Union Chapel Gator Gab

School Hours

Office Hours: 8a-5p

School Hours: 9:10a-4:10p

Arrival/Breakfast: 8:55-9:10a

**Please do not drop off students before 8:55a. Students eating breakfast should report to the cafeteria between 8:55-9:10a.

Dismissal: 4:10p

**We will begin helping students make it to their dismissal locations at 3:50p.

Contact Information

Address: 7100 NW Hampton Road, Kansas City, MO 64152

School Phone: 816-359-4310

Website: www.UnionChapel.parkhill.k12.mo.us

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnionChapelElementary

Technology Support: 816-359-5000

Principal: Dr. Sarah Sieminski

Assistant Principals: Mr. Marquis Hall & Mrs. Kristen Mitchell

Counselors: Beth Dusin & Rebecca Irwin

Social Worker: Ellie Logan & Nurse: Madeline Laun

Office Staff: Angela Barlow & Susan Sadler

Dear Union Chapel Families,

We are so excited that August is here, knowing that we will have students back in the building in a few weeks. We hope you all have been able to enjoy some family time this summer. The first day of the new school year, Monday, August 19th, is quickly approaching!

We wanted to take a moment to introduce our administration team.

• Dr. Sarah Sieminski is the proud principal of Union Chapel. This will be Sarah Sieminski's first year as the Union Chapel principal.
• Marquis Hall became the full-time assistant principal at Union Chapel Elementary in the 2023-2024 school year.
• Kristen Mitchell will support Union Chapel students, families, and staff as a part-time assistant principal two days a week during the 2024-2025 school year.
• See more about each administrator on the administrators section on our Union Chapel website.

Class placement information will be emailed to families who have completed the enrollment/ residency process on August 12th at 4p. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Union Chapel office at (816)359-4310.

If you need anything before school starts or during the school year, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are looking forward to seeing you at Back-to-School Night on Thursday, August 15th from 5:30-7p in a come-and-go format!

On behalf of the entire Union Chapel staff, we look forward to working with your child this school year!

Wishing you well,

Dr. Sieminski & Mr. Hall & Mrs. Mitchell

We have been getting frequent updates from the construction team and the Park Hill Facilities team. Currently, we believe most renovations are on track to be completed before the first day of school. Our amazing staff is excited to return to their workspaces to transform them into welcoming spaces for students to learn! With new paint, new carpet, new cabinets, new countertops, student lockers, updated instructional technology, and more, our school is looking incredible!

We have learned that our kitchen will not be open at the start of the school year. The Park Hill Nutrition Services team has already been working with the Health Department to prepare. In collaboration with our phenominal cafeteria staff, we have plans to ensure students have the option to purchase a school breakfast and lunch each day. We will use the district nutrition services website, our school website, and email communication to share updates with you as we can. Expect to see a menu that is specific to Union Chapel before Back to School Night on August 15th.

We would greatly appreciate your feedback on how you would like to receive information from us. Your insights will help us keep you informed about important school updates and events. Please submit your responses HERE by August 30th, 2024.

Be sure to find us on the web!

• Union Chapel Website
• Union Chapel Facebook Page

August 12th: Class Placement Details Emailed to Families who have completed enrollment/residency verification

August 15th: Back to School Night, Come and Go Format from 5:30-7:00p,

August 19th: First Day of School, 9:10a-4:10p

August 19th: PTA Boo Hoo Woo Hoo & Welcome 9:15a, Union Chapel

August 29th, Kindergarten Orientation, 6-6:45p

September 2nd: NO SCHOOL, Labor Day

September 5th: Grades 1st-5th Parent Orientation (virtual format)

Missouri's sales tax holiday, also known as the tax-free weekend, is August 2nd-4th. Select back-to-school items, such as school supplies and clothing, are exempt from sales tax.

Click here for 2024-2025 School Supply Lists.

On Thursday August 15th, Union Chapel teachers and staff will host our Back-to-School Night. We are so excited to share the renovations that have taken place this summer with our students and families! Bring school supplies, and be prepared for a busy night with opportunities to:

• Sign-up for PTA
• Buy PTA Union Chapel Spiritwear
• Sign-up to support at PTA Classroom Parties
• Share dismissal plans (for first day and day-to-day plans)
• Add money to your child(ren)'s lunch account
• Complete enrollment and residency verification
• Drop of medications with our school nurse
• NEW STUDENTS: Take a picture for your school ID Badge

Here is what you can expect from a regular school day:

Arrival

Breakfast starts at 8:55a

Car riders can be dropped off at 8:55a

Classes begin at 9:10a

*Students arriving after 9:10a will need to check in at the office and will be counted as a partial absence.

Dismissal

Dismissal for walkers, car riders and Adventure Club begins at 3:50p. Bus rider dismissal occurs as soon as the other groups have cleared the hallways, approximately 4:00p.

August 19th, PTA Boo Hoo Woo Hoo Meeting

Whether the first day makes you cry or cheer, all parents are invited to attend this casual breakfast and coffee directly following first day of school drop off downstairs in the school cafeteria. We will also hold our first PTA meeting of the year during this time. This is a great opportunity to learn more about PTA activities and what our Union Chapel PTA does throughout the whole year, ask any questions and meet our PTA board members!

In order to ensure appropriate supervision each morning, students will be greeted at your vehicle at 8:55a. Please keep your child(ren) in your vehicle until an adult assists. You can help by using both lanes upon entry into the north side of the parking lot, and by following directions to divide into three lanes as cars come around toward the entrance of the building. Move as far forward as possible in your lane. Please ensure your child has belongings and is ready to exit your vehicle quickly each morning so we can keep the lines flowing smoothly. Classes begin at 9:10a. If students arrive after 9:10a, guardians should walk them into the office and it will be counted as a partial absence.

Dismissal for walkers, car riders & Adventure Club takes place first (around 3:50). Once these students have cleared the hallway, we begin bus rider dismissal. During dismissal, it is extremely important for parents of car riders to remain in vehicles. Car riders will be called in the order parents are lined up in the three car rider lines and front row of parking spaces. Do not leave your car unattended. We are happy to help your child get to your vehicle safely. Following these processes will support a safe, efficient dismissal each day.

Kindergarten Parent Orientation will be in-person on August 29th from 6-6:45p

Grades 1st-5th Parent Orientation will be shared with families on September 5th and will be virtual.

• With this format, parents have the opportunity to get acquainted with the school and their child(ren)'s individual classroom/grade-level expectations at their own convenience.

Regular attendance and punctuality are important for children to gain the most from their educational experiences. When your child is late, absent, or leaves school early, it will be noted on his or her attendance record.

If your child is going to be absent, please call our office (816-359-4310) before school so we are assured of your child’s safety. If you forget to call, you will receive a call to verify the absence.

If a child’s attendance becomes a matter of concern, the classroom teacher, our social worker, Mrs. Ellie Logan; or counselors, Mrs. Beth Dusin or Mrs. Rebecca Irwin, may contact the parent or guardian to offer support.

Please try to schedule appointments before or after school. We want our Gators here as much as possible to maximize their learning opportunities!

At the elementary level there are no unexcused absences; any time missed is considered a partial absence.

Ensuring the safety of our students is our most important goal. All outside doors including the main entrance are locked during school hours.

ALL visitors will need to be "buzzed" into the office by pressing the intercom button near the main entrance. One of our administrative assistants will then verify your identification and reason for visiting Union Chapel. Please be prepared to provide proof of identification upon request. Safety procedures are in place to ensure the well-being of every child, staff member and guest at Union Chapel. Thank you for honoring our safety procedures and helping us create a safe environment for our U.C. Gators!

Should you need to pick up your child for early dismissal, please come to the office, and Mrs. Sadler, Mrs. Barlow, or Mrs. Oost will call the classroom. To expedite the process please call 10 minutes prior to let us know you are on your way. Of course, where possible, please schedule appointments before or after school to prevent interrupting your child’s learning.

• We will begin allowing parent/guardian visits for lunch after Labor Day. This gives students time to learn cafeteria routines.
• A visitor wishing to purchase lunch from the cafeteria must order no later than 10a by contacting Mrs. Chrysie Franksen, 816-359-4316.
• There will be designated seating for the guest and student in the cafeteria.
• Other students may not join the guest and student for lunch.
• Guests must provide identification in the front office every time when visiting, in keeping with PHSD expectations.

Students may bring a birthday treat or favor to school to share with their classmates, as long as they come from our list of treats that contain none of the eight (8) major allergens - milk, wheat, egg, soy, peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish.

Thank you for understanding that all classroom treats must come from this list because we do not have the staff capacity to check for allergens that could threaten the health of some students.

Please bring birthday treats ahead of time (two hours after the start of school, at the latest).

We understand the desire to send students to school with cell phones and smart watches. Please see the important passage from our Park Hill Parent-Student Handbook below regarding their use during the school day (p.25):

All other electronic devices, such as but not limited to cell phones, tablets, e-readers, watches, headphones, air pods, and iPods/MP3 players, may be in the student’s possession but not used during active instructional time or when the use of such devices is disruptive to the educational environment or in violation of building site guidelines. The school district will not be responsible for lost or stolen items.

Students will be asked to turn off these devices and stow them in their backpacks upon entry to the school and through the school day. Thank you for your support with maintaining our educational environment.

Volunteers are important to the success of the Park Hill School District, and we appreciate their service to our schools. In order to keep our children safe, all volunteers who will be around students without an employee present must be screened. Thank you for making a difference for our students and thank you for helping us keep our students safe.

Any volunteer who will be alone with students, including field trips, must have a full screening, which includes a criminal background check, a check of the child abuse and neglect registry, and a check of the sexual offender registry.

Click here to fill out screening paperwork. Please submit all paperwork to the Park Hill School District Central Office.

Our employees are the reason we are so successful here in the Park Hill School District, and we would like to recognize them for all they do for our students. That is why we present the Park Hill Star award once a month to a pre-K or elementary teacher, a secondary teacher, and a support employee. Nominations from families are so meaningful to our staff!

We will keep this link within the helpful links section of this newsletter throughout the school year for your easy-access.

Park Hill Star Award Nomination Form

2024-2025 Park Hill School District Calendar

Email, Text, and Social Media for PHSD

Menus for Breakfast/Lunch

Parent Student Handbook

Park Hill Perspectives

Park Hill Star Nomination

School Cafe

Our Vision

Building Successful Futures * Each Student * Every Day

Our Mission

Union Chapel is a safe, caring environment that upholds high standards and inspires students to achieve their personal best so they will become successful lifelong learners and citizens of character.

At Union Chapel Elementary School, we value:

• A positive and structured environment.
• Open line of clear and regular communication.
• Collaboration.
• Students feeling valued, respected and safe.
• Variety in learning approaches to meet individual learning needs, styles, and interests; and
• High standards and a clear purpose for learning.