Eagle News
December 20, 2023
From Dr. Davis
Thank you to everyone for your support during the first half of the year. We wish everyone a wonderful break filled with good food and even better company. We look forward to everyone's return on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Thank you to all community members who attended last week's Winter Concert! It was a lovely event! Thank you to Mr. Campbell and Ms. Mclean for their hard work and dedication to put on such an amazing event. We're looking forward to the Spring Concert!
Thank you to the Teacher Appreciation Committee for continuing the Holiday Cookie Exchange! The cookies were delicious. We'd also like to thank them for yesterday's Hot Chocolate Bar. The hot chocolate was exactly what we needed to keep us warm.
There's still time to order your Spiritwear by this Friday, December 22, 2023. All families who wish to purchase Spiritwear items, should click this LINK to access the site. Orders will go into production and shipped after the order deadline.
We will publish the next Eagle Newsletter Wednesday, January 17, 2024. 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.
OVERDUE LIBRARY BOOKS
Remember your options for returning overdue books.
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.
SORA
Interested in finding books for children to read, checkout digital content available on SORA. A collection of ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines, SORA is an excellent source of digital content. During media class, students explored titles in SORA. Students can access SORA either through DESTINY (destiny.pgcps.org) under EBOOKS or CLEVER under library media. Although digital, students are still required to check out the content.
In CLEVER under Library Media, look for
New titles are routinely added to SORA. The SORA database is available to the entire school district and requires students to use their PGCPS username and password. There are a number of popular titles covering a variety of subjects.
Please checkout these wonderful resources.
DESTINY (destiny.pgcps.org)
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."
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
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 aclark@pgcps.org.
The days are cold and short but spring will be here before you know it. Mark your calendars for the 2024 Azalea Classic run/walk--the PTA's spring fundraiser--on May 4, 2024, and stay tuned for more details on how you can help. Registration is already open at www.AzaleaClassic.com and makes a great stocking stuffer!
Los días son fríos y cortos, pero la primavera estará aquí antes de que te des cuenta. Marca en tu calendario la carrera/caminata Azalea Classic 2024, la recaudación de fondos de primavera de la PTA, el 4 de mayo de 2024, y mantente atento a más detalles sobre cómo puedes ayudar. ¡Las inscripciones ya están abiertas en www.AzaleaClassic.com y son un excelente regalo para estas fiestas!
From the Helping Hands Committee: Thank you to all who donated warm winter coats! Through donations and PTA funds, we were able to provide 42 students with warm coats, gloves and hats!
Del Comité de Manos Solidarias: ¡Gracias a todos los que donaron abrigos de invierno cálidos! Con las donaciones y los fondos de la PTA, pudimos proporcionar abrigos, guantes y gorros cálidos a 42 estudiantes.
Upcoming Events
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