Prince George's County Public Schools

 

The Eagle Express

University Park Elementary

February 8, 2012

Principal’s Corner: The STEP UP Energy Fair held at UPES on Saturday, Jan. 28th was a big success!  Our School Board Member, Amber Waller, and Superintendent, Dr. Hite, announced that they plan to work with the STEP UP Committee and Town of UP to install a solar array on the roof of University Park Elementary, the first federally-funded solar project of its kind on a county public school!  Chuck Wilson, the STEP UP program director (and UPES parent!), along with tremendous support from the community, was instrumental in making this a reality.  Our own Chloe Widman, 4th grader, spoke beautifully at the Energy Fair about what she has learned about recycling and energy awareness in the Community Builders.  She did us proud!!  To read the article in the Prince George’s Sentinel online, go to:     http://www.thesentinel.com/pgs/University-Park-solar-powered-school.  Well done!! 

Congratulations to our Science Bowl Team! They won their matches against Mattaponi and Magnolia Elementaries!  They are headed to the finals on April 14th, and we know they will be amazing!  Way to go, Charlie Dawson, Madeleine Wonneberger, Alexis Arneson, Louis Catacalos, Vivian Tran, Surya Pukazhenthi, and Mr. Favero!!

Our students did an excellent job at our Science Fair! Their projects were very impressive, and I could see all of the support they received at home and at school! Many thanks to the wonderful folks who judged our Science Fair: Deanna Moran, Mickey Lucas, Tom Stickles, Ed Starr, Melissa Floyd, Tyra Villadiego, Shevaun Lewis, Jeffrey Chrabaszcz,

Michael Bloodgood, Bradely Larson, Barbara Stein, Larry Prikockis, Debra Brody, Tala Fakhouri, Mildred Freeman, Santiago Bernal, Peggy Besanko, Hugh O'Donnell, Sabrina Ghiz-Zhir, Dr. George Ho, Joseph Novello, Carmen Booker, Pam Wilkerson, Patty Boyd, Budhan Pukazhenthi, Robert Moss, Chris Lemieux, Skee Jones, Erica Jackson-Green, Wafa

Harrouk, Ted David, Chuck Dorcey, Moira Dougherty, Elizabeth Beesley, Chelsea Dorman, Sara McNamara, Charlie Fenster, Tommy Fenster, and Danielle Spisak!!  

Muchas gracias to the PTA parent volunteers who provided a lovely breakfast and lunch to the Science Fair judges: Debbie Levenson, Kris Moss, Michelle Hermanson, Carrie Murphy, Suzie Whelton, Jennifer Dorroh, Christine Dawson, Sarah Treado,  Melanie Fiore, Emily Jackson, and the master organizer, Karen Ahalt!  Your beautiful display and delicious food was very much appreciated by the judges!

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcREIIJfDfBIbWGt8rBy7nOD2GoLgHnwUj-yajfng3evOp85o4F8UPES is receiving 800 FREE tickets to the University of Maryland Women’s Basketball Game on Sunday, Feb. 19th!  If you are interested in getting free tickets, please fill out the flyer in the Wednesday Envelope and send it in to the front office!  We will send you the tickets as soon as they come in!!

The Community Builders’ Coat Drive was a huge success! They collected 395 coats for local homeless shelters, thanks to your generosity! Zips Dry Cleaners were kind enough to clean the coats for FREE!  I know the coats will be very appreciated in this cold weather!

Our Book Log Movie Event was a big hit with the students!  89% of our students turned in a log!  We will be having our next book log event in the 4th quarter!

Report cards went home on February 3rd.  If you have any concerns about your child’s report, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher for a conference.

The PTA Meeting tonight at 7 p.m. will feature parents of previous UPES students who now attend Hyattsville Middle School!  They will be sharing their experiences, and this is a great time to ask questions, too.  Please join us!

Mark your calendars for the UPES PTA Silent Auction on Saturday, March 3 from 5 – 8 p.m. 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.

Valentine’s Parties will take place on Feb. 14th at 1 p.m.! Your child’s teacher will be sending home a class list and more information soon on how you can contribute to the party!

Upcoming Events:

Feb. 8th – PTA Meeting 7 p.m.

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

    Honor Roll Assemblies:

    8:15 – 3rd Grade

    8:45 – 2nd Grade

    10:55 - Dismissal

Feb. 14th – Honor Roll Assemblies

    8:15 – 6th Grade

    8:45 – 5th Grade

    9:15 – 4th Grade

    Valentine’s Day Parties, 1 p.m.

Feb. 20th – No School – Presidents’ Day

Feb. 22nd – Wednesday Envelope Goes Home

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

Feb. 28th – Instrumental Black History Concert,  

                  7 pm

March 1st – 2nd – Camp Schmidt for 5th Graders