UES Swoop Scoop

Every month, at UES, we gather as a school community for a special assembly. We call this Community Time. During the assembly we do a community greeting, the PBIS team shares a school-wide challenge, and the monthly focus is rolled out through a read aloud.

On Thursday, October 5th, we had our second monthly assembly of the year. Our focus for October is fostering a growth mindset. The entire school sang a song learners had learned during the month of September with Mrs. Lafleur guiding them--and it was a beautiful sight to see. Mrs. Barea & Mrs. Beaupre read a wonderful book entitled, The Magical Yet, by Angela DiTerlizzi. This book helps learners of all ages open their minds to trying new things and realizing they may not understand or be able to do something the first time around. It helps us all embrace mistakes, overcome frustrations, encourages resilience, and it teaches the power of YET!

We ended the assembly with a video by CJ Lucky - ‘The Power of Yet!’ Enjoy CJ Lucky Video

The Wise Owl Goal of the Month:

Fostering a Growth Mindset

Wise Owls’ job:

If you think you can’t-reach for the Magical Yet

• UES Loves Community Art!
• Evening Events at UES During the 2023-2024 School Year
• Wunderle’s Big Top Adventures Full School Residency
• Grade Level Collaborative Team Work
  
• Join the 2023-2024 UES Caregivers Council
  
• News From Nurse Megan
• Halloween Note From MRPS Principals
• Next MRPS School Board Meeting

Who is art for?

How can art change how people feel and how we treat one another?

Fourth graders consider these big questions as they began the year by exploring Street Art of the past and present. Ms. Kristina guided them in thinking about how Street Art is for everyone to see and how Street Art can change a community. They learned that graffiti is a kind of Street Art in which the image or writing is created without permission and explore works by artists who have made graffiti during their art careers such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Banksy. Learners debated how the artists’ aesthetics or intentions might impact whether their graffiti is okay or not.

Ms. Kristina does an incredible job helping guide learners in understanding the importance of getting permission first and that making graffiti to damage a place is never okay. 4th graders explored works by contemporary Street Artists in a variety of media including mosaics, chalk, sculpture installations, and spray paint. Learners were inspired by Street Art styles to draw their name on paper as a signature tag as well as sketch proposals for Street Art that they would like to create for our community. As the culmination of this unit, 4th graders painted the now annual UES Street Art Mural on the barrier outside UES. This year, 3rd graders joined in painting, aiming to build excitement for the street Art unit they will participate in next school year.

We hope that everyone in our community enjoys seeing the mural and that our artwork brings joy and kindness to our school and our community.

In addition to Art outside our building, you may have noticed some UES Art popping up in other places around town. Check out "What Lifts You? Community Wings" located outside of Woodbury Toys. Artists in grades 1-4 at Union Elementary School each created a feather for this community project in their weekly Art classes. Learners were inspired by street artist Kelsey Montague and her #WhatLiftsYou murals of wings around the world.

Each young artist included drawings of what lifts them! If you look closely, you will find turtles, snowflakes, symbols of our community and faces of our friends and families. Some artists also included messages of hope and love. Wise Owls imagined how people might feel when they see our collaborative project on display. We hope that our artwork lifts your heart and spreads joy in our community!

We are so lucky to have Kristina Kane teaching our young artists at UES!

This year, we tried something new, holding our Open House in August as a Meet & Greet. This took place the day before school began and we had an incredible turnout! The goals of doing an open house prior to school beginning were to give learners a chance to see their new classroom and meet their teacher in a more relaxed way than on the first day of school. We also wanted families to be intentionally connected to their learner's teacher from the very beginning of the school year. In addition to our August Meet & Greet, UES families are also invited to visit the building for multiple evening events throughout the school year.

While our building wasn't directly impacted by flooding, we were indirectly impacted as contractors were pulled from planned construction over the summer in our building for flood relief in our community. You may have noticed some of the construction signs around the building while you were here in August. These projects have continued, with much of the work happening outside of school hours. We are excited for construction projects to be finishing up and to be able to kick off evening events in our gorgeous updated auditorium which is nearing completion. Check out the sneak peak-it’s going to be worth the wait!

Like last year, each grade level will have an evening Art & Music show. During these shows, families are invited not only to visit UES but also see a one of a kind show and view learner art pieces.

Family Fitness Night returned last year with a huge turnout and we are looking forward to opening our building to all of our families once again this year for this event in early spring.

Additionally, we are beyond excited for this year's school wide residency which will end with a culminating show...read on to find out more!

You may remember our full school Capoeira Residency that took place last school year in February. Learners in grades K-4 spent two weeks learning from Fuá Nascimento; a community member, UES parent, and native of Brazil. Our own UES Essential Arts team teammed up with Fuá and taught our K-4 Wise Owls about Brazilian cultures, they explored the techniques of all Capoeira elements, and grew intercultural competencies across the building. As a school, we learned about the world famous Carnival and made beautiful masks which were worn during our full school Carnival parade that culminated the residency experience last year.

This year, our Full School Residency will be...drum roll please!

Wunderle's Big Top Adventures!

Troy Wunderle is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of art, and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. He is a former international performer with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

​Troy is a proud native of Vermont. For the past 27 years, he has toured throughout the United States as a freelance performer and employee of Vermont's own Circus Smirkus. His antics have been featured on the Disney channel, The Today Show, Martha Stewart, Chronicle, Fetch, Fox and Friends and Americas Funniest Home Videos.

​Troy is the founding director of Wunderle's Big Top Adventures. He spent 27 years directing Circus Smirkus and 6 years as Director of Clowning for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He is a juried artist through the Vermont State Arts Council. Troy is the 2022 recipient of the American Circus Educators Excellence in Circus Education Award.

WBTA Residencies inspire the spirit and foster the talents of all students. Participants learn stunts, hone skills and receive individualized encouragement to combine disciplines and ​grow self-confidence.

This year's residency will take place in June and will culminate with an evening of Circus Fun on Thursday, June 13th. Mark your calendars!

At UES, grade level Collaborative Teams meet weekly, focused on the following Four Critical PLC Questions:

1. What do our students need to know and be able to do?
2. How will we know if our students are learning?
3. How will we respond when our students don’t learn?
4. How will we respond when our students already know it?

In essence, teams meet and work collaboratively to discuss and plan for how we are guaranteeing that all students become proficient in the named priority standards at each grade level and what happens along the way. For example, is the data showing that they need extra time and support? If so, which member of the team will be responsible? Is the data showing the student has already mastered the skill? If so, what are we as a team doing to help the student dive deeper into the concept?

Pictured here: The 2nd grade Collaborative Team discussing next steps for their instruction.

Purpose

The UES Caregiver Council is composed of caregiver representatives from each grade level. They meet with the principal and assistant principal on a monthly basis during the school year. Members work together to:

• identify common needs and goals among the caregivers of students enrolled a UES;

• provide the UES administrative team with feedback and insight from the caregiver's perspective on UES processes, procedures, and system development efforts;

• ensure that the needs of caregivers are considered as decisions are made at UES, particularly in the areas of community engagement, home-school communication, and progress monitoring.

• bring to the UES leadership’s attention existing and emerging issues expressed by UES caregivers;

• serve as an advisory, not a decision-making body, that makes recommendations, encourages brainstorming, and provides opportunities for UES caregiver involvement;

• facilitate communication between and among the caregivers & UESCA;

• serve as a forum for sharing innovations and best practices from UES.

Basis for Establishment

The UES Caregiver Council is composed of caregiver representatives from each grade level. They meet with the principal, assistant principal on a monthly basis during the school year to discuss a variety of topics, share information, and broaden understanding of UES-related issues.

Meeting Information

For the 2023-24 school year, all meetings will occur on the first Wednesday of each month from 11:00am-12:00pm. Meetings will be held at UES in the Conference Room. Meeting dates for the 2023-24 school year are: 11/1, 12/06, 1/03, 2/07, 2/15, 3/06, 4/03, and 5/01.

How To Apply

If you are interested in becoming a member of the UES Caregiver Council, please take a moment to fill out this form.

Starting today, families can order 4 Covid-19 antigen test kits FREE to their homes. You can sign up for these free kits through this website:

https://www.covid.gov/tests

If you have yet to fill out an Annual Health Questionnaire, please do so and return it as soon as possible. If you are in need of a new form feel free to contact Nurse Megan or print out a new copy here: Annual Health Questionnaire - 2023-2024

As Halloween falls on a Tuesday this year and it is a school day the MRPS's Administrators are communicating out together the expectations for the day. MRPS's Handbook states "There shall be no school-initiated or -sanctioned formal or informal celebration or observance of religion, religious holidays or religious festivals." We have this in place to support all students, from different backgrounds, beliefs, and socio-economic statuses. In accordance with our district handbook, each school will NOT be allowing costumes to be worn at school on Tuesday, October 31st.

For those who choose to trick-or-treat and celebrate this holiday after school, stay safe and have a fun evening. Thank you in advance for your support!

-The MRPS Principals

The MRPS Board of School Directors is meeting Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 6:30pm at MHS. Everyone is welcome to attend. Find the meeting agenda, minutes from past meetings, information about the work of the various School Board Committees, and more by visiting www.mrpsvt.org/school-board