ID number and a confirmation code from the school. In order to get that set up, you can call or stop into the Masterman main office Monday-Friday between 9:00 am and 2:00 p.m.
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Fall Sports Information
Fall sports have just begun for high school students. For information and questions about high school sports and teams, please contact Mr. Otarola at votarola@philasd.org.
High School sports officially started on August 14. If you have a high school student that is interested in joining a sport, it's not too late. Don't forget - sports teams need managers, too. You don't have to be athletic to join a team. As a small high school, we need student participation to keep our sports teams going. That means 9th graders! Meet new friends, get fit, and have fun. No experience required. As an added bonus, athletes get to leave school early on game days!
For more information, please contact one of our coaches (see table). Please note - students need to have a completed sports physical form (signed by a doctor) to participate in Athletics.
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Middle School sport options at all SDP schools can be found here. Under the District's eligibility rules, middle school athletics is defined as 6th grade through 8th grade. Masterman is offering two sports this Fall: Co-ed Golf and Co-ed Soccer. More details will be provided during the first weeks of school.
Volleyball intramurals are also an option in the fall. All middle school fall sports will begin in mid- to late September. Watch for announcements after school begins. All sports except for intramurals require a PIAA sports physical, available here.
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Hello from Masterman SAC (J.R. Masterman's School Advisory Council)
The Masterman SAC welcomes new and returning families to a joyous productive school year. We invite students, parents, caregivers, teachers and community members to attend SAC meetings to make connections and stay connected with the community. We hope to bring you regular updates via the HSA newsletter this year as we work in partnership with the HSA, staff, administration and students - with the mantra - our students first!
Our first meeting is on Wednesday September 6 at 6pm. Zoom link information is being sorted out and will be communicated before school starts. We hope to see you there. All meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of each month.
If you wish to submit an item to be placed on the agenda for the first meeting or subsequent meetings please write jrmastermansac@gmail.com or fill out this input form https://forms.gle/MHM3kGc9K5RDmcUv7
Your participation and input is vital to having a functioning SAC and a vibrant and engaged school community.
Get to know your SAC representatives: Masterman SAC is composed of 8 voting family members elected from the community, 5 elected teachers and 2 elected SGA (student government) representatives, community members.and school administration.
Parent/Family members
Teachers
Students
- Candelaria Beatty (HS SGA President)
- Isabella Silverman (MS SGA Delegate)
Community Members
Get to know our Masterman SAC's mission, vision, objectives and how it works by reading through the SAC bylaws: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sIkOnybY-hou3EVaxiEcxqH5bF7lu6C7EnGvrqtCgfo/edit?usp=sharing_eil_se_dm&ts=64eac07e and the SAC constitution as detailed by the School District of Philadelphia: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1trfuTQxJhnIFJpQCm2ASshqQVa5gFtH-/view
The bulk of the work of SAC is done through committees. There are five permanent standing committees that exist to support the mission of the SAC.
- Diversity Equity and Inclusion
- Health and Wellness
- Teaching and Learning
- Climate and Culture
- Safety and Facilities
We are currently working on committee assignments. Next week, we will share the mission and objectives of each of these committees. Committees meet once a month and also provide a committee report of their work at monthly SAC meetings. Please email jrmastermansac@gmail.com if you would like to participate in any of these committees.
Our student community thrives when you participate.
Visit us at https://masterman.philasd.org/school-advisory-council/#1685017786785-997ea20e-08a3
For more information on SACs visit the SDP webpage https://www.philasd.org/face/sac/
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Call for HSA Volunteers and Leaders
If you are interested in helping out in any capacity next year, now is a great time to connect.
You can make as large or small of a commitment as you wish. There is something for everyone to do. We especially need people interested in helping with communications, events, and fundraising.
The HSA Board also at least one seat currently open, and we are speaking with potential committee chairs, subcommittee chairs, and committee members.
Email president@mastermanhsa.org. Let's talk!
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Carpool and Neighborhood Connections
Are you looking for families to carpool with, or willing to offer advice to new families about transportation from your area of the city? The Home & School Association has created a way to share your neighborhood and contact information to connect with other families for transportation and other support. Please take a moment to complete this form so we can help connect you with other interested families. Parents/guardians can submit information and receive a link to the shared spreadsheet.
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Connect with Other Families on Facebook
One of the best ways to stay connected with other families is through Facebook groups. These groups are not run by the HSA, but moderated by individual parents with kids currently in each grade.
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Opportunity to Join a Black and Asian Youth Initiative
Masterman’s new art teacher, Allison Aubry, shared this opportunity to participate in a youth program that aims to bring together Black and Asian youth in greater Philadelphia:
Black and Gold 2.0, part of Philly Solidarity programming, will include a series of workshops spanning across several topic areas including African-American history, AAPI history, sports, career development, photography, design and more.
- Eligible youth are 14-18 and identity as African-American, Black, Asian, Asian-American or Pacific Islander
- Program will be on select Saturdays in Philadelphia (mostly at the Crane Center in Chinatown) September through December with some additional later dates possible
- There is a peer mentor component that pays selected peer mentors (16-18) $200 after the completion of the program
- For students who need it, there is transportation assistance
- To register: Enroll here by September 1
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Prepare Now to Chaperone School Events and Trips!
The school district requires certain clearances and background checks for all adults entering the school or accompanying students at field trips and other events. Get your clearances now and submit them to the main office so that you're ready to help out come September. Info is here.
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Masterman Logo Gear
Support our school and show your Masterman pride with a new tee, hat, bag, shorts, or water bottle.
CLICK HERE TO SHOP
Use code FRIDAYNIGHT15 to SAVE 15% off orders $115+ at Squadlocker.com.
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Donate to the HSA today and help fund this year's programs, activities, and improvements! | | |
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HSA ANNUAL FUND
Donations fund the many programs and initiatives of the HSA that support our school, teachers, families, and students. Whether you are able to give $5 or $500, your gift is meaningful, and signals your commitment to our community.
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Thank Our Auction Sponsors
Over 100 businesses donated to the spring auction last year to support the Masterman HSA. Show your gratitude by supporting them in return! Browse the list here.
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Spread the Word
Do you have news or announcements that you want to share with the school community? Is there information you'd like to see featured here?
Email newsletter@mastermanhsa.org.
Connect others with the HSA by forwarding this email or sharing this link to subscribe to the newsletter!
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