3-1--26 Patriot Press

Dear Fort Families,

It was a great week at Fort Washington! With the snow finally cleared, our students were able to enjoy some much-needed fresh air and outdoor time.

Looking ahead, teachers will be reaching out tomorrow to families of students for whom they feel a spring conference would be beneficial. As a reminder, spring conferences are optional. If you do not hear from your child’s teacher but would like to schedule a conference, please reach out on March 9 to request a meeting.

Spring conferences will be held on March 17 and March 18. We will have half days on both of these days, with dismissal at 12:15 p.m. We appreciate your continued partnership and look forward to connecting with you.

We also continue to celebrate positive behavior by passing out HERO cards daily to our students. This month, many students who were selected as winners received a free child’s meal from Raising Cane's. We are so proud of our students and hope many had the opportunity to enjoy their free meal for being model FWES citizens.

Enjoy this beautiful weather and the rest of your Sunday!

Sincerely,

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

March 1 - 15 - FWES Read-a-Thon

Monday, March 2 - FWES visits UD Public Library with Therapy Dogs - 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

March 17 - Early dismissal - 12:15 p.m. Spring parent/teacher conferences

March 18 - Early dismissal - 12:15 p.m. Spring parent/teacher conferences

Fort Washington Elementary students and families are invited to visit us at the Upper Dublin Library for Read Across America Week—join us for a night of reading fun with the therapy dogs on Monday, March 2!

Join the FWES Read-a-thon and help us turn the page toward 125,000 minutes! From March 1–15, read as much as you can, log your minutes, and earn fun prizes along the way. Top readers can win exciting rewards like Librarian for the Day and a Hot Cocoa Party! Register, read, log — and let’s reach our goal together! Please click on the PTA newsletter for more information on the Read-a-thon.

Looking ahead, we want to make families aware of the schedule for the annual Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) exams, which will be administered to students in grades 3-5. Additional guidance to support students in preparing for the PSSA will be shared prior to the testing. At the elementary level, the PSSA schedule is as follows.

English Language Arts | April 20 - 22

Math | April 27 - 28

Science (Grade 5 only) | April 30 - May 1

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.

Spring conferences will be held March 17–18 and are optional for all students. Teachers will reach out by Monday, March 2, if a conference is recommended, and families may also request a conference beginning March 9. Conferences can be scheduled in person or virtually.

Our district’s Portrait of a Cardinal will define the skills and mindsets students need to thrive in school and beyond. Learn more in our newest podcast episode of The Cardinal Cast, then share your voice by completing our brief, anonymous survey by March 10 to help shape this vision.

Our Food Service Team is gearing up for National School Breakfast Week 2026, March 2–6, at all Upper Dublin schools! This year’s theme, “The Quest for School Breakfast,” invites students, staff, and families on a fun journey to see how a healthy breakfast fuels strong starts, strong minds, and strong days. With tasty breakfast choices, engaging cafeteria décor, and special menus, we’re making this week an adventure for every student—stay tuned for more details!

Upper Dublin School District is now accepting new student registrations for the 2026-2027 school year. Please visit our registration page for eligibility information, required documents, registration tutorial, before and after care information, and to access our registration portal, Infinite Campus.

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!

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