Union Center Elementary
Learn...to Achieve!
March 12th, 2021
Parents and guardians, please check below for updates on all things happening at Union Center Elementary!
UCE Kindergarten Round-Up! (Recurring)
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!
UCE Construction Update #6!
Spring Break is Almost Here! (NEW)
If your family is planning to be absent due to vacation next week, please contact Mrs. Brocksmith at abrocksmith@union.k12.in.us
Just a reminder, students not in attendance next week for vacation are NOT eligible for virtual learning.
Report Cards Are Coming! (NEW)
It's hard to imagine, but after Spring Break we will be in the final quarter of the year!
Our third quarter Report Cards will be available via Harmony this Thursday, March 18th @ 4:00 PM!
Spring Pictures (NEW)
Spring Pictures this year will be on Tuesday, April 6th!
Virtual Families, your time for pictures that day will be from 9:30-10:00!
Interested families must register online first, so please click the link below for more info!
Fish Fry Friday Is Back! (NEW)
Next Friday, March 19th our Wheeler High School Boys and Girls GOLF teams will be having a Fish Fry Fundraiser!
For more information, please click HERE!
Deep River Reading! (Last Week)
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! (Last Week)
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'? (Last Week)
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!
March and April Lunch Menu (NEW)
1st Grade Students Get a Sneak Peak at Construction!
UCE Staff Member of the Week!
This week's UCE Staff Member of the Week is Mrs. Andriana Zupanoski!
Let's get to know Mrs. Zupanoski a little more :)
Tell Us a Little Bit About Yourself
I graduated from Wheeler High School in 2012! I have gone to Union Township Schools since Kindergarten. GO BEARCATS!
I completed my Bachelor’s Degree at PNW in Westville.
My husband (Chris) and I have been married since June 2018. We welcomed our son (Gabriel) in July 2020.
How long have you been a teacher?
This is my 5th year teaching. My first two years, I taught 1st grade at Henry P. Fieler Elementary School in Merrillville. This is my third year teaching 2nd grade at Union Center Elementary School.
What Made You Want to Be a Teacher?
I always LOVED school: from buying school supplies, to taking notes, and studying for the upcoming test. I love being a learner, and I get the chance to learn new things every day being in the classroom. Not to mention, I had great teachers growing up. I feel as if I have come full circle getting the chance to teach along with some of my previous teachers.
What is the Best Part About Being a Teacher?
What isn’t there to love about being a teacher? I enjoy seeing my students grow in the classroom and the years beyond! I truly enjoy getting to know each one of my students and having fun with them! I want to be their biggest cheerleader, and I feel as if they are mine too! They know exactly what to do to put a smile on my face.
What Do You Like to do When You Are Outside of the Classroom?
I love spending time with family. Being a new mom has definitely consumed a lot of my time lately, but I would not trade it for the world! Watching Gabriel grow and do new things has been such a blessing!
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!
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)
- UCE Baker- Interested applicants should email Principal Fuller at pfuller@union.k12.in.us
- JSE Lunch/Recess Aide- Interested applicants should email Principal Barnes at lbarnes@union.k12.in.us
- Bus Aide- 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
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
Virtual Learner Supply Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Monday, Mar 15, 2021, 04:00 PM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Report Cards Available
Report Cards For 3rd Quarter Will Be Available at 4:00 PM!
Thursday, Mar 18, 2021, 04:00 PM
Harmony
Virtual Learner Supply Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Friday, Mar 19, 2021, 04:00 PM
Wheeler High School, West 300 North, Valparaiso, IN, USA
SPRING BREAK!!
Enjoy the break!!
Monday, Mar 22, 2021, 08:30 AM
Hopefully Somewhere Warm
First Day Back To School!
First Day Back From Spring Break!
Monday, Mar 29, 2021, 01:30 PM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Virtual Learner Supply Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Monday, Mar 29, 2021, 04:00 PM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Virtual Learner Supply Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Thursday, Apr 1, 2021, 04:00 PM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
NO SCHOOL- SNOW MAKEUP DAY!
Friday, Apr 2, 2021, 08:30 AM
Union Center Elementary School, North 600 West, Valparaiso, IN, USA
Principal Fuller's Thoughts
What are you doing here?
Well, not specifically right 'here'....
Rather, why are you where you are?
Hmmm, let's try to simplify this...
We've talked before about redefining our purpose...having a clear vision for what you want in life in order to achieve your dreams.
Having a clear understanding about your 'talents' can be the difference between living a happy life filled with laughter, choice, and success, and a life where you feel stuck and restricted, left with few options.
We tell our children that, 'When you grow up, you can be anything you want to be!'
And that's true! Such an amazing concept to have a blank slate to draw your own picture.
However, what happens when you have been drawing for a long time, and you might not recognize your own artwork?
It's in those moments that we step back and ask ourselves: Why am I here? What are the talents that I am supposed to share with the world?
It's in those moments that we take an honest look at our 'talents' to see if we are truly sharing them with the world.
A father entrusted his eight 'talents' to his three sons.
The first son was given five 'talents', the second son was given two 'talents', and the third son was given one 'talent'.
After many years, the father asked his sons what they had done with the 'talent' they were given.
The first son said he gave away his five talents and had none left: So the father blessed him with ten talents.
The second son said he gave away his two talents and had none left: So the father blessed him with ten talents.
The third son told his father that he buried his talent in the ground because he was jealous of his brothers talent, and was afraid someone would take the one talent he had.
Everyone has their own unique 'talents' to share with the world.
We cannot hide our talents from people or bury them in the ground: We must share the talent we have been given, even if it means losing that talent altogether.
When you are stuck in that moment of not recognizing your own art, ask yourself: What talent do I have left to give?