Unity Braxton Weekly Newsletter

Dear Jaguar Families and Staff,

At UBMS, everything begins with Rule #1 "Take Care of Yourself." When students make responsible choices, show self-control, and take ownership of their actions, they are better prepared to contribute positively to our school community.

From there, Rule #2 "Take Care of Each Other" grows naturally through kindness, respect, and inclusion. And when we care about ourselves and one another, we are more likely to follow Rule 3 "Take Care of This Place" by showing pride in our school and helping keep it safe, clean, and welcoming.

Together, these three rules remind us that we all have a role in creating the trajectory changing community we want to be part of. By taking care of ourselves, we help build UBMS into a school where everyone feels valued, connected, and proud to belong.

It’s disappointing to see students breaking Rule #3 with ongoing vandalism in the boys’ bathrooms, which damages shared spaces and pulls resources away from learning. We need students to understand that respecting school property is part of respecting their community. Parents can help by reinforcing expectations at home and talking with their children about responsibility and the impact of their choices.

Dear 7th Grade Parents and Guardians,

As part of our school health screening program, we will be conducting mandatory vision and hearing screenings for all 7th-grade students on Wednesday, October 14, and Thursday, October 15.

Screenings will take place during your student’s regularly scheduled PE class and should only take a few minutes to complete. Students will return to their normal class activities immediately following the screening. If your student wears glasses or contact lenses, please make sure they bring them to school and are wearing them on the day of the screening.

Friendly Reminder: Student Belongings

We want to help make sure students are reunited with their belongings! If an item is collected while a student is going through the Evolv screening process, it will be available for the student to pick up.

Please encourage your student to retrieve any collected items no later than 3:30 p.m. each Friday. Items that are not picked up by the Friday deadline will be discarded at the end of the week.

We appreciate your help in reminding students to check for and pick up their belongings in a timely manner. Thank you for your continued support and partnership!

Join UBMS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

PTO membership is FREE, and every parent, guardian, family member, and staff member is welcome. Whether you can volunteer regularly or simply want to stay informed, your involvement makes a difference.

Together, we can:

• Support students and staff through meaningful programs and events

• Celebrate our amazing teachers and school community

• Strengthen family-school partnerships

Ready to Get Involved?

Take the first step today and Register Here: https://forms.office.com/r/y0qxMeyLP2

Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Meeting Time: 5:30 -6:30 PM

Hybrid Participation:

• In person: Library

• Virtual via Zoom: Click the link below.

https://pwcs-zm-edu.zoom.us/j/87374411705?pwd=rWiTwTSFGtvAaG0JeAAZQ7viVabtz1.1

Join UBMS School Advisory Council (SAC)

SAC membership is free and open to all UBMS parents, staff, students, and community members. Join us, stay informed, and help make a positive difference in our school!

School Advisory Council (SAC) advises school administration on the budget, school improvement efforts, and program implementation. SAC gathers staff and community feedback, identifies concerns, and supports the school's goals and priorities.

Join us at our next SAC meeting!

Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Meeting Time: 5:30 -6:30 PM

Location: Library

Monday October 12

Teacher Work Day (No School for Students)

Tuesday October 13

Boys Soccer- Unity Braxton @ Gainesville

Football- Metz VS Unity Braxton AT Unity Reed

Volleyball- Unity Braxton @ Gainesville

Thursday October 15

Boys Soccer- Unity Braxton @ Marsteller

Girls Track- Marsteller @ Unity Braxton

Volleyball- Unity Braxton @ Marsteller

Friday October 16

All County Chorus Event @ Patriot

Saturday October 17

All County Chorus Event @ Patriot

Linkto sign up:

UBMS Sports Enrichment – Fill out form

Attention Jaguars!

Come out and join the Coaches by supporting the Boys and Girls Basketball Program at Chipotle on

October 20th 4-8pm

7311 Sudley Road in Manassas

Please show the flyer when ordering or use an online pick-up CODE: EEGCWLE.

Let's support our Basketball Program!

Clubs and activities are a vital part of building a strong and vibrant school community at Unity Braxton Middle School. We’re excited to kick off another great year with a variety of after-school clubs and activities led by our enthusiastic faculty and staff!

We hope you find something that sparks your interest and encourages you to get involved. To join a club or activity:

• Reach out to the sponsor either in person or via email.
• Request a permission slip from them to get started.

Let’s make this year memorable by connecting, exploring new interests, and having fun together!

26-27 Clubs & Activities.docx

📅 Important Dates 📅

November 2, 2026 – Specialty program application opens
December 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. – CFPA Application closes
February 1, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. – Specialty program application closes
March 1, 2027 – Application results will be available for parents
March 5, 2027 – Deadline to accept or decline an offer

CFPA Information Night at Colgan High School

October 20, 6:30 PM

Questions???? Contact the PWCS Advanced Academics and Specialty Programs

Email: aasp@pwcs.edu

Phone: 703-791-7923

Information Sessions

Specialty Program information nights are held in the fall and offer an overview of each program and the application process. Program-specific information nights are held at each high school.

High School Information Session

October 27, 2026, 6:30 p.m.

High School Specialty Program Information Nights

Attention 8th Grade Families! High School Specialty Program Information Night dates have been published. If your student is interested in exploring a specialty program and would like to learn more, we encourage you to attend an upcoming information session. Please see the list below for program names, dates, times, and locations.

Middle and High School Grade Students

• All cell phones and personal electronic communication devices must be turned off and stored away during the bell-to-bell school day and during any instructional periods, regardless of location, including field trips.
• Dual-purpose watches are allowed, but wireless/cellular features must be turned off during instructional times (e.g., must be in airplane mode).
• All cell phones and personal electronic communication devices may be turned on and used within the school and on the school campus before or after the bell-to-bell school day.
• Cell phones and wireless communication devices may be used on school buses provided the device does not distract the driver, compromise safety, or violate the Prohibited Content and Use for All Students provisions detailed below.

Prohibited Content and Use for All Students

Students are not allowed to create, access, or share content that is incompatible with a K-12 educational environment while on school property, including school buses, or at school-sponsored events, regardless of location. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Content that is obscene, contains profanity, or involves or threatens illegal acts.
• Content that bullies, harasses, threatens, or degrades others is strictly prohibited, including the use of artificial intelligence to impersonate others.
• Videotaping misconduct is strictly prohibited and may result in disciplinary actions.
• Use of cell phones and wireless communication devices in restrooms or locker rooms is strictly prohibited. Photographing or videotaping other students in a state of undress in these or other areas of the school will result in discipline and may result in a referral to law enforcement.
• Use of cell phones and wireless communication devices to cheat or in ways that violate the school division’s acceptable use policy.

At Unity Braxton Middle School, we believe that a positive school culture begins with three simple expectations. Throughout the year, students will be encouraged to follow our three school rules:

• Take Care of Yourself – Make healthy choices, be prepared to learn, and always do your best.
• Take Care of Others – Show kindness, respect, empathy, and include everyone in our school community.
• Take Care of This Place – Take pride in our school by keeping our classrooms, hallways, and campus clean, safe, and welcoming.

These three expectations guide everything we do and help us create a school where every Jaguar feels safe, valued, and ready to succeed. We encourage families to reinforce these principles at home as we work together to build a strong, respectful, and caring school community.