Stetser Weekly Parent Update

At Stetser, we are focusing on Doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching for the month of January. This means choosing kindness, honesty, and responsibility because it’s the right choice; not because we want praise or fear consequences. It’s about making good decisions in the classroom, on the playground, at home, and in our community, even when an adult isn’t nearby.

For students, this can look like:

• Telling the truth, even when it’s hard

• Including others and standing up for a classmate

• Following school rules

• Taking care of materials and shared spaces

• Helping someone who needs support without being asked

For families, this message reinforces the importance of character and integrity. When children learn to do the right thing on their own, they build trust, confidence, and a strong sense of who they are. These everyday choices help students grow into responsible, respectful individuals who contribute positively to their school and community.

Together, school and home can encourage children to make choices they can feel proud of—because doing the right thing matters, even when no one is watching.

The district is actively monitoring weather conditions. If there are any school or office closures or delays, updates will be shared on our district platforms.

January 26 - February 6: iReady testing window- all students

February 4: Gator of the Month Assembly

February 4: PBIS - Super Bowl Sundaes; Dress Down Day - wear your favorite sports team

February 5: Report Card Conferences 8:00 am - 6:00 pm; Lunch break 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

February 6: No students: PD Day

February 17: District-wide Spelling Bee

February 19: Heritage Bowl select 5th Grade Students

2nd Quarter Report Card conferences are scheduled for Thursday, February 5th from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm; the entire building will take their lunch break from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm.

Teachers will be sending home more information.

All classes in grades 1-5 have received the spelling words for the spelling bee. We will hold classroom spelling bees on January 16th then move onto school level the following week. We will select two winners from each grade level to represent Stetser at the district level Spelling Bee on February 17th.

Stetser Gators are:

Respectful

Responsible

Caring

Safe

Students earn Gator Teeth for following school expectations.

Congratulations to our December Gators of the Month:

Zayla

Jaymoni

Myles

Messiah

Qa'Mari

Dondi

Pierre

Jaylaya

Ezra

Messiah

Kingsley

Briona

David

Legacy

Justice

La'Riy

Treasure

Ma'Laya

Logan

We know it is cold and flu season, but please send in notes after your child is absent from school. If your child misses more than 3 days in a row, a doctor's note is required.

Parents/Guardians of Pre-K, Kindergarten and First Grade students,

Please send in a full change of clothes to keep in your child's backpack in case of accidents.

Parents - please send all up to date physicals and dental information to Nurse Perkins as you receive them from your health care professionals.

Hello Parents/Guardians,

With many viruses going around, I want to stress the importance of keeping your student home if they are feeling ill. If your child has a fever they must stay home 24hrs fever free without fever reducing medication. If they have diarrhea or vomit, they must be home 24hrs without having any episodes or diarrhea or vomiting. If they have a nonstop persistent cough, they need to stay home and follow up with child’s physician.

Stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis, often norovirus) in early 2026 features classic symptoms like vomiting, watery diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, body aches, and low-grade fever, with some strains showing initial GI issues before typical flu symptoms (cough, fever) appear, sometimes called a "super flu," though it's just severe seasonal flu. Key is staying hydrated with oral rehydration solutions and resting, seeking care for severe dehydration (dizziness, no urine) or if symptoms last over a few days.

Common Symptoms

· Digestive: Nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, abdominal pain.

· Systemic: Fever (often low-grade), body aches, severe fatigue, headache.

· Variations: Some people experience respiratory symptoms like cough/shortness of breath, and sometimes GI issues hit before classic fever/aches.

When to See a Doctor

· Unable to keep liquids down for 24 hours.

· Vomiting or diarrhea for more than two days.

· Signs of severe dehydration (excessive thirst, dry mouth, little to no urine, dizziness, confusion).

· Vomiting blood or bloody diarrhea.

· High fever (over 102°F/39°C) for more than four days.

Management & Prevention

· Hydration: Drink oral rehydration fluids (like Pedialyte) or sports drinks (avoiding caffeine/alcohol).

· Rest: Stay home to recover and prevent spreading.

· Hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water (hand sanitizer isn't as effective against norovirus).

· Diet: Gradually return to a normal diet, avoiding dairy and fatty foods initially.

Yearly Health Screenings are required and taking place:
● Annually (Grades K–12):
○ Growth Screening (Height and weight; BMI percentile calculated)
○ Vision Screening
○ Hearing Screenings: Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2, 3, 7, and 11
○ Physical Examinations: Required in Kindergarten or 1st grade, Gr. 6, Gr. 11
○ Dental Examinations: Required in Kindergarten or 1st grade, Gr. 3, Gr. 7

The new edition of Clipper Connection (1/21/26) is linked below

https://app.smore.com/n/9f8sm

Chester Upcoming Events:

Check out this link for all things happening in the near future.

Upland Upcoming Events:

Check out this link for all things happening in the near future.

Eddystone/Ridley Events:

Check out this link for all things happening in the near future.

Below are direction from www.chesteruplandsd.org:

• Volunteer Clearances

Legislation in Pennsylvania requires community members and parents to obtain clearances in order to volunteer in our schools. If you have previously submitted your clearances to the Human Resources office, they are good for five (5) years from the date of the clearance.

Governor Wolf has waived the fees associated with the Pennsylvania State Police—Criminal Background Check and the Child Abuse History Clearance. Since the FBI clearance is a federal program, those costs still remain; however, the district has decided to permit individuals who have resided in Pennsylvania continuously for ten years or more to sign a certification form that saves the volunteer the expense of the fee, ensures compliance with the law, and allows the district to maximize student safety.

Understanding that many community members will want to begin the process of securing clearances so that they are prepared for the start of the school year, we have provided several links and directions to assist you. Once you have obtained the requisite clearances, please bring them to the Human Resources office for the Chester Upland School District, located 1350 Edgmont Avenue, Chester PA 19013. Please be prepared to present a valid driver’s license or other photo identification. Our Human Resources Department will then add your name to the district list so that our educators can readily ensure that volunteers have the proper clearances.

Directions for Obtaining Clearances for Volunteers Who Have Resided in Pennsylvania Continuously for 10+ Years

1. Complete ACT 34—Pennsylvania State Police—Request for Criminal Record Check
2. Complete ACT 151—Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance—Online Application
3. Drop off paperwork at the Chester Upland School District Human Resource Office. Please be prepared to present a valid driver’s license or other photo identification.
4. Print and Complete this Volunteer Information and Certification Form.

Directions for Obtaining Clearances for Volunteers Who Have Resided in Pennsylvania for Less Than 10 Years

1. Complete ACT 34—Pennsylvania State Police—Request for Criminal Record Check
2. Complete ACT 151—Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance—Online Application
3. Complete Act 114—FBI Fingerprinting—To schedule your appointment, visit https://uenroll.identogo.com and enter Service Code 1KG6XN. You may also call 844-321-2101 to schedule an appointment
4. Complete ACT 114—FBI Fingerprinting
   Be certain to register under the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
5. Drop off paperwork at the Chester Upland School District Human Resources Office. Please be prepared to present a valid driver’s license or other photo identification.

Please use this link to view the daily breakfast and lunch menus

https://chesteruplandsd.nutrislice.com/menu/stetser

Just a note - we do not serve Peanut Butter - Sun butter is used.

If you need to update any of your contact information please email Ms. Jones in the main office at tjones@chesteruplandsd.org