Parent/Family Update

Hi Parents/Families,

As we approach Veterans Day, I want to take a moment to emphasize the significance of this important day. Veterans Day is a time to honor and express our gratitude to the brave men and women who have selflessly served our country. It's an opportunity for our students to learn about the sacrifices made by veterans and the importance of showing respect and appreciation for their service. Please note that there will be no school on Friday, November 10, in observance of Veterans Day. We encourage you to discuss the meaning of this holiday with your children, helping them understand the value of freedom and the importance of those who have defended it.

Please be sure to review this newsletter for important updates and let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Dr. Alejandro Lozano

Principal

Greetings parents and relatives,

As you know, last week, the car line in the mornings (for student arrival) has been one lane. This has provided more safety for our students. I would like to provide these friendly reminders:

1. Walkers are received at 7:45 am.
   
2. Please, stay in the car until you hear the whistle. All cars need to be at a full stop.
   
3. Give your child and belongings to the staff. They are instructed to quickly take your child to the classroom. If you need to communicate with the teacher, please, send a message through Brightwheel. The goal is to have your child as soon as possible so you can be dismissed and we can receive the new cars to do the car line.
   
4. The right lane will be for parents/relatives who need extra time due to having a car seat, wheelchair, or if transitioning is difficult for your child. Please, kindly inform the staff doing the traffic to let you go to the right lane.
   
5. The school guardian will give a signal to let a staff walk with your child to school.
   
6. The school guardian will give a signal that the car line is dismissed.
   
7. If you arrive with your child at 8:15 am, it will be considered tardy, and you have to sign in at the front office.

As a reminder for dismissal in the afternoons: Parents/relatives have until 3:30 to pick up his/her child. After this time, you are tardy and there is a late fee to be paid ($1 per minute). Remember - Wednesday dismissal is at 2:00 pm and the first Friday of every month we release early at 12:00 PM.

Thank you so much for always supporting UCP Osceola-UCP Familia!

The PTO would like to send out a special thank you to all who participated and contributed to the Trunk or Treat event. Special shoutout to Julio Pina and family for winning the Trunk or Treat decorating competition. Awesome work!

"Roar with Knowledge" emphasizes the importance of learning, curiosity, and intellectual growth. It encourages students to be vocal in their pursuit of knowledge and to boldly express their ideas and thoughts.

"Lead with Pride" signifies the leadership qualities associated with lions. It inspires students to be confident, responsible, and compassionate leaders in their school and community. It also reflects the sense of pride they should feel in their accomplishments, achievements, and contributions to the world around them.

Together, this mantra encourages students to be academically ambitious, courageous, and empathetic leaders who contribute positively to their school and society as they grow into responsible individuals.

I hope this message finds you well. We would like to inform you of an upcoming meeting of the Charter School Board of Directors, which is open to the public. This meeting is an excellent opportunity for you to stay informed about the decisions and wonderful progress of our school.

Thank you for your continued support!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Geneliz Nieves at GNieves@ucpcfl.org

Date: November 16, 2023

Time: 6:00 PM

Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82726018131

Meeting ID: 827 2601 8131

Please take an opportunity to view the school calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. Pay close attention to early release dates, as well as days where we have no school programming. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly: Alejandro.Lozano@ucpcfl.org

We are delighted to inform you that as part of our commitment to providing a well-rounded education, all our students have the opportunity to participate in Visual Art and Physical Education as part of their "special area" curriculum. These enriching programs are offered to all students on campus throughout the week. Additionally, our 5th-grade class enjoys the added benefit of engaging in STEM activities, including coding and 3D printing, providing them with valuable hands-on experiences in the world of technology and innovation. We believe these programs contribute significantly to our students' holistic development and academic growth. If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to reach out to us. Thank you for your continued support in fostering a well-rounded education for our students.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Ms.Brianna (briannarose757@gmail.com) and Ms. Suzy (srose@ucpcfl.org) directly. Thank you!

Step Up For Students is a state-approved, nonprofit Scholarship Funding Organization that empowers families to pursue and engage in the most appropriate learning options for their children.

Step Up For Students administers Florida’s school choice programs. These programs include the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Opportunities (FES-EO), the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA), the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (FTC), the Hope Scholarship for students who are bullied or are victims of violence in a public school, and the New Worlds Scholarship Program for public school students in kindergarten through fifth grades who struggle with math and/or reading.

On July 1, 2023, the state of Florida expanded educational choice programs to all K-12 Florida students with the conversion of the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship into educational savings accounts (ESAs). With this expansion also came the Personalized Education Program. Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, every Florida resident student eligible to enroll in a public K-12 school may receive a school choice scholarship to utilize in different ways, such as for paying for transportation services.

Please click on the link below for more information.

We are excited to introduce a new initiative - the Parent Spotlight, which will be a weekly feature showcasing the businesses and professions of our parents. We invite you to share your business cards or information with us if you wish to be highlighted.

This week, we're excited

Starting with this week, it gives me great pleasure to shine a spotlight on the amazing "Ms. Millie." Not only is Ms. Millie a proud UCP mama bear, she also makes wonderful custom tees -- everything from screen prints to sublimations, you can make each tee your own with customizable options.

Please click on the link below to access her online store. You can also add her on FB by clicking on this link.

Thank you for contributing to the vibrant diversity of our school community, Ms. Millie!

We are thrilled to share an exciting update with you! At UCP Osceola, we are committed to providing our students with enriching and engaging learning experiences. With that in mind, we have recently introduced three fantastic after-school programs designed to make learning both practical and fun.

Our after-school clubs include:

1. Cooking Calculations: In this club, students not only explore the culinary world but also apply math concepts in a hands-on way. They get to experiment with measurements, fractions, and ratios while whipping up delicious dishes.

2. Music/Dance: Our music and dance club is a creative outlet for students to express themselves while enhancing their literacy and numeracy skills. Through rhythm and movement, they develop a deeper understanding of patterns and language.

3. Board Games: Board games are not only entertaining but also educational! In this club, students engage in strategic gameplay that encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and social interaction, all while reinforcing ELA and Math skills.

We launched these clubs last week, and the response from our students has been absolutely fantastic! They are enthusiastic, engaged, and eager to participate. We've seen some incredible moments of learning and fun, and we wanted to share a glimpse of the excitement with you. Please take a moment to view some pictures below.

We believe that these after-school programs will not only enhance your child's academic skills but also foster a love for learning in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. If you have any questions about these programs or would like more information, please don't hesitate to reach out.

We are pleased to introduce you to our new Behavior Specialist, Ms. Dana Gunter. Dana is excited to join the UCP Osceola familia to help support our students and teachers! Dana comes to us as an experienced behavior clinician and has worked/supported students from ages 2 to 18 years old in clinics and in-home therapy settings. She’s passionate about helping children learn self-advocacy, improve their communication and language skills, and enjoys assisting with building their independence. Dana has a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), is currently a Registered Behavior Therapist and is presently working on obtaining her Behavior Analyst certification (BCBA). If you see Dana, we encourage you to give her a nice big warm welcome and hello :-)

Please join us in wishing our amazing team members a Happy Birthday!

Dear Parent/Caregiver,

On behalf of UCP Osceola, I’d like to share with you about New Worlds Reading, Florida’s FREE book delivery program. New Worlds Reading mails free books and activities to eligible children to help strengthen their literacy skills, build reading confidence and nurture a lifelong love of reading. Once enrolled, students will automatically receive free books and resources through fifth grade, even if their reading scores improve.

New Worlds Reading is administered by the University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning, which has selected Scholastic as a partner. Books are selected in collaboration with the Florida Department of Education, with materials available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole or braille. This is an incredible opportunity to help your child build a free personalized at-home library and foster a love for reading in your home.

To be eligible, a child must be in VPK and not yet meeting age-appropriate standards according to FAST Star Early Literacy or in K-5th grade and not yet reading on grade level in a public or charter school. Apply for your child today by scanning the QR code below or visiting newworldsreading.com/enroll.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. Additionally, you can email the program directly at support@newworldsreading.com.

Thank you for continuing to encourage your child’s love of reading!

--

Estimado padre/madre/cuidador(a),

En nombre de UCP Osceola, me gustaría compartir con ustedes sobre New Worlds Reading, el programa de entrega de libros GRATUITO de Florida. New Worlds Reading envía por correo libros y actividades gratuitos a niños elegibles para ayudarlos a fortalecer sus habilidades de lectoescritura, desarrollar confianza en su capacidad de leer y fomentar un amor de por vida por la lectura. Una vez inscritos, los estudiantes recibirán automáticamente libros y recursos gratuitos hasta el quinto grado, incluso si sus calificaciones en lectura mejoran.

New Worlds Reading es administrado por el Centro para el Aprendizaje Lastinger de la Universidad de Florida, que ha seleccionado a Scholastic como socio. Los libros se seleccionan en colaboración con el Departamento de Educación de Florida. Los materiales están disponibles en inglés, español, criollo haitiano o braille. Esta es una oportunidad increíble de crear una biblioteca personalizada y gratuita para su niño/a, y fomentar en el hogar el amor por la lectura.

Para ser eligible, el niño deberá estar en VPK (programa de prekindergarten voluntario) y no cumplir todavía con los estándares apropiados para su edad según la evaluación FAST Star Early Literacy, o estar en kindergarten al 5.º grado en una escuela pública o chárter y no leer todavía al nivel de su grado. Inscriba a su niño/a hoy mismo. Para hacerlo, escanee el código QR que aparece a continuación o visite newworldsreading.com/enroll.

No dude en comunicarse conmigo si tiene alguna pregunta o duda. También puede enviar un correo electrónico al programa directamente a support@newworldsreading.com.

¡Gracias por continuar fomentando el amor por la lectura en su niño/a!

UCP Charter Schools follows the protocols and policy required by state statue on the use of Outside Care Providers (OCPs)/Private Instructional Personnel (PIP) requested by parents and guardians to supplement a student’s educational, medical, and/or behavior services in a public school during the school year including observing the student in the educational setting, collaborating with instructional personnel in the educational setting, and providing services in the educational setting.

Each Outside Care Provider goes through a local school district approval as a contact vendor and meets with the campus Principal prior to providing on-campus services. As vendors, they provide services deemed as a medical necessity by the related insurance carrier and services are focused on increasing opportunities for personal and educational growth by matching student needs with the approved services.

For more information on how your child's clinician can become a UCP Outside Care Provider/ Private Instructional Personnel, please visit the link below.

*NEW Link: Registration Information for Outside Care Providers

BREAKFAST

Monday: Fresh Seasonal Fruit, 100% Orange Juice, Whole Grain Bread, Margarine

Tuesday: Fruit Cup, 100% Blended Juice, Whole Grain Bread

Wednesday: Fresh Seasonal Fruit, 100% Orange Juice, Whole Grain Raisin Bread, Margarine

Thursday: Fresh Seasonal Fruit, 100% Apple Juice, Whole Grain Bread, Sunflower Kernels

Friday: No School

LUNCH

Monday: Milk, Hamburger, Baked Beans, Sweet Potato, 100% Blended Juice

Tuesday: Milk, Chicken & Rice, Seasoned Spinach, Pinto Beans, Applesauce Cup, Whole Grain Roll

Wednesday: Milk, Chicken Parmesan Casserole, Green beans, 100% Blended Juice, Whole Grain Roll

Thursday: Milk, Baked Chicken Drum, Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, Butternut Squash, Applesauce Cup, Whole Grain Roll

Friday: No School

As we embark on a new academic year, I would like to reiterate our commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all our students. In line with this, I want to remind everyone that our school is a nut-free environment. This policy has been put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students, especially those who have severe nut allergies. Even trace amounts of nuts or nut products can trigger severe allergic reactions in some children, which can be life-threatening. By maintaining a nut-free school, we aim to create a space where every child can thrive without the worry of exposure to allergens. We kindly request your cooperation in adhering to this policy by refraining from sending any nut-based products or foods containing nuts to school with your child. Thank you, as always, for your continued support!

While some illness at the beginning of the school year is to be expected, we kindly request your assistance in reinforcing some critical hygiene practices at home and at school:

1. Frequent Handwashing: Encourage your child to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing, sneezing, using the restroom, or touching shared surfaces.

2. Symptom Monitoring: Please monitor your child for any symptoms of illness daily before sending them to school. If they are experiencing any symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea or loss of taste or smell, it is crucial that they stay home and seek medical guidance as needed.

3. Student Illness Notification: In the event that a student is observed as unwell while at school, our health assistant will contact you promptly. You will receive a Student Illness Notification form (sample attached) that outlines the details of the situation. This form will provide important information for your awareness and assistance. Importantly -- note that the form may also specify a time-period where a student may be asked to quarantine/ stay home. Please be sure to review the form carefully and call us with any follow-up questions you may have.

We understand that adhering to school health guidelines can be challenging and inconvenient at times, but it's important to recognize that each action we take to keep our school community healthy contributes to the collective well-being of our students, teachers, and staff members.

Your understanding and cooperation during this period are deeply appreciated.

UCP now has a new vendor for student uniforms. If you are interested in purchasing uniforms, please follow the steps below:

▰Step 1: Visit www.Ibiley.com

▰Step 2: Find your School (UCP Osceola)

▰Step 3: Look through the various options and pay.

NOTE: For UCP Charter School K-5th Grade parents - we have some limited scholarships to help buy UCP Uniforms for UCP Students. If you are in financial need for this support - please click HERE to fill out the form.

As a reminder - UCP Charter School K-5th grade students are required to wear a UCP polo to school.

Few activities produce such valuable benefits for so many as school partnership and volunteering. Your involvement as an OASIS Volunteer or a Partner in Education for Osceola's schools reaps great rewards for students, teachers, parents, and administrators alike:

• Positive attitude toward school
• Improved attendance and academic performance
• Higher quality education
• Preparation for tomorrow's workforce and decision makers

As part of the school district's community relations efforts, the OASIS Department oversees the OASIS Volunteers and Partners in Education. Both of these programs help foster a strong sense of community between our schools and Osceola County as a whole.

Our schools need support for a variety of programs and projects. In order to help, you must first become an approved OASIS Volunteer.

Click here to submit a new application or to renew your volunteer status for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Code of Student Conduct is published each year to clearly communicate the behavioral expectations of students at all grade levels and to summarize the policies of The School District of Osceola County relative to management of student conduct. This handbook outlines the responsibilities and rights of all students, defines the District's rules of conduct and the behavioral expectations for students, identifies the consequences for violations of the rules of conduct, and clarifies the procedures for processing disciplinary infractions.