GA Principal Newsletter

Dear Families,

As you know from my last letter, the students and teachers have been studying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and during the students' Library special these couple of weeks, Mrs. Karrmann and the students will discuss the book It Starts with ME ! which is written by Dr. Bernice A. King and Dr. Kimberly Johnson and illustrated by Zoe Ranucci. The book is about making a commitment to show and demonstrate love. As we have done in the past, if your child participates in an act of service this month in honor of Dr. Martin Luther, King Jr., please let me know and we will recognize your child at school. Our students have done some great things already. Pictured above, please see several students participating in kind acts of service.

February is Black History Month. Your child's teacher will advise you of activities they are doing to celebrate and acknowledge Black History Month. In addition, as a school, Glen Acres Elementary will welcome authors Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman to hear about their new book, Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better. They will be visiting with all grades on Thursday 2/1/24. Please click on this link to learn more about the book and pre-order a copy to get signed by the authors themselves. Any questions please contact our library, Mrs. Rachel Karrmann, at rkarrmann@wcasd.net.

Have a great few weeks!

Donna

From time to time, students pick the spirit wear optional dress up theme. Our students enjoyed dressing up for Taylor Swift Day.

Each trimester, Mrs. Stewart provides a newsletter with helpful tips. Please find the trimester 2 newsletter below.

Monday, January 22th - Day 3 - Wear Pink

Tuesday, January 23rd - Day 4 - Gr. 4 GIRLS Sports 3:30-4:30 PM

Wednesday, January 24th - Day 1 - Dress like your favorite character or just wear clothing with them on it (Movie/TV/Book Character Day!)

Thursday, January 25th - Day 2 - Gr. 4 BOYS Sports 3:30-4:30 PM

Friday, January 26th - Day 3 - Gr. 5 Trip - Wear Green or GA Spirit Wear to show GA spirit

Monday, January 29th - Day 4 - Rock N' Roll Day - Represent your favorite music act!
Tuesday, January 30th- Day 1 - Gr. 5 BOYS Sports 3:30-4:30 PM

Wednesday, January 31st - Day 2 - Chorus Rehearsal 7:45 AM; Unicorn Day! Make your outfit a color explosion!

Thursday, February 1st - Day 3 - Gr. 5 GIRLS Sports 3:30-4:30 PM, Author visit K-5

Friday, February 2nd - Day 4 - Gr. 5 Trip - Wear Green or GA spirit wear to show GA spirit

Please read the attachment below concerning our Student Council drive to collect items for To Love A Canine and Providence Animal Center. This drive will begin January 29th and end on February 16th. Should you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Stewart, our school Counselor, at 484.266.1711 or hstewart@wcasd.net.

Thank you!

PBIS student award winners picked January Spirit Wear Days. Please see their picks in the calendar below.

Please read the attachment below concerning snow closing protocol for A Child's Place.

Come celebrate being a girl who plays sports!

Please read the flyer below concerning the 38th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day is February 7, 2024! This is being held at Sturzebecker Health Sciences Center Gyms 4, 5 and 6 at West Chester University at 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Come by to inspire girls to play and be active, to realize their full power!

Please consider attending a kindergarten orientation session for parents on January 31st. The meeting will be held at Hillsdale Elementary School at 6:30 PM.

If you or someone you know has a child who will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2024 you are now able to begin the kindergarten registration process online. The link is: https://www.wcasd.net/Page/12419. Be sure to click on the year 2024-2025.

You will need to upload: child's birth certificate, immunizations, two proofs of residency (one must be a copy of a current lease or mortgage statement, or deed and the second should be a copy of a current utility bill within the past 30 days. If you have a copy of the child's last dental and physical, please upload those as well.)

Any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Alice McVeigh at 484-266-1702 or amcveigh@wcasd.net .

Our attendance secretary, Mrs. Theresa Weaver, will be your contact for all things related to attendance, dismissal and the pickup patrol app. She can be reached at tweaver2@wcasd.net or 484-266-1712.

Important Change to Absence Notes

Thank you to all of our parents/guardians who have registered for Pick-Up Patrol and already began using it this school year. Pick-Up Patrol (PUP) should be used for all dismissal plans and changes. Absences must be reported by 9:00 A.M., either through PUP OR through the Safe Arrival Line (484-266-1710). When we initially rolled out PUP, our understanding was that it could be used in lieu of submitting an excuse form. We have just learned that is not the case.

Excuse forms, completed with the necessary data such as child’s name, date and reason for absence, are to be turned in by the student within three (3) days, after his/her return from an absence. The absence of any student failing to comply with this time period, will automatically become unexcused and/or unlawful and the school laws of Pennsylvania shall be applied. Excuse notes via email from a registered email address in PowerSchool will be accepted without an original signature. (Per District Attendance Guidelines Code 204AG1). If you are emailing a note, please email your note to our attendance secretary, tweaver2@wcasd.net.

Excuse forms need to be kept on file in accordance with district and state policy.

Safe Arrival phone line at 484-266-1710, is still available to report your child’s absence.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this policy.

* Some families asked if there is a form that they can fill out regarding absences. Since we take emails and handwritten notes, a form is not needed. However, if it is easier for you to have a form, you can use the form in this link.

Ms. Donna Ryan

Principal

Email: dryan@wcasd.net

Address: 1150 Delancey Place, West Chester, PA 19382

Phone: 484-266-1700

website: https://www.wcasd.net/Domain/461

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WestChesterASD