United South Central Elementary

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As we step into March and welcome the signs of spring, excitement is in the air! This time of year is filled with new energy, and at USC Elementary, we continue to challenge and encourage our students to do their best as we progress in our academic journey. With Parent-Teacher Conferences and MCA assessments on the horizon, it is an excellent opportunity to reflect on how far our students have come and identify areas for continued growth. Progress is not always visible week to week, but the growth is undeniable when we look back to the beginning of the year. There is so much to celebrate!

Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place on Monday, March 3, from 3:30-7:00 P.M. This is an opportunity for you to meet with your child’s teacher, discuss their progress, and collaborate on ways to support their learning. Earlier this year, we held Orientation Conferences in September and Fall Conferences in November, ensuring that all families could connect. On March 3, we will offer scheduled conferences from 4:30-7:00 P.M., allowing teachers to meet with individual families at prearranged times. Additionally, there will be an open house conference window from 3:30-4:30 P.M. for parents/guardians who wish to visit their child’s teacher.

At conferences, parents often say, “What can I do at home to help my child succeed in school?” Given our strong focus on literacy, my number one answer is simple: read with your child for 20 minutes daily. Whether you are reading to them, with them, or listening as they read to you, these moments build essential literacy skills. Engage in conversations about the story, ask questions, share your thoughts, and encourage your child to connect to real-life experiences. Reading together supports academic growth and nurtures a love for learning that will last a lifetime.

As you prepare for conferences, consider what specific questions you might ask to gain insight into your child’s progress and next steps. If you cannot attend, I encourage you to contact your child’s teacher; open communication and strong school-home collaboration are key to every student’s success.

Thank you for the time, effort, and support you provide at home, reinforcing what happens in the classroom. USC Elementary thrives because of our incredible community, and we truly appreciate the partnership we share in your child’s education. We look forward to seeing you at conferences!

Best regards,
Jennifer Taylor
USC Elementary Principal
It’s a Great Day to be a Rebel

“We have an obligation to read aloud to our children. To read them things they enjoy. To read to them stories we are already tired of. To do the voices, to make it interesting, and not to stop reading to them just because they learn to read to themselves. We have an obligation to use reading-aloud time as bonding time, as time when no phones are being checked, when the distractions of the world are put aside. We have an obligation to use the language. To push ourselves: to find out what words mean and how to deploy them, to communicate clearly, to say what we mean. We must not attempt to freeze language, or to pretend it is a dead thing that must be revered, but we should use it as a living thing, that flows, that borrows words, that allows meanings and pronunciations to change with time.”

― Neil Gaiman

Spring Conferences will occur on Monday, March 3, from 3:30 – 7:00 PM and are optional, with some conferences scheduled as needed. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss notable changes in a student’s academic, social, or emotional progress. They also serve as a valuable time for parents, guardians, and teachers to celebrate student growth and collaborate on strategies to support those who need additional help to make meaningful gains.

Mark your calendars! MCA testing dates are as follows:

📖 Reading MCA (Grades 3-6) – April 9, 10, & 11
➗ Math MCA (Grades 3-6) – April 23, 24, & 25
🔬 Science MCA (Grade 5 only) – April 28, 29, & 30

How Parents/Guardians Can Help:
✔️ Ensure your student charges their Chromebook and brings it on testing day
🎧 Make sure they have and bring headphones (two sets if possible)
🥑 Provide a healthy breakfast and encourage hydration
😴 Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep the night before
💡 Encourage your child to give their best effort

Your support at home makes a big difference. Thank you for helping our students succeed!

Is your contact information up to date in JMC? Please take a moment to log in and update any changes to phone numbers or addresses. If you have selected "call first" for a specific contact, that person will be the first to receive a call from the health office if your student is ill, as well as the first contact for any concerns or questions from the elementary school office. Keeping your information current ensures that we can reach you quickly and efficiently when needed. Thank you for helping us stay connected!

Capture the memories of an incredible school year with the 2024-2025 Elementary Yearbook! A yearbook is more than just a collection of photos; it’s a keepsake that celebrates friendships, achievements, and the moments that make this school year special. It’s something your child can look back on for years to come, reliving their favorite memories and milestones.

Order forms were sent home last month, and all orders are due by March 28, 2025. To make it even easier, you can order your yearbook online as well! Don’t miss the chance to give your student a tangible piece of their school journey.

Secure your copy today and preserve the memories that matter most!

📅 March 3 – K-12 Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences

• 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Walk-in Conferences

• 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. Scheduled Conferences

🎉 March 13 – Kindergarten Round-Up (No School for Kindergarten)
🌸 March 14-17 – No School (Spring Break)
🎶 March 18 – Grades 5-12 Band Concert
📆 March 26 – End of the Third Quarter
📆 March 27 – Start of the Fourth Quarter

Mark your calendars, and thank you for staying informed! 🚀

Morning supervision at USC begins at 8:00 a.m., but we continue to notice students arriving as early as 7:15 a.m. Please remind your student to arrive as close to 8:00 a.m. as possible, whether they are dropped off, walk, or bike to school. Breakfast starts at 7:50 a.m., and before 8:00 a.m., staff members are involved in meetings and other duties, so we are unable to provide supervision prior to that time. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

An increase in various illnesses is typical for this time of year. Here are some important reminders about when to keep your children home from school. Your cooperation is crucial in maintaining a healthy environment for all students.

Please keep your child at home if they:

• Have had a fever of 100.0°F or higher within the past 24 hours.

• Have experienced vomiting or persistent diarrhea in the last 24 hours.

• Are diagnosed with strep throat (they can return after 12 hours on antibiotics and no fever for 24 hours).

• Have influenza or COVID-19 (they can return after being fever-free for 24 hours and once the cough has subsided).

• Exhibit a severe, frequent cough that would impede concentration and disturb others.

• Have a draining wound.

Your adherence to these guidelines helps us in our collective effort to keep our students healthy.

*When the nurse's office contacts you to pick up your sick child, please aim to do so as promptly as possible.

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. This includes running around the Commons and being in areas in the school that are prohibited during games. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Elementary School Hours

Classes begin at 8:20 a.m. and are dismissed at 3:03 p.m. Students who are not in class by 8:20 a.m. will be marked tardy. If students arrive after 8:40 a.m., they will be marked absent.

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. 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 not permitted in the school building during school hours without prior approval. Students are not permitted to bring visitors to school, and visitors are not allowed during breakfast or lunch. This policy helps maintain a focused and productive atmosphere for all students, and we appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

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: As we ease into spring and hold onto the potential for winter weather, it is essential to remember that your child(ren) will have outdoor recess every day, weather permitting, unless it is below 0 degrees or if it is raining or wet outside. In such cases, recess will be held indoors. 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 need to have the appropriate outdoor clothing 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.

From February 10–13, our students embraced the spirit of Random Acts of Kindness Week, filling our school with positivity and generosity! 💙 Whether they were creating heartfelt cards for nursing home residents, expressing appreciation for staff, or leaving uplifting notes throughout the building, their kindness made a meaningful impact. Seeing how small gestures can brighten someone’s day and strengthen our school community is incredible. 💫

In Mrs. Olson’s first-grade classroom, young learners are diving into the world of reading with enthusiasm and determination! These budding readers have been strengthening their language comprehension skills by actively engaging with books, using their UFLI strategies to decode words, build fluency, and deepen their understanding.Through read-alouds, partner reading, and independent practice, students are not only sharpening their phonics skills but also developing a love for storytelling and exploration through literature. Watching them apply their newfound reading strategies is an exciting reminder of the growth happening every day in first grade! Keep up the amazing work, first graders—your reading journey is just beginning!

Fourth-grade students in Ms. Norman’s and Mrs. Landsteiner’s classrooms recently took on the exciting challenge of comparing decimals by reasoning about their size. Through hands-on activities and engaging discussions, students explored the relationships between decimal values, strengthening their number sense and mathematical reasoning. Students worked through real-world examples, using place value understanding and visual models to justify their comparisons. Keep up the great work, fourth graders!

Through our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), students engage in targeted learning experiences designed to strengthen foundational skills and deepen their understanding at every level of instruction. this past week, studnets worked on the following:

🔢 Mastering Fractions: Students worked collaboratively in a small group on fraction concepts, building confidence and mathematical reasoning through hands-on activities and guided practice.

📖 Unlocking Word Meanings with UFLI: In small groups, students used the UFLI curriculum to explore words with multiple meanings, such as pour and poor, strengthening their vocabulary and comprehension skills. These structured literacy activities support fluency and critical thinking by helping students make meaningful connections between words in different contexts.

Students in Mrs. Henning’s second-grade lass have been reading Helen Keller and exploring how individuals with visual impairments navigate the world. As part of their learning, they engaged in hands-on activities with Kristi Portugue from South Central Cooperative. Students had the opportunity to write their names in Braille, stamp Braille letters, use goggles to simulate different visual impairments, and practice writing in Braille, discovering that it must be written in reverse before flipping the paper for proper orientation. This interactive experience provided valuable insight into accessibility and inclusion, and students thoroughly enjoyed the unique learning opportunity.

February was an exciting month at USC Elementary as students participated in the Books Are Fun – Book Blast! This incredible event was designed to put books into the hands of every student, fostering a love of reading, sparking imagination, and building a lifelong passion for learning. Throughout the event, students eagerly anticipated the arrival of their new books and the chance to win fun prizes. A huge thank you to Michelle Gottberg for making this event possible!

A special thank you to Joanne Cooper for her incredible support during our roller skating unit! She went above and beyond by ensuring every student's skates were laced up and ready to go, ensuring they could fully enjoy the experience. On top of that, she captured the excitement by taking photos of each student in action during their physical education class. Thank you, Joanne, for your dedication and enthusiasm!

On February 28, USC Elementary students, families, and staff gathered to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with our beloved Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast. This tradition has united our school community for over 20 years. Families enjoyed a special breakfast alongside their children, sharing laughter, conversation, and, of course, green eggs and ham. The event fosters a love of reading while giving parents and guardians a meaningful way to engage with their child's school experience. Students also had the chance to win exciting prizes, adding a layer of joy to the morning. It is also a true testament to the strong sense of community at USC Elementary. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast a success; we couldn’t have done it without you!

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