11-9-25 Patriot Press

Dear Fort Families,

We’re entering a very busy and exciting time of year for both our families and our school! This week, our annual Kindergarten Thanksgiving performance will take place. Ms. Tesarri and our kindergartners will perform for the entire school in the morning, and then again for kindergarten families at 2:45 p.m. in the gym.

We’re also celebrating American Education Week. Tomorrow, at the end of the day, we’ll be sharing a slideshow that highlights each grade level along with our amazing specialist teachers and the programs they lead.

Next week, we will have half days from Monday through Wednesday, with dismissal at 12:15 p.m. each day. We’ll be holding our annual parent-teacher conferences on Monday and Tuesday. We are looking forward to meeting with you and sharing how wonderfully your children are doing so far this year, as well as all the progress they’ve made.

Finally, we will end the week on Wednesday with our annual Turkey Trot! All students will be dismissed from their classrooms at 9:30 a.m. to kick off the event. Each grade will walk a 1.6-mile community course (see below) before returning to the building.

This is a family-friendly event, and we’d love for you to join your children as we walk together. A crossing guard will help with traffic, and parent volunteers will help guide the classes along the route.

To make it even more fun, students are encouraged to wear a professional, college, or UD football jersey in honor of Thanksgiving Day football. No jersey? No problem—fall colors are perfect too! Each grade is also asked to wear the following colors:
K – red, 1st – brown, 2nd – orange, 3rd – purple, 4th – yellow, 5th – green.

We can’t wait to see everyone out there—let’s make this Turkey Trot a day to remember!

Sincerely,
Mr. Mac
Fort Washington Elementary School
Principal
smcaleer@udsd.org

Thursday, November 20 - 4th grade field trip to Lincoln Financial Field - 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Friday, November 21 – Kindergarten Thanksgiving Sing-Along – 2:45 p.m. in the gym (for Kindergarten families)

Monday, November 24 – Early dismissal at 12:15 p.m. - conferences (evening option available 5:00–7:00 p.m.)

Tuesday, November 25 – Early dismissal at 12:15 p.m. - conferences

Wednesday, November 26 –

• Turkey Trot - 9:30 a.m. (all families welcome - meet in front of the building)
• Early dismissal at 12:15 p.m.

1. Head north on Ft. Washington Ave.

2. Turn right onto Thomas Drive.

3. Turn left onto Victor Drive.

4. Turn right onto Hazelwood.

5. Turn left onto Goodman (continue for 0.7 miles).

6. Turn left onto Hawthorne.

7. Turn left onto Tressler.

8. Turn left onto Hazelwood.

9. Turn right onto Victor.

10. Turn right onto Thomas Drive (continue for 1.6 miles).

The event concludes once K–5 students proceed back into the building.

Last week, 4th grade enjoyed their first trip to Robbins Park, where they reviewed erosion and deposition using different types of stream tables.

We are proud to continue our Patriot tradition of supporting Cradles to Crayons with a Fall Coat and Clothing Drive from November 3-26. We are collecting winter coats, boots, mittens, and more to help children in need. Please view our flyer for more specific information about donations and our collection process.

If you are planning to attend classroom parties or events, or to chaperone (including with your own child) on a field trip, Tier I clearances are required. Clearances are valid for five years. You can find more details via the button below.

The Office of Student Services issued a letter this week to families of kindergarten and first-grade students regarding our upcoming ROAR programs hosted by the Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center. ROAR is a personal safety program, offering age-appropriate, interactive lessons that help children recognize, resist, and report unsafe situations.

Our school district's planetarium will reopen to the community on Thursday, November 20 for two programs, One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure and Lamps of Atlantis. Join us to enjoy a full-dome view of stars, planets, and cosmic wonders—perfect for curious minds of all ages!

A reminder that all students can enjoy a free breakfast in our cafeterias each morning. Selections vary by day and include warm, whole grain-rich mains, fresh fruit, 100% fruit juice, and locally-sourced milk. It’s a great way to start the day energized and ready to learn. View our menus to see what’s for breakfast!

Gender Equity Club Used Cell Phone Collection Drive - Through November 21

Girls Lacrosse Jingle Bell Jog 5K - Saturday, December 6

AAUW STEM for Girls Grades 5-8 - Saturday, March 28

**Disclaimer Statement: The information provided in the segment above is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation of any specific individual or organization. We offer this platform as a resource for community organizations but cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the details provided.