The Eagle Express

University Park Elementary

February 3^rd, 2010

UPES:  Unity, Pride, Excellence, Success!

     Principal’s Corner:  Tremendous thanks for supporting our fundraiser for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti!  Our school raised $4,273.61!  That is incredible!!  This was such a wonderful lesson for our students.  Many thanks to Christy Neff and our Community Builders for sponsoring the drive!  I’d also like to thank Chevy Chase Bank – they exchanged all of our coins into currency for free, as time consuming as it was!

     Our International Dinner was a great success!  Everyone brought delicious food and loved looking at all of the artifacts from different countries.  Many thanks to Lissette Gean, Rosanna Weaver, Vicky Foxworth, Michelle Hermanson, Ying Chen , Annie Jewel and Vida for planning such a wonderful night.  Many thanks to Fabi Caulkins for teaching the kids several awesome games from different countries!

     Our book log event last Friday was a fantastic success!  462 students (86%) turned in a book log and got to see, “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs!”  Thanks for supporting this program at home!

     Many thanks to the University Park Women’s Club for donating 15 new cassette tape players to our Books on Tape program!!  Their generosity, along with our PTA’s donation, allows our ESOL teachers to send home books on tape with their students so they can practice their English!

     I am very excited about our Science Fair today!  There were so many outstanding projects!  It was easy to see how much hard work went into all of them – thank you for your help from home.  I hope you’ll be able to come to the Open House tonight to check them all out, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.  Many thanks to Mrs. Rowland, Mr. Favero, Mr. Carter and Mrs. Moore for their leadership!

     Our students will be participating in the St. Jude’s Math-A-Thon, starting today.  This is a wonderful program where our students do math problems and earn money through pledges to help St. Jude’s Hospital help children with cancer.  Information will be coming home today.

     Our classes will be having Valentine’s Day parties on Thursday, Feb. 11^th, at 1:00 p.m.  Your child’s teacher will send home a class list of first names this week.  In addition, class pictures will be taken on Feb. 16^th – you will be receiving the order forms soon!

     Good news – the big mud square where walkers come out in the afternoon will be blacktopped in the Spring!  Unfortunately, the request for steps coming down from Underwood to the basketball courts has not been approved.  Plant Operations is aware of the erosion under the sidewalk and is looking to build up the ground under it in the Spring.

Dates to Remember: