January 16, 2026
Happy New Year!
This week at Fern Hill was filled with moments that reminded us why community matters so deeply. We ended the week gathered in our halls for a cancer clap out celebrating one of our first graders who is officially cancer-free. The cheers, high-fives, and smiles said everything—this was joy, hope, and love felt by every Bobcat in the building.
Alongside this celebration, our students and staff participated in CHOP Pajama Day, proudly supporting the work of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, an organization that shows up every day for children and families when it matters most. Our goal was to raise $450—$1 per student—and thanks to the generosity of our community, we are currently at $1,306.
Families are welcome to continue donating through the weekend here:
👉 https://chop.donordrive.com/campaigns/FHEPajamaDay
Thank you for helping our students experience what it looks like to care for others, celebrate perseverance, and come together around something bigger than ourselves. It was a powerful reminder of the kind of community Fern Hill is—and the kind we are proud to be part of.
📅 Reminders:
- Schools are closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
- Unity Week is NEXT WEEK, January 20-26. Please see the spirit week and event details below.
Unity Week: January 20-26
We are excited to share that our district schools will be planning and facilitating a Unity Day this school year, with the purpose of fostering a culture of kindness, acceptance, belonging, and inclusion. While all schools are united by this shared purpose, each school will design a Unity Day in a way that reflects its unique and valuable community members and voices.
Here at Fern Hill, we recognize the many ways in which our students and staff already foster a sense of belonging — through acts of kindness for classmates each day, a strong focus on building positive relationships amongst all students and staff, and instruction that not only recognizes, but prioritizes, students' identity and social-emotional development. Our Unity Day, then, will amplify our existing culture and community by considering: In what ways can our students and staff continue acting as champions of unity and inclusion?
Planned by our Fifth-Grade, Bobcat Equity Team, Fern Hill will turn to champion, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in a Unity Week! Throughout the week of MLK Day (Tuesday, 1/20-Monday, 1/26), our students and staff will learn about the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and act upon this learning to enact King's vision in our very own building. Each day's learning is outlined below as well as in the attached flyer.
Tuesday, 1/20: Start by being kind to ourselves! Wear green to show support for mental health awareness.
Wednesday, 1/21: Celebrate the unique qualities that make every student an important part of our school. Classes complete the prompt: “I belong at our school because…”
Thursday, 1/22: Buddy classes pair up to read a picture book about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students create a ‘link’ of a paper chain, including how they will promote unity at FHE and beyond.
Friday, 1/23: Students act on their unity ‘links’ by participating in a schoolwide Kindness Challenge. Each student aims to complete 3–5 acts of kindness during the day, like holding the door or including someone.
Monday, 1/26: Students and staff visit the Bobcat Equity Team’s Unity Resource Table, where buddy classes’ unity chains will be displayed, alongside student-created infographics about current community issues and ways to help.
We look forward to coming together as a community — as we do each and every week.
Upcoming Dates
Jan 19 - Schools Closed
Jan 27 - Kindergarten 101 for incoming kindergarteners in 26-27
Jan 30 - 5th Grade Field Trip - FMS
Jan 30 - PTO Bingo Night
Feb 4 - Schools Closed
Fern Hill Math Club (Grades 4-5)
Fern Hill Math Club is back for 4th and 5th graders! This year, students will use math, problem-solving, and STEM tools to tackle real-world challenges connected to the Do Your Bit Global Goals. Math Club meets Monday mornings from late January through May, where students will collaborate, design solutions, and apply math in meaningful, hands-on ways. Space is limited—fill out the Google form to sign up and join the adventure!
After School Sports (Grades 4-5)
After School Sports, for 4th and 5th graders, will begin on Monday, January 22nd and will continue through Thursday, March 26th. Girls will meet on Mondays and boys will meet on Thursdays. Please note: we will not meet on holidays, early dismissals, half days, or snow days. Each session will hold 35 students. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. Please know, that if your child was not part of our fall session, they will have priority for this session. Click here for more information and to register!
BINGO Sales: Sold out
Tickets for our annual BINGO night sold out at record speed! Thank you for the awesome response to this fun event!! We look forward to seeing those that purchased tickets Friday January 30. Doors open at 5:45!
WCUnplugged
Calling all Fern Hill parents! We are looking for parents to join together to start a Fern Hill Chapter of West Chester Unplugged! Please reach out to Ali Haas at 410-610-2073 if interested in joining. This is for parents interested in learning about and setting boundaries for technology with our kids, both at home and in school. There is an in person event coming up, next Tuesday Jan 13th from 6:30pm - 8:00pm at Mary C Howse Elementary School: Parenting in the Age of Technology. RSVP and find out more information here
2025-2026 Yearbook: On sale now
Want one less thing on your to-do list in May? Order your yearbook early and save 10%—but hurry, the discount ends October 31st!
Scan your receipts to earn BoxTops for Fern Hill
Earning money for our school has never been easier! All you need to do is download the Box Tops app, create an account, and scan your grocery receipt. Easy and quick! Last year we earned $500 from Box Tops for Fern Hill!
Volunteer Clearances
We love having our families volunteer throughout the building. In order to volunteer, adults are required to have their clearances on file with us. Clearances can take 4-6 weeks to acquire, so please be sure to get the process started if you're looking to volunteer this Fall.
Planning a Vacation?
Fern Hill Elementary School
Principal
Email: jsouthmayd@wcasd.net
Website: https://www.wcasd.net/fhe
Location: 915 Lincoln Avenue, West Chester, PA, USA
Phone: 484 266 1600
Twitter: @FernHillES