Union Elementary Family Update

There is a buzz in the air! I've seen a lot of hard work/play happening today at Union Elementary:

1. Reading directions to following games.

2. Engagement in numeracy during card games.

3. Taking turns.

4. Sharing.

5. Creativity and imaginative applications.

6. Executive functioning to organize ideas and thoughts.

7. Life skills: Communication, Collaboration, Compromise, Cooperation.

8. Problem Solving (S: Say the problem, T: Think of solutions, E: Explore the Consequences, P: Pick the best solution!)

9. Content integration with creating readers theaters and puppet play.

10. Entrepreneurship - taking orders for special bracelets.

I just love this place! Here are a few pictures of the FUN!

February is Black History Month and we will be recognizing the achievements and contributions of African Americans in U.S. History. Our classrooms will engage in various educational activities to highlight the impact of individuals and groups of people on our nation’s history, along with daily morning announcements.

February 12 - Our AWESOME PTO is organizing a Cookie Walk for our teachers to share the love. If you would like to donate click here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4DADAB2DA2FA7-51830311-union

February 12-13 - Body Safety Lessons at Union (see below for details)

February 14 - Valentine's Parties - Teachers will be reaching out to you about their class plans! Our PTO will be providing the party snack that consists of a Strawberry Fruit Strip and Skinny Pop PopCorn.

Spotlight Night is coming on March 22! This once every three-year event is sure to be a lot of fun for our kids and our PTO is working hard to make this a memorable event. See more information below!

Dear Families,

As you know, the safety of our students is our highest priority. We routinely practice safety drills and engage in ongoing safety education with our students throughout the year. We teach guidelines and principles in a way to develop student agency, allowing them to regularly make decisions that prioritize their safety across settings and situations.

One topic within the larger umbrella of Safety Education is that of Body Safety. A few examples of Body Safety topics include wearing seat belts and helmets, looking both ways to cross the street, keeping hands to self, eating healthy foods, and following school procedures such as walking in the hallways. Body Safety education also encompasses the prevention of childhood abuse.

ZCS has partnered with the Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse and Suicide (ICPYAS) to assist us in providing instruction of strategies for abuse prevention. This instruction will be provided to all kindergarten- fourth grade students at Union Elementary on February 12 and 13. ICPYAS is a non-profit organization that employs certified instructors who deliver research-based lessons to students in developmentally appropriate ways as a means to give children strategies to keep their bodies safe. All students in grades K-12 receive the instruction on an annual basis, in accordance with state legislation SEA 355.

To learn more about these presentations, be sure to visit Parent Resources — Indiana Center for the Prevention of Youth Abuse & Suicide (indianaprevention.org) and click on the “Child Lures Video”, which provides information regarding the content of this program. The website also contains links to additional resources.

Parents have the opportunity to opt out of this program if desired. The Parent Opt-Out Form is attached to this message. Paper copies can be sent home if requested. Please note, that this opt-out form should only be completed and returned if you desire for your student NOT to receive this body safety education. Opt-Out forms are due on Monday, February 10, 2025 to your child's teacher.

Questions regarding this program should be directed to: Lori Karnuta, School Counselor.
Email:lkarnuta@zcs.k12.in.us
Phone: 317-733-4007

As always, we value your partnership in the education of your child, and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve your family in such meaningful ways.

All Union students are eligible to participate in the tournament. Union students K-4 are eligible to participate in the tournament. Boys and girls may be paired together and will be elimination games to determine a winner: Saturday, March 8, 2025

• Parents must accompany their children during the event and kids must be on time for their grade level sign-in.
  
• Please sign in at Door 11 (we will have a waiver for you to sign before children can play).
• Registration Deadline is March 3, 2025 (use the button below)
  

Schedule for the day on Saturday, March 8, 2025:

• Set up (adult volunteers) - 8:30 am
  
• 9:00 AM - K, 1st, and 2nd Grade Sign-in
  
• 9:30 AM - K, 1st, and 2nd Grade Games!
  
• 10:30 AM - 3rd Grade & 4th Grade Sign-in
  
• 11:00 A< - 3rd Grade & 4th Grade Games!
  
• Tear down (adult volunteers) - Please plan to stay for 30 minutes after the last game.

We always need volunteers: Volunteer Sign Up

ZEF Eagle Honors are the perfect way to “Show your love” for the teachers, administrators, and staff that make ZCS a special place for you and your student!

For a minimum donation of $10 per honoree, ZEF will send a personalized certificate. Proceeds help fund future ZEF grants. Send your Eagle Honors today by clicking here: [https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_a5ff283d-834c-11e7-afbe-024e165d44b3&WidgetId=210946&blm_aid=31170]

Yearbooks - It's time to order your child's 2024-25 Yearbook! Follow the link below to place your order online. If you need to pay by cash or check, please contact the Cripe office on how to submit your order.

Union Yearbooks - ORDER HERE - ORDER DEADLINE: March 14 (late orders cannot be guarantee a yearbook). Questions? Please contact Cripe Photography HERE. Evidently, the QR code is incorrect and leads us to Trailside's order form. Cripe has created a new flyer - it's blue with the correct QR code!

Kindergarten Round-Up: Spread the Word! - Mark your calendars! Kindergarten Round-Up is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25th at all ZCS elementary schools. Pre-registration opens in mid-February. We encourage families to pre-register when it becomes available.

This past week, members of the ZCHS Best Buddies club came to Union to promote their upcoming event. The Best Buddies Club encourages friendships between general education and special education students. Feeling excluded and lonely from others is a common feeling among those with disabilities. ZCHS recognizes the importance of INCLUSION. Buddy Up FUN night (March 22, 2025) is an event that is here to help all students feel welcome and accepted. It is open to all K-4th grade elementary students with or without disabilities and 5th-8th grade students WITH an intellectual disability. The fee covers pizza, beverages, snack, magician, balloon animals and bounce houses.

ALL PROCEEDS from Buddy Up FUN night go to the ZCHS Best Buddies Club to help pay for activities and their PROM. Each additional sibling is $31.00. Check in (3:45-4:15) takes place in the high school wedge. The wedge parking lot is off of Hal Sharpe Blvd (enter door #3). Dinner and various activities (4:30-8:30) including games, magician, bounce houses, and snack time.

***This event does conflict with Spotlight Night for our third and fourth graders (FYI).

Sign up here.

Child Find is the process for locating, identifying, and evaluating individuals with suspected disabilities who may need special education services, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. This is the responsibility of ZCS regardless of whether a parent affirmatively requests an evaluation.

ZCS provides a Free Appropriate Public Education to any child who qualifies as having a disability, in accordance with federal and state laws. ZCS is responsible for locating all children ages 3 through 22 years of age with a suspected disability who reside within the boundaries of its district. With early identification and intervention, frustration and academic failure can be prevented, which in turn creates a positive learning experience for students. Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), which encompasses academics, speech, language, and/or social and emotional learning, is an essential component of the child find process. Utilizing screening assessments, the ZCS team members identify students in need of intervention, implement action plans, and monitor the response to the targeted interventions. In addition, the evaluation referral procedures in ZCS provide the framework to refer students with suspected disabilities for evaluation.

If you have questions regarding the Child Find process in ZCS, please contact your child’s school counselor.

1) Winter Weather Recess - Please remember that we go outside for recess daily unless the ambient temperature or wind chill drops below 10 degrees. Indiana weather can be unpredictable, so as temperatures continue to drop, ensure your child is prepared with a warm coat, hat, and gloves. For snowy days, snow pants, boots, and gloves or mittens are required for snow play. If your family needs help obtaining winter gear, please reach out to our school counselor, Mrs. Karnuta, who is happy to assist.

We value outdoor play and will only hold recess indoors on rainy, icy, or exceptionally cold days. Thank you for helping your child stay warm and ready to enjoy their time outdoors! (Please note that if we have a 2 hour delay, students do not have recess.)

(2) Two Hour Delay Days & Closures-
On days when Zionsville Community Schools operates on a two-hour delay, all arrival procedures (bus, car, walkers, and Universal Preschool) will also follow a two-hour delay. The car line and bus routes will begin exactly two hours later than their usual times.
Please note:

• Morning Before and After Care (BAC) for preschool students will not be available on two-hour delay days.
• BAC for other students will open at 7:30 a.m. on these days.

For additional information about programming, delays, or closures, please visit the ZCS Delay and Closure Information website.

Read more about Union's Weather Procedures here: Inclement Weather Protocols

Supplies - This year, our school is excited to provide essential educational supplies for all students (such as notebooks, folders, paper, pencils, etc.), thanks to a new law passed in Indiana! While these basics are covered, many teachers have shared non-educational items that can enhance classroom experiences—like stickers, stamps, and prize collections—through their newsletters and Amazon Wish Lists. We know many families enjoy contributing to the school, and we always appreciate donations of Kleenex and disinfectant wipes, which help us maintain a clean and healthy environment for our students.

This week, our second graders learned about the power of gratitude. They created gratitude wheels illustrating things that they are grateful for in their lives. Being grateful, even for the small stuff, can shift our focus from negativity to positivity, help foster a more optimistic outlook, and promote emotional well-being. Gratitude helps us handle stress and challenges more effectively. Some research indicates that grateful individuals are more resilient in the face of adversity and can navigate setbacks with greater ease. I encourage you to get your gratitude on!

Union Backpack Program: The mission of the Union Backpack Program is to assist feeding students who are facing food insecurity in our community by providing a backpack of food on weekends and long holiday breaks. The Backpack Program prioritizes confidentiality, dignity, worth, and capacity for self-determination of our students and families.

If you and your family need this information, please contact Lori Karnuta (School Counselor) at lkarnuta@zcs.k12.in.us.

The Second Step Home Links for the entire year are linked below.

Kindergarten Home Links

1st Grade Home Links

2nd Grade Home Links

3rd Grade Home Links

4th Grade Home Links

February

7 - Global Day of Play

12-13 - Body Safety Lessons

12 - PTO Cookie Walk - 2:45-3:30 - Teachers Lounge

14 - Valentines Day Parties (varied times)

17 - Presidents Day - No school

21 - Third and Fourth Grade Spelling Bee - 11:15 AM - Union Gym

March

3-14 - IREAD testing window (2nd and 3rd grade)

4 - Dads Club Meeting in the Teachers Lounge at 7 PM

5 - Fourth Grade Special People Breakfast at 7 AM in Union's Cafe

6 - PTO Meeting - 8 AM Executive Meeting, 9 AM General Meeting - Union's Makerspace

8 - Dads Club 2 on 2 Basketball Tournament - Union Gym

10-27 - Spring NWEA Testing Window

14 - End of the Third Quarter

21, 22, 23 - PTO Spotlight Night (grade level times are TBD)

25 - Kindy Round Up (3PM-7PM) - Union Cafe and Blue Pod

27 - Beach Day at Union and Cafe

28-April 4 - Spring Break

April

8 - Dads Club Meeting in the Teachers Lounge - 7 PM

10 - PTO Meeting - Executive at 6 PM, General is at 7 PM

21-25 - Digitarium will be in the STEM classroom

14-May 9 - ILEARN (grades 3-4)

23 - National Administrative Professionals Day!

28-May 2 - Scholastic Spring Book Fair

May

1 - Related Arts Night 5-7 PM

5-9 - Music Informances (Grades 1 and 3) - During specials - schedule to be announced

4-9 - National Teacher Appreciation Week - Celebrate our Teachers!

6 -Dads Club Meeting in the Teachers Lounge - 7 PM

8 - National School Nurse Appreciation Day - Celebrate Erica Clark!

9 - Third Grade Speciality Animal Celebration - 1:15-2:00 PM (Union Purple Pod)

14, 15, 16 - 4th Grade Musical - Union Cafe (Times to TBD)

15 - Third Grade Zionsville Walking Tour Field Trip

18 - National Speech Pathologist Appreciation Day - Celebrate Tisha Van Curen

22 - PTO Meeting - 6 PM Executive Meeting, 7 PM General PTO Meeting

23 - Kindy 500 - Soccer Fields at 1:15 PM

26 - Memorial Day - No School

27 - Fourth Grade Celebration - 4:30-6:30 PM - PTO will organize an end of the year celebration for fourth graders - Playground, Dads Club Shelter, Soccer Fields, Kickball Fields

28 - Field Day - Union Soccer Fields - no Rain Date

29 - Fourth Grade Talent Show - Parent Performance 6:00-7:30 PM - Union Cafe

30 - Last Day of School, End of Fourth Quarter

Regular attendance is crucial for your child's academic growth and overall success. The Board of School Trustees and Indiana Department of Education emphasize the importance of being present in the classroom, as it allows students to fully engage in instruction, participate in class discussions, and benefit from the rich learning environment our teachers create. In addition, the State of Indiana uses attendance data to evaluate schools and performance. We readily recognize that some absences are unavoidable when illness or urgent family needs arise. Our team is always understanding and supportive of such situations or needs.

When students are consistently present, they are better equipped to excel academically and socially. We encourage all families to prioritize regular on-time arrival/attendance and schedule vacations during school breaks. This approach ensures your child won't miss out on essential learning opportunities that occur each day.

Thank you for your commitment to your child’s education and for helping us foster a community of learners who are present, engaged, and ready to succeed!

At Union, we emphasize the importance of our school’s Guidelines for Success which include taking care of ourselves, others, and our school. Please encourage your child to take care of themselves, take care of others, and to take care of this place! Our school is a special space where children learn, grow, and flourish. Encourage your child to be mindful of how they care for our school!

I want to reiterate that Everyone Belongs Here. Our diverse community is what makes us strong and special. Please look for quarterly newsletters that share ideas on how Union is creating an environment where every child feels loved, respected, and valued.

As we plan for the year ahead, we want to ensure to communicate regarding our expectations regarding electronic devices. These devices are a distraction to our students (not just the students wearing them) and have become a disruption to the classroom learning environment. This is addressed in our elementary handbook on page 21: Elementary Handbook and is copied below. Teachers will request students to store smartwatches/cell phones in their backpacks and lockers during the school day. Please note that our teachers have phones in their classrooms and will be able to communicate if an emergency occurs. As always, we thank you for your support and cooperation!

Electronic Devices and Other Restricted Items in School

The following items are restricted on school grounds: toys, trading cards, valuables, and electronic devices not academically necessary including but not limited to cell phones, tablets, and smart watches. These items may NOT be used by students in the building or on school-sponsored transportation, unless the student has permission by the supervising adult. Electronic devices are to be used for educational purposes only. When not in use for educational purposes they need to be off and stored in the student’s locker or backpack during the school day. A reminder that communication for a student’s dismissal change should not be made through a student’s electronic device but always needs to be made directly to the teacher or school office. The school accepts no responsibility if these items are lost, stolen or damaged and is not responsible for investigating the loss or damage of these items. The student and parents/guardians accept full responsibility for these items.

As you plan for the year, please review the link below regarding transportation (bus, car, and walkers/bikers). All of our transportation procedures are in place to protect the safety of all those on our campus. you for making safe transport to and from Union a priority!

For detailed information please review the newsletter linked here:

Union Transportation Newsletter

Car Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures (Union Website)

Union School Day Hours

First - Fourth - 8:00-2:30

Pre-School - 8:15-2:45 - please do not arrive too early as it will interfere with our other transportation procedures.

Kindergarten - 9:00-2:30

Reminders:

• Bus Riders - Please remember that you cannot switch buses to ride home with friends. This is due to safety concerns!
• Car Riders - Make sure your student exits and enters the passenger side!
• Car Riders - Please pull all the way up to the cone or the car in front of you!
• Drivers - PLEASE refrain from using your cell phone in the car rider line!
• Afternoon car rider pick up - Please make sure you have a sign clearly displayed and written in your front window (under review mirror) that has students' FIRST and LAST names!

Spotlight Night News: Please reach out to Rebecca Rozich-Kusmierczyk at rebeccaaroz@yahoo.com if you would like to learn more about volunteering!

Spotlight Night Collections

The Spotlight Night team is looking to start collecting items for ongoing projects. Please send in your items starting in January or reach out to Lindsey Miller at lamiller427@gmail.com to coordinate drop off. Thank you for helping us recycle and stretch our budget.

Requested items:

- Empty wrapping paper tubes

- empty paper towel rolls

- medium to large boxes

- sheets of plywood (1/4 of a sheet or larger)

- TV/ appliance boxes

- rectangle tissue boxes with the hole in the top

- pool noodles

- Christmas tree stand

- red and green paint

Upcoming PTO Events:

February 14th-PTO Cookie walk (see info in Mrs. Kay's weekly newsletter)

Follow us on socials!

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/unionptozionsville?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Instagram- Find us at @unionstarspto

https://www.instagram.com/unionstarspto?igsh=Z3FtMDU2d29yaGht

Minutes from our meetings can be found here: Union PTO Minutes.docx

Union's PTO page: https://uni.zcs.k12.in.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=483927&type=d&pREC_ID=1019178

Upcoming PTO Meetings:

March 6- 9am Union's Makerspace

April 10- 7pm Union Cafe

May 22- 7pm location to be determined

PTO Executive Board:

Lindsey Miller | President | lamiller427@gmail.com

Rebecca Rozich-Kusmierczyk | Vice President | rebeccaaroz@yahoo.com

Jenn Buckley | Secretary | jsbuckley88@gmail.com

KC Lepping | Treasurer | kasemcl@gmail.com

Dads Club will plan a number of fun, extra-curricular activities for Union kids throughout the year. All are welcome to attend! The Dads Club President is Mike Stocksick and he can be reached at: (mstocks1@hotmail.com).

Meetings are the first Tuesday of every month at 7PM in Union's Teachers Lounge! We encourage you to get involved! Next year's (2024-2025) meetings:

• September 3 - at Greeks Pizzeria

• October 1

• November 5

• December 3

• January 7

• February 4

• March 4

• April 8

• May 6

Dads Club Leadership:

Mike Stocksick – President

Ryan Miller – Vice President

Andrew Kusmierczyk - Secretary

David Beyer - Treasurer

In order to ensure safety for our school community, and to ensure capacity for our visitors, we will limit the number of visitors to three adults/visitors per lunch period and lunch visitors will RSVP for specific date/time.

• Lunch visitors will be welcome to come and eat with their child once again starting after Labor Day (Tuesday, September 5, 2023).
• During the school day, all visitors must enter via the front door (Door 1) and sign-in at the front office.
• Visitors need to be prepared to present a government-issued photo ID which will be scanned against the National Sex Offender Registry.
• All visitors will be issued a visitor badge/tag to be worn inside the building at all times.
• Please sit at the designated visitor tables with your child only. Please do not visit other areas of the school!
• Please do not share food with other students.
• HAVE FUN with you child and please refrain from utilizing your cell phone.

2nd Lunch - 10:30-11:00 AM

1st Lunch - 11:00-11:30 AM

Kindy Lunch - 11:35 AM -12:05 PM

3rd Lunch - 12:10-12:40 PM

4th Lunch - 12:40-1:10 PM

Look for the Food Service link at www.zcs.k12.in.us to find great information on contacts, price lists, nutritional and allergen information and more!

Meal assistance is available and application forms can be obtained online via https://zionsville.familyportal.cloud/ or on our food service webpage

or call 317-873-1232.

Beginning, Monday, August 19, a daily breakfast option will be available for Union Elementary students from 7:45-8:00 AM in the cafeteria.

Details:

First Student Breakfast $1.40
Reduced White or Chocolate Milk .30
Extra Milk $0.60
Extra Entree $1.25
Additional a la carte items are available at an additional cost

Please see the link below for more details and information on how to sign-up for one of the GROW childcare options.

GROW/Child Care Services (click here)

• Bridge and Early Start Spanish are optional, fee based programs that “bridge” the time between the 7:50-8:00 arrival time for 1st-4th grade students, and the start of the instructional day for Kindergarten students, which is 8:50-9:00.
• Before and After-School Care (BAC) is available for all Union students, and the before/after school starts at 6:45am and extends childcare from 2:30 to 6:00pm.
• Access Days Care provides a childcare option for when school is not in session for parents who need care for their children during some of the school breaks during the year.
  
• Eagle Rec offers fee based programs in a variety of interest areas, which typically start after school has already begun after Labor Day.

ZCS is now hiring Instructional Assistants at multiple locations. Join the ZCS team and make an impact on the lives of our students. IAs work in the classroom with individual and small groups of students. Please apply online at https://www.applitrack.com/centralindiana/onlineapp/jobpostings/view.asp?choosedistrict=true&district=1452 or contact Robyn Nelson at rnelson@zcs.k12.in.us with any questions.

Please take a moment to share with us when you have experienced something extraordinary because of the work of a ZCS teacher, counselor, bus driver, school administrative assistant, food service worker, coach, nurse, school leader or Board member. When you have an experience, please go to the ZCS website and fill out the Above and Beyond Nomination Form.

Union Elementary strives to create a nurturing and kid-focused learning environment where teachers, students, and parents work together in supportive and collaborative partnerships so all students can meet their potential.

Erin Kay, Principal

Laura Christie, Assistant Principal

Email: ekay@zcs.k12.in.us
Website: http://uni.zcs.k12.in.us/
Location: 11750 E 300 S, Zionsville, IN, United States
Phone: 317-733-4007
Twitter: @ZCSUnionElem