August 13, 2019

Dear Palumbo Families:

Welcome back! Or, if you are new to the Academy at Palumbo family, welcome and thank you for choosing our amazing school for your child’s education. I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer and are ready to start a new school year on September 3rd.

Last school year was filled with lots of fun learning experiences and student successes. Here are just a few of our points of pride:

• Recognition for three years of growth on the School District’s School Progress Report
• PIAA Championships in both Boys and Girls Volleyball
• Fourth championship in the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement
• Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship recipient
• Named one of the best high schools in the state, according to U.S. News and World Report
• Production of our third full musical, In the Heights
• National competitors in chess, speech and debate
• First place in Robotics competition
• Four PIAA Track & Field championships

We are already gearing up for an incredible new school year. Our teachers have attended training sessions to better help all students learn and grow. Our hard-working custodians have spent the summer cleaning our school. And, our cafeteria workers are preparing to serve your children delicious, healthy and free breakfast and lunch each school day in our newly renovated cafeteria.

We’re also delighted to welcome a few new additions to our staff. Mr. Daniel Langford will be joining our English department, and Mr. Louis Fortunato will be joining our math team.

We have over half of the building air conditioned, and are working to complete the installation in remaining classrooms this school year. Teachers and students will also enjoy new SMART boards in 23 classrooms.

Be sure to visit www.philasd.org for important back-to-school information such as a list of vaccines your child will need to attend school. This is also a reminder that our 9th grade orientation is on Wednesday, August 28 from 9am – 12 p.m. Parents do not need to attend with their students. For incoming 9th grade students who live more than 1.5 miles from the school, you will be issued a transpass, but lists are often delayed, so I would make arrangements for the first few days of school.

I also want to invite you to attend our Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 26 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. This will be a great time to meet  teachers and other families, and learn more about the new school year.

All of us at the Academy at Palumbo look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday, September 3rd, and working with our families and community to support high-level learning. As always, please feel free to reach out to me at 215-400-8130 or info@palumbohs.org  with questions or concerns. Together, we can make this school year our best one yet as we all continue to show our Griffin Pride!

Kiana L. Thompson, Principal