Union Team Update

• Collaboration Weeks - Please check the updated calendar (as we have shifted third and fourth grade weeks): Union Schedules 24-25.xlsx

• Collaboration this Week - 4th grade (we are starting Cycle 5)
• Body Safety Lessons were originally scheduled in March and it conflicts with IREAD. I shared my concerns with the organization and they had this week available (February 12 and 13) available. If you receive an opt out form, please make sure you give that to Erin and/or Lori ASAP!
• February 12 - PTO is organizing a Valentines Cookie Walk just for you! Stop by and fill a box with sweet treats! I had them move this to Wednesday so you can get your weekend started after buses pull out on Friday for the long weekend.
• Friday, February 14 is our day for Valentine's Parties. Please utilize this link to submit your party schedule: Party Schedules.docx.
• Pre-Registration helps Jena and Stephanie plan out the day, expedite the check in process, and ensure safety. Please make sure your volunteers have access to the link! SafeVisitor
• Snack is purchased by the PTO. Please note that students should not be exchanging food items with their Valentines - if you are passing out Valentines. Snack will consist of a Strawberry Fruit Strip and Skinny Pop Popcorn.
• Presidents Day is Monday, February 17 - No School
• ZEF grant proposals are due February 18. (See below)
• This week's weather is looking to include some SNOW! Please make sure you take your laptop home each night. You never know if we will have to delay and/or go to eDay.

February is Black History Month and we will be recognizing the achievements and contributions of African Americans in U.S. History. Our classrooms will engage in various educational activities to highlight the impact of individuals and groups of people on our nation’s history. Please share resources, plans, or ideas here: Black History Month Resources.docx Please note that we will have an announcement each morning focusing on Black History Month and the achievements of African Americans in US History.

Looking forward to a great week!

Erin

Spotlight Night - THANK YOU FOR SIGNING UP! I HAVE SHARED THE LIST WITH OUR PTO! I APPRECIATE YOU - and yes I'm yelling that, but happy, excited, yelling. :)

This year, instead of our usual Starry Night event and teacher time auction, the PTO is excited to invest time and energy in our Spotlight Night (March 22)! As you know, this event is a big undertaking, which happens every three years, and is made possible by an incredible team of volunteers who work hard to transform our school into a magical experience for our students. While there won’t be a teacher time auction this year, the PTO is asking for your support to help make Spotlight Night a success. If you’re able to volunteer, please sign up on the whiteboard outside the mailroom. Our PTO does so much for our school, and this is a great way to show our appreciation for their generosity and dedication. We’d love to see you there—thank you for helping make this event special!

ZEF Spring Classroom and Imagine Grant Application:

• Tuesday, February 18 at 5:00pm is the next ZEF Grant deadline! Applications are open for ZEF Classroom and ZEF Imagine Professional Development Grants. ZEF Classroom Grants are available to any ZCS employee and Imagine PD Grants are available to any educator with at least three years of full-time education experience (those three years do not have to be all at ZCS.) ZEF wants to learn about and fund your great ideas for your students and your own growth and renewal!
• Grant guidelines and application links can be found on the ZEF website here: https://zionsvilleeducationfoundation.org/how-we-do-it/
• Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Lyle Browne at lbrowne@zcs.k12.in.us or x11500 with any questions!

February

12 - PTO Cookie Walk - 2:45-3:30 PM - LGI Room

12-13 - Body Safety Lessons

14 - Valentines Day Parties (varied times)

17 - Presidents Day - No school

21 - Third and Fourth Grade Spelling Bee - 1:15 AM - Union Gym

March

3-14 - IREAD testing window (2nd and 3rd grade)

4 - Dads Club Meeting in the Teachers Lounge at 7 PM

5 - Fourth Grade Special People Breakfast at 7 AM in Union's Cafe

6 - PTO Meeting - 8 AM Executive Meeting, 9 AM General Meeting - Union's Makerspace

6-8 - Do Days - What are you doing for acts of service?

8 - Dads Club 2 on 2 Basketball Tournament - Union Gym

10-27 - Spring NWEA Testing Window

14 - End of the Third Quarter

21, 22, 23 - PTO Spotlight Night (grade level times are TBD)

25 - Kindy Round Up (3PM-7PM) - Union Cafe and Blue Pod

26 - 4th grade music visits (Middle school visits Union from 9-11 AM)

27 - Beach Day at Union and Cafe

28-April 4 - Spring Break

April

8 - Dads Club Meeting in the Teachers Lounge - 7 PM

9 - 4th grade Visits ZMS (9-11 AM)

10 - PTO Meeting - Executive at 6 PM, General is at 7 PM

21-25 - Digitarium will be in the STEM classroom

14-May 9 - ILEARN (grades 3-4)

23 - National Administrative Professionals Day!

28-May 2 - Scholastic Spring Book Fair

May

1 - Related Arts Night 5-7 PM

2 - Third Grade Multiplication Celebration - 1:15-2:00 PM

5-9 - Music Informances (Grades 1 and 3) - During specials - schedule to be announced

4-9 - National Teacher Appreciation Week - Celebrate our Teachers!

6 -Dads Club Meeting in the Teachers Lounge - 7 PM

8 - National School Nurse Appreciation Day - Celebrate Erica Clark!

9 - Third Grade Speciality Animal Celebration - 1:15-2:00 PM (Union Purple Pod)

14, 15, 16 - 4th Grade Musical - Union Cafe (Times to TBD)

15 - Third Grade Zionsville Walking Tour Field Trip

18 - National Speech Pathologist Appreciation Day - Celebrate Tisha Van Curen

22 - PTO Meeting - 6 PM Executive Meeting, 7 PM General PTO Meeting

22 - Third Grade Rocket Launch - outside in Dads Club Shelter - this will be AM or PM depending on weather

23 - Special Event (More to come!) at 9:15 AM

23 - Kindy 500 - Soccer Fields at 1:15 PM

26 - Memorial Day - No School

27 - Fourth Grade Celebration - 4:30-6:30 PM - PTO will organize an end of the year celebration for fourth graders - Playground, Dads Club Shelter, Soccer Fields, Kickball Fields

28 - Field Day - Union Soccer Fields - no Rain Date

29 - Fourth Grade Talent Show - Parent Performance 6:00-7:30 PM - Union Cafe

30 - Last Day of School, Fourth Grade Talent Show All School Performance, End of Fourth Quarter

June

3-4 - Teaching and Learning Summit (see picture below)

• 24-25 District Calendars

• ZCS 2024-2025 School Calendar
• ZCS 2024-2025 Back-To-School Days and Open Houses
• ZCS 2024-2025 Corporation Testing Calendar
• ZCS Staff Back-to-School Dates/Plans

Christa Luke - 1

Lori Karnuta - 2

Jenna Schmidt - 6

Jill Heinzen - 11

Erin Kay - 13

Abigail Wright - 15

Kat Langley - 17

Cocoa - 21

Guille Rivera - 24

Stephanie Forte - 25

Erin has bus duty (AM and PM) and third grade lunch duty each day.

Laura will have car rider duty (AM and PM) and kindy lunch duty each day.

Monday

9:15 - Collaboration

11:35-12:05 - Kindy Lunch Duty (Christie)

12:10-12:40 - 3rd Lunch Duty (Kay)

2:45 - FBA meeting with USS team (Kay and Christie)

Tuesday

9:30-12:30 - Erin and Laura will be at ESC for the morning at their monthly meeting.

9:15 - Collaboration

11:35-12:05 - Kindy Lunch Duty (Christie)

12:10-12:40 - 3rd Lunch Duty (Kay)

2:40-3:30 - BBT Wellness and Social

Wednesday

9:15 - Collaboration

10:30 - Principal Lunch with Second Grade

11:35-12:05 - Kindy Lunch Duty (Christie)

12:10-12:40 - 3rd Lunch Duty (Kay)

PTO Cookie Walk - 2:45 PM

Thursday

9:15 - Collaboration

11:35-12:05 - Kindy Lunch Duty (Christie)

12:10-12:40 - 3rd Lunch Duty (Kay)

1:20-2:15 - MTSS Meeting (Kay and Christie - along with Lori, Bianca, Sara, Tisha)

2:45 - AC Teachers Meeting (Masters, Abu)

STEM and Art District Meeting this afternoon

Friday

Valentines Day Parties

9:15 - Collaboration

11:35-12:05 - Kindy Lunch Duty (Christie)

12:10-12:40 - 3rd Lunch Duty (Kay)

Collaboration Weeks have been edited a bit during Cycle 6. Please check the schedule here:

Cycle 5:

• 10-Feb Fourth
• 18-Feb Third (Presidents Day is February 17)
• 24-Feb Second
• 3-Mar No Collaboration
• 10-Mar First

Cycle 6:

• 17-Mar No Collaboration
• 24-Mar No Collaboration
• 7-Apr No Collaboration
• 14-Apr No Collaboration
• 21-Apr No Collaboration
• 28-Apr Second
• 5-May First
• 12-May No Collaboration
• 19-May Kindy* and Fourth
• 27-May Third (Monday is Memorial Day)

* Indicates during the morning (8:10-8:45 AM)

2024-2025 Testing Calendars

Quarter 1:

• Ends October 11
• Grades are due by October 25 at 8 AM

Quarter 2:

• Ends December 20
• Grades are due by January 10 at 8 AM

Quarter 3:

• Ends March 14
• Grades are due by March 21 by 8 AM

Quarter 4:

• Ends May 30
• Grades are due by June 4 at 8 AM

Space 5 Boys and Girls Club Bus

Space 6 - Bus #26 - Keith Hobson - The Willows

Space 7 - Bus #28 - Penny Elmer - West Brookhaven

Space 8 - Bus #62 - Troy Willett - County Roads

Space 9 - Bus #66 - David Todd - Brookhaven/Fieldstone

Space 10 - Bus #73 - George Hofer - Brittany Chase/ The Willows

Space 11 - Bus #77 - Joe Wren - Country Wood/Willow Glen/Fieldstone

Space 12 - Bus #84 - Drew Fites - Hidden Pines / Bridlewood

In addition to the ZCS Board Policies, Union has developed procedures and expectations which can be found in our Teams files and are linked below:

Union Elementary Staff Procedures - Click here to gain access to our staff procedures handbook. This outlines expectations and logistical topics: Union STAFF Procedures

Union Elementary Guidelines for Success - Schoolwide Procedures and Expectations (Guidelines for Success) - During the spring of 2019, a team of teachers from across grades/content areas worked together to develop the outline for our school-wide procedures and expectations. This initial work led to the development of a multi-faceted school vision for creating a positive school climate. Our purpose for this plan is: We want Union Elementary to be a safe and enjoyable place to learn and grow each day where everyone is cared for and treated with dignity.

Union's Guidelines for Success

As a Union STAR Student I am Safe, Trustworthy, Accepting of Others, Respectful/Responsible),

and I will…

Take Care of Self

Take Care of Each Other

Take Care of This Place

Student Matrix: Utilize this to develop classroom expectations with your students!

Teacher Matrix: Utilize this as a reference to support your colleagues.

These links have been updated for the 2024-2025 school year.

Personal Business Day(s) Request

For Certified Team Members: To request "personal business days," please complete the following process.

1. Go to the following link, and complete the "personal business request" form: Personal Day Request Form
2. Once the form is completed, please send a brief email to me (Erin) that includes the date(s) of your request(s). Remember, this should be completed at least 48 hours prior to the personal day.
3. Enter your upcoming absence in AESOP as soon as possible. (It can always be deleted later should plans change)

Technology Work Orders

• Please click link above to submit a technology work order.
• It is always extremely helpful if you can submit actual technology work orders for ANY help you need.

Above & Beyond Nomination Form

• On our ZCS website, any ZCS staff and/or community member can nominate the work of any ZCS employee that has done extraordinary work. If you've experienced professional support that is above & beyond, feel free to recognize them through this nomination!
  

Work Orders

• Click the link above for direct access to the TEACHERS/STAFF PAGE
• --> At the top of the page:

  --> Look for: Workorder Requests for Custodial, Maintenance and Technology: M Work order

  --> Log in and document the work order
  
  

STAR Student Nomination Form - Each week we invite you to nominate a student to receive our schools "STAR STUDENT" recognition. We will call this student to the main office for a picture on Friday mornings. Please submit each Thursday by the end of the school day or we will not be able to include your student. Your submissions (exact text) will be directly merged into the certificates that will be printed for the students.

Dads Club Wish List - Dads Club meets on the first Tuesday of every month. Wish List items can be supplies that enhance your curriculum or any fun activities you are planning to do with students. Please note it will take approximately 2 months to order (board approval is necessary).

Union Elementary strives to create a nurturing and kid-focused learning environment where teachers, students, and parents work together in supportive and collaborative partnerships so all students can meet their potential.