Wildcat News

Hello Wildcat Families!

Thank you to everyone who was able to make it out for our Wildcat Math & Literacy night last night. It was great seeing our students participate in the fun and engaging math & literacy games with the students from West Chester University. Hopefully you brought home some fun fluency practice ideas in addition to the many prizes from the prize table!

The Wildcat Walkathon is almost here and the excitement is building as shown from the bright neon colors, fancy clothes and wild gear worn so far this week. The fun continues with our spirit week including PJ day on Thursday and Wildcat Spirit wear on Friday! The Walkathon will take place during the school day this Friday, October 23rd but there is still time to get in those donations! At this time we are far from our goal of $20,000 so Mr. Casey and I might be free from the "sliming" after all! Please note that the Walkathon is not a spectator event, and only approved parent volunteers will be in attendance.

Our annual Halloween Parade will be on Friday, October 30th at 9:45 a.m. Families are encouraged to review the costume guidelines and morning logistics to help ensure a safe and enjoyable celebration for all students.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We hope to see you at the parade on the 30th!!

Dr. Cruice

Thank you to everyone for your kind words and thoughtfulness as Kelly set off into the sunset of retirement! While she will certainly be missed, we are excited to welcome Mrs. Angie Pepe (apepe@wcasd.net) as WTE’s new administrative assistant. In addition to her past experiences as a teacher and managing offices, Mrs. Pepe is already a familiar face in our community as a former WTE parent and PTO president. Her connection to and investment in WTE make us especially excited to welcome her into this new role. Please join us in giving Mrs. Pepe a warm WTE welcome!

The student council is helping with a sock collection during Nov. 16-20 as it is Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. We will donate to two organizations. Joy of Sox is in need of children's socks and The Wardrobe, non-profit that provides free clothing bundles to adults, is in need of adult socks. Thank you in advance for any contributions!

Every school has a champion! Do you know a WCASD educator or support professional who goes above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of students, families, and colleagues? Nominate them for the Chester County Champions of Education Awards and help us celebrate excellence across our schools! Submit a nomination: CCChampionsofEdu.org

The WTE Halloween Parade will be held on Friday, October 30th at 9:45 a.m. Parents are invited to attend the parade which will take place on the back soccer field. If it has to be moved indoors due to weather, we will send out an email the morning of since we would not be able to have parents attend indoors. Fingers crossed for good weather!! The guidelines for the parade are below:

• All students must be in class by 9:10 a.m. as usual for attendance purposes.
• Parents should not arrive for the parade before 9:30. Upon arrival, please park and head directly to the back soccer field (do not enter the school).

• Students should come to school dressed in costume.
• A change of clothes and bag should be sent to school if the costume will be hard to wear all day. Students cannot bring real or fake props (i.e., lasers, pitchforks, weapons, sticks, etc.) or fake blood. Students can wear a mask in the parade only.
• Face painting is permitted as long as the student is identifiable. The mask should not be worn on the bus or in the school.
• Avoid costumes and clothing that depict excessive violence, gore, or could cause disruption to the school environment.
• The dress code (i.e., footwear, length of clothes, etc.) is in effect. If a costume is deemed inappropriate, the student will be asked to change.

If your child does not celebrate Halloween, please contact your child's teacher so that an alternate activity can be provided during the parade.

Thank you!

We warmly invite all Veterans with a connection to our students or staff to join us for our Annual Veterans Day Assembly at Westtown-Thornbury Elementary on November 11, 2026. We will begin with refreshments in the cafeteria at 9:15 a.m. followed by the assembly at 9:45 a.m.

This special event is an opportunity for our school community to honor your service and sacrifice. Please join us as we celebrate and recognize the bravery and dedication of all Veterans. We look forward to sharing this meaningful day with you and expressing our gratitude. If you are interested in joining us for our celebration, please use the link below to complete the form by Friday, October 30th.

An update regarding Attendance reporting this year.

We are no longer using the Safe Arrival phone line as a means for reporting absences. Moving forward, there are only 2 lawful ways to notify the WCASD when a student is absent.

A parent/guardian/caretaker can:

1. Log in to Parent Portal and enter the correct code for the absence (directions for Parent Portal Attendance.) Using the Parent Portal or emailing the attendance office eliminates the need to send an excuse note, except for family vacations, college visits, or doctor’s appointments.
2. Email the attendance office at: wteattendance@wcasd.net. The email from the parent account is accepted as a parent note.

Please note that Pick Up Patrol is ONLY used for dismissal plans and change in dismissal plans (not for reporting absences).