February 20, 2026

This week offered meaningful opportunities for learning, reflection, and celebration across our school community. We recognized the start of Ramadan, taking time to build understanding around this important month of reflection and compassion for many of our families. Students also learned about and celebrated the Chinese New Year, exploring traditions, symbols of good fortune, and the joy of new beginnings.

📅 Spring Conferences — Sign Up Below!
Spring conference scheduling is now open. All families are welcome to meet with our team to discuss your bobcat’s growth, progress, and goals for the remainder of the year. We value this time to connect and partner with you. Scroll down to reserve your conference!

❄️ Weather Watch & Preparedness
Forecasts for the coming weekend remain unpredictable, with some reports calling for several inches of snow while others suggest minimal impact in our area. To be overly prepared in case of significant snowfall, student devices are coming home this afternoon, February 20.

• Devices are fully charged.

• Chargers will remain at school.

• Please keep devices powered off unless needed for learning.

• Devices are educational tools, not personal-use devices.

If weather conditions require us to shift to a Flexible Instructional Day (FID), please reference the FID details below to access your child’s schedule and learning expectations.

Thank you for your partnership and for helping us keep learning moving forward — no matter what the forecast brings!

It is time for families to schedule their child’s Spring Conference! Our staff is looking forward to meeting with you for a Spring conference as an opportunity to share your child's progress, strengths, and areas for growth.

To schedule your child's conference,

1. Go to https://ptcfast.com/schools/Fern_Hill_Elementary_School

2. Please check the box for your child's homeroom teacher. Families with multiple children will have to do the process individually for each child.

3. Enter your registration information.

4. Check your email (and spam folder) and click on the access link to select your conference time. If you would like to request a virtual conference, type Virtual Conference in the Special Request box.

5. Click Confirm Selections & Exit. If you need to schedule a conference for another child, go back to https://ptcfast.com/schools/Fern_Hill_Elementary_School

If you do not have internet access, please contact your child’s teacher.

As a reminder, the school schedule for conference week is as follows:

• March 18 - No School for Students; Conferences 8-11AM and 12:20-3:20PM

• March 19 - No School for Students; Conferences 8-11AM and 12:20-3:20PM

• March 20 - No School for Students; Schools Closed

Please contact your classroom teacher with any questions. We look forward to seeing you in the building soon!

5th grade families will receive their child's middle school core academic placements this afternoon, February 20.

If families have questions or want to learn more about their child's course placement, they are encouraged to schedule a conference to discuss their child's progress with their homeroom teacher.

Mar 2 - 6 - Read Across America Spirit Week

Feb 16 - Schools Closed - President's Day

March 18-19 - Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences

• No School for Elementary Learners

March 20 - Schools Closed K-12

We are excited to host our FHE Heritage Day on Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 9:00-3:30 and are looking for parent and guardian volunteers to participate. Heritage Day is a full-day event where students learn about and explore cultures from around the world. Volunteers may share their culture through materials, presentations, food, pictures, or by teaching students about customs and traditions. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the Google Form linked below. We would love to celebrate and learn from our school community.

Our 5th graders just finished their Fugett Field Trip and it is time for us to begin thinking and acting on the 5th to 6th grade transition to ensure a smooth experience for your child and family. While they will always be bobcats in our eyes, they are soon to be Fugett Cougars, so we want to be sure you have all the information you need regarding the course selection process, parent information session, and more.

• Please click here to read the letter provided by Dr. Sara Missett (Director of Elementary Education) that shares all content and invitations for upcoming 5th to 6th grade events.

  
  

Dates to Know:

• February 19 - Families receive district letter with their child's core academic placements and music course selection

• March 18-19 - Parent/Teacher Conferences

• May 6 - Parent Information Night hosted by Fugett Middle School

Middle School 101 Follow-Up
In case you were not able to join us on Wednesday evening for Middle School 101, we are sharing the recording here: Middle School 101 Parent Information Night. Additionally, the Question-and-Answer function on Microsoft Teams was not accepting questions that were being posed by our families. To ensure that we support your transition as best as possible and your family has a question about our middle school program, please submit it here.

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!

If you have used child-sized cleats or shin guards, please consider donating them. Real Futbol Club is a local soccer club dedicated to bringing soccer to families in our area. Mrs. Christine Miller and Mrs. Lisa Baker will have boxes in their rooms for any donations. We will take donations until February 13. Thank you!

Fern Hill’s Literati Online Book fair is now OPEN! Shop the online fair and support our PTO. Stay tuned for more information about volunteering at the in-person fair March 16th-24th!

It’s not too early to start thinking about how you’d like to be involved at Fern Hill next year! The PTO Board is a fantastic way to make a difference and be involved in our many fun events and fundraisers! Several spots will be vacant with our fifth grade families moving on. If you have any questions please reach out to Megan Kazanjian at meghankaz@gmail.com

Calling all Fern Hill parents! We are looking for parents to join together to start a Fern Hill Chapter of West Chester Unplugged! Please reach out to Ali Haas at ahaas19603@gmail.com if you’re interested in joining. This is for parents interested in learning about and setting boundaries for technology with our kids, both at home and in school.

Want one less thing on your to-do list in May? Order your yearbook early and save 10%—but hurry, the discount ends October 31st!

Click here to purchase [web.treering.com]

Earning money for our school has never been easier! All you need to do is download the Box Tops app, create an account, and scan your grocery receipt. Easy and quick! Last year we earned $500 from Box Tops for Fern Hill!

We love having our families volunteer throughout the building. In order to volunteer, adults are required to have their clearances on file with us. Clearances can take 4-6 weeks to acquire, so please be sure to get the process started if you're looking to volunteer this Fall.

If you are planning a family trip, please complete the Trip Approval Form to notify the Main Office and gain approval for your trip. The Vacation Request Form will also always be available on our Fern Hill Website under the "For Parents" section.

• Fern Hill Website
• PTO Website
• Vacation Approval Request Form

• FHE: Kindergarten Lunch Duty
• FHE: 1st Grade Lunch Duty

Jennifer Southmayd

Principal

Email: jsouthmayd@wcasd.net
Website: https://www.wcasd.net/fhe
Location: 915 Lincoln Avenue, West Chester, PA, USA
Phone: 484 266 1600
Twitter: @FernHillES