Just a reminder that Monday is Memorial Day, therefore our teachers will share the week's learning plans on Tuesday morning. In addition, there will not be any class meetings, intervention support connections, and/or one-on-one connections on Monday due to the holiday. Whether it is a backyard family picnic or a relaxing nap in the hammock, we wish our students and their families a very Happy Memorial Day!
Importance of 1:1 Connections
In lieu of issuing report cards at the conclusion of the 19-20 school year, your child's teacher will prioritize the final one-on-one connection to share next steps for extending learning over the summer. Please plan to actively attend this important meeting for ideas on continued growth and progress. Thank you!
Year-End Wrap-Up Details
Our school team is working to develop plans to close out this incredibly unique school year. Below you will find important information on upcoming events - thank you for reading along and marking your calendars!
Material Pick-Up/Drop-Off
As we wrap-up the 2019-2020 school year, we will begin preparing our classrooms for summer. This includes packaging up any personal items that may have been left by students on March 13th, including yearbooks, Bear Tracks, and Bear Wear orders. In addition, it will be important to collect media center materials that were sent home with students prior to the shutdown. Please plan to drive through our school’s main office parking lot on June 3rd according to the schedule and map that will be shared in next week’s blog post.
Items to be returned to your family will be placed in the trunk or back seat in order to adhere with social distancing guidelines. Please remember that everyone must stay in their vehicles to ensure everyone's safety and comfort.
Year-End Wrap-Up Details
Our school team is working to develop plans to close out this incredibly unique school year. Below you will find important information on upcoming events - thank you for reading along and marking your calendars!
Material Pick-Up/Drop-Off
As we wrap-up the 2019-2020 school year, we will begin preparing our classrooms for summer. This includes packaging up any personal items that may have been left by students on March 13th, including yearbooks, Bear Tracks, and Bear Wear orders. In addition, it will be important to collect media center materials that were sent home with students prior to the shutdown. Please plan to drive through our school’s main office parking lot on June 3rd according to the schedule and map that will be shared in next week’s blog post.
Items to be returned to your family will be placed in the trunk or back seat in order to adhere with social distancing guidelines. Please remember that everyone must stay in their vehicles to ensure everyone's safety and comfort.
Farewell Parade
Our staff is planning a special farewell for our students and their families. On the evening of June 4th we will be hosting a "reverse" farewell parade. Staff will line the bus lot along Garden Lane and will invite your family to drive through and wave farewell.
Fifth grade families are invited for a special farewell from 4:00 - 4:30 p.m., all other families are encouraged to drive through between 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. We hope you all can make it!
Mark Your Calendars...
5/25 Memorial Day - no remote teaching & learning today
5/26 PTO Meeting 7 p.m. via Google Hangouts Meet
6/3 Family pick-up/drop-off of materials - see schedule in next week's blog post
6/4 Farewell Parade
4:00-4:30 p.m. Fifth grade Families Only
4:30-6:00 p.m. ECDD - Fourth Grade Families
6/5 Last day of school!
Awards Assembly - sent out via email and FB (a.m.)
Media Center Update
Ren Baldwin Student Technology Festival 2020
Library Books
Do you know what books you have checked out from our library? Do you know where they are located? Now is the time to start gathering them together so you can return them back to school when it is safe to do so. You can see the books you have checked out by logging into your account on Destiny Discover, our library catalog. Here's a brief screencast video to help you do that. Please contact Mrs. Bacolor (cbacolor@sjschools.org) if you have any questions.
Library/Media Choice Board #2
There's still time to complete Library Choice Board #2. They are due on Friday, May 29th. Once you complete a bingo, follow the directions on the board and complete the Google Form. More shoutouts will be share on our eResource site.
Summer Reading at the Public Library
**Please visit the SJPS Elementary eResource website for more information on the above. This site changes regularly as new information and resources are shared, so check back often.
Community Corkboard
Summer programs, sports, and other student offerings are beginning to advertise for enrollment. Please check out the current local offerings by visiting our Community Corkboard.
Social and Emotional Support
Our social workers continue to offer support to our families during this time. You can email them at guidance@sjschools.org and visit our website sjschools.org for updated information, including this list of social/emotional resources.
Please click here for a special video from our social workers related to "big feelings" your child might be having. Please also click on the links below to access resources to support your conversations related to disappointment and grief.
To help acknowledge some of the things we are all grieving and feeling a sense of loss over, you might consider the following activity for your family:
Please join us this Thursday evening (5/21/20) at 6:00 pm to further discuss this topic or any other concern or celebration you want to share. This is a time for you, the caretaker; a time for support and community. Here is the link:
Additional Learning Support Opportunity
We encourage your first - fifth graders to join our Title One interventionists, Mrs. DeVore, Mrs. Bolinder and Mrs. J, during their weekly "office hours". This additional layer of support will assist learners in completion of assigned classwork.
Click here for the schedule and links. Fourth and fifth graders will join via the link in our interventionists' Google Classroom. Like other connections, we ask that an adult is present.
Upcoming PTO Meeting
Our final PTO meeting of the school year will be virtual on Tuesday, May 26th at 7p.m. Click here to join us via Google Hangouts Meet. We hope to see you all!
Summer Learning Challenge 2020
Our staff is hard at work planning this year's Summer Learning Challenge! Like last year, we are challenging all of our current Y5 - 4th grade students to "go for gold" this summer! By dedicating a small portion of their free time to fun learning activities, students will work to overcome the dreaded effects of "summer slide". Look for the official launch of Summer Learning Challenge 2020 in next week's blog post!
Attention All Fifth Grade Families...
Here is a special welcoming message from the Upton Middle School PTO.
Welcome to Upton Middle School - We’re here for you!
UPTO (Upton PTO) would like to welcome all new students and their parents to Upton Middle School.
Please make sure you have our information! Join the Upton Middle PTO Facebook group for up-to-date information.
Anyone wishing to join UPTO or find out more information should email uptonmiddlepto@gmail.com.
Please join us!
The PTO Board at Upton Is Seeking
General Board Members and Grade Level Representatives
for the 2020-2021 School Year!
Being a part of the UPTO General Board is a fulfilling way to contribute to our school district and be a vital part of our school’s community. Being a member of the UPTO board allows you to be more involved with many of the great activities that your students enjoy throughout the year, such as: school dances, guest presentations, parent educational events, scholarships, 8th grade farewell, teacher hospitality & appreciation week and many more. UPTO Board Members have a voice in changes within the District by advocating for all students and supporting our middle school community. Interested in inventing your own program for Upton students? Want to give an established program a makeover? We welcome your creativity!
We rely on parent volunteers like you to be successful. UPTO Board terms are for one year and most positions can have a co-officer to share the responsibilities. Board members will attend a monthly PTO General Meeting (held the third Thursday of the month at 12 pm in the Upton Conference Room). Grade level representative positions are only a one year commitment.
Please consult the table below for the vacant positions and their responsibilities. Not sure what would be the best fit for your schedule and interests? Let us know, and we’ll help you find a good fit. If you have any questions, email the address above.
If you are interested, please send a short email to the Nominating Committee at uptonmiddlepto@gmail.com by Monday, June 1st, with the position of interest in the subject line. The email should include:
- your name and contact information
- grade(s) of each child
- what Executive Board position you are interested in
- a sentence or two about why you’d be a good fit for the position you’re applying for.
The Executive Board will vote to approve the new slate at its final meeting in June after which all applicants will be contacted about the outcome. We would love to have you join us via Zoom at our June meeting to begin the transition to next year.
Vacant Officer Positions (1 Year)
Support for Our Families
Technology - Contact support@sjschools.org or call (269) 926-3100 for repair/support of school issued devices or for learners who need a device or do not have internet access during the closure. Note: public libraries and schools will provide wi-fi access from their parking lots while people remain in their vehicles.
Meals - Mondays and Thursdays from 11:00AM-12:30PM at the St Joseph High School back entrance off of Lakeview Ave. These resources in our community are also available for support: Area Food Sites and Distribution
If you are in need of food or interested in making a monetary donation to assist in this time of crisis, here’s a list of local Food Bank Options
Community Support Resources - 211 is a free, confidential service that helps people find the local resources they need (social, emotional, health care, unemployment and more). Dial 211 (or 844-875-9211) to speak with a community resource advisor who can provide info and referrals for everyday needs in times of crisis. For more, visit uwsm.org/2-1-1.
We are delighted to announce the district is strengthening our Wi-Fi and setting up Hotspots at all our campuses. Clarke, Brown, Lincoln, Upton, and the High School all have a designated hotspot for our families to use while in their vehicles.
It is the policy of the St. Joseph Public School District that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, disability, height, weight, or marital status be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to, discrimination during any program, activity, service or in employment.
