May 2, 2025

This week, our talented students took the stage for the Spring Concert at Fugett Middle School. The evening showcased the hard work and dedication of our Band, Orchestra, and Chorus students, delighting our school community with their musical talents. Performing at Fugett Middle School provided a wonderful opportunity for our young musicians to experience a larger venue and prepare for their future in middle school.

Earlier today, we proudly sent off a group of bobcats to participate in the Special Olympics! The entire school community lined the hallways to cheer them on as they boarded the bus, celebrating their hard work, determination, and team spirit. We are so proud of their accomplishments and the way they represent Fern Hill.

Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we look forward to celebrating the amazing educators who make Fern Hill the positive, student-centered learning community it is. Their commitment to student growth and connection is something to be celebrated every day!

We’re also excited to kick off our “Reading with Rita’s” event—promoting spring reading with a sweet twist! Students can earn a cool treat from Rita’s by diving into great books. Check out the details below on how your child can participate and celebrate their reading accomplishments.

A few important dates to keep in mind:

• 📅 PTO Meeting (6:00PM) and Departmentalization Meeting (6:30PM) on May 12

• 📅 Last Day of School: Due to our two snow days and one unused built-in day, the official last day of school is now Thursday, June 12, as approved by the school board.

• 🥞 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast: Join us on May 30 as we celebrate the many volunteers who support our school. Click here to RSVP and let us know if you can attend!

We are excited to invite you and your students to participate in this year’s “Read with Rita’s” program, running from May 5th–16th! As the weather warms up, we know it can be tough to keep students motivated to read—but this fun and simple program is designed to reignite their enthusiasm.

• Students are asked to complete 120 minutes of reading each week, either at home or in school.
• Reading can be done independently or with someone at home, and all time is tracked on a reading log, then confirmed by a parent or teacher.
• Once a student completes their goal, the bottom of their log will need to be signed by a teacher and can be redeemed at the West Chester Rita’s for a FREE kid-size Italian Ice—one per week, for a maximum of two.

Let’s keep our students reading and enjoying sweet rewards along the way!

Miss Ward is looking for help to hang and prepare the upcoming art show, and she would greatly appreciate any support you can offer. If you're available during the school day—between 8:20–11:40 AM or 1:00–3:30 PM—even if it's just for 30 minutes, your time and help would make a big difference. Please email your availability to her at eward@wcasd.net if you're willing to lend a hand. Thank you for supporting the art room!

Please join us in congratulating our amazing instructional coach, Mrs. Vanegas, for earning the district-wide Waymaker award for excellence! This recognition highlights her outstanding work in partnering with teachers to boost student engagement through differentiated instruction and by helping strengthen our skillsets to meet the diverse needs of every learner. We are so proud to have her leadership, expertise, and heart on Team Fern Hill!

Earlier this week, Dr. Missett, Director of Elementary Education, shared a letter with families regarding a shift to a standards-based grading and reporting system K-5.

Starting next school year, all grades (K-5) will use a Standards-Based Report Card (SBRC) which aligns with the PA State Standards. The SBRC focuses on the student’s knowledge and skills mastered at each grade level. Please keep in mind our students in grades K-2 have been assessed using standard-based grading since 2006 and almost all school districts in Chester County use a standards-based grading approach.

Dr. Sara Missett, Director of Elementary Education, shared with families of 3rd and 4th grade students that Fern Hill, Starkweather, and East Goshen will all participate in a departmentalized pilot program for the 2025-2026 school year. We hope our families of 3rd and 4th grade families will join us virtually on April 22 for an overview of departmentalization. If you're unable to make it on April 22, stay tuned for a site-based session at Fern Hill later this spring to provide more site-specific information regarding the 4th and 5th grade learner experience for next school year.

Join us on May 12 in the Fern Hill Library at 7pm for a presentation on the details and logistics of departmentalization in grades 4-5 for next school year.

Down to Earth Harvest is generously supporting our 2nd graders this year as their farmer mentors for their very special garden project in the following ways:

• Helping the students sow seeds.

• Caring for the seeds at their greenhouses

• Helping students transplant their seedlings into the garden beds.

• Supporting students and teachers throughout the growing season

• Helping students harvest, and joining them at their end of season Harvest Tasting Party

Down to Earth Harvest is a farm located in Downingtown, PA and serves much of Chester County including here in West Chester. They are committed to providing the freshest, most nutritious organic produce to the community throughout the season. As a member, you pick up your share of beautiful, healthy vegetables either weekly or bi-weekly at a location that is convenient for you. You can customize your orders and they offer lots of flexibility to match your schedule. If you’ve never heard of a CSA, we encourage you to check them out at downtoearthharvest.com!

Thank you to our incredible music team and our Fern Hill families for making this week’s Spring Concert such a success! Moving the performance to Fugett Middle School proved to be the right decision, allowing for a more comfortable experience for everyone and giving our students the special opportunity to perform on the Fugett stage.

We’re grateful to our staff for their flexibility with scheduling and to our families for navigating the venue change with such support. The rehearsal and performance went smoothly, and it was heartwarming to see so many people come together to celebrate our students’ hard work and talent.

Thank you for helping make it a memorable experience for our young musicians!

Don't let the year fly by without ordering your yearbook! We know spring gets busy, so we've extended the deadline for custom pages to May 8th because memories deserve their spotlight too! Click here to order yours before it's too late!

If your student/family would like to purchase a yearbook and are experiencing financial difficulties please reach out to Lisa Baker, Home and School Visitor at lbaker@wcasd.net.

Mark your calendars and join Fern Hill’s PTO and Dr. Christopher for our last public meeting this school year, Monday, May 12 at 6:00 PM in the Library. Childcare will be available at the school during the meeting for those that may need it.

Are you interested in being more involved with PTO next year? Join us on the board! Several board members will be serving their last year, and this would be a great opportunity to get started and get more involved with the school.

Take a look at open roles, the descriptions, and add your name where you can help. No experience is necessary. If you have any questions, please contact Meghan Kazanjian at meghankaz@gmail.com.

Join us Saturday, May 31, from 12:00 - 3:00 PM on the Fern Hill Playground/Blacktop before we break for summer for ONE more great family event! In lieu of the Spring Carnival, the PTO is creating a fun-filled day with FREE activities for the kids and some items to purchase. More details are coming soon, but keep that date penciled in! (Rain Date: Sat. June 7)

We are also looking for some extra business sponsors to help support the entertainment at this event. If your family business is interested, please e-mail Heidi.Mulherin@gmail.com. Thank you!

Have a student that is graduating and you want to acknowledge them in a unique way? Consider ordering a yard sign! Signs are 18x24 and come with a stake. Single-sided are $17.99, double-sided are $23.99. A proof will be sent before printing and signs can be delivered to school, picked up, or delivered to your home. Banners and other items are available on request. Use this link to order.

Fourth grade families, your child will be receiving a t-shirt to wear to the upcoming track meet as a gift from PTO. Please click the HERE to submit your child's size. Keep in mind that they will be wearing it again next year, so you may want to size up. If you have any questions, please contact Meghan Kazanjian at meghankaz@gmail.com.

Earning money for our school has never been easier! All you need to do is download the Box Tops app, create an account, and scan your grocery receipt. Last year we earned $500 from Box Tops for Fern Hill!

We love having our families volunteer throughout the building. In order to volunteer, adults are required to have their clearances on file with us. Clearances can take 4-6 weeks to acquire, so please be sure to get the process started if you're looking to volunteer this Fall.

If you are planning a family trip, please complete the Trip Approval Form to notify the Main Office and gain approval for your trip. The Vacation Request Form will also always be available on our Fern Hill Website under the "For Parents" section.

Jennifer Southmayd

Principal

Email: jsouthmayd@wcasd.net
Website: https://www.wcasd.net/fhe
Location: 915 Lincoln Avenue, West Chester, PA, USA
Phone: 484 266 1600
Twitter: @FernHillES