May 8, 2026
Thank you for Spoiling our Team!
May 4-May 8 was Staff Appreciation Week and we are grateful to our community for celebrating our team with such kindness, care, and generosity. From staff-wide treats through a Willy Wonka inspired theme to heartfelt emails, cards, and flowers, our teachers felt all the love. A special thank you to Jill Podhiny and the Hospitality Team for all their setup, and to the Battavio Family for donating a pizza lunch on Friday!
- And, if you missed it, be sure to check out our kids responses to "Our bobcats know great teachers are the ones who..." on our 5-day series on Instagram!
As we inch closer to the end of the school year, our team wants to extend our gratitude for the volunteers who make being a bobcat that much more special. From homeroom parents to lunch volunteers and chaperones, we want to celebrate our caregivers who have donated their time to enriching our school community. We hope you'll join us on May 29 in the outdoor classroom for a Twin Valley cold brew on us and a chance to connect with our team so we can say thank you! Details below and a link to RSVP.
Coming Up Next Week:
- Field Trips: 3rd Grade Field Trip (May 11) and 4th & 5th Grade Track Meet (May 13)
- Make Tuesday night (May 12) a Family Night!
- Join us at the Art Show from 5-7pm on Tuesday, May 12 to see your child's art work on display through the halls of FHE
- Grab dinner before or after at Patelmo's for a PTO Dining Night Out and a percentage of your bill goes to FHE.
Upcoming Dates
May 4 - May 15 - Read with Rita's
May 11 - 3rd Grade Field Trip
May 12 - Art Show & Market 5-7pm
May 13 - 4th & 5th Grade Track Meet at WCU
May 16 - Bobcat Block Party 3-6pm
May 18 - Beginner Band and Strings Concert @6:30PM
May 19 - No School - Teacher In-Service
May 20 - 5th Grade Field Trip
May 22 - Kindergarten Field Trip
May 25 - No School
May 26 - Senior Walk for High School Graduates
May 27 - No School
May 28 - Heritage Day
May 29 - Fun Day - Families welcome!
We want to thank YOU!
The Volunteer Appreciation Coffee & Connection is Friday, May 29 at 8:30 AM in the outdoor classroom!
Whether you’ve joined us on field trips, served as a homeroom parent, supported the Bobcat Bolt, helped in the lunchroom or library, participated in PTO committees, or contributed your time in countless other ways—this event is for you! Your time and dedication make Fern Hill an incredible community, and we want to express our heartfelt gratitude.
Our Fern Hill staff will be there, excited to mingle, connect, and personally thank you for everything you do to support our students and school. We truly couldn’t do it without you!
We hope to see you for a cold brew and connection and to celebrate all the ways you make a difference!
No Cans, Please!
This is a friendly reminder that students may not bring cans or glass bottles in their lunches. This applies to all beverages, including sparkling water, juice, and soda.
Students are welcome to bring juice boxes or pouches, plastic bottles, or a reusable water bottle instead.
Thank you for helping us keep lunches safe and aligned with school expectations.
5th Grade Reminders
There are many exciting events coming up in your child's final 5 weeks of elementary school. It's a bittersweet feeling as we have truly enjoyed working alongside this cohort of learners over the years. We want to make sure you have all of the end-of-year events in one place to ensure that your child is ready for each activity, and that you can join us as often as your schedule allows. Here's the save-the-date for all events as well as some specifics about our Promotion Ceremony on June 10 for your planning purposes. We look forward to seeing you soon to celebrate your child's elementary journey.
Promotion Ceremony
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00–11:00 AM
📍 Location: Fern Hill Gym/Auditorium
**To ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all families, we ask that each student be limited to 5 guests. Seating is limited, and this helps us remain within fire code guidelines. Siblings who attend Fern Hill will have floor seating with their peers and do not need to be included in your 5 guest limit.
Read with Rita’s is Back!
We are excited to invite you and your students to participate in this year’s “Read with Rita’s” program, running from May 4th–15th! As the weather warms up, we know it can be tough to keep students motivated to read—but this fun and simple program is designed to reignite their enthusiasm.
Students are asked to complete 120 minutes of reading each week, either at home or in school. Reading can be done independently or with someone at home, and all time is tracked on a reading log, then confirmed by a parent or teacher. Once a student completes their goal, the bottom of their log will need to be signed by a teacher and can be redeemed at the West Chester Rita’s for a FREE kid-size Italian Ice—one per week, for a maximum of two. Let’s keep our students reading and enjoying sweet rewards along the way!
Logs will be sent home on May 4!
Fern Hill Track Meet – Grades 4 & 5
Our annual WCASD Elementary Track Meet is coming up on Wednesday, May 13 (rain date: May 15) at Farrell Stadium (WCU). All 4th and 5th grade students will attend and participate in a variety of running and field events during this exciting day of teamwork, effort, and school spirit!
Families are encouraged to join us as spectators or volunteers to help support events throughout the day.
Action Required:
👉 Please complete the permission form by April 17 (it takes just 2 minutes)
👉Consider volunteering! Click here for volunteer information and to sign up.
Additional details, including what to bring and volunteer information, can be found in the full event overview.
2025-2026 Yearbook: Order yours now
As the school year starts to wind down, it’s the perfect time to make sure you’ve purchased your yearbook. It’s such a special way to capture all the memories, friendships, and moments from this year that you’ll want to look back on for years to come. Don’t miss out on having a keepsake of all the fun and milestones, be sure to order yours before it’s too late!
Save the date: Bobcat Block Party
Come on out to the Bobcat Block Party May 16 from 3-6 PM at Fern Hill. Rain date May 30. More details to come. We can’t wait to see you there!
Mark Your Calendars for Patelmo's!
week is our Dining Night Out fundraiser at Patelmo’s Pizzeria in East Goshen! Mention “Fern Hill PTO” and 20% of your bill goes back to our school. Perfect for lunch or dinner—bring friends, family, and coworkers for a great meal that supports a great cause! Please note: Using 3rd party food delivery service will NOT count toward the fundraiser.
Join us on the PTO Board
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 Meghan Kazanjian at meghankaz@gmail.com
Fern Hill Unplugged
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.
Scan your receipts to earn BoxTops for Fern Hill
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!
Dining Night Out & Important Fundraising Dates!
Tuesday, May 12: 11am - 9pm Dining Night Out at Patelmo's Pizzeria (20% of sales)
- Tuesday, June 2: 4-8pm. Dining Night Out at Chipotle West Chester (25% of sales @ 101 Turner Lane)
Volunteer Clearances
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.
Planning a Vacation?
Fern Hill Elementary School
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