GA Principal Newsletter

Dear Families,

Glen Acres students and teachers have HUGE hearts! Five healthy piles of Valentines Day Cards were sent to seniors in local residential homes. Thank you to the students and teachers who participated to create something beautiful for our local community members. Additionally, we'd like to thank Mrs. Stewart, our counselor, for orchestrating the kind act and for dropping them off to the seniors at Barclay Friends, Merrill Gardens, Watermark at Bellingham, The Hickman, and The Wellington at Hershey's Mill. The social directors were thrilled to get the cards for their residents.

Thanks for your huge hearts too! Your donations thus far to the American Heart Association have been extremely generous! The students did an amazing job jumping rope at the Kids Heart Challenge to support the cause. We are working on a video that we can share with you soon. Additionally, we will share the total amount raised when we get the final number.

Finally, the PTO is sponsoring an assembly. Students in grades 1-5 will participate during the students' special time. The assembly is hosted by Sky Dome Planetarium. During the assembly, students will learn about our solar system. The assembly is rescheduled for 3/22.

Have a great few weeks!

Donna

On February 1, your child was sent home with a hard copy of our WCASD Course Selection Guide (online copy) that includes more information about all middle school courses and levels.

We are over half way through your child's 5th grade year and it is time to start planning ahead for middle school with the course selection process. Please be sure to review the Course Selection Communication from Dr. Sara Missett, Director of Elementary Education, that was sent on January 22 .

Your next steps:

• Between February 1 and February 16, all 5th grade families must complete a music course selection.

• Sign up for spring parent and teacher conferences. While you are busy completing the music course selection, our homeroom teachers will be completing your child's academic course selection based on student data and learning this year. You will learn more about the recommended placements for academic courses at your child's Spring conference. We will send the sign-up link for Spring conferences in mid-February.

• Attend the Middle School 101 Informational Night (flyer in English and Spanish) on Wednesday, February 21 @ 6:30PM! During the evening’s presentation, you will learn more about our middle school curricular courses and what our middle school programs offer your student. You will meet our middle school administrative team while listening to several middle school staff on what to expect as your student transitions from elementary to middle school. It is a presentation you will not want to miss!

  Please be sure to pre-register for the evening’s zoom here.

• Attend ( optional) a middle school session hosted by the principal on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, to provide parents with a more personalized look at the middle school experience.

We will send you additional information about PSSA's soon.

For now, I wanted to let you know the dates of testing.

Assessment /Grade(s)

Please note that Science PSSA's will be online.

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

Monday, February 19th - SCHOOL CLOSED

Tuesday, February 20th - Day 3- Gr . 4 Boys Sports 3:30-4:30

Wednesday, February 21st - Day 4 - Chorus Rehearsal 7:45 AM, 5th Grade Families Register and Attend the Middle School Zoom

Thursday, February 22nd - Day 1 - Gr. 5 Advanced Band Rehearsal 7:45 AM; Gr. 4 Girls Sports 3:30-4:30 PM

Friday, February 23rd - Day 2 - Skydome Assembly cancelled (Rescheduled for 3/22)

Monday, February 26th - Day 3 - School Board Meeting 7 PM
Tuesday, February 27th- Day 4 - Gr. 5 Boys Sports 3:30-4:30 PM

Wednesday, February 28th - Day 1 - Chorus Rehearsal 7:45 AM

Thursday, February 29th - Day 2 - Gr. 5 Advanced Band Rehearsal 7:45 AM; Gr. 5 Girls Sports 3:30-4:30 PM

Friday, March 1st - Day 3 -

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