Union Canal Connection
January 2021
From The Principals Desk
The start of 2021 will hopefully be as smooth as the school year start of 20-21 was in August. I believe that if we continue with our current mitigation efforts, the spread of Covid-19 within our school will be minimal. We cannot control the spread of the disease in the community, so we are unsure on how this will impact our case counts moving forward. The students and staff have been handling this challenge well and we hope that school can remain in session for the remainder of the 20-21 calendar year.
Please note that our district calendar does have January 18 listed as a school make up day for our snow closure on December 15. Please pay attention to calendar updates and information when this becomes formalized.
Student technology devices will be rolled out to all students who’s guardians noted via school district survey that they do not have a technological device available to them to use at home. As noted in Dr. Domencic’s latest Superintendent’s Message, Cornwall-Lebanon School District “is not looking to make any sudden shifts in learning options, but if we would need to make a shift quickly, it would be important for our elementary students to have a laptop to take and use at home.” Examples of when such a move to virtual learning might occur include when additional time is needed for enhanced deep cleaning of a building; as a replacement for an in-person snow make-up day; or, in the event of a state ordered closure. We want to ensure that our elementary students are prepared to access their classes online in case of such a move to a virtual learning day in order to avoid interruption to their education. Students who already have access to home/personal devices may use those devices to access their educational content.
Guardians were asked to complete a district survey if your student does NOT have access to a device at home, by Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. Guardians who completed the survey, their student will be receiving a device handed out to them in their classrooms. Students will be able to take home and use this device given to them by CLSD.
As of now PDE is still planning on having PSSA assessments to be given in grades 3-8. Please be reminded that PSSA testing is scheduled to take place on the below dates:
Spring 2021 PSSA Testing Schedule
English Language Arts Grades 3-5: April 19-23
Mathematics Grades 3-5: April 26-30
Science Grade 4: May 3-7
All students will be completing these assessments in class via computer.
Continuing with every child "Building A Hero" and building our minds as well as our hearts, during this month we are still collecting Soda Tabs. These tabs will be donated to the Hershey Ronald McDonald House. Select the link: Hershey RMC Why Soda Tabs? to see how this helps the Ronald McDonald House. More information on this will be passed along to our students via the morning announcements GM!UC throughout the month.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our students. At anytime if there is anything that we can do for you please do not hesitate to contact us at school.
Yours In Education,
Bernard J. McGinty III
Principal
Email: bmcginty@clsd.k12.pa.us
Website: https://www.clsd.k12.pa.us/Domain/13
Location: 400 Narrows Drive, Lebanon, PA 17046, USA
Phone: 717-270-7227
Twitter: @Union_Canal_El
January Calendar of Events
Fun Activities Held in December at Union Canal
Crazy Sweater Day
News From the District Office
News from the District Office ...
Did you know?
· Information about any School Closings or Delays will be posted to the District Home page: www.clsd.k12.pa.us and also to the Cornwall-Lebanon School District Facebook page and Twitter (@CLSD_Schools). Be sure to update your weather emergency contact information under the Skylert tab on the parent portal in order to receive calls and emails.
· CLSD Calendar of Events: Please check the District website calendar for updates to events listed in the 2020-2021 CLSD Calendar. Many activities listed in the calendar will have an online option for remote viewing. The link will be posted on the same date on the website calendar: www.clsd.k12.pa.us.
January 2021 Calendar Notes (January is School Directors Recognition Month):
· Friday, Jan. 1: No School – Last Day of Winter Vacation
· Monday, Jan. 4: CLSD Board of School Directors Public Work Session, 5:30 p.m.; Check website for info and a link to view or participate online
· Sunday, Jan. 10: CCHS Winter Band Pops Concert, 2 PM; check website calendar for link to virtual concert
· Monday, Jan. 11: CLSD Board of School Directors regular meeting, 5:30 p.m.; Check website for info and a link to view or participate online
· Wednesday, Jan. 13: CLSD Custodians & Maintenance Workers Recognition Day
· Monday, Jan. 18: School is In Session. This is the weather make-up day for the School Closure on Dec. 17, 2020
· Friday, Jan. 22: End of the 2nd Marking Period/1st Semester
· Monday, Jan. 25: No School for Students (Professional Development Day)
Monthly Character Traits
Friendship
Each month Union Canal recognizes a student from each class room who best represents the chosen character trait for that given month. The character traits are "Respect, Kindness/Courtesy, Self-Discipline, Friendship, Perseverance, Acceptance, Responsibility, Honesty and Caring". The student is given a certificate and a t-shirt during a special assembly to note the importance of displaying this character trait. The students below are the students chosen by their teachers for displaying "Friendship" during the month of December. The students were recognized during a virtual meeting and they each received a certificate and stickers. The link to the Virtual Assembly can be viewed HERE. They will also receive a t-shirt. (Adilyn McLaughlin and Azariah Rhette were not present at the time of the photo below.)
Mrs. Fiebig AMK, Jamison Davis
Mrs. Fiebig PM K, Adilyn McLaughlin
Mrs. Eberly AM K, Brayden Davis
Mrs. Raub, Gr. 1, Rosabeth Padilla Mendez
Mrs. Derr, Gr. 1, Kayden Brennan
Mrs. Schmidt, Gr. 1, Jayco Hurtado
Mr. Menser, Gr. 2, Azariah Rhette
Mrs. Wenzke, Gr. 2, Paisley Bachman
Miss Haag, Gr. 2, Jiancarlos Hurtado
Mrs. Martinez, Gr. 3, Lilyanna Sheaffer
Miss Schantz, Gr. 3, Natalie Raihl
Mrs. Waranavage, Gr. 3, Liam Alvarez
Mr. Litzenberg, Gr. 4, Madison Arnold
Mrs. Wagner, Gr. 4, Stephanie Pena Funez
Mrs. Rest, Gr. 4, Elienai Rivera
Mrs. Marsh, Gr. 4, Kailyn Kichman
Mrs. Riegel, Gr. 5, JacK Leibich
Mrs. Pedrick, Gr. 5, Olivia Ketner
Mrs. Stellar, Gr. 5, Lilyan Stuaffer
Mrs. Sheets, Gr. 4, Landon Kline
Mrs. Campbell, Gr. 2, Briana Suarez
Mrs. Cyphers, Gr. 3, Xavier Donmoyer
Specials Teachers, Gr. 5, Aliezer Padilla Mendez
Mrs. Donnachie, Gr. 3, Adina Lentz
Mrs. Griffith, Gr. 4, Johnny Burshnick