January 24 Family Newsletter
It was exciting to see so many families attend Family Fitness for a Cause last week. We had record attendance and record smiles. Thank you to all who participated! Some pictures of Family Fitness along with UMES students can be found below.
Tomorrow marks the end of the second quarter. It is hard to believe and exciting to reflect on the first half of the year. The UMES Student Council is hosting a Spirit Day tomorrow for White Out / Black Out Day! Students may wear all black or white!
As a reminder, tomorrow is a two hour early release. Students will be dismissed at 1:30 pm. Our office will be closing at 2:00 pm as our office staff will be engaged in professional learning. Our office hours will resume at 8:00 am on Thursday, January 26th.
Sincerely,
Ashleigh, Jennie and Scott
The UMES Admin Team
#UMESBetterTogether
Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, January 25th - 2 Hour Early Release
- SCA Spirit Day
Thursday, January 26th - (no school for students) Staff Development
Friday, January 27th - (no school for students) Staff Development
- UMES Blood Drive
Friday, February 3rd - UMES Sub Breakfast
- PTA Online auction begins
Friday, February 10th - Principal Coffee with Family Support Focus
- PTA Bingo Night
Thursday, February 16th - Kids Heart Challenge
Kids Heart Challenge
We are so excited that The Kids Heart Challenge will be an in-person celebration this year! Mark your calendars for the main event on Thursday, February 16. Stations will be open from 6:00-7:30 pm. For the event there will be activities in the cafeteria, gym, and lobby. Families will move from place to place at their own pace. There is no fee or donation needed to participate.
To get our students excited and informed about the event, we will have KHC Kick-Off assemblies during school hours on February 2. Click here to see the KHC Kick-Off flier
This year we have decided to offer ALL of the possible prizes from the American Heart Association to students who gather online donations. That means students can earn the Heart Hero charms, as well as the jump rope, t-shirt, playground ball, socks, and watch. Prizes will be delivered to students at the end of February. You can download the Kids Heart Challenge app or visit www.heart.org/KHC to register. We have a goal of getting 500 students registered from Union Mill! Our site is open now and will close on February 17.
Join the Heart Heroes and “Be The Torch”!
Please contact Jenny Murray at jbmurray@fcps.edu, if you have any questions.
Lost and Found
The SCA board has taken on the task of the Lost and Found. They are going to be making weekly videos to highlight items that have ended up in the lost and found. Check out this video from our SCA to see some of the items located in the lost and found. Our lost in found is located inside of the cafeteria.
Nonprofit Community Flier Distribution
This semester’s nonprofit Community Flier Distribution will take place on Friday, February 10th. To submit a flier for approval, it must be received in the office by Wednesday, February 1st and include the following disclaimer – “This event [or activity] is sponsored by [name of the organization] and is operated independently of the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, and Union Mill Elementary School.”
Once the flier is approved, please deliver 35 sets of 30 copies each (plus a few extras for front office staff) by no later than NOON on Thursday, February 9th. Fliers will go home with students on Friday, February 10th.
Substitute Breakfast
We will be hosting our next substitute teacher breakfast on Friday, February 3rd. Current substitute teachers along with anyone considering substitute teaching is encouraged to attend. During this time, substitutes will have the opportunity to connect with school staff, fellow substitutes and learn how to support students with technology. If you are interested in joining, please reach out to Traci Turkekul at tmturkekul@fcps.edu or 703-322-8500.
Principal Coffee
Our next parent coffee will be on Friday, February 10th at 9:15 in the cafeteria, hosted by our school counselors, Mrs. Kourajian and Mrs. Schmidt, and our special education teacher, Mrs. Gross. We will be offering support to families navigating the social - emotional and academic needs of our students in the form of a monthly parent group. Our time will be spent discussing research-based strategies for success while sharing your own tips and tricks. We envision this group to be discussion and activity based in order for us to learn strategies from one another. Please complete this survey to help us identify topics we will cover.
Union Mill PTA
Three Ways to Give Back to UMES and Have a Ton of Fun Doing It!
The online auction (February 3-11), the Reading Is Fun-draiser (March 1-10), and the Color Run (April 29) all are amazing opportunities to donate goods, services, money, and time while having a fun family experience, fostering educational development, or scoring a new favorite treasure. Donations of goods—anything from season tickets, vacation rentals, and donations of services such as powerwashing or tax help or a themed basket can be used for the auction. Kid-friendly items such as Pokemon cards, Lego sets, or gift cards to local ice cream shops or fun places can be used as prizes for the Reading Is Fun-draiser.
Cash donations can be used to fund the Color Run, and even more gift cards or small goods—like water bottles or gift cards to local businesses focused on sports, health, and wellness—can be used as raffle prizes.
The Reading Is Fun-draiser will also provide an opportunity for friends and family from all over the country, as well as neighbors and community members, to support your UMES student by sponsoring either by the number of minutes read or by a flat donation.
In exchange, these events allow you to find some unique new experiences and gifts for you and your family, while coming together as a community to have fun, promote physical and mental health and wellness, and enhance the literacy skills of students of all ages. Thank you to those of you who have already donated in some form, and we are looking forward to announcing your big win, seeing what books are hot by grade level, and cheering you on as you near the finish line.
Online Auction
We will be hosting an Online Auction in early February. Please consider donating items, skills, or services! In the past, popular donated items included: a Family Movie Night basket filled with snacks, a blanket, and a gift card to a local theater; a family photo package by a local photographer; and a 1-day rental of a Tesla Model X. All proceeds will go to the UMES PTA to help us fund the Spring portion of the approved budget. Email waysandmeans@unionmillpta.org to donate an item/service or download our customizable letter to distribute to your friends in the business community!
Opens Friday, February 3 at 5pm
Closes Saturday, February 11 at 10pm
PTA Color Run Save the Date
Save the date for the PTA Color Run on Saturday, April 29th. Additional information will be shared closer to the date.
#UMESBetterTogether
Office Hours
Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:15 pm
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