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Thank you to all that were able to join us for our Math and Literacy Night last evening. We had about 150 families join us for important literacy information, math strategies, and examples of various literacy and math games that families can play together. Although we needed to hold the event virtually, some great information was shared and our hope is you have a better understanding of ways you can support your child(ren) in literacy and math. If you have any specific follow-up questions, please reach out to the classroom teacher. We also want to thank Kari Argabright, Julia Taylor, and Marissa Snider for all their work planning this important event.
As we wind down the year, we are cautiously moving forward with some end of year events. We have moved our kindergarten Celebrate America programs outside as well as our band concert. Our strings students performed an outdoor concert last Friday for students in grades 4-6 and small groups of band and strings students have been performing concerts for our kindergarten students.
We plan to hold our Field Days on Thursday, June 2, and Friday, June 3, and will need parent volunteers. Please see information below on how to sign up.
We are still juggling lunches for classes with outbreaks and as students return to school during Day 6 - 10. Please consider signing up to help with outdoor lunches or monitoring some students in classrooms during rainy days. Our PTA created this sign up link. Someone from the office staff will confirm the need for your help on specific days you have signed up. Thank you for your assistance.
You will continue to receive an email each day positive cases of COVID have been reported to the school. Please be sure to let the office know if your child tests positive. The test can be a home test or a PCR test. Please report the date your child started showing symptoms and the date of the positive test. We are hopeful the number of positive cases continues to diminish.
SOL group testing is completed and we are currently working through some retests for students that were close to passing their SOL. We will wrap up all testing this week. Our initial data shows a vast majority of our students have shown a lot of growth in reading and math this year! A huge shout out to our School Based Technology Specialist Jamie Clinch and Assistant Principal Jennie Skerker for a seamless and successful SOL testing window. Parents can look for preliminary scores in the progress report envelope on the last day of school.
We know all of our hearts are heavy with the news of the school shooting in Texas. It does remind us all how important our job is to keep everyone safe and why we complete various safety drills throughout the year.
We are committed to keeping our schools, and the students and employees within them, safe. FCPS and Union Mill staff work to make critical safety upgrades to our buildings, plan and practice day-to-day safety and security measures, and respond swiftly to any concern or possible event.
We also know that our students need care, support, and understanding as they learn about acts of gun violence. We have that support in place and encourage everyone to use it. Please reach out to our clinical staff (Counselors Wendy Kourajian and Jenna Schmidt; School Psychologist Paul Bordelon; and School Social Worker Dorothy Van Gorder) if you have concerns about your child or need additional support.
Thank you for your continued support,
The UMES Admin Team
Jennie, Kathy, and Ashleigh
#UMESBetter Together
Safety Tip Line
Students, staff, and community members are encouraged to report school safety issues, such as threats, unsafe or dangerous situations, illegal drug activity, theft, gang activity, existence of weapons, vandalism and concerns about student wellness. Tipline users may identify themselves or remain anonymous.
You may submit your anonymous tips using any of the following methods:
- Online- SchoolMessenger Quick Tip Form
- SMS Text- 888-777, keyword TIP FCPS
- Please remember to include the name of the affected school/facility when reporting. An automated banner will respond, allowing the person to text information.
- You may receive a response in return asking for additional information. The responder is NOT able to see your name or phone number.
- Phone- 571-423-2020
- Webpage
Field Day is Coming!
Field Days are coming soon! These special events could not happen without our amazing parent volunteers. Kindergarteners will participate on Thursday, June 2, from 9:30- 11:00 am. First and second graders will play from 1-3 pm on June 2. On Friday, June 3, the fifth and sixth graders will join us from 9:00- 11:00 am. The third and fourth graders will participate from 1:15- 3:00 pm on June 3. We need lots of volunteers to make this happen for your children. Volunteers are asked to check-in outside of the main front doors with their driver’s license. Volunteers will not enter the building and will walk around to the blacktop 15 minutes before the start of your assigned event. Please sign up to help through this Sign Up Genius form if you are available to supervise a station.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D4BAEAE29A4FF2-field
Even if you cannot be at the event you can still help by making about 50 water balloons for your child’s classroom. A volunteer will need to purchase the water balloons (not regular balloons) and fill them at your house. The water balloons need to be brought in a waterproof container that has your family name and the teacher’s name on it (masking tape with that information works well). They are less likely to pop if a little water is added to the container to cushion them. Just a note, the water balloons that fill a dozen or so at a time do not stay closed for very long. If you are using that type of water balloon you will have to make them right before your child’s field day as they do not last overnight. Filled water balloons can be brought to school as early as Wednesday, June 1, or as late as 15 minutes before your child’s field day starts. If you are bringing water balloons but not volunteering at field day, please leave the water balloons at the front door. We will have volunteers bring the balloons to the water balloon station. Once balloons have been used, the container will be emptied and brought outside at the front of the school. Please collect your container after the field day is over.
We are looking forward to great stations for all of the students! Please help your child by sending a water bottle with their name on it to school on the day of their event. Sunscreen and hats are recommended as well. If you have any questions, please contact Jenny Murray at jbmurray@fcps.edu or Jenna Welch at jwelch@fcps.edu. Thank you!
Pyramid Art Show Goes Virtual
The Centreville Pyramid Art Show will be virtual this year. Click on this link to see the amazing artist we have at Union Mill and the other schools in our pyramid. (The link will only work with an FCPS Google login so you may need to use your child's account to log in.)
Band and Strings for 2022-23
Current 3rd graders recently had the chance to learn about Strings and make first sounds on instruments! Students can learn to play violin, viola or cello in Strings in 4th grade. I hope that your child is excited and wants to join! Please follow this link for a bit more information and to SIGN UP: https://forms.gle/36yf2zWuVwUXEznd7 Please e-mail Mrs. Brown at msbrown3@fcps.edu with any questions.
Rising 5th and 6th graders are invited to join the Strings or Band program for the 2022-23 school year. Please follow this link for a bit more information and to SIGN UP. E-mail Mrs. Brown at msbrown3@fcps.edu with any Strings questions or Mrs. Seifried at LMSeifried@fcps.edu with any band questions.
Increase in COVID Cases in
Fairfax County
FCPS has seen a recent increase in COVID-19 cases and outbreaks as our county has transitioned to the medium community level. Our layered prevention strategies have served us well throughout this school year, and are fully supported by the U.S. Department of Education and Northern Virginia Health Departments. However, there are many things each of us can choose to do to help keep ourselves, our students, and our colleagues safe and healthy.
Get Vaccinated or Boosted - Vaccination is the best protection we have against severe illness. Everyone is encouraged to stay up to date with vaccinations and boosters. If you need more information about COVID-19 vaccinations or where to get the dose you need, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website.
Consider a Mask - Mask use is optional for everyone in FCPS schools. However, health experts agree that wearing a mask is an excellent practice for avoiding COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. If you are immunocompromised or at high risk of severe illness, or live or have social contact with someone in this situation, speak with your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask or take additional precautions.
Stay Home When Sick and Get Tested - This time of year sniffles and fatigue may be allergies, or they may be COVID-19. That is why it is always best practice to stay home if you are sick or having symptoms and get tested as soon as possible. Staying home when you are sick or having symptoms is the best thing you can do to help stop the spread of any virus, especially COVID-19.
5th and 6th Grade Families- Update Your Child’s Immunizations
If your child has received the Tdap or Meningococcal vaccine, please bring a copy of this record to our school office. Virginia Law requires that all students entering seventh grade receive a booster dose of the Tdap vaccine and the meningococcal vaccine prior to the beginning of school. For questions regarding immunization documentation, please contact Leah Milla/Registrar at 703-322-8500.
Call the Parent Support Line
Our Parent Support Line is a great resource for parents and caregivers of children. Get help from our staff with parenting advice, support, and tips to navigate emotional and relational parenting issues. Contact the Parent Support Line 703-324-7720 or by email Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Learn more about how we provide support to parents.
FCPS Cares
FCPS CARES is an opportunity for staff, parents, students, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others. If you would like to acknowledge a staff member who has gone above and beyond, please consider nominating them for FCPS Cares recognition. (Please use Chrome when opening the links above.)
Photos from the Week
Please click on the photo below to see more from the past week including some 2nd grade 3 Piggy Operas, music performances and trying out string instruments, our Bear Buddies Luncheon for mentors and mentees, science fun, and more.
Upcoming Dates
Friday, May 27 - SCA Spirit Day - Wear Tropical/Beach Clothes - no bathing suits
Wednesday, June 1 - Workout Wednesday - Wear Workout Clothes
Thursday, June 2 - Robinson Secondary School Graduation - 9:30 - Eagle Bank Arena
Thursday, June 2 - Field Day - K -2
Friday, June 3 - Field Day - 3 - 6
Monday, June 6 - Centreville Grad Walk - 2:00 PM - Wildcat Spirit Day
Tuesday, June 7 - Centreville High School Graduation - 9:30 - Eagle Bank Arena
Wednesday, June 8 - Workout Wednesday - Wear Workout Clothes
Thursday, June 9 - 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony - 9:15 AM
Friday, June 10 - Last Day of School - Dismissal at 1:30 PM
#UMESBetterTogether
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