Here we are in the final month of the calendar year, but only the fourth month of our school year. We are grateful for the opportunities we had to meet with you before Thanksgiving to discuss your child's progress. Please know you do not need to wait until the end of the next trimester for an update. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher at any time.

Special thank you to the PTO for providing a delicious lunch and dinner for the teachers and staff during conferences, it is so appreciated!

Thank you to all the volunteers that made the Book Fair a success! The students and teachers LOVE getting new books!

We have just 9 days of school until our Winter Break, please note there is No School Dec 23 - Jan 2. We will reopen on Tuesday, Jan 3rd. We hope everyone enjoys this time with family and friends!

I will send the January Newsletter at the end of Winter Break.

Report Cards

November 30th was the end of the 1st Trimester. Report Cards will be available on the Parent Portal on Wednesday 12/14. Please contact the office if you need assistance with the Parent Portal.

Holiday Parties

Each grade selects the date and time of their holiday parties the week of 12/19. Please check with your child's teacher for details. Only those parents that are volunteering to facilitate an activity are able to attend. Please be reminded younger siblings are not permitted in school with volunteers.

Recess - Dress for the weather!

We will take the children out EVERY day we are able, so please be sure they have the proper sweatshirt or jacket to not be cold outside. Please be sure to put your child's name in their outerwear so we can return it.

Community Events

Check out the button at the bottom of the newsletter for events in the West Chester community.

• Grab a gift card or two.
  In December we will be collecting collect gift cards to share with local families in need. Just $10, $15 or $20 to Target, Walmart, or Giant will help make sure everyone has a holiday that is merry and bright! Also in December, students will be working together to "Color Some Kindness" for area Seniors. These colorful messages will be delivered with Food Boxes later in the month. Fun! More details to come.

If you received a referral from the nurse that your child/children did not pass vision or hearing screening, please make an appointment with your child/children’s doctor and schedule a comprehensive examination. Please have the doctor complete the referral form and send it in to the nurse.

If you need assistance or have any questions about a referral, please contact Mrs. Dugan.

These screenings include Vision, Hearing and BMI. Vision and BMI screenings are completed for all students in all grade levels. Hearing screenings are completed in grades K-3. Results are available on the parent portal page. The health screening tab is located on the left hand side of the parent page. Please note that screening results are not available on the student portal page. If your child has failed a screening, a referral form has been sent home. This form is to be completed by a physician and returned to Mrs. Dugan. Referrals will be noted on the screening page.

-BMI percentages are calculated using CDC standards.

-Underweight: Less than the 5th percentile

-Normal or Healthy Weight: 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile

-Overweight: 85th percentile to less than the 95th percentile.

-Obese: Equal to or greater than the 95th percentile.

Concerns about the results of your child’s BMI should be discussed with your child’s primary care physician.

Please contact Mrs. Dugan if you have any questions.

Colette Dugan, MEd, BSN, RN, CSN

Certified School Nurse

cdugan@wcasd.net

Hillsdale Elementary (M-F – 484-266-2006)gan@wcasd.net.

As we approach the winter months and holidays, it is important to continue to follow healthy habits which include:

1. Drink plenty of water
2. Choose health foods
3. Get plenty of rest
4. Exercise
5. Practice mindfulness – Some benefits of mindfulness in children include- increased focus, attention, self-control, classroom participation, compassion, improved academic performance, ability to resolve conflict, overall well-being, decreased levels of stress/depression/anxiety/disruptive behavior.
6. Be and stay well!

12/14 - Report Cards available online through Parent Portal

12/15 – Holiday Spirit Day -Decorate yourself! There is NO PTO mtg this month

12/19 - Hillsdale presents at the School Board mtg.

12/20 - 5th grade to WCU for HHS concert

12/20 – 12/22 – Holiday Parties

12/23 – 1/2/23 – NO SCHOOL – Winter Break

January 2023

1/2 - NO SCHOOL

1/3 - School Reopens

1/13 - Early Dismissal - Teacher In-service

1/16 - NO SCHOOL - MLK, Jr Day

1/19 - Spirit Day; PTO mtg 7:00pm

A few things to note:

1) Volunteers must have clearances.

2) Younger siblings are not permitted at school while you volunteer.

3) Volunteers are held to the same confidentiality standards as any WCASD employee.

4) While you may see and interact with your child when you are volunteering, you are here to assist all children.

5) Volunteer links will be sent out every other month for two months at a time.

We use Pick Up Patrol for a number of things here at school. It has replaced the need for parents to phone in absences, early dismissals, and/or changes in dismissal. It is truly helpful to us. Parents can make changes to their children’s status up until 1:30pm. At dismissal time the software becomes incredibly valuable to us to help make sure all the children are exactly where they're supposed to be. We are to count how many children to expect on each bus, as walkers and as car pick up we have each day. So, please, be sure that you have the app and are making changes when needed!

Los enlaces para los boletines del distrito WCASD y desde el correo electrónico del director pueden encontrarse también en los sitios web del distrito y de la escuela. La traducción será generada por una máquina por lo que no será completamente exacta.

1. Haga clic en el botón para traducer

2. Haga clic en la fecha para seleccionar el idioma

3. ¡Disfrute el boletín! Las imágenes con palabras no se pueden traducir, para obtener una traducción, envíe un correo electrónico al director.

Si usted prefiere comunicarse en español por favor llame al 484-266-1690 para contactarse con personal escolar.

(If you prefer to speak to a Spanish speaking operator, please call 484-266-1690 to connect with school personnel.)

Email: pmerten@wcasd.net
Website: https://www.wcasd.net/Domain/602
Location: 725 West Market Street, West Chester, PA, USA
Phone: 484-266-2001
Twitter: @HDEelem