Trojan UPdate

Unity Point Mission

Unity Point School, our students, our families, and our wider communities embrace partnerships to build upon our strong academic standards ensuring all students are healthy, safe, supported, challenged, engaged, and protected. Through our varied backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge, we inspire, create and model a welcoming and equitable environment for life-long learning.

Dear Unity Point Families,

As we move into February, we want to dive a little deeper into our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) expectations. We often talk about "accountability" and "consistency," but it’s important to share that these aren’t just school goals—they are evidence-based predictors of your child’s future success. Thank you for your feedback; it is vital as we work together to help every student thrive.

1. Attendance: Every Day Counts (Health First!)

We’ve heard the concerns regarding attendance and illness, and we want to be very clear: Please do not send your child to school if they are sick. To keep our community healthy, students must be fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of medication) before returning. While we are striving to improve our school-wide attendance, we never want a family to feel they must choose between a reward and their child’s health.

• The Compassion Clause: Students with documented medical issues or chronic illnesses are not disqualified from our rewards.

• The Research: Studies show that missing just 10% of the school year can significantly impact a student’s ability to stay on track for graduation. Consistent attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic achievement and social-emotional growth. (Source: Attendance Works)

2. Behavior: Creating a Safe Space to Learn

Our expectation of no more than two office referrals is about protecting the learning environment. When expectations are clear, students feel safer and more focused.

• The Support: PBIS focuses on daily "check-ins" and positive reinforcements to help students make better choices in the moment.

• The Research: Schools using PBIS frameworks see a significant decrease in bullying and behavioral incidents. This creates a "healthy school climate" where students spend more time learning and less time in conflict. (Source: Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions)

3. Academics: The Power of "Done" (Grades 5-8)

For our middle schoolers, we focus on minimizing missing assignments (no more than two). We aren’t looking for perfection; we are looking for the habit of completion.

• Building Agency: By managing deadlines, students learn to advocate for themselves before they fall behind.

• The Research: Success in middle school is often linked to "organizational mastery." Students who learn to manage tasks early are significantly better prepared for the autonomy of high school and beyond. (Source: Search Institute)

The Power of Accountability

The quarterly reward is a celebration of accountability. Whether it’s showing up, treating others with respect, or staying on top of schoolwork, these three pillars work together to build a reliable, self-assured student. When students meet these goals, they realize they are "in the driver’s seat" of their own success. We are so proud of the growth we are seeing at Unity Point.

Thank you for helping us foster a culture of responsibility, resilience, and community.

Warmly,

Griffin Groves

As we begin February with the memory of wild January weather, the temperature is dropping and we know that often means more time spent indoors. While cabin fever can set in quickly, the colder months are also a perfect opportunity to slow down and connect as a family.

This month, we are sharing some low-cost, high-fun ideas to keep minds active and spirits warm when it’s too cold to play outside.

❄️ Beat the Chill: 4 At-Home Family Activities

1. Build a "Reading Fort." Transform the living room into a cozy reading nook.

• What to do: Gather sheets, blankets, and pillows to build a fort.

• The Activity: Bring in a stack of books and a flashlight. Read aloud to your children, or have a "silent reading party" where everyone reads their own book for 20 minutes, followed by hot cocoa. https://flyleafbooks.com/npr-young-readers has a list of 100 best children’s books.

2. Kitchen Science & Math Cooking together is one of the best ways to practice math and science skills without it feeling like homework.

• What to do: Choose a simple recipe (cookies, soup, or even playdough).

• The Focus: Have your child measure the ingredients. Ask questions like, "We need two cups, but I only have the 1/2 cup measure. How many scoops do we need?"

Great, easy dinner recipe idea!

Barbecue Bites

Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef, chicken, or turkey, a can of refrigerated biscuits, barbecue sauce, and grated Cheddar cheese.

Directions: Cook the meat and drain the grease. Add barbecue sauce to taste. Open biscuits and line greased muffin tins with a biscuit, forming a dip in the center. (You can half the biscuits). Spoon in some of the meat mixture and top with cheese. Bake in 375 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until the biscuit is done. Serve with fruit and a veggie for a quick, easy dinner!

3. The Great Indoor Scavenger Hunt: Get everyone moving without opening the front door.

• What to do: Create a simple list of items to find around the house.

• Examples: Something red, something soft, something that starts with the letter 'B', a picture of a relative, or something with wheels. The first one to find them all wins a prize (like picking the movie for the night!).

4. Family Game Night Tournament: Dust off the board games or deck of cards.

• The Twist: Create a simple "tournament bracket" on a piece of paper. Keeping score adds a layer of excitement and teaches valuable lessons about sportsmanship and turn-taking.

📅 Important Dates in February

• 2/12/26: Parent Teacher Conferences

• 2/13/26: 11:30 Dismissal

• 2/16/26: President’s Day (No School)

A Note on Winter Weather

Please ensure your child comes to school with appropriate winter gear (coats, hats, gloves) for arrival, dismissal, and recess. We will be going outside unless it is below 20 degrees.

Lost and Found

If your child is missing items, please check the lost and found! Numerous coats, jackets, and sweatshirts have not been claimed

Kindergarten has been buzzing with excitement as our students have been learning, creating, and growing together in so many wonderful ways!

One of the highlights was our festive Grinch Day celebration, where all four Kindergarten classes rotated through each classroom for special hands-on activities. Students had a blast making gooey green slime, creating their very own Grinch hands, playing Bingo with friends, and showing off their artistic skills during a directed drawing activity. It was such a joy to watch our Kindergartners collaborate, laugh, and experience learning through creativity!

We also had an exciting bowling field trip to Herrin Bowl, where students learned the basics of bowling — from rolling the ball to cheering on their classmates. It was a fantastic opportunity to practice coordination, sportsmanship, and teamwork while having tons of fun outside the classroom.

In the classroom, learning has been moving full speed ahead!
In math, students have begun exploring addition and are using a variety of strategies to solve problems — from counting objects to drawing pictures and using number relationships. It’s been amazing to see their confidence grow as they discover different ways to find answers.

During UFLI reading time, our Kindergartners are blending sounds together to read words and sentences with increasing fluency. Their hard work is paying off, and we are so proud of the progress they’re making as readers!

Another special moment was Mrs. LaBotte’s class hosting a Reader’s Theater performance, where all the Kindergarten classes gathered to watch their friends act out a decodable reader. The students did a wonderful job using expression, teamwork, and strong reading skills — and the audience loved cheering them on!

Kindergarten is truly a place full of curiosity, growth, and joyful learning. Thank you for supporting our students as we continue to build strong foundations in reading, math, and social skills every day. We can’t wait to share more exciting moments with you soon!

Happy February, families! We are having a wonderful time in 3rd grade. As we settle into the second half of the year, our students are showing great growth and enthusiasm. Here is a look at what we are learning this month.

Math: Mastering Our Facts

We are continuing our deep dive into multiplication and division.

• Focus: Strategies for numbers 0–12.

• Goal: We are moving beyond just memorization to understanding the relationship between multiplication and division. You can support this at home by practicing "fact families" with your student!

Science: Weather Watchers

Our class has transformed into a team of junior meteorologists! We are currently studying weather and climate.

• Hands-on Learning: Students are not just reading about the weather; they are actively exploring weather data through hands-on activities.

• Key Concept: We are looking at how weather changes daily versus long-term climate patterns.

Reading & Language Arts

We have a busy month ahead in literacy!

The Novel Study We have officially started our first novel study of the year, The Lemonade War. This is a big step for 3rd graders. Our focus areas are:

• Building reading stamina (reading for longer stretches).

• Analyzing characters (traits, motivations, and changes).

• Answering open-ended questions using supporting evidence from the text.

Figurative Language Starting this week, we are beginning a unit on figurative language. Expect your students to start pointing out similes, metaphors, and idioms in the books you read at home!

** Mrs. Jordan’s Book Club (Round 2)** A big shout-out to Mrs. Jordan for hosting the second round of Book Club! Round one was a huge success. Students read the book, The One and Only Ivan. Round 2 students are reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Huge shout out to the Unity Point PTO for donating all book club books!

Special Unit: The Winter Olympics

To celebrate the season, we are launching a thematic unit on the Winter Olympics.

• Social Studies Connection: We will be comparing and contrasting different sporting events and Olympic Athletes.

Fourth Grade Highlights

In January, fourth graders set academic and personal goals for the new year. Between welcoming the transition and enjoying nearly a week of snow, the students experienced many fun and memorable moments. We also explored compassion as our character trait of the month and discussed various ways to show it to others.

In ELA, fourth graders wrote personal narratives about their winter break. During literature and writing, they spent the month strengthening their text-based inferencing skills and practiced comparing firsthand and secondhand accounts while reading nonfiction texts and our January book of the month.

Our science lessons involved investigating forms of energy, including heat and electricity, while in social studies, students started learning about the fifty states. In math, we covered the perimeter and area of rectangles and squares and began our unit on fractions and mixed numbers, which is continuing into February. We still encourage students to continue memorizing their math facts through 12 x 12 to ensure they have a strong foundation.

The Environmental Club continued to learn about ways to help our planet. Members recently created and presented a slideshow covering environmental issues such as air and water pollution, habitat destruction, and waste disposal. Overall, it was an exciting and lively month of growth!

On February 2nd & 3rd, the 6th Grade students present their History Fair Projects in Social Studies class. Students have the opportunity to choose their own topic to research, and then choose to create one of the following: a Google slideshow, a backboard, a paper, or a skit.

Students are required to cite their sources and must meet certain requirements regarding length, format, and images. This year, we have a wide range of topics chosen, including:

• Athletes: Mike Tyson, Simone Biles, and Steph Curry

• Important Places: Mesopotamia, Pompeii, and the Ancient Roman Empire

• Historical Figures: Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, and Pocahontas

• Modern-day Celebrities: Jack Black, Jelly Roll, and Tyler the Creator

• U.S. States: Maryland, Hawaii, and Florida

In all, the 6th Graders are creating 32 slideshows, 14 backboards, and 3 papers. All projects are on display during our Academic Night on March 5th. Congratulations on a job well done!

Preparing 8th Graders for the Transition to High School

Our 8th grade students are beginning an exciting and important transition as they prepare to make decisions about their high school courses for next year. Over the coming weeks, students will learn about graduation requirements, course options, and pathways that align with their interests, strengths, and future goals.

As part of this process, students will participate in a visit from Carbondale Community High School staff, and will tour the campus during the school day on February 12th.. This visit will give them an opportunity to explore the school, learn more about academic programs, and begin to envision themselves as high school students. Experiencing the campus firsthand often helps ease anxiety and builds confidence as they prepare for this milestone in their lives.

Families are also encouraged to attend the upcoming Parent Night at CCHS on February 12th at 5:30. This event will provide valuable information about course selection, expectations, and support services available to students and families.

We’re excited to support our 8th graders as they take this big step toward their next chapter!