Eagle News
March 20, 2024
From Dr. Davis
It has been a busy winter at University Park ES for students and families! Thank you to our staff and student presenters at last week's STEM Fair and a special thank you to parents for your support with STEM Fair. Thank you, to the members of the community who presented to classes at last week's Career Day!
We are asking parents of student in grades K-2 to join us in the UPES Media Center tomorrow, March 21, 2024, as we share information about the Science of Reading, the Really Great Reading program for students in K-2, and how you can help with literacy development at home! Please sign up using this link if you can attend. Light refreshments will be served! If you cannot attend tomorrow, please email Ms. Hamer at (alison.volski@pgcps.org) and she will share resources with you digitally!
Spring Break begins after school on Friday, March 22, 2024. Tuesday, April 2, 2024, is a half day Asynchronous Day of learning for students, which means students will be at home completing their assignments. Classroom teachers will send student work home for the Asynchronous Day no later than tomorrow. Parents should log on to Class Dojo for directions and expectations for the assignments. Students return to UPES on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
We will publish the next Eagle Newsletter on Wednesday, April 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)
○ Instagram (@PGCPS)
○ YouTube
PGCPS-TV
○ Verizon 38
○ Comcast 96
○ YouTube
○ Video-on-demand
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.
Student Device at Home
We are collecting data to determine which students have access to a device (IPAD, laptop, chromebook, etc) at home for a full school day in case PGCPS or UPES switches to virtual learning because of inclement weather or other events. Please complete the Google form using the link here. If you already completed the form, you do not need to do it again.
The link is below.
https://forms.gle/3eNEeRH2wNySVzt79
Student Device Take Home Option
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.
News From the Media Center
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.
In Honor of Women’s History Month
Check out SORA for Black History Month Reads
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.
DESTINY (destiny.pgcps.org)
PGCPS Virtual Library Brochure
PGCPS Virtual Library Brochure Spanish
PGCPS Virtual Library Brochure Spanish
Please check the Lost and Found area in the Cafeteria because it is overflowing! We will donate all items this Friday, March 22, 2024.
Interested in getting paid to teach an After-School Enrichment class at UPES? Let us know ASAP!
Every semester, we offer a bunch of different classes for all ages— from ceramics and STEM, to art, sports and more. The kids love them, and it’s a really great fundraiser for the PTA programs that support our UPES community.
TEACHING DETAILS:
• Teachers are paid $50 per class, for a total of $400 per session
• The UPES school day ends at 1:55 pm, so ASE classes begin at 2:10 pm and end at 3:10 pm
• Classes are held one day a week for 8 weeks
• The number of students in each class varies, but is typically around 8-10 kids
• Must be fully background checked by PGCPS (fingerprinted + SafeSchools Training)
NOT SURE WHAT TO TEACH? We can help you out!
We’ve had an incredibly wide variety of classes over the years, and we’re always up for new ideas!
Here’s a list of classes we’ve offered in the past:
• Art • Animation • Auditioning Workshop • Ballet • Board Game Olympics • Ceramics • Coding • Creative Writing • Cricket • Crochet & Fiber Arts • Design Lab • Drama Club • Eco Art • Escape Room • Fitness & Fun • Golf • Hip-Hop Dance • Karate • Lego STEM • Painting • Photography • Printmaking • Quidditch • Spanish Explorers • STEAMWorks • Storybook Science • Ukulele • Ultimate Frisbee • Yoga • Zumba
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
Upcoming Events
March 20-PTA Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
March 25-April 1-Spring Break
April 2-Half Day Asynchronous Day of learning-Students at home
April 3-School resumes in person
April 10-Eid al-Fitr* Schools and offices closed
April 12-Severe Weather/Tornado Combined Drill
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