FC's February 2025 Newsletter

Greetings, Fishing Creek Families!

February is here, and there’s so much to celebrate! On February 7, we’ll mark the 100th Day of School—what an exciting milestone for our students and staff! Our middle-of-year assessments are complete, giving teachers great insights to guide instruction and keep our students on the path to success.

See below to find out what's been going on in January and what we have to look forward to in February!

Wednesday, February 5 and Thursday, February 6

4th Grade Academic Bowl competition at Crossroads Middle School

Tuesday, February 11 at at 6:30 PM

PTO Meeting in FC Library

Thursday, February 13 at 5:30 PM

Book Bash - Please fill out the RSVP form (see below)

Friday, February 14 - Remote Learning Day

Teachers will provide asynchronous work for students equal to a half day of instruction. Student work may be completed that day or anytime over the weekend and submitted the next day school is in session. Students will NOT attend Zoom sessions and all students will be marked present unless reported as absent. In the event of an absence, families should follow regular procedures for absence notification and the standard make-up procedures will apply.

Monday, February 17 - No School

A huge THANK YOU to our amazing families and staff for making McTeacher Night a success once again! While we didn’t break last year’s sales record, we now proudly hold the top two spots! 🎉👏 This was a great community event that raised lots of money to support our amazing PTO!

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! If you need help securing any warm winter clothing, please reach out to Mrs. Bricker, our school counselor, for assistance.

We are excited to invite you to Fishing Creek’s Book Bash on Thursday, February 13, 2025, from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM! 🎉📚

This fun-filled event, made possible by Title 1 and the Dollar General Youth Literacy Grant, will feature games, arts & crafts, and even some amazing creatures! 🖍️🎲🐾

To help us prepare, please fill out the RSVP form that was sent home with your child and return it to Mrs. Panebaker by Wednesday, February 5.

📌 Don’t forget to send it back! We can’t wait to see you there! 🎉💙

Shout out to our Sharks of the Month who were nominated for showing Perseverance in January! Keep up the great work, Sharks!

Please consider including an extra set of clothes in your child's backpack each day. Our nurse’s office has run out of spare pants, and we have students needing a change of clothes daily. Also, If your child borrows clothing from the nurse, please remember to wash and return the items as soon as possible so we can continue to help students.

Upcoming PTO Events

2/10 - PENNY WARS BEGIN

2/11 - PTO MEETING

2/13 - PENNY WARS END @BOOK BASH

3/6 - SKATE NIGHT

3/11 - PTO MEETING

4/3 - SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

4/8 - PTO MEETING

4/10 - SKATE NIGHT

5/13 - PTO MEETING

5/20 - BOOSTERTHON BEGINS

5/30 - BOOSTERTHON ENDS

*Be sure to keep an eye on Seesaw and our websites for more information around each event and changes

McTeacher’s Night

Thank you to everyone that came out and supported Fishing Creek McTeacher’s night at McDonald’s and a special thanks to the Fishing Creek staff for serving the food! The event was consistently busy with many smiling faces and excitement. We did not break the record that we set last year but we did break Old Trails record and now hold both 1st and 2nd places at McDonald’s! Congratulations and thank you again!

Spirit Gear

Reminder: The link to purchase Spirit Gear is available on our website, just click the Spirit Gear image!

PTO Info

Did you know that in lieu of charging membership dues to PTO members the PTO is solely funded by fundraising and generous donations! All of our PTO meetings are open and free to attend for any parent and staff of Fishing Creek Elementary. Most of our PTO meetings also have child care available to entertain any kids during the meeting.

Next PTO Meeting: 02/11 6:30pm @ FC library (child care will be available for this meeting)

Next PTO Event: Skate Party 03/06 6pm-8pm @Fountainblu

Don’t forget to check out the PTO online:

Website - FishingCreekPTO.com

FaceBook - Fishing Creek Elementary School PTO

You can also reach out to the PTO via email anytime at FishingCreekPTO@gmail.com

March 3-7, 2025 is Read Across America week. We'll be "Wild About Reading" all week long at Fishing Creek! We will have themed dress days. Students can participate in a bookmark contest and the PTO is planning a special event, too! Lastly, there will be a school-wide Book Raffle and students can use Shark tickets to enter.

If you're looking for a flexible and rewarding part-time position, the West Shore School District is actively looking for additional substitute teachers for the remainder of the school year. Whether you are a parent/guardian looking for more ways to stay connected or know someone in your family and friend circles who may be interested, please contact us! The Emergency Permit process allows candidates with a Bachelor's Degree in any field to serve as a Substitute Teacher. The District Partners with Substitute Teacher Service (STS) to fill needs within the District throughout the year. You may click this link for more information. https://www.wssd.k12.pa.us/Employment.aspx

It's important that iPads come to school fully charged and ready to learn each day! Kindergartners, 3rd graders, and all new students will get their device at the beginning of the year.

Fishing Creek is on Instagram! Follow us at FCSharks1 to see what's some of the great things happening at FC!

Looking for a rewarding job? We have immediate openings in a variety of District departments. To learn more and apply, please visit: https://www.applitrack.com/wssdk12/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1

We are also looking for day-to-day substitute teachers. You do not have to have a teaching certificate to become a substitute. WSSD contracts with STS to fill substitute positions. To find out more or apply, please visit https://www.thesubservice.com/. You don't have to be able to substitute every day in order to sign up to be a substitute. Even if you can only substitute occasionally, that little bit will help immensely.

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

Mr. Matthew Wensel

Principal - Fishing Creek Elementary School

wenselm@wssd.k12.pa.us

717-938-6565

Mr. Adam Marshall

Assistant Principal - Fishing Creek Elementary School

amarshall@wssd.k12.pa.us

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