GA Principal Newsletter

Dear Glen Acres Families,

We look forward to seeing you at conferences the week of November 25th. November 25th and November 26th are half days for students. Students will have off from school November 27th-29th.

The last day of the first trimester is Friday, November 22nd. Report cards will be posted on the parent portal on December 10th. Please see report card information below.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to each of you for being part of our wonderful school community. Your support, involvement, and commitment make our school such a warm and welcoming place for all. It is an honor to be a part of your child’s educational journey, and I am truly thankful for the trust you place in us every day.

This holiday season, let’s celebrate the small and special moments of joy and learning, and cherish the connections we’ve built together. May your Thanksgiving be filled with laughter, love, and memorable moments with family and friends.

On behalf of the entire staff, I wish you a safe, happy, and heartwarming holiday. We look forward to seeing our students return on Monday, December 2nd, refreshed and ready to continue learning together in Trimester 2 of the school year!

With warmest thanks and best wishes,

Donna

Principal of Glen Acres Elementary School

Thank you to Miss Krasley and Mr. Fuette (Music Department) for leading our staff and students in an assembly to honor our beloved veterans and military members. We were proud to honor our veterans and military members during our special event! Our students and staff did an outstanding job with their performances, showcasing talent and dedication. The team also provided meaningful lessons, helping our students understand the significance of this important day.

Please click here to view some highlights of our students at our Veterans Day Assembly.

• Monday, November 18th - Day 4: Scholastic Book Fair through Tuesday, November 26th
• Tuesday, November 19th - Day 1: Advanced Orchestra (4th/5th Grade); K/1st Grade Child Safety Lessons; After School Sports (4th Gr. Boys)
• Wednesday, November 20th - Day 2: Chorus Rehearsal; ASPCA Paws for a Change (ES); 2nd-5th Grade - No Bullying Lesson
• Thursday, November 21st - Day 3: Advanced 5th Grade Band Rehearsal; 2nd-5th Grade - No Bullying Lesson; After School Sports (4th & 5th Gr. Girls)
• Friday, November 22nd - Day 4: End of 1st Trimester

• Monday, November 25th - Day 1: HALF DAY: 11:40am dismissal (no lunch served); Advanced Orchestra (4th/5th Grade); School Board Meeting 7:00pm
• Tuesday, November 26th - Day 1: HALF DAY: 11:40am dismissal (no lunch served) / Conferences; Chorus Rehearsal; 5th Grade Indian Run Presentation; PTO Pretzel Fundraiser; Scholastic Book Fair Ends
• Wednesday, November 27th - NO SCHOOL / Conferences
• Thursday, November 28th - NO SCHOOL
• Friday, November 29th - NO SCHOOL

Important Upcoming Dates

November 18th - November 26th - Scholastic Book Fair

Friday, November 22nd - End of 1st Trimester

Monday, November 25th - Half Day: 11:40am dismissal / Conferences

Tuesday, November 26th - Half Day: 11:40am dismissal / Conferences

Wednesday, November 27th - NO SCHOOL / Conferences

Thursday, November 28th - NO SCHOOL

Friday, November 29th - NO SCHOOL

IMPORTANT Message regarding the upcoming Kids Heart Challenge. You may have already received an email from the American Heart Association asking you to register and begin fundraising for the Kids Heart Challenge at Glen Acres Elementary School. This email went out in error. If you have already registered using that email that is fine; however, please do not feel obligated to register until I send out information which will be sometime in the middle of January. Our Kids Heart Challenge is scheduled for Thursday, February 13, 2025.

Thank you again for your support and understanding,

Mr. Y.

Physical Education Teacher

We hope you are excited to discuss your child's progress, growth, and learning so far this school year.

Report Cards with more information will be available on the parent portal on December 10th.The following are some reminders about the information provided on the report cards:

• In grade K-2, the West Chester Area School District (WCASD) utilizes standards-based reporting. Each child will receive a 1, 2, 2+, 3, or 4 for each standard addressed this trimester. If you see “N/A” it means that the standard has not yet been assessed. Please remember the goals are end of year standards/expectations. In December, you will likely see many 2’s and some 1’s which is appropriate for this time of year because the expectation is that students meet the standards with a 3 by the third and final report card in June. In addition, please know that 4’s are rare to receive, even at the end of the school year. For a child to reach that level, he/she is performing significantly and consistently above the standard expectations.
• In grades 3-5, WCASD utilizes numeric grades that correspond to letter grades (A, B, C, F) for core subjects. Please know that standard grading (1, 2, 3, 4) does not correlate to a letter grade. For example, a 3 in second grade does not mean a B in third grade. Teachers utilize various assessments, activities, and assignments to determine an overall grade. Parents are encouraged to stay abreast of progress via Parent Portal over the course of the entire trimester.
• Learning support students and reading support students will receive progress reports at the same time that report cards go live on Parent Portal in December.
• All children in grades K-5, receive needs improvement (NI), progressing (P), or demonstrates consistently (DC) for Learning Related Behaviors (LRBs). In order to achieve DC, a child needs to exhibit the expectation close to 100% of the time. Progressing (P) is completely appropriate, as it captures a behavior that is observed on a regular basis.
• Special Area Subjects for grades 1-5 utilize standards-based reporting as noted above for K-2.

I hope you find this information helpful. Please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher directly with any questions about your child’s specific progress or report card.

The Scholastic Book Fair will be visiting Glen Acres Elementary. All students will be visiting with their class and have the opportunity to purchase books. Please click here for directions on how to set up eWallet for your students and see the book fair schedule.

Thank you for your support!

We have some important updates to share regarding attendance and communication:

1. New Note Submission Options: Parents/Guardians can now submit parent notes for absences through Pickup Patrol and Talking Points messages. We will continue to accept emails and handwritten notes. We hope this makes it easier for you to keep us informed!

2. Automated Phone Calls: Automated phone calls will be sent to parents/ guardians of students with unexcused (LAW) absences at 10:10 AM each morning. This will help keep you updated on your child's attendance. If this automated call ever feels inaccurate, please contact our main office.

3. New Email for Parent Notes: We have established a new email address for submitting parent notes: GAEattendance@wcasd.k12.pa.us. Our school secretaries (Theresa Weaver and Stacie Berglin) will receive emails to this address which will ensure a smooth communication process.

4. Doctor’s Note Requirement: Please note that the previous 60-minute early dismissal window during which a doctor’s note was not required has been removed. This year, a doctor’s note will be required for early dismissals to avoid an unexcused dismissal.

Thank you for your cooperation as we implement these changes to enhance our attendance processes.

Joining our PTO is free and recommended. When you join, you get access to information about upcoming school and community events, parties, and fundraisers. PTO fundraisers support our assemblies, field trips, and other special events and supplies.

See this link for helpful information.

We hope you would consider volunteering. Some volunteer opportunities that come up are opportunities to help in the library, lunchroom, as a homeroom party planner, and at field trips and school and district events. If you are interested in volunteering, please be sure to have updated clearances (good for five years) on file with the school. It is important that you submit your clearances to the school when you get them. Please do not wait until you volunteer as we need to get the clearances within a year of you receiving them.

A cultural bridge in the community for Spanish speaking families and our schools.
Un puente cultural en la comunidad para las familias de habla hispana y nuestras escuelas.

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