GA Principal Newsletter

Dear Glen Acres Families,

Happy New Year! The students and teachers look forward to recognizing and studying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during their studies these next few weeks.

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.

"Days of Service help to raise awareness, mobilize volunteers, and provide individuals with an opportunity to engage and build new connections, and help nonprofits find support for their programs. MLK Day of Service is intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King's vision of a Beloved Community." Source: https://nationaltoday.com/martin-luther-king-jr-day/

Enjoy the next few weeks!

Donna

Ms. Krasley, Mr. Fuette, Staff and Students pulled off yet another AMAZING winter concert!

We are so grateful for all of their time, hard work and dedication! So much fun for all!

Please consider nominating one of Glen Acres finest!

Citadel Credit Union is committed to serving those who work every day to build a better future for all of us. That’s why every year they honor outstanding teachers across the Greater Philadelphia area in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Lancaster and Philadelphia counties with the Citadel Heart of Learning Award. This year, winners will be awarded a total of over $80,000 in grants and prizes, along with a treasured glass heart trophy. Grand prize winners will be selected from each of the six counties, so be sure to spread the word and submit your nominations by January 15, 2025.

How to Submit a Nomination

All too often, teachers are unsung heroes. If you know a teacher who goes above and beyond the call of duty, share their story and how they’ve impacted your life or a student’s life. You can submit a written nomination form online, a video nomination, or email us at CitadelHeartofLearning@CitadelBanking.com. To submit a video nomination you can create a post on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook and tag us @citadelcreditunion on TikTok or @CitadelBanking on Instagram and Facebook with the hashtag #CitadelHeartofLearning. Just make sure your video shows us exactly why your teacher should be nominated.

We are super excited to welcome cartoonist, Duane M. Abel, creator of the comic strip ZED for an assembly on January 23rd! This program teaches children how to establish goals, learn to love reading, and the value of education. Duane’s comic strip, ZED has been endorsed by Comics in the Classroom and Curled Up With A Good Book as “a great way to introduce children to comics strips!”

Below is an order form that allows your child to bring ZED home! The books will arrive directly to your school and will be autographed by Duane! You can also see all of ZED’s books by visiting www.corkeycomics.com. The goal of Duane’s visit is to educate and mo-tivate, while the comic strip, ZED is to introduce wholesome family entertainment...one laugh at a time.

Book orders are due on or by January 23rd! Checks can be made payable to "Corkey Comics".

Please email any questions to our PTO at gaepto@gmail.com.

Art Goes to School of Delaware Valley is a non-profit volunteer organization of over 500 members, who bring art appreciation classes to nearly 165,000 elementary school children in the Delaware Valley.

Our volunteers make fine art accessible to elementary school students. Through impartial, instructive, informal presentations, we encourage them to “look, listen, and feel” works of art, while sharpening their visual acuity, investigative and communication skills. Art plays an important role in developing a child’s imagination and in appreciating the works of a wide cross-section of peoples and cultures. We use reproductions that run the gamut from cave paintings to modern art to connect with school district Core Curriculum. We include Ancient, European, American, African-American, Native-American, Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, and African works in our portfolios with over 2000 different prints and sculptures representing hundreds of different artists.

https://artgoestoschool.org/about-us/

This year Glen Acres is lucky enough to have a Title 1 Math Specialist, Mrs. Jamie Bainbridge. Mrs. Bainbridge works with students in small groups, as well as within some classrooms. Her goal is to help all students love math! There are a lot of ways to support students at home. Please feel free to click through Mrs. Bainbridge’s website for some helpful information about working with students at home, Title 1, and resources that are available to you!

https://jbainbridge.my.canva.site/

IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A SNOW DAY, WE DO NOT SKIP THE DAY COUNT. FOR INSTANCE IF THERE IS A SNOW DAY ON DAY 1, THE DAY WE REOPEN, WILL BE DAY 1.

• Thursday, January 2nd - Day 1: SCHOOL REOPENS
• Friday, January 3rd - Day 2
• Monday, January 6th - Day 3: English ACCESS Testing for English Learners Begins
• Tuesday, January 7th - Day 4: Safe Touches Lesson (Grade 2); Personal Safety Lesson (Kindergarten); After School Sports (5th Grade Boys)
• Wednesday, January 8th - Day 1: Personal Safety Lesson (Grade 1)
• Thursday, January 9th - Day 2: After School Sports (4th Grade Boys); PTO Meeting 7:00-8:00pm
• Friday, January 10th - Day 3
• Monday, January 13th - Day 4
• Tuesday, January 14th - Day 1: After School Sports (4th & 5th Grade Girls); Talent Show Rehearsal
• Wednesday, January 15th - Day 2: ASPCA Paws for Change
• Thursday, January 16th - Day 3: After School Sports (5th Grade Boys); Family Bingo 6:00pm-8:00pm (Snow Date: 1/21/25)
• Friday, January 17th - Day 4
• Monday, January 20th- Schools Closed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Day, Jr.

Important Upcoming Dates

January 13th - 17th - Art Goes To School Week

January 16th - Family Bingo 6:00pm - 8:00pm (Snow Date: 1/21/25)

January 20th - NO SCHOOL

January 23 - ZED Cartoonist Assembly - Wear Pink

January 24th - 5th Grade Visit to Fugett MS Music Department

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

ALL LATE ARRIVALS AND ABSENCES MUST BE IN PUP BY 9AM.

ANY CHANGE IN YOUR STUDENT'S DISMISSAL PLAN MUST BE IN PUP BY 2PM.

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 within 3 days of the child's absence IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY SUBMITTED YOUR CHILDS ABSECE INTO PUP. Emails or parent notes are only needed if you did not enter your student in PUP.

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. Emails or parent notes are only needed if you did not enter your student in PUP.

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.

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