News From The Grizzlies' Den

Dear Grizzlies,

Our Greystone Game fundraiser is off to an incredible start! As our biggest fundraiser of the year, it helps support the many programs, experiences, and opportunities that make Greystone such a special place for our students.

Thanks to your amazing generosity, we have already reached our first fundraising milestone! To celebrate, Mrs. Melanson and I will take a Gatorade shower on Monday!

But we're not done yet! Keep the momentum going because if we reach our next fundraising goal, we will host a camp out in the courtyard. Let's just hope the weather stays warm enough for a night under the stars!

We also have an exciting Friday ahead as we come together for our annual Greystone Games. This favorite tradition is a wonderful opportunity for students to celebrate teamwork, school spirit, and fun. We will wrap up the day with our Family Fun Run with Colors, creating colorful memories and celebrating all of our hard work.

Thank you to our families, staff, and community for your continued support. Together, we are making a difference for our students and helping Greystone thrive.

Let's keep it going, Grizzlies! 🐻💙💛

Erin Stephen

9/28- 10/2 Greystone Games Spirit week (see below)

10/2 - Color Run (more information to come!)

10/7 - Picture Day

10/7 - 6:30 Title 1 PAC Meeting and 7pm PTO General Meeting

10/12 - No School for Students - Teacher Inservice

10/16 - GES Band at HHS

10/22 - Donuts with Grown Ups - 3rd Grade - 8:00-8:30

10/23: Trunk or Treat 5-6pm

10/12 - No School for Students

Friday October 2nd:

• 9:30 AM – 10:10 AM | 4th Grade

• 10:15 AM – 10:55 AM | 1st Grade

• 11:00 AM – 11:40 AM | 5th Grade

• 11:40 AM – 12:15 PM | VOLUNTEER LUNCH

• 12:15 PM – 12:55 PM | Kindergarten

• 1:00 PM – 1:40 PM | 2nd Grade

• 1:45 PM – 2:25 PM | 3rd Grade

We invite all Greystone families to join us for our Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting on October 7th, beginning 30 minutes before our PTO meeting–we want you to stay for both meetings!

PAC provides families with an opportunity to partner with school leadership, learn about school initiatives, share feedback, and engage in meaningful conversations focused on supporting our students and school community. Whether you're a returning participant or joining us for the first time, your voice matters and we hope you'll consider attending.

We look forward to connecting with you!

📅 Save the Date: October 7th 6:30pm
📍 Greystone Elementary
🕒 PAC Meeting begins 30 minutes before the PTO meeting

This year, Greystone's Title I program has shifted from serving a specific group of eligible students to becoming a schoolwide Title I program. This is exciting news for our school community because it gives us greater flexibility to proactively support all learners and better meet student needs through our reading and math intervention services.

As a schoolwide Title I school, every family plays an important role in shaping our work. We want your input on our programs, school initiatives, family engagement efforts, and continuous improvement goals. Your feedback helps us strengthen the supports and opportunities we provide for our students.

As part of our participation in the federal Title I program, we are required to share the attached Title I Right to Know Letter with all families.

This letter outlines your right to request information about the professional qualifications of your child's classroom teachers and instructional staff. We are proud of the dedicated educators who serve our Bobcats each day and remain committed to providing every student with high-quality instruction and support.

Please take a few minutes to review the attached letter. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

The Nurse’s Office is seeking donations of clothing to help support students who may need a change of clothing during the school day.

We are currently in need of:

• Shorts and lightweight pants in all sizes
• Small-sized underwear for both boys and girls
• Clean, dry grocery store bags to send soiled clothing and personal items home with students

Thank you, GES families, for supporting the Nurse’s Office and helping us ensure that our students remain comfortable, cared for, and ready to learn.

Mrs. Slifer

PTO Announcements:

• New! Join us for the next General PTO Meeting on Wednesday, October 7th at 7pmin the cafeteria. Everyone welcome!
  • Arrive a little early at 6:30 pm for our Title I PAC Meeting! This is an opportunity to learn more about Title I and provide input on our goals and plans for the upcoming school year. We hope to see you there!
• Last Chance! The Family Fun Run with Colors Registration was extended until tonight at midnight! Join the Greystone Community for a fun evening with colors! Walk or run the route and then enjoy a family picnic with friends. Register here!
• Greystone Games fundraising hit our first school wide incentive this week! Watch for Dr. Stephen and Ms. Melanson's Gatorade jug "shower" this week! Let's get to $10,000 to hit our next school wide incentive! Donate here and remember - every $25 a student raises, they are entered to win a Nee-Doh Advent Calendar!
  • Our new Kindergarten class is doing AMAZING with fundraising - already over their grade wide goal! 1st grade is almost halfway to their goal and 3rd is close behind. 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade need some more donation love!
• Don't forget those coins! Check through couches, in the car, and the bottom of purses for coins and small bills to add to the coin jar in your student(s)' classroom. The class that has the most wins a pizza party! It also goes towards earning the $14,000 school wide incentive.
• Greystone Spirit Week this week! Check out the themes for each day! Friday will be our day of community building - more information how you can help below.
• Save the date for Donuts with Grown-ups! More information to come.

If cost is a barrier to participating in a PTO activity, please contact our Home and School Visitor, Liz Ball at eball@wcasd.net or (484) 883-1048. Support is confidential and we want all families to feel welcome and included.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Be part of the Greystone Games! Join your student’s class during the school day on 10/2 and lend a hand with obstacle courses, team-building relays, and more. Sign up here.
• Help make the Family Fun Run with Colors a success! Volunteers are needed for setup, race-day fun, cleanup, and more on the evening of 10/2. Sign up here.
• Recess volunteers needed! Enjoy some fresh air while helping our Grizzlies have a safe and fun recess. Sign up here for September and October.

Contact greystoneptopresident@gmail.com for more information about getting involved.

Upcoming Events:

• 9/28 - 10/2 - Greystone Games Spirit Week
• 10/2 - Greystone Games
• 10/2 - Family Fun Run with Colors, 5:00-7:30pm
• 10/7 - Title I PAC Meeting; 6:30 pm
• 10/7 - 2nd General PTO Meeting, 7:00pm, GES Cafeteria
• 10/22 - 3rd Grade Donuts with Grown-ups, 8-8:30 am
• 10/23 - Trunk or Treat! 5-6 pm - more info to come

Did You Know...

• You can park near the drop-off line if your kid(s) needs assistance getting out of the car (or an extra hug from you?). The morning drop off line is designed for parents to stay in the car. Make sure you pull all the way to the top of the circle so we can fit in as many cars as possible at once! Thanks for your cooperation!

Late Elementary School Start & End Times

• Student Arrival Begins: 8:30 a.m.

• School Day starts: 9:00 a.m. (students will be marked late after 9:10am)

• Before-School Care (AM): 7:00 – 8:30 a.m.

• After-School Care (PM): 3:30 – 6:00 p.m.

• Early Dismissal Time: 12:00 p.m.

• Carline and Walker Dismissal: 3:30 p.m.

**Student drop off doors will be open 8:30-9am. After 9am all students must be dropped off at the main office doors. After 9:10am, parent must escort their student into the building to sign in**

Student Drop-Off

Student drop-off will take in the smaller loop outside the gym. Students being driven to school will be dropped off along the sidewalk.

■ When dropping off, drivers should pull all the way along the sidewalk.

■ Please have your child exit on the passenger side of the car for their safety.

■ A staff member will be at the door to usher students inside.

■ Students may be dropped off between 8:30 am and 9:00 am.

■ After 9:00, students will need to enter at the main office and starting at 9:10 a parent must sign in students in our main office.

■ Parents should remain in their cars throughout this process.

■ If you child need extra time or assistance getting out of the car please park in one of the parking spots to help them.

Student Pick-Up

We will do our best to make this process fast and smooth. Please remain in your cars, keep moving, and follow directions given by the staff members on duty.

■ Dismissal begins at 3:30. Please do not enter the car loop until 3:20

■ When picking-up, drivers should enter the large loop by the main entrance.

■ If your child needs help getting buckled or getting into the car we ask that you park to give yourself and your child the additional time.

■ A staff member will be outside to track the students’ names.

■ Students will be dismissed and exit the gym doors, and walk directly to their cars.

■ Staff members will guide students to their cars.

■ Once students are safely in the cars, parents should safely exit the car loop.

■ Please wait patiently for the car in front of you to move. We should never pass on the left for student safety.

■ Parents should remain in their cars throughout this process.

All Families picking their child up by car should be entering the carline.

If you did not remember to change pick up patrol to parent pick-up ahead of time, please park and go to the office and your student will be called to meet you. The school must know by 2pm if you are changing your pick up plans and are planning to pick up in carline.

**Arrangements for student who need assistance during pick up can made so all students can safety get home from school**

We have some important updates to share regarding attendance and communication:

1. Marking your child absent in Parent Portal: By marking your child absent in Parent Portal you will notify attendance office, teacher, and stop the automated call. If the absence is a parent note no other steps are necessary!

2. Doctor Note Submission Options: Caregivers now only need to submit doctors notes for medical absences. These can be provided by email or paper copy.

3. Automated Phone Calls: Automated phone calls will be sent to caregivers of students with unexcused (LAW) absences at 10:00 AM each morning. This will help keep you updated on your child's attendance. If this automated call ever feels inaccurate, please contact our main office.

4. Attendance Email for Medical Notes: GESattendance@wcasd.k12.pa.us. Our school secretaries will receive emails to this address which will ensure a smooth communication process.

5. Early Dismissal and Tardiness: Parent are provided a combined total of 10 excused dismissals and tardies per school year.

6. Nurse Exclusion Policy (NE): In Parent Portal families will see the code (NN) if the nurse sent a student home. Parent Notes will be used for any additional absences caused by the illness unless a doctor's note is provided.

If you have any questions please reach out to our attendance secretary Mary Platt at MPlatt@wcasd.net

Our school uses Pickup Patrol for parents to communicate dismissal plan changes only. All Change must be made by 2pm for the teacher to get notification. PUP can not be used to report a child's absence.

Notes, emails or phone calls are not accepted for dismissal changes, except in emergencies.

Thank you for using PickUp Patrol to make safety a priority and to ensure our dismissal process is efficient for all our students. If you have any questions, please check the PUP Parent Guide. If you still need help, contact the office.

We love having our families involved in school life! If you plan to volunteer during the school day—such as helping with recess, class parties, assisting at Greystone Games or other PTO events, or chaperoning field trips—you’ll need to have updated volunteer clearances on file. (Clearances are not required for attending concerts, spectating at events, or visiting during Sneak-a-Peek.) Since state processing can take a couple of weeks, we recommend starting the update process as soon as possible. Please reach out to Mary Platt if you’d like to check the expiration date on your clearances.

What is required for volunteering:

1. Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (fees waived)
2. ChildLine (Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance through the Department of Human Services) (fees waived)

In addition to 1 & 2, one of the following is required for applicable volunteers:

3a. If a resident for the past 10 years, a signed Disclosure Statement for Volunteers (download from PA.GOV website) affirming no charges in other states that would prohibit selection as a volunteer;
OR

3b. If not a resident for the past 10 years AND the volunteer has received certification at any time since residency established, the volunteer must provide a copy of the certification received since residency established;
OR

3c. If neither 3a or 3b apply, FBI Criminal Background Check required (fingerprint check) for federal criminal history records (fee charged)
WCASD employees use the service code 1KG6XN
Volunteers at the WCASD use the service code 1KG6ZJ

• West Chester Music Academy – October 14, 2026 at Exton Elementary
• Yoga with Ms. Rebecca – November 11, 2026 at Hillsdale Elementary
• ATA Martial Arts – December 9, 2026 at Glen Acres Elementary
• Zia Yoga & Wellness – January 13, 2027 at Starkweather Elementary
• Tot Rock – February 10, 2027 at East Goshen Elementary
• West Chester Public Library – March 10, 2027 at Fern Hill Elementary
• Oscar Lasko YMCA – April 14, 2027 at Westtown-Thornbury Elementary
• Young Rembrandts – May 12, 2027 at Mary C. Howse Elementary

Dr. Erin Stephen

Principal

Email: EStephen@wcasd.net

Phone: 484-266-2300

Mrs. Ashley Melanson

Assistant Principal

Email: AMelanson@wcasd.net

Phone: 484-266-2332

Address: 1195 Aram Ave, West Chester, Pa 19380

Instagram: @GreystoneGrizzilies