Hello Wildcat Families!

These are exciting times at WTE and I'm not just talking about the continuous playoff runs by our beloved Philly sports teams!

Already in February we have hosted an Author's Day and World Read Aloud Day. Both of these events were made possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of our teachers and PTO. I would like to give a special shout-out to Mrs. Yoch and Mrs. Worrilow for coordinating Author's Day! It was both a valuable and memorable experience for our students.

Looking ahead, to Friday, February 10th, we will be hosting a schoolwide Mindfulness Day. Music therapy with West Chester University students, STEAM activities, and Pet Therapy are just few of the activities students will enjoy over the course of the day. Thank you Mrs. Garvin for coordinating this fun-filled day as more and more research continues to surface regarding the importance of mindfulness for not only one's wellbeing but also in teaching and learning. Check out a summary of the day's events in the flyer below.

Considering Friday, 2/10, is both Mindfulness Day and the last school day before the EAGLES beat the Chiefs in Superbowl LVII, let's make it a schoolwide EAGLES SPIRIT DAY by wearing green and/or Eagles gear! Please note, students and staff are also encouraged to wear comfortable clothing on Friday and bring in either a towel or yoga mat.

The following week, 2/13 - 2/17, our student council requested a SPIRIT WEEK. Conveniently, the day after the Superbowl is PJ day which I thought was genius! Great job student council! See below for the theme of each day.

Make it a great week! Go Birds!!

Dr. Cruice

Come support many former WTE wildcats and even a few current wildcats that will be performing in Rustin's Les Miserables. Congratulations to Joey Caroto who will be playing Gavroche and Erin Alloway and James Yoch who will be in the ensemble! Break a leg wildcats!

Thank you to our WTE PTO for bringing Author's Day to WTE on February 1st! After a schoolwide assembly where students learned the keys to effective teamwork and creative story-telling, the students returned to their classrooms to work in groups on their stories. In the afternoon, the students came back together and the guest speaker, dressed as a mime, chose stories to act out. The future is bright for the many authors at WTE!!

Congratulations to all of our power paw winners pictured below. These students were selected by their teachers for best representing what it means to be a wildcat by going above and beyond to be safe, respectful, responsible and kind. Great job students!

Volunteering is Linked to Overall Happiness. In fact, research from the National Institute of Health has found that “participation in voluntary services is significantly predictive of better mental months. To connect with your community, see your value in the world and maybe even find a passion, check out these resources to Get Started Volunteering Today! #wcyouthmatter

The West Chester Area School District is pleased to partner with West Chester Communities That Care to bring you Tips and Tricks for finding Passion and Purpose through Volunteering. See below!

Is your child in 4th or 5th grade? We are excited to share that our annual 4th and 5th District-Wide Track Meet will be held this May. Our students will enjoy a day at the WCU track in a friendly competition against other WCASD elementary schools. WE WILL NEED YOUR HELP!!! The success of the track meet rests heavily on the parent volunteers. YOU WILL NEED YOUR CLEARANCES. You can visit this link on the district website for information for information about obtaining your clearances. We suggest you put in for your clearances now as they do sometimes take a bit of time to receive them back.

Save the Date to attend as a parent volunteer. More information will come with specific times.

• May 17, 2023 (rain date – 5/19) : East Goshen, Hillsdale, Greystone, Glen Acres, and Westtown- Thornbury
• May 18, 2023 (rain date – 5/22) : East Bradford, Penn Wood, Starkweather, Exton, Fern Hill, Mary C. Howse

The Special Education and Pupil Services department will be holding four evening sessions this year for parents. Please see the attached flyers for details.

A Flexible Instructional Day (FID) is a program available to public school districts to be used as an alternative approach to delivering instruction if a circumstance arises that prevents instruction in a customary manner (i.e. “snow days”) or in the event of an emergency, such as a power outage. Implementing FID(s) eliminates the need for make-up days in the event of school cancellations.

In the event of an anticipated FID due to the potential for inclement weather, all families will be notified. Please note, when iPads are sent home for an anticipated FID, you and your child will be responsible for all technology. Your child is expected to return his or her iPad and power adapter with cord after a FID. You will be assessed an invoice if your child’s iPad or power adapter with cord is not returned to school. The replacement cost of an iPad is $299.00 and a power adapter with cord is $35.00.

You will find additional information on the WCASD plan for FID below. Please contact the main office with any questions.

With Valentine's Day approaching, it is necessary to review the school district's policy on Classroom Parties and Celebrations:

School/Classroom parties/celebrations with food/beverages shall be limited to no more than three (3) per school year. At each event at least one (1) fruit and vegetable will be offered. There is a maximum of one (1) sweet or salty snack that will be offered. All packaged foods must be labeled with the ingredients and nutritional information. Parents/Guardians shall be informed through newsletters or other efficient communication methods that foods/beverages should only be brought in when requested for scheduled parties/celebrations.

Please note Valentine's Day is not one of our 3 scheduled classroom parties over the course of the year and therefore food and beverages are not permitted during a school Valentine's Day party/celebration.

The online spirit wear store is now open online. Items can be purchased via the link below. Don't delay in making your order as the spirit wear sale ends on February 13th!

Don't miss out on this lifetime keepsake to remember this year as a WTE Wildcat! Is your student in 5th grade? No need to buy a yearbook as our PTO provides a FREE yearbook for all 5th graders! (There is no 5th grade option when selecting your student's grade because of this.)

This an ONLINE SALE ONLY! Yearbooks are delivered in June! You must order online by 4/15 to receive a yearbook! (Yearbooks will not be for sale in June when they are delivered to those that purchase them!)

Click the link below to register and order a yearbook! There is a $0.99 service fee when ordering. Total yearbook cost is $18.99 with this fee. Our School Code: 068359

The West Chester Area School District has a tradition of offering high-quality extra-curricular programs for students. To support the costs of these programs, an Activity Fee is applied to extra-curricular programs supervised by a contracted coach, advisor, or director. This yearly fee allows a student to participate in one or multiple funded activities, and the maximum amount a family may pay per year is $250. At the elementary level, the activities that require payment of an activity fee for the year are intramurals, chorus, orchestra, and band. Please see the attached letter for additional details and payment information. Payment should not be made until your son or daughter is rostered for the given activity during the school year.