Falcon Family Updates

We can hardly believe we are already moving into another exciting week of school! ❤️🖤 Thank you to our incredible teachers and staff for continuing to create classrooms filled with high expectations, meaningful learning, and opportunities for our students to grow. We also want to thank our parents and families for your continued partnership and support as we work together to help every Falcon Leader succeed. As we move forward on our Passport to Excellence journey, our first round of testing is coming to a close. We are so proud of the effort, perseverance, and determination our students have demonstrated! Progress reports will also be coming home soon, providing families with an opportunity to celebrate student growth and work together on areas for continued improvement.

📚 A Few Important Reminders:

• Please make sure your student is at school and ready to learn each day.
• Every instructional day matters! Regular attendance helps our Falcon Leaders stay on track and make the most of every learning opportunity.
• Look for progress reports coming home Friday, Sept. 4th and take time to celebrate your child’s accomplishments.

This week, we are putting a special focus on the character trait of KINDNESS. We want our Falcon Leaders to remember that kindness is a choice we can make every day, through our words, our actions, and the way we treat others. Encourage your Falcon Leader to include others, lend a helping hand, use encouraging words, show respect, and look for opportunities to make someone’s day brighter. As we continue our journey, let’s remember that excellence is not just about what we accomplish, it’s about who we become along the way. Let’s keep soaring, Falcons! Because at UPES…EVERY FALCON’S JOURNEY LEADS TO SUCCESS! 🦅❤️🖤

#WeAreFalcons #GrowingTomorrowsLeadersToday #PassportToExcellence #ChooseKindness

With gratitude and Falcon pride,

Christina Holman

Assistant Principal, University Place Elementary
🦅 Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

We kicked off our PBIS journey with our Passport to Excellence, learning that positive choices and high expectations are our ticket to success!

Our Passport reminds us to:

⭐ Be Respectful
⭐ Be Responsible
⭐ Be Safe
⭐ Be Ready to Learn

With a little music, movement, and Falcon spirit, we’re ready to make great choices, celebrate success, and grow into the leaders we’re meant to be! Our journey starts NOW! ✈️🦅🌟

Read We Are All Wonders by R.J. Palacio together and talk about what makes each person unique and special. Ask your child, “What makes you a wonder?” Then, challenge your family to find one way to show kindness and help someone feel included this week.

Read. Reflect. Celebrate What Makes Us Wonderful! 🌟

Turn math challenges into opportunities for growth! After reading The Magical Yet, students reflect on something in math they “can’t do…yet” and create a Yet Statement. This simple activity encourages perseverance, celebrates mistakes, and reminds students that mathematical understanding develops with effort and practice.

Kindness is a powerful choice that can make a difference in someone’s entire day. As Falcon Leaders, we show kindness by treating others with respect, compassion, and understanding. Whether it’s offering a helping hand, including someone who feels left out, using encouraging words, sharing, listening, or simply taking the time to check on a friend, small acts of kindness can have a big impact.

This week, we challenge our Falcon Leaders to “Be the reason someone smiles!” ❤️🖤🦅

We’re excited to show our support for Central High School as they celebrate Homecoming! Our Falcon Leaders will have the opportunity to join in the fun by participating in the Homecoming dress-up days throughout the week. We encourage our students and staff to get creative, show their school spirit, and help us cheer on our Central Falcons! Let’s make it a fun-filled week of school spirit, pride, and Falcon family support!

Our Falcon Leaders continued to show up and soar last week! Our overall attendance reached 95.48% meeting our schoolwide goal of 95%! A special shoutout to our grade levels for leading the way: 1st Grade: 97% 2nd Grade: 96%, 4th Grade: 95%! Kindergarten & 3rd Grade were close with: 94%. A little extra encouragement for Pre-K and 5th Grade! Pre-K is at 93% and 5th Grade is at 90%, so let’s keep pushing to get those numbers to 95% and beyond! Maintaining 95% attendance is important because every day of learning matters. Consistent attendance helps students stay on track academically, build strong routines, strengthen relationships with teachers and peers, and make the most of every learning opportunity.Remember, Every Day Counts! Being at school each day helps students stay engaged, build strong learning habits, and grow as learners and leaders. Let’s keep the momentum going and continue to Strive for Five—be here every day, arrive on time, stay all day, be ready to learn, and take pride in our attendance! Way to go, Falcon Leaders! 🌟

Together, we’re making every day count and Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today! 🦅

#EveryDayCounts #AttendanceMatters #GrowingTomorrowsLeadersToday

Pre-K parents please click the link or scan the QR below and complete the required ASQ developmental screener. This is the ASQ screener we discussed during orientation and is required by the Alabama State Department of Education.
Please answer each question as honestly and accurately as possible. This screener helps us, as teachers, identify your child’s strengths and determine areas where they may need additional support. If a skill is marked as something your child can do when they are not yet able to do it independently, it may prevent us from providing the support they need.
Our goal is to help your child get the most out of their Pre-K experience, so your honest responses are very important.
The screener must be completed by Monday, August 31st.
Thank you for your time and for partnering with us to support your child’s development!

https://www.asqonline.com/family/989e71

• Arrival: Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Students go directly to cafeteria for breakfast. Parents may walk students to class only the first two days. Staff are stationed throughout the building to assist students.

• Drop-Off (PreK–5th): Use the front carpool line and remain in your vehicle to keep traffic moving. If you need to assist your child or visit the office, park near the church or cafeteria.

• PreK Pick-Up: Begins at 2:30 p.m. on the PreK end near the church. For PreK students with siblings, speak to the teacher to avoid using both pick-up lines.

• Autism Unit (PreK–5th): Drop-off and pick-up are also on the PreK end near the church.

• Dismissal: Students use colored lanes for a safe dismissal. No walk-ups are allowed. All students must be picked up by 3:00 p.m.

Planning a family vacation? Be sure to use our Vacation Planner to help schedule those special trips around the school calendar. A little planning now can help your child enjoy family time without missing valuable instructional days. Let’s work together to keep our Falcon Leaders learning, growing, and soaring all year long! 🦅❤️🖤

• August 31st-September 4th-Central Homecoming Week (see flyer for dress-up days)
• September 4th-Progress Reports
• September 7th-Labor Day--NO School
• Sept.8th-11th-Kindergarten IReady Math Testing Window
• Sept. 10th-Scouting Meeting at UPE @ 5:30
• Sept. 13th-National Grandparent's Day

We’re excited to participate in the Tuscaloosa Reads myON Reading Challenge! myON gives our Falcon Leaders access to thousands of digital books that are matched to their interests and reading levels, making it easy to find something they’ll love. We encourage our students to log in, choose a book, and make reading a daily habit! Every page turned is another step toward becoming a stronger reader and a lifelong learner. Let’s see how many books our Falcons can read! 📖🦅❤️🖤

#PassportToExcellence #GrowingTomorrowsLeadersToday #WeAreFalcons

The Tuscaloosa City Schools is now using ParentSquare—a unified platform for all schools, classrooms and district communications. With ParentSquare, you can receive updates via email, text or app; view calendars and RSVP to events; sign up to volunteer; and securely receive student documents like report cards and IEPs. What's even better is you'll get communications from school administrators, teachers, coaches and the district all through Parentsquare.

Check your email or text for an invitation to activate your account, or register at www.parentsquare.com using the same email linked to your student’s enrollment. Download the free app TODAY to stay connected across the district. We encourage every family to join and engage with our school community on ParentSquare. #TCSUpdates #GetConnected #StayConnected #ConnectedForSuccess

Our Falcon Leaders are expected to know the rules, make good choices, and treat others with kindness and respect. The Code of Conduct provides important expectations that help keep our school safe, welcoming, and ready for learning. Families, please take a moment to review the Code of Conduct and dress code with your child. When we understand and follow expectations, we create an environment where every Falcon can learn, grow, and soar!

Know the Code. Follow the Rules. Dress for Success. Lead with Pride! ❤️🖤

Feeling safe at school is a non-negotiable at University Place Elementary. Therefore, we must ensure that our campus is safe at ALL TIMES. Below are a few of our non-negotiables:

• ALL visitors must sign into our RAPTOR system before moving beyond the front lobby to enter the building. This includes having a valid state issued ID in hand.
• A valid state issued ID is required anytime a child is checked out.
• Students are not allowed phone calls or food deliveries on campus.
• Changes in transportation cannot and will not be taken over the phone.
• No students will be allowed to check out after 2:00 p.m. NO EXCEPTIONS!!
• Safety drills will be practiced monthly- including but not limited to backpack searches, fire drills, lockdown drills, and severe weather drills.
• Disruptive behaviors will not be allowed and will be handled according to the Tuscaloosa City Schools Code of Conduct.
• A threat to self or others will also be handled according to the Tuscaloosa City Schools Code of Conduct and State laws and/or mandates.
• All discipline and safety measures will be strictly enforced. NO EXCEPTIONS

It’s time to Rise Up, Falcons! ❤️🖤 As our Falcon football teams take the field, let’s show them what it means to have a school and community cheering them on! Encourage your families to come out, wear their Falcon colors, bring their loudest voices, and fill the stands with Falcon pride!

Christina Holman, Assistant Principal

Motto: "Growing Tomorrow's LEADERS Today!!"

Email: cholman@tusc.k12.al.us

Website: https://www.tuscaloosacityschools.com/Domain/26
Location: 2000 1st Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Phone: 205-759-3664
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UniversityPlaceElementarySchool
Twitter: @UPES_Leads