11-9-25 Patriot Press

Dear Fort Families,

I hope everyone enjoyed this beautiful weekend! We are all so excited as we move into the holiday season — this is always my favorite time of year!

In a few weeks, we will be holding our annual parent-teacher conferences. This is your opportunity to see how your child is doing in school, both academically and socially. The main focus of the conference will be on your child’s progress with the grade-level curriculum and their interactions with peers. Each teacher will also share a Fingertip Report (summarizing your child’s results from district assessments) as well as the I-Ready benchmark reports in math and reading.

The benchmark assessments were given in September and help our teachers monitor student growth in both reading and math. The next I-Ready benchmarks will be administered in January. While these reports are not the main focus of the conferences, they do help teachers identify areas of strength and areas for continued growth during the school year. We look forward to seeing the progress our students make when the new results are available in January.

As a reminder, we will have three half-days during the week of Thanksgiving. Please make sure your children know how they will be getting home on these days. Dismissal will be at 12:15 p.m. on Monday, November 24; Tuesday, November 25; and Wednesday, November 26.

We are also looking forward to our annual Kindergarten Thanksgiving Performance on Friday, November 21. The family performance will begin at 2:45 p.m. in our school gym. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early — it’s always a packed house!

I look forward to seeing many of you at conferences in just a few weeks!

Sincerely,

Mr. Mac

Fort Washington Elementary School

Principal

smcaleer@udsd.org

Thursday, November 13 -Barnes & Noble Night (Montgomeryville) – 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Friday, November 21 – Kindergarten Thanksgiving Sing-Along – 2:45 p.m. in the gym (for Kindergarten families)

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 - 9:30 a.m. (all families welcome - more info to come next week)
• Early dismissal at 12:15 p.m.

KA enjoyed a morning at Robbins Park last week exploring nature. Robbins Park is a wonderful resource our district provides to complement our science curriculum. It is also open to the public if you are ever looking for an opportunity to spend time in nature. We are very fortunate to have this resource here in Upper Dublin!

As we approach Fall Conferences on November 24–25, we look forward to connecting with families to discuss student progress and goals. During conferences, teachers will share a Fingertip Report summarizing your child’s results from district assessments.

We are proud to continue our Patriot tradition of supporting Cradles to Crayons with a Fall Coat and Clothing Drive from November 3-26. We are collecting winter coats, boots, mittens, and more to help children in need. Please view our flyer for more specific information about donations and our collection process.

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.

During last evening’s Cardinal Conversations program focused on Student Mental Health, this handout was shared as a resource for families. The handout provides tips to promote positive mental health, contact information for our school counselors, and easy access to our mental health resources page.

As many families navigate recent changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the school district issued an important message about available resources and ways our community can come together to help those in need.

As part of our Comprehensive Plan, UDSD is developing a Portrait of a Graduate to define the skills and competencies students need to thrive. Parents and guardians are invited to a one-time virtual focus group on Tuesday, November 11, 6:30–8:00 PM with Julia Skolnik, CEO of Professional Learning Partnerships, to share your insights and help shape this vision. Your perspective is invaluable—register today to join the conversation!

Our school district's planetarium will reopen to the community on Thursday, November 20 for two programs, One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure and Lamps of Atlantis. Join us to enjoy a full-dome view of stars, planets, and cosmic wonders—perfect for curious minds of all ages!

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!

UDHS Theatre Presents Emma - November 12-15

Babysitting Night at the Pool with UDHS Swim & Dive Team - Friday, November 14

Parenting Adult Coffee with SpeakUp - Friday, November 14

UDEF Tech Trek - Resources for Digital Parenting - Follow on Instagram at @udtechtrek

**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.