West Chester Area School District

Dear WCASD Community,

August is here and our schools are stirring with energy and enthusiasm, brimming with preparations for the upcoming 2023-24 school year! Behind the scenes, our dedicated WCASD team has been busy creating inspiring spaces and crafting engaging lessons. School buses are gearing up for their school year routes, and transition to middle school camps eagerly greet new students. Families, too, are on a mission, gathering school supplies and gearing up for the adventures that lie ahead.

To our newcomers, a warm and heartfelt welcome to the West Chester Area School District! We are thrilled to have you join our vibrant community, and to our returning families, welcome back! Your continued support and involvement make our schools truly special. Of course, we can't forget our incredible students – you are the heart and soul of our district, and we can't wait to see the incredible heights you'll reach this year.

This year's theme is "See, Smile, Succeed," and it will guide us through our challenges and triumphs. Together, we form a powerful force that nurtures and empowers each and every student. Our shared mission is to inspire and educate, guiding young learners to reach their personal best and seize every opportunity that comes their way.

To stay connected and informed, be sure to bookmark our website, www.wcasd.net. It's a valuable hub for back-to-school information and resources for students and families alike. Additionally, follow us on social media to keep up with the latest happenings and exciting events in our schools.

The first day of school is just around the corner, and we can't wait to greet you all with smiles and enthusiasm. Let's make this year one to remember – filled with learning, laughter, and moments of growth that will shape our future!

Important Dates:

Back to School Month | Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month

August 1: Public Hearing at FMS | 6:00 p.m.

August 14: Pupil Services Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m.

August 14: Education Committee Meeting | 7:00 p.m.

August 17: Community Meeting | 6:00 p.m.

August 21: Property & Finance Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m.

August 28: School Board Meeting | 7:00 p.m.

August 28: First Day of School!

The WCASD uses an online process to complete Back-to-School information. This process is accessible via our PowerSchool Parent Portal, which is a secure system that enables the District to verify demographic, emergency, and medical information for students before the start of the new school year. Additionally, families can electronically sign most forms and indicate that they received and reviewed other informational materials.

For additional guidance regarding account creation, visit the WCASD Parent Portal Account Webpage. If you do not remember your self-selected ID and password, please select the “Having trouble signing in” link found below the login screen to recover login information or email parentportal_support@wcasd.net for further assistance.

Be ready for the start of the school year with all the right school supplies! Supply lists are located on the homepage of elementary and middle schools.

High school students receive lists on the first day of school.

Pennsylvania requires a physical examination to be submitted to the school nurse three separate times during a student's education: on entry (usually Kindergarten or 1st grade or new to the district), 6th grade, and 11th grade. Families have 60 days from school entry to provide a private physical examination report or signed permission for a school exam.

Additionally, families with children participating in athletic programs may need to complete a sports physical. Forms can be found on all school Athletic websites. The Fall sports season officially begins on Monday, August 14 except for Football and Golf which starts on Monday, August 7.

Learn more by clicking the blue button!

Along with the pick-up and drop-off times for children, the transportation department will be sharing exciting news on a new app that will notify you of delayed bus routes.

Schedules are still being finalized. An email will be sent when parents and students can log into their accounts to see their teachers and schedules.

BoardDocs is a paperless meeting software designed to house School Board meeting and committee meeting agendas, minutes, and policies. The interactive meeting agendas can be found on the "FEATURED" tab.

Begin the WCASD online registration process to register your new student. Review items needed for registering your child.

1. JOIN THE PTO/HSA - Becoming active in your school's Parent-Teacher Organization or Home & School Association is a great way to stay informed.

2. ATTEND EVENTS - Participating in school and district events isn't just fun, it also helps to build our community, develop relationships, and support other families.

3. BECOME A VOLUNTEER - Ask about the unique volunteer opportunities that may be available at your child's school. To learn about clearances, visit: www.wcasd.net/volunteer

4. APPLY TO BE ON OUR TEAM - Want to be even more involved? Think you might have a passion for education and working to support students? Apply for one of our many different open positions! To learn more and apply, visit: www.wcasd.net/hr

Download the flyer outlining the 4 Ways to Get Involved

Are you having trouble sending/receiving emails to the WCASD? Here's what to do:

1. If you have or are unsure if you have unsubscribed from school or district email service - Click here to Resubscribe to School/District Email Service
   
   

2. If you're having trouble submitting an email to WCASD, please fill out the form below - Click here for Rejected E-mail Request Form
   
   

3. Update your email in the Parent Portal

The search for the next superintendent of schools for West Chester Area School District is underway! During the June School Board meeting, the Board of School Directors approved a contract with the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) to conduct the confidential search for our next superintendent.

Since then, the School Board has met with the CCIU to outline the search process, the CCIU has held stakeholder focus groups, applications have come in locally and from across the country, and a survey has been made available to all stakeholders. Most of the focus groups are now complete, but all stakeholders are able to complete the survey until Wednesday, August 2 at www.cciu.org/wcasd-supt.

To learn more about the process or see previous communications, click the blue button!

Don't miss out on the chance to interact with peers, administrators as you tour the building. Practice opening a locker and learn to read a sample schedule.

Fugett Middle School:
Thursday, August 10. There are 2 sessions per day: 9 - 11 A.M. and 12 - 2 P.M.

Peirce Middle School:
Wednesday, August 9. There are 2 sessions per day: 9 - 11 A.M. and 12 - 2 P.M.

Stetson Middle School:
Wednesday, August 9. There are 2 sessions per day: 9 - 11:15 am and 12:30 - 2:45 pm.

Students had a blast designing and building marble mazes in celebration of STEM week.

The WCASD is thrilled to share the appointment of Kristin Bulgarelli as the new principal of Exton Elementary School. Bulgarelli brings a wealth of experience and a passion for education to her new role, and her appointment marks an exciting chapter in the school’s history.

With an extensive background in educational leadership and a commitment to fostering growth and community, Bulgarelli is well-equipped to lead the Exton Eagles in their journey to achieve their personal best. She joins the Exton Elementary School community with a clear vision for academic excellence, student well-being, and community engagement.

To read the full article on the Daily Local News, click the blue button!

Rustin students, accompanied by Señor Rehrig, Señora Stephens, and Ms. McCreesh, headed to Central America for an incredible journey of language, history, and culture.

From hiking volcanoes and enjoying lava-roasted pizza to cave tubing and snorkeling, they soaked up every moment. Climbing Mayan pyramids, encountering local wildlife, visiting a textile co-op, and practicing Spanish at the largest handicraft market truly enriched the group's understanding of Guatemala and Belize!

Señor and Señora are so proud of the group’s enthusiasm to try new foods, face fears, form friendships, and respectfully navigate new cultural and geographic landscapes with incredible flexibility and patience. A huge thank you to everyone who made this unBELIZEable educational journey possible!

Students in the JumpStart summer program went on a field trip in the WC Boro to Gryphon Cafe. Students learned how coffee beans are sourced and roasted, techniques for preparing the perfect cup of coffee, and how to run a small business. The trip ended with samples of Gryphon’s house-made hot chocolate and brownies for the students and teachers!

The WCASD is offering free memberships to Smart Social’s Very Important Parent (VIP) Program for all parents and guardians of students attending a school in the West Chester Area School District.

Josh Ochs and his team created this program to help parents and guardians understand the numerous social media apps, which ones are safe, which ones to avoid, and how to help their children create a safe and positive digital presence. Through newsletters, live events, and a library of on-demand videos, families learn how to successfully navigate popular social media apps and support their children in becoming capable and aware digital citizens whose social media choices reflect their bright futures.

We hope you will take advantage of this membership opportunity, which is completely free through the WCASD. Follow the links below to learn more and sign up today:

Visit https://smartsocial.com/westchester to create an account.

Get access to all of the courses and sign-up for live events at https://smartsocial.com/members

Attention all parents with school aged children! Children's Summer Food Program 2023 is open every Thursday afternoon from 4:00 - 7:00 pm starting June 15. Watch a video for more information.

¡Atención a todos los padres con niños en edad escolar! El Programa de alimentos de verano para niños 2023 está abierto todos los jueves por la tarde de 4:00 p. m. a 7:00 p. m. a partir del 15 de junio. Mira un video para más información.

West Chester Food Cupboard | 431 S. Bolmar St. | West Chester, PA 19382 | 610.344.3175 wcfood@gmail.com

The Foundation is an independent non-profit organization whose mission is to supplement creative, meaningful, real-world experiences for students in the West Chester Area School District.

Did you know that the WCASD offers a Senior Tax Reduction Incentive Volunteer Exchange Program designed to assist Senior Citizens with the burden of Real Estate Taxes? In return for volunteering their services through this program, senior citizens may be entitled to a rebate of property taxes in accordance with the guidelines outlined on our Senior Tax Reduction Incentive Volunteer Exchange Program webpage.

Before applying to the program, we encourage those interested to review the attached brochure below and the guidelines on our website.