GA Principal Newsletter

Dear Glen Acres Families,

We enjoyed recognizing our students for being respectful, responsible and kind! Please see Champs Champions pictures above.

This month, we are getting some updated performance levels related to your child's reading and math abilities. We will let you know if we change recommendations relating to reading or math support after we review the data.

On Thursday, we have the ZED assembly. Please see the description below. We are having students dress up in pink (optional).

As a reminder, 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. Please send me an email to let me know what your child did and we will recognize them by the end of the month.

On February 6th, 2025/2026 Kindergarten Families are invited to attend an informational night to learn about our WCASD Kindergarten program. Please see the Kindergarten 101 flyer below and RSVP if you are attending.

Additionally, in this newsletter please find Ms. Stewart's (GA counselor) newsletter below. She highlights the importance of learning how to be a good listener and 7 Habits of Happy Kids from Covey.

Finally, Mr. Y has included important updates about the Kids Heart Challenge and the upcoming track meet. If you are coming to Kids Heart Challenge, please fill out the sign up genius form and consider coming in to scan your license a few days before the event.

Enjoy the next few weeks!

Donna

EVERY MONDAY & FRIDAY WILL BE EAGLES SPIRIT DAYS AT GAE!

FEEL FREE TO EITHER WEAR YOUR EAGLES GEAR OR GREEN!

"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/

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 motivate, while the comic strip, ZED is to introduce wholesome family entertainment...one laugh at a time.

~Students are encouraged to WEAR PINK~

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.

Dear Glen Acres Families,

On Thursday, February 13th Glen Acres Elementary School will be holding its 21st annual Kids Heart Challenge event. We are happy to announce parents are invited to attend but will need to have their Driver's License scanned in the office prior to the event. If you have not already had your license scanned in the past, to alleviate traffic in the office on the day of the event, please stop in the week of 2/10 to have this done. The event will be open to immediate caregivers only, please no younger siblings (and/or strollers/carseats), grandparents, etc. as space will be limited and standing room only. IMPORTANT: IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND, PLEASE SIGN UP VIA THIS SIGN UP GENIUS LINK https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A45A8A82EA0F9C25-54317663-kids. When signing up on the link, PLEASE BE SURE TO READ THE NOTES. Also, please only plan to visit during your students designated time slot and depart promptly afterward to alleviate congestion inside the building and in the parking lot. We greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation!

The Schedule:

Grade 5 (8:45am-9:35am)

Grade 4 (9:35am-10:25am)

Grade 3 (10:25am-11:15am)

Grade K (12:15pm- 1:05pm)

Grade 1 (1:05pm – 1:55pm)

Grade 2 (1:55pm – 2:45pm)

Preparing for the event is simple. Each child has the opportunity to collect donations to support the American Heart Association and the fight against Heart Disease. Prior to the event students will be learning about healthy heart living through jumping rope in Physical Education class. On Thursday, February 13th, each grade level will jump rope for approximately 50 minutes to earn the money that was so generously donated. All students participate in the jump event regardless of the amount of donations collected. All donations will be collected through the AHA Kid’s Heart Challenge Online Page or phone app. Every student who registers on the American Heart Association Online donation page will receive an American Heart Wristband.

Last year Glen Acres donated a little over $42,000 to the cause. Glen Acres Elementary School was the Top Fundraising School in the West Chester Area School District, #1 in Chester County and #3 in the state of Pennsylvania out of 490 schools.

To prepare your child for the upcoming Kids Heart Challenge Event click on the links below. Please email me myarosewick@wcasd.net with any questions you may have regarding the event or fundraising. Thank you in advance for your support! We look forward to having an awesome event!

How to Register for Fundraising

• Fundraising Kick Off Video: Kids Heart Challenge Video Kick-Off
• Kids Heart Challenge Registration Page (Click to sign your child up for the Glen Acres Elementary Team): Scan the QR code below which will take you directly to the Glen Acres Page or click Registration Page, How to Register (English), How to Register (Spanish)
• Collecting Donations: How to collect donations
• Fundraising Gifts: Gift Poster (English), Gift Poster (Spanish)
• Complete Finn’s Mission: How to be a Lifesaver (Finn's Mission)
• Matching Gifts Information: Matching Gift Directions
• No Cash will be accepted, all checks can be scanned and added directly into your child’s fundraising account: Scan Checks Directions

Glen Acres Jump Rope Event Information - Thursday Feb. 13

• Jump Event Information: (Jump Schedule, What to Wear, ) KHC Jump Rope Event
• FAQ: Questions and Answers

Thank you! Looking forward to a successful and fun Kids Heart Challenge 2025!

Mr. Michael Yarosewick (Mr. Y)

FOURTH & FIFTH GRADE DISTRICT TRACK MEET 2025

May 14th (Rain Date May 16th)

Calling all 4th & 5th grade parents/guardians! We are excited to announce that our annual fourth & fifth grade district-wide track meet will be held in May. This is a school field trip held during school time hours. Our students will enjoy a day at the WCU Farrell Stadium track participating in friendly competitions with other WCASD elementary schools. WE WILL NEED YOUR HELP!!! The success of the track meets relies heavily on parent/guardian volunteers. More information will come with specific times & event responsibilities. YOU WILL NEED YOUR CLEARANCES. You can visit this link- CLEARANCE INFORMATION WCASD for information about obtaining your clearances. We suggest you apply for your clearances now as they sometimes take a bit of time to get back.

Reserve la fecha - Información para la habilitación de trabajo voluntario

13 de mayo de 2025 (Fecha por mal tiempo: 15 de mayo)

¡Llamado a todos los padres y tutores de 4º y 5º grado! Nos complace anunciar que nuestro encuentro anual de atletismo de cuarto y quinto grado del distrito se llevará a cabo en mayo. Nuestros estudiantes disfrutarán el día en la pista del Estadio Farrell de la Universidad de West Chester participando en competencias amistosas con otras escuelas primarias del distrito. ¡NECESITAREMOS SU AYUDA! El éxito de los encuentros de atletismo depende en gran medida de los padres y tutores voluntarios. NECESITARÁ SUS HABILITACIONES DE TRABAJO VOLUNTARIO. Puede visitar este enlace: INFORMACIÓN DE HABILITACIÓN DE TRABAJO VOLUNTARIO EN EL DISTRITO para obtener más información sobre las habilitaciones. Le sugerimos que las solicite ahora, ya que a veces tardan un poco en recibirse.

RESERVE LA FECHA - Por favor, considere ayudar a la escuela de su hijo(a) el día de la competencia de atletismo que lee a continuación. Habrá más información con los horarios específicos y el listado de las responsabilidades durante el evento. Esta es una excursión escolar que se llevará a cabo durante el horario escolar.

When looking up GAE events, please refer to our monthly newsletter calendar rather than the district calendar. Some event dates and times listed on the district calendar changed after publication.

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.

• Monday, January 20th - Schools Closed in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Tuesday, January 21st - Day 4
• Wednesday, January 22nd - Day 1: Chorus Rehearsal; Talent Show Rehearsal
• Thursday, January 23rd - Day 2: ZED Cartoonist Assembly (Wear Pink); After School Sports (4th Grade Boys)
• Friday, January 24th - Day 3: 5th Grade Visit to Fugett Music Department
• Monday, January 27th - Day 4
• Tuesday, January 28th - Day 1: After School Sports (4th & 5th Grade Girls)
• Wednesday, January 29th - Day 2: Chorus Rehearsal; ASPCA Paws for Change; Talent Show Rehearsal
• Thursday, January 30th - Day 3: After School Sports (5th Grade Boys)
• Friday, January 31st - Day 4

EVERY MONDAY & FRIDAY WILL BE EAGLES SPIRT DAYS AT GAE!

FEEL FREE TO EITHER WEAR YOUR EAGLES GEAR OR GREEN!

Important Upcoming Dates

January 20th - NO SCHOOL

January 23 - ZED Cartoonist Assembly - Wear Pink

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

February 14th - 1/2 DAY FOR STUDENTS

February 14th - 5th Grade GlowTopia

February 17th - NO SCHOOL

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/

We are in desperate need of sweatpants sizes 5-10. We prefer sweatpants only due to the fact that they are usually gender neutral.

Thank you so much!

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 ABSENCE 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 Theresa Weaver at (484) 266-1712.

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, special events and classroom supplies.

See this link for helpful information.

We hope you would consider volunteering. Some volunteer opportunities are helping in the library, lunchroom, as a homeroom party planner, on field trips or at 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

Glen Acres Website: https://gae.wcasd.net/

District Website: www.wcasd.net

District Twitter: https://twitter.com/WestChesterASD