West Chester Area School District
News & Notes - February 2, 2021

Parent Information Sessions
We understand that parents have many questions and concerns as we move into the second half of the school year. We will be hosting two parent information sessions on February 10 and 11 at 6:00 p.m. to provide an update and answer as many questions as possible. Each session will be very similar, with a focus slightly geared toward elementary or secondary on corresponding dates. However, each session is open to parents at any level.
Submit questions in advance for the February 10 Elementary session (K-5) here.
Submit questions in advance for the February 11 Secondary session (6-12) here.
We will also be taking questions live via Google Forms during each session. We will post the links to the Google Form and sessions on our website the morning of each presentation. We will also post a summary of the sessions on our website later in the week.
WCASD Hires Director of Equity & Assessment

The WCASD School Board of Directors has approved Dawn Mader as the district's new Director of Equity and Assessment.
Under this new role, Mrs. Mader will support a culturally balanced curriculum for all district students and manage the district's equity teams. Mrs. Mader will also be responsible for analyzing all assessment data to identify equity gaps and propose and guide strategies for closing these gaps.
Mrs. Mader has been with the district for nearly five years, serving as assistant principal at Rustin High School. She has also worked as an elementary teacher and middle school assistant principal in Delaware County. Mrs. Mader was named "Teacher of the Year" for her work with struggling students in the Camden City School District.
Since 2004, West Chester Area School District has been working to eradicate institutional racism and inequities through social justice, promote staff and students' emotional development, and embrace diverse perspectives. For more information on the District's Equity mission, visit www.wcasd.net/equity.
Principal of WCASD's Newest Elementary School Announced
"Dr. Fagan actively sought out the opportunity to serve as Greystone's new principal and is excited about the challenge of opening a new school within our district. He is an experienced, dynamic, and talented educator. Dr. Fagan is a compassionate and child-centered leader who is passionate about education, and known for his ability to connect with students of all ages," said Dr. Jim Scanlon, superintendent.
Dr. Fagan has spent the last seven years as principal of East High School. He will continue to work out of East High School for the duration of the school year and is committed to seeing the current high school class through what has been a challenging year due to the pandemic. East High School Assistant Principal, Dr. Stephen Brown will replace Dr. Fagan as principal.
Greystone Elementary School will be located at the corner of Aram Avenue and Pottstown Pike in West Goshen Township. The school is scheduled to open this August, in time for the 2021-22 school year.
Check out the video above to see how the construction of Greystone is coming along, and keep an eye out for monthly construction updates with Dr. Fagan!
Important Redistricting Information

On Wednesday, February 10, all parents of students affected by the redistricting changes will receive an email detailing the changes. A small number of middle and high school students will be impacted. Most changes will occur at the elementary level. If we don’t have a current email address on file, we will be contacting parents either by phone or US mail to gather information about school choice options for the 2021-22 school year. If you do not receive information from us, you are most likely not affected by the changes in attendance boundaries. Approximately 925 current students (7.8% of our student body) are affected. You can click here or use the feeder pattern button below to verify whether your child will be impacted.
For Fall 2021, our transition includes the following:
- Students enrolled in grades 9, 10, and 11 who have been redistricted to a different high school may remain in their current high school (There is no transportation provided for this attendance exception. Parents need to provide their own transportation to the school).
- Students enrolled at Peirce MS who are changing feeder patterns from Peirce MS/Henderson HS to Fugett MS/East HS may remain in their current middle school/high school feeder pattern (There is no transportation provided for this attendance exception. Parents need to provide their own transportation to the school).
- Students enrolled in 5th grade who have been redistricted to a different elementary school may complete their year in the current elementary school (There is no transportation provided for this attendance exception. Parents need to provide their own transportation to the school).
Questions about redistricting? Email redistrictingfeedback@wcasd.net
Grab & Go Meal Distribution Update

THANK YOU!
For all of your efforts to keep our students & staff safe...Thank You.
For all of the hours you spend creating in-person lessons and remote lessons...Thank You.
To the WCASD teachers, support staff, and facilities & operations staff, we say THANK YOU for making a difference.
*Staff members pictured without masks were alone in their classrooms.

Two Seniors Named as Nominees for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
West Chester Area School District is proud to announce the district's nominees for the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
Henderson High School senior Joseph Liu and Rustin High School senior Margaret Wade were selected from nearly 3.6 million graduating seniors nationwide.
Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character, and involvement in community and school activities. Each year, up to 161 students are named Presidential Scholars at the national level.
A distinguished panel of educators will review these submissions and select approximately 600 semifinalists in early April. The U.S. Department of Education will announce the Scholars in May.
If circumstances permit, all Scholars are invited to Washington, DC in June for the National Recognition Program, featuring various events and enrichment activities and culminating in the presentation of the Presidential Scholars Medallion during a White House-sponsored ceremony.


Rustin High School Senior Creates Winning Poster
When she found out about the contest, Caitlin made the poster right away.
"I was so excited," said Caitlin. "I've never won a contest before!"
Caitin plans on majoring in communications at Syracuse University next fall. In addition to focusing on her studies, she plays soccer for Rustin and manages the boys basketball team.
For more information on THRIVE, visit www.wcthrive.org.
Kindergarten 101

February 17, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom
24 de febrero de 2021 a las 6:00 p.m. vía Zoom

Kindergarten & New Student Registration

REMINDER! WC Cyber Program Parent Information Night is Tonight!
Click the buttons below to register!

Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week Virtual Information Session
It’s almost time for the Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) Virtual Information Session! Please join us, via Zoom, on Wednesday, Feb 10, 4:00 - 4:30 p.m.
PFEW is a statewide, one-week summer program open to current sophomores and juniors in high school - and it’s in its 43rd year! At PFEW, participants learn about business, life, and themselves. They live on a college campus, learn how to run a business, interact with top business professionals, and form lifelong friendships as they compete for prizes and the title of top company! Most importantly, they will grow both personally and professionally and prepare themselves for successful post-secondary education or the workforce. PFEW is a valuable addition to any college application or résumé.
PFEW is ranked as one of the top educational summer programs in the nation!
