The Eagle Express

University Park Elementary

January 25, 2012

Principal’s Corner:  We are sending home the Wednesday Envelope a week early because we were off schedule!  The Wednesday Envelope will now come home two weeks from today and beyond.  I appreciate our parent volunteer, Tona Hauser, for coming in bi-weekly to collate all of the flyers!

Thank you so much for coming to Family Reading Night on Tuesday!  We had a fantastic turnout, and we hope you had a great time!  Many thanks to Andrea Zukowski for organizing the Usborne Book Fair – it was wonderful having the opportunity to purchase such interesting books!

Many thanks to our wonderful PTA for the delicious staff breakfast last Friday!  What a yummy way to end the week!

Congratulations to our Choir and Chamber for a fantastic job performing at Winterfest!  Both groups received a score of 100 in sight reading!  Whoa!  The trip would never have been such a success without our parent chaperones: Johannah Wagespack, Diana Markel, Michelle Hermanson, Karin Horn, Sarah Heitkemper, Christine Dawson, Jennie Joyner, Jason Joyner, and Karen Ahalt!  Thank you!

Good luck to our Science Bowl Team!  Mr. Favero has been working with the students  – Charlie Dawson, Madeleine Wonneberger, Alexis Arneson, Louis Catacalos, Vivian Tran, and Surya Pukazhenthi -  every week, and they are ready for action!  The team is competing again Mattaponi Elementary on January 31^st, and I know they’ll do a great job!

Congratulations to our third grade teacher, Michele Rowland!  She has earned her National Board Certification, which is a huge achievement!  She is attending the pinning ceremony tonight!

Our Science Fair is February 1^st!  We have seen some mighty impressive projects coming in!  Thank you so much for all of your support at home!  The Science Fair Open House will take place Feb. 1^st from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the gym.  Please stop by to check out all of the projects!

Speaking of Science Fair, we are still in need of judges!  (Which, unfortunately, can’t be UPES parents!)  Judges are needed from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on February 1st, and the PTA serves them a delicious breakfast and lunch.  If you know of anyone who would be willing, please have them contact Michele Rowland at 301-985-1898 or michele.rowland@pgcps.org ASAP!  Thanks!!

This Saturday, Jan. 28^th, is the STEP UP (Small Town Energy Program for University Park) Community Energy Fair at UPES from 1 – 4 p.m.!  You’re invited to attend – check out the flyer in this Wednesday Envelope!

Mark your calendars for the UPES PTA Silent Auction on Saturday, March 3 at Wallace Presbyterian Church!  This is one of their major fundraisers, and just about every penny comes back to the school! If you would like to volunteer or have an item to donate for the auction, please contact this year's co-chairs, Kris Moss at 301/277-1340 or Sarah Treado at satreado@aol.com.

On Feb. 7^th, you are invited to attend a Student Based Budget Community Presentation that explains the new budget process.  It will be given entirely in Spanish with English translation.  The presentation will be at Northwestern High School at 6:30 p.m.

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.

Upcoming Events:

Jan. 28^th – STEP-UP Community Energy Fair,

                 1-4 p.m.

Jan. 31^st – Science Bowl Competition

Feb. 1^st –  Science Fair Open House, 6:30-7:30 pm

Feb. 3^rd –  2^nd Quarter Report Cards Go Home

Feb. 7^th-9^th – Mobile Dentist Visits

Feb. 7^th – Student Based Budgeting Presentation at

                Northwestern HS, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 8^th – Wednesday Envelope Goes Home

                PTA Meeting 7 p.m.

Feb. 13^th – ½ Day for Students (Teacher Inservice)

                 Honor Roll Assemblies: (Tentative Times)

                  8:15 – 3^rd Grade

                  8:45 – 2^nd Grade

Feb. 14^th – Honor Roll Assemblies (Tentative Times)

                 8:15 – 6^th Grade

                 8:45 – 5^th Grade

                 9:15 – 4^th Grade

                 Valentine’s Day Parties, 1 p.m.

Feb. 20^th – No School – Presidents’ Day

Feb. 22^nd – Wednesday Envelope Goes Home

Feb. 27^th – Reading Week – More info soon!

Feb. 28^th – Instrumental Music Black History

                 Concert, 7 p.m.