December 6, 2024

This week, our Bobcats rang in the holiday spirit with an incredible Winter Concert by our Band, Orchestra, and Chorus! From the lively "Hot Chocolate" song from The Polar Express to the breathtaking performances of our ensemble groups, the talent on display floored us all. We’re still humming along!

Adding to the fun, our PBIS raffle winners had a paws-itively amazing time with a visit from To Love a Canine! Snuggling and playing with puppies brought smiles to students and staff alike—this fan-favorite reward never disappoints.

We also launched our first-ever "Selfies with our Elfies" event, where teacher-elves were caught adventuring around the school all week long! Students had a blast spotting our mischievous elves, and we captured all the fun on Instagram. Follow us at @FernHillES to see the selfies with elfies!

Finally, our staff got into the holiday spirit early with an underground spirit week full of daily themes that had everyone guessing. Now, it’s time to bring the fun to everyone—get ready for two weeks of holiday spirit with themes and activities that will make this season unforgettable!

The Girls on the Run program is back and open for registration now until December 10! The Girls on the Run program is a running program designed to support young girls in making friends, getting their body moving, setting and achieving goals at their own pace, and gaining new skills while having fun.

• This is not a district-facilitated program, but Fern Hill teachers do serve as volunteer coaches to facilitate the program.
• The time is now to secure your daughter's spot in the program this Spring. Register now at gotrpa.org.
• Please direct any questions about the program to info@gotrpa.org or our FHE GOTR Coach, Ms. Amelia Sisko (asisko@wcasd.net).

Looking for the perfect gift to support the young innovator in your family? Our Design Lab Gift Guide offers thoughtful suggestions that align with our Design Lab class, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on exploration. After opening the link, select any of the red price tags to shop for the item online.

The first trimester report cards will be available to families on December 10 through Parent Portal. To view your child's report card, please log into your parent PowerSchool account. Please review the information below to better understand your child's report card.

Grades K-2 - WCASD utilizes standards-based reporting. Each child will receive a 1, 2, 2+, 3, or 4 for each standard addressed this trimester. N/A means that the standard has not yet been assessed.

Please remember that the standards represent end-of-year expectations. In December, you may see many 2’s and some 1’s, which is appropriate for this time of year. The goal is for students to be "on grade level" and meet the standards with a 3 by the third and final report card in June. In addition, please know that 4’s are relatively rare, even at the end of the school year. For a child to reach that level, he/she is performing significantly and consistently above grade level standards and expectations.

Grades 3-5 - WCASD utilizes numeric grades (55-100) that correspond to letter grades (A, B, C, F) for core subjects. Please know that standard grading (1, 2, 3, 4) does not correlate to a letter grade. Teachers utilize various assessments and assignments to determine an overall trimester grade. Parents are encouraged to stay abreast of progress via Parent Portal.

Special education students and reading support students will receive progress reports with the child's report card that goes live on Parent Portal in December.

Learning Related Behaviors (LRBs) are assessed for all students: (NI) needs improvement, (P) progressing, or (DC) demonstrates consistently (DC). Special Area Subjects - For grades K-5, we utilize standards-based reporting as noted above for K-2. LRB are a great starting point for a conversation with your child about their areas for behavioral growth while also celebrating their strengths.

Starting Monday, our Giving Tree will be set up in the school lobby. Conference week brings many families through our hallways and we want to offer families the chance to support others in need this holiday season. We invite you to take a tag and help make a bobcat's holiday a little brighter. Your generosity ensures that every child in our school community feels the warmth and joy of the season. Thank you for making a difference!

Dear Fern Hill Families,

We’re wrapping up an exciting football unit for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders! Over the past few weeks, students have honed their skills in passing, catching, and teamwork through drills and fun, competitive games.

Here’s what they accomplished:

• Mastered the Basics: Throwing spirals, catching, and learning game strategies.

• Teamwork: Collaborating with peers to execute plays effectively.

• Active Fun: Staying fit while enjoying the game.

• This unit has been a fantastic opportunity to develop sportsmanship, coordination, and a love for active play. Encourage your child to share what they’ve learned—maybe even toss a football around at home!

Stay active,

Mr. Usilton

• Fern Hill Bingo Night: Join us for the Annual Fern Hill Bingo Night on Friday, January 31.

• Family Ice Skating at Ice Line: Join us February 23 from 12-2 for Fern Hill Family Ice Skating at Ice Line in West Chester.

Check one thing off your end of school year to do list and purchase your 2024-2025 Fern Hill yearbook now. It’s never too early! Click HERE to order.

The Fern Hill library is in need of volunteers to help reshelve books, general tidying, and to assist Mr. Bloome with other library tasks as needed. Schedules can be flexible during school hours. Check out the attachment for more information and to sign up!

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