Unity Braxton Weekly Newsletter

Dear Jaguar Families and Staff,

We are officially heading into Week 3 of the school year! Thank you to our students, families, and staff for helping us get the year off to such a great start. We are continuing to build routines, strengthen relationships, and create a positive learning environment where every Jaguar can thrive.

Momentum testing will take place this Wednesday, September 9.

Students should go directly to their 4th period class upon arrival at school on Wednesday morning. Please remind your student not to report to their usual first-period location. We ask that students arrive on time, bring their school-issued iPad fully charged, and be prepared to begin testing promptly.

We are excited to welcome our families to Back to School Night on September 17from 5:30-7:00! This will be a great opportunity for parents and guardians to meet teachers, learn more about classroom expectations, and better understand what their students will be learning this year.

School Hours
• Doors open: 7:55 AM
• First class begins: 8:10 AM
• Dismissal: 2:55 PM

Main Office Hours

• 7:30AM-4:00PM

Late Arrival/Early Dismissal

• Students who arrive to school after 8:10am must sign in the main office.

• Starting this school year, students who arrive late to school must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to the main office. Parents/guardians will need to sign their student in upon arrival. This procedure helps ensure accurate attendance records and the safety and security of all students. Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping us maintain a safe and orderly school environment.

• When picking up a student, make sure you have picture ID. Early dismissal will not be permitted after 2:30pm.

• • After 2:30 PM, we are preparing for dismissal, and office staff are ensuring that all students get home safely.
  • Frequent late pick-ups create disruptions to the dismissal process and compromise student safety.
  Please plan accordingly and communicate with the front office if an unavoidable emergency arises.

Birthdays

For all students' safety, we do not accept edible Birthday treats. Edible treats should not be brought to lunch or celebrated within the classroom. We have many students with severe allergies, and we will continue to ensure a safe learning environment for all. Unity Braxton is going healthy in support of the PWCS wellness regulation. We appreciate your support in keeping all Jaguars healthy while still taking time to celebrate them.

Food & Deliveries Reminder

To keep our school community safe and respectful of allergies:
• No outside food may be brought in for students.
• Food deliveries from DoorDash, Uber Eats, or any delivery service are not allowed for students.
Our cafeteria provides safe and healthy meal options daily, and students are welcome to bring lunch from home if it follows our school guidelines.

To help ensure that dismissal runs safely, smoothly, and efficiently, we follow a specific dismissal process each afternoon.

Families, please review the following information with your student so they understand what to expect at the end of the school day.

Car Riders

Students who are being picked up by a parent/guardian or designated car rider will be dismissed first.

Bus Riders

Students who ride a bus will be dismissed once their bus is ready. If a bus is delayed, students will remain safely inside the building until their bus is called.

Walkers, Athletics & Clubs

Once bus dismissal has taken place, students who are walkers or participating in athletics and/or after-school clubs will be dismissed.

Important Dismissal Reminder

For your student's safety, students must follow the dismissal plan provided by their parent/guardian and recorded with the main office.

Students should not independently change their method of transportation or tell staff that they have permission to go a different way home. If there is a change to your student's normal dismissal plan, please contact the main office directly so we can ensure the appropriate staff members are notified.

Is it too late to include information to families in the next newsletter about the Art's Alive Festival? This is a FREE event for families at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 12th between 10AM-5PM. There are multiple live performances and hands-on activities. There will also be vendors, exhibits, and food available to purchase. Here is the link to find out more:

https://hyltoncenter.org/ticketsevents/arts-alive-festival/arts-alive-festival-schedule-events

*Unity Braxton 8th Grade orchestra students will be collaborating with the Manassas Symphony at the Instrument Exploration Station. Come visit us!*

Check out this years books at the bookfair:

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/unitybraxtonmiddleschool1

Unity Braxton Middle School receives the Healthier Generations Award All-Star Award for the 2025-2026 School Year

National children’s health organization Alliance for a Healthier Generation today unveiled its 2026 list of America’s Healthiest Schools, celebrating 1,376 K–12 schools nationwide for their commitment to advancing whole child health, including Unity Braxton Middle School.

Supported by Del Monte Foods, Kaiser Permanente, and Kohl’s Cares, Healthier Generation’s annual award program recognizes schools for implementing evidence-based policies and practices to support academic success and lifelong well-being. Schools are recognized in nine health-related topic areas. For the 2nd year in a row, Unity Braxton Middle School was awarded in all 9 categories, which include: Strengthening Social-Emotional Health & Learning, Cultivating Staff Well-Being, Increasing Family & Community Engagement, Improving Nutrition & Food Access, Implementing Local School Wellness Policy, Bolstering Physical Education & Activity, Enriching Health Education, Promoting Tobacco-Free Schools and Supporting School Health Services. Thank you to the incredible staff at Unity Braxton for being ALL-IN for supporting each other, as well as our students and their families.

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.