Falcon Flash

Dear Stetson Families,

I hope this letter finds you well and that you enjoyed a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. We had an exceptional four-day week here at school, filled with memorable events and celebrations. On Tuesday, we were thrilled to welcome back our seniors from Rustin, who walked through the halls in their caps and gowns to the applause and cheers of students and staff alike. It was a heartwarming moment that inspired our younger students and reminded us all of the hard work and achievements that lead to graduation.

Additionally, our school chorus delivered a spectacular concert this week, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of our students. The event was a great success, and we couldn't be more proud of their performance. To cap off this eventful week, the 8th-grade dance on Friday was a hit, with students enjoying an evening of music, dancing, and camaraderie. It was wonderful to see our students having such a great time together. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community.

Best Regards,

Mrs. Puchalla

Principal

Monday, June 3rd--Day 6

Tuesday, June 4th--Day 1 ***Yearbook Distribution***

Wednesday, June 5th- Day 2

Thursday, June 6th--Day 3

Friday, June 7th-- Day 4 *8th Grade Celebration*

Monday, June 10th--Day 5 (LAST FULL DAY OF SCHOOL)

***Community Celebration - Ice Cream Social 4-6pm***

Tuesday, June 11th--Day 6 (HALF DAY 11:35 DISMISSAL)

Wednesday, June 12th- Day 1 (HALF DAY 11:35 DISMISSAL)

Thursday, June 13th--Day 2 (HALF DAY 11:35 DISMISSAL)

***8th Grade Breakfast and Activity Awards Assembly***

Friday, June 14th-- NO SCHOOL (SUMMER BREAK BEGINS)

I’m proud to announce Stetson’s 2024 “Hoops for Heart” grand total:

$5,940.21 for The American Heart Association.

Thanks again, SMS, for making this annual event such a huge success!

Yearbook distribution will occur on Tuesday, June 4th, 2024. Students who have ordered yearbooks online will be called down to receive their yearbooks at the end of the day.

For students who have not ordered a yearbook but would still like one, they will be on sale at the following times in the cafeteria:

Wednesday, June 5th from 7:45 AM-8:05 AM

Thursday, June 6th from 7:45 AM-8:05 AM

Friday, June 7th from 7:45 AM-8:05 AM

A limited supply will be sold on these days for $45. Checks should be made payable to “Josten’s”, or exact cash only.

Please see Miss Zachariah (room A101A) or email nzachariah@wcasd.net with any questions!

Please join at Stetson on Monday, June 10th for an Ice Cream Social Community Event.

We would like to end our year with a sweet treat. On Monday, June 10th (0ur last full day) Maggie Moo's Ice Cream truck will be in the bus loop selling cups of ice cream and fresh baked cookies from 4:00 - 5:30. We'd love to get as many families together to celebrate the end of a great year at Stetson. Please take the time to complete this form if you're family is planning on attending. Parents must attend with their children and prices for ice cream cups range from $6-$8.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeKdGuftHcMvineJaOozeKAi6oyhfgPEtheNrPIKtF_5tuvjA/viewform

If you are interested in learning more about our Original Credit courses, please register for that session using the Acceleration Program Information Session Link.

More information here: https://www.wcasd.net/Page/14054

We are excited to announce that the Stetson PTO now has Venmo! Please consider making your $25 PTO donation today! Thank you for your support!

We look forward to a successful year of supporting our students and teachers. How can you help? If you are able to make a contribution to the PTO, please send cash or check (made out to Stetson Middle School PTO) to the school marked PTO contribution. ($25 is the recommendation, but anything is appreciated). We are also continuing with our candy bowls for the teachers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054AA8A72DA7F94-teacher. Keep looking for more information to come throughout the year.

2023-24 PTO Board: Patty Arabia, Vicki Babylon, Nancy Bragger, Jamie Grant, Dee Hurford, Lindsey Rauch

Click here for the Rustin Fall Sports & Activities Newsletter! This includes key contact information for coaches, club/activity advisors, and all opportunities offered during the fall season at Rustin High School. There is also a lot of key information and requirements for all student athletes for participation in Fall Sports. Fall sports officially begin Monday, August 12th (football begins heat week Aug. 5th). All athletes must be registered in Family ID with an updated physical and PIAA physical form by Friday, August 5th. All physicals must be dated May 1st, 2024 or later. *All football players participating in heat week must be registered by Thursday, August 1st.

Rustin will be offering a tennis camp for all Stetson students from grades 6 through 8. Please see this flyer for specific details.

All questions should be addressed to Coach McElroy at the email address listed on the flyer.

Good Afternoon 8th Grade Stetson Families,

Just a friendly reminder regarding our 8th grade end of year events. We have also include new information about EARLY SIGN OUT PROCEDURES ON THE DAY OF THE 8TH GRADE DANCE AND 8TH GRADE CELEBRATION. We are quickly approaching the end of our middle school experience for our current 8th grade class and wanted to communicate a few very important dates and details regarding end of the year events and activities to help cap off a great 3 years together. For planning purposes, you will see a breakdown of all of our 8th grade events for the end of the school year as well as the 9th Grade Student/Parent Orientation for Rustin High School over the summer. Please pay careful attention to dates, times, locations, and instructions for each event as they may differ.

8th Grade Celebration: June 7th at 10am on the SMS Football Field located behind school.

***This is a BYOC (Bring your own chair) event if weather permits us to hold this event outside. Should we need to utilize our rain date of June 10th, we will move this event inside to our auditorium with limited seating for parents of students only. ***

UPDATE: If you plan to attend the 8th grade Celebration on Friday, June 7th and would like to sign your 8th grade child out when it is over, please complete this form HERE. You may only sign out your own 8th grade student(s). This will be coded as an excused early dismissal.

Students will not be dismissed to anyone besides their own parent. If they may go home with another family we would need a handwritten note instead of completing this document. Thank you!

8th Grade Field Day: June 10th (This is a student event only. This is our official last full day of school.)

T-Shirt/Yearbook & Snack Day: June 11th (Half Day: This is a student event only)

SEL Day: June 12th (Half Day: This is a student event only)

Breakfast/Clubs Recognition Assembly: June 13th (Half Day)

We rely on donations to make this a success. Please sign up here- https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4AA5AF2DA57-49137547-2024

***Parents are welcome to attend the Clubs/Activities Recognition Assembly that will begin at 10am in the auditorium. ***

The WCASD now uses the Bus Status 4 app to provide live updates about changes in regular bus times. We encourage all families to upload the Bus Status 4 app since we will not be sending bus changes out regularly, as we have done in the past. See the attached document for more information.

Stetson Middle School enforces the WCASD Attendance Policy and PA State attendance laws related to absences and tardies. Students are required to be in attendance daily to keep current with school work. When your child must be absent, please call our absence line as early in the day as possible (please do not call the nurse.) Automated phone calls are sent out by the district to notify families of absences every day, regardless of whether the absence is called in or not. If you would prefer to avoid that automated phone call, you can email a note on the morning of an absence to Heather Mazza at hmazza@wcasd.net, this would also serve as a parent note.

Call 484-266-2710 or email hmazza@wcasd.net

before 9:00 am

IMPORTANT! Submission of Excuse Notes for Absences

After an absence, a parent or doctor’s note must be submitted to the Attendance Secretary or emailed to hmazza@wcasd.net within three days of the student's return to school, or the absence will be considered unexcused/unlawful. Emailed excuse notes are acceptable, as long as they are received within three days of the absence.

Thank you for your cooperation with the start of this new school year. We have had a very successful start of the school year in regards to drop-off and pick-up. We enjoy seeing our parents smiling faces, waves, and cute dogs!

Student Drop-Off/Pick-up: Safety is the top priority at Stetson. Please use the designated lane to drop off/pick up students. There will be only one lane available for drop-off and pick-up in the morning and afternoon. Prepare for long lines and plan accordingly. Students may be dropped off as early as 7:30 am. Stay in the car line and follow staff members’ instructions. You will find the carline traffic flow map attached below. Please review the map and feel free to reach out with any questions. Students may only enter or exit cars at the designated cones. Student drop-off and pick-up can be challenging with the high volume of cars that enter the campus. We appreciate your efforts in helping keep our students safe during this time.

Due to the start time of the staff workday, students can only enter school after 7:30 am unless directed by a teacher for a pre-determined appointment. Students dropped off before 7:50 am will be directed to wait in the cafeteria (6th grade) or LGI (7th and 8th grade) until dismissed to lockers/homeroom.

Being on Time to School: Homeroom begins at 8:05 am and ends at 8:15 am. Students arriving late to homeroom (after the homeroom bell rings at 8:05 am) must report to the office for a late pass. The administration will handle lateness following the WCASD Attendance Policies and PA State Laws.

Lateness Clarification:

a. All Stetson students who are assigned and ride a bus that arrives late will NOT be marked late due to the bus’s late arrival.

b. A student who is driven to school and dropped off in the car line will be marked late if the student is not in their homeroom when the homeroom bell rings at 8:05 am.

If possible, please try to refrain from making appointments during school hours. We understand that at times this is unavoidable, so if your child must leave school early, a student must present a written request by a parent to the office upon arrival at school. Stetson’s Attendance Secretary, Mrs. Mazza, will then give a pass with the dismissal time to your child to share with their teacher at the designated time. Emailed early dismissal notes are not permissible. Keep in mind that only a doctor’s note will excuse an Early Dismissal. Any Early Dismissals, prior to 1:50 PM will be counted as a Parent Note.

Please see the School Board Policies section of the WCASD website to access more information about the WCASD Attendance Policy.

Students should wear the standard Stetson PE uniform, gray Stetson t-shirt, green gym shorts with white socks, and sneakers. Please print the student's name on the inside of the shorts and in large print on the back of the t-shirt. We also have a limited supply of PE shirts on hand to sell (planning in the morning 2nd week of school) for $10.00. Please see Mrs. Avagliano in the main office to purchase.

Each student will have a locker assigned with a built-in lock. Students must lock the locker consistently and the combination kept private to maintain security. It is suggested that all students bring a combination lock to school to secure belongings in a locker during PE and in the athletic locker rooms.

Friendly reminder regarding the WCASD Dress Code Policy:

Students are expected to wear clothing appropriate for school.

Unacceptable attire includes, but is not limited to, attire that is unsafe, unhealthy, disruptive, offensive to generally acceptable community standards, or contains obscene language; any clothing that reveals undergarments; torn clothing or clothing with holes in it; and tight fitting outfits that are inappropriate and/or revealing. During the school year and summer school, the following applies to male and female students:

1. Tops

a. Shirts, t-shirts, and sweatshirts shall not have inappropriate slogans, words, pictures, alcohol/smoking advertisements, etc.

b. No tank tops, no tops that show the midriff or cleavage, and no see-through tops shall be permitted.

2. Pants/Shorts/Dresses/Skirts

a. Dresses, shorts, and skirts shall be at an appropriate length, which has been determined to be no shorter than midway between the knee and the top of the leg.

b. No pants/sweatpants/shorts/etc. with writing located in inappropriate places are permitted.

c. Pants shall be appropriately sized and worn at the waist, and no lower than the top of the hips.

d. Undergarments shall not be displayed.

e. Pajamas shall not be permitted.

3. Outerwear

a. Coats, hats, hoods, scarves, and the like shall not be worn in the school building, except for religious reasons.

4. Footwear

a. No bedroom slippers shall be permitted.

b. Laces on shoes shall be secured.

c. Any footwear that poses a safety hazard shall not be permitted.

5. Other

a. No chain link belts.

b. Spike jewelry, chains or any other jewelry that could cause injury or constitute a hazard are not permitted.

As a school we are always looking to improve upon our building culture. This year we will be promoting positive relationships and growth with our students using the acronym PRIDE. Pride stands for:

P- Purpose (Having our students do things with intent and determination.)

R- Respect (Showing respect to our peers and adults.)

I- Integrity (Doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Strong moral principles.)

D- Diversity (Recognizing that we all come from difference places and experiences and we respect each others differences.)

E- Empathy (the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.)

One our first day of school, Monday, we held a Town Hall meetings with each of our grades to welcome them back and review expectations and PRIDE was the heart of our presentation. We encouraged all students to practice PRIDE every day at Stetson and we encourage parents to talk with their students about what PRIDE is and how they can show it. We wanted to make adults at home aware in case they hear their student mention it at home. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Next week we will be starting to run our Falcon Periods on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the morning. Falcon Period runs as an extended HR from 8:15-8:50. The purpose of this additional period is to provide an academic support period during the school day for students to have the opportunity to complete work, receive remediation/enrichment, and participate in our social and emotional activities. Our bell schedule is adjusted to accommodate for the Falcon periods. Tuesday Falcon Period will concentrate on executive functioning support and Thursday will be focused on social and emotional learning. We believe through these opportunities students can make stronger connections with teachers, counselors, administrators, and peers.

Welcome Back!

Starting this school year there have been some recent updates to our food service program and federal waivers that will affect our cafeteria programs this school year. Please read carefully over the letter below for information about our Free and Reduced Lunch Program, Meals and Menu options and prices, and PaySchools Central Account information where parents can load money onto an account that students can use to purchase lunch at school. For questions about Free and Reduced Lunch please reach out to Colette McLaughlin at cmclaughlin@wcasd.net.

Each student is responsible for knowing their bus number, stop location, and pick-up time. Students should be at their bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. Per WCASD policy, students are neither permitted to ride a bus to which they are not assigned nor get off at an unassigned bus stop. Bus passes will not be permitted due to continued limited bus capacity. Bus drivers have the right to assign seats on their buses. BUS ARRIVAL TIMES MAY NOT BE EXACT IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS SO PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE WORK TO HIT OUR SCHEDULED TIMES.

Large or Dangerous Objects

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation regulations mandate that the interior of a school bus must be free of objects which could cause injury. Objects must be secured and the aisles and emergency exits cannot be blocked. The following must be adhered to at all times:

1. No items can be placed in the driver’s compartment, doorway, or aisle. These areas must be kept clear to exit in case of emergencies.
   
2. Animals are not permitted on the bus except as otherwise required by law.[14]
   
3. Large musical instruments or school projects are not permitted on the bus unless they can be held on the student’s lap.
   
4. Items may not be placed under seats, as they can become projectiles upon impact.
   
5. Objects that endanger other students are strictly prohibited. Such objects include, but are not limited to, glass objects, large metal objects, and certain sports equipment that is large and cumbersome, including but not limited to skis, skateboards, or ice skates, unless the ice skates are in an enclosed bag.

Accidental Damage Policy:

Our students will be covered for one incidence of accidental damage coverage for each academic year. Any cost of repair/replacement of damage beyond the one incident per year will become the responsibility of the student or parent/legal guardian. This accidental damage coverage will not cover device loss or intentional damage.

Cell phones and other unauthorized electronic devices are not allowed to be carried on a person during the school day. If a student chooses to bring a device to school, it must be turned off/silenced and stored in the student’s locker for the duration of the school day. Failure to follow this directive will result in the confiscation of the item and possible further disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, the student’s parent/guardian having to pick the item up from school.

Please check Stetson's website often to find updates and school information. You may also keep up-to-date on your child's academic progress by accessing our Parent Portal system. Please follow us on Twitter to check out our latest events and announcements @GAStetsonMS.

As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out our school nurse, Mrs. Czerpak at 484-266-2706.

Water Bottles: With the weather changing and the increase in end-of-year outdoor activities, it is important your child brings a water bottle to school every day!

Medication in Health Office: If your student keeps medication in the health office, the medication will be sent home with your student by the last school day. If you prefer to pick up your student’s medication, please notify the health office of your intention.

All medications, even over-the-counter (OTC) medications, must be dispensed by the school nurse. Do not send medications with your child to take during the school day. Sending medications with your child is against school policy and the WCASD Discipline Code. A signed parent permission note must accompany medications that needs to be given during school, in addition to a written order from the doctor to include type/dosage/time. A copy of the prescription to the pharmacy is not the same and cannot be accepted. Students are not permitted to bring medications to school. A parent/guardian must personally deliver the medication to the school nurse, who must secure and dispense the medication. Any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Melissa Czerpak at 484-266-2706 or email at mczerpak@wcasd.net.

Stetson Middle School Code of Conduct

All students will be given access to an electronic copy of the WCASD Discipline & Records Policy through the distribution of the 1 to 1 laptops. Additionally, the administration will review the policy manual with each grade level during their town hall meeting the first week of school. It is vitally important to review every page of these documents with your child. Each child will be required to verify through a signature that they have received the policy. Knowing what is expected of each student and what consequences are for various offenses will be important to have a successful experience at Stetson Middle School.

Padres Latinos is hosting the 3rd Community Resource Fair and End of Year Celebration on Friday, June 7, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Hillsdale Elementary School located at 725 W. Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382.

The Resource Fair is a community outreach event created with the goal of connecting WCASD Spanish-speaking families to school and community resources to assist parents to overcome linguistic and cultural challenges so they may successfully navigate our school system with ease in support of their children’s education. This event is free for presenters and families.

In 2024 Padres Latinos celebrates 10 years bridging the Spanish speaking community and our schools! We have invited over 25 agencies. I am pleased to share that the following agencies have confirmed their participation:

• Chester County Public Library
• Crime Victims Center of Chester County
• Dr. Geoffrey Simon, CHOP
• Family Service of Chester County, Familias Unidas
• Home of the Sparrow
• Keller Williams Realty, Mr. Luis Benites
• Senator Carolyn Comitta’s Office
• The Melton Center, New Horizons Program
• The Westside Community Center
• WCASD Reading Specialists
• West Chester Communities That Care
• West Chester Food Cupboard
• WCASD Students
• YMCA of the Brandywine Valley
• YMWIC Foundation, Inc.

There will be a moon bounce for the children, a birthday cake and homemade food that families will bring to share. All participating agencies are donating an item to be raffled during the event and there will be free books for the children.

We hope you will join us on Friday, June 7th at Hillsdale Elementary to mark this important milestone for Padres Latinos and the Spanish speaking families in our district!

The coaching staffs at Rustin and East High Schools are hosting a youth football camp June 17th-21st. The camp is designed to promote teamwork, skill work, self-confidence, and fun to our prospective students. The camp helps support our coaching staff and booster organizations. If you could possibly send out our link through your newsletter it would be greatly appreciated. We are all trying to promote our schools and programs to keep our students in our feeder system.

Chester County All-Star Football Skills Camp (ccallstarfootballcamp.com)

Sincerely

Mike St. Clair