FC January 2026 Family Newsletter

Greetings, Fishing Creek Families!

Happy New Year! As we settle into January, it’s amazing to see how much our students have grown so far. This midpoint in the school year gives us a great opportunity to reflect on their progress and look ahead to all the learning still to come.

As part of our regular middle-of-the-year assessments, our 3rd and 4th grade students will also be taking the Firefly Assessment. This tool provides helpful information about their academic strengths and areas where additional support or enrichment may be beneficial. The data we gather will guide our instruction and ensure we continue to prepare for the 2026 PSSA tests in April.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in supporting your child’s education. We look forward to a successful and exciting second half of the school year!

Check out the information below to learn more about what’s happening this month!

Monday, January 5 - School resumes after Winter Break

Thursday, January 8 at 6:00 PM

PTO Skate Night at Fountainblu

Thursday, January 13 at 6:30 PM in the Library

PTO Meeting

Monday, January 19 - No School

Join us for McTeacher Night on Wednesday, January 28, from 4:00–7:00 PM at the Etters McDonald’s! Stop by for dinner and support Fishing Creek Elementary—a portion of the proceeds will be donated back to our school. Fishing Creek staff will be on hand serving and greeting families throughout the evening.

Bring the whole family, enjoy a meal, and support our Sharks! 🦈

This month, we are proud to recognize students who showed empathy!

Our December Sharks of the Month noticed when someone needed help, included others during play and learning, and treated classmates with compassion. Whether it was offering a kind word, helping a friend, or showing patience and understanding, these students made Fishing Creek a warmer, more caring place. Thank you for showing what it means to be a Shark with heart! 💙

As we kick off the new year, the PTO would like to thank all of our Fishing Creek families and staff for an incredible 2025. Your continued support, involvement, and generosity make such a positive impact on our school community. We’re excited to share that we have many fantastic events and opportunities planned for 2026, and we look forward to another great year together!

Please see below for some upcoming events in the near future. A full list of events for the remainder of the school year can be found on our PTO website.

🍔 McTeacher Night – Wednesday, January 28

Join us for McTeacher Night on Wednesday, January 28, from 4:00–7:00 PM at our local McDonald’s! Come enjoy dinner while Fishing Creek staff step behind the counter, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit our PTO. It’s a fun and easy way to support our school—bring the whole family!

🎄 🛼 Skate Night – January 8, 6–8 PM

Sharpen those skating skills! ⛸ Our next Skate Night is happening January 8 from 6–8 PM at Fountainblu. Plan for an evening of fun with friends and families! 🎶🕺💃

PTO Organization Updates

As we look ahead, the PTO will be focusing on several important organizational updates this year.

Bylaws: One of our priorities is to review and update the PTO bylaws to ensure they continue to reflect the needs of our school community and support how we operate moving forward. Information regarding proposed updates will be shared in the coming months and discussed at our monthly PTO meetings.

Board Members: In addition, elections for all PTO board positions will be held this year, with roles needing to be filled for the next school year. Details about board positions, election timelines, and how to get involved will be shared in the coming months and at monthly PTO meetings. Serving on the PTO is a great way to support our students and staff while helping shape the PTO’s future.

PTO Hybrid Meetings: Also in 2026, the PTO is also planning to offer hybrid PTO meetings, allowing families to attend in person or virtually via a Microsoft Teams link. Our goal is to make meetings more accessible and encourage greater participation from our school community. Meeting details, including virtual access links, will be shared closer to each meeting date; keep an eye on Seesaw messages from the PTO

📢 Stay Connected with the PTO! 📢

Want the latest updates, event details, and our full calendar? Here’s how you can keep in touch:

📅Next PTO Meeting: January 13, 2026

🌐 Website: FishingCreekPTO.com

📘 Facebook: Fishing Creek Elementary School PTO

📧 Email: FishingCreekPTO@gmail.com (we’d love to hear from you!)

To help keep our morning arrival safe and efficient for everyone, please remember the following car rider drop-off procedures:

• Doors open at 8:35 a.m. (Pro tip: arriving a few minutes after opening can help you avoid the longest part of the line.)

• Please remain in your car and allow your child to exit independently.

  • If you need to get out of the car to assist your child, please park in a designated parking spot and walk them to the drop-off area.

• Pull all the way forward in the drop-off line so multiple cars can unload at the same time.

• Doors close promptly at 8:55 a.m. If your child is not inside the building by that time, you will need to walk them to the main entrance and buzz the office.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep our students safe each morning!

Each evening, please take a few minutes to check your child’s Shark Folder. This is our take-home folder and may include important notes from school, homework, student work, and classroom updates. Reviewing it together helps keep families informed and students organized. Thank you for making this part of your daily routine! 🦈📂

We’re looking for volunteers to help with the Shark Store for our 3rd and 4th grade students! The Shark Store is always an exciting time for our kids to celebrate their hard work and positive choices. If you’re available to lend a hand, we’d love to have your support in making this event a success.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CAEA82CABFCC61-58424887-fishing

As the colder weather sets in, we want to remind families to dress their children warmly for the school day. At Fishing Creek Elementary, we aim to give our students the chance to play outside and enjoy fresh air during recess whenever possible. Please ensure your child comes to school with a warm coat, hat, gloves, and other cold-weather essentials so they can stay comfortable and safe while enjoying outdoor activities. Thank you for helping us keep our students happy and healthy!

As always, please contact us if you have questions or need assistance!

Matthew Wensel

Principal - Fishing Creek Elementary School

wenselm@wssd.k12.pa.us

717-938-6565

Mr. Adam Marshall

Assistant Principal - Fishing Creek Elementary School

marshalla@wssd.k12.pa.us

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @FCSharks1 and Instagram @FCSharks1 to see the awesome things happening here at FC!