United South Central Elementary

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope you and your children have had a positive and successful start to this school year. It's been wonderful to witness our school and classrooms again filled with laughter and the pursuit of knowledge. The interactions and collaboration between our students and teachers as they learn classroom and school rules and how to use their Rebel Rights (Be Respectful - Be Responsible - Be Safe) have been fun to watch. Many students have eagerly shared exciting stories about their classrooms, teachers, and the new things they are learning when I see them in the hallways and lunchroom.

As we commence this academic year, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our incredible community for your ongoing communication and engagement. Our conversations, meetings, and phone calls have been enriching, underscoring communication's vital role in the education process for students, teachers, and administrators alike. When parents and teachers work hand in hand, it sends a powerful message to our children that we share common expectations. Please remember that you are always welcome to connect with our dedicated school personnel in the spirit of partnership. At USC, we are unwavering in our commitment to doing everything within our capacity to support each and every one of our students. Together, as a team, we become better and stronger.

This academic year, USC staff continue to be fully devoted to achieving high levels of learning for all students while fostering an intentional culture to create an optimal learning environment. This year, USC students will continue to be challenged to think critically and creatively through our comprehensive curricula. To cater to each learner's unique needs, we will continue with Math Masters and Rebel Readers to enable our teachers to personalize instruction and provide reinforcement, support, and enrichment. During this time, students will have opportunities to collaborate with classroom teachers, Title I, ELL, and Special Education personnel to address specific areas requiring additional support. We are enthusiastic about the possibilities this holds for our students.

This year, we were awarded the Mitch Perizo Leaders are Readers Grant for the second year. Last year, with our grant award, we acquired two-year licenses for the Core5© and Power Up© learning platforms employed during our Rebel Readers program. These licenses will continue throughout the 2023-24 school year. This year, we used the grant money to purchase decodable books for grades K-6 and a subscription to Raz Plus. As teachers continue with their second year of LETRS training and we move towards structured literacy, we will implement UFLI Phonics into our literacy blocks and utilize decodable books to promote the development of essential decoding strategies. Instead of relying on guessing from pictures or other contextual cues, decodable readers will encourage our students to sound out words systematically by applying their knowledge of grapheme-phoneme correspondences and blending from left to right. This approach will foster a solid foundation in phonics, which is essential for reading success.

In closing, I thank the entire school community as we embark on the 2023-24 academic journey together. Our school's excellence is a testament to the unwavering help and support we receive from each and every one of you. Thank you for partnering with USC in ensuring your child's success, and have a great fall.

It’s a Great Day to be a Rebel

Warm regards,

Jennifer Taylor
USC Elementary Principal

October 2 - 6 - HOMECOMING WEEK

October 10 - Two-Hour Late Start - School will start 2 hours late. Buses will also be 2 hours late, and breakfast will not be served that morning at USC. Students may start to arrive at school at 10:00 - 10:10 a.m. Staff will be participating in staff development activities that morning.
October 9 - Picture Retake Day for elementary and high school
October 19 - 20 - MEA Break - No School

October 23 - Staff Development Day - No School

November 8 - End of first quarter
November 9 - Start of the second quarter

We are starting our fifth week of school, and students have established routines. We kindly request that parents drop off and pick up students outside the main doors. If a parent/guardian needs to access the school building, they must check in at the elementary or high school office and get a name badge before entering the building. Ensuring the safety of our students remains our utmost concern, and we appreciate your cooperation in the matter.

Drop off and pick up at USC Elementary

• Students will enter the school by the main door by the elementary office

• Students can enter the building at 8:10 AM after they are lined up outside. Please be mindful to drop your students off as close to 8:10 A.M. as possible to alleviate a long wait before the start of the school day.

• Students who have breakfast can access the school building at 7:50 A.M. Upon arrival, they should proceed directly to the Commons Area. After breakfast, students will return outside and enter the elementary building at 8:10 A.M., when the official school day begins. It is important to note that students are not permitted to enter the elementary building until 8:10 A.M.

• Students will be dismissed from the main doors by the office.

Parking Notice: When picking up students before and after school, ensure you are legally parked to avoid potential pitfalls. We need to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and visitors.

Parent Contact Information:

Please notify the elementary office if your email address or telephone number changes. It is imperative that we can contact you in case of a school-wide emergency or your child becomes ill. In addition, keeping your contact information current will ensure you receive notices and announcements from the school.

Illness:

USC policy states If your child has been absent for an illness, they should be healthy before returning to school. The child should be fever-free (less than 100.0 F) without fever-reducing medications for 24 hours before returning to school. The child should not be vomiting or have vomited for 24 hours before returning to school.

Extra Clothing:

Please send an extra set of clothing with your child. We must have extra clothing for spills, mud, accidents, and wet clothing from recess. Thank you.

Outdoor Recess: As fall sets in and the temperatures drop, please remember that your child(ren) will play outside daily, weather permitting. We need your help to ensure your students come to school appropriately dressed for the weather. Jackets/coats must be worn unless the temperature is 60 degrees or above. Moreover, as the snow flies, students need additional outdoor gear, including layers, hats, mittens/gloves, scarves, boots, and snow pants. ​Thank you in advance for your help in ensuring your child feels comfortable outside during recess. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Elementary Office at (507) 553-5810.

Lost and Found: Please check out the tables of items waiting to be reunited with their owners in the Commons near the vending machine. Stop in and take a look in the event your child is missing something. Please ensure all clothing is appropriately labeled to avoid having your child's possessions wind up in Lost and Found.

On the past Friday, September 27, our third-grade students set off on a field excursion, delving into the exploration of three local farms. They gained valuable insights into the inner workings of these farms, understanding the processes of crop planting, harvesting, and the diligent care of animals. Students eagerly shared their farm visit experiences upon their return with enthusiasm.

Email: jtaylor@unitedsouthcentral.org
Location: 600 11th Street Southwest, Wells, MN, USA
Phone: 507-553-5810