Stetser Weekly Parent Update

Our focus for the month of March is Leading the Change. Students, parents, and families play a key role in shaping a child’s education.

Students can take ownership of their learning by setting goals, staying organized, asking for help, and participating in activities that build skills and confidence. Parents and families can partner with schools through regular communication, attending events, monitoring progress, supporting homework routines, and encouraging curiosity and perseverance.

Together, families and students can advocate for equitable opportunities, support social-emotional growth, model lifelong learning, and engage with the broader community through volunteering or school initiatives. Active involvement and collaboration with educators create a strong, sustainable foundation for student success.

March 30 - April 6: SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED for Spring Recess

April 7: Return from Spring Break

April 15: 11:45 am dismissal - Report Card Conferences

April 16: PSSA Parent Information Session @ 4:00 pm

April 20 - May 8: PSSA Testing Window for 3rd - 5th Grade

We are excited to announce the launch of our district-wide Panorama Surveys, an important opportunity for you to share your voice and help shape the future of our schools.

As with the past two years, our district is using Panorama Education to gather feedback from students, staff, and families about school climate, teaching and learning, relationships, and overall school experience. Your input will help us better understand what is working well and where we can improve.

The survey window is open from March 25th - April 10th

Surveys can be completed online using the link provided below:

https://surveys.panoramaed.com/chesteruplandsdpa/6889223883/surveys

Student Registration is Now Open

Great news! Registration is officially open for both the remainder of the 2025–2026 school year and the upcoming 2026–2027 school year for the Chester Upland School District.

Families may complete enrollment using PowerSchool Enrollment for:

• The remainder of the 2025–2026 school year

• The upcoming 2026–2027 school year

Parents of new students or families who have not yet completed registration can begin the process now.

The registration links can be found on our website under “Student Registration” at the top of the page or by visiting the link below:

● General Student Registration Page: https://www.chesteruplandsd.org/for-families-students/student-registration

● Pre-K Registration Page: https://www.chesteruplandsd.org/for-families-students/pre-k-counts

● STEM Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzcs0IZ5rOUim86e9WibPdCYFXpk5ylHTDxR_HE5q1C2QjMg/viewform

Superintendent Dr. Mumin and School Board Vice President Ms. Harris paid Stetser a visit to read to our kindergarten students this past week.

5th Grade students worked as teams to build 1 meter towers using spaghetti, string and tape.

Our Design FC Club attended a 76ers game on Wednesday. Students' final design was revealed at the game. Adem Bona also met with students and talked about their design. A great time was had by all!

We had two winners from Stetser at the Andrew Turner Art Competition on March 25th.

In the K-3rd grade division, Camryn won 2nd place for her Piet Mondrian painting.

In the 4th-6th grade division, Araceli won 1st place for her oil pastel cake drawing as well as her cake sculpture.

I am very proud of all of our students! - Ms. Tucker

I’m excited to share that our partnership with BusPatrol to launch a new School Bus Safety Program in line with PA Motor Vehicle Code § 3345 is ready to GO LIVE.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

As part of the program, all CUSD school buses that transport CUSD scholars have been outfitted with safety technology to make the ride to and from school safer for all. This technology includes photo enforcement cameras to detect vehicles that illegally pass stopped school buses while the stop sign is deployed and red lights are flashing. Every incident is reviewed by a law enforcement officer before a violation notice is issued to the offender.

The safety of our CUSD children is a top priority. During Pennsylvania’s Operation Safe Stop, state authorities reported almost 200 violations in just one school day in 2023, equivalent to 31,500 violations in a 180-day school year. CUSD is no exception.

This safety initiative will curb dangerous driving behavior around school buses to protect our students.

WHEN WILL THE CAMERAS GO LIVE?

Cameras on all CUSD buses will be turned on (go live) on Monday, March 23, 2026.

Click the link below to learn more about our BusPatrol partnership:

Chester Upland School District School Bus Safety Program

If you or any one listed as an emergency contact has updated contact information, please add it to this Google Form linked below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2PScYH9rSF7R1oN9bK3p4Rzjzc1sZ-_YvfTFKAcoftnE1bw/viewform?usp=publish-editor

A paper copy of this information was also sent home this week. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

We are seeing an increase in Door Dash, Uber Eats, and Grub Hub food deliveries. Please do not send your child food through these services. Many times, the food is left outside causing an unsafe situation. Students are welcomed to have a school lunch or pack their lunch, but Door Dash, Uber Eats, and Grub Hub are not a safe or acceptable option.

We thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Stetser Gators are:

Respectful

Responsible

Caring

Safe

Students earn Gator Teeth for following school expectations.

Congratulations to our March Gators of the Month:

Ezra

Micaiah

Kamiyah

Adrian

Journii

Jabri

Xavier

Azalea

Tori

Endia

Skyla

Adrielys

Michael

Mercedes

Zaphir

Iyla May

Zuri

Skyla

Zoey

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. Please send in absence notes within 3 days of your child's absence so that they can be excused.

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 (3/18/26) is linked below

https://app.smore.com/n/yr1nt

Clippers' Athletic Calendar

https://chesterclippers.com/clippers-calender

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