West Chester Area School District

Dear WCASD Community,

As I had the privilege of walking through our school campuses during the first week of school, I was truly moved by the sight of our students, staff, and families beaming with smiles. It was so heartwarming to witness the joy of reuniting with friends and colleagues, the eagerness to explore new horizons, and the genuine enthusiasm for the adventures that lie ahead.

There is something energizing about the bustling halls, cars in the parking lots, and the engagement that fills our classrooms. Although it can sometimes be loud, the noise is a reminder that we are not just individuals passing each other, but a cohesive team, united by a common goal – to provide the best possible education and support for all of our students.

Let us remember that we are not just embarking on a new school year; we are embarking on a journey. And like any journey, it may have its ups and downs, but with collaboration, perseverance, and mutual support, we can navigate through it successfully.

I encourage each and every one of you to be an active participant in this journey. Engage with our teachers and staff, connect with fellow parents, and reach out when you need us. Together, we can ensure that our students receive the best that our district has to offer!

Wishing you all a wonderful September, filled with the promise of an amazing school year ahead. Continue to see, smile, and succeed!

Important Dates:

September: College Savings Month | Nat. Suicide Prevention Month | Hispanic Heritage Month

September 4: Labor Day - Schools and Offices Closed

September 6: Padres Latinos Meeting | 6:30 p.m.

September 11-15: National Arts in Education Week

September 11: Patriot Day

September 11: Pupil Services Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m.

September 11: Education Committee Meeting | 7:00 p.m.

September 12: ALICE Program Family Night | 6:30 p.m.

September 15-17: Rosh Hashanah

September 18: Property & Finance Committee Meeting | 6:30 p.m.

September 20: National IT Professionals Day

September 25: Yom Kippur | Schools Closed

September 26: School Board Meeting | 7:00 p.m.

The new school year has officially begun and we just can't tell you enough how glad we are that you're here!

Just a reminder to our families, if you haven’t yet, please complete your back-to-school forms as soon as possible. The due date was August 25, but trust us, we know well how busy this time of year is!

The WCASD uses an online process to complete Back-to-School information. This process is accessible via our PowerSchool Parent Portal, which is a secure system that enables the District to verify demographic, emergency, and medical information for students before the start of the new school year. Additionally, families can electronically sign most forms and indicate that they received and reviewed other informational materials.

For additional guidance regarding account creation, visit the WCASD Parent Portal Account Webpage. If you do not remember your self-selected ID and password, please select the “Having trouble signing in” link found below the login screen to recover login information or email parentportal_support@wcasd.net for further assistance.

Before welcoming students and families back, the district welcomed staff back in a big way! WCASD staff members gathered in the East High School gym for the first convocation event the district has held in four years - everyone was full of energy and school spirit.

Thank you to our WCASD staff for always bringing incredible energy and enthusiasm to the start of the new school year and to all of our staff who worked diligently throughout the summer to prepare our buildings, technology, and staff for another great year!

As we start the school year, we provide transportation for district students as well as private, parochial, or charter schools located within 10 miles from our borders. As you can imagine, that's a lot of buses on the road each day, but this school year the WCASD is using a new application called, “Bus Status 4 App.”

We know how important it is to stay on top of busing delays or cancellations, and we want you to be able to have information, too. The Bus Status App gives families a simple and accessible way to make sure they're notified of any changes such as delays and cancellations in the status of their child(ren)’s bus routes as soon as information is available. We hope this new app helps keep our families informed during the school year.

The nation recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, in which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led more than 200,000 people in a call for jobs and freedom. But it's an event that many historians acknowledge may not have happened without a man from West Chester, Pennsylvania: Bayard Rustin.

Click the blue button to see the rest of the 6ABC news segment held at Rustin High School!

Please contact your school to let them know your child is going to be absent from school. Safe Arrival phone numbers are listed on all school web pages. Don't forget to send in an excuse note with your child or email the attendance secretary within 3 days of the absence.

*You DO NOT need to report to the school nurse if your child has tested positive for COVID.*

Whether these staff members are brand new to the district or stepping into new roles, we are so grateful for every one of them, and we're looking forward to the positive impact they'll create in their classrooms, schools, and across the district.

It's also always an extra special moment when we get to welcome back former students to join the WCASD team. The Vikings, Warriors, and Knights are back home and we can't wait to see all of the great things they'll do this year!

The search for the next superintendent of schools for West Chester Area School District is underway! During the June School Board meeting, the Board of School Directors approved a contract with the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) to conduct the confidential search for our next superintendent.

Since the communication, focus groups, and survey steps that took place over the summer, the WCASD School Board has also narrowed down the candidate list, conducted two rounds of interviews, and is now moving forward with checking references. The Board anticipates voting on the appointment of the selected candidate in September.

To learn more about the process or see previous communications, click the blue button!

We are immensely grateful to The Rotary Club of West Chester and First Resource Bank for their generous support in providing much-needed school supplies to the WCASD.

Together, we ensure that our students have the tools they need for success!

Thank you as well to our wonderful friends at Giant for generously donating school supplies once again this year for our WCASD students!

Employees from local Giant stores rallied together to provide over 1,800 essential items that will be distributed across our 17 schools. From backpacks to tissues, these supplies will undoubtedly help our students kickstart the school year on the right foot.

Did you unsubscribe to district emails last year or over the summer? Whether it was by accident or on purpose, we get it! Taking a break from emails or unsubscribing to the wrong list happens, but with the school year underway you may want to make sure you're receiving important district information again.

If you are having trouble sending to or receiving emails from the WCASD? Here's what to do:

1. Not Receiving School and/or District Emails: Resubscribe to School/District Email Service
   

2. Emails Not Being Delivered to WCASD: Rejected E-mail Request Form
   

3. Update Your Email in the Parent Portal: This is just a great practice to make sure we have the most current contact information.

Padres Latinos held a 'Welcome to Kindergarten' family meeting before the start of the school year so that families and students could preview what to expect during their first school year and start create an atmosphere of togetherness with the entire family - from siblings to abuelas!

West Chester native Kyle Forsyth Jr. was hired as a new assistant principal for Stetson Middle School just in time for the start of school Monday.

Born and raised in West Chester, Forsyth said he is returning to his hometown with a determination to make a positive impact on the educational experience of local students.

To read the full article on the West Chester Patch, click the blue button!

This summer has been a busy one as the WCASD team has interviewed nonstop to fill administrative and staff roles with exceptional talent! We would like to take a moment to introduce some of these new team members so that you know who is joining our District.

Some of these new roles include:

• Assistant Director of Pupil Services: Kate Coulter
• Exton Elementary School's New Principal: Kristin Bulgarelli
• East High School's New Assistant Principal: Abigail Dougherty
• Director of Technology: John McGowan, IV

• Fugett Middle School's Interim Assistant Principal: Steve Werner
• Fugett Middle School's New Assistant Principal: Jennifer Gallagher
• Henderson High School's New Assistant Principal: John Lunardi
• Henderson High School's New Athletic Director: Steve Fitch
• Stetson Middle School's New Assistant Principal: Kyle Forsyth, Jr.
• Supervisor of Assessment and Accountability: James Ronayne

This list highlights just a few of our new additions, but we are so thrilled to welcome all new staff to the District!

Mark your calendar now for the Annual Gifted PAC Craft Fair on Saturday, November 4. Stop in to support WCASD students and staff, plus check some holiday shopping off the to-do list early!

New Form for the 2023-24 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!

This summer, the West Chester Area Education Foundation once again sponsored the participation of WCASD students in the Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) summer program!

PFEW offers incoming high school juniors and seniors a unique opportunity to see what it's like to run their own business and learn from local experts. See what some of our students had to say about the experience in their own words!

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.