News From The Grizzlies' Den

Dear Grizzlies,

What a busy and exciting month October has been at Greystone! Our school has been filled with learning, celebrations, special activities, and so many opportunities for our Grizzlies to connect as a community. I continue to be grateful for the enthusiasm of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the incredible support of our families.

As we wrap up another busy week, thank you for continuing to partner with us and for helping make Greystone such a special place for our students. I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful weekend!

Warmly,
Erin Stephen
Principal

10/26: Alice Drill

10/28: Greystone Continuous Improvement Quarterly Meeting

11/30: Halloween Parade (9:45) and Fall Parties

11/6: Conference Sign up Sheet

11/3: No School : Inservice

11/23-1125: Conferences

ALICE Drill Reminder
Greystone will be conducting an ALICE safety drill as part of our ongoing school safety preparedness. Staff will guide students through the drill using age-appropriate language and support. We appreciate our families’ partnership as we work together to maintain a safe and supportive learning environment.

Parade Details

• Date: Friday, October 30

• Time: 10:00 AM (students line up on playground at 9:45 AM)

• Costumes: Students should arrive at school in costume.

• Route: Double-loop parade in front of the school, organized by class.

• Class Signs: Please have a sign with your class name visible during the parade so families can easily identify your class!

• After Parade: Students return to classrooms for the remainder of the school day.

Family Information

• Families should not arrive before 9:40 AM.

• Upper parking lots close at 9:50 AM. Lower lots remain available. Consider parking in the Greystone Community and carpooling or walking to the parade route.

• Families should be in their designated viewing areas before 10:00 AM. Refer to the campus map.

• Families will not be able to enter the school following the parade.

We’re so excited for all the fun that October and Halloween bring! As your family prepares costumes or spirit wear, please remember that students should not bring fake or replica weapons to school. Also, we need to be able to see students’ faces during the school day, so masks or face coverings that completely cover their face should be left at home. Don’t worry, a pirate is still a great pirate without a sword, and a superhero is still a superhero without a mask (they’re just less concerned with a secret identity)! Thank you for helping us keep the focus on fun while avoiding the unnecessary scares

Nurse’s Office Clothing Donation Request

The Nurse’s Office is seeking donations of gently used or new clothing to help support students who may need a change of clothing during the school day.

We are currently in need of:

• Shorts and lightweight pants in all sizes
• Small-sized underwear for both boys and girls
• Clean, dry grocery store bags to send soiled clothing and personal items home with students

Please also consider sending a spare change of weather-appropriate clothing for your child to store in his/her backpack or cubby. This helps the child feel more comfortable should they need to change. Thank you for supporting the Nurse’s Office and helping us ensure that our students remain comfortable, cared for, and ready to learn.

Mrs. Slifer

PTO Announcements:

• Greystone's Trunk or Treat is THIS FRIDAY from 5-6 pm (or until candy runs out)! Didn't purchase tickets? You can still attend, just plan to pay $8 per child at the door!
• Thank you to the Trunk or Treat Chairs, Liz Pretz and Meg McCormick for all their hard work putting together a great event!
• The '26-27 GES Yearbook is now available for order! Order here by 10/31 to save 10%.
• The Fall Book Fair is coming to GES the week of Nov 2nd! Students will shop during school and families can join in the fun during Family Shopping Night on Thursday, Nov 5th from 5-7 pm. Look for volunteer opportunities below and visit GES's scholastic site to set up your eWallet.
• We did it, Grizzlies! Greystone Games raised an incredible $15,844.91, surpassing our $14K goal. Visit the PTO website for the final totals! Stay tuned for information about the inflatable costumes race!
• Art to Remember: Look out for ordering forms for Art to Remember next week. You can memorialize your student(s)' artwork while also supporting the art program at GES! Win-win!
• Congratulations to our Running Club members! Fall Running Club concluded the season with their big Race Day this week, running between 1 and 3 miles on the last day!
• A big thank you to Running Club coordinators, Kerry Mai and Melissa Hocevar, and all the volunteers who made Running Club possible.

• Want to help with your child's classroom during the Fall Book Fair? Check out the opportunities to help here!
• Join the Culture Day Committee to help showcase the diverse cultures, traditions and experiences that make Greystone unique. Sign up today and be part of this meaningful event.
• Lend a hand at recess! Just 30 minutes makes a difference. Sign up for October and November recess duty!

As always, contact greystoneptopresident@gmail.com for any questions & to learn more about getting involved at GES.

Upcoming Events:

10/30 - GES Halloween Parade

11/2-11/9 - Book Fair
11/5 - Book Fair Family Shopping Night, 5-7pm

11/11 - General PTO Meeting, 7 pm

11/19 - 4th Grade Donuts with Grown-ups

Late Elementary School Start & End Times

• Student Arrival Begins: 8:30 a.m.

• School Day starts: 9:00 a.m. (students will be marked late after 9:10am)

• Before-School Care (AM): 7:00 – 8:30 a.m.

• After-School Care (PM): 3:30 – 6:00 p.m.

• Early Dismissal Time: 12:00 p.m.

• Carline and Walker Dismissal: 3:30 p.m.

**Student drop off doors will be open 8:30-9am. After 9am all students must be dropped off at the main office doors. After 9:10am, parent must escort their student into the building to sign in**

Student Drop-Off

Student drop-off will take in the smaller loop outside the gym. Students being driven to school will be dropped off along the sidewalk.

■ When dropping off, drivers should pull all the way along the sidewalk.

■ Please have your child exit on the passenger side of the car for their safety.

■ A staff member will be at the door to usher students inside.

■ Students may be dropped off between 8:30 am and 9:00 am.

■ After 9:00, students will need to enter at the main office and starting at 9:10 a parent must sign in students in our main office.

■ Parents should remain in their cars throughout this process.

■ If you child need extra time or assistance getting out of the car please park in one of the parking spots to help them.

Student Pick-Up

We will do our best to make this process fast and smooth. Please remain in your cars, keep moving, and follow directions given by the staff members on duty.

■ Dismissal begins at 3:30. Please do not enter the car loop until 3:20

■ When picking-up, drivers should enter the large loop by the main entrance.

■ If your child needs help getting buckled or getting into the car we ask that you park to give yourself and your child the additional time.

■ A staff member will be outside to track the students’ names.

■ Students will be dismissed and exit the gym doors, and walk directly to their cars.

■ Staff members will guide students to their cars.

■ Once students are safely in the cars, parents should safely exit the car loop.

■ Please wait patiently for the car in front of you to move. We should never pass on the left for student safety.

■ Parents should remain in their cars throughout this process.

All Families picking their child up by car should be entering the carline.

If you did not remember to change pick up patrol to parent pick-up ahead of time, please park and go to the office and your student will be called to meet you. The school must know by 2pm if you are changing your pick up plans and are planning to pick up in carline.

**Arrangements for student who need assistance during pick up can made so all students can safety get home from school**

We have some important updates to share regarding attendance and communication:

1. Marking your child absent in Parent Portal: By marking your child absent in Parent Portal you will notify attendance office, teacher, and stop the automated call. If the absence is a parent note no other steps are necessary!

2. Doctor Note Submission Options: Caregivers now only need to submit doctors notes for medical absences. These can be provided by email or paper copy.

3. Automated Phone Calls: Automated phone calls will be sent to caregivers of students with unexcused (LAW) absences at 10:00 AM each morning. This will help keep you updated on your child's attendance. If this automated call ever feels inaccurate, please contact our main office.

4. Attendance Email for Medical Notes: GESattendance@wcasd.k12.pa.us. Our school secretaries will receive emails to this address which will ensure a smooth communication process.

5. Early Dismissal and Tardiness: Parent are provided a combined total of 10 excused dismissals and tardies per school year.

6. Nurse Exclusion Policy (NE): In Parent Portal families will see the code (NN) if the nurse sent a student home. Parent Notes will be used for any additional absences caused by the illness unless a doctor's note is provided.

If you have any questions please reach out to our attendance secretary Mary Platt at MPlatt@wcasd.net

Our school uses Pickup Patrol for parents to communicate dismissal plan changes only. All Change must be made by 2pm for the teacher to get notification. PUP can not be used to report a child's absence.

Notes, emails or phone calls are not accepted for dismissal changes, except in emergencies.

Thank you for using PickUp Patrol to make safety a priority and to ensure our dismissal process is efficient for all our students. If you have any questions, please check the PUP Parent Guide. If you still need help, contact the office.

We love having our families involved in school life! If you plan to volunteer during the school day—such as helping with recess, class parties, assisting at Greystone Games or other PTO events, or chaperoning field trips—you’ll need to have updated volunteer clearances on file. (Clearances are not required for attending concerts, spectating at events, or visiting during Sneak-a-Peek.) Since state processing can take a couple of weeks, we recommend starting the update process as soon as possible. Please reach out to Mary Platt if you’d like to check the expiration date on your clearances.

What is required for volunteering:

1. Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (fees waived)
2. ChildLine (Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance through the Department of Human Services) (fees waived)

In addition to 1 & 2, one of the following is required for applicable volunteers:

3a. If a resident for the past 10 years, a signed Disclosure Statement for Volunteers (download from PA.GOV website) affirming no charges in other states that would prohibit selection as a volunteer;
OR

3b. If not a resident for the past 10 years AND the volunteer has received certification at any time since residency established, the volunteer must provide a copy of the certification received since residency established;
OR

3c. If neither 3a or 3b apply, FBI Criminal Background Check required (fingerprint check) for federal criminal history records (fee charged)
WCASD employees use the service code 1KG6XN
Volunteers at the WCASD use the service code 1KG6ZJ

• West Chester Music Academy – October 14, 2026 at Exton Elementary
• Yoga with Ms. Rebecca – November 11, 2026 at Hillsdale Elementary
• ATA Martial Arts – December 9, 2026 at Glen Acres Elementary
• Zia Yoga & Wellness – January 13, 2027 at Starkweather Elementary
• Tot Rock – February 10, 2027 at East Goshen Elementary
• West Chester Public Library – March 10, 2027 at Fern Hill Elementary
• Oscar Lasko YMCA – April 14, 2027 at Westtown-Thornbury Elementary
• Young Rembrandts – May 12, 2027 at Mary C. Howse Elementary

Dr. Erin Stephen

Principal

Email: EStephen@wcasd.net

Phone: 484-266-2300

Mrs. Ashley Melanson

Assistant Principal

Email: AMelanson@wcasd.net

Phone: 484-266-2332

Address: 1195 Aram Ave, West Chester, Pa 19380

Instagram: @GreystoneGrizzilies