Prince George's County Public Schools

 

The Eagle Express

University Park Elementary

March 7, 2012

Principal’s Corner:  The PTA Silent Auction was a wonderful success!  Many thanks to everyone who came, and to all those who donated fabulous items to bid on!  There were many, many people who worked hard to make the event so successful, and it showed!!

Many thanks to our brave Camp Schmidt parent chaperones!  Sarah Starrett, Deborah Levinson, Kathy Hotakainen, Ann Barrett, Steve Murphy, Jon McLaren, Buddha Pukazhenthi, Joe Rozario, Herman Brown, Jose Parada and Chuck Bury did a fantastic job with our fifth graders at camp - the kids had a fantastic time!! 

From Ms. Neff and the Community Builders – The Coin Collection for Tornado Victims in Henryville, IN will be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week (March 14th – 16th!)  Join us as we collect money to “Make Change Happen” for those severely affected by these devastating storms.

In order to save paper, we will no longer be sending home the Wednesday Envelope to everyone in paper.  If you already receive emails from the school, you will now receive the entire Wednesday Envelope by email.  If you do not receive emails but would like to, fill out the form in this week’s folder.  If you still would like to receive the folder by paper, please fill out the form and send it in.  Thank you!

MSA is right around the corner!  Our 3rd – 6thgraders will be taking the Reading and Math Maryland School Assessments (MSA) on March 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st in the morning. Please help your children be successful by coming to school on time with a big, healthy breakfast to start their day on these dates.  Also, please schedule doctors’ appointments around testing times, if at all possible.   We appreciate your support! 

To pump our students up for the test, we are having these school spirit days for the whole school!

·       Friday, March 9th: Wear your UPES t-shirt or school colors (blue and white) and jeans!

·       Monday, March 12th:  Don’t Sweat the Test, Just Do Your Best!  (Wear Sweats!)

·       Friday, March 16th:  Sock It To the MSA! (Wear Crazy Socks!)

·       Monday, March 19th:  Dress For Success (Dress Nicely!)

Our African American History Month Instrumental Concert has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 28th from 6-8 p.m. and it will be combined with our International Dinner!  Come share a dish from your culture and enjoy a lovely evening of entertainment! 

Yearbooks are now on sale for $17.00!  If you would like to order your copy, please send in money or a check made out to UPES in a sealed, labeled envelope, with your child’s name and teacher’s name on it.

Please join us at the PTA Meeting TONIGHT at 7 p.m. for a presentation from the Office of Constituent Services, where you’ll hear about the process of how parent concerns are now taken care of by the school system.  In addition, Mrs. Schickner will be giving a presentation on Student Based Budgeting (SBB), and specifically, how this affects UPES’ school budget for next year.   

We are holding our Annual Career Day on Wednesday, May 16th from 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.! If you would be willing to speak during Career Day, please fill out the form in this Wednesday Envelope, or contact Christy Neff (Christy.neff@pgcps.org) or Dawna Phillips (dawna.phillips@pgcps.org).   Even if you only have a half hour to spare, we’d love to have you!

Just a reminder that our school is part of the Alliance To Save Energy.  Some helpful tips to save energy include:

S – Surge protectors – see if all small appliances can be put on a surge protector and turned to the off position when not in use.                                  A – Adjust your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer.                    V – Vampire energy is energy that is sucked out when the appliance is not in use…unplug to stop the energy drain!                                                     E – Everyone can do something to help our planet!

Healthy Schools Initiative – Remember to include a majority of healthy foods – fruits, vegetables, and low fat pretzels in birthday party planning when coming to school to celebrate.  Of course, cupcakes are a good idea, but can be rounded out with other healthy choices.  Start your student’s birthday year out on a healthy note!

Upcoming Events:

March 7th – PTA Meeting, 7 pm

March 9th – School Spirit Day – Wear UPES t-

                      shirts & Jeans

March 12th – Don’t Sweat The Test,   Just Do Your Best!  (Wear Sweats)

March 13th & 14th – Reading MSA

March 14th – 16th – Make Change Happen for

                  Tornado Victims in Indiana

March 16th – Wacky Sock Day (Sock It To The

                    MSA!)

March 19th – Dress For Success

March 20th & 21st – Math MSA

March 21st – Wednesday Envelope Comes Home

March 23rd – Book Logs Due

March 28th – Black History Month Concert and

                     International Dinner, 6 – 8 p.m.

March 29th – End of the 3rd Quarter

March 30th – No School for Students – Grading

                     and Planning Day

April 2nd – 9th – Spring Break