Welcome to the Bulldog Blog

Union Pleasant Elementary school

December 2023 Edition

A Message from your Admin. Team

Mrs. Dehlinger

Principal

mdehlinger@hcsdk12.org

UPES

Leadership Team

Mrs. Wilson

Assistant Principal

swilson@hcsdk12.org

Working in a school is truly one of the most meaningful careers, as you get to help students learn skills that will impact them for the rest of their lives. December is a month with extra joy in school! We will have so many fun activities for our students such as the Merry Moose Shop, our PJ and movie day, crazy hat day, not to mention all the celebrations and activities that will take place within the classrooms. We enjoy all of this, and through it, we also continue to model and develop positive character traits for all of our students.

Every month we come together as a school at our Community Celebrations. They are high energy and fun - truly a time to celebrate together as a school community! We recognize and call attention to the students who work hard to be the best versions of themselves. During the month of December, the character trait that we celebrate is Generosity.

When we think of generosity it’s often in terms of gift giving or volunteering. However, for our K-5 students, generosity can also be a spontaneous part of their day. Let children know that it is always good to look for little ways to make a small, but positive, impact in someone’s day. Examples would be pitching in to speed up a sibling’s chores, being kind to someone after they’ve made a mistake, or even just a warm smile. It's important to remember that being generous with care and kindness can happen every day!

Making cookies, cards, and small presents can be fun for kids, and giving them to people in their community can make them feel part of something bigger than themselves. Whether they are for neighbors or teachers, the local crossing guard or extended family, spreading cheer strengthens bonds and reminds kids to appreciate the people in their lives.

Our kids look up to us as examples--even when we think they aren't! Talking to them about giving back is important, but setting an example of generosity in real life shows kids you are living authentically. We work hard at Union Pleasant to be wonderful examples for our students as an extension to all that you are doing at home for your children. Like everything we do here, we know that it's always better when we work together!

Below, I have listed the traits that we will celebrate for the rest of the year in case you wish to call attention to them at home, as well as sending us pictures for Uniquely U at UPES. When we receive submissions of students helping out their community with selfless acts, our students are recognized at a Kiwanis Club ceremony. We truly love when we get to see the great things that our students are doing outside of our UPES walls, as well!

We hope that December is filled with love, joy, health, and peace for you and your family!

Mrs. Molly Dehlinger

Character Traits:

January- Optimism

February- Compassion

March- Respect

April- Determination

May- Integrity

June- (No community celebration as we wrap up the year)

December Calendar of Events

December 1 Bulldog Pride Spirit Day

Earth Spirit Program for Grade 4 students

December 4 - 6 Merry Moose Holiday Shop

December 4 8:00 AM Gr. 4 & 5 Boys Intramurals

7:00 PM Grade 4 Chorus Concert - Pleasant Ave. Auditorium

December 5 Elementary Report Cards Issued

December 6 8:00 AM Art Club & Gr. 4 & 5 Girls Intramurals

December 7 11:30 AM Elementary Early Dismissal for Parent/Teacher Conferences

7:00 PM Grade 5 Chorus, Band, & Orchestra Concert - Pleasant Ave. Auditorium

December 8 Buffalo Bills Spirit Day - wear red, white, & blue

December 11 8:00 AM Gr. 4 & 5 Boys Intramurals

December 12 6:30 PM Board of Education Meeting at Armor Elementary

December 13 8:00 AM Art Club & Gr. 4 & 5 Girls Intramurals

December 15 11:30 AM Elementary Early Dismissal for Parent/Teacher Conferences

December 18 Ugly Sweater Spirit Day

Mr. Morton & Barnyard Buddies visit Kindergarten

8:00 AM Gr. 4 & 5 Boys Intramurals

December 19 Red & Green Spirit Day

December 20 Festive Headwear Spirit Day

8:00 AM Art Club & Gr. 4 & 5 Girls Intramurals

December 21 Pajama Spirit Day for Movie Day

December 22 - January 1 Winter Recess

*There is no Youth Center Program on our early dismissal days - December 7 and 15. However, we still have the YMCA program after the dismissal on those days.

Car Arrival and Dismissal Procedure

A village school with limited real-estate makes for interesting car arrival and dimissal procedures. Over the summer, we contemplated moving the parent pick-up to the Hawkins lot and the buses to our Union lot however, a large bus cannot navigate the tight turn in the Union parking lot. So, we continue to do the best we can and will always look for ways to improve our procedures.

We do ask that parents and guardians who are using the car drop off/pick-up, line up in the car line that forms in the direction coming from Lake Street. In other words, always make a left-hand turn into our Union Street parking lot during arrival and dismissal times. Following this procedure shows respect and courtesy to all those using the car drop off and pick up. If you have a relative or friend dropping off or picking your child up, please remind them of this procedure.

Parent Volunteers - New this Year:

All volunteers must complete the online training each year, even if you have been trained in the past. This includes class field trip volunteers and helping with holiday parties. Instructions are now found in the Form Library of your Operoo account. This includes the link to the training along with information on registering for an account. We will need this done this well in advance of the date(s) you are planning to volunteer, as they must also be Board-of-Education approved before being a volunteer. Thank you.

UPES Annual Bake Sale and Raffle Baskets 2023.docx

PTSA

Merry Moose Holiday Shop

Merry Moose returns to school from December 4 - 6. Students will have a chance to shop during school hours for gifts all priced at $2 each. Budget envelopes and fliers will come home before they shop and can be used to write down the list of people they will be shopping for. PTSA volunteers will be available to assist students as they shop. A sign-up genius for volunteer times was posted to the UPES PTSA Facebook page for anyone who is available to help. Shopping days for each class will be posted to the Facebook page as well for reminders.

Winter Carnival

The winter carnival will be returning to a format more familiar to years past and will include carnival games, prizes, a cake walk and crafts. The carnival will be moved to February 8 to, hopefully, accommodate more families due to conflicts on the weekends. More information will be available in January, but for now, we are looking for volunteers to help plan the event. If you are interested in helping out, please email Lynn Mason at ltn46@hotmail.com.

Spirit Days

December 1 – Bulldog Pride – purple/white

December 8 – Buffalo Bills Gear

December 18 – Ugly Sweater

December 19 – Red and green

December 20 – Festive Headwear

December 21 – Pajama Day (Movie Day)

Counselor’s Corner:

Ms. DiCristofaro and Mrs. Cantie

The holiday season is in full swing!! The holidays can be a festive and joyful time of year to celebrate, give gifts, eat lots of food, and be with family and friends. But for some, it can be overwhelming and can even lead to feelings of loneliness, anxiety, or sadness — sometimes referred to as the “holiday blues.” There are many reasons why people might experience stress and sadness between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, some including: a lack of sleep and downtime, unrealistic expectations, financial stress, isolation, and anxiety about the new year ahead.

It is important to prioritize your health and wellness, especially this holiday season! Here are some ways you can ensure you are taking care of yourself these next couple of weeks:

· Prioritize rest! Make sure to get enough sleep, schedule downtime, and nourish your body.

· Call and connect with a loved one.

· Move your body! Go ice skating, skiing, yoga, or take a stroll out in the winter air.

· Practice mindfulness: use your breath to bring you into the present moment and feel connected.

· Stay hydrated and nourish your body with lots of nutritious foods!

· Volunteer in the community.

· Try out a new hobby!

· Give yourself grace and enjoy your holiday “failures,” imperfections, and everything that doesn’t go according to plan.

UPES School Nurse:

Mrs. Sarah Insley

Phone: (716) 646-3287

Fax: (716) 646-3237

Email: sinsley@hcsdk12.org

Notes from the Nurse

Many UPES students will be asking for their two front teeth this holiday season!

Updates:

Hearing, Vision, and Scoliosis screenings will continue this month. You can view your child's results on the parent portal. A letter will be sent home if your student needs follow up with thier healthcare provider.

COVID Guidelines:

If a student or staff tests positive for COVID, they must isolate for five days at home and wear a mask days 6-10. (The day they start symptoms or if they are asymptomatic and test positive is Day 0.)

General Reminders:

All physicals must be on the NYS Health Appraisal form to be accepted. Please fax, email, or provide hard copy to the health office.
Medications must be brought to the health office by a parent/guardian. Parents/Guardians must sign the medication permission form and provide Doctor School Medication Order Form.
Please consider leaving a change of clothes in your child's backpack in the event of their clothes becoming soiled from a bathroom accident, spill, playing outside, etc. The health office is low on small-size clothing and underwear. Clothing donations are accepted.

Attendance Reminder

Anytime your child is absent from school, a paper note must be sent to school with your child upon their return, stating the reason for the absence. If you do not turn in the note, the absence will become an unexcused absence. Parents, please check your child's report card for any unexcused absences and send in a note for those date(s). If you are uncertain of the date(s), please contact Margaret Duszynski in the Attendance Office in the morning at (716) 646-3288.
Please call the Attendance Office each day that your child is absent. Our phone number is (716) 646-3288. A message can be left at anytime school is not open. Please do not call the main office or email the teacher to report an absence.
If your child(ren) will be absent because of a vacation, please fill out a vacation form two weeks prior to your departure. These forms are available in the main office, on our district website or click on this link: Family Vacation Form .