Tales From The Nest
January 12th, 2024
May 17, 2024
TutorMe Update
Pear Deck Tutor (formerly TutorMe) Announcement
As of July 1, 2024 Pear Deck Tutor (formerly TutorMe) will not be available for FCPS students. This program was paid for by ARP ESSER grant funds that come to an end August 31, 2024.
The Frederick County Library has an online tutoring platform called Brainfuse HelpNow. This service can be used with a Frederick County Public Library Card Number. HelpNow is a resource designed for K-12 students and beyond. Live tutoring is available in English and Spanish from 2:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. to provide homework help for core subjects, including mathematics, science, and English language arts. Practice long division, improve reading comprehension, and learn other key skills. Practice for standardized tests. Students may submit papers to HelpNow’s Writing Lab for expert assistance and feedback, or collaborate with peers in virtual study spaces. More information is available at the FCPL website, https://www.fcpl.org/learn/brainfuse-helpnow.
End of Year Reminders:
Miss a Yearbook Order?
“UMS has ordered 100 extra 2024 Yearbooks for purchase. These are available on a FIRST COME/FIRST SERVE basis and will sell for $55 through SchoolCash Online (NO cash or checks will be accepted at the school) beginning Friday, May 17. Please only order if you have not yet purchased a 2024 UMS yearbook for your student through lifetouch. Please look for “EXTRA 100 YEARBOOKS” on your SchoolCash account to purchase one of these extra yearbooks.
Once these are sold out they are GONE and no more will be available.
Summer Send Off Spirit Days
See below for our final spirit day celebration.
Library books are due back by May 24th.
Ms. Domboski has been sending our reminders for students to turn in their library books. Students can also check their own account to confirm that their library books have been returned. Any library books that are not returned are subject to a finacial obligation that is equal to our replacement cost of the book. Please reach out to Ms. Domboski if you have any questions or concerns.
Chromebook Collection & Audit
8th Grade Chromebook Collection
On May 31st, 2024 FCPS will be collecting Chromebooks, cases, and chargers. We can only accept chargers, and cases that are assigned from FCPS , no 3rd party chargers can be substituted.
6th and 7th Grade Chromebook Audit
On June 3rd, 2024, we will be auditing 6th and 7th grade FCPS Chromebooks. Please be sure students bring their Chromebooks, cases, and chargers to school on the 3rd. If a student is returning to UMS for the 24-25 school year, they will keep their chromebook over the summer and return with it for the 24-25 school year.
Fees will be assessed for missing items, and damages to Chromebooks.
Technology fee structure can be found in the 2023-2024 Electronic Device Usage Agreement.
All fees will be payable on School Cash online once they have been entered into the system.
Frederick County Health Department/ Fredercik County Public Schools
The last day of school is June 7, 2024
· According to FCPS Regulation 400-23 students are not permitted to take their medications home at the end of the school year.
· A parent/guardian must pick up all medications in the health room by the end of the school day on June 7, 2024. To arrange for pick-up please contact health room staff directly.
· All non-emergency medication(s) and expired medication(s) of any kind remaining in the health room will be destroyed at the end of the school day, unless alternate arrangements have been made directly with health room staff.
Summer School
If your child will be attending a summer FCPS program and medication must be administered during summer school hours, contact the health room for additional guidance.
Preparing for the 2024-25 School Year
· All medication/treatment authorization form(s) must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. Ensure that the appropriate authorization form is completed by your healthcare provider. Forms are available online at www.fcps.org.
· Verify the expiration dates on your child’s medication(s). Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 10.34.23.07, dictates that we determine expiration dates as follows:
Ø one year from the dispensing date on the pharmacy label (OR)
Ø expiration date on the medication package, whichever comes first.
· If the instructions on the pharmacy label states, “see attached”, you must provide the pharmacy attachment. Medication will not be accepted without the required attachments.
· To ensure your child’s medication/treatment needs are met at the start of the school year contact the health room on or after August 12, 2024, to arrange a drop off time for medications/supplies and completed forms. Health room staff will review medication/treatment authorization forms and medications with the parent/guardian to ensure compliance with state regulations. If the medication/treatment authorization forms and/or medications do not meet compliance, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to follow up with their health care provider.
· Per FCPS Reg 400-23, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to deliver medication/treatment authorization form(s) and medications directly to health room staff. Please do not send your child to school with medications.
End of Year Events for 8th grade
Awards Ceremony and Celebration
UMS 2024 8th Grade Awards Ceremony
Date: Thursday, June 6th 2024
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Place: UHS Stadium
Please join us for our 8th Grade Awards Ceremony in the Urbana High School Stadium.
All students must be at UMS on time (8:00 am) to participate in the ceremony. Students cannot be dropped off or signed out at UHS. Families can park at UHS for this event - but space may be limited.
There will be a photo opportunity at the end of the ceremony for families to take pictures with students. Students will then return to UMS to participate in our
8th Grade Celebration in the afternoon.
This event will be rain or shine. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be moved to the UHS Auditorium. Students may opt to wear semi-formal attire to the ceremony, and bring a change of clothes to school for the afternoon celebration.
The 4th Annual UMS 8th Grade Parking Lot Party Celebration will take place in the afternoon on the same day. This event is not an extension of the school day. Students will be dismissed at 3pm. Thank you to everyone who has signed up to donate food or raffles for this event! Please use this link to access the sign-up sheet to double check your volunteer status.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4EA5A82CABF4C25-49133728-ums2024
All donations should be dropped off in the UMS front office starting on Monday, June 3rd, 2024.
Thank you for all your support! We cannot wait to celebrate our 8th graders!
Dates to Remember:
May 20: Beginng of UMS's Summer Sendoff Spirit Days
May 24: All Library books are due back to the UMS Library
May 27: Schools Closed - Memorial Day
May 31: 8th Grade Chromebook collection (including charger and case)
June 3: 6th & 7th Gr. Chromebook audit (including charger and case)
June 6: - 8th Grade Awards Ceremony and Celebration(see above for more information)
June 7: Last day of school for students - 2 hr early release
Meet the Coach!
Urbana High School Meet the Coaches Night
The UHS Athletics Department invites all rising 9th graders as well as any student attending UHS for the first time in the fall to attend the annual Meet the Coaches Night on Wednesday May 29th at 6:30PM in the UHS Auditorium.
Coaches from the athletic teams offered at UHS will be present to share information about team expectations as well as summer work out opportunities.
Please reach out to the Athletic Director Karin Bauer at karin.bauer@fcps.org with any questions.
Past Tales From the Nest
Looking for a previous version of a Tales From the Nest Newsletter, check out our website under the News tab. You can visit the link directly here.