Dear East Ward Families,

Happy Passover to all those who celebrated this past weekend. Spring is officially here, and with it comes a renewed energy and excitement throughout our school! April is a time of growth, reflection, and preparation for the final stretch of the school year. Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to support your child’s learning and well-being. Thank you to all caregivers who took the time to respond to our Spring PA Climate survey. The PA Climate Survey enables caregivers to share their thoughts about East Ward. Your feedback helps us grow. Please click on the link below if you would like to see more about the data that was collected earlier this year.

If you are on Class Dojo, you may have seen pictures from our faculty and staff's Secret Spirit Week. We all followed the suggested theme for each day, and students guessed each day what we were doing. Everyone seemed to really enjoy this. We hope you all got into it at home as well.

Celebrating Everyone at Our School
April is a meaningful month at East Ward as we recognize several important observances:

• Autism Acceptance & Neurodiversity Celebration Month – celebrating the strengths and unique perspectives of individuals with diverse learning and thinking styles.
• Arab American Heritage Month – highlighting the culture, contributions, and stories of Arab Americans.
• National Deaf History Month – honoring the achievements of Deaf individuals and the importance of accessibility and inclusion.
• Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month (early recognition) – sharing stories of AAPI leaders who have made a difference.

Each morning, students hear about a notable person from one of these communities during our announcements. These brief stories help build empathy, awareness, and pride in the rich diversity of our world.

Technology Fees

Technology is beneficial in so many ways. DASD has provided students in grades K-3 with iPads and 4th and 5th graders with Chromebooks. As part of this service, in May of each school year, the annual technology insurance fees are posted to caregivers' Pay Schools Central accounts for the next school year.

Every month thereafter, June through October (2x in August and September) caregivers receive an email reminding them to remit the posted tech fees: $50 K-8; $75 grades 9-12; with a $175 family cap. Each school year, we share unpaid fee reports for your school starting in October. Students eligible for free and reduced meals have tech fees waived, however, they will incur repair costs.

The district's ability to maintain and repair student devices is dependent upon the collection of these fees. The cost of 1 replacement screen at the high school is $450, $250 for grades K-8 screens. While we cannot, and never would prohibit students from participating in curricular activities during the school day, we can prohibit students from participating in non-school day, non-curricular activities with unpaid fees. On the following webpages the full details of our 1:1 program including fees and repair costs are available to view publicly.

Technolgy Use at Home

All students have school devices, and many have personal devices. While technology can do so much for individuals, our young learners are still learning about proper usage. Some of our students are on YouTube after school hours and others use various chat features on phones or personal devices. We can monitor school devices, but need your help to monitor chats and searches on personal devices. There have been multiple occasions where students have heard things online and shared their new words or phrases in school. In many of these cases the content shared in school has not been school appropriate, and has left children feeling hurt. When these types of incidents are brought to school, there can be school consequences. We want to keep all our students safe. You can help by monitoring your child’s online presence and phone messaging at home. Furthermore, we recommend shutting down and removing devices before bedtime. There have been quite a few occasions where we have seen and heard about issues with young kids online and chatting well past the typical bedtime.

Spring Break Reminder

There will be no school from April 17–21 for Spring Break. We hope your family enjoys time together to rest and recharge! Happy Easter to all who celebrate!

PSSA Testing for Grades 3–5

Students in Grades 3–5 will begin PSSA testing on April 22. These assessments give us valuable insight into how students are progressing in reading, math, and science. Please help your child do their best by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive on time each day. Encourage them to try their hardest and remind them that we are proud of their effort!

Kindergarten Registration & Spring Events

We are so thrilled to welcome our newest Cougars to East Ward! If you have a rising kindergartener or know someone who does, please encourage them to complete kindergarten registration as soon as possible so we can plan for a smooth start in the fall! We are also holding our Kindergarten Screening dates are 5/6 and 5/7. Kindergarten Orientation on April 30th from 3:50-4:45 PM. Students will have the opportunity to here about Kindergarten from me, visit classrooms, tour encore classes and the cafeteria, and caregivers can also visit specialists in our lobby and sign up for screening, if they have not yet done so. Our Home and School Association will also be on hand to share information with you.

Keep an eye on your email and our school calendar for updates about upcoming events such as the Spring Concert, Field Day, and more!

We’re All in This Together

At East Ward, we believe everyone matters. Whether we’re working through challenges or celebrating achievements, we do it as one community—together. Thank you for being an essential part of our East Ward family.

Dr. Argonish

Our two Reading Olympics teams did a wonderful job at the Reading Olympics competition last night! The Reading Rockstars took home the blue ribbon and Just One More Page earned the red ribbon. Congratulations to all and a big thank you to Ms. Pealer for coaching these teams!

As April begins, we welcome a month dedicated to understanding, belongingness, and appreciation. Autism Acceptance Month is a time to celebrate the unique strengths, talents, and perspectives of individuals with autism. It reminds us of the beauty of our students and the importance of fostering a world where every individual is valued and supported.

This month encourages us to move beyond awareness and embrace true acceptance—creating spaces where students with autism feel seen, heard, and empowered. Whether in our schools, workplaces, or communities, we can all play a role in promoting meaningful connections, accessibility, and opportunities for all.

Let us take this time to learn, listen, and uplift the voices of those with lived experiences. Together, we can build a more understanding and compassionate world—one that recognizes the limitless potential in every person.

Here’s to a month of acceptance, growth, and celebrating the incredible contributions of the autism community!

We are thrilled to kick off another year of the DASD Eagles Autism Foundation Coin Challenge, an exciting opportunity to give back, celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, and support a meaningful cause! The money we raise will directly support autism programming in our elementary schools by the EAF and provide high school students with incredible volunteer opportunities at Lincoln Financial Field for the actual Eagles’ Autism event.

In response to the past enthusiasm from staff and families, we are excited to extend this challenge district-wide for those who wanted to participate in previous years but were unable to. You may use the QR code above. Now, everyone has the chance to join in and make a difference!

We’ll be providing promotional materials, including ads and a video, to help spread the word.

Together, we can make a lasting impact for our students and community. Let’s make this year’s DASD Eagles Autism Foundation Coin Challenge our best one yet!

What is the PA Climate Survey?

This online survey, designed for students, teachers, parents, and community members in PA schools, collects valuable data to enhance school climate. It explores key areas like Student Support, Social Emotional Learning, Safe School Climate, and more, offering insights into actions, relationships, bullying, and feelings of belonging from diverse perspectives.

These efforts support DASD's strategic plan, specifically Goal 1: "Students feel Safe, Connected, and Engaged." By focusing on metrics such as the percentage of students who feel safe, connected, and heard; attendance rates; participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities; and suspension rates across all demographic groups, this initiative fosters a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.

Now that registration is open for the 2025-2026 school year, we want to be sure every prospective kindergarten family is aware we have Full Day Kindergarten available to ALL students next year! We held our Open House for students and families to become familiar with kindergarten on January 8, 2025 from 4-4:45 PM. We will have a Kindergarten Round Up on April 30th. At this event, students and caregivers will have the opportunity to hear from Dr. Argonish and tour the school. More details to follow. Lastly, the next task for caregivers, aside from completing their registration is to sign up for our kindergarten screening (May 5th and May 6th). During screening, the children will have the opportunity to do several tasks. We review all data collected, and use this data to create balanced kindergarten classes for the 2025-2026 school year.

With the PSSAs rapidly approaching, it's normal for kids to feel a sense of worry or anxiety. Please remind your 3rd-5th graders that the PSSAs are designed to show what they know and are more a reflection of the school than of them as an individual. The most important thing they can do is come to school ready to do their best (see below for more tips) and armed with some positive self-talk and a willingness to try. "I can do this", "I don't have to know everything", "I will do my best"; help to promote this type of positive self-talk leading up to the test. We're proud of the effort they show every day as they persist through difficult challenges. This is just one more example of their grit and perseverance!

Tips for handling the PSSAs like a pro:

Get a good night’s sleep: The amount of sleep that children get is critical to their performance throughout the day. Make sure that your child is in bed at a reasonable time and that all electronics have been removed from their room. Children’s brains and bodies are still growing, and they require at least 10 hours of sleep to function at full capacity. It is our job as adults to ensure this happens.

Eat a filling breakfast: They don’t call it “the most important meal of the day” for nothing! The food our kids eat in the morning is what fuels them for the first half of their day. Whether they eat at home or at school, try to ensure they are eating something substantial and filling.

Arrive on time: The test starts promptly at 9:15, and students who arrive late will not be allowed to enter the room, meaning they’ll have to take the test at another time. While we realize mornings can be a hectic time, make sure to prioritize getting out the door in a timely manner. Setting out clothes the night before or waking up just 10 minutes earlier could help to reduce some of that morning rush stress.

No counseling lessons will be conducted in April due to PSSA testing.

Square breathing. Making or tracing a square with your finger, breathe in for one side, hold for the second side, breathe out for the third side, hold for the fourth side. Repeat as needed.

Dr. Katie Rastetter, School Counselor

krastetter@dasd.org

610-269-8282 ext 23040

Wednesday 4/2- 5th Grade Band Rehearsal 7:45 AM LGI

Friday 4/4- Early Chorus Rehearsal 8:00 AM LGI

Friday 4/4- ESL Family Night

Monday 4/7- Early Orchestra Rehearsal 7:45-8:45 AM

Wednesday 4/9- HSA Parent Meeting- Library 7:00 PM

Wednesday 4/9- Magic Story Hour- I design 7:00 PM

Thursday 4/10- 5th Grade Band Rehearsal 7:45- LGI

Monday 4/14- Early Chorus Rehearsal 8:00 AM LGI

Tuesday 4/15- Early Orchestra Rehearsal 7:45-8:45 AM

Wednesday 4/23- 5th Grade Band Rehearsal 7:45 AM LGI

Friday 4/25- Early Chorus Rehearsal 8:00 AM LGI

Thursday 4/17-18, 21- Spring Recess SCHOOL CLOSED

Tuesday4/22-25- PSSA Testing: ELA Grade 3-8

Monday 4/28- Early Orchestra Rehearsal 7:45- 8:45 AM

Monday 4/28- May 2: PSSA Testing: Math, Science, and Make-Up Sessions

Tuesday 4/29- Basketball Spring Clinic 6:15-7:30 PM (see flyer for information)

Tuesday 4/29- Art Show

Wednesday 4/30- Kindergarten Open House

Saturday 5/3- Parents Night Out (see flyer below for information)

Culture Fest 2025 (Rescheduled)

🎉 The 3rd Annual Culture Fest is back on and rescheduled! 🎊 Mark your calendars for May 22nd from 5-8 PM at Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center! 🌍✨

We would love for you to join us again and be part of this wonderful event! 💙 Your participation has made a huge impact in the past, and we’re excited to have you back to help us celebrate the vibrant diversity of our community! 🎶🎭🍛

🌟 FREE & OPEN to all Downingtown Area School District (DASD) students (K-12) and their families! While registration is encouraged, this event is designed to be accessible to everyone.

🔗 Pre-register here: Culture Fest 2025 Registration

We can't wait to celebrate with you! 🎊🎤🎨

Poetry Contest

If you have a budding Dr. Seuss or Shel Silverstein at home, why not encourage them to enter our annual poetry contest? This year our topic is Funny, Silly, Non-sense-filled poems limited to 150 words. Submissions are due April 7th.

Please submit your student’s poem to eastward.hsa@gmail.com or to the main office with his or her name, grade, teacher, and your e-mail address.

Winners will be chosen by April 16th, and will be requested to read their poems at our Wellington Bookstore Night on April 23rd. One winner will be chosen per grade.

Parent HSA Meeting / HSA Board Nomination Meeting

Join us for our next Parent HSA meeting on April 9th at 7 PM in the East Ward Library. We will be discussing plans for Teacher Appreciation Week and Spring Fair! We will also be announcing board nominations for next year. Your students can enjoy Magical Story time while you attend!

Smencil Fundraiser Sale

Would your student get more excited about school work or homework with scented pencils? How about ordering some Smencils? Smencil sales end April 11th. We are selling them for $2 each or $5 for 3. Cash or check only, with checks made out to East Ward Home & School Association.

Check or Cash can be provided with the form sent home in Wednesday folders or can be found posted on Class Dojo.

Discounted Hershey Park Ticket Sales

Looking for a good deal on summer fun? We are offering discounted Hershey Park tickets until April 15th for $50 each! Check or Cash can be provided with the form sent home in Wednesday folders or can be found posted on Class Dojo. They can also be purchased online with an additional fee here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/eastwardelementaryhomeschoolassn/store

Wellington Bookstore Night / Al Pastor Dine & Donate

Shop and Support and/or Dine & Donate on the same day! Come to Wellington Bookstore in Eagleview on April 23rd to shop and hear our poetry contest winners share their funny, silly poems in the evening. Peak shopping hours will be from 5 - 8pm, but 20% of sales all day will go to support the HSA. Make a whole night of it and dine at Al Pastor anytime from 5 PM until close. 10% of sales will go to support HSA. Dine in or take out. Reservations recommended if dining in.

Spring Fair Coming Soon

Be on the lookout in Wednesday folders and on Facebook and Class Dojo for posts about Spring Fair wristband and raffle ticket sales! Spring Fair is Friday, May 16th from 5:30 - 8 PM with all the fun games, candy, and prizes along with food trucks, snacks, and a couple of special additions!

Thank you,

Parul Desai

Poems at Home

Roses are red

Violets are blue

We like poetry

How about you?

While our poetry may not be very good, our ideas for sharing it with young kids definitely are! National Poetry Month is a time to celebrate poets, rhymes, rhythm, and word choices that make poetry fun for kids.

Sharing poetry with kids is a great way to highlight language. Poems include humor, interesting words, tongue twisters and alliteration (the same consonant sound at the beginning of each word). Choral reading of poems, where more than one reads the same thing at the same time, and several rereading of the same poem also builds fluency.

How to Plan a Family Poetry Jam

Start with playful, rhyming poetry about topics that are familiar to your child like animals, food, and bedtime. Nursery rhymes and Mother Goose collections are early favorites.

Read the poetry aloud slowly. Emphasize the sound of the words and the rhymes. Read dramatically to emphasize the breaks and phrasing of the poem. Have fun with the colorful language and word play.

Reread the poem several times. Many popular poets for kids (for example Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky) have several of their poems online. These can be printed and used for rereading. Favorite ones can be arranged into a family poetry notebook.

Once a poem is familiar to your child, take turns reading! First you read one line or one stanza, and have your child read the next. See if you can do that while maintaining the rhythm of the poem.

Plan your own family poetry jam. Have each member of the family choose and practice a favorite poem to share with the family. Set aside a special time to celebrate poetry by having each person share their poem.

While April is National Poetry month, there’s enough excellent poetry for kids to share all year long. Ask your local librarian for help finding poetry collections that are a good fit for your child.

For more ideas, read Nursery Rhymes: Not Just for Babies!

www.ReadingRockets.org/article/14017

Spring is here, but flu, GI illnesses, and allergies are still going around! Here’s how to keep our Cubs healthy:

Keep your child home if they have:

❌ Fever over 100.4°F (must be fever-free for 24 hours without medication)

❌ Vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours

❌ Severe cough, sore throat, or pink eye

Spring Allergies? Try This:

🤧 Keep windows closed to limit pollen exposure

💧 Wash hands and face after outdoor play

🛏️ Change clothes before bed & wash bedding often

💊 Talk to your doctor about allergy medications if needed

Healthy Habits:

✅ Wash hands often

✅ Stay hydrated—drink water, not sugary drinks

✅ Get 9–12 hours of sleep for strong immunity

Snack Smarter!

We’ve seen more kids bringing spicy chips like Takis, which can cause stomachaches. Healthier choices help kids feel and focus better! Try:

🥕 Fruits & veggies

🧀 Yogurt or cheese sticks

🥜 Whole-grain crackers with peanut butter

Thanks for keeping our Cubs healthy!

— Nurse Jill & Nurse Brii

Call DASD Transportation if you need assistance with a bus after 4:00pm.
Phone number: 610-269-8460. Select the transportation prompt to be connected with someone who can help you.

Please refer to the link below this map for all the details for walkers or picking up students by car if you have not already done so. Many thanks!

Email: ewinfo@dasd.org
Website: https://ew.dasd.org/
Location: 435 Washington Ave, Downingtown, PA 19335, USA
Phone: 610-269-8282
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dasdew
Twitter: @dasd_ew