United South Central Elementary

Merry Christmas from USC Elementary!
As we near the midpoint of our school year, December offers a natural pause to reflect on the value of time, time spent learning, growing, and connecting as a school community. It is a moment to celebrate the progress our students have made academically and socially, recognize the dedication of our teachers and staff, and appreciate the ongoing support of families who make learning possible every day.

During November, we focused on gratitude, and that spirit has carried beautifully into December. This month has provided several opportunities to come together as a school family, including our Christmas choir and band concert and the fifth-grade gingerbread house event. These experiences allow students to showcase their talents, creativity, and teamwork while strengthening vital social-emotional skills such as cooperation, perseverance, and kindness.

This season also encourages us to slow down and notice the small but meaningful moments: exploring new ideas in the classroom, engaging in hands-on projects, building friendships, and navigating the joys and challenges of growing together. Amid the hustle and bustle of the holidays, consider giving your child the gift of time, time to read, create, play, and connect with loved ones.

As we reflect on this growth, we also want to highlight the meaningful learning taking place each day across our school. Highlights include the launch of our new reading curriculum, CKLA, where students have been diving into rich stories—from Greek myths to medical discoveries to classic favorites. These texts help expand vocabulary, strengthen writing, and deepen students’ understanding of the world. In math, hands-on problem-solving and collaborative learning are building students’ confidence and critical-thinking skills. Across all subjects, students are developing academically, socially, and emotionally—strengthening their curiosity, resilience, empathy, and sense of belonging. This intentional focus on learning, growth, and connection ensures each student has the support they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.

As we close out the year and welcome a new one, remember to make it The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! I want to extend my heartfelt wishes to you, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and a joyous Winter Solstice. Thank you for your ongoing support of your children and of USC Elementary School. I sincerely appreciate everyone who contributes to making United South Central such an exceptional community. Embrace the season, and here’s to a happy, healthy, and successful 2026!

Best-
Jennifer Taylor

Principal, USC Elementary
It’s a Great Day to be a Rebel!

Starting next week, students and staff will participate in USC’s annual Holiday Dress-Up Days. Grab your best Christmas gear and your most creative ideas, and join us in spreading holiday cheer throughout the school!

This year, we are continuing our quarterly Rebel Pride celebrations to recognize students who consistently exemplify Respectful, Responsible, and Safe behaviors. Teachers nominate outstanding students from each grade level for demonstrating these values across settings, including classrooms, hallways, and events. During the Rebel Pride ceremony, nominated students are honored with a formal announcement of their names, a framed certificate, and a medal. The celebration also include school-wide rewards that vary each quarter. In the first quarter, students enjoyed a read-in pajama day. This quarter, students will attend a Christmas movie at the Flame Theatre.

In grades 5–6, students participated in an awards ceremony and then gathered for a high-energy game of BINGO, courtesy of the Lions Club. Students had the opportunity to win fun prizes, including chips, candy, and Gatorade. Before winter break, students will also attend a movie at the Kee Theatre as a special celebration.

This award is given to students who go above and beyond, showing respect to staff, students, and property during the quarter.

Pictured (L to R): Leona Bushlack, Natasha Galvan Contreras, Noel Warmka, Maisie Boeck, and Lana Chobu

This award is presented to students who consistently arrive on time, demonstrate dedication to completing their work, and willingly help others throughout the quarter.
Pictured (L to R) Addilyn Mcanally, Wesley Sahr, Rory Leland, Olive King, and Selah Korynta

This award is given to students who make safe choices, keep their hands and feet to themselves, and follow safety protocols in the classroom and throughout the building.

(L to R) Adison Weyhrauch, Jordan Koelle, Caprix Feist, Hadley Hueper, and Alberto Franco

📝 December 16 - School Board Meeting

🎞️ December 23- Grades K- 4 Holiday Movie at the Flame Theater
🎞️ December 23 - Grades 5 - 6 Holiday Movie at the Kee Theater

❄️ December 24- January 2nd- Winter Break - School Closed ❄️

📓January 16- End of 2nd Quarter

📅 January 19- No School Teacher Workday

📚 January 20- 2nd Semester/3rd Quarter Begins

Morning supervision at USC begins at 8:00 a.m. Please remind your student to arrive as close to this time as possible, whether they are dropped off, walking, or biking to school. Breakfast is served starting at 7:50 a.m. Before 8:00 a.m., staff members are engaged in meetings and other duties, so supervision is not available. Once students finish eating breakfast, they must go outside. 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.

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 of dropping your students off as close to 8:10 A.M. as possible to minimize the 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: Ensure you are parked legally when dropping off and picking up students before and after school. Parking and driving are off-limits in front of the school, where buses load and unload students. Do not park in any handicap-designated spaces unless you have the proper permit or placard. Parking on the grass is strictly prohibited.

-Crosswalks: To prioritize students' safety, we request that everyone consistently use the designated crosswalks exclusively when dropping off or picking up students. We emphasize that our top priority is student safety and discourage any attempts to walk between school buses, as this poses a significant safety risk.

-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. We need to be able to reach you in case of a school-wide emergency or if your child becomes ill. Also, keeping your contact information up to date makes sure you receive timely notices and announcements from the school.

-Outdoor Recess: Winter is here, and the temperatures have dropped. It is essential to remember that your child(ren) will have outdoor recess every day, weather permitting, unless the temperature is below 0 degrees, or it is raining or excessively wet outside. In such cases, recess will be held indoors. We appreciate your help in ensuring your child comes to school dressed appropriately for the weather. Unless the temperature is 60 degrees or higher, students should wear a jacket or coat. During the winter months, please make sure your child has proper outdoor clothing, including layers, hats, mittens/gloves, scarves, boots, and snow pants when there is snow on the ground or when the playground is muddy.

-Extra Clothing: Please send an extra set of clothing with your child. It is vital to have an additional set in case of spills, mud, accidents, and wet clothing from recess. Thank you.

-Lost and Found: The Lost and Found tables are located in the Commons area, near the vending machines. To prevent your child's items from ending up in Lost and Found, please ensure all clothing is labeled with your child's name.

Every year, Jamie Gordon-Kamm and the kitchen staff host an annual Thanksgiving dinner with all the traditional fixings at USC. This year, the administration team volunteered to serve food for the third consecutive year. The experience has broadened their understanding of how food service operates while also providing a meaningful opportunity to express gratitude to both students and staff.

Mr. Walker’s class explored the Greek myth Arachne the Weaver while learning lessons about humility and creativity. Students discussed new vocabulary, turned and talked with partners to share ideas, and even got to see a real loom to connect the story to real life. They wrapped up the lesson by writing about the story’s message—bringing reading, writing, and rich discussion together!

Every Friday, our preschool students spend the full day at USC, giving them a wonderful opportunity to become familiar with the school as they prepare for kindergarten next year. They enjoy eating lunch in the cafeteria, participating in physical education, and engaging in both academic and play-based activities. One of their favorite parts of the day is getting to play in the gym—they absolutely love it!

Fifth- and sixth-grade band students proudly presented their Christmas concert on December 2, 2025—a particularly special event, as it marked the band’s first holiday performance in eight years. Families and community members filled the space with excitement as students showcased their growing musical talents. The concert program included a delightful mix of pieces, including “Hot Cross Buns,” “Au Clair de la Lune,” “Down by the Station,” “Country Walk,” “Jingle Bones,” “Christmas Star,” and “Popcorn Prelude.”

First-grade students have been excitedly exploring the human body through their new CKLA reading curriculum. As young scientists, they are learning all about the esophagus, the stomach, and how food moves through the digestive system—among other highlights. Their curiosity has sparked excellent classroom discussions, hands-on activities, and a growing fascination with how the human body works.

As part of their new CKLA Reading Curriculum, third-grade students listened to a story about a Komodo dragon in one of the bonus units. To support strong comprehension, students are practicing key reading strategies such as asking What do you think? And what do you notice?, as well as examining text features to deepen their understanding. Through this work, students have uncovered fascinating facts about Komodo dragons. These remarkable reptiles can grow larger than some crocodiles, reaching over 10 feet in length and weighing more than 150 pounds. They are native to Komodo Island and the surrounding islands in Indonesia.

It was the Most Wonderful Day of the Year at USC today as fifth-grade parents joined their students for the annual Gingerbread House Decorating Day. This beloved fifth-grade tradition brings families together for creativity, connection, and plenty of holiday cheer. The smiles, frosting-covered fingers, and festive designs made it a truly memorable event once again.

One of the greatest benefits of having students in PreK through 12th grade under one roof is the meaningful relationships that grow across age levels, primarily through our Big Rebel/Little Rebel Program. This initiative allows high school students to sign up and be paired with elementary students, creating powerful mentorship connections. Together, they meet regularly to read, do homework, play games, and enjoy each other's company. These moments not only brighten students’ days but also help build a stronger, more connected Rebel community. A special thank you to our high school leaders for making this possible.

On December 8, students in grades K–6 performed in the Christmas program held in the High School Gym. They sang a variety of classic holiday songs, including Frosty the Snowman, Jingle Bells, and Feliz Navidad. The final song, Here Comes the Snow, was a favorite among the students and concluded the program on a joyful note, spreading holiday cheer to all who attended.

USC teachers celebrated the 67th day of school in style by showing off their favorite “6–7” gear. Our fifth- and sixth-grade teachers took the fun even further, dressing up as “Sick 7” to bring creativity, enthusiasm, and plenty of laughs to mark the day.

Lean on your friends—and lend a helping hand when you can. Merry Christmas!

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