11-23-25 Patriot Press

Dear Fort Families,

Turkey Trot Schedule & Details

We are so excited for our annual Turkey Trot next week! To ensure students have time for lunch, we will be making a few schedule adjustments for Wednesday.

Kindergarten students will kick off the event at 9:15 a.m. (earlier start time) All Kindergarten families should meet in front of the building a few minutes early to join their students. The Kindergarten Turkey Trot will be slightly shorter — just under a mile — so students can return in time for their early lunch. Students will walk down Fort Washington Avenue, turn right onto Thomas Drive, continue to the end of Thomas Drive, and return along the same route. Parents will be stationed along the course to help guide students, along with a crossing guard.

The rest of the school will begin at 9:30 a.m., starting with 1st grade and continuing through 5th grade.

Grades 1–5 will follow the 1.6-mile route shown below in the Patriot Press. Please have students wear a sports jersey or something Thanksgiving-themed, and be sure they are dressed warmly. If your child does not have sports or Thanksgiving-themed clothing, each grade level has an optional color they may wear:

• Kindergarten – red

• 1st – brown

• 2nd – orange

• 3rd – purple

• 4th – yellow

• 5th – green

We are hoping for clear, dry weather for our Turkey Trot! If it is raining at the time of the event, we will unfortunately need to cancel. We will continue to monitor the forecast and, if necessary, send a cancellation message as early as 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

We would like to wish all of our Fort Washington families a very Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for sharing your children with us each day — we are truly grateful to spend time with such wonderful students!

Sincerely,

Mr. Mac
Fort Washington Elementary School
Principal
smcaleer@udsd.org

Monday, November 24 – Early dismissal at 12:15 p.m. - conferences (evening option available 5:00–7:00 p.m.)

Tuesday, November 25 – Early dismissal at 12:15 p.m. - conferences

Wednesday, November 26 –

• Turkey Trot - 9:15 for kindergarten - 9:30 grades 1-5 (all families welcome - meet in front of the building)
• Early dismissal at 12:15 p.m.

Thursday, November 27 - Thanksgiving - No school for students

Friday, November 28 - No school for students

Friday, December 5 - PBIS Town Meeting - Focus on Safety

🦃 Turkey Trot Route Directions

• Start by heading north on Ft. Washington Avenue

• Turn right onto Thomas Drive

• Turn left onto Victor Drive

• Turn right onto Hazelwood Drive

• Turn left onto Goodman Drive and continue for 0.7 miles

• Turn left onto Hawthorne Drive

• Turn left onto Tressler Drive

• Turn left onto Hazelwood Drive

• Turn right onto Victor Drive

• Turn right onto Thomas Drive and continue for 1.6 miles

• 
  

The event will conclude as K–5 students return back into the building.

On Thursday, our 4th graders had an unforgettable adventure at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of our Philadelphia Eagles! Students explored the entire facility, toured the press room, ran through the player tunnel onto the field, and spent time in the Eagles locker room, where they got an up-close look at the players’ lockers and our two impressive Lombardi Trophies. They also learned how the Eagles conserve energy throughout the stadium, making the experience both exciting and educational. This incredible trip is sure to be a memory our 4th graders will cherish for years to come!

On Thursday, our Assistant Superintendent, Julien Drennan, visited to read to a group of students. Mrs. Drennan read the story Balloons Over Broadway, which tells the story of Tony Sarg, the puppeteer and inventor behind the famous giant balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. After hearing the story, Mrs. Gossner’s 5th grade class and Mrs. Hammarquist’s 2nd grade class had the opportunity to virtually meet an actual handler of one of the balloons in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Bryan Drennan, Julien’s husband, is going into his second year as a handler of one of the giant balloons in the parade. Students learned how Bryan trains throughout the year to become a handler, what the experience is like during the parade, and about his first-time experience last year. Be sure to look for Bryan this Thanksgiving as he will be a handler on the Minion balloon. Thank you to Julien and Bryan for providing this amazing experience for our students.

Mandatory Lockdown Drill:
We will be conducting our annual mandatory lockdown drill on Monday, November 24th. This practice helps ensure that students and staff are familiar with our safety procedures and know how to respond in a calm and organized manner in the unlikely event of an emergency. Students will be informed through an announcement that clearly states this is only a drill and will be guided by their teachers throughout the process. During the drill, students will follow teacher directions and remain quietly in their designated classroom area until the drill is complete. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting a safe and secure learning environment for all.

If you are planning to attend classroom parties or events, or to chaperone (including with your own child) on a field trip, Tier I clearances are required. Clearances are valid for five years. You can find more details via the button below.

A reminder that during upcoming conferences, teachers will share observations about your child’s learning, highlight strengths, and discuss areas for continued growth and support. You will also receive a Fingertip Report—an overview of your child’s assessment results. For additional context as you review the report, please refer to the Fingertip Report Guide and the Elementary Assessment Schedule.

The Office of Student Services issued a letter this week to families of kindergarten and first-grade students regarding our upcoming ROAR programs hosted by the Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center. ROAR is a personal safety program, offering age-appropriate, interactive lessons that help children recognize, resist, and report unsafe situations.

A reminder that all students can enjoy a free breakfast in our cafeterias each morning. Selections vary by day and include warm, whole grain-rich mains, fresh fruit, 100% fruit juice, and locally-sourced milk. It’s a great way to start the day energized and ready to learn. View our menus to see what’s for breakfast!

Fall Fest Fill the Truck Saturday, November 22

UD Lacrosse Club FiddleStix ProgramRegistration Opens December 1

UDJAA Softball - Registration Opens December 1

2SLGBTQQIA+ Coffee & Conversation - Wednesday, December 3

Girls Lacrosse Jingle Bell Jog 5K - Saturday, December 6

**Disclaimer Statement: The information provided in the segment above is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation of any specific individual or organization. We offer this platform as a resource for community organizations but cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the details provided.