Union Canal

Dear Parents/Guardians:

It has been a wonderful start to our school year! Union Canal has started with a wonderful month of learning. We are continuing to see excitement and joy with our students as well as a renewed thankfulness and responsibility in our students as they have returned this year. At this time our staff are starting to build the routines and processes that will help support the learning that will take place in their individual settings. Please continue in some way to have an open and responsive dialogue with your child(rens) teacher(s).

The autumn days are already becoming shorter as we transition into our first school quarter. As we move through the month of October we will explore our fall season and history. We will also be working with our students on safety and what it means to be safe in all parts of our lives and at school. We will be investigating fire safety and building safety situational awareness. As a school community we will be looking at creating ways to develop our students leadership skills and value driven education. During the month of September we looked at the character trait of Responsibility. Within October we will spend time talking about Respect.

By months end we will be very close to the end of the first marking period. Once the second quarter begins, we look forward to the opportunity to share even more detailed information with parents at our annual Parent/Teacher Conferences. We truly encourage all of our parents to take part in this chance to speak with teachers, and this type of communication is always positive for our students. Once again this year, we will schedule conferences in fifteen minute blocks. Further information detailing this scheduling process will be emailed to parents and posted on our website during the first weeks of October.

As always if you have any questions or concerns about our school or operations please do not hesitate to reach out to me via phone 717-270-7227 or email bmcginty@clsd.k12.pa.us .

Yours In Education,

Bernard J. McGinty, Ed.D.

Principal

Email: bmcginty@clsd.k12.pa.us
Website: https://www.clsd.k12.pa.us/Domain/13
Location: 400 Narrows Drive, Lebanon, PA 17046, USA
Phone: 717-270-7227
Twitter: @Union_Canal_El

Message from the Elementary Dean of Students: Mrs. Tori Dissinger

Dear Elementary Parents and Guardians,

I am pleased to introduce myself as the Elementary Dean of Students for the 2024-2025 school year. I am excited to work with the amazing staff, students, families, and community members of each elementary school. In this role, I will assist the elementary principals with a variety of daily tasks, including addressing student discipline issues that arise both in school and on school district bus/van transportation. I have been an educator since 2005 and have been employed with CLSD since 2014, serving as an art teacher at both South Lebanon and Cedar Crest HS. I earned my PK-12 Principal Certification from both McDaniel College in Maryland and the Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro.

I believe communication between school and home is critical for student success and encourage open dialogue and collaboration among parents, guardians, teachers, and administrators. If you ever have any questions, thoughts, or ideas to share, please contact me at tdissinger@clsd.k12.pa.us. Also, please find below a list of school numbers, at which you can reach me or any of the office staff members within your child’s building:

Cornwall: 717-273-4571

Ebenezer: 717-272-1969

South Lebanon: 717-273-4546

Union Canal: 717-270-7227

During the first few months, I look forward to getting to know each elementary school community better and working with you to create a positive climate that supports each individual student’s success here at the Cornwall Lebanon School District. I am very excited for this opportunity to learn and grow alongside our administrative team, and serve our wonderful school community!

Be on the lookout for the Union Canal picture day flyer in your child's book bag. There will be instructions for ordering individual pictures. You can order on line or by returning your flyer with payment.

A Character Trait assembly is held each month at Union Canal for all of the students. At the assembly Dr. McGinty explains what the upcoming trait is for the month ahead and provides examples of that particular trait. During the month of September students were asked to do their best to display "Responsibility". On October 4th, students chosen by their teachers who best displayed "Responsibility" will be recognized and awarded a certificate.

• School opens and breakfast is available for students beginning at 8:50 AM each day
• Parent drop-off begins at 8:50 AM and ends at 9:00 AM
• The instructional day begins at 9:10 AM; Students arriving after 9:10 AM will be marked tardy
• AM Kindergarten hours are 9:10-11:45 AM
• PM Kindergarten hours are 1:05-3:40 PM
• The elementary school day ends at 3:40 PM

On September 27, 2024 Union Canal held the first ever "Union Canal Dash". The purpose of the event was to raise money to help their school with the costs of field trips and other events for students during the school year. Parents came to cheer their students on during the day as each grade participated in the race. In the evening a celebration was held with games, food, awards, and lots of Fun!!!!

A total of $16,474.00 was raised during the event! Union Canal is so lucky to have a wonderful PTT staff that worked very hard on the event. And the students did a great job of raising the money for their school. The U.C. Staff put in a lot of work as well, braving the dunk tank, setting up the inflatable obstacle course, and promoting the event. All of the combined efforts made the first Union Canal Dash a big success!

The Union Canal PTT is looking for parents to help in key roles to help support student/family friendly activities as well as fundraising opportunities. Without these positions our parent group cannot provide key supports to our students and classrooms. Please consider volunteering some of your time.

Our PTT is specifically looking for a parent(s) to "shadow" the following events at Union Canal:

• Trunk-or-Treat
• Elves Magicland
• Facebook/Social Media Coordinator
• Falcon Cart (student rewards)
• Union Canal "Dash" 2025
  
• Treasurer
• Breakfast with Someone Special Coordinator

Our PTT is specifically looking for a parent(s) to fill the open coordinator events at Union Canal of:

• Fundraising Program Coordinator

Falcon Foundation applications are due October 15: The Falcon Foundation, educational foundation for the Cornwall-Lebanon School District, is pleased to announce that grants and awards will again be offered this fall to district students, employees and community members. Three types of sponsorship are available – Student Educational Opportunity Awards, Employee Educational Opportunity Awards, and Project Grants. Descriptions and applications for these grants and awards are posted online. Visit any CLSD school or the District website (www.clsd.k12.pa.us) and click on the “Falcon Foundation” Quick Link icon for more details. Deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.

Special Invitation for CLSD Veterans & our Military families: A complimentary breakfast is planned for Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, to honor veterans who reside within the district. Veterans may bring one guest. Reservations are required as space is limited. We also extend this invitation to those within our district family (employees, parents/guardians of district students) who are currently serving in the United States military or National Guard. Please complete the Military Families Survey you will receive via Skyward email in early October, or call (717) 389-1810. Veterans and Military Families are asked to register prior to October 24.

Online Community Bulletin Board: Check the online Community Bulletin Board regularly for information about upcoming events, activities and fundraisers throughout the CLSD community (Click on the “COMMUNITY” tab on the District website: www.clsd.k12.pa.us, or Look under the “COMMUNITY” tab on any CLSD school page.) Currently, you can find out about sports activities for the participant and spectator … Scouting opportunities … Student club Fundraisers ... community events & activities ... and many more items of possible interest! Submit an item to be considered for posting on the Community Bulletin Board by completing the “Community Announcement Form,” located under the same tab.

Inclement Weather Procedures & Skylert Notification System: The decision to close school or open two hours later will be announced before 7:00 AM on the CLSD Home page, (www.clsd.k12.pa.us), as well as on the Cornwall-Lebanon School District Facebook and Twitter pages (@CLSD_Schools), and on local radio and TV stations. The Skylert automated notification system also will be used to contact parents/guardians during the school day in the event of a building power failure, hazardous situation, or an early dismissal. Please review the important information that is printed inside the front cover of the CLSD 2024-25 Calendar of Events. The District website is the first place important information is posted. Please, do not contact school or District offices in the case of these events as it is important for our phone lines to be available for emergency communications.

Remember, the Skylert notification system is only as accurate as the information you have provided to the District. Be sure your phone and email settings allow (do not Block) these numbers: (717) 272-2031; (717) 272-2036 and (717) 389-1810, and emails from @clsd.k12.pa.us addresses. Please review your information and make any updates in Skylert (for general information sharing, including school closings):

1. Login to your Skyward account.
2. Click the word “Skylert” in the left menu.
3. Fill-in and check or uncheck your desired settings.
4. Click “SAVE” in the upper right side of the page when you are done.

Note: If you need to change any “Emergency Contact” information, please contact your student’s school office.

Volunteers and Chaperones: Cornwall-Lebanon School District greatly appreciates the volunteers and chaperones who provide assistance to students and teachers through their participation in classroom support, as well as special events and activities. Volunteers are essential to the success of students. Look under the “Community” tab on the District Home page for details: www.clsd.k12.pa.us. Anyone who will be serving as a long-term or short-term volunteer for the District must complete the Volunteer Information packet, located on the website, prior to serving as a volunteer, and follow any existing COVID-19 guidelines pertaining to their volunteer assignment.

• October 14th Professional Learning Day - No School for Students
• October 15 Falcon Foundation Grants & Awards application deadline . Falcon Foundation Grants and Awards Can be found here.
• October 30th End of the First Marking Period
• November 1st Professional Learning Day - No School for Students
  
• November 20th Picture Retake Day
• November 25 & 26th No School for Students - Parent/Teacher Conferences by appointment
• November 27 through December 2 No School for Students, Thanksgiving Vacation. School resumes on Tuesday, December 3rd.