District News

The U.S. Department of Education announced that Hillendale Elementary School is among the 2023 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award honorees!

Across the country, only 26 schools, 11 districts, and four postsecondary institutions are being honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and ensure effective sustainability education.

Hillendale’s recognition as a 2023 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School is the culmination of months of work on the application that was thoughtfully and thoroughly completed by an incredibly dedicated committee made up of staff, administrators, parents, local experts and community partners.

Congratulations to Principal Leight and the entire Hillendale staff, students, and community on this outstanding achievement!

Read the full story here!

Congratulations to the following students who comprised 17 out of 20 finalists for the regional Civics Bee: Breydan Hossack, Kat Feenan, Nathaniel Gushurst, Phoebe Huffman, Winston Cai, Carter Hawkins, Mary Glavin, Nicholas Jones, Oliver Wu, Tobias Torres, Alyssa Lin, Colin Kearns, Brendon Yu, Marissa Lesperance, Saya Patel, Alicia Chou, and Aubrey Pragoff! These students submitted essays based on the following prompt: Identify a problem, challenge, or opportunity in your local community. What can you do to contribute to its improvement based on founding principles and civic virtues?

The Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry and its partners hosted the regional Civics Bee on April 15, as part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's National Civics Bee competition. The event included a live quiz event to test the students' civics knowledge. The top five students had to present a summary of their essays and answer questions from the panelists. The top three winners will compete at the state level.

Patton students Breydan Hossack, Phoebe Huffman, Mary Glavin, Winston Cai, and Nathaniel Gusthurst were the top five finalists. Nathaniel Gusthurst won first place and $1000 prize, Winston Cai placed second and won $500, and Mary Glavin placed third and was awarded $250.00. The three of them will go on to compete in the State Competition on June 15. Way to go Patton Middle School students!

Hillendale Elementary hosted the April School Board meeting where the School Board members were treated to a pre-meeting bocce match against the Hillendale Unified Bocce Team. They played six rounds, ultimately ending with the Huskies defeating the School Board team 7-3. It was an exciting way to kick off the meeting, but also to showcase the incredible bocce program that has been created at Hillendale. The bocce program is fully inclusive and allows students of all abilities to come together to practice and compete as equal teammates. Students make new friends and learn how to play bocce. When they leave Hillendale, they will have the opportunity to go on to play on the unified bocce teams at both Patton MS and Unionville HS. Congratulations to the Hilllendale coaches and team for creating such a successful bocce program and meaningful experience for our students - and for beating the School Board!

Mary Schinski, a second grade teacher at Pocopson, won the Philadelphia Phillies Phanatic About Reading Teacher Essay Contest. The Phanatic About Reading program encourages students to participate in 15 minutes of reading everyday. As part of the program, Mrs. Schinski's students actually read 30-45 minutes everyday! In her winning essay, Mrs. Schinski's shared how her class learned that working hard toward a goal and teamwork is always important. Her essay also mentioned how her class would recap each Phillies game and how they learned many lessons from the players based on the ups and downs of the season.

Pocopson celebrated with an assembly featuring a special guest - the Phillie Phanatic! During the assembly, Dr. Beaver read The "Phillie Phanatic's Hero" while the Phanatic acted out the story with help of staff and student volunteers. What a fun way to celebrate Pocopson's participation in the program and encourage our students to be Phanatic About Reading!

UCFSD received the Best Communities for Music Education Award from the NAMM foundation for a second year in a row! The National Association of Music Merchants (NAAM) foundation celebrates and promotes the intrinsic value of music education. This award recognizes schools and districts across the United States for their commitment and support of music education. Thank you to all the wonderful educators, parents, and student organizations that promote music in our schools!

On Thursday, April 27, FMFCU Foundation hosted their annual FMFCU Foundation Celebration. This event recognizes teachers who go above and beyond for their students. Mandy Mount, a fourth grade teacher at Unionville Elementary School, was a Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union (FMFCU) Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award recipient! At the event, Mrs. Mount received a physical keepsake as well as $1,000 to use towards her classroom. Unionville Elementary School will also receive $1,000 because of Mrs. Mount's outstanding work! Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Mount on this amazing award!

Chadds Ford Elementary School held their May Fair celebration Friday, May 12! Staff, family, and friends gathered this afternoon at Chadds Ford Elementary School for May Fair to watch students from all grades perform songs and participate in traditions like the Parachute Party and of course the May Pole dance! Congratulations to all of the students, staff, and parents who make this Chadds Ford tradition so special!

Congratulations to the 10 Unionville student-athletes who participated in the Spring College Signing Event! These student-athletes have all made the commitment to continue playing their sport at the collegiate level!

Robbie Logan - Immaculata University (Basketball)

Parker Wyatt - Washington & Jefferson College (Soccer)

Justin Teufel - Chatham University (Soccer)

Megan Clark - Widener University (Cheer)

Sara Borlie - Mount Aloysius College (Soccer)

Molly McCann - Stevens Institute of Technology (Soccer)

Kaitlyn Wahl - Shenandoah University (Soccer)

Molly Main - University of California, Davis (Field Hockey)

Lucca DiMario - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (XC/Track)

Eric Steuber - Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (XC/Track)

On April 29, the 42nd annual Chester County School Bus Safety Competition was held at Marsh Creek 6th Grade Center in Downingtown. The School Bus Safety Competition is a series of obstacle courses, as well as a 50 question written exam with questions taken from the PA School Bus Driver and Commercial Driver's Manual. Unionville-Chadds Ford driver, John Dolan (Bus # 1 & CDL Instructor), placed 10th, which qualifies him to advance to the state-level competition held at State College in June! UCF has not been represented at the state level competition since the early 80's. Congratulations Mr. Dolan!

On Friday May 5, the UHS Longhorns, Patton Hawks, Chadds Ford Chargers, and Hillendale Huskies competed in the Chester County Special Olympics Track Meet held at Coatesville. Our athletes did an outstanding job competing and representing our schools! Congratulations to all of the participants!

Congratulations to the Unionville High School UTHON on raising $115,100.90! The purpose of this event is to raise money for pediatric cancer research at Penn State Children's Hospital. All donations received are used to relieve pediatric cancer families of any financial burdens that come with long hospital stays and treatments. Way to go UHS UTHON students! #115isthedream

Pocopson Elementary School students participated in the 2023 Chester County Envirothon sponsored by the Chester County Conservation District. This event is part of the Pennsylvania Envirothon Program, which helps students understand their environment and their role in it. The competition consist of different stations that challenge the students' knowledge through various activities. The Pocopson "A" Team won the "Current Issue" station competition. Way to go Pocopson fifth graders!

Unionville Elementary School had their first annual ESL Family Night. Families of Ms. Clark's ESL students were invited for pizza, crafts and sharing of their diverse cultures. Even Ms. Clark's family was in attendance! What a great opportunity for community building at UES!

In celebration of Earth Day, Hillendale Elementary current and former students, teachers, families, and neighbors worked alongside educators from Mt. Cuba Center to plant native perennials in our school’s flower beds. Working with Mt. Cuba Center, a botanic garden in northern Delaware committed to the conservation of native plants and their habitats, Hillendale fourth grade students learned about native plants and how they support local species. The students then selected plants to support the ecosystem at Hillendale. This was an amazing opportunity to spruce up the outdoor classrooms, add native plants to the flower beds, and celebrate the community partnerships that make the campus beautiful and sustainable for our students and community!

Chadds Ford Elementary, Hillendale Elementary, Pocopson Elementary and Unionville Elementary all hosted a day of wellness for their students during the month of April. Each school had a day full of activities that promoted the students' overall well-being. They were treated to activities that included art, games, meditation, and more. Thank you to the staff at each elementary school for organizing an amazing day of fun and relaxation! This is a wonderful example of how our students are bringing the UCF Portrait of Graduate to life and learning about the importance of wellness and Taking Cafe of Yourself.

Are you looking for a fulfilling career where you can make a difference in the lives of others? The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is seeking dedicated individuals to join the team and shape the future of our students. With competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and opportunities for growth, a career in public education is the perfect choice for those passionate about making a positive impact in their community. Current openings include:

Transportation Drivers

• The field of public education provides the opportunity to do rewarding work while also having the flexibility to try new things and grow.
  

Special Education Paraprofessionals (Instructional Assistants) through CCRES Educational Services

• In a classroom support role, you will provide the opportunity to make a positive impact on students' lives and be a part of their educational journey.

Custodians

• Become a UCFSD Custodian and help create a clean, safe and comfortable learning environment for our students and community.
  

There’s a place for you in education! Go to work every day knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of our students and our community! To view the job opportunities available UCFSD, click here.

For more information about working for schools in Chester County visit www.chestercountyschooljobs.org

We are now accepting nominations for the 2023 Wall of Honor!

Do you know alumni who have attained a high level of achievement in their personal and/or professional life since graduating from Unionville High School? Do you know alumni who have made a significant impact on their community? Do you know alumni who are excellent examples of the district's Portrait of a Graduate? Consider nominating them for the UCF Wall of Honor. The deadline for submissions is May 30, 2023.

The purpose of this prestigious award is to recognize UCFSD alumni for their lifetime of achievements and contributions made to the world after graduation, celebrate the District’s tradition of excellence, and inspire current UCFSD students.

For more information, visit https://www.ucfsd.org/about/alumni/wall-of-honor-program