ESA Weekly Parent Update

Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases, the flu, and other respiratory illnesses, CUSD will require ALL staff and students to wear masks for the first 10 days after the winter break.

This is a proactive health measure that we hope will keep many of us healthy and in-person learning.

Everyone should be prepared to mask on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. We do not anticipate mask requirements beyond January 17, 2023.

We are also encouraging everyone to take preventative measures which include:

• Using hand sanitizer
• Handwashing, covering mouth and nose when coughing/sneezing
• Staying home if you’re feeling sick

Also, households can now order FREE at-home COVID-19 tests through the federal government.

To order your tests, visit www.covid.gov/tests.

Parent University in Partnership WIth PNC Banks Presents:

#SecureTheBag Financial Literacy series

Location:

Edgmont Scholars 1450 Edgmont Ave, Chester, PA 19013

Dates:

Thursday, Jan 12, 2023

Tuesday, Feb 7, 2023

Thursday, Feb 9, 2023

Time:

6 pm- 8 pm

Our scholars will be taking their second iReady Diagnostic in class within the next two weeks. Please review the information below for further information around the purpose of the diagnostic and how you can support your scholar.

Please encourage your scholar to get a good night's sleep and to take their time on the diagnostic.

We will be sending home diagnostic results once they are complete, as well as reviewing them at parent/teacher conferences in February.

Understanding Your Student’s Diagnostic Results For Families:

What is the Diagnostic?

The Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions for each student. As a student answers correctly, the questions get more difficult. As a student answers incorrectly, the questions get easier. This adaptability allows the Diagnostic to identify the strengths and opportunities for growth of each student.

Why is my student taking it?

The purpose of the Diagnostic is not to give your student a grade, but instead

to determine how best to support their learning. It will help your student’s teacher(s) determine their needs, personalize their learning, and monitor progress throughout the year.

How is my student doing overall?

The goal is for your student to be performing
at or above grade level, which means they have mastered the skills students at that grade level are expected to master and are prepared to learn more advanced skills.

What if my student is performing below grade level?

This situation can happen, and teachers and schools have many strategies and programs to help accelerate your student’s learning. Having this information can help you, your student, and their teachers have the right conversations to make the needed progress.

What does it mean if my student scored lower on the second Diagnostic than the first?

A lower score does not mean your student did not learn or lost skills. Scores can be affected by things like stress, distraction, taking the Diagnostic in a different place, and receiving help. This can be particularly common when students are learning in different environments and under unique circumstances. Teachers take this into account and use the data from the Diagnostic as one of many tools to understand your student’s unique needs and progress.

What can I do to help my student?

• Discuss these results with your student. Celebrate their strengths and progress, and collaborate with them on

  planning how they will reach their goals.

• Reach out to your student’s teacher to get more ideas and resources to support your student in specific domains and/or skills.

• If your student uses i-Ready Personalized Instruction, review their progress on the student dashboard. For more information and resources, visit the i-Ready Classroom Mathematics Family Center.

A reminder that we still go outside to recess during the cold months. Please make sure your child is coming to school prepared with coats, hats, and gloves so that they are able to participate in recess. If you are in need of any of these items please contact your child's homeroom teacher.

We are still seeking additional parent involvement for the Parent Caregiver Association! Our next meeting will take place Wednesday, January 18th.

If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to volunteer please email us: ESAPCA22@gmail.com

Pretzel sales will occur every Friday. Pretzel Money is collected each week, Monday - Thursday. Pretzels are $1, cheese cups or mustard cups are $1 and bottled waters are $0.50.

As the weather becomes colder, I want to reiterate to parents/guardians that school does not open until 8:40 am. There is no supervision of students prior to 8:40 am. Breakfast will be served from 8:40 am - 9:00 am only.

Also, we will not let students be dismissed between 2:30pm and 3:30pm unless you have an emergency that is documented (e.g., a letter or text regarding a doctor's appointment at 3:30). No early dismissal past 2:30pm without documentation. In addition, please be sure to communicate any dismissal changes (e.g., from bus rider to pick up student) prior to 2:30 pm directly to the homeroom teacher through Class Dojo. Please ensure that you have received a response from the teacher and don't assume that they saw the message. We want to make sure that all students are safe!

In addition, students are considered late to school after 9:00 am. Parents MUST walk late students into the building to sign them in and get a late pass. Frequent latenesses result in the loss of instructional time as well as interrupt the instructional time of other students.

Upcoming Events/Dates:

1/12 - Parent University

1/13 - Pretzel Day

1/13 - 2nd Making Period Ends

1/16 - Dr. Martin King Holiday - school is closed for all

1/18 - Picture Retake Day

1/18 - PCA Meeting

1/20 - Pretzel Day

1/27 - Pretzel Day

2/2 - 2/3 - Parent Teacher Conferences - No School for students

2/7 - Parent University

2/9 - Parent University

2/20 - Presidents' Day Holiday - school is closed for all

2/27 - Asynchronous Day

Dress Down Fridays are cancelled until further notice. We will communicate when they may begin again.

- Please give teachers and staff 24 hours to respond to communication. If there is an immediate need for an answer, please call the front office.

-If you ever have any questions or concerns, please send me a message on here or through email: kdeletto@chesteruplandsd.org.

-Ms. Sara Ferguson's email address is sferguson@chesteruplandsd.org

If any of your parent contact information changes, please notify your child's homeroom teacher. We need your most up to date phone numbers in case of an emergency.

-We are seeing an increase in Door Dash deliveries. Please do not Door Dash your child food. Many times the food is left outside causing an unsafe situation. Students are welcomed to have a school lunch or pack their lunch, but Door Dash is not an option.

Please review the ESA dress code:

Expectation: Children are expected to wear the WPCS or Chester Upland School District uniform to school each day. Families are asked to contact the school’s social worker, if they have any questions or concerns about obtaining the uniform.

WPCS Uniform (for 2022-23 only)

Grey Pleated Twill Pants or Grey Pleated Skirt

Maroon Polo Shirt or White Button-down Shirt

Maroon Cardigan or Maroon Sweater Vest with WPCS Emblem

Heather Grey Crew Socks, White Knee-High Socks/White or Maroon Tights

Black or Brown Belt

Black or Brown Shoes (boots may be worn to school but not IN school)

Chester Upland School District Uniform

Black, orange, gray, or white polo shirt

Black, orange, gray, or white crewneck sweatshirt

Black, orange, gray, or white cardigan or sweater

Black, navy blue, or tan khaki style pants or skirts

Physical Education Uniform:

· Maroon Tee Shirt or sweatshirt w/ WPCS logo

· Maroon Sweat Pants or gym shorts w/ WPCS logo

- Solid color t-shirts, gyms short, sweatpants, and/or sweatshirt. (Black, orange, white, gray)

· White socks

· Sneakers

UNACCEPTABLE ATTIRE/ACCESSORIES FOR STUDENTS:

Hoodies

Stained, torn or overly worn uniforms

Striped, designed, decorated or brightly colored socks and undershirts

Fanny packs and purses( purses can be no larger then 8 inches wide and 5 inches in length)

Please review the cell phone policy:

Cell Phone and Electronic Devices

The use of cell phones and electronic devices are not permitted at ESA. Upon entering the school building students must turn off all electronic devices and keep them stored in their backpack or lockers (grades 5-8) If the electronic device is seen or heard by an ESA Staff member, the device will be confiscated. The first time the device is confiscated it will be returned to the student at the end of the day. For each infraction thereafter, confiscated phones will be turned in to the Dean and must be picked up by an adult. Confiscated phones will not be given back to the child. ESA will not assume responsibility for the loss or theft of any electronic device. Smart Watches are prohibited from being worn in the building. ESA reserves the right to reasonably search and/or confiscate any and all electronic devices to the extent allowed by applicable state and/or federal laws and regulations.

Email: kdeletto@chesteruplandsd.org
Website: https://www.chesteruplandsd.org
Location: 1450 Edgmont Avenue, Chester, PA, USA
Phone: 610-872-1358