The Eagle Express
University Park Elementary
December 16th, 2009
UPES: Unity, Pride, Excellence, Success!
Principal’s Corner: I’d like to give many thanks to our PTA for their support! They have given each grade level more funds to reduce the costs of field trips! The PTA is purchasing cassette tape players so we can start our “Books on Tape” program for our ESOL students! (The University Park Women’s Club is donating tape players, as well!) The PTA is has generously given money so that we can start our school-wide book log program, and they have put aside $100 towards new sofas in the teacher’s lounge! In addition, the PTA will be getting the window on our UPES sign out front fixed! Your wonderful contributions to the PTA fundraisers are making a huge difference to our school – thank you most sincerely!
Our band and choir concert on December 9th was fantastic! The students did a wonderful job – thanks for encouraging them to practice at home! Our choir will be performing at PG Plaza this Friday at 1 p.m., as well as at the Elementary Choral Festival on January 14th! Thank you, Mr. Fominaya, Mr. Tatum, and Mr. Spitzberg!
Thank you for supporting UPES at Chevy’s this past Monday! We had a great turnout! We will receive 25% of the profit from that night, which will benefit the Principal’s Staff Support Fund!
We have a new parent liaison – Teresa Hansen! She will be here on Mondays and Wednesdays. Hilma Chavez, our previous liaison, has been transferred full time to her other school, and we will miss her! She did an excellent job! Also, Anita Bookhultz, our cafeteria manager, is being promoted to Hyattsville Middle! She has been with UP a long time, and we appreciate all she has done to keep our kids fed and ready to learn! Terry Bradley, who already works in our cafeteria, is being promoted to the manager position – congratulations!
Progress reports will be coming home this Friday, Dec. 18th. If you have any concerns about your child’s grades, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher. We are so happy to work with you – we want all of our students to be successful!
Information will be coming home about our new school-wide Book Log program! This is a way to encourage all of our students to read! Book logs are due on January 22nd, and everyone who turns one in will be treated to popcorn and a movie!
The second round of H1N1 FluMist vaccines will be offered to our students in January. Permission forms will be sent home after Winter Vacation. We do not have a specific date yet, but we’ll let you know as soon as we hear.
There have been some safety concerns raised about our neighborhood children using the playground and field at the same time as our Before and After Care students, from 2:20 – 4:00 p.m. Both sets of kids end up playing together. Not all of the parents/daycare folks are watching their children carefully. Some adults are sitting in their cars while their children play on the field. When non-B&A kids are playing unsafely or interacting with others in a negative way, it has been very difficult for the B&A staff to figure out which kids belong to which parent/babysitter. There have been instances when a parent has approached a B&A student to talk to them, rather than going through the staff. There is also the fear that there may be an adult present who is a stranger to all of our children. This has become quite alarming, to the B&A staff and to me.
At most schools, no one is allowed on the playground and field while the B&A students are using it – in our case, from 2:20 – 4:00 p.m. The program is considered to be a continuation of the school day, and this ruling is made for the safety of our B&A children. I am asking that you respect this time period as reserved for B&A. I completely understand how important our school grounds are to our neighborhood, and I would not be asking this unless I felt is was imperative to the safety and well being of all of our kids. Thank you so much for your understanding!!
Our Lost and Found in the cafeteria is exploding with clothes! When you have the chance, please check to see if any of the items belong to your children. We will donate the clothes that are not taken during Winter Break!
Science Fair backboards are now on sale.Ms. Schickner will be selling backboards immediately after morning announcements. White backboards are $4.00. Colored backboards are $5.00. We have red, blue, green and yellow. Have exact change if paying with cash. If paying by check, have checks made out to UPES.
The PTA is spotlighting Ann Barrett, mom to Betsy (third) and Nancy (fourth). Ann led the Sally Foster fundraising efforts.
How long have you volunteered at UPES? "5 years"
Where else do you volunteer? "I am part of St. Jeromes Cafe, a local church outreach to feed the homeless in our community."
Who was your favorite teacher? "My 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Roseberry, was extremely creative. In her class we had many hands on projects. My favorite was the research we did on local (Long Island, New York) history."
Why should people volunteer at UPES? "The satisfaction of knowing that you are making your neighborhood school a better place to learn."
On behalf of the entire University Park staff, I hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing Winter Break. Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!
Dates to Remember
Dec. 18th – Choir sings at PG Plaza, 1 p.m.
Second Quarter Progress Reports Released
Dec. 24th – Jan. 1st – Winter Break
Jan. 4th – Students return to school
Jan. 14th – Choir performs at Bowie High for the Elementary Choral Festival
Jan. 18th – No School – Martin Luther King’s Birthday
Jan. 22nd – Book Logs Due
International Dinner
Jan. 25th – No School for Students – Teacher Grading and Planning Day