Families, it's imperative that students come to school daily, on time, and stay the duration of the school day. Valuable instructional time is lost when students arrive late. Teachers begin lessons at 9:00am daily. Thank you for your help in getting all students to the building on time!

Students in grades K-3 will have DIBELS testing on Monday, January 13, 2025. DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) is a set of tests that assess a student's literacy skills. DIBELS tests are used to help educators understand how well students are progressing in reading and identify students who may need extra help.

What DIBELS tests measure

• Letter and sound recognition: Students identify letters and sounds in words

• Decoding words: Students break down words into sounds and put them back together to read them

• Oral reading fluency: Students read aloud and are assessed on their fluency

How are DIBELS results used?

• Teachers use DIBELS results to identify students who may be at risk for reading difficulties
• Teachers use DIBELS results to plan strategies to help students improve their reading skills
• Teachers use DIBELS results to communicate with parents about their child's reading progress

How long do DIBELS tests take?

• Each DIBELS test takes about one minute to complete
• Benchmark assessments take about 2 to 6 minutes to complete

Parents, we're encouraging every child to read at least 15 minutes a night to a family member. Reading instills confidence in your child as well as develops comprehension skills. We have books at Stetser that students are welcome to take home with them. Thank you in advance for your partnership in this endeavor.

Below are direction from www.chesteruplandsd.org:

• Volunteer Clearances

  
  

  Legislation in Pennsylvania requires community members and parents to obtain clearances in order to volunteer in our schools. If you have previously submitted your clearances to the Human Resources office, they are good for five (5) years from the date of the clearance.

  Governor Wolf has waived the fees associated with the Pennsylvania State Police—Criminal Background Check and the Child Abuse History Clearance. Since the FBI clearance is a federal program, those costs still remain; however, the district has decided to permit individuals who have resided in Pennsylvania continuously for ten years or more to sign a certification form that saves the volunteer the expense of the fee, ensures compliance with the law, and allows the district to maximize student safety.

  Understanding that many community members will want to begin the process of securing clearances so that they are prepared for the start of the school year, we have provided several links and directions to assist you. Once you have obtained the requisite clearances, please bring them to the Human Resources office for the Chester Upland School District, located 1350 Edgmont Avenue, Chester PA 19013. Please be prepared to present a valid driver’s license or other photo identification. Our Human Resources Department will then add your name to the district list so that our educators can readily ensure that volunteers have the proper clearances.

  
  

  
  

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  Directions for Obtaining Clearances for Volunteers Who Have Resided in Pennsylvania Continuously for 10+ Years

  
  

  1. Complete ACT 34—Pennsylvania State Police—Request for Criminal Record Check
  2. Complete ACT 151—Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance—Online Application
  3. Drop off paperwork at the Chester Upland School District Human Resource Office. Please be prepared to present a valid driver’s license or other photo identification.
  4. Print and Complete this Volunteer Information and Certification Form.

  
  

  
  

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  Directions for Obtaining Clearances for Volunteers Who Have Resided in Pennsylvania for Less Than 10 Years

  
  

  1. Complete ACT 34—Pennsylvania State Police—Request for Criminal Record Check
  2. Complete ACT 151—Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance—Online Application
  3. Complete Act 114—FBI Fingerprinting—To schedule your appointment, visit https://uenroll.identogo.com and enter Service Code 1KG6XN. You may also call 844-321-2101 to schedule an appointment
  4. Complete ACT 114—FBI Fingerprinting
     Be certain to register under the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
  5. Drop off paperwork at the Chester Upland School District Human Resources Office. Please be prepared to present a valid driver’s license or other photo identification.