Eagle News
December 6, 2023
From Dr. Davis
Thank you to the Feather Our Nest Committee for the exciting Pep Rally last Friday to celebrate the students and their hard work to help raise money for our school. We'd like to thank Emile Dworkin and Ada Moore for organizing the Dance Party with our special guest, Testudo, the mascot for the University of Maryland College Park. The students had a wonderful time, and it was a great way to celebrate them for a job well done.
Thank you to the PTA for their advocacy efforts to expedite the work on the Fire Alarm System and the repaving of the basketball court. The work on the Fire Alarm will begin next week and it should take about 10 weeks to complete. The repaving of the basketball court should be completed by December 22, 2023. These positive steps to get the repairs completed could not have happened without the collaborative spirit of the PTA as they worked with us here at school and with the larger school system to make changes on behalf of children.
Thank you to the PTA for purchasing Spiritwear t-shirts for all Pre-K and Kindergarten students. All families who wish to purchase spiritwear items, should click this LINK to access the site. Please note that all orders are due by December 22, 2023. Orders will go into production and shipped after the order deadline.
We will publish the next Eagle Newsletter on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. However, if you would like to read back issues of the Eagle News Newsletter, you can find this year's published newsletters on our school's website under the heading 'Announcements and Newsletters.' If you have questions between now and then, please contact me at Toi.Davis@pgcps.org or 301-985-1898.
Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) continues to follow the state and local guidance in the collection of student and teacher attendance. Administrative Procedure 5113 identifies this process for lawful and unlawful absences. PGCPS is responsible for identifying, collecting, and transmitting data to local, state, and federal agencies for purposes of compliance, accountability, and school system funding for student attendance. Strong monitoring of systems, implementation of a streamlined process, and using objective and accurate data related to attendance collection is crucial. Physical attendance of staff and students will be collected in the 2023-2024 school year and daily attendance procedures will be communicated so all stakeholders are aware of PGCPS’ definition of being considered present.
Communication and Parent Engagement
The PGCPS Office of Communications and Community Engagement will continue to deliver timely communication that achieves our goals of safety, equity, and excellence.
Communication Tools
The Office of Communications and Community Engagement uses five key tools to reach audiences:
School Messenger
○ Text/SMS
○ Robocall
Websites
○ PGCPS (www.pgcps.org)
○ PGCPS en español (www.pgcps.org/es)
Newsletters
○ Engage PGCPS (families and communities), weekly
○ Acción PGCPS (Spanish-speaking families and communities), weekly
○ Partner PGCPS (business, faith-based and nonprofit
groups), monthly
Social media
○ Facebook (@PGCPS)
○ Facebook en español (@PGCPSenespanol)
○ Twitter (@PGCPS, @DrMonicaCEO)
○ Instagram (@PGCPS)
○ YouTube
PGCPS-TV
○ Verizon 38
○ Comcast 96
○ YouTube
○ Video-on-demand
https://offices.pgcps.org/volunteer/cards/Become-a-Volunteer/.
If you were fingerprinted and approved last year, you still need to use the link to sign in to register and watch the SafeSchools videos for SY 23-24.
Library Procedures
As we continue the checkout process for library books this year, I would like to discuss options for overdue or lost books.
First, students during library media are told to return all books by placing them in the return bin in the circulation desk. Sometimes, students place books back on the shelf. Given the openness of our library, I only check books back in from the return bin. Please make sure your child(ren) returns library books via the return bin. Secondly, if you believe the book was returned, please email me at aclark@pgcps.org. Every effort will be made to locate the book. If the book is not found, the student is responsible. Third, overdue notices are sent home via students once a month and are delivered automatically through the parent’s email (if entered through Schoolmax) and the student’s PGCPS email account. Lastly, if a book is overdue or lost, there are three options to resolve the issue.
Locate the overdue or lost book and return it.
Purchase the same book (hardback cover only, no paperback or softcover) from any retailer. If you select this option, please hand the book directly to me (Mr. Clark) so the book can be cleared in the checkout system. I am scheduled at University Park ES every Monday and Wednesday.
Pay for the book based on the price on the overdue notice or in the email. Again, If you select this option, please hand the money directly to me (Mr. Clark) so the money can be credited, accounted for, and the book can be cleared in the checkout system. I am scheduled at University Park ES every Monday and Wednesday.
Temperatures have decreased significantly, so it is important that students are dressed accordingly for outdoor recess. Parents can click the link to read Administrative Procedure 6130 - Guidelines for Outdoor Activities and Playground and Recess Supervision for further information.
We use the criteria below to determine when there will be indoor recess.
"Recess, other outdoor activities, and Physical Education
should be considered for an inside activity if the following
conditions exist:
(1) Temperature with or without a wind chill factor is
below 32 degrees.
(2) Definite rain, sleet or snow with accumulation.
(3) Soggy, wet conditions.
(4) Heat temperatures that fall within the categories for a
Code Orange, Code Red or Code Purple. See
Attachment 1, Chart for Heat Designations."
Picture Day is Friday, December 15, 2023. Students who were absent when pictures were taken last month will take pictures. Students will also take individual and group pictures for clubs and extracurricular school activities.
SchoolMax Family Portal
School Max Family Portal
At any time during the school year, parents may access his/her child’s school information through the SchoolMax Family Portal. You can register through the site with an email address. If you need assistance, please contact Mr. Clark, Technology Coordinator at aclark@pgcps.org
The Community Builders group will have spirit week just before winter break Please read below for details.
Monday, Dec. 18 - THINKING OF YOU DAY! Making holiday cards for shut-ins, those in hospitals, etc. in specials classes and/or recess.
Tues., Dec. 19 - PJ DAY! Wear your PJ's for warm fun!
Wed., Dec.20 - Movie Day with PBIS
Thurs., Dec. 21 Ugly sweater Day! Holidays can get a little crazy and so can the clothes we wear - show us your best UGLY SWEATER!
Fri., Dec.22 - Holiday Sing-Along
Hello University Park Elementary School (UPES) Community,
Last June, PGCPS selected UPES to take part in a cart-based pilot program for student devices (Chromebooks). Participation in the pilot program means we do not assign students a student device that travels from home to school and back. Chromebooks remain in a classroom cart for use during the instructional day.
By now, all student PGCPS devices (along with chargers) should have been returned to UPES. All devices will be inventoried. Once inventoried, the device is no longer assigned to the student. As a part of the pilot, we assigned Chromebooks to the school and not individual students.
If your child’s device was damaged because of negligence, lost, or stolen, a fee may be assessed based on what’s identified in the Student Device Usage Agreement:
$30 for damage caused by negligence
$40 for lost chargers
$200 for lost chromebooks
Per the PGCPS Virtual Day Instruction Plan for 2023-2034, if PGCPS exceeds the three built-in incremental weather days, the additional incremental weather days (up to five) will be virtual and synchronous.
SYNCHRONOUS learning is interactive, virtual/distance education that happens in real time where students receive direct instruction from a teacher. During virtual synchronous learning days, students will connect to a teacher live via a device. In the event of synchronous instruction, students will need a device.
There is a take home option for PGCPS student Chromebooks. Devices may be needed for daily instruction and/or for virtual learning if your child does not have a device at home to use. If you choose, we can assign your child a device to take home with them after you complete and sign the Student Device Usage Agreement form. If you are interested in the take home option, please complete the UPES Student Device Take Home Option Google form. Those interested will receive additional information.
Thank you for your continued support of our student device program in Prince George’s County Public Schools.
If you have questions, please contact Mr. Clark at aclarl@pgcps.org.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, December 14-Lockdown Drill
Friday, December 15-Picture Day
Friday, December 22-Winter Break begins at 1:55 p.m.
Monday, December 25-Tuesday, January 2-Winter Break (Schools and offices closed)
Wednesday, January 3-School resumes
Helpful Links/Enlaces Importantes
1. School finder...know what school your child belongs to… Buscador de escuelas... sepa a qué escuela pertenece su hijo... http://gis.pgcps.org/schoolfinder/
Registration requirements...know exactly what you need to register your child... / Requisitos de inscripción... sepa exactamente qué necesita para inscribir a su hijo...
https://www1.pgcps.org/registration/
2. Sign up for email & text alerts...school closings & more.../ Inscríbase para recibir alertas de correo electrónico y de texto...cierre de escuelas y más..https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/PGCPS/subscriber/new?qsp=PGCPS
Lunch...apply for free/reduced meals... / Almuerzo... solicitar comidas gratuitas/reducidas... https://www.myschoolapps.com/ |
3. Bus Stop Finder...know what bus & route your child is assigned to... / Buscador de Paradas de Autobús...sepa a qué autobús y ruta está asignado su hijo... http://busstops.pgcps.org/Public/default.aspx?load=addressInput&skipPlan=true
Before & After Care... / Cuidado antes y después...
https://www.pgcps.org/Office-Directory/Before---After-School-Care-Program/
4. Volunteering/Voluntario Safe schools training videos...required if you want to participate in field trips and other events... / Vídeos de formación sobre escuelas seguras... necesarios si quieres participar en excursiones y otros eventos...
University Park Elementary
Email: upark@pgcps.org
Website: https://www1.pgcps.org/universitypark/
Location: 4315 Underwood Street, University Park, MD, USA
Phone: 301-985-1898
Facebook: facebook.com/UniversityParkElementary-PGCPS
Twitter: @UPSoaringEagles