United South Central Elementary

United South Central Elementary students and teachers did a phenomenal job on their MCA scores this past spring, with results above the state average! These accomplishments reflect the dedication of our staff, the collaboration of our grade-level teams, and, most importantly, the hard work of our students.

We are seeing the impact of our curriculum implementation, alignment with Minnesota state standards and the READ Act, new instructional practices, and continued collaboration across teams. Great things are happening at USC Elementary, and we are proud of the progress our students and staff continue to make!

We look forward to welcoming families to USC Elementary for parent-teacher conferences! This is a great opportunity to discuss your child’s academic progress, celebrate strengths, and set goals for continued growth.

Families can conveniently schedule appointments for all their children through the JMC Family Portal.

How to Schedule:
1. Log in to the JMC Family Portal (unitedsouthcentral.org) via a web browser.
2. Select Teacher Conference Scheduler from the left-hand menu.
3. Choose your Conference Day from the drop-down menu.
4. Select your preferred appointment time for each teacher.

Please schedule your conferences by November 13!

During conferences, families are invited to stop by our Scholastic Book Fair and explore a variety of books for readers of all ages. It’s a great opportunity to discover new favorites, spark a love of reading, and help keep our Rebels excited about books!

Phone Calls and Messages for Students: Requests to deliver messages to students received after 2:00 p.m. cannot be guaranteed to reach the student before the end of the school day.

Changes to Pickup/Transportation: If the elementary office does not have a note from a parent indicating a change in how a student is going home, the student will be sent home using the regular transportation plan established at conferences, documented on the bus form, and communicated to teachers.

Absences/Early Releases: All absences and early releases due to appointments must be confirmed through the elementary office. Informing a teacher does not serve as confirmation with the office. Please make sure families contact the elementary office directly so we have the information needed to accurately document the absence or early release and ensure students are dismissed appropriately.

Morning supervision begins at 8:00 a.m. Elementary students should not arrive before 8:00 a.m. unless they are coming for breakfast, which begins at 7:50 a.m. Students eating breakfast should remain in the designated breakfast area until finished and will then be directed outside until morning supervision begins.

Preschool students are not allowed into the building until 8:00 AM.On Friday mornings, afternoon preschool students will be met near the front entrance of USC Elementary starting at 8:00 AM.

Whenever possible, families are encouraged to have students arrive as close to 8:10 a.m. as possible. This allows staff to be in place to provide supervision and welcome students safely. This applies to students who are dropped off, walk, or bike to school.

An increase in various illnesses is typical for this time of year. Here are some important reminders about when to keep your children home from school. Your cooperation is crucial in maintaining a healthy environment for all students.

Please keep your child at home if they:

• Have had a fever of 100.0°F or higher within the past 24 hours.

• Have experienced vomiting or persistent diarrhea in the last 24 hours.

• Are diagnosed with strep throat (they can return after 12 hours on antibiotics and no fever for 24 hours).

• Have influenza or COVID-19 (they can return after being fever-free for 24 hours and once the cough has subsided).

• Exhibit a severe, frequent cough that would impede concentration and disturb others.

• Have a draining wound.
  
  

Your adherence to these guidelines helps us in our collective effort to keep our students healthy.

*When the nurse's office contacts you to pick up your sick child, please aim to do so as promptly as possible.

Chaperone spots are limited and determined by the teacher based on student needs and supervision requirements. Parents/guardians must be selected by the teacher to attend as chaperones. To ensure appropriate supervision and a safe learning environment, family members who are not selected as chaperones may not join the field trip, including at the destination. Younger siblings and other children may not accompany chaperones. We appreciate your understanding and support in making field trips safe, positive, and meaningful experiences for all students.

Elementary School Hours: Classes begin at 8:20 a.m. and are dismissed at 3:03 p.m. Students who are not in class by 8:20 a.m. will be marked tardy. If students arrive after 8:40 a.m., they will be marked absent.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up at USC Elementary: Students will enter the school through the main door by the elementary office. Students can enter the building at 8:10 a.m. after they are lined up outside. Please be mindful of dropping your students off as close to 8:10 a.m. as possible to minimize the wait before the start of the school day. Students who have breakfast can access the school building at 7:50 a.m. Upon arrival, they should proceed directly to the Commons Area. After breakfast, students will return outside and enter the elementary building at 8:10 a.m. It is important to note that students are not permitted to enter the elementary building until 8:10 a.m. Students will be dismissed from the main doors by the office.

Parking Notice: Ensure you are parked legally when dropping off and picking up students before and after school. Parking and driving are off-limits in front of the school, where buses load and unload students. Do not park in any handicap-designated spaces unless you have the proper permit or placard. Parking on the grass is strictly prohibited.

Crosswalks: To prioritize students' safety, we request that everyone consistently use the designated crosswalks when dropping off or picking up students. We emphasize that our top priority is student safety and discourage any attempts to walk between school buses, as this poses a significant safety risk.

Entrance into the Building: For safety reasons, parents will drop off and pick up students outside the main doors. To encourage a smooth and organized school environment, parents are required to make an appointment when meeting with a teacher, counselor, or administrator. Additionally, parents and guardians have access to the front office but are not permitted in the school building during school hours without prior approval. Students are not permitted to bring visitors to school, and visitors are not allowed during breakfast or lunch. This policy helps maintain a focused and productive atmosphere for all students, and we appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Parent Contact Information: Please notify the elementary office if your email address, mailing address, or telephone number changes. We need to be able to reach you in case of a school-wide emergency or if your child becomes ill. Also, keeping your contact information up to date makes sure you receive timely notices and announcements from the school.

Outdoor Recess: When temperatures start to drop, please remember that your child(ren) will have outdoor recess every day, weather permitting. Your assistance in ensuring your students come to school adequately prepared for the weather is greatly appreciated. Unless the temperature is 60 degrees or higher, please ensure your child wears a jacket or coat. Additionally, during the winter months, students must have the appropriate outdoor attire, such as layers, hats, mittens/gloves, scarves, boots, and snow pants when the snow is on the ground or mud is on the playground. Please ensure your child has the appropriate clothing each day so they can safely and comfortably participate in outdoor recess.

Outdoor Recess and Weather Policy: Outdoor recess will be canceled under the following conditions: The outside temperature is 0°F or below; the wind-chill factor is 0°F or lower; conditions are extremely icy or muddy; it is raining, or there is lightning. Student safety is our top priority, and we hold outdoor recess only when conditions are safe.

Extra Clothing: Send one complete extra set of clothing to school for your child. An extra set is required and should include a shirt, pants, underwear, and socks. Students may need a change of clothes due to spills, accidents, mud, or wet clothing from recess. When a student needs a change of clothing and one is not available at school, staff may need to contact a parent or caregiver and wait for clothing to be brought to school. This can result in students missing valuable instructional time while they wait. Having an extra set of clothing readily available allows us to address these situations quickly and get students back to learning. Please label all items with your child’s name and replace clothing as your child grows or as the seasons change.

Cell Phones & Smartwatches: United South Central School District is a cell phone- and smartwatch-free school district. Students should leave these devices at home. We understand that cell phones and smartwatches are a part of everyday life, and we appreciate your partnership in keeping our school day focused on learning, relationships, and student engagement. Keeping these devices out of the school environment helps minimize distractions and allows students to be fully present with their teachers and classmates.

Elementary Parties: The elementary school observes three seasonal celebrations throughout the academic year: Halloween, winter holidays, and Valentine’s Day. Due to student allergies and dietary restrictions, parents may not bring food or drinks to school for individual student birthdays. Adhering to this guideline ensures the safety and inclusion of all students while reducing interruptions to classroom instruction.

Lost and Found: The Lost and Found tables are located in the Commons area, near the vending machines. To prevent your child's items from ending up in Lost and Found, please ensure all clothing is labeled with your child's name.

Kindergarten students in Mrs. Lauwagie’s class are building strong foundational reading skills through UFLI Foundations! Students practiced identifying the letter i, connecting letters to their sounds, blending and changing sounds in words, and strengthening their letter formation. Through movement, hands-on activities, and small-group instruction, students stayed engaged while building their confidence as young readers. Way to go, kindergarten Rebels!

Second grade students in Mrs. Roberts’ class are building their math skills by adding two-digit numbers using place value and partial sums. Students worked collaboratively, explored different strategies, and explained their mathematical thinking. It was great to see students learning that there is more than one way to solve a problem!

Sixth graders explored how authors use dialogue and narration to develop characters and communicate point of view. Students practiced identifying text evidence, using interactive tools, and bringing the story to life through expressive reading including a British accent and role-play. It was great to see students collaborating, sharing their thinking, and celebrating one another’s efforts. Way to go, sixth-grade Rebels!

A dictionary is a valuable learning tool that helps students build vocabulary, strengthen reading comprehension, and develop effective communication skills. We are grateful to the Wells Lions Club for continuing its tradition of providing a dictionary to every USC third-grade student. This generous gift supports our students as they grow as readers, writers, and lifelong learners. Thank you, Wells Lions Club, for your continued investment in our students and their education!

Wells firefighters visited USC Elementary to talk with students about Operation Edith and important fire safety practices. Students were reminded to stay low during a fire, call 911, stop, drop, and roll, and check that smoke alarms are working and have up-to-date batteries. They also enjoyed getting to see the fire trucks up close! A special thank you to the Wells Firefighters for making this a memorable event.

Kindergarten students enjoyed a fall field trip to Center Creek Orchard in October! They explored the super slide, crawling tunnels, jump pad, and corn piles, and took hayrides around the orchard in small groups. Students also enjoyed fresh apples and brought home their own pumpkins to celebrate the season. It was a memorable day filled with hands-on fun, exploration, and fall memories!

USC sixth-grade students stepped back in time at the Big Island Rendezvous, where they explored the fur trade era, toured Native American tipis, and learned about Scottish clan traditions and the New Ulm Battery. Students also experienced early American crafts, including woodworking, blacksmithing, and candle making. Through hands-on demonstrations, historical exhibits, and authentic foods, students brought history to life and deepened their understanding of the people, traditions, and skills of the past.

Third-grade students are strengthening their number sense in Mr. Sindelir's class by exploring number relationships and using different strategies to solve problems. Students are learning to think flexibly, make connections, and explain their mathematical thinking while checking that their answers make sense. Way to go, third grade Rebels!

The community gathered to enjoy the USC Elementary third- through sixth-grade students’ fall concert. Students showcased their musical talents with songs like “Thunder” by Imagine Dragons and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver. It was a wonderful evening celebrating our students’ hard work, musical growth, and love of performing! A special thank you to Parker Haug and Paige Lang.

This November and all year long, we are grateful for the continued support, kindness, and generosity of our USC community. It truly takes a village, and we are fortunate to have families, staff, and community members who show up for our students in so many ways. Thank you for being part of what makes USC such a special place to learn, grow, and belong!

Email: jtaylor@unitedsouthcentral.org
Location: 600 11th Street Southwest, Wells, MN, USA
Phone: 507-553-5810