March 20, 2026

This Week at FHE:

• ✅ Spring Security Drill: Successfully completed as we continue to prioritize student and staff safety.
• 📚 Spring Book Fair: A wonderful success—thank you for supporting our readers! And many thanks to the volunteers for their help with set-up and book fair sales!
• 🎉 PBIS Celebration: Our March school-wide winners enjoyed a Friday afternoon filled with Bingo!
• ⚾ Phillies Home Opener: Lots of school spirit as we celebrated a sunny day and a Phillies win!
• 🎻 Honors Orchestra: Kudos to our Bobcats who proudly represented FHE at the district-wide concert—job well done!
• 🧠 Bobcat Brain Builders: Families and WCU students joined us for interactive literacy and math games to keep learning active at home.
  👉 Click here to access the games we played using everyday household items.

Important Update:

• ❤️ Jump Rope for Heart: Due to Friday’s rain, the event has been rescheduled to Monday, March 30.
  We hope families can still join us during their child’s special area time!
• Kindergarten: 1-1:50; 1st grade 1:50-2:40; 2nd grade 2:40-3:30; 3rd grade 10:00-10:50; 4th grade 10:50-11:40; 5th grade 9:10-10:00

Looking Ahead:

• ⏰ Half Day: Wednesday, April 1
• 🌷 Spring Break: April 2–6 Schools and Offices Closed
• Spring Break is an opportunity for both families and staff to enjoy time away from school and return for the homestretch of the year feeling well-rested and rejuvenated. We kindly ask that you pause communication with our team during the break. We look forward to reconnecting when school resumes on April 7!

We hope everyone enjoys a restful and refreshing break!

Fern Hill is proud to partner with the American Heart Association to help students learn about heart health while making a difference. Through the Kids Heart Challenge, students explore ways to keep their hearts strong, support important research that helps prevent and treat heart disease and stroke, and learn life-saving skills like Hands-Only CPR.

🐾 This Year’s Theme: Adorable Puppies!
Students can earn fun puppy-themed thank-you gifts for participating and spreading heart health awareness. The flyer includes details about the gifts, special prizes for signing up, and extra rewards for completing a Hands-Only CPR mini course.

📅 Main Event
Kids Heart Challenge Event: Monday, March 30

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Join the Fun
Families are welcome to attend! Parents, guardians, grandparents, relatives, and even future Fern Hill Bobcats (ages 3–4) are invited to come celebrate heart health with our community.

Thank you for helping our students learn compassion, leadership, and healthy habits that last a lifetime. Together, Fern Hill Bobcats are making a difference—one heartbeat at a time. 💓

March 16-24 - Book Fair

March 18-19 - Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences

• No School for Elementary Learners

March 20 - Schools Closed K-12; Eid Al-Fitr

March 24 - Bobcat Brain Builders Literacy and Math Game Night

March 30 - Jump Rope for Heart

April 1 - Half Day for Students; PM In-Service

April 2 -6 - Schools Closed - No School for Students; Spring Break

April 21-23 - PSSA ELA Grades 3-5

April 28-29 - PSSA Math Grades 3-5

April 30 - WCASD AI In Education Event at Rustin High School

April 30-May 1 - PSSA Science Grade 5

WCASD will host an AI in Education Community Event on Thursday, April 30, in Rustin High School’s Auditorium from 6:30–8:00 PM. This event will feature a moderated panel discussion with educators, industry experts, and WCASD students, focused on how artificial intelligence is shaping learning and how our district is approaching this work thoughtfully and responsibly.

Families and community members are encouraged to attend: AI in Education RSVP Link.

We are excited to host our FHE Heritage Day on Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 9:00-3:30 and are looking for parent and guardian volunteers to participate. Heritage Day is a full-day event where students learn about and explore cultures from around the world. Volunteers may share their culture through materials, presentations, food, pictures, or by teaching students about customs and traditions. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the Google Form linked below. We would love to celebrate and learn from our school community.

In WCASD’s full-day kindergarten, learning begins with play. Through hands-on, play-based experiences, children build language skills, confidence, creativity, and friendships while learning how to work together and try new things.

It’s a joyful foundation that supports your child’s growth today and sets them up for success in the years ahead. We can’t wait to welcome your family to the WCASD Way!

If you have used child-sized cleats or shin guards, please consider donating them. Real Futbol Club is a local soccer club dedicated to bringing soccer to families in our area. Mrs. Christine Miller and Mrs. Lisa Baker will have boxes in their rooms for any donations. We will take donations until February 13. Thank you!

The Fern Hill PTO is offering discounted Hersheypark tickets for just $49 each (regularly up to $90+ for ages 3+ during summer). Tickets are valid April 3, 2026 – January 3, 2027, and every purchase supports our PTO.

Order online via the PTO website by Sunday, April 19th and tickets will be distributed the following week via e-mail. Note: You may purchase tickets for family and friends, but you cannot sell them to the general public. For orders over 9 tickets, please submit an additional form.

The spiritwear store is reopening on Monday March 23!

Show your Bobcat pride, purchase a gift for a current or incoming Bobcat, or just refresh your Bobcat’s spiritwear wardrobe. Click here to browse and purchase. The store will be open for 1 more week with a 4 week expected delivery.

It’s not too early to start thinking about how you’d like to be involved at Fern Hill next year! The PTO Board is a fantastic way to make a difference and be involved in our many fun events and fundraisers! Several spots will be vacant with our fifth grade families moving on. If you have any questions please reach out to Megan Kazanjian at meghankaz@gmail.com

Calling all Fern Hill parents! We are looking for parents to join together to start a Fern Hill Chapter of West Chester Unplugged! Please reach out to Ali Haas at ahaas19603@gmail.com if you’re interested in joining. This is for parents interested in learning about and setting boundaries for technology with our kids, both at home and in school.

Want one less thing on your to-do list in May? Order your yearbook early and save 10%—but hurry, the discount ends October 31st!

Click here to purchase [web.treering.com]

Earning money for our school has never been easier! All you need to do is download the Box Tops app, create an account, and scan your grocery receipt. Easy and quick! Last year we earned $500 from Box Tops for Fern Hill!

We love having our families volunteer throughout the building. In order to volunteer, adults are required to have their clearances on file with us. Clearances can take 4-6 weeks to acquire, so please be sure to get the process started if you're looking to volunteer this Fall.

If you are planning a family trip, please complete the Trip Approval Form to notify the Main Office and gain approval for your trip. The Vacation Request Form will also always be available on our Fern Hill Website under the "For Parents" section.

• Fern Hill Website
• PTO Website
• Vacation Approval Request Form

• FHE: Kindergarten Lunch Duty
• FHE: 1st Grade Lunch Duty

Jennifer Southmayd

Principal

Email: jsouthmayd@wcasd.net
Website: https://www.wcasd.net/fhe
Location: 915 Lincoln Avenue, West Chester, PA, USA
Phone: 484 266 1600
Twitter: @FernHillES