Parkside Updates & Information 4/13/26

Hello Parkside Families,

Our state assessments will begin next week. All PSSA assessments will be taking place online. We do not want our students to be stressed about the PSSAs, but we do want them to do their very best. We use PSSA data to determine if students are making expected progress and how to best serve them moving forward. If students do not put forth their best efforts, we may offer them supports that they do not actually need. The data is also used along with other measures to decide groupings and access to honors courses for 5^th graders moving into to 6^th grade. Parents can help by reinforcing the importance of the assessments, but stressing that students just need to do their best and make an effort to show what they know. 

3rd, 4th, & 5th graders will take ELA PSSAs from April 21-23; Math PSSAs from April 27-28; and 5th graders will also take the Science PSSAs from April 29 & 30. Please see PSSA Parent information HERE.  If parents have any questions or concerns regarding PSSA testing, please email me at tyoung@pdsd.org.

Here are some tips to help our students give their best effort during testing:

• Get a good night’s rest the night before
• Eat a good breakfast
• Bring a water bottle
• Be on time for school
• Remind them that they can do hard things:
  • Just try your best!
  • Read directions and questions carefully!
  • If you can’t answer a question after trying all you know, make your best guess and move on!

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Coming Soon:

• April 22—Last Day to Purchase Yearbooks
• April 21, 22, 23—ELA PSSA Grades 3, 4, 5
• April 27 & 28—Math PSSA Grade 3, 4, 5
• April 29 & 30—Science PSSA Grade 5 Only
• May 7—Spring Chorus & Band Concert and Art Show @ 6:00 pm (Details will follow)
• May 8—11:15 Dismissal Teacher In-Service
• May 12—PTL Meeting @ 6:00 Library
• May 22—11:15 Dismissal Teacher In-service
• May 25—No School—School Holiday
• May 29—Field Day (Rain Date: June 4)

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Summer Enrichment

Registration for Penn-Delco’s 2026 Summer Enrichment Program is officially open! Students are invited to create, move, learn, and perform this summer through a wide variety of engaging courses offered in both half-day and full-day options. Session dates include June 22–25, July 6–9, July 13–16, and July 20–23. The registration deadline is May 31. Visit www.pdsd.org/enrich for course details and sign-up information.

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Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten Registration is well underway!

Do you have a younger child at home who will be 5 on or before September 1, 2026? It’s time to register for kindergarten! Early registration helps us plan for the new school year, ensuring a smooth transition and the best experience for our incoming students. If you have a future kindergartener, we encourage you to register as soon as possible! Learn more at www.pdsd.org/kindergarten.

We were so pleased to meet so many incoming kindergarten students and their families at Kindergarten Signing Day! For those who are just registering now, we will have the Kindergarten Ice Cream Social sometime in August if you were unable to attend.

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Leader in Me Survey

Each spring, Parkside surveys the staff, students (3-5), and the parents using the Leader in Me Measurable Results Annual (MRA) Survey. We use this feedback collected in the survey to evaluate our effectiveness in the areas of Leadership, Culture, and Academics. 

Keep an eye out for the Leader in Me MRA Parent Survey—starting on April 20. Your parent responses will help us shape the direction of the school community moving forward, so please plan to participate. The survey is short and takes less than 15 minutes to complete. The link to participate will be sent out on April 20 and can be accessed until May 20!

Students is grades 3, 4, & 5 will participate in the MRA student version sometime between April 20 to May 20 in their classroom. If you would prefer that your child not participate, please email their teacher to let them know.

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Parkside Elementary Publications

See past issue of the Parkside Panoramic HERE! A new spring edition is coming soon, but feel free to check out our past newspapers from the fall and winter!

The Parkside Elementary YEARBOOK sales end on April 22, 2026—CLICK HERE—for ordering details.

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5th Grade Updates & Information

5th graders will be visiting Northley Middle School on Tuesday, May 12 as part of the transition to middle school process to get our 5th grade students ready to head to middle school in the fall.  Please make sure that your child is on time for school so that they do not miss this event!

The 5th Grade Awards & Moving Up Ceremony will be held on Thursday, June 11. Stay tuned for more details!

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From the School Counseling Department:

Parkside Food Bank - If your family is in need of food, you can email parksidefooddrive@gmail.com for info on the hours of operation. The food bank is located at the Parkside Fire Station.

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From Technology teacher Ms. Cameron:

Using Technology to Practice Test Readiness
During state testing season, technology can be a helpful tool for practicing skills and building confidence. Short practice sessions, typing practice, and reviewing online tools used during testing can help students feel prepared without increasing stress. The goal is familiarity, not extra pressure.
Action step: Ask your child to practice one small tech skill this week, such as typing, using a calculator tool, or navigating a testing-style screen.

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From the School Nurse:

Physicals are required for students in Kindergarten and 1st grade, if you need a physical for your child, CLICK HERE for information on how we can help.

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From the PTL:

Our next PTL Meeting will be moved to Tuesday May 12 at 6:00 in the Cafeteria! This meeting will include elections for the Board. We encourage all 4th and 5th grade parents to attend this meeting to finalize 5th grade end of year activities and 4th grade parents can get an idea about what end of elementary planning looks like in preparation for next year. 

Next PTL Meeting:  CHANGE IN DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 6:00 pm in the Cafeteria

Spirit Wear: Order now

Check out the webpage to see the most up to date information. I encourage you to read through the Parkside Handbook to review important guidelines for attendance, discipline, etc…

If you have questions, concerns, or feedback, please reach out. I can be reached by email at tyoung@pdsd.org or by phone at 610-497-6300 Ext. 6500!

Best,

Tara Young
Principal
Parkside Elementary