February 27, 2026

What a week it has been! We began with a blizzard and our very first Flexible Instruction Day — and somehow ended the week enjoying 50+ degree sunshine. If that isn’t a perfect snapshot of February, we’re not sure what is!

As we close out the month, our building proudly showcases the culmination of our Black History Month Museum. A bonus classroom has been transformed into a celebration of learning, featuring student-created projects, podcasts, and displays honoring leaders, changemakers, artists, and innovators who have shaped history and continue to inspire the future -- see it on Instagram here! The depth of research, creativity, and reflection on display is truly impressive and a testament to our students’ engagement and pride.

In between snowflakes and sunshine, our Kindergarten students enjoyed a special in-house field trip with Winterthur, bringing hands-on learning and exploration right into our school.

We also celebrated our February PBIS reward, where students crafted snowflakes while enjoying hot chocolate — a cozy and well-earned celebration of positive behavior.

Finally, we wrapped up our Student Council-led service project in partnership with To Love a Canine. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we collected an amazing number of donations. The class with the most contributions earned a special visit from some adorable puppies this week — a joyful way to celebrate giving back!

📚 Coming Up

Next week, we are excited to celebrate Read Across America with engaging activities designed to spark joy and foster a love of reading in every classroom. Join us as we get in the "spirit" for reading! We can't wait to share our big, blow-up surprise with you next week!

Additionally, Spring Conference sign-ups are still open. We look forward to connecting with you to discuss your child’s continued growth and success.

Mar 2 - 6 - Read Across America Spirit Week

Mar 3 - Grade 2 Field Trip to Winterthur

Mar 13 - Half Day for Students; PM In-Service

March 18-19 - Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences

• No School for Elementary Learners

March 20 - Schools Closed K-12

March 27 - Jump Rope for Heart

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

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

It is time for families to schedule their child’s Spring Conference! Our staff is looking forward to meeting with you for a Spring conference as an opportunity to share your child's progress, strengths, and areas for growth.

To schedule your child's conference,

1. Go to https://ptcfast.com/schools/Fern_Hill_Elementary_School

2. Please check the box for your child's homeroom teacher. Families with multiple children will have to do the process individually for each child.

3. Enter your registration information.

4. Check your email (and spam folder) and click on the access link to select your conference time. If you would like to request a virtual conference, type Virtual Conference in the Special Request box.

5. Click Confirm Selections & Exit. If you need to schedule a conference for another child, go back to https://ptcfast.com/schools/Fern_Hill_Elementary_School

If you do not have internet access, please contact your child’s teacher.

As a reminder, the school schedule for conference week is as follows:

• March 18 - No School for Students; Conferences 8-11AM and 12:20-3:20PM

• March 19 - No School for Students; Conferences 8-11AM and 12:20-3:20PM

• March 20 - No School for Students; Schools Closed

Please contact your classroom teacher with any questions. We look forward to seeing you in the building soon!

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.

Fern Hill’s Literati Online Book fair is now OPEN! Shop the online fair and support our PTO. Stay tuned for more information about volunteering at the in-person fair March 16th-24th!

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