West Chester Area School District

From schedules to student voice, Dr. Jimmy Conley highlights how WCASD is thoughtfully shaping learning environments that support student connection, engagement, and growth.

This work is guided by student feedback and focused on creating meaningful experiences for every learner. As always, thank you for walking the WCASD way with us!

January: School Board Appreciation Month

January 7: Padres Latinos Meeting

January 13: Parenting in the Age of Technology | 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Mary C. Howse ES

January 16: Half-Day for Students | Teacher Inservice PM

January 19: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Schools and Offices Closed

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

January 20: Teaching, Learning, & Equity Committee | 6:30 p.m.

January 21: WCASD High School Course Selection Night

January 26: Property & Finance Committee Meeting | 6:00 p.m.

January 26: School Board Meeting | 7:00 p.m.

January 27: Kindergarten 101 | 6:00 p.m. in the Fugett Middle School Auditorium

January 28: WCASD Middle School Course Selection Night

Our 2025 WCASD holiday card, designed by West Chester East High School junior, Aaniya Kaushal, is the twenty-first in an annual series of special holiday greetings from the West Chester Area School District. We are so grateful to our students and their teachers for providing us with warm and cozy cards each season!

• Wednesday, March 18: Instead of a half day, there is no school for elementary students.
• Thursday, March 19: There are no parent conferences for middle school students.

The corrected information is listed online on the district and school calendars. Additionally, we will continue to remind families of this schedule change as we get closer to March.

January is School Director Recognition Month, a time to recognize the dedication of our WCASD school board directors. These leaders play an important role in supporting the success of our 12,000 students and strengthening public education across our district.

Alongside district administration, WCASD’s school board members make key decisions that shape our schools, from approving budgets and policies to guiding long-term planning, ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education. Ever found yourself wondering who a typical school board director is and why they take on this role (hey, some of you might be!)? Click the blue button!

Although evening weather prevented Exton students from attending the December Board Meeting in person, their impact was still felt. Through videos, students shared how they embody the Portrait of a Graduate and encouraged adults to reflect on those same skills.

Proof that meaningful participation can always happen, even if it's from afar!

The West Chester Area School Board Directors are seeking candidates to fill the vacancy created by Alex Christy's resignation in Region 1. His term would have expired in December 2027, and the school board must appoint a candidate to replace him.

• The candidate must live in Region 1 of the WCASD for at least one year and be 18 years old at the time of appointment.
• The appointee will serve until the first Monday in December 2027.
• Application and resume must be turned in by noon on January 21, 2026.
• The West Chester Area School Board Directors will appoint a candidate to fill the vacant school board seat during a Special Board Meeting on Monday, January 26, 2025, at 7:00 pm in the Spellman Education Center.

For more information, visit the School Board Vacancy webpage.

We extend our sincere thanks to Director Christy for his dedicated service on the WCASD School Board and wish him all the best in his next chapter. We also welcome Beth Campbell, newly elected to represent Region 3, and look forward to working with her alongside our returning board members in service of our students and community.

Reminder about key information families need for delays, early dismissals, and weather-related closures.

How We’ll Notify You
If a schedule change is needed, WCASD will communicate through:

• Email, phone call, and text message (for families opted into SchoolMessenger texts)

• Alerts on district and school websites

• District social media

• Local media outlets

Snow Days & FIDs

• WCASD has one traditional snow day built into the 2025–26 calendar, and we will use that day first.

• Any additional closures will shift to FIDs, which allow learning to continue remotely.

• A Child’s Place follows WCASD’s winter weather status for delays, dismissals, and closures.

Thank you for your flexibility and partnership as we prepare for the winter season!

In WCASD’s full-day kindergarten, learning begins with play. Through hands-on, play-based experiences, children build language skills, confidence, creativity, and friendships while learning how to work together and try new things.

It’s a joyful foundation that supports your child’s growth today and sets them up for success in the years ahead. We can’t wait to welcome your family to the WCASD Way!

Do you know an incredible WCASD teacher who goes above and beyond for their students? The Citadel Heart of Learning Awards recognize outstanding educators in the Greater Philadelphia area who make a meaningful difference inside and outside the classroom.

Nominations are open until January 15, 2026. Click the blue button or photo to share your story about a teacher who has inspired you!

Students from across WCASD high schools recently stepped into real-world learning through job site visits to SAP and the Exton Automotive Training Center. From global technology careers to hands-on automotive pathways, these experiences gave students a firsthand look at the many futures available to them, and the skills that can help get them there.

Rustin High School’s annual Speaking Contest brought the stage to life as eight talented students delivered powerful monologues for a panel of judges and a live audience of peers and staff.

Congratulations to this year’s winner, Robert, and kudos to all the contestants for their impressive performances!

Fern Hill Elementary welcomed Superintendent Dr. Christopher to a Design Lab class, where students were hard at work on a “beating heart” project.

It was a wonderful opportunity for the Bobcats to share their learning and showcase the creativity and innovation happening in the classroom.

Hillsdale Elementary partnered with the local West Chester Fire Department to make the holiday season brighter for families in need.

The fire department “adopted” a few families and delivered their gifts, spreading cheer and showing the power of community support!

First graders at East Bradford Elementary had a blast building and decorating gingerbread houses, piling them high with candy and frosting. Sticky fingers and big smiles made for a fun-filled day celebrating creativity and the holiday spirit!

Each year, the West Chester Area School District and the West Chester Area Education Association award ten deserving seniors from each high school with the Spellman Humanitarian Award. The awards honor the memory of the late Dr. Elwood M. (Ossie) Spellman, who served as a member and president of the West Chester School Board from 1951 to 1969.

Dr. Spellman was a highly respected area dentist who was also actively involved in the Boy Scouts, Rotary Club, YMCA, and Westminster Presbyterian Church. We are looking for students who exhibit the spirit of volunteerism and citizenship that was central to Dr. Spellman's life.

Visit our webpage for more information and to apply.

This new episode features Dr. David Christopher and Dr. Kalia Reynolds as they talk through some of the big plans and initiatives shaping WCASD now and into the future!

Join Dr. Kalia Reynolds every other Wednesday for stories from across the district. Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, and subscribe to stay connected to what’s happening in WCASD.

It wasn’t even close, cookies stole the show as the favorite holiday treat, with hot chocolate finishing a strong second. Winter comfort foods for the win!

The West Chester Area School District’s mobile app helps busy students and families stay connected on the go. Get real-time news, district and school calendars, and quick access to Schoology and the Parent Portal, all in one place!

The app was upgraded alongside our website update in January 2025. Be sure you’re using the most current version by looking for the app icon with a white background and blue lettering.

Download the WCASD mobile app today in iTunes or Google Play—search West Chester Area SD.*

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, Young Rembrandts, and Zia Yoga.

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

A night packed with slam dunks, trick shots, and nonstop laughs.

Bring your friends, bring your family, and get ready for an unforgettable evening!