Union Center Elementary
Learn...to Achieve!
September 24, 2020
Parents and guardians, please check below for updates on all things happening at Union Center Elementary!
Free Tutoring Opportunities (NEW INFORMATION)
The Youth Services Coordinator for the Porter County Public Library is offering free online tutoring from 2:00-11:00 PM!
For more information regarding this free service, please click HERE.
Promise Porter County for Kindergarten and 1st Grade Students (New Information)
Greetings, Parents!
I am the coordinator of Promise Porter County, an agency that promotes a college-going expectation among children and that helps fund college savings accounts for them. We are sponsoring a coloring contest for kindergarten and first grade students in Porter County. The contest will run till October 31st.
One child in every class in the entire county will receive a $25.00 deposit into their college savings account from us. If you haven't yet set up a college savings account, we will help you do it, with no need to make an immediate deposit.
Here's what to do:
1. Print off the attached page and let your child color a picture of what he or she would like to do for a job when they grow up.
2. Return it to me: Either scan, email, or mail to the address below.
3. We will let you know if your child will receive the deposit by early November.
Feel free to contact me with any questions you have.
Sincerely,
Susie Hord
Promise Porter County Coordinator
VALPARAISO FAMILY YMCA
1201 Cumberland Crossing Drive, Valparaiso IN 46383
(P) 219 462 4185 ext 226 (F) 219 477 4720
(E) promiseportercounty529@gmail.com
(W) www.promiseportercounty.org
Trunk or Treat Presented by WHS Girls Basketball (NEW INFORMATION)
Informational Video From the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Picture Day Retake Day and Virtual Learners (UPDATED)
Our Picture Retake Day and Virtual Learner Picture Day will be Tuesday, November 3rd.
Virtual Learners, more information in terms of a schedule and how to purchase pictures online will be given in the coming weeks :)
If you have any questions about pictures, please call Mrs. Owens at 219-759-2544
NWEA Testing Has Begun (UPDATED)
This week at Union Center we began the NWEA Testing for the first time ever...and it went really well!
Like most things right now, there were some kinks that we worked through, but our in-person and virtual learners were both able to access and take the ELA and Math tests :)
The data from these tests will be used by myself and the classroom teachers to help create classroom and individual student goals as to where we need to focus our teaching.
Starting Tuesday, September 29th, our 2nd, 1st, and Kindergarten students will begin NWEA Testing!
If you have any questions regarding our new NWEA assessment, please contact Mr. Fuller :)
80's Day at UCE! (UPCOMING)
Hawaiian Day was such a success, that on Friday, October 2nd, Union Center will have another theme day...80's Day!!
Students are encouraged to dress in their best 80's attire and bring $1 to purchase a pair of 80's Sunglasses: All of the proceeds will go to the Make-a-Wish Foundation!
So start planning now, folks!!
Library and Specials Re-Opening (UPDATED)
Social Emotional Learning will be moving to it's own classroom this week, and our goal is to have Computer Class back in their room soon!
If you have any questions about the re-opening of the library or any Specials Classes, please feel free to contact Mr. Fuller :)
UCE Parent Teacher Conferences (UPCOMING)
Be on the lookout in your email for a message from your child's teacher regarding how to sign-up for a VIRTUAL time-slot on October 12th!
Building Construction (UPDATED INFORMATION)
Ground breaking for the start of construction will be on Monday, October 5th! Construction will formally begin that week!
The daily procedures and routines of our students and staff will remain largely the same. Most importantly, our students and staff will be 100% safe, as there will be no construction happening inside our building.
If you have any questions about building construction, please contact Mr. Fuller :)
UCE Staff of the Week!
Let's get to know Mrs. Parks a little more :)
Tell Us a Little Bit About Yourself
My husband and I have lived in Union Township for over 25 years. Our daughters, Lanay and Jordynn, both graduated from Wheeler. Lanay is a Purdue North Central graduate, like her parents, with a biology degree and Jordynn graduated from Valparaiso University with an accounting degree. We recently became grandparents for the first time!
How long have you been a teacher?
This is my 18th year teaching! I taught Kindergarten my first two years, 5th grade for ten years and this is my sixth year in 3rd grade.
What Do You Like to do When You Are Outside of the Classroom?
When I am outside of the classroom, I enjoy being with my family. I love playing with my granddaughter and twin three year old nieces. I love to take walks with my husband, sit at the beach, read and watch our favorite shows and movies. Right now, I'll probably have Hocus Pocus on most of the time!
Do You Have a Favorite Quote, Book, Movie....?
"Breathe in, breathe out, move on." by Jimmy Buffet. I like this quote, especially now with things in this world being pretty hectic and crazy. We can't change everything that is happening in the world, so just stop, take a deep breath, and move on to things that you can control in your life to make you and the people you love happy!
Anything Else We Should Know About
I would like people to know and understand how blessed they are to be involved in this school corporation. Not only do I know as a teacher, but also as a mom of two daughters that attended Wheeler from Kindergarten through their Senior years.
We have the best teachers and staff around. My oldest daughter went to Simatovich and my youngest went to Union Center. I can truly say that both elementary schools, the middle school and the high school have top notch educators that care very much about their students. This staff works so hard, every day and on their own time, to be sure that they are giving the best that they can to their students. I am so proud to be a part of this as a teacher and that my own daughters received the best education around!
Special Birthday Treats (RECURRING)
Since we cannot bring in shared, outside food into the building, our UCE Kitchen has decided to provide a little birthday surprise to our kiddos!
If you are interested in having milk and cookies delivered to your child for their birthday, please contact Mrs. Kim Camplan, our Kitchen Manager, for prices and details at kcamplan@union.k12.in.us
Job Opportunities (RECURRING)
- Bus Aide- Interested applicants should email Superintendent John Hunter at jhunter@union.k12.in.us
- UTSC Groundskeeper- Interested applicants should email Superintendent John Hunter at jhunter@union.k12.in.us
- UTSC Kitchen- Interested applicants should email Superintendent John Hunter at jhunter@union.k12.in.us
- UTSC Technology- Interested applicants should email Superintendent John Hunter at jhunter@union.k12.in.us
- Special Education Classroom Aide at UCE (9:00-3:30)- Interested applicants should email Chrissy Giraud at cgiraud@pces.k12.in.us
COVID-19 Student Guidance (Recurring)
- The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has released some wonderful tips to parents about how to begin having the conversation with your child regarding wearing a mask. Please click HERE for more information.
- For a look at the difference between Quarantine and Isolation, please take a look at the attachment HERE.
A Day in the Life at Union Center!!
Ms. Allen's 5th Grade Students Practice Safe Social Distancing While Waiting to Get Their Picture Taken!
4th Grade Students in Mr. Smith's Gym Class Play Pirate Ship!
The Fencing is in Place for The Start of Construction on October 5th!
Quynn Readies Her Smile For Picture Day in Mrs. Klimczak's Class!
Mrs. Black's Social Emotional Class is Back in the Classroom!
Mrs. Klimczak Teaches Math Virtually to Ms. Allen's Students!
Click Here to Register for the KidStop Program
Virtual Learners Supply Pick-Up
Friday, Sep 25, 2020, 04:00 PM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
VIRTUAL LEARNERS SUPPLY PICK-UP
Monday, Sep 28, 2020, 04:00 PM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Second Body Safety Letter Goes Home
Monday, Sep 28, 2020, 09:00 AM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
2nd, 1st, and KG NWEA Testing
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2020, 09:00 AM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
PTO Meeting at UT Fire Station (Across Street From Union Center)
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2020, 04:30 PM
Union Township Fire Station 2, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Special School Board Meeting (UCE Building Project)
Wednesday, Sep 30, 2020, 07:00 PM
Union Township Middle School, West 300 North, Valparaiso, IN, USA
80's Day
Students can purchase a pair of 80's Sunglasses for $1: All the proceeds go to the Make-a-Wish Foundation!
Friday, Oct 2, 2020, 09:00 AM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
VIRTUAL LEARNERS SUPPLY PICK-UP
Friday, Oct 2, 2020, 04:00 PM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Principal Fuller's Thoughts
As I sit back and look at the first 32 days of school, I can't help but think of how fortunate and blessed we have been to be back in school with our kids, doing so with our students well-being at the forefront of everything we do!
These first 32 days have been unlike any educators have seen previous, and it seems like every day there is a new curveball that is thrown in to the mix.
Even with all the new challenges that EVERYONE is facing, every day each one of us is presented with a choice:
Do we attack the day or do we want the day to attack us?
If you wanted to, you could simplify this choice into an equation: E + P = O
The 'E' stands for the EVENTS in our life, the 'P' stands for our PERCEPTION of those events, and the 'O' is the OUTCOME.
We can't stop the EVENTS in our life from happening, both good and bad. Things will happen TO US that we have no control over, but it is our PERCEPTION of those events that will determine our OUTCOME. If we perceive the smallest event has negative, the outcome of that event will most likely be...well, negative.
If we choose to attack the day with positive energy, regardless of the events that get thrown our way, we can turn events that are outside of our control into positive energy.
We all experience potholes and roadblocks along our journey, but it is how we respond to those events that determines our happiness.
I have loved this little parable ever since I first heard it:
A man goes to the local village to visit a wise man. He says to the wise man, "I feel like there are two dogs inside me. One dog is the positive, loving, kind, and gentle dog, and the other is this angry, mean-spirited, and negative dog, and they fight all the time. I don't know which is going to win."
The wise man thinks for a moment and he says, "I know which is going to win. The one you feed the most."
Every day we have a choice to feed either dog, and whichever dog we feed will be the dog that resides within. Let's attack each day and remember to always feed the positive dog :)