3-8--26 Patriot Press

Dear Fort Families,

We had such an exciting week at Fort Washington with Read Across America Week and our Science Fair!

The week started on Monday night with FWES students and families reading with therapy dogs at the UD Public Library. A special thank you to our reading specialists, Lauren Weinmayer and Kathleen Place, for organizing such a special event.

On Wednesday, we had all of our students’ amazing work on display at our annual Science Fair. The hard work and creativity were evident in all of the projects that were presented. A big thank you to Jess Levin, Christina Sullivan, and our PTA for all of their hard work in preparing this annual tradition for our students.

Finally, this is another reminder that parents are not allowed to use the bus lane to drop off students in the morning. We have ordered new signage that will be on display after spring break reminding parents that this area is designated for buses only. I am hearing frequent concerns from our bus drivers and the Director of Transportation. Please use the designated car line to drop off your child.

As a reminder, the doors close at 9:00 AM. If you arrive after 9:00, please park in a designated area in the parking lot and walk your child to the front entrance. The safety of our students is very important, and we thank you for adhering to these safety protocols.

Enjoy this beautiful weather and have a great Sunday!

Sincerely,

Mr. Mac
Fort Washington Elementary School
Principal
smcaleer@udsd.org

March 1 - 15 - FWES Read-a-Thon

March 10 - Reading Olympics Competition - 6 - 8:15 p.m. (Upper Dublin High School)

March 17 - Early dismissal - 12:15 p.m. Spring parent/teacher conferences

March 18 - Early dismissal - 12:15 p.m. Spring parent/teacher conferences

Join the FWES Read-a-thon and help us turn the page toward 125,000 minutes! From March 1–15, read as much as you can, log your minutes, and earn fun prizes along the way. Top readers can win exciting rewards like Librarian for the Day and a Hot Cocoa Party! Register, read, log — and let’s reach our goal together! Please click on the PTA newsletter for more information on the Read-a-thon.

Looking ahead, we want to make families aware of the schedule for the annual Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) exams, which will be administered to students in grades 3-5. Additional guidance to support students in preparing for the PSSA will be shared prior to the testing. At the elementary level, the PSSA schedule is as follows.

English Language Arts | April 20 - 22

Math | April 27 - 28

Science (Grade 5 only) | April 30 - May 1

If you are planning to attend classroom parties or events, or to chaperone (including with your own child) on a field trip, Tier I clearances are required. Clearances are valid for five years. You can find more details via the button below.

From the stage to backstage, students have been busy getting ready for Upper Dublin High School presents Hello, Dolly! (March 6-7) and for Sandy Run Middle School presents The Little Mermaid Jr, (March 12-14).

The Upper Dublin Education Foundation’s Music in Our Schools Concerts on March 24 (Vocal) and March 26 (Orchestra) will feature more than 500 Upper Dublin students in all levels of musical instruction -- elementary, middle, and high school -- performing on the same stage and culminating in a spectacular grand finale! This musical celebration benefits all district music programs.

Celebrating imagination, skill, and innovation, the UDHS Computer Science Showcase gives students a stage to share their projects, games, and ideas with the community. Join us Thursday, March 26 at UDHS to explore student work, try coding activities, and celebrate outstanding projects during the awards ceremony. This event is sponsored by the Upper Dublin Education Foundation.

Spring conferences will be held March 17–18 and are optional for all students. Teachers will reach out by Monday, March 2, if a conference is recommended, and families may also request a conference beginning March 9. Conferences can be scheduled in person or virtually.

Upper Dublin School District is now accepting new student registrations for the 2026-2027 school year. Please visit our registration page for eligibility information, required documents, registration tutorial, before and after care information, and to access our registration portal, Infinite Campus.

A reminder that all students can enjoy a free breakfast in our cafeterias each morning. Selections vary by day and include warm, whole grain-rich mains, fresh fruit, 100% fruit juice, and locally-sourced milk. It’s a great way to start the day energized and ready to learn. View our menus to see what’s for breakfast!

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