Union Center Elementary

UCE Family and Friends,

Welcome to our first newsletter for the 2025-26 school year! Typically each Friday I will send out a newsletter highlighting upcoming events, showcasing happenings throughout the previous week, sharing community news, and so much more. You will be emailed this newsletter link weekly, or you can find it on our UCE website under NEWS. Our website has news, highlights, calendars, and more. Bookmark it for all of your UTSC information.

I wanted to send a newsletter out early to give you some updates on registration, first days of school, and other UTSC quick information. If you have any questions you can always email me at jklein@union.k12.in.us. I will be back in the building on Monday, July 28th.

Have a great rest of your summer vacation!

Mrs. Klein

Registration begins Tuesday, July 29. Returning students, including Bearcat Beginnings PreK from last year, and families that came to Kindergarten Round Up can register online through the Harmony Portal. Any new students will come into the school office to complete paperwork for enrollment and then register.

Teachers will not be released until all families are registered. Typically this is the Tuesday or Wednesday following registration. We have the most amazing staff, so you will be in good hands!

UTSC K-12 First Day of School

All buildings will have their first day of school on Wednesday, August 13.

Elementary schools serve breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Students may go to their classes at 8:40 a.m., and The tardy bell rings at 8:50 a.m. School dismisses at 3:15 p.m.

Preschool First Day of School

UCE is thrilled to host our preschool students and families for the first year! Preschool starts Thursday, August 14th.

AM preschool runs from 8:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

All Day preschool will run from 8:15 a.m.- 2:45 p.m., with a lunch and recess break from 11:00-12:00.

Reminder, for the safety of our students, staff and community, we do not allow families to walk their children into school the first day. We have several support staff that will help our students get to their proper rooms.

This year all grades PreK-5 will meet their teacher and drop off supplies on Monday, August 11 from 6-7pm. Teachers will be there to say hello, give some quick information about the upcoming year, and meet our families.

Our amazing PTO will have a welcome table for our families as well. Be sure to stop by for information, check out the spirit wear, and see all of the ways to volunteer and get involved with PTO and UCE. We have an incredible PTO who does wonderful things for our Bearcats!

We are excited to offer this night for all of our students and families!

New Transportation Procedures for UCE!

With the addition of our preschool program, we will need to adjust some car rider procedures and need your help in supporting this so we can get everyone in and out on time.

AM Procedures:

K-5 car riders will continue to use the front lot, but may not arrive before 8:25am. Breakfast is served at 8:30 and we open the doors then to let students in. Those that are not eating, wait in the gym until 8:40 when we let everyone in.

Preschool families will go to the back lot and be greeted by our staff to get your child from the car.

Bus riders will be in the north bus lot and dismissed at 8:30 for breakfast and 8:40 for the school day.

PM Procedures:

Preschool leaves at 2:45pm and elementary leaves at 3:15pm.

Preschool families will come up to the back lot. Please do not wait back there until 2:30pm. If you arrive earlier, we will ask you to leave as the car line blocks our doorways for deliveries and emergencies.

Preschool Times

AM Class: 8:15- 11:00am

All Day Class: 8:15- 2:45pm

K-5 car riders will go to the cafeteria and exit the front door (Door 01) when their names are called. .

Please do not wait in line until 3:00pm. If you arrive earlier, we will ask you to leave as the car line blocks our doorways for deliveries and emergencies.

Bus riders will be in the bus lot and dismissed through Door 04 as they arrive.

Thank you so much for helping with the new times for waiting in line and getting our littlest Bearcats in and out safely. We appreciate your cooperation! Be on the lookout the first day of school for your car rider sign if you take that option. These need to be displayed in the front dash of the car picking up the student.

Thank you!

Date: Last Tuesday of every month starting in August

Time: 6:00 pm

Where: UCE Cafeteria

Who: Any UCE community member wanting to be involved and in the know!

Get Involved with UCE PTO!

Looking to be a part of the school? Our PTO is always seeking volunteers. Some things may be in person at school, and some may be things you do at home. Check them out on Facebook under UCE PTO to get connected with a wonderful group that really helps connect our school and families! You may also email them at unioncenterpto@gmail.com.

You can access Mealtime to upload funds or drop off money to the UCE office. Checks need to be made out to Union Center Elementary School and in the memo put your child(ren)'s names.

For more information about Food Services, check out our website or contact UCE's Kitchen Manager, Kim Camplan at kcamplan@union.k12.in.us.

See the information below for our UTMS incoming 6th grade students!

Any and all parents, but especially to our soon to be 6th grade families- please use this handbook as a guide to what to expect in your UTMS school years.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f25SBuCMFg4cGTVQO8OmLXMHS8Rd17u8ZDwURoqVucg/edit?usp=sharing

Come join us August 1st, 2nd at 7pm or August 3rd at 2pm and see Bearcat Theatre Company's community present "The SpongeBob Musical".