4-13--26 Patriot Press

Dear Fort Families,

I hope everyone enjoyed this beautiful Masters weekend. It was so great seeing so many Fort families at Bingo Night on Friday. It was a wonderful celebration of our FWES community, and many students were excited to collect prizes provided by our PTA. Thank you to all of our staff members for giving up a Friday night to spend time with their students.

Next Friday, we will have our annual Jump Rope for Heart event. Mr. Green has been working hard to teach different jump rope tricks to all of our students, and these will be on display during the event. Due to the limited number of jump ropes available, please feel free to send one in with your child next Friday. The more jump ropes we have, the more jumping we can do! All parents and guardians are welcome to join us starting at 2:00 in the upper parking lot.

I would like to close by sharing that we have unfortunately had a couple of incidents where students have used inappropriate language toward others involving race and the color of their skin. Each day, we do our best to model kindness and respect. While it is disappointing when situations like this occur, it is something that will not be tolerated at Fort Washington.

Please be mindful of what your children are watching on YouTube and on television. This is also a good opportunity to have conversations at home about treating others with respect and understanding that we should never refer to someone’s skin color in a derogatory way.

We have the children for seven hours each day, and it is important that these conversations are also happening at home and that screen time is being monitored. Through continued conversations at home and at school, we can work together to ensure our students understand the importance of this topic and the expectations we have for respectful behavior.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Sincerely,

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

April 20, 21, and 22 – ELA PSSAs (grades 3, 4, and 5)

April 24 – Jump Rope for Heart, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (upper parking lot)

April 24 – 4th and 5th grade dance, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (gym)

April 27 and 28 – Math PSSAs (grades 3, 4, and 5)

April 30 and May 1 – Science PSSAs (5th grade only)

We will host our FWES Spring Clothing Drive to support Cradles to Crayons from April 7- May 11. Learn more about suggested items and donation guidelines via the flyer below.

As we approach the PSSAs, please ensure your child brings a fully charged Chromebook and charger for each testing day, and note that no other electronic devices are allowed. You can support your child’s success by making sure they are well-rested and have a healthy breakfast each morning. See the PSSA letter below for more information.

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 is in the air, and so is allergy season! If your child experiences symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, or congestion, please consult your healthcare provider. For students requiring medication, please administer doses before school as directed and ensure all required documentation is submitted to the school nurse in advance. Please do not send any medication with your student without first speaking with the nurse. Simple steps like keeping windows closed, washing after outdoor play, and changing clothes can help reduce exposure, and our school health offices are available for any questions.

Join us on Thursday, April 30 for the annual Allied & Performing Arts Show. Take a walk through the lobby and hallways of the Upper Dublin High School Performing Arts Center, transformed into a gallery featuring artwork by students in grades 4–12 from across the district. Food trucks will also be on site if you’d like to enjoy dinner.

Join Superintendent Dr. Laurie Smith and Director of Technology Colleen Yenser for an informative, interactive session on the role of artificial intelligence in education. The discussion will cover responsible AI use by students, ways AI can support learning, and the district’s approach to developing policies for safe and effective classroom integration.

We are excited to host our district’s Celebration of Cultures on Monday, May 11, an evening to share traditions, connect, and celebrate our diverse community. We invite students, families, and staff to participate as table hosts and showcase their heritage. Hosts can facilitate a table in many ways, including sharing traditional foods, displaying artifacts, or leading hands-on activities like crafts or dance. For more details, view the flyer linked below and register by April 17.

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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