Union Middle Weekly Update V5.28!

Week 28.

Just a few short reminders this week.

7th grade families - If your student is interested in (1) running for ASB office for 2025-26 and/or (2) applying for next year's 8th grade Leadership class, please visit the UMS ASB page for more information. For those 7th grade families who have not had a student at UMS previously, our 8th grade leadership class is application-only, includes an interview process, and has over 80 students apply for the 25 class spots. Our Leadership teacher Mrs. Utley is available for any questions you may have at UtleyK@unionsd.org. Please be aware of the deadline as late applications will not be accepted.

Spirit Game

Don’t forget that the Spirit Game is coming up on Friday, March 28th at Branham High School from 5:30-9:30 pm. Our 8th grade girls and boys basketball teams will give it their best against our rival school, Dartmouth. It’s one of the most fun and spirited events of the year! Tickets will be on sale on Monday, March 24th to 8th graders, on Tuesday, March 25th to 7th and 8th graders, and on Wednesday, March 26th to all grades. If your student is on our basketball and/or cheerleading teams, they were able to purchase tickets last Friday and can join this week as well, even if it is not their grade level. See you there!

A bit of housekeeping... Thank you for calling in your student's absences prior to the start of the school day. Please note that any absent student, even if you've called in the absence already, will have a ParentSquare ping sent to their parent/guardians around the end of 1st period. If you've already called in the absence, you do not need to respond. If you haven't, simply respond to the ParentSquare message with your student's absence information. Thanks!

Todd Feinberg, Principal

(Our staff member profile this week is Lisa Brett, one of our 6th Grade Math/Science teachers plus a period of 7th grade science too. Enjoy!)

This is Lisa Brett's 3rd year at Union Middle School. She is one of our 6th grade Math/Science teachers and has a single section of 7th grade Science as well. Enjoy the following Q&A below as we get to meet Mrs. Brett!

How long have you been at UMS? What do you love about being an educator at UMS? This is my 3rd year here. I love the intellectual inquisitiveness of these students, in combination with their kindness and playfulness.

If you had three wishes, what would they be? I would wish for excellent education for all kids around the world, better food quality for all us Americans (more like what the Europeans get to eat) and that the life expectancy of dogs would reach 40-50 years.

What's one thing your students don't know about you that they would be surprised to find out? My students might be surprised to learn that I did both gymnastics and diving in college.

What's one thing on your bucket list? I need to hike the French Camino before I get too old!

What are you most proud of in your career so far? I am proud that I have been able to reach students who had previously given up on themselves. They now have graduated from high school and are moving forward with their lives.

What makes you proud to be a UMS tiger? I am most proud of our ability as a staff to always be willing and creative in our efforts to support all our students.

What are your words of wisdom? Time is a non-renewable resource- use it wisely!!

What is your favorite lesson/curriculum to teach each year? Why? I love teaching about percents because it is so incredibly practical.

If you had to describe your classroom in just a few words/sentences, what would you say? We are a colorful, fun and accepting family.

What is the most challenging topic/lesson to teach? Why? Any abstract math concept is often difficult for my 6th graders, like starting to combine like terms with variables.

Explain why your subject is important for your students to learn. How will they use this information in their future / "real world"? All people need math to function in their lives!

What's one instructional practice that you've adopted for your classroom that you now cannot live without? I love that at least some part of Friday is Friday Funday.

• March 27, 2025 - Spring Picture Day during PE Classes
• March 27, 2025 - UMS HSC Meeting @ UMS (6:00 pm - 7 pm) - NEW DATE & TIME
• March 28, 2025 - UMS-DMS Spirit Game @ Branham
• March 31, 2025 - 8th Grade Leadership Applications due for 7th Graders
• April 3, 2025 - ASB Election Speeches Due
• April 7-11, 2025 - USD Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
• April 14, 2025 - UMS Track begins
• April 15, 2025 - ASB Officer Interviews
• April 17, 2025 - Earthquake Drill
• April 17, 2025 - Multi-Cultural Night @ UMS (5:30 pm - 7 pm)
• April 18, 2025 - 8th Grade Portfolio Presentations @ UMS
• April 23, 2025 - UMS Open House @ UMS (5:30 pm - 7 pm)
• April 25-27, 2025 - Shrek the Musical Performances!
• May 2, 2025 - All-School UMS Dance @ UMS (Time TBD)
• May 12, 2025 - USD Board Meeting @ District Office (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
• May 14, 2025 - UMS Band Concert @ UMS Gym (6:30 pm - 8:00 pm)
• May 15, 2025 - UMS Band Concert (Clubs) @ UMS Gym (6:30 pm - 8:00 pm)
• May 16, 2025 - Fire Drill
• May 19, 2025 - UMS HSC Meeting @ UMS (6:30 pm - 8 pm)
• May 22-25, 2025 - UMS Band Disneyland Performance
• May 26, 2025 - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL
• May 30, 2025 - 8th Grade Great America trip
• June 2, 2025 - Earthquake Drill
• June 2, 2025 - USD Board Meeting @ District Office (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
• June 5, 2025 - Minimum day - 12:04 pm Dismissal
• June 5, 2025 - 8th Grade Party @ UMS Quad (12:30 pm - 2:30 pm)
• June 6, 2025 - 8th Grade Promotion @ Leigh (8 am for students, 10 am for guests)
• June 6, 2025 - Minimum day - 12:04 pm Dismissal

It is time to celebrate your students' artwork at the UMS Annual Art Show. There is a tremendous amount of prep work put into the show, assembling the display boards, preparing artwork, and then breaking down the show the next day, is all completed by volunteers. It cannot happen without our volunteers. We need your help! Please sign up HERE to help out!

At UMS, we take pride in fostering a positive school culture through our Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS). This program reinforces the values of ROAR—Responsibility, Organization, [Positive] Attitude, and Respect—helping our students grow into responsible and respectful members of our community.

Each week, we randomly select 3 Tiger Bites per grade level (students that demonstrate ROAR) to recognize students who exemplify these qualities, This week, we’re excited to celebrate the students listed in the accompanying picture. Congratulations to these students and thank you for your positive behaviors at UMS! Together, we create a school environment where all students can thrive.

Congrats to this week's PBIS Raffle Winners!

All are welcome at our monthly HSC meetings. Visit the HSC website for updates and information all year long: www.unionhsc.org.

Blessings in a Backpack is a nationally recognized program that provides weekend meals for school-aged children who are facing food insecurity at home. Union School District has been proudly operating its own Blessings in a Backpack program for the past three years and has seen the numbers of students served increase from twelve to over fifty. These numbers only promise to keep rising. We encourage our community to help meet this demand by being a part of USD’s fight on hunger.

USD Blessings in a Backpack has been completely funded through the loving donations of our school community from the very start. Please help us continue this amazing student outreach program by donating today. Your loving support will help make hunger-free weekends a reality.

The USD Clothing Closet @ Dartmouth supports our district families in need by providing free access to wide varieties of new and gently loved clothing, backpacks and school supplies, pillows and warm blankets, hygiene items, and valuable resource materials and connections.

Please consider donating new or gently loved clothing. We welcome contributions for individuals of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Financial donations are always needed and will be used to purchase new socks, underwear, and hygiene items. Your generosity will directly support local families, spreading warmth and care throughout our community.

If you would benefit from visiting the Clothing Closet or by receiving another type of support, please complete this brief USD Community Support Form or contact our front office directly - we would be glad to help.

The Los Gatos Youth Commission, in partnership with the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Safe Routes to School organization, is conducting a survey to solicit input on what pedestrian improvements will encourage students to walk and bike to school.

Our last survey in 2022 provided a large amount of useful data that helped the Town compete in grant funding and design better projects. Please complete one survey per student by the expiration date on March 1st. We encourage you to fill out multiple surveys if you have more than one student in the public school(s) in Los Gatos. Thank you in advance for your time.

Please see the above flyer for information about four upcoming parent informational nights for TUPE - Tobacco Use Prevention Education.

2025 USD Extended Care Summer Camp is offered to entering TK through entering 6th grade students. Space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit the Extended Care Website for more details and registration.

Our morning clinics have begun!

If your student needs extra support, homework help, and/or test preparation, our UMS clinics can help! Whether they are struggling with the curriculum or just want to sharpen their academic skills, our staff (and high school tutors) are ready to assist them. Please encourage your student to take advantage of these opportunities, available throughout the week. Students should arrive with work to do and/or questions to ask - Clinics aren't necessarily 1:1 tutoring; they're a place where students can get extra help with their academic questions.

Math Clinic: Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:05 am to 8:25 am in Room 3

ELA Clinic: Mondays and Thursdays from 8:05 to 8:25 am in Room 4

Science Clinic: Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:05 to 8:25 am in Room 30

Teacher Team Links included below and are available through Teams & Staff on our homepage (via unionms.unionsd.org). Your student should know which team they're on. And of course, please bookmark the below link for usage throughout the school year.

6th Grade Happy Campers

6th Grade Avengers

7th Grade Otters

7th Grade Firefly

8th Grade Mustangs

8th Grade Penguins

As the seasons progress, more information will be added for whatever after-school sports become available. Please visit the website for tryout information and other key topics. Questions: Mrs. Moore is our athletic director and is available to answer any questions not already shared on the UMS Athletics website.

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