October 1 Family Newsletter

It was great to see so many families along the parade route last Friday during the Homecoming Parade. Thanks to all who came out.

As a reminder, tomorrow, October 2nd is Yom Kippur and will be a holiday for students and staff.

Looking ahead to October, we have our Math and Science Night scheduled for Thursday, October 9th. We will be having some food available for purchase at the event. If you plan on attending, please RSVP here as it will help us get an accurate count.

We are looking for volunteers to support our science and math stations. If you are interested in volunteering, you can sign up here.

Upcoming Dates

Thursday, October 2nd - Yom Kippur Holiday (No School)

Wednesday, October 8th - Walk, Bike & Roll to School

Thursday, October 9th - Math & Science Night

Monday, October 13th - FCPS Staff Development Day (No School)

Friday, October 24^th – SCA Spirit Day – It’s a Pink Out!

Friday, October 31st - Family Cookout

- 2-hour Early Dismissal

Tuesday, November 18th - Glow and Grow Night

FCPS 25-26 Calendar

All students and staff are encouraged to participate in the Walk, Bike & Roll to School event of Wednesday, October 8th! Students who get to school without a car will earn a small token. Those students, as well as students who walk to their bus stop, will be signing their name to their class leaf. The class leaves will be displayed in the gym for everyone to see.

Please contact Jenny Murray at jbmurray@fcps.edu if you have any questions.

Union Mill Strings: Making Music with Friends!

Our Strings program is more vibrant than ever, with 175 fourth through sixth graders making music together. An incredible 74% of our fourth graders are participating in the program learning violin, viola, cello, or bass. Students now all have instruments and are learning all of the basics. These beginners have already learned their first song plucking the string which is called pizzicato! They will start learning how to use their bows next. We are also excited to welcome new beginner students in both 5th and 6th grade. This dedication continues with many of our 5th and 6th graders, who build on their success in the advanced program. Our returning students have jumped back into playing scales, learning more advanced note reading, playing pieces, and how to tune their own instruments. They will start Winter Concert music soon!

Beyond weekly classes and concerts, Strings students can participate in several exciting opportunities throughout the year. This includes a Trunk or Treat event at CVHS on October 22nd, an all day event at CVHS called String-a-Palooza on January 30th culminating in a concert, and Solo Spotlight at Liberty Middle School on May 1st.

The Strings program has been steadily growing. It outgrew the UMES cafeteria, so last spring’s concert was held at Liberty Middle School. This new tradition was a great experience for our students, as they got to perform where most will attend in 7th grade!

"Seeing students’ faces light up when they've mastered a new skill is truly amazing! All students can succeed in the UMES Strings program," shares our Strings teacher, Mrs. Brown. The dedication of these young musicians makes the UMES Strings program outstanding! Keep up the great work, musicians!

Recognizing Union Mill Staff

There are many ways we can recognize our amazing staff at Union Mill and throughout FCPS. If you are looking to formally recognize a staff member, the FCPS CARES Program provides an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees who go above and beyond to help others and show they care about their students, colleagues, and the community.

If you would like to submit an FCPS Cares, click here.

October 31st Family Cookout

We look forward to hosting families for an opportunity to connect on Friday October 31^st during their child's lunch. Families will have the opportunity to come and eat with their child in the cafeteria or outside on Union Mill school grounds. If you choose to attend, please click here to RSVP by Friday, October 24^th. This will ensure we have enough food for all who attend. While we are excited to include families in this event, we ask no more than 2 people per child attend.

The menu includes: Grilled 100% all beef hot dogs, chips, and rice crispy treats. There is no cost for the event thanks to ML Real Estate.

Please do not park in the bus loop which will be coned off. We appreciate your cooperation!