Prince George's County Public Schools

 The Eagle Express 

University Park Elementary 

January 12, 2011 

 

     Principal’s Corner:  Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had an excellent holiday and Winter Break!  It’s great to be back in the swing of things!  We are entering a serious time of the school year, with MSA testing drawing closer.  Your support with homework and class assignments is very much needed and appreciated.  It is also important that your children are at school on time every day.  You are a huge reason why our students succeed! 

 

     I am very proud of our students!  The Community Builders led our children to make 556 holiday cards for folks in nursing homes, homeless shelters and hospitals!   I know the sentiments meant a lot to those who received them!  The Community Builders are holding a coat drive this month!  If you have any coats that are in good condition that you are no longer using, please send them in.  At the end of January, any coats not claimed in the Lost and Found will also be donated to this worthy cause. 

 

     Many thanks to the PTA for the lovely holiday gift cards they gave to the staff before Winter Break!  They were very much appreciated! 

 

     By the way, our Franklin’s Fundraiser brought in $775.16  for our students!!!  Thank you so much for your support! 

 

    Many thanks to Christine Harvey, Christine Dawson, and Deborah Levenson for working with our school newspaper reporters – the newspaper has been printed and it is outstanding!!  Every student has received a copy – please check it out.  Many thanks also to Mr. Clark for blocking out the newspaper on the computer and printing it out!   

 

     From the Community Builders:  During the month of January, we will be collecting winter coats, all sizes! We are working with local homeless shelters to get coats to people in need. January and February are typically our coldest months so this is a great time to give an older jacket away (especially if you got a new one this holiday season!).  A coat that is used and in good condition can really help someone during this cold time of year.  Thanks as always for sharing in the vision of helping others in our local and world communities. 

 

      The PTA's Silent Auction is going to take place on Saturday, Feb. 26th at Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church on Metzerott Road from 4 - 6 p.m.  This is one of their major fundraisers, and just about every penny comes back to the school!  They need everyone's help to keep funding art, the library, and after school enrichment at UPES!  Donations come in all shapes and sizes - we are all feeling the effects of the recession but if we all give something, together we can make a huge impact!  Local businesses can see this as an opportunity to connect with a great potential customer base - a win-win for everyone!!  Donating some homemade dinner or great child-care can be just the thing to help our busy neighbors! 

     You can help your child win a pizza party!!  The classroom that brings in the most donations (number of donations, not monetary value) will win a pizza party!! 

So, mark your calendars - it's going to be a great time!!   

For any questions, please contact Carrie Davis Murphy  at carriedmurphy@mac.com, or Kris Moss at 301-277-1340. 


     In this Wednesday Envelope, we are sending home information about the Mobile Dentist.  "Smile Maryland" is coming to UPES on Wednesday, Feb. 9th.  You have the option to fill out the permission slip so that your children can have a dentist appointment in our library that day!  Parents who cannot afford the fees can fill out a grant application so that their children can see the dentist for free.  The forms need to be back quickly - by this Friday!  If you have any questions, please contact the office.

     On Friday, I'm going to give the "State of UPES Address" at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.  The PTA will be selling pizza, drinks, cookies and brownies starting at 6:15 p.m.  Then, at 7 p.m., the school age children will go to the gym with one of our PE teachers, Ms. Caulkins, and her daughter to play games while the parents listen.  I plan to talk about our current test scores and activities, and how we’re doing.  I'll take questions, and then parents will have time to talk together to write down any questions they have, ideas, concerns, compliments - and whether they would like to do this type of evening again.  I think this will be a nice opportunity to dialogue with parents and come out with some great ideas!

    Please come to Family Gym Night on January 20th from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.!  Bring the kids and have fun playing different games together – it will be a blast!  The PTA will be selling goodies, too!
 

 

     On Saturday, January 22nd, the Small Town Energy Program for University Park (STEP UP) is having a Kick-Off from 1 – 4 p.m. in the school gym!  The goal for this program is to help UP homes become more energy efficient in the next 3 years.  There will be the chance to hear about the program, talk with vendors and partners, and enjoy food, kid fun and door prizes.  Please come! 

  

  Science Fair backboards are on sale in the office!  Color boards are $5.00!  Please send in cash or checks made out to UPES in a labeled envelope with your child’s name and teacher.   

 

     Mr. Carter’s ipod has been taken from his classroom.  If you see an ipod at home that doesn’t belong to your children, please send it to school!  Thank you! 

     When we have snowy or icy weather, please check the news and the Prince George's County Public Schools' website (www.pgcps.org) to see if school is cancelled or delayed.  If school is delayed, staff also report to work at a delayed time.  It is imperative that you do not drop off your children early!  There may be no one here to watch them. B&A also opens later if we have a delayed opening.  If snowy/icy weather starts during the day, please check the news and school system website to see if we'll be closing early.  Always have a plan of action for your children if these instances occur.  

 

Delayed Opening-Students Report   

Early Closure-Student Dismissed  

One Hour 

8:30 am 

12:55 pm 

Two Hours 

9:30 am 

11:55 am 

Three Hours 

 

10:55 am 

Upcoming Dates: 

Jan. 14th – State of UPES Address at 7 

                                                 p.m. 

                  6:15 – PTA Pizza & Dessert Sale 

Jan. 17th – No School – Martin L. King’s Bd. 

Jan. 20th – Family Gym Night, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. 

Jan. 21st – Book Logs Due 

                  End of 2nd Quarter 

Jan. 22nd – STEP UP Launch Event 

Jan. 24th – No School – Furlough Day 

Jan. 26th – Wednesday Envelope Goes Home 

Jan. 28th – Book Log Event During the Day – Movie 

 

Feb. 2nd – Science Fair Visitation Night & PTA mtg 

Feb. 9th – Black History Month Instrumental Concert, 

                 7:30 p.m. 

                 Mobile Dentist Visit