West Chester Area School District

Dear WCASD Community,

I hope all of our staff, students, families, and community members are having a fantastic summer! This is always such a delightful time to unwind, embrace the outdoors, and reconnect with loved ones. I've certainly been enjoying the additional daylight hours to do some reading, spend time with my family, and explore more of PA.

Looking ahead, we are eagerly preparing for the upcoming school year. Our dedicated team has been hard at work planning innovative programs, enriching curriculum enhancements, and further developing a nurturing and inclusive environment for students to return to this coming school year. We have also enjoyed seeing our several exciting summer programs and enrichment opportunities help students explore their passions and continue their learning journey during the break. I encourage you to visit our district website for more information on these fantastic opportunities!

Finally, I want to thank you all for your continued partnership with our district. Together, we will navigate the future with confidence and embrace the endless possibilities that lie ahead.

Wishing you all a wonderful July!

Important Dates:

National Make a Difference to a Child Month

July 4: Independence Day | Schools and District Office Closed

July 24: School Board Meeting | 7:00 PM

It's always bittersweet, but that last day of the school year excitement is contagious in the best way. We wish everyone a happy and healthy summer - and we will see you in August!

Click the video below to see some highlights from the last day of the 2022-23 school year.

We are so proud of the wonderful students, now graduates, in the WCASD Class of 2023.

Enjoy this time with friends, family, and loved ones as you and your families prepare for the next exciting step in your journey - we know that you are off to do exceptional things!

Construction on East High School's outdoor classroom is now complete and looking amazing! We cannot wait to see students and staff bringing their learning outdoors in the coming school year. In addition to the current setup, the team plans to add artwork, garden boxes, and some final touches to the space. East is looking forward to holding an “opening ceremony” for the classroom in September so stay tuned for a date.

Well done to all the staff, students, families, and community members for making this possible, especially our Technology Educator, Tim Moore, and his students who built the tables and benches!

This prestigious award acknowledges Mary’s exceptional achievements, unwavering dedication, and positive influence on her students, colleagues, and the school community. As part of the recognition, Mary will receive a $5,000 bonus plus an additional $1,500 to give to the school of her choice.

Read more on the WCASD website or by clicking the blue button!

In June, local police departments, townships, community leaders, and WCASD staff gathered together for a week to experience an exceptional Safe Schools Summit at East High School.

WCASD Public Safety Supervisor, Mr. Rik Thorton, and his team as well as Mr. Wayne Birster, Director of Facilities and Operations, brought together a knowledgeable and engaging group of experts in the field of safety and security. These experts shared important information on topics such as emergency and crisis management, the role of a School Resource Officer, threat identification, and more.

Additionally, WCASD families are encouraged to take a look at Dr. Reynolds' letter Safety and Security in the WCASD: A Year in Review to learn more about WCASD's safety and security measures and updates.

The WCASD has once again received the ASBO International’s Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (COE) for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report! The District remains committed to transparency and high-quality financial reporting, and participating in the COE program for 12 years is one of the many ways we demonstrate that dedication.

Thank you to Mr. John Scully, Director of Business Affairs, and our entire Business Office for their hard work and diligent planning!

Fern Hill's 2nd graders spent the year learning and (literally) growing while having so much fun in the FHE garden!

They worked with staff to plant seedlings, tend the garden, and finally harvest and taste the produce at an end-of-the-year Harvest Party! For the party, students helped prep the veggies and cafeteria staff roasted the kale chips and beets. FHE also made a 50lb donation to the West Chester Food Cupboard. Way to go, FHE!

WCASD High School students, Mr. Matt Taglang from Rustin's World Language Department, and additional chaperones, recently visited Berlin to learn about the language, history, and culture of Germany and its capital!

They were able to have many wonderful experiences, too many to list them all, and a few highlights included a tour of the Berlin Olympic Stadium, visits to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum and the Holocaust Memorial, and cooking lessons during a a German cooking class! According to Mr. Taglang, the group averaged about 22,000 steps a day without a single complaint from the students or chaperones.

We are excited to be offering summer programs again this year!

Summer Learning allows students in middle and high school to preview content they will learn in the upcoming school year and review critical content that they did not show proficiency in the previous year. High school students can also earn original credit over the summer to provide greater flexibility in their schedules and to allow them the ability to change their course progressions.

While schedules vary depending on the course to offer students flexibility, most summer learning options will take place between Tuesday, June 27 and Tuesday, August 8. Additionally, the Preview Learning Course Website is now live and available to students and their families at any time!

End-of-year gatherings don't get much better or tastier than the Padres Latinos End-of-Year Celebration!

From the highly anticipated Tamale Contest where families shared their cultures' culinary traditions to the array of fun and engaging activities like face-painting and football practice, it was a wonderful celebration of our WCASD community's diverse heritage and traditions as well as the opportunities for connection and support.

Special thanks to Los Alquisiras, El Comalito Restaurant, and D.F. Mexican Deli of West Chester for their generous food donations, our esteemed Tamale judges, West Goshen Township representatives, local organizations, and all of the dedicated volunteers, parents, students, and friends who graced the End of Year Celebration with their presence!

Thank you to the Believe and Achieve Foundation for once again partnering with the WCASD to give our summer programming a boost!

This summer the WCASD qualified for the $10,000 2023 Grant Boost, which helps provide scholarship opportunities, experiential learning, enrichment activities, field trips, and nutritional support for our students.

As part of Penn Wood Elementary's positive behavior support system, students entered ‘pawprints’ to be a part of a kindness project. Students in grades K-5 selected the Brandywine Valley SPCA as well as what donations the school would collect. To encourage donations, students created posters, went on our morning announcements, and involved families in collecting over 30 items for the BVSPCA.They also made homemade treats for these furry friends!

Get prepped and ready for SAT testing with the Summer SAT Boot Camp Prep Course sponsored by WC East PTO.

The Boot Camp is open to all WCASD high school students! For more information and to register, click the button below!

This year, four talented 8th graders from Stetson Middle School emerged victorious in the 2023 Mordechai Anielewicz Holocaust Creative Arts Competition. The Stetson students triumphed in the prose category, showcasing their exceptional literary prowess.

The winners received prize money and will be published in an online booklet, preserving their powerful narratives for generations to come. This marks the seventh consecutive year that Stetson Middle School has secured the top spot in the 7th and 8th grade prose category, affirming their commitment to excellence and creativity.

Congratulations to Collin, Gracie, Caroline, and Jugad (and their teachers) for their dedication to honoring the memory of the Holocaust through their remarkable prose.

We are thrilled to congratulate Janine Twaddle, our esteemed Gifted Resource Teacher and Math Specialist from East Goshen Elementary, on achieving a remarkable milestone in her educational journey. This spring, Janine earned her Doctor of Education in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education degree from GMercyU!

Her dedication to her craft and commitment to fostering excellence in education have been truly inspiring. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Janine Twaddle for this outstanding achievement. Her expertise and leadership will continue to make a positive impact on our students and the West Chester Area School District community as a whole!

Read more about Janine and her dissertation as well as education journey by clicking the blue button!

Pennsylvania requires a physical examination to be submitted to the school nurse three separate times during a student's education: on entry (usually Kindergarten or 1st grade or new to the district), 6th grade, and 11th grade. Families have 60 days from school entry to provide a private physical examination report or signed permission for a school exam.

Additionally, families with children participating in athletic programs may need to complete a sports physical.

Learn more by clicking the blue button!

The WCASD is offering free memberships to Smart Social’s Very Important Parent (VIP) Program for all parents and guardians of students attending a school in the West Chester Area School District.

Josh Ochs and his team created this program to help parents and guardians understand the numerous social media apps, which ones are safe, which ones to avoid, and how to help their children create a safe and positive digital presence. Through newsletters, live events, and a library of on-demand videos, families learn how to successfully navigate popular social media apps and support their children in becoming capable and aware digital citizens whose social media choices reflect their bright futures.

We hope you will take advantage of this membership opportunity, which is completely free through the WCASD. Follow the links below to learn more and sign up today:

Visit https://smartsocial.com/westchester to create an account.

Get access to all of the courses and sign-up for live events at https://smartsocial.com/members

Attention all parents with school aged children! Children's Summer Food Program 2023 is open every Thursday afternoon from 4:00 - 7:00 pm starting June 15. Watch a video for more information.

West Chester Food Cupboard | 431 S. Bolmar St. | West Chester, PA 19382 | 610.344.3175 wcfood@gmail.com

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.