West Chester Area School District

Dear WCASD Community,

As we usher in the new year, I want to share my focus for the coming months. Instead of making resolutions, I've chosen a word to guide me—a word that aligns with both professional and personal aspirations. This practice of having a guiding word is something I've done for a few years now and found it much easier to keep than the resolutions that seem to last us about three weeks total!

This year, my word is "Ownership." In leading our district, I know how important it is to take responsibility for every challenge. I also know how important it is for us to foster a sense of shared ownership both internally and with our community. This involves not just ownership of our own spaces and initiatives but encouraging and supporting others in theirs as well—ensuring every student is educated and inspired to achieve their personal best.

To demonstrate ownership, transparency is key. We must be clear about our goals, intentions, and practices. In complex organizations, true ownership extends well beyond those in our buildings; it involves everyone. This year, I plan to work to create systems that promote greater collective decision-making and include input from both internal and external stakeholders. This way, together, we can all own our successes and solutions as a district and a strong community.

Let's embark on this journey together, embracing collective ownership of our incredible district as we walk the West Chester way!

Also, to make sure that you don’t miss any of the events coming up for the WCASD, please check out the list of upcoming events below and our Celebrate the Arts Flyer at the bottom of this newsletter.

Important Dates:

January: School Board Appreciation Month

January 1: New Year's Day

January 3: Padres Latinos Meeting | 6:30 p.m.

January 8: Pupil Services Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m.

January 8: Education Committee Meeting | 7:00 p.m.

January 10: Sleep and the Developing Brain Parent Session | 6:30 p.m. via Zoom

January 12: Full Day for All Students (not a half-day inservice)!

January 15: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Schools Closed

January 16: Policy Review Committee Meeting | 5:30 p.m.

January 16: Property & Finance Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m.

January 22: School Board Meeting | 7:00 p.m.

Please be aware of the following changes to the 2023-24 WCASD printed calendar:

• January 12 - Full day for all students (not half-day inservice)
• March 27 - Full day for middle and high school students, no school for elementary students (not half-day for middle and high school)

We would LOVE for you to have a wonderful and happy New Year!

The 2023 WCASD Holiday Card was designed by West Chester East High School sophomore, Olivia Podhiny. It is the nineteenth in an annual series of special holiday greetings from the West Chester Area School District. Great job, Olivia!

Rustin High School's Pop-Up Art Show was bursting with creativity! The pop-up show celebrated the diverse talents of our student artists, showcasing a kaleidoscope of colors and expressions. Each piece tells a unique story, a testament to thriving artistic spirit.

Join us for Kindergarten 101 on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Hillsdale Elementary School Gym!

This in-person, informational meeting will help prepare families for Kindergarten. The WCASD team will share what to expect that first year and beyond, important dates to keep in mind, and answer your questions. Register by clicking the blue button or download the event flyer!

Hillsdale's Holiday Hope Event was a festive blast for WCASD families! Families who signed up for Toys for Tots were treated to a party when collecting their gifts.

The celebration featured fun activities like pictures with Santa, ornament decorating, kids read-aloud and card-making, and family bowling!

At our December Board Meeting, East Goshen Elementary shone brightly as we had the pleasure of hearing from two awesome students, Jaliyah and Luke. These young stars took center stage, sharing their adventures as part of the news crew and highlighting the EGE buddy program.

The duo spilled the beans on their favorite school subjects - hands on science and math! Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm, EGE!

West Chester East High School proudly announces that Alex Chen, a distinguished senior, has been chosen as one of the two Pennsylvania delegates for the prestigious US Senate Youth Program. This achievement reflects not only Chen's academic excellence but also his dedication to public service and passion for creating positive change in his community.

With a major interest in understanding how laws interact with communities and impact them, Chen looks forward to the opportunity this experience presents to interact with leadership and experts in his desired field. To read more click the photo or blue button!

January is School Director Recognition Month! Please join us in celebrating the WCASD's school directors who volunteer countless hours to serve our students, schools and communities.

Did you know that:

• Around 4,500 school directors serve Pennsylvania’s 500 public school districts; all boards have nine members.
• School director elections are held every two years, on a 5-4 rotation to ensure continuity.
• School directors are elected to four-year terms.
• All serve as volunteers, without pay.
  

To meet and learn more about our WCASD School Board Directors, visit WCASD School Board.

Penn Wood 5th graders are on an intriguing journey into nonfiction and mystery, delving into the enigma of Amelia Earhart's disappearance.

This unit sparks curiosity and critical thinking as students develop theories, and guess what? Author Ric Gillespie, a renowned authority on Earhart's disappearance, even came to share his theories with PWE!

The WCASD is delighted to announce the appointment of Steve Werner as the Principal of Fugett Middle School (FMS). This decision comes after careful consideration and evaluation, during which Dr. Werner served as the Interim Principal at Fugett Middle School. Having served with WCASD for 17 years, Dr. Werner brings with him an impressive background in school psychology, counseling, mental health, behavior, and assessment to FMS.

In the last few months, Dr. Werner has demonstrated unwavering commitment and genuine passion for the FMS community. His dedication to fostering a positive and thriving environment has garnered significant support from the FMS community, faculty and staff, and fellow administrators. To learn more about him, click the button or photo!

Henderson's annual drive-up Holiday gift card drop-off was a tremendous success, thanks to the generosity of our amazing community.

Student Senate collected the cards, handed out candy canes, and donned their festive best. Your support helps make the season brighter for local WCASD families.

The WCASD Henderson High School Esports teams have demonstrated exceptional prowess this season, with all four teams securing qualification for the playoffs.

This achievement is a testament to the dedication, skill, and teamwork exhibited by the talented individuals who make up the school's Overwatch 2, Super Smash Bro’s Ultimate, Rocket League, and Valorant teams. To learn more, click the button or photo!

The music and magic of the season came alive during the Henderson High School Music Department's Winter Concert! The incredible display of student talent was nothing short of spectacular, leaving everyone in awe and filled with festive spirit. Bravo to all the performers and directors for creating a musical celebration to remember!

The talented Honors Jazz Band set the stage with a Winter Concert Showcase for fellow students and staff during Viking Block.

The season's magic was heard throughout the holidays with enchanting winter concerts at our elementary schools! Students showcased their musical talents, spreading joy and warmth through the power of music.

PMS brought the house down with three sold-out performances of 'Singin' in the Rain.' The acting, singing, and dancing were nothing short of amazing. Congratulations on a job well-done!

Before the winter break, WCASD students visited Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union!

They had a great time hearing from professionals from various departments including marketing, financial advising, IT, human resources, and more, and asking all of their questions.

High School students delved into healthcare careers at Chester County Hospital. From Physician Assistants to Nurse Practitioners, the diverse roles inspired the next generation. Huge thanks to Chester County Hospital for this insightful journey!

GIANT has officially kicked off its Feeding School Kids Campaign to support public-school district’s meal program!

The campaign runs through the end of March. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised at our local GIANT or MARTIN'S store through round up will benefit district students.

*Please note that dates are as accurate and current as possible, but we encourage those interested in events to check the specific school's recent communication and information.

Thank you to our wonderful community partners and supporters, First Resource Bank and Fulton Bank for their incredible support! Their generous donations of $15,000 and $2,000 to the West Chester Area Education Foundation are such game-changers for our students.

EITC donations empower WCASD to provide enriching experiences for our students. Thank you, First Resource Bank and Fulton Bank, for being a champion for education!

New Form for the 2023-24 School Year!

At various times throughout the year, community members may request a review of instructional materials or books related to the WCASD or the District may begin the process of considering new instructional materials. When either occurs, the Superintendent or their designee can create a committee to review the materials. Parents and community members are an important part of the committee and review process.

If you would be interested and willing to serve on review committee if the need should arise, we encourage you to complete a brief interest form by clicking the blue button. Please be aware, if you signed up to participate last year, you will need to sign up again as it is our goal to keep this list as current as possible year-to-year. Thank you!

Did you know that the WCASD offers a Senior Tax Reduction Incentive Volunteer Exchange Program designed to assist Senior Citizens with the burden of Real Estate Taxes? In return for volunteering their services through this program, senior citizens may be entitled to a rebate of property taxes in accordance with the guidelines outlined on our Senior Tax Reduction Incentive Volunteer Exchange Program webpage.

Before applying to the program, we encourage those interested to review the attached brochure below and the guidelines on our website.