Union Center Elementary
Learn...to Achieve!
February 26th, 2021
Parents and guardians, please check below for updates on all things happening at Union Center Elementary!
UCE Kindergarten Round-Up!
If you know of anyone who has a child that will be 5 before August 1st and lives in Union Township, our link to Kindergarten Round-Up is now OPEN!
Click HERE to visit our Kindergarten Round-Up page!
Deep River Reading!
UCE and Deep River Waterpark will be working together again to get our kiddos to READ!
Reading Sheets and Logs will be due on Friday, April 16th!
The classroom with the most complete Reading Logs will receive a rather 'SWEET' prize :)
If your child needs an extra reading log, please click HERE.
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Ramirez at kramirez@union.k12.in.us
Spring Book Fair at UCE!
The Book Fair will be back at Union Center the week of April 5th through April 9th!
Mrs. Ramirez is working to ensure that we can accommodate a safe, and socially distant Book Fair. In addition, we will be pushing parents to use the E-Wallet feature associated through Scholastic!
More information will be coming home soon, but mark the first week of April on your calendar!
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Ramirez at kramirez@union.k12.in.us
Do You Want Your Yard 'Egged'?
Our UCE PTO would like to come egg your yard.... :)
If you would like to have an egg-stra special surprise for the upcoming holiday, please click HERE for more information!
WHS Softball Fish Fry...AGAIN!
The Wheeler High School Softball Team would like to thank everyone who came out to purchase a meal last Friday...
...in fact, it worked so well, they are doing it again!
Next Friday, March 5th will be ANOTHER Fish Fry to support WHS Softball!
Please click HERE for more information!
Former UCE Bearcats in the News!
The Bearcat Swimming and Diving Team capped off an amazing season with a solid 5th place finish in the team standings at the Sectional Championships on Saturday.
The 200 Freestyle Relay team consisting of Tyler Schmidt, Jayden Trinidad, Vinny Ordonez and Drew Stoner placed 3rd, and the same quartet of boys placed 4th in the 200 Medley Relay, while the 400 Freestyle Relay team consisting of Jayden, Steven Jarvis, Vinny and Tyler Kimberlin placed 5th.
Other notable individual performances include Tyler Schmidt placing 8th in the 100 Freestyle, and 9th in the 50 freestyle, Drew Stoner placing 10th in both the 100 Butterfly and 200 Individual Medley, Anthony Salas placing 10th in the 100 Breaststroke, Vinny Ordonez placing 11th in the 100 Freestyle, Steven Jarvis placing 11th in the 500 Freestyle, Jayden Trinidad and Tyler Kimberlin placing 13th and 14th in the 100 Backstroke, plus Tyler had a 16th place finish in the 100 Butterfly.
This strong showing at Sectionals capped off a season in which the boys posted a 9-3 dual meet record, and won their 7th consecutive Greater South Shore Conference Championship!
#bearcatpride
Wheeler Winter Baseball Camp! (Recurring)
Believe it or not, baseball season is coming soon!
If you are interested in the 2021 Wheeler Winter Baseball Camp, please click HERE for more information!
Dr. Seuss Week at UCE! (Recurring)
The first full week of March, Union Center will be celebrating Dr. Seuss Week!
Please click HERE for more information!
IREAD-3 Date Set for 3rd Grade Students! (Recurring)
The IREAD-3 State Assessment is set for Tuesday, March 9th for all 3rd Grade Students!
All 3rd grade students in Indiana are required to take this test: For our Virtual Learners, more information will be sent by Principal Fuller in the coming weeks, as the assessment will need to be done in the UCE Building!
For more information on the IREAD-3 Assessment, please click HERE.
Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Football, Cheerleading...OH MY! (Recurring)
(UPDATED) If your child is interested in participating in Wheeler Little League, please click HERE for more information!
If your child is interested in participating in Union Township Softball, please click HERE for more information!
If your child is interested in participating in Union Township Soccer, registration is happening NOW! Please click HERE to register your child!
(UPDATED) If your child is interested in participating in Wheeler Football or Cheer, please click HERE for more information!
Proper Winter Attire at Recess (UPDATED)
(UPDATED) Per the UTSC Handbook, students will NOT be going outside when the temperature is below 10 degrees, which includes the wind chill. For more information, please visit the Elementary Handbook HERE.
Just a friendly reminder that students must have the proper attire in order to go outside for recess: This can include snow pants, boots, gloves, hat, etc., depending on the age of the child.
Since students will still need to rotate areas while outside, it's imperative that students be prepared with the proper attire in order to stay warm and safe while outside :)
Protocols and Guidelines (RECURRING)
Just a reminder, the safety guidelines and protocols that have been in place at UCE since August will remain as we return to school in 2021! This means that students will still:
- Wear facemasks throughout the day
- Be seated in their pods while at lunch
- Participate in recess with only the students in their classroom
- Have assigned seats when riding the bus
- Be required to hand sanitize and/or wash their hands throughout the day
Free Tutoring Opportunities (Recurring)
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.
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 Kitchen- Interested applicants should email Superintendent John Hunter at jhunter@union.k12.in.us
- Substitute Teachers- Interested applicants should email Principal Fuller at pfuller@union.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.
Click Here to Register for the KidStop Program
Virtual Learner Supply Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Friday, Feb 26, 2021, 04:00 PM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Virtual Learner Supply Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Monday, Mar 1, 2021, 04:00 PM
Wheeler High School, West 300 North, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Virtual Learner Supply Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Friday, Mar 5, 2021, 04:00 PM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Virtual Learner Supply Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Monday, Mar 8, 2021, 04:00 PM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
IREAD-3 Assessment
3rd Grade Students will be taking the IREAD-3 State Assessment!
For more information, please click HERE!
Tuesday, Mar 9, 2021, 09:00 AM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
UTSC School Board Meeting
School Board Meeting @ 7:00 PM @ UCE!
Wednesday, Mar 10, 2021, 07:00 PM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Virtual Learner Supply Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Glass vestibule at UCE will be open from 4:00-6:00 PM for Virtual Learners!
Friday, Mar 12, 2021, 04:00 PM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Principal Fuller's Thoughts
It's difficult to detach sometimes.
In the world today, there are many outside distractions that prevent us from staying focused on what truly matters.
Whether it is our job(s), social media, internal and external expectations, etc., detaching can be extremely difficult.
And while it is difficult for adults, it's really is our kids that can be most effected.
My wife and I have long conversations about Benjamin and making sure we are doing everything we can to put him on the path to success...and I'm not talking about 'success' as a job or monetarily, but a success in being a kind, positive member of society.
Are we teaching him right v. wrong, are we talking enough with him, does he get too much screen time with Grandma and Grandpa...? :)
I ran across this article that hit on just that:
This article really spoke to me.
While we think we are spending 'quality' time with our children just by being present, it might not be what they really need.
They say that showing up is 90% of the battle, but I would like to add a little extra to that...
Showing up and being PRESENT is 90% of the battle.
Anyone can show up: We need to be engaged and attentive for our children.
With our lives as busy and hectic as ever, my wife and I started scheduling Fuller Family Fun each night.
It doesn't need to be a lot...but I want Benjamin to know that he has my absolute attention during that time.
No phones, no TV, no checking email...none of it.
Physical presence can be good, but your PSYCHOLOGICAL presence is more important.
Be present in the moment.
Develop your own Fuller Family Fun...even if it's as small as 30 minutes...take that 30 minutes and let your kids know that there is nothing more important than them during that time.
I imagine it very well may be the best part of your entire day :)