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June 10 Family Newsletter
Dear Families,
There has been lots to celebrate this week at Union Mill. This afternoon we welcomed the class of 2026 from Centreville, Robinson and surrounding schools. Seeing the connections many former students have with staff is inspiring.
Thank you to all the families who came in for Career Day and our amazing volunteers at last week's Field Day. We had over 100 volunteers to make this a successful event!
This week Union Mill and the PTA have teamed up to celebrate our students for our first Student Appreciation Week. Earlier this week, students received a Union Mill water bottle sticker and today each child received a cookie. Thank you to the PTA for your support in this fun give back event.
Last evening over 180 4th, 5th and 6th graders performed at our stings concert at Liberty Middle School and this evening our band students will be performing at Union Mill.
As a reminder, the last day for students is Wednesday, June 17th and it is a 2-hour early release. We are finalizing dates for beginning of the year events including Open House and Back to School Night and will share official save the dates by June 17th.
Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, June 10th - Band Concert @ UMES (5:30pm)
Thursday, June 11th - CVHS Graduation & Robinson Secondary Graduation
Tuesday, June 16th - 6th Grade Promotion
Wednesday, June 17th - Last Day of School (2 hour early release)
See the complete school year calendar
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Last Day of School (Early Dismissal)
The last day of the school year is Wednesday, June 17, and students will be dismissed at 1:30 p.m.
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Big Dreams Begin Here: Career Day 2026
What a fantastic way to kick off the week at Union Mill with our annual Career Day! We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the families and community members who took time to share their careers, experiences, and passions with our students.
Career Day is always a highlight because it sparks curiosity, inspires dreams, and helps our young learners begin to envision the many possibilities that lie ahead. Watching students engage with presenters, ask thoughtful questions, and explore future career pathways is truly exciting.
We are grateful for the partnership and support of our Union Mill community. Thank you for helping inspire our future leaders—we already look forward to another amazing Career Day next year!
Senior Walk Tradition
Union Mill Elementary School was recently filled with smiles, cheers, and high-fives as we welcomed back some very special guests: the graduating Class of 2026! These former Bears, clad in their high school caps and gowns, participated in tradition by returning to walk the halls where they first started their educational journey.
Led by Millie the Bear, the seniors processed through the school. Our current Bears gave them an awesome send-off, celebrating their achievements with signs and enthusiastic support. It was a wonderful opportunity for our younger students to see where hard work can lead and for the graduates to reminisce about their time in elementary school. It was an inspiring day for all, and we are so proud of our former Bears as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives!
Check out some of our Union Mill Library Statistics!
 Get2Green Wins Big!
We are excited to announce Union Mill has earned our second EcoSchools U.S. Green Flag! To earn the flag, the Get2Green committee led Union Mill through several initiatives, including recycling and lowering emissions with two Walk/Ride/Roll to school events. We are grateful to community volunteers, such as Joy Curzio who helped us with our recycling, as working with community members is a big part of the EcoSchool challenges! Here is what the EcoSchools committee wrote about our Eco submission this year:
“Your school’s Get2Green Action Team demonstrated strong leadership and whole-school engagement by driving environmental awareness, zero waste, and sustainability initiatives. Students took on active roles as problem-solvers and leaders, developing teamwork, communication, and advocacy skills through hands-on projects like recycling drives, textile collections, birdhouse building, and indoor gardening experiments. The team effectively creates a school culture based on environmental action and fostered community partnerships with groups such as the PTA, staff, and Growing Good Program, while also making environmental stewardship a visible and valued part of school culture through school-wide contests, morning news, and family newsletters. These efforts not only highlighted environmental sustainability but also promoted responsibility, compassion, and leadership among students. Congratulations on earning the EcoSchools U.S. Green Flag. We are proud of the work happening at Union Mill Elementary. The Green Flag is a great achievement and we look forward to your continued participation and excellence next year!”
We could not have achieved this award without the strong leadership of the Get2Green student team pictured above. We hope they continue as strong leaders and stewards of the Get2Green initiatives.
Summer Reading
Fight the summer slide and read this summer. Join us in celebrating America’s 250th birthday by participating in our 250th Birthday Summer Reading Program! There will be prizes in the fall! Details can be found on the flyer and on our school web page!
In addition, here are some other summer reading opportunities:
Fairfax County Public Library Summer Reading Program: Unearth a Story!
Student Appreciation Week
As we look to close out the school year we are excited to celebrate our students next week for all of their hard work, commitment and growth this year. We are excited to host “Student Appreciation Week” at Union Mill. Thank you to the PTA for your support with volunteers and providing, stickers, cookies and popsicles for the event!
Thursday, June 11th - Popsicles and Music on the Playground
Friday, June 12th - Music during arrival and dismissal
Health Room Medication Pick Up
The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up by a parent or guardian no later than student dismissal time on the last day of school. Medication left in the health room after that time will be destroyed per policy. Medication cannot be sent home with your student. If your student will be enrolled in a summer program sponsored by FCPS, the existing medication authorization form(s) may be used for the summer program, but you will need to pick-up the medication before student dismissal time on the last day of school and deliver the medication and completed forms to the summer learning site on the first day of the summer program. If you have any questions, please contact the Health Room at 703-322-8510.
Early Release Wednesdays for 2026-27
FCPS will continue with limited early release Wednesdays for elementary schools during the 2026-27 school year, however the number has been reduced from eight to four days.
Early release Wednesdays provide elementary teachers with a dedicated block of time to prepare lessons, participate in professional development and training, and collaborate with peers. A well-supported and continuously improving teaching staff leads to better educational outcomes for students.
Find more information about early release Wednesdays, including the list of early release dates.
More information
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October 21
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December 2
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February 10
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May 5
FCPS Family Vision Group – Seeking Union Mill Family Representatives
Fairfax County Public Schools is seeking family representatives to participate in the Superintendent’s Family Vision Group. Under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid, the Family Vision Group strengthens collaboration and communication between home and school by providing updates, gathering feedback, and discussing topics that impact students and families across FCPS.
The Family Vision Group is committed to creating a welcoming environment where every voice is heard and valued. Through respectful dialogue, active listening, and open-minded conversations, participants work together to build understanding, strengthen partnerships, and support student success.
Representatives are expected to attend all meetings whenever possible and communicate with the Family Vision Group Team if they are unable to attend.
2026–27 Tentative Meeting Schedule All meetings are held in person from 6:00–7:30 p.m. (locations TBD). Meeting dates are subject to change based on division priorities and scheduling needs.
- Kickoff – Wednesday, September 9, 2026
- Meeting #1 – Wednesday, October 7, 2026
- Meeting #2 – Wednesday, December 2, 2026
- Meeting #3 – Wednesday, February 10, 2027
- Meeting #4 – Wednesday, April 7, 2027
- Full Group Wrap-Up – Wednesday, May 5, 2027
If you are interested in helping shape the future of FCPS being a representative from Union Mill, please contact Susan Brown at sebrown@fcps.edu.
Strings & Band Registration
Current 4th and 5th graders are invited to join the Band or Strings program for next year! Current 3rd graders are invited to join the Strings program! We hope that your child is excited to start or continue an instrument! Please sign up by the last day of school, Wednesday, June 17th so we can create next year’s schedule.
Learn more: https://sites.google.com/view/home-umes-music/home-umes-music
Sign up for Strings/Band: https://forms.gle/1CZb5Eo3BBFGmeAG6
Kindergarten Registration
Online Registration is now open for the 2026-27 school year!
Kindergarten helps children learn and practice the social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives.
New-to-FCPS families create a ParentVUE account for online access. Details are available here: Welcome to Fairfax County Public Schools' (FCPS) Online Registration | Fairfax County Public Schools
Current families can register their new student through their existing ParentVUE account. (No need to register students returning to UMES.)
Our Registrar, Catherine Dubas, is happy to process registrations directly, as well. Please contact her at cmdubas@fcps.edu and be ready to provide your family’s address and rising kindergartener’s date of birth. Catherine will respond with registration details and documents necessary to start the process.
Spring registration puts you on the list for school communications, so don’t wait!
Free Summer Meals Available
June 22–August 21
Fairfax County Public Schools will provide free breakfast and lunch to all children ages 18 and under through the Summer Food Service Program from June 22–August 21, 2026. Meals are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and children must remain onsite while eating. No-cost adult meals are also available at all six participating locations. No meals will be served on June 18–19 or July 3.
UMES PTA
Reimbursement Request Deadline
Please submit all reimbursement requests by June 16. Download your form here. Email treasurer@unionmillpta.org with any questions.
Popsicles at Recess for Student Appreciation Week – Volunteers Needed!
Join us in helping with the first UMES Student Appreciation Week! On Thursday June 11th of this week-long celebration, students will enjoy a popsicle on the playground during their regularly scheduled recess block. We need parent volunteers to help with distributing popsicles and clean-up. Sign up to volunteer here.
**NOTE: All volunteers must be registered and approved as Level 1 Volunteers with FCPS. Please be sure to check in with the front office upon arrival.
Help Us Continue Our Work: Donate to the PTA
Please consider a donation to help our efforts to support Union Mill Elementary School. The Union Mill Elementary School PTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donations are tax deductible. You can make a donation by clicking here.
Box Tops for Education
We are a Box Tops for Education school! All you have to do is download the app and scan your printed receipts or upload your digital receipts. Shopping at Walmart? Just connect your account, no scanning required!
Click this link to get started and use code P7R07LNQ!
Visit us at unionmillpta.org, follow the PTA on Facebook @UMESPTA and email us anytime at pta@unionmillpta.org.
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Fun Run – Fall 2026 – Save the Date!
The PTA is reviving the UMES Booster Fun Run on Thursday, September 17! Be on the lookout for sponsorship opportunities and more information over the summer. Please email pta@unionmillpta.org with questions.
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Welcome Our 2026-2027 PTA Board!
Meet your PTA Board Members for the 2026-2027 school year! This group of devoted parents and teachers will work to strengthen and serve the students, staff, and families that make up our UMES community! We’d love to see you in our inbox, on social media, at an event, or in a meeting. Many voices make for a well-represented community!
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Union Mill Hours
Bell Schedule
Doors open at 8:35 am. Students should be in class by 8:45 am.
Students are dismissed at 3:30 pm.
Office Hours
Monday - Friday - 8:15 am - 4:15 pm
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