United South Central Elementary

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope the school year has gotten off to a positive and successful start for you and your children. It has been heartwarming to see our classrooms and hallways again filled with laughter and the excitement of learning. As I have visited classrooms and walked through the school, I have enjoyed hearing students share stories of their summer adventures, talk about their teachers, and discuss the new concepts they are exploring. Watching students and teachers interact, collaborate, and embrace our Rebel Rights Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe has been inspiring as they learn classroom and school routines.

As we begin this academic year, I sincerely thank our incredible USC community for your ongoing communication and engagement. Whether through conversations, meetings, or phone calls, your involvement underscores the importance of solid communication in supporting our students' success. When parents and teachers work together, it sends a powerful message to our children that we are united in our expectations and support. Please remember that our dedicated school staff is always here to partner with you. At USC, we remain fully committed to doing everything we can to ensure the success of each student. Together, we become a stronger, more effective team.

This year, the USC staff remains committed to fostering an environment that promotes high-level learning for every student. Our team is dedicated to delivering a top-tier education, continuously refining our practices, and exploring innovative ways to serve and educate each student better. We are genuinely excited about the opportunities this academic year brings and limitless possibilities.

Teachers continue to use our comprehensive curriculum to challenge students to think critically and creatively. This year, we will continue with Tier II intervention time through Math Masters and Rebel Readers, providing students with personalized instruction, support, and enrichment. This process involves collaboration among classroom teachers, Title I, ELL, Special Education staff, and our new interventionist to ensure all students receive the assistance they need.

Additionally, students in grades K-6 will receive explicit phonics instruction (UFLI) tailored to their ability levels in classrooms and during Rebel Readers. Research shows that explicit phonics instruction enhances reading, spelling, and comprehension by helping students read more accurately and quickly, directly impacting their understanding of texts. It also equips students with the skills and knowledge to tackle more advanced reading tasks and promotes critical thinking by building efficient and automatic reading skills. We are excited about the opportunities this will provide for all our students.

We are also proud to announce that, for the third year, USC has been awarded the Mitch Perizo Leaders are Readers Grant. This grant has made a significant impact on literacy efforts at USC. We are incredibly grateful to the Hoffman family for selecting USC as a recipient. Last year, we used this grant to acquire decodable readers and a subscription to Raz Plus, encouraging students to practice phonics skills, sound out words systematically, and build a solid foundation for reading success. This year, the grant money was used to purchase a two-year license for Core5© and Power Up©. These online programs help students accelerate their literacy skills through guided practice and direct instruction in areas where students need more practice.

In closing, I want to thank everyone in the USC community for your continued support as we embark on the 2024-25 academic year. Our school’s achievements are a testament to your unwavering dedication. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure your child’s success. I wish you a wonderful and fulfilling fall season.

October 1 - Hearing and Vision Screening - *Please make sure your child has their glasses

October 3 - 5th Grade Field Trip to Freeborn County Historical Museum

October 4 - 6th Grade Field Trip to Big Island Rendezvous

October 7 - Picture Retake Day for PreK thru 12

October 7 - Fundraiser Kick-Off

October 8 - 10 - PreK thru 2nd grade Fire Prevention - Wells Fire Station Visit

October 10 - 4th Grade Field Trip to Jack McGowen History Fest

October 11- KG Field Trip to Center Creek Orchard
October 16 - Wear orange for Unity Day
October 17-18 - MEA Break - No School

October 22 - Fundraiser Orders Due

October 28 - Austin Orchestra Concert grades 4-6

November 5 - End of the first quarter

Beginning October 1, 2024, United South Central became a cell phone and smartwatch-free school environment to enhance teaching and learning. The Yondr program, successfully implemented in thousands of schools across 27 countries, will help us create a more focused and engaged learning environment.

We understand the potential benefits of phones when used appropriately. However, we have observed that learning and student well-being are significantly enhanced when students are fully present and engaged with their teachers and classmates. The Yondr Program, which employs a secure pouch to store phones and smartwatches, ensures the safety of your devices. When students in grades 4-12 arrive at school, they are required to place their devices in a personally assigned Yondr pouch. *Students in grades K-3 must leave these items at home, or a pouch will be assigned.

• Grades 4-6: Students will keep their pouches containing their cell phones or smartwatches in their lockers throughout the school day. They will unlock their pouches at the end of the day and leave them in their lockers.

• Students are responsible for their pouch at all times.

If a student forgets their Yondr pouch at home, the cell phone will be stored in the office until the end of the day.

If you have any extra basketballs, volleyballs, or kickballs, we would be happy to take them off your hands! Feel free to drop them off at the elementary school office.

Please ensure your child brings their water bottle home regularly for cleaning. Black mold can develop quickly in bottles that aren’t washed, and we want to prioritize our students' health.

During this year's Workshop Week, our teachers engaged in various impactful training sessions to enhance instruction. Elementary educators collaborated with Sarah Morrison and Rachel Moeller to dive deep into the Minnesota English Language Arts Standards, unpacking and bundling them to create clear, actionable learning targets. This collaborative effort will ensure a more focused and aligned approach to teaching, setting our students up for success throughout the year.

We kindly request parents and guardians supervise their elementary-age children during our athletic and activity events. This helps everyone focus on enjoying the game and contributes to a well-managed, safe environment for all attendees. We truly appreciate the energy and enthusiasm of our events and want to ensure a positive experience for all participants. If adequate supervision is not provided, supervisors may need to dismiss individual students from the event to maintain order. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

The first week of school we held our annual Rebel Rights practice at USC, where students learned how to be Respectful, Responsible, and Safe in different areas of the school. Mr. Gordon-Kamm met with students in the Commons to demonstrate how to enter the cafeteria safely, use appropriate voice levels, maintain personal space, and show respect while getting their meals. Mrs. Axford covered bathroom expectations, emphasizing the same Rebel Rights principles. Later in the week, students participated in bus safety training, focusing on respectful, responsible, and safe behavior on the bus.

Parents and guardians, we encourage you to keep reinforcing Rebel Rights at home and discussing how these principles can be practiced at school and daily. Your continued support makes a big difference—keep up the great work!

Elementary School Hours

Classes begin at 8:20 a.m. and are dismissed at 3:05 p.m. Students who are not in class before 8:20 a.m. will be marked tardy and absent at 8:40 a.m.

Drop off and pick up at USC Elementary

• Students will enter the school by the main door by the elementary office

• Students can enter the building at 8:10 A.M. after they are lined up outside. Please be mindful to drop your students off as close to 8:10 A.M. as possible to alleviate a long wait before the start of the school day.

• Students who have breakfast can access the school building at 7:50 A.M. Upon arrival, they should proceed directly to the Commons Area. After breakfast, students will return outside and enter the elementary building at 8:10 A.M., when the official school day begins. It is important to note that students are not permitted to enter the elementary building until 8:10 A.M.

• Students will be dismissed from the main doors by the office.

Parking Notice: Make sure you are legally parked when dropping off and picking up students before and after school. Parking is off-limits in front of the school, where buses load and unload students. Do not park in any of the HANDICAP DESIGNATED AREAS.

Crosswalks: To prioritize students' safety, we request that everyone consistently use the designated crosswalks when dropping off or picking up students. We emphasize that our top priority is ensuring the safety of our students, and we discourage any attempts to walk between school buses, as it poses a significant safety risk. We want parents and students to use the designated crosswalks exclusively.

Entrance into the Building: For safety reasons, parents will drop off and pick up students outside the main doors. If a parent or guardian needs to access the school building, they must check in at the elementary or high school office, state the reason for their visit, obtain permission to enter, and receive a name badge before proceeding. Ensuring the safety of our students remains our utmost priority, and we appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Visitors: To encourage a smooth and organized school environment, parents are required to make an appointment when meeting with a teacher, counselor, or administrator. Additionally, parents and guardians have access to the front office but are only permitted in the school building during school hours with prior approval. This policy helps maintain a focused and productive atmosphere for all students.

Parent Contact Information: Please notify the elementary office if your email address, mailing address, or telephone number changes. It is imperative that we contact you in case of a school-wide emergency or your child becomes ill. Also, keeping your contact information current will make sure you receive notices and announcements from the school.

Outdoor Recess: When temperatures start to drop, it is essential to remember that your child(ren) will have outdoor recess every day, weather permitting. Your assistance in ensuring your students come to school adequately prepared for the weather is greatly appreciated. Unless the temperature is 60 degrees or higher, please ensure your child wears a jacket or coat. Additionally, during the winter months, students must have the appropriate outdoor attire, such as layers, hats, mittens/gloves, scarves, boots, and snow pants when the snow is on the ground or mud on the playground.

Extra Clothing: Please send an extra set of clothing with your child. It is important to have an additional set in case of spills, mud, accidents, and wet clothing from recess. Thank you.

Lost and Found: Lost and Found tables are located in the Commons area, near the vending machine. To prevent your child's items from ending up in Lost and Found, please ensure all clothing is labeled correctly with their name.

One of the greatest benefits of being a PreK-12 school is the opportunity for our high school students to serve as role models for the younger ones. Our elementary students are always excited when they get attention from the older kids, and their smiles say it all. This year, several high school students have generously volunteered their time to walk our preschoolers to the bus. It’s heartwarming to witness these high schoolers leading by example and fostering community across grade levels. Thank you!

Mrs. Bauman's second graders participated in bus safety training this past month. The students practiced being respectful, responsible, and safe while entering and exiting the bus and following essential safety rules, such as staying seated during the ride. They also had meaningful discussions on the importance of bus behavior and how it contributes to a safe journey for everyone.

During the first week of school, our sixth-grade class had the enriching experience of visiting Farming of Yesteryear. This engaging field trip gave students a hands-on look at historical farming practices. They explored a range of vintage farm machinery and learned about the methods farmers used in the past to plant and harvest crops. The visit offered a fascinating glimpse into agricultural history, allowing students to understand the evolution of farming techniques and appreciate the technological advancements that have shaped modern agriculture. Through interactive exhibits and demonstrations, students gained valuable insights into early farmers' hard work and ingenuity, deepening their appreciation for history and agriculture.

Mrs. Olson’s first graders had a fun and engaging snack time while watching a special "Pete the Cat" back-to-school episode. The students loved it!

Ms. Norman’s fourth-grade class actively participated in a UFLI lesson focused on blending and segmenting words, along with identifying signal vowels. The students enthusiastically practiced these important phonics skills, which are crucial for strengthening their reading abilities. These hands-on activities are helping our fourth graders grow into more confident and capable readers. Great job, fourth graders!

Mrs. Lawagie’s kindergarten students learned the proper way to write letters by starting at the top. It was wonderful to see them actively engaged in practicing their letter formation and applying this important skill during the lesson.

Third graders learned how to demonstrate their Rebel Rights by being respectful, responsible, and safe both in the hallways and at recess. Through guided lessons and practice, students are mastering hallway expectations, including walking quietly and staying in line, as well as following safety rules during recess. These essential skills help create a positive school environment.

Students and staff enjoyed participating in the Homecoming dress-up days this year. There was Minion Day, Anything But a Hat Day, Country vs. Country Club Class Color Day, and finally, USC Spirit Day. A special thank you to the spirit committee for putting this together! I hope you enjoy these photos from the week.

It is impossible to walk down the hallways without hearing the students' excitement about our new playground! They thoroughly enjoy the new equipment and challenge themselves to conquer different activities. The best part is that the playground is designed for everyone, with accessible swings and features, ensuring that all students can join in the fun

Email: jtaylor@unitedsouthcentral.org
Location: 600 11th Street Southwest, Wells, MN, USA
Phone: 507-553-5810