Glen Acres Elementary School

Dear Families,

Every day at our elementary school, we strive to foster a love of reading in our students through engaging activities, vibrant diverse and authentic libraries, and dedicated teachers who inspire curiosity and imagination. We believe that a strong foundation in reading is crucial for lifelong learning and success. As we celebrate Read Across America, we emphasize the importance of encouraging our children to explore new worlds through books and to embrace the joy of reading together as a community. Through initiatives like our daily reading time, shared reading activities and author visits, we aim to instill in our students a lifelong passion for literature. By nurturing a love of reading early on, we empower our children to become confident, empathetic, and informed individuals.

Listed in the graphic below, please find some special activities for Read Across America Week.

Have a great few weeks.

Donna

Hello Glen Acres!

Last year our school set an all time high fundraising record raising a total of $39,733.27 for the American Heart Association and the fight against heart disease. This year we set a goal to attempt to raise $40,000 for the cause. I am happy and proud to announce that we once again achieved our goal, setting a new all time high record raising a total of $42,370.35!!This again puts Glen Acres Elementary School as the top fundraising school in the West Chester Area School District, #1 in Southeastern Pennsylvania and #2 in the state of Pennsylvania!

Additionally, 113 families learned more about CPR!

I want to thank all the Glen Acres families and especially all of our wonderful students here at the Glen for your and participation in this year's 20th anniversary of doing the Kids Heart Challenge. Way to go Glen Acres!

We are going to have a visiting artist by the name of Michael Albert at Glen Acres on April 8th and April 9th . He is going to create special artwork with all students and for our school. Thank you to the PTO for supporting this event. If you are interested in helping with supplies, we need your help! We are looking for colorful, empty food boxes. If you could start collecting them and sending them in with your children, we would greatly appreciate it! We do need boxes to make the art work.

When your children bring the boxes to school, they can take them to Mrs. Lefler, our art teacher. You can also send in the cardboard disks from boxed pizza that you buy in the supermarket. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Jessica Tigue-Lefler at jtiguelefler@wcasd.net.

Thank you for your support! We look forward to seeing what artwork our students create! More information on his visit to follow as the date approaches.

Thank you so much to everyone who donated items for our To Love a Canine and Providence Animal Center collection! The pictures below show the sheer amount of items that our students brought in, all for the love of dogs and cats!

We appreciate everyone’s generosity and look forward to our two highest-donating classes to get some puppy time in March!

TO LOVE A CANINE - https://www.tlcrescuepa.com/

PROVIDENCE ANIMAL CENTER - https://providenceac.org/

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.

• If you did Not Attend the Middle School 101 Informational Night on Wednesday, February 21 @ 6:30PM, you can find the slides 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.

Read Across America Week - 3/4 through 3/8/24

Monday, March 4th - Day 4 - Grade 4 Math Club 7:30 AM; Make a special bookmark to use when reading; Young Rembrandts 3:15 PM

Tuesday, March 5th - Day 1- Wear Jammies for a PJ cozy reading day and celebrate your uniqueness; Gr . 4 Girls Sports 3:30-4:30

Wednesday, March 6th - Day 2 - Grade 4 Math Club 7:30 AM; Chorus Rehearsal 7:45 AM; Read your favorite book, dress in your favorite color and read with your buddy class; Paws for Change 10:15 AM; End of Trimester; PTO Talent Show at East 6 PM

Thursday, March 7th - Day 3 - Share your favorite jokes and riddles; complete a random act of kindness towards others; Gr. 4 Boys Sports 3:30-4:30

Friday, March 8th - Day 4 - Wear clothes with lots of words so we can read all day; Wear Green and White or GA Spiritwear

Library Book Fair - 3/12 through 3/21/24

Monday, March 11th - SCHOOLS CLOSED

Tuesday, March 12th- Day 1 - Gr. 5 Girls Sports 3:30-4:30 PM

Wednesday, March 13th - Day 2 - Chorus Rehearsal 7:45 AM

Thursday, March 14th - Day 3 - Gr. 5 Boys Sports 3:30-4:30 PM

Friday, March 15th - Day 4 - Wear Green and White or GA Spiritwear

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