Elementary Newsletter

Friday, December 20th

Monday, December 23rd - Monday, December 6th - Winter Break

School begins at 8:00am and students are dismissed at 3:10pm

Announcements begin in the gym at 7:45am. Students are encourage to attend at 7:45 a.m. for announcements.

Early Release date is Thursday, December 19th. All students will be released at 1:30. On the morning of December 19th, the shuttle bus will depart the elementary school at the normal time.

In the afternoon, the shuttle bus will depart the elementary by 1:40 and arrive at the prep by 1:55. Shuttle bus will leave the prep by 2:00 and return to the elementary by 2:15.

Any visitor who is not employed by Union Colony Schools will have to check in at the front office with a photo government issued identification card. The card will be run through the Raptor system; this system is designed to help maintain safety on campus, which will print a photo identification badge for approved visitors.

Applications to be included in the 2025-2026 lottery are now being accepted. Visit our website at unioncolonyschools.org to apply. Siblings of current students also need to submit an application. The deadline to be considered for the lottery is 4:00pm on Tuesday, January 28. Please call Kellie with any questions at 970-673-4997.

Have you paid your family technology fee? A $25 fee per family was due at registration. This is an annual technology fee to help offset the cost of technology devices and platforms. Please log in to Infinite Campus to check if your family fee has been paid. You can pay by card in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal or with exact cash only in the office. Contact Adriana if you have any questions at 970-673-4997.

What: Union Colony Elementary School now has a FREE food pantry for all UCE families!

Where: Union Colony Elementary School Office

Who: The free food pantry is open to all UCE families

When: The food pantry is only open on Monday’s 1:30 - 2:30 & Tuesday’s 9:00 - 10:00.

How: Parents/Guardians must come into the UCE office. You must bring your own bags ( only 2 bags per family, the size of a plastic bag from a grocery store. We do not provide bags) You will not be allowed to take food without a bag. Please only come during the pantry hours of operation - food will not be given out at other times. UCE will restock the food pantry when new shipments are received on Tuesdays - once food is gone, it is gone until the following Tuesday. Food will not be sent home with students.

The mornings have been cold. Please be sure to send your student with a jacket or sweater to school. We will be going outside for recess and are often outside for PE or other classroom activities.

Our attendance goal for all children is 95%. To achieve this goal, our students must have fewer than 15 absences in a school year. The time a student is out of class due to being tardy or checking out early can add up. 4 tardies/early check outs will count toward a full day(s) of absence.

Regular school attendance is one of the most important aspects of a student's educational program. Additionally, there is a strong correlation between consistent class attendance, parental involvement and academic success. Student attendance is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

Excused absences are defined as any absence from school due to temporary illness or injury, and any other reason deemed acceptable by the school administrator.

An unexcused absence is defined as an absence that is not covered by one of the foregoing excused absences or any absence not reported to the school by a parent/guardian within 48 hours.

Regardless of the absences/tardies being excused or unexcused, student will be considered for an attendance plan if attendance is below the goal.

Please contact the office if you have questions or concerns.

Below are procedures for keeping students, families and staff safe while dropping off or picking up students before, during and after school. There have been a number of “close calls” where students have almost been hit - we want to keep everyone safe but we can not do that on our own - WE NEED YOUR HELP. The UCE Traffic Safety Plan (listed below) is on page 5 in the Student Handbook which can be found on the school website: unioncolonyschools.org

TRAFFIC SAFETY PLAN
The Traffic Safety Plan above has been established by Union Colony Schools in order to ensure safety for students and promote efficiency. Please drive responsibly. Watch for students at all times and follow prompts from school staff monitors. Vehicles should access school property by entering in the east driveway and exiting through the west driveway. Adults dropping students off for school or picking them up are expected to follow the traffic safety plan. Do not drive across the lot even if the lot is cleared of parked cars. Double parking (parking behind a parked car in a marked parking stall) to drop off or pick up students is never permitted. All students who are being dropped off or picked up by parents shall be loaded/unloaded from the vehicles along the right hand lane adjacent to the sidewalk

Parents be prepared and informed. Winter is quickly approaching which could mean closures or delays. Please visit our parent resource page for weather related plans and other important parent information.

https://www.unioncolonyschools.org/parent-resources

In the event Union Colony Schools must close, delay the start of the school day, or release early due to weather conditions the following methods of communication will be used. Parents and guardians must ensure their email address and phone number/s are current and updated in Infinite Campus. Union Colony will use a digital communication platform that relies on current and correct contact information.

Building Closure, Delay, and/or early release

1. Union Colony will send a text and email to all parents/guardians and staff before 6am the morning of the potential closure/delay.

2. Union Colony Elementary and Preparatory campuses will send individual messages to all families and staff using individual building communication the morning of the potential closure/delay.

3. Union Colony will post all relevant information on our Facebook page and home page of our website https://www.unioncolonyschools.org/home.

4. Union Colony will always close, early release, or delay the start of the school day if District 6 chooses to close, early release, or delay the school day due to severe weather.

5. Union Colony may choose to close, early release, or delay the school day due to weather on some

days that District 6 chooses not to.

After school events and Activities

1. In the event Union Colony has a weather related closure all school sponsored events will be cancelled.

2. In the event Union Colony has a weather related early release all school sponsored events will be

cancelled.

3. In the event Union Colony has a weather related delay all school sponsored events will be a day time decision.

Before and after school childcare

1. Please contact your provider for more information on how they will handle weather related events.

In the event there is a prediction of inclement weather please call the main office the day before for closure or delay information. Elementary School (970) 673.4997 or Preparatory School (970) 673.4546.

If Union Colony chooses to close, delay, or release early the main offices will be closed or delayed. Please leave a message and someone will return your call as soon as we re-open.

Diabetes Prevention Program

2025 Classes Schedule

1. Mondays, starting Jan 27, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, in-person, Spanish.

At The Resource Center (822 14th St, Greeley, CO 80631), registration is open until Feb 3rd, 2025. To register contact Laura by email at ljohnson2@weld.gov or call 970-400-2382

2. Tuesdays, starting Jan 21, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, virtual via Zoom*, Spanish. registration is open until Jan 28, 2025. To register contact Olga by email at @gonzalez@weld.gov or call 970-400-2382

3. Thursdays, starting Jan 23, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, virtual via Zoom*, English.

Registration is open until Jan 25th, 2025. To register contact David by email at gutierrez@weld.gov or call 970-400-2373

4. Mondays, starting Oct 20, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, in-person, Spanish.

At LINC library 501 8th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631. Registration is open until Oct 25th, 2025. To register contact Rosa by email at resparzagonzalez@weld.gov or call 970-400-2382

5. Wednesdays, starting Sept 17, 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, in-person, Spanish, At Sunrise Community Health 2930 11th Ave. Evans, CO 80620. Registration is open until Sept 22nd, 2025.

To register contact Ofelia by email at oorozco@weld.gov or call 970-400-2376

6. Wednesdays, starting Sept 17, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, virtual via Zoom*, English.

Registration is open until Sept 25th, 2025. To register contact Juan by email at jgomezmendionla@weld.gov or call 970-400-2382

7. Thursdays, starting Sept 18, 4:00 to 5:00 pm, virtual via Zoom*, Spanish.

Registration is open until Sept 26, 2025. To register contact Olga by email at gonzalez@weld.gov or call 970-400-2382

Join us in a class to learn more healthy recipes for you and your whole family

Sunrise Community Health

2930 11th Ave

Evans, CO 80620

10:00-11:30

December 19th,

Help us spread the word!

Current Families, we need your help!

Do you know any families with a four-year-old?

They may not realize they can receive FREE preschool every day!

Please refer them to us so we can get them signed up and take advantage of this amazing opportunity!

ABC Child Development Centers - Bright School -Age Centers

(970)352-2222 Ext5

Union Colony Elementary School

970-673-4997 (M-F 7:30 am - 4:00 pm)