FC March 2026 Family Newsletter
Welcome to March!
It’s hard to believe we are already stepping into the third month of 2026. March is a special time in the school year—students are more independent, more confident, and ready to stretch their thinking even further.
At Fishing Creek, we remain committed to creating a strong culture for learning where every student feels welcomed, challenged, and supported. As we approach PSSA season for 3rd and 4th grade and continue building foundational skills in reading and math, your encouragement at home makes a tremendous difference.
Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. Spring is just around the corner, and there is so much to look forward to! Check out the information below to see what's been going on in February and what's coming up in March!
Important Dates and Events
Thursday, March 5 - PTO Skating Party
6:00 at Fountainblu
Friday, March 6 - Second Trimester Ends
Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 PM in the Library
PTO Meeting
Friday, March 20 - No School
Monday, March 23 - Remote Learning Day
Also, grades go live in PowerSchool.
Spring Picture Day
Picture Day is almost here! On Monday, March 16, 2026, our students will have the opportunity to take their spring school photos. This is always a special day and a wonderful way to capture memories from the 2025–2026 school year.
Families may order spring photos in advance by visiting LegacyStudios.com and entering the code 4825R26. Ordering online is quick and easy, and it ensures your child’s photos are processed smoothly.
We look forward to seeing all of our students dressed and ready to smile on March 16!
School Spirit Days
March 2nd- 6th: Read Across America Week (see below)
March 19th: Welcome Spring Day (wear spring colors)
March 25th: Shark of the Month (Shark Shirt Day)
Comprehensive Planning Update: 2026–2029
Every three years, the West Shore School District engages in a comprehensive planning process to evaluate our programs, identify priorities, and establish clear goals that guide the future of our schools. Comprehensive planning is a critical component of continuous improvement, ensuring responsible use of resources while strengthening academic opportunities and support systems for all students.
The District is currently developing its 2026-2029 Comprehensive Plan. This process includes reviewing student achievement data, assessing district needs, and gathering valuable feedback from students, families, staff, and community stakeholders. Community input plays an important role in shaping the plan and ensuring it reflects the shared priorities of our school community.
The proposed plan was presented to the Board of School Directors at its February 19, 2026, meeting. As the plan moves through review and approval, updates, presentations, and supporting documents will continue to be posted online.
Community members are encouraged to review the materials and stay engaged in the planning process by visiting:
https://www.wssd.k12.pa.us/ComprehensivePlanning.aspx
Questions, comments, or feedback may be submitted through our Contact Us page at:
www.wssd.k12.pa.us/ContactUs.aspx
Read Across America Week
Read Across America week is March 2-6, 2026. This year's theme is: "Reading is Sweet!" Students have been invited to participate in a bookmark contest, book raffle giveaway, and a Spirit Week. All classes will read together during Buddy Reading on Friday, March 6.
We’ll kick off the week on Monday, March 2 with “Roll Out of Bed and Read!” Students may wear pajamas or comfy clothes to school (please remember—no slippers). It’s the perfect way to get cozy with a good book!
On Tuesday, March 3, we invite everyone to “Taste the Rainbow: Read!” Students can wear their favorite color to brighten our hallways and celebrate the colorful worlds books create.
Wednesday, March 4 is “Books Make Me Laugh!” Students are encouraged to dress in a wacky or mismatched outfit to show that reading can be silly, surprising, and full of fun.
On Thursday, March 5, it’s “Say Something with Books!” Students may wear a shirt with a positive saying or message, reminding us that words matter—both on the page and in our daily lives.
We’ll wrap up the week on Friday, March 6 with “Friendship is Sweet: Buddy Reading Day!” Students can dress the same as a friend or wear a Fishing Creek shirt to match lots of classmates. We’ll celebrate friendship and enjoy time reading together.
Culinary Stars
Calling all future Primary Culinary Stars in grades K–4! Do you love cooking at home? Now is your chance to share your favorite lunch or dinner entrée recipe and show us what you can bring to our table.
Students are invited to submit a favorite recipe using the online form (or by scanning the QR code) by Thursday, March 5th. All submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee, and one student from each school will be selected to move on to our exciting cook-off event.
The cook-off will take place on Wednesday, March 18th, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. at Fairview Intermediate. If selected, students must be able to attend with a parent or guardian. During the event, all ingredients, aprons, and equipment will be provided—students simply need to bring their passion for cooking! Participants will have one hour to prepare their dish and will present four small plates to our panel of judges.
Prizes will be awarded, and the top winner will earn a special opportunity to serve as a judge at the Intermediate/Middle School Culinary Competition on Wednesday, April 15th. See the attached PDF
for more information and for the QR code!
Sharks of the Month
🦈 Sharks of the Month – Honesty 🦈
In February, our character trait focus was Honesty, and we’re excited to recognize those students who truly modeled it throughout the month! One way to think about honesty is being truthful in what we say and do — even when it’s hard and even when no one is watching. 💙
We are so proud of these students for leading by example and showing what it means to be #fcsharktank strong and #westshoreproud!
PTO Updates
Paste text🛼 Skate Party – March 5th | 6:00–8:00 PM
Join us for our PTO Skate Party on Wednesday, March 5th from 6:00–8:00 PM at Fountainblu. This is always a favorite event for our students and families; come enjoy an evening of skating, music, and fun with the Fishing Creek community.
📌 Upcoming PTO Events
We have many great events coming up this spring, including:
- One Book, One School
- Penny/Coin Wars
- Additional community nights
- Spring Fundraiser (kicks off in May)
📅 PTO Meetings – Now Hybrid
The PTO is now offering hybrid meetings, meaning families can attend in person or virtually via Microsoft Teams. Our goal is to make meetings more accessible and encourage greater participation. A Teams link to join the meeting will be sent the day of the meeting via Seesaw.
PTO Bylaws & Board Positions
BYLAWS
The PTO has proposed and reviewed updates to our bylaws at the February PTO meetings, with the goal to formalize and adopt the updated bylaws at our March PTO meeting. These updates are intended to help ensure our PTO continues to operate effectively and reflect the needs of our school community. Some key proposed changes are highlighted at the end of this message for your reference.
You can view the current and proposed bylaws here:
BOARD POSITIONS
In addition, nominations for PTO board positions will take place at our March PTO meetings, and elections will be held in April. Please note that you must be present at the April meeting to vote.
All PTO board positions will be available, as current board members have served their maximum two-year term (within their current position).
Positions include:
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Controller
This is a great opportunity to get involved and help shape the future of the PTO. We encourage anyone interested to attend upcoming PTO meetings to learn more about the roles and the bylaw updates.
📢 Stay Connected with the PTO! 📢Want the latest updates, event details, and our full calendar? Here’s how you can keep in touch:
📅Next PTO Meeting: March 10, 2026
🌐 Website: FishingCreekPTO.com
📘 Facebook: Fishing Creek Elementary School PTO
📧 Email: FishingCreekPTO@gmail.com(we’d love to hear from you!)
Shark Folder Reminder
Each evening, please take a few minutes to check your child’s Shark Folder. This is our take-home folder and may include important notes from school, homework, student work, and classroom updates. Reviewing it together helps keep families informed and students organized. Thank you for making this part of your daily routine! 🦈📂
Volunteers Needed - 3rd and 4th Grade Shark Store
We’re looking for volunteers to help with the Shark Store for our 3rd and 4th grade students! The Shark Store is always an exciting time for our kids to celebrate their hard work and positive choices. If you’re available to lend a hand, we’d love to have your support in making this event a success.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CAEA82CABFCC61-58424887-fishing
PBIS
Character Focus: Cooperation & PBIS Spotlight
This month, our character focus is Cooperation! Students are learning the power of working together, listening to others, and contributing to group goals. Whether it’s during classroom projects, partner activities, or playing at recess, cooperation helps build stronger friendships and a more supportive learning environment.
Our PBIS focus is on being Safe, Kind, and Responsible by showing respect in all areas of the school. That means using polite words, listening to adults and peers, and treating others the way we want to be treated. Respectful behavior helps create a school where everyone feels valued and ready to learn.
Family Discussion Tip: Ask your child what cooperation looks like at school? What does it look like at home? When do they work with others? How do they show respect during group activities or at home? Share examples of how your family works together—whether it’s setting the table, solving a problem, or playing a game—and talk about why teamwork and respect matter.
For additional information regarding CharacterStrong, please visit our CharacterStrong & Social Emotional Learning website.
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As always, please contact us if you have questions or need assistance!
Matthew Wensel
Principal - Fishing Creek Elementary School
717-938-6565
Mr. Adam Marshall
Assistant Principal - Fishing Creek Elementary School
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @FCSharks1 and Instagram @FCSharks1 to see the awesome things happening here at FC!