Elementary Newsletter

Friday, November 15th

Friday, November 22th

Monday, November 25th-Friday, November 29th-Thanksgiving Break

Tuesday, November 19th- Choir Concert

Tuesday, December 3rd- 3rd-5th Grade Winter Concert

Thursday, December 19th- Classroom Winter Party

Thursday, December 19th-Early release @ 1:30

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.

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.

The “Camp-Read-S’mores” Read-a-Thon is tonight from 5pm-7pm. The cost is $10 per family. Feel free to join us, we will be serving s’mores to all who attend. Remember to bring books with you to read!

The elementary school was awarded money from the Weld Community Credit Union for our perfect attendance bike initiative. We would like to recognize them for their generosity. Thank you, Weld Community Credit Union, for supporting our perfect attendance bike initiative!

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.

School picture retakes are coming Tuesday, November 19th!

You can order online by going to www.mymjthomas.com and entering our school's event code. (Event Code: C685)

Retakes are for absent students, new students, students who want to purchase, and students who want a retake. In order to get a retake replacement package, students must return their original package of photos.

If you have any questions or concerns about pictures please call MJ Thomas Photo at 1-800-219-0199 or 970-241-2467. Email support@mymjthomas.com

Families of UCES students,

We would like to invite you to join us for a magical evening of music as we end the year with our Winter Music Concert! Each grade has been working hard in class to prepare music for you and we are so excited to share our accomplishments with you!

Students are expected to arrive at 5:45, meet in the gym, and sit with their class. The concert will begin promptly at 6:00pm and run until roughly 6:40pm. For us to start and end on time, it is important that your student is here by 5:45.

After the concert we encourage you to take pictures with your students and celebrate their achievements in music this semester!

We also have a concert for our choir, the Wolfpack Singers on November 19th, 6:00pm. We would love to have as many people come and support us as possible! If your student is interested in joining choir in the spring or next year, we would love for you to come hear what we’re all about!

Mr. Drake

cdrake@unioncolonyschools.org

The Student Council is collecting new socks for our school Christmas Tree and encourage you to donate a pair of new socks. The socks will be donated to a local charity. Last day to donate is Wednesday , December 18th.

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.

Art Club - Monday 3:10 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 2nd- Last meeting

Email Ms. Patterson if you have any questions jpatterson@unioncolonyschools.org

Choir-Wednesday 3:15p.m to 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 20th-Last meeting

Email Mr. Drake if you have any questions cdrake@unioncolonyschools.org

Student Council-Every other Wednesday 3:15p.m to 4:00p.m.

Wednesday-December 18th- Last meeting

Email Ms. Murry or Ms. Williams if you have any questions.

tymurry@unioncolonyschools.org

lwilliams@unioncolonyschools.org

Parents please remember that student must be picked up promptly at 4:00 p.m.

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.

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)