West Chester Area School District

Dear WCASD Community,

As we soak up the warm (very warm) days of summer, I want to keep this message short and just express my gratitude for the dedication and hard work shown by our entire school community throughout the past school year. The celebratory last moments of the year we enjoyed in June are only possible because of the deep connections and care our students, families, and staff exhibit all year long.

Although it might be hard to believe, we are already busy preparing for an exciting new school year, but for now, I encourage you to take this time to relax, spend quality time with loved ones, and pursue activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our district.

Enjoy the summer. We will be here waiting for you when you get back, and we'll see you as we walk the West Chester way together!

Important Dates:

National Make a Difference to a Child Month

July 4: Independence Day | Schools and District Offices Closed

July 22: School Board Meeting | 7:00 PM

On the last day of school the excitement in the air is truly infectious. We wish everyone a happy and healthy summer and look forward to seeing you in August!

Click the video below or "Last Day of School" album on Facebook to see highlights from the last day of the 2023-24 school year.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your graduation! We are so proud of your hard work, dedication, and achievements. Your perseverance has paid off, and we can't wait to see the incredible things you will accomplish in the future.

Enjoy this summer and celebrate your success!

Following the special board meeting held on Monday, June 17, the West Chester Area School District’s school board appointed a new school director to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Joyce Chester in Region 1. After reviewing the submitted resumes and applications and hearing a brief statement from the candidates, the school board appointed Mrs. Jewell Parkinson to the WCASD school board. Mrs. Parkinson is serving through December 2025 to complete Ms. Chester’s term.

We look forward to working with Mrs. Parkinson and the full school board to continue pursuing our district’s goals and serving our students, staff, families, and community!

Glen Acres students and staff kicked off the summer - literally! Before the school year ended, Mr. Rogers' 5th grade class went head-to-head with the Glen Acres teachers in the annual teachers vs. students kickball game!

The game was action-packed and ended in a thrilling 13-13 tie (ties, or draws, are allowed in soccer)! Here's to a summer full of fun and more unforgettable moments!

The Association of School Business Officials International has awarded West Chester Area School District the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting.

The certificate recognizes districts that have met the program’s high standards for financial reporting and transparency. The school district earned the Certificate of Excellence for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended 2023.

Read more at the Daily Local by clicking the blue button!

In June, Padres Latinos wrapped up the year with the Third Annual Padres Latinos Community Resource Fair and End of Year Celebration at Hillsdale Elementary. During the event, WCASD Spanish-speaking families connected with vital school and community resources.

Since 2014, Padres Latinos has offered monthly meetings covering topics like Parent-Teacher Conferences, Technology in WCASD, Special Education Services, College 101, and more! There were even two beautiful cakes to commemorate 10 amazing years of bridging our schools and the community.

Stetson Middle School's 16th Annual "Hoops for Heart" Basketball Tournament was another slam dunk success! Together, students, staff, and families were able to raise almost $6,000 supporting the American Heart Association's American Heart Challenge.

This is a great event for a great cause that also teaches students teamwork, volunteerism, and the importance of staying active for a healthy heart!

WCASD families and students, in case you missed it - we are excited to share our Preview Learning Summer Website with you!

Using the link in the blue button, students going into grades 6-12 will be able to access content to further their skills in many of the courses that they will be taking during the upcoming school year, allowing them to get a head start on their learning and feel more confident and prepared when the new school year begins.

They can also use the platform to review and practice the concepts and skills they have already learned, ensuring that they stay on top of their education and are well-equipped to succeed in their current classes.

These are free, online, and asynchronous tasks, and are optional for students moving into grades 6-12. If you have a question or concern, please email WCASDPreviewLearning@wcasd.net and a member of our team will respond.

We're thrilled to share that three WCASD drivers excelled at the PSBA State Bus Competition!

Big congratulations to Cheryl Vogelsang from On the Go Kids for winning the competition and earning the chance to compete at the National level. Congratulations are also in order for Joanne Cowan from Krapfs for placing 2nd and Patti Carey from Krapfs for securing 7th place!

We're incredibly proud of our drivers and lucky to have them transporting our students safely to and from school!

Each year SCORE Chester and Delaware Counties recognizes owners and entrepreneurs that have demonstrated unique vision, innovation, and achievement in support of our local economy and small business community. One of this year's winners was West Chester Hoops headed by Jarrett Muzi, Peirce Middle School Teacher and Coach.

Congratulations to Jarrett and West Chester Hoops! To read more click the blue button.

We are incredibly thankful for the dedication and hard work of our amazing PTOs and HSAs! From organizing events and fundraisers to supporting our teachers and students, you go above and beyond every day.

Thank you for your amazing commitment and enthusiasm. We couldn't do it without you (and, for our families, remember to reach out to your school's organization if you want to get involved this coming school year)!

Penn Wood students had an incredible time diving into hands-on science fun with awesome activities and presentations!

From building marble rollercoasters to rotating through stations like Bee Bracelets, Cloud Experiments, Animal Tracks, and Shark Necklaces, the excitement was nonstop! They even explored Shark Jaw Displays, created Candlewax masterpieces, crafted Tie Dye Shirts, and built Rubber Band Race Cars!

This spring, East High School student, Shravan Rajagopal, took 1st place in the West Chester University Business Idea Competition, winning $1500. Competing against teams from local schools and districts, Shravan impressed the judges with his pitch for "My Chronicles," an app he created to track food intake for those with Crohn’s and other inflammatory bowel diseases. His app is even going to be available in the Apple App Store!

Shravan and Superintendent, Dr. Christopher, got a chance to chat when they both presented at the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce's Annual State of Education Update Breakfast!

While WCASD seniors were graduating, 5th graders were having the time of their lives at Camp Arrowhead!

Students from all 11 elementary schools came together for a day of outdoor adventure—boating, fishing, swimming, and making memories. This is the only time in their 12 years with WCASD that all 1,000 of them are in one place!

A huge shoutout to our amazing principals, teachers, staff, and families for making this unforgettable day possible!

Before the end of the year, four Henderson Senior Artists were honored with the William Palmer Lear Award at the West Chester Country Club!

William Palmer Lear, a founder of the Chester County Art Association and a former Henderson art teacher, left a lasting legacy. Our talented students showcased their artworks and accepted awards, which included a gift and scholarship. This annual award, judged by the Exchange Club at our Senior Art Show, celebrates their incredible talent and dedication. We are so proud of them!

Attention all parents with school aged children! Children's Summer Food Program 2024 is open every Thursday afternoon from 5:00 - 7:00 pm starting June 20 (Please note, there will be no summer distribution the week of July 4, however, families may visit the Express cupboard if needed). The WCFC provides a variety of family friendly produce, non perishable selections, individual portion frozen meals and bread and bakery products, and last summer they distributed almost 30,000 pounds of food to WCASD families!

¡Atención a todos los padres con niños en edad escolar! El Programa de alimentos de verano para niños 2023 está abierto todos los jueves por la tarde de 5:00 p. m. a 7:00 p. m. a partir del 20 de junio. Mira un video para más información.

West Chester Food Cupboard | 431 S. Bolmar St. | West Chester, PA 19382 | 610.344.3175 wcfood@gmail.com

Before the school year ended, Fern Hill Elementary hosted an incredible Farm to Table Tasting Party featuring a presentation, cooking demo, and tasting by Kate Jacoby of Ground Provisions, a local 'farm restaurant' and market in West Chester! Students discussed their favorite veggies and assisted Kate by counting while she made fresh hummus for everyone to try.

A special thanks to WCAEF's mini-grant program, which supported FHE's garden efforts!

To learn more about future mini-grant and community grant opportunities, click the blue button!

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.