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December 4th Family Newsletter
Dear Union Mill Families,
We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Break. We are looking to finish the calendar year strong over the next three weeks prior to Winter Break.
Yesterday, families should have received an eNotify message confirming their preference for the December 9th 3-hour early release. If there is a change, please complete the form included in the message.
Upcoming Dates
December 9th - 3-Hour Early Release
December 11th - Winter Band Concert @ Liberty Middle School
December 23rd - January 3rd - Winter Break
January 6th - Students return from Winter Break
ST Math Challenge
Union Mill Bears participated in the "ST Math Shoot for the Stars Challenge" in November. As a school, our goal was to double the number of puzzles solved on average and we did it! Congratulations to all mathematicians for their hard work.
Author Visit - Laura Murray
Yesterday our kindergarten and first graders were able to engage with Laura Murray, author of "The Gingerbread Man: New Friend on the Loose," "The Gingerbread Man: Paper Airplane" and various other graphic novels and picture books. Thank you to our PTA for the funding to support this experience for our kids.
Student Council Association (SCA): Stuffed Animal Collection
The UMES SCA is collecting new and gently used stuffed animals until December 20th. The stuffed animals will be donated to Great Big Cub Hugs. GBCH donates the stuffed animals to several organizations in the Hershey, Pennsylvania area, including the Teddy Bear Toss for Kids. Even though the name is Teddy Bear Toss, all types of stuffed animals (beanie baby size to size large and any type of animal) are accepted. Click here to see a photo of a previous Hockey Game Toss. There are collection boxes on the stage in the school lobby. Thank you for your donations!
Union Mill is Staying FIT! 🏃♀️💪
Join our Wellness Wednesday Challenge and get moving with us! Staying active is a great way to keep in shape, increase blood flow, and boost your heart rate.
We’d love to see you in action! Share a quick video clip of yourself doing an easy, no-equipment-needed exercise. Whether you’re inside or outside, just remember to wear your PE shoes and comfy clothing.
Your video might even be shared school-wide or with the community—get ready for your moment to shine! 🌟
Click here to upload your video and join the fun. Let’s stay active, Union Mill!
Discover the Rock Cycle in Action!
Mr. Williamson's 5th-grade science class is rocking it—literally! Students recently used Starbursts to model the different phases of the rock cycle, including weathering, erosion, melting, and cooling. This hands-on activity gave students an engaging way to explore how rocks transform over time while sparking rich discussions about the science behind the cycle.
Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.
Literacy Principal's Coffee
Thank you to all families who were able to attend last week's Principal's Coffee with a focus on literacy. Resources to support reading and writing at home can be found here.
Families can learn more about the FCPS curriculum for each grade level here.
Centreville HS Baseball Camp and Softball Camp
Centreville High School will be offering a baseball camp and softball camp this January and February. Additional information including dates and times can be found at the links below.
Baseball information can be found here.
Softball information can be found here
Order Your Yearbook Now!
 It's time to order your 2024-2025 yearbook! Families may place orders at www.buytheyearbook.com (with school ID# 725178) or use the QR code below. Yearbooks are $15.70 each.
Don't miss your chance to order this year’s yearbook! There will not be extras available at the end of the year.
The deadline to order is April 22, 2025.
Early Release Mondays
Families should have received communication earlier this week regarding our next early release on Monday, December 9th. If you need to update your preference, please complete the form included in the letter. This will allow us to plan for staffing and student safety for our next early release.
As a reminder, the Centreville Pyramid, which includes Union Mill Elementary, will have the following three-hour early release days. On these days, students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m.
- December 9
- February 24
- March 17
- April 28
- May 19
Additional information can be found on the FCPS Early Release Mondays webpage.
Union Mill PTA
Office Hours
Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:15 pm
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