West Chester Area School District
October Newsletter
A NOTE FROM SUPERINTENDENT DR. DAVID CHRISTOPHER
Dear WCASD Community,
It’s hard to believe that we’ve already wrapped up the first month of the school year! It has been such a joy to see our students back in action, our schools buzzing with excitement, and our staff working tirelessly to ensure a successful start. I’m proud to say that this has been a month filled with incredible achievements, setting the tone for an exciting year ahead.
Peirce Middle School has been recognized with the PIAA Sportsmanship Award, a tremendous honor reflecting the character of our students and their commitment to fair play. East High School junior, Naina Bhatia, was named a representative to the Department of Education—a remarkable accomplishment that showcases the leadership and dedication of our students. In addition, I’m happy to share that our district has once again been named an Outstanding Community for Visual Arts, a testament to our vibrant and talented arts programs.
If this is what we’ve achieved in just a few weeks, I can only imagine the milestones we’ll celebrate throughout the rest of the year.
Our high schools have enjoyed spirited homecoming celebrations—or, in East’s case, are gearing up for their own—with students demonstrating tremendous school pride and connection to one another. Meanwhile, our younger students are busy engaging in their learning, setting the foundation for a year of growth.
I look forward to all the excitement that October will bring. And, as always, I’ll see you as we walk the WCASD way together.
To make sure that you don’t miss any of the events coming up for the WCASD, check out the list of upcoming events below and our Celebrate the Arts Flyer at the bottom of this newsletter.
Important Dates:
October: Nat. Principals Month | Nat. Cyber Security Month | Nat. Bullying Prevention Month
October 2: National Custodian Day
October 2: Padres Latinos Meeting
October 3: Rosh Hashanah | Schools Closed
October 12: Yom Kippur
October 13-19: National School Lunch Week
October 14: Chester County College Fair | 6:00 p.m.
October 15: Combined Pupil Services and Education Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m.
October 16: National Boss's Day
October 20-26: National School Bus Safety Week
October 21: Policy Review Committee Meeting | 5:30 p.m.
October 21: Property & Finance Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m.
October 23-31: Red Ribbon Week
October 28: Flu Vaccine Community Clinic at FMS | 3:00 p.m.
October 28: School Board Meeting | 7:00 p.m.
October 31: Halloween
Stetson Students Practice Vocabulary Skills
Sixth grade students at Stetson Middle School were engaged in an interactive vocabulary challenge. Using their own vocabulary cards, students flipped them over as each word was described, once they had three cards turned, they could stand up and announce their win!
Starkweather Students Tackle Letters and Sounds
First graders at Starkweather Elementary got into the world of letters and sounds. Through interactive sound games and activities, they discovered the unique sound each letter makes, helping them remember as they clap and point to the letters on the board!
These fun and engaging lessons are building a strong foundation for their reading journey!
Speaking of sportsmanship in the WCASD, Peirce Middle School received the prestigious PIAA Sportsmanship Award for the 2023-2024 school year. This accolade highlights the unwavering dedication of Peirce’s students, athletes, coaches, and staff in promoting respect, fairness, and integrity within their athletic programs.
The award, which celebrates exemplary conduct and ethical behavior in school sports, is a testament to Peirce’s commitment to fostering a positive sporting environment. Principal Dr. Joseph DiAntonio and Athletic Director Chris Beatty accepted the award on behalf of the school.
Read more by clicking the blue button or visiting MyChesco.com!
At the September Board Meeting, we were energized by the leadership of Samantha Frederick and Arsh Mirza from Mary C. Howse Elementary as they kicked off the evening with the salute to the flag. These remarkable students shared how MCH students are stepping into leadership roles as backpack buddies, hallway managers, and library helpers, and they built excitement for upcoming school events like the pep rally, band performances, and the highly anticipated Fun Run!
We also heard from our new 2024-25 School Board Student Representatives, Madison Mathew (East High School), Peter Kennedy (Henderson High School), and Diana Munoz-Lopez (Rustin High School), who delivered engaging updates on all the amazing activities happening at their schools.
Lastly, we took a moment to honor two dedicated Board members, Director Daryl Durnell, for his five years of service, and Director Gary Bevilacqua, for his impressive decade of commitment to the West Chester Area School District.
On Constitution Day, Henderson High School proudly dedicated a new Freedom Shrine!
Thanks to the efforts of the Exchange Club of West Chester, this shrine, located near the counseling office, showcases historic documents highlighting key moments in U.S. history. During the ceremony, Mayor DeBaptiste, Exchange Club representatives, Principal Sherlock, and Senator Comitta shared inspiring words about the power of young voices in shaping our future. This meaningful addition is a reminder of the strength of civic engagement!
The West Chester Area School District (WCASD) is proud to share that six students have earned the AP Capstone DiplomaTM. Additionally, four students have earned the AP Seminar and Research CertificateTM during the 2023-24 school year. The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students develop the critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are crucial for academic success.
“Next-level commitment deserves next-level recognition. The Capstone program represents a body of work grounded in growth and grit,” said Director of Teaching, Learning, and Equity, Dr. Stephen Brown. “These students are in exclusive company, and we are very proud of their accomplishments. Additionally, we applaud the AP Capstone program teachers for their dedication to helping students access ultra-rich learning experiences that will serve them well in their future endeavors.”
Read more by clicking the blue button or visiting the WCASD's website!
Hillsdale Elementary students had a blast reading and working with a buddy during their Buddy Reading activity!
Every student was paired with a buddy from a different grade level and read the book "Your Name is a Song" together. Then, they unleashed their creativity by designing their names in any style they wanted, celebrating and embracing the uniqueness of each one!
Attention, WCASD families - you and your high school student are invited to attend the 2024 Chester County College Fair at United Sports!
Take advantage of this opportunity to help your teen identify pathways for postsecondary success. This event is free to attend, and registration is requested.
For more information and to register, visit www.cciu.org/college-fair or click the blue button.
It was a great weekend to be a Henderson Warrior or a Rustin Golden Knight!
School spirit was on full display all week at both high school, and especially on Friday when they ended the week with exciting Pep Rally's and carnivals before homecoming night. The energy was high as the schools cheered on their homecoming courts, rooted for their classes in epic tug-of-war and cup games, brought the fun with performances from the bands, dance teams, and cheerleading squads, and so much more.
Stay tuned for photos and fun as East High School holds their homecoming celebrations this month!
Congratulations to six outstanding students from the West Chester Area School District who have been named semifinalists in the prestigious National Merit Scholarship competition! These students are part of a select group of 16,000 semifinalists, representing less than 1 percent of high school seniors nationwide.
These students were selected from over 1.3 million entrants who took the 2023 PSAT. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and wish them the best.
Click the blue button or read more at the Patch.com!
We’re thrilled to highlight a personal best moment for Naina Bhatia, a junior at East High School, who has been named a representative to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education! Joined by her family, Dr. Graham, and Dr. Christopher, Naina received a special citation from State Representative Chris Pielli in recognition of this incredible honor.
In her new role, Naina will attend board meetings, offer her insight, and conduct outreach with students across the Commonwealth. This achievement is a true reflection of our mission to inspire students to reach their personal best, and we are so very proud of Naina!
In a testament to its dedication to fostering a robust arts education culture, the West Chester Area School District has been named an Outstanding Visual Arts Community for 2024 by the Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA).
This prestigious recognition highlights the district’s unwavering commitment to providing comprehensive, accessible, and highly visible arts programs for its students, setting a benchmark for educational excellence in visual arts.
Read more by clicking the blue button or the photo!
Over the summer, the West Chester Area Education Foundation once again proudly sponsored WCASD students in the Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) program!
This fantastic opportunity allows high school juniors and seniors to step into the shoes of business leaders and learn from local experts what it would be like to run their own business!
Check out what some of our talented WCASD students had to say about their experience and learn more about the Foundation's support of student PFEW experiences by visiting the WCAEF website.
New Form for the 2024-25 School Year!
At various times throughout the year, community members may request a review of instructional materials or books related to the WCASD or the District may begin the process of considering new instructional materials. When either occurs, the Superintendent or their designee can create a committee to review the materials. Parents and community members are an important part of the committee and review process.
If you would be interested and willing to serve on review committee if the need should arise, we encourage you to complete a brief interest form by clicking the blue button. Please be aware, if you signed up to participate last year, you will need to sign up again as it is our goal to keep this list as current as possible year-to-year. Thank you!
Did you know that the WCASD offers a Senior Tax Reduction Incentive Volunteer Exchange Program designed to assist Senior Citizens with the burden of Real Estate Taxes? In return for volunteering their services through this program, senior citizens may be entitled to a rebate of property taxes in accordance with the guidelines outlined on our Senior Tax Reduction Incentive Volunteer Exchange Program webpage.
Before applying to the program, we encourage those interested to review the attached brochure below and the guidelines on our website.
