West Chester Area School District

This month, Mr. Wayne Birster, our Director of Facilities and Operations, shares how his team is working behind the scenes to keep our schools safe, efficient, and ready for the future. In this short video, he highlights recent safety upgrades, ongoing school renovations, and plans for more modern middle school learning spaces.

As always, thank you for walking the WCASD way with us!

October: Nat. Bullying Prevention Month | Nat. Cyber Security Month | Nat. Principals Month

October 1: Padres Latinos Meeting

October 2: National Custodian Day

October 2: Yom Kippur | Schools Closed

October 13-17: National School Lunch Week

October 13: Teaching, Learning, & Equity Committee Meeting | 6:00 p.m.

October 17: Half-Day Dismissal | PM Teacher Inservice

October 20-24: National School Bus Safety Week

October 20: Diwali | Schools Closed

October 20: Policy Review Committee Meeting | 6:00 p.m.

October 20: Property & Finance Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m.

October 23-31: Red Ribbon Week

October 27: Chester County College Fair | 6:00 p.m.

October 27: Personnel Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m.

October 27: School Board Meeting | 7:00 p.m.

October 31: Halloween

October is National Principals Month, a time to recognize the incredible impact of our school leaders. Beyond managing buildings, they nurture communities, support staff, and inspire students to achieve their personal best.

Their leadership uplifts lives and helps build the foundation for brighter futures. Join us in thanking your principal this month for all they do!

While Assistant Principals Week isn’t until April (and we'll highlight all those lovely folks then), we couldn’t wait that long to celebrate two new faces joining our leadership team. Please join us in welcoming Ashley Melanson at Exton and Greystone Elementary Schools and Alyse Gonzalez at Hillsdale and Starkweather Elementary Schools, who are already hard at work supporting students, staff, and families in our school community.

At the September Board Meeting, we were inspired by Sophie Carrozzino, Tahlia Chizzonite, Kaelan Muzariri, and Matthew Pentz from East Bradford Elementary School, who led the salute to the flag and shared an update on their school’s activities. These outstanding students highlighted how EBE learners are developing problem-solving and adaptability skills, connecting with their community and local history, and, of course, having plenty of fun along the way.

We also welcomed our 2025–26 School Board Student Representatives: Akshita Dachuri (East High School), Jackson Ogden (Henderson High School), and Meera Narayan (Rustin High School). They delivered engaging reports on the exciting opportunities and activities at their schools, while also offering thoughtful reflections on healthy comparison and how students (and all of us!) continually strive to improve year after year.

We have some exciting news, and we can't wait for you to hear all about it!

Join Dr. Kalia Reynolds for our new podcast, Talking the WCASD Way, where we share stories from across the district, spotlighting students, staff, and programs that make WCASD so special. This podcast will be both video and audio, so whether you prefer to check in on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another popular platform you'll be able to find us. Episodes will drop every other Wednesday and we hope you'll consider subscribing so you never miss a conversation.

We’re shining a light on the excellence of our students and staff, celebrating those who inspire, achieve, and embody the WCASD Way.

We’re excited to kick off another year of honoring WCASD Way Makers, WCASD team members who go above and beyond to support students, families, and colleagues. Each recipient is recognized with WCASD gear and celebrated for embodying the spirit of the WCASD Way.

Join us in honoring the first Way Makers of the school year, Kaylin Richards at Fugett Middle School, Susan Gray at East High School, Ashley Kleckner at Westtown-Thornbury Elementary, and Sandra Bradley at the Spellman Education Center. Thanks for all that you do for our entire community, Way Makers!

Eight outstanding WCASD seniors have earned a place as semifinalists in the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Program. These students rank among just 16,000 semifinalists nationwide, representing less than one percent of all high school seniors. They were selected from a pool of more than 1.3 million students who took the 2024 PSAT.

We wish them success as they advance to the finalist stage of this national competition.

Fugett Middle School students stepped into the shoes of Founding Fathers during a Constitutional Convention simulation. Working in groups representing different states, they debated, drafted their own Constitution, and voted on whether or not to ratify it.

This memorable lesson gave students a chance to experience history and see the Constitution come to life!

Rustin High School students took part in an exciting density experiment in Mr. Gellnar’s class!

Volunteers, including Assistant Principal Dr. Pardini, submerged into a barrel of water so the class could measure body density by calculating how much water was needed to refill it. Students observed the results and used them to better understand the concept of density.

Hillsdale Elementary students spent a morning paired across grades to read Be A Bridge by Irene Latham and Charles Waters.

After the story, each buddy team colored a piece of a bridge and took the Bridge Builder Pledge, working together to create a meaningful and colorful symbol of connection, kindness, and understanding throughout the school.

Ms. Cardona’s 5th-graders at East Bradford Elementary participated in a fun math workshop.

Students rotated through a variety of stations, some working independently, others in small groups, but all practicing and building different math skills while making connections and having fun together

The WCASD invites families and community members to our next Community Book Read discussion on The Disengaged Teen by Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop. Together, we’re exploring how schools and families can work hand in hand to boost student engagement, an area of ongoing focus in our district. The next discussion will focus on chapters 4–6 and take place on Tuesday, October 21 | 6:00–8:00 p.m.

You can find the book in print, e-book, and audiobook formats through major booksellers, libraries, and streaming platforms.Whether or not you joined us for the first meeting, you are invited to take part in this important conversation.

East High School kicked off Homecoming weekend with an unforgettable Friday pep rally featuring the always-popular Powderpuff game, lively relay races, and plenty of activities that brought the whole school together. It was an awesome display of Viking pride and the perfect lead-in to a weekend full of celebration and school spirit!

At one of East High School's September football games, Viking alumni players were welcomed back and honored for their contributions to East’s history and the lasting legacy they’ve built on and off the field.

It was a special moment to celebrate tradition, teamwork, and school spirit—the very values that continue to inspire today’s EHS Vikings.

1. Connecting with Your Child's School: The school's website has a calendar of events and a link to the latest school newsletter. The best way to know what is going on in school is to make sure you are receiving emails from your child's teacher and principal. If you aren't receiving emails, complete the Resubscribe to School/District Email Service Form.
2. Navigating Attendance Procedures: Under "Our School" on each school's website is a webpage explaining our attendance procedures or visit the district's page at Attendance - Report Absences.

From local ballparks to regional broadcasts to a statewide stage, our talented student musicians are shining bright and sharing their gifts with audiences near and far.

The Golden Knights Marching Band lit up 6ABC’s School Spirit Day with an incredible live performance!

Students not only showcased their musical talent but also shared in interviews how dedication, leadership, and teamwork make their band so special. We couldn’t be prouder of their spirit and skill, and are so grateful to Rustin Director of Bands, Mr. Michael Shoremount for his guidance and expertise.

The WCASD Senior Strings, under the direction of Mrs. Katrina Kelly, have been selected to perform at the 2026 Pennsylvania Music Educator’s Association (PMEA) Annual Conference! This elite string orchestra is made up of the most talented and dedicated students from our three high schools, rehearsing weekly from January through May.

Being chosen to perform for an audience of music educators from across Pennsylvania is a tremendous honor. More than 115 ensembles submitted recordings for consideration, and only 30 were selected, making this achievement especially noteworthy.

Congratulations to the WCASD Senior Strings! We look forward to cheering them on when they take the stage at the State Conference in April

What a night for our Henderson High School Choir, who delivered a stunning performance of the national anthem at Citizens Bank Park! Led by Jonathan Kreamer, District Music Department Lead for WCASD and Director of Choirs and Musical at Henderson High School, the choir wowed the crowd with their powerful voices.

Many Henderson families and community members filled the stands to witness the moment, making the performance even more special. Principal Sherlock added to the excitement, bringing the heat with the first pitch. It was the perfect mix of school spirit and Philly pride—go WCASD and go Phillies!

If you missed it, check out the video to hear their amazing performance!

Monday, November 24: Elem: Half-day, Middle and High: Full day; P.M. Parent conferences

Tuesday, November 25: Elem and Middle: Half-day, High: Full day; P.M. Parent conferences

Wednesday, November 26: No School for Students; A.M. Parent conferences

Schools and District Offices Closed on November 27 & 28 for Thanksgiving!

We’re excited to share our new visual highlighting the durable skills that define WCASD students and guide their learning experiences. This important work reflects the time, insight, and dedication of our community members, and we are grateful for their contributions. We look forward to sharing more soon about how these skills are shaping meaningful opportunities for our students every day!

We are so grateful to the local companies who have generously donated their time and resources to support the WCASD Preschool Parent Group over the years! These partners have helped us to accomplish our mission of successfully introducing children and families to the District though free, educational program and fun activities for preschool-aged children.

Huge thanks to our local company partners for strengthening our community and enriching our children’s experiences. WCASD Families, we encourage you to check them out and learn about the awesome work they do for our community: ATA Martial Arts, Colorful Clay Works, Life Therapy Services, Momentum Martial Arts, My Gym, Speech First, LLC, Time to Leap, ToT Rock Music Classes, Treehouse Yoga for Children, Uptown! WC Studio, WC Public Library, Yogic Body Studio, and Young Rembrandts.

If you are interested in sponsoring an event, contact Denise Clark at dclark1@wcasd.net or 484-266-1070.

The West Chester Education Foundation is providing $35,000 to fund innovative projects that help students connect classroom learning to the real world! This year, two $5,000 grants are available for larger initiatives, in addition to the traditional $2,500 grants.

Past projects have brought exciting, hands-on learning opportunities to students across the district—watch this short video to see some highlights! We encourage our teachers to submit their ideas by Friday, October 31, 2025, and we can’t wait to see what creative experiences come next.

Together, these grants help spark curiosity, collaboration, and learning that extends beyond the classroom.