Prince George's County Public Schools

 The Eagle Express

University Park Elementary

March 23, 2011

     Principal’s Corner:  Hooray!  Our students have finished and done a wonderful job on the Reading and Math MSA!  I am so proud of their hard work and effort!  I know their scores will be great!  Thank you so much for bringing your children to school on time, with lots of sleep the night before and a good breakfast in the morning!  We should get their preliminary scores in June.  Thanks to the Community Builders for decorating the school for MSA and pumping up the students!

     Many thanks to Eric Maning, one of our parents, for leading the Family Fun Danceon Thursday, March 17th!  Everyone had a fantastic time together!  If you took any pictures, would you send them my way?  I had such a great time dancing, I forgot to snap some pics!

     Thank you so much for donating to our Community Builders’, “Make Change Happen” Drive to help the victims of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami.  Your generosity helped us collect $3,193.95 for the “Save the Children” Charity!!  The grade level that donated the most money was 4th grade!  They will compete against the teachers in a beach volleyball game!

     University Park Elementary was honored by the Maryland State Department at the Board of Education Awards Program on March 15th!  We received a certificate for excellent achievement on the 2010 MSA!  The award is hanging in the front hallway for you to check out!

     Good luck to our Science Bowl team!  They will be competing in the finals on April 5th!  I know they will do a fantastic job!  Cheering for you, Olivia Martin, Maria Kisker, Nelson Lotz, Owen Roy, Nora Stewart, and Charlie Dawson!

     We have a new nurse!  Her name is Anu Abraham; she has her masters in nursing, and previously worked at Holy Cross.  She will most likely start on April 4th – we are looking forward to having her!  We also have a new night custodian – Victor Gilkes!  Welcome to the family!

     Order your yearbook today!  They are only $17.00 (payable to UPES), and make a wonderful memento of this school year.  Order forms are due on March 29th, and the yearbooks will arrive at the beginning of June.

     We are holding our Career Day on Wednesday, April 27th from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.!  If you would be willing to speak during Career Day, please contact our counselor, Marlene Bennett, by email (marlene.bennett@pgcps.org) or by school phone (301)985-1898.  Even if you only have a half hour to spare, we’d love to have you!    

     Please come to the 10th Anniversary Azalea Classic on Saturday, April 9th!!  We will also be celebrating the 75th anniversary of University Park!   This is a 1K and 5K race sponsored by the PTA to raise funds for our school!  The Northwestern High School Band will be there, as well as many businesses, food, and a DJ!  There will also be a dedication of our old-timey clock!

  At school during the week of April 12th – 16th, we will be having Azalea Classic Spirit Week!  In order to pump up our students for the event, we are doing something special each day:

      Monday – School Spirit Day (Wear your UPES t-shirt, or blue and white!)

     Tuesday – Dress Like a Runner Day!

     Wednesday – What Shoe Doing on Saturday?  (Wear sneakers, and bring a pair of shoes to donate to communities in Ghana and Zambia!)

     Thursday – Team Jersey Day (wear a shirt from your favorite team!)

     Friday – Azalea Classic Day (Wear a shirt the color of an Azalea – red, pink or white!)

     We have several dads at UPES who make up the musical group, The Lonesome Valley Ramblers.  They will be performing on Friday, March 25th from 8 - 11 p.m. at the New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt.  They are donating all of their tips to our PTA!  Stop by if you get the chance!

     Kindergarten registration will begin on April 4 at all boundary schools for children that will be turning 5 by September 1, 2011.  Prekindergarten registration will begin on April 11 at all boundary schools for all children that will be turning 4 by September 1, 2011.  For PreK, as of June 1, families may register at any elementary school that still has available seats. This is an income eligible program. No above income children will be accepted. Transportation is provided to boundary schools only. Detailed information is included in the Wednesday Envelope.

Upcoming Events:

March 29th – Yearbook Orders Due

March 30th and 31st – Science MSA for 5th Grade,

                      Grade 6 “24” Tournaments

March 31st – End of the 3rd Quarter

                      Book Logs Due

April 1st – No School for Students (Grading and Planning

                  Day)

April 4th – 8th – Azalea Classic Spirit Week

April 5th – Science Bowl Team Goes to Finals

April 6th  - Wednesday Envelope Goes Home

                   PTA Meeting, 7 p.m.

April 9th – Azalea Classic

April 14th – Class Pictures

                    International Dinner 6 p.m. (Performance by

                    Instrumental Students and UP Singers at

                    7 p.m.)

April 15th – Book Log Event

April 18th – 25th – Spring Break

April 26th – Students Return to School

April 27th – Career Day, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

April 29th – PTA Open House, 8:30 a.m.

                    Arbor Day Celebration with Town of UP