Falcon Feature
9/21/26
Connect with Dr. Hartloff
Hello Falcon Families!
Parent communication and connection between home and school is one of our top priorities here at UMS. This newsletter is your one-stop-shop for all things UMS. We recommend you take a few moments each week as a family to review the contents for upcoming activities and information to help you navigate each week.
Take care,
Dr. Hartloff, Principal
#UMSConnects
UMS SPIRIT WEEK
ATTENDANCE MATTERS!
Attendance Matters!
Attendance is Important!
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Eventually good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and college.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
• Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with schoolwork, or facing some other difficulty.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
• By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
• Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a student’s academic success.
WHAT YOU CAN DO?
• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
• Have your child lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.
• Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
• Try to schedule non-urgent related medical appointments and extended trips when school isn’t in session.
Attached are two resources that might be helpful!
HOMEWORK HELP
Homework Help
We are so excited to launch our HW Help! Every Thursday for the next four weeks we will have dinner, HW help, and a Parent Presentation. Please RSVP Here: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/86356898
THURSDAY, September 24th
5:30 - 6:00 PM -- Dinner for the family
6:00 - 7:00 PM -- HW Help for students (provided by High School Students who volunteer with Assistance League of Tustin) AND Parent class for parents: Setting Up Healthy Study Habits at Home.
-- BRING YOUR BACKPACK AND iPAD
-- Parents may drop off their kiddos OR stay and enjoy dinner and a parent presentation
If you have questions, please email: jjoyce@tustin.k12.ca.us
YEARBOOKS FOR SALE!
OCTA BUS PASSES
CROSS-COUNTRY REGISTRATION
Cross-Country Registration
Hello Falcons,
Our UMS Cross-Country season is gearing up to start the week of September 21. We are in the process of selecting our head coach. In the meantime, students and parents can begin signing up using the QR code on the flyer attached and linked HERE. All registrations and payments will happen through MySchoolBucks.
If you were unable to attend the parent meeting on Friday, click HERE to access the slide deck.
Our site athletic lead is Ms. Jimenez. Contact her with any questions at adjimenez@mytusd.org
We hope to see our Falcon runners out there representing UMS in Cross-Country!
FRIDAY FALCONS
Friday Falcons
It’s time to celebrate some of our AMAZING Falcons! 🎉💙
Every Friday, we recognize students who are showing what it means to be a Falcon through a good attitude, commitment and achievement. 🌟
We are so proud of these students for making great choices, supporting others, and helping make our school community a better place! 👏
TUSTIN TILLER DAYS BANDS FOR SALE
Tustin Tiller Days Bands for Sale
The annual Tustin Tiller Days Festival and Parade has honored our community and rich agricultural heritage since 1957. This year’s event will mark the 69th anniversary and will take place on October 2 – October 4, 2026, at the Columbus Tustin Park area on Irvine Boulevard and Prospect Avenue. Tustin Tiller Days feature carnival rides, food, commercial vendor booths, pancake breakfast, a parade and two stages with live entertainment, a sports zone, a beer and wine garden, Wine Tasting, a Card Show, Backyard Brewfest. Lastly, we have multiple contests throughout the weekend, including our famous Wiener Dog Races!
Our UMS PTA is participating in the pre-sale carnival wristband fundraiser. Families may purchase pre-sale unlimited rides carnival wristbands for $40, a savings of $5 off the regular pre-sale price.
In addition, for each wristband sold during this pre-sale period, $2 will be donated to the UMS PTA.
Don’t miss out on this great fundraiser!
PTA will selling Tustin Tiller Days bands next week, from Monday to Thursday.
MENTAL HEALTH NEWSLETTER
PBIS STUDENT STORE
PBIS Student Store
Help Support Our PBIS Store! 🎉
We are excited to bring back our PBIS Store this school year! The store was a huge success last year, and our students loved having the opportunity to celebrate their positive choices and accomplishments.
We would love your help in making this year’s PBIS Store even better! 💙
We have created an Amazon Wish List with items that will help us stock the store and provide fun ways to recognize and celebrate our students.
🛒 Want to help? Check out our Amazon Wish List and consider donating an item to support our PBIS program.
Every donation, big or small, helps us create a positive school culture where students feel recognized, encouraged, and motivated to make great choices.
Thank you for supporting our students and helping make UMS an amazing place to learn and grow! 🦅💙
👉 Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3OHX350333NNZ?ref_=wl_share
TUSD CELEBRATION OF SCHOOLS SEPTEMBER 23
TUSD Celebration of Schools September 23
Come celebrate the people, programs, and partnerships that make Tustin Unified schools extraordinary.
Discover how Tustin Public Schools Foundation (TPSF) and Tustin Unified School District (TUSD) work together to create meaningful opportunities for students, support educators, and strengthen our schools—and see the impact we’re making together.
Come celebrate. Get inspired. Learn more.
To register or learn more, visit tpsf.net/celebration
DINO DASH 2026
Dino Dash 2026
It's an Orange County tradition!
The Dinosaur Dash is a community run, walk, and bike event benefiting the Tustin Public Schools Foundation. There's something for everyone--a 2k fun run, chip-timed 5k and 10k runs, and Bike Tours for all riding levels (15k and a family-friendly 5k).
In honor of Dino Dash, every Wednesday through October will be Dino Dash Spirit Wear Day at UMS.
The finisher medal for the 10k, 5k, and Bike Tour features our unique, student-designed logo.
The 5k and 10k top finishers in each racing age division will receive the official Dino Dash trophy--hand-made by Tustin Unified students. Second- and third-place finishers will receive a medal. The 2k Fun Run and the Bike Tour are not timed and do not have age division awards.
The 15k bike tour passes through Tustin and Irvine before returning to The Market Place in Tustin. This tour is recommended for riders age 13 and up since it is on open roads. We also offer a family-friendly 5K tour on closed roads. The Bike Tours are not timed.
A free family Expo will offer activities, school fundraising booths, and exhibitors.
The Tustin Public Schools Foundation is a charitable organization that supports the students and teachers of Tustin Unified schools by funding grants, scholarships, and enrichment programs such as after-school sports, robotics, college readiness, Tustin Summer Academy, and more.
For more information, visit the TPSF website.
COMMUNITY NEEDS SURVEY - PLEASE COMPLETE
DEVICE INSURANCE
BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUTS ON THE UMS MARQUEE
SUPPORT THE UMS PTA
UMS SPIRIT WEAR FOR SALE
OC SOCIAL SERVICES
TUSTIN FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
UMS BELL SCHEDULES
UMS SOCIAL MEDIA
UMS UPCOMING DATES
Upcoming Dates
9/21: PJ Day
9/22: Dynamic Duo Dress-Up Day
9/23: Late-Start Schedule: Sports Gear Day; Celebration of Schools at FHS 5 PM
9/24: College Gear Day
9/25: Disney Day
9/30: Late-Start Schedule; Dino Dash Spirit Wear Day
10/1: College Gear Day
10/2: UMS Spirit Wear Day
10/7: Late-Start Schedule; Dino Dash Spirit Wear Day
10/8: College Gear Day; Cross-Country Scrimmage at LMA
10/9: End of Quarter 1; UMS Spirit Wear Day
10/14: Late-Start Schedule; Dino Dash Spirit Wear Day
10/15: College Gear Day; Great California Shakeout
10/16: UMS Spirit Wear Day
10/20: Cross-Country Scrimmage at SMA
10/21: Late-Start Schedule; Dino Dash Spirit Wear Day
10/22: College Gear Day; UMS Report Card Night
10/23: UMS Spirit Wear Day
10/26 - 10/30: Red Ribbon Week
10/27: PTA General Meeting 2 PM
10/28: Late-Start Schedule; Dino Dash Spirit Wear Day
10/29: College Gear Day
10/30: No School for Students; Teacher Professional Development Day
11/1: Dino Dash - Final Cross-Country Event
Utt Middle School
Website: https://utt.tustin.k12.ca.us/
Location: 13601 Browning Ave., Tustin, CA 92780
Phone: 714-730-7573
Instagram: @utt_falcons