Union Middle Weekly Update V5.005!

Week 0.5... just a few days before the first day of the 2024-25 school year!

Wednesday, we will be opening up our campus to over 1060 middle school students. Our staff have spent the past two days working tirelessly to prepare for the arrival of your students. We are ready for Wednesday and we are very excited as well.

Don't forget about the opportunity for your student to walk the campus this Tuesday (August 13th) at 3pm to 4pm. All of our students, new and returning alike, are welcomed, even encouraged, to drop by Tuesday during this scheduled hour to see the campus, determine where their classes are for the first day of school, and see both current and future friends.

For the first three days of the school year, our staff will be working with their classes in building community and other Social-Emotional Learning opportunities to begin the school year on a positive note. If the homework load feels light these first few days, it's done intentionally. Sometimes, you have to start slow to go fast; that's our plan.

As always, I continuously update the FAQ (available HERE). While parents and other family members are permitted on our campus before and after school for drop-off or delivery, please consider allowing your student, whether they are a new 6th grader or a returning 8th grader, the opportunity to begin their middle school year with some independence from the jump. Please do not worry. We have a ton of staff out and about to assist our new-to-UMS students. The day is going to be wonderful.

We update the list for purchased PE items each day, usually mid-day. If you have purchased items for your student but they aren't on the list that the PE teachers have, it's likely because the daily deadline was missed. My best advice would be to head to the UMS Store today to ensure that your student has whatever items you're requesting by PE class Thursday.

And one of the most important things to share is about our parking lot. I'm attaching a flyer below. Please review these parking lot expectations prior to tomorrow. Please consider walking or biking with your student to school. Our parking lot for the first and last weeks of the school year are artificially congested. The first day of school is a great day to park elsewhere and walk the final lap to school.

Here we go... Very excited to see everyone on Wednesday. Once again, welcome (back) to Union Middle.

Todd Feinberg, Principal

At Union Middle School, our mission is to create an environment that promotes positive behavior, facilitates education, and prepares individuals to thrive as global citizens. One way we are working on this goal is through PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports), which involves teaching and recognizing positive behavior.

PBIS is a comprehensive approach that engages the entire UMS community in teaching and fostering positive behaviors. It is designed to address the needs of all students and aims to establish a safe and positive learning environment.

At UMS, the foundation of PBIS lies in our school-wide expectations, which are:

R.O.A.R.

Responsible

Organized

+Attitude

Respectful

Throughout the school year, students will be taught the school-wide expectations across all areas of the school. Teachers will help students learn what the expectations “look” and “sound” like in every setting during the school day. These lessons will be retaught and reinforced throughout the school year and become a regular part of our instructional program.

Recognizing and reinforcing positive behavior is a key component of encouraging appropriate behavior. At UMS, students receive our new Tiger Bites as recognition for meeting behavior expectations. When certain goals are achieved, students will be rewarded with school-wide celebrations. As always, we will keep you informed and involved throughout the year in our implementation of PBIS at UMS!

Please review the linked PDF for a review of our parking lot. Key reminders:

1) Only drop off against the curb or from the parking spot areas.

2) Always pull forward. When done pulling forward, pull forward some more.

3) There are two lanes to enter the parking lot. Please use both.

4) Only use the crosswalk to get from the parking lot to campus and visa versa.

5) Exit from the curbside of the car at all times (right side).

6) Drive slow. Phones down. Eyes up.

7) No scooters, e-bikes, skateboards, etc.

8) See #2

9) Don't cross the entrance or exit of the parking lot by bike or walking

10) Please consider walking the last lap to get to school tomorrow; the parking lot will be full.

Thanks everyone!

UMS has a new web store! it's available at www.umsstore.org. We are running all of our yearly donation requests and optional school purchases through the web store, currently we are offering:

1) PE Uniforms, Sweats, & PE Lock

2) Donation Requests for HSC

3) Yearbook Kit (includes yearbook & planner & t-shirt & ASB card)

Please do take a minute to venture to the store and place your order so your student can start day 1 with everything they need. Thank you!

Please take a moment to charge your student's Chromebook in preparation to bring the first day of school.

Don't forget to charge overnight before trying to use it, especially if you haven't used it all summer. If you have been using it, please have your student log out and turn the Chromebook off (hold power button until light goes out).

After charging overnight, turn the Chromebook back on and sign in. Leave it open for at least 30 minutes to ensure any updates are completely installed.

Please note that some software programs are not currently available due to transition to our new school year. Contact Denise Goodhart if you have any questions or issues. Thank you!

Union School District and Union Middle School uses ParentSquare for District and school communication. An account is automatically generated for each parent/guardian, using contact information in PowerSchool so that you can get important, urgent, and emergency communications.

Use your phone number or email address on file with the school to register your account today.

While not required to receive messages, we encourage families to register their accounts so they can download the mobile app and update their preferences or customize on when and how they are notified. (If not registered, guardian contacts will still receive all default notifications from their school and the District.)

• Visit the ParentSquare Website

• Download the ParentSquare App (Apple iOS Version)

• Download the ParentSquare App (Android Version)

For the 2024-25 school year, all meals are complimentary and are available to all students as part of the California Universal School Meals program. Payment for a school breakfast or lunch is not required when a student picks up breakfast or lunch in the cafeteria.

Visit Nutrislice to view school breakfast and lunch menus

If you have any questions about Nutrition Services and breakfast and lunch at school, you can contact the food services department by calling (408) 377-8010 Extension 44203.

Email: feinbergt@unionsd.org
Website: Unionms.Unionsd.org
Location: 2130 Los Gatos Almaden Road, San Jose, CA, USA
Phone: (408) 371-0366
Twitter: @goteamums