Dear Uinta Meadows Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back Eagle Nation! I hope this summer brought your family rest, adventure, and special memories. As we begin another exciting school year at Uinta Meadows Elementary, I want to express how thrilled we are to partner with you once again in supporting your child’s learning and growth.

First Day of School & Schedule Reminders

Our first day of school is Monday, August 25th. As a reminder, all Mondays at UME operate on a one-hour delayed start, meaning classes will begin at 10:05 AM. Tuesday through Friday, school begins promptly at 9:05 AM.

For families who need early drop-off, our Early Birds program will continue to open at 8:00 AM each morning. Students will be grouped by grade level and rotate through engaging activities such as academic interventions, enrichment, computers, gym, and homework time. No sign-up is necessary - students who arrive between 8:00 and 9:30 AM will be welcomed. At 9:30, students will transition to recess or breakfast in the cafeteria.

Back to school night will be held on Thursday, August 21st starting at 4:00 pm and running until 6:00 pm. Please come and meet your wonderful teachers!

Soaring Into Summer Reading Challenge

Learning never stops - especially during summer! We hope your child has stayed active with reading and math over the break. Our Soaring into Summer Reading Challenge encourages all Eagles to track their reading minutes and celebrate their progress.

UME is proud to be the ten-time defending Wyoming state champion for most summer reading minutes. Let’s aim for our 11th win this year! It’s not too late to start recording minutes, and we have exciting rewards in store:

600 minutes – Pizza party with Mr. Francis, Dr. Moon, and Mrs. Symes + placement on the base reading shelf

1,000 minutes – Pizza party + UME reading t-shirt + center shelf

1,500 minutes – All of the above + a top-shelf celebration!

New students may submit a parent note or documentation from their previous school to qualify.

PTO & Parent Involvement

We are proud to introduce this year’s PTO Board:

President: Nancy Bunot

Vice President: Yvonne Wilson

Secretary:  Kendra Asay

Treasurer: Mary Souza

Membership: Vanessa Ludwig

Our PTO is one of the largest and most active in the state—your involvement matters! Please consider joining and attending our monthly meetings. In addition, our Parent/Teacher Connections Council meets quarterly to discuss school-wide goals and educational topics. We welcome your voice and ideas.

Smith’s Earn and Learn Program

A simple way to support our school is by enrolling in the Smith’s Earn and Learn Program at www.smithsfoodanddrug.com/inspire. It costs nothing, must be renewed annually, and earned UME over $800 last year. Friends and family from anywhere in the nation can sign up in support of Uinta Meadows!

Stay Connected

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Uinta Meadows Elementary School. This is our home for regular updates and celebrations. We also use BrightArrow through PowerSchool to send important messages via phone, text, and email. Please ensure your contact information is current so you stay informed throughout the year.

New Faces at UME

Please help us give a warm Eagle welcome to the newest members of our UME staff. We are confident these new team members will make a positive and lasting impact on our students:

Nicole Page - 5th Grade Teacher

Jacob Jelesiewicz – 1st Grade Teacher

Danielle Jelesiewicz – Kindergarten Teacher

Shayla Walker – Paraprofessional

Kandace Asay – Paraprofessional

Sadie Hieftje - Paraprofessional

Maddie Connelly - Paraprofessional

Becca Brandley - Paraprofessional

Maria Perez - Paraprofessional

Mikalya Fotheringham - Paraprofessional

We can’t wait to see our students and families back in the halls of UME. Together, let’s make this year one of growth, connection, and success. Let’s WIN today—and every day. Go Eagles!

Warmly,

Brad Francis, Principal

Austin Moon, Dean of Students

UME is Recognized as a Model Professional Learning Community!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UINTA MEADOWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RECOGNIZED AS A MODEL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY AT WORK™One of About 200 Schools and Districts in the US and Canada to Receive This Honor

Evanston, WY, August 18, 2020 —Uinta Meadows Elementary School was recently recognized by Solution Tree for its sustained success in raising student achievement. UME’s successful implementation of the Professional Learning Communities at Work™ process was a major contributing factor in the improved achievement of its students.

A PLC is a school/district in which educators recognize the key to improved learning for students is on-going, job-embedded learning for the adults who serve those students. The three big ideas of a PLC call upon educators to:

1. Focus on learning.
2. Build a collaborative culture.
3. Create a results orientation.

Responding to news of the recognition, Jerrod Dastrup said, “This journey started about four years ago. Each year we were fortunate to spend valuable time with Solution Tree PLC experts! That helped catapult us to new heights. I'm well aware that this is just the beginning. Becoming a Model PLC means so much because it validates the work we have been doing for our kids. I can't wait to see where we are a few more years down the road. I announced becoming a Model PLC to the UME staff during back to school week. I told my teachers and para/aides how proud I am to be their principal. They're the ones in the trenches. They're the rock stars! I'm blessed to have a front row seat to their show each and every day!”

Schools are recognized based on strict criteria, including demonstration of a commitment to PLC concepts, implementation of these concepts for at least three years, and clear evidence of improved student learning over that period. Once measurable results can be seen, the school must explain its practices, structures, and culture and submit its application for consideration by the PLC Review Committee.

According to the Champions of PLC at Work™, educators in the schools and districts selected for this recognition have shown “a sustained commitment to helping all of their students achieve at high levels. They have been willing to alter the structure and culture of the organization to reflect their commitment. We applaud them and congratulate them for achieving this very significant milestone on the never-ending PLC journey.”

Recognized model PLC schools are listed on allthingsplc.info, UME Model PLC Evidence, where they share implementation strategies, structures, and performance with other educators interested in improving their schools. Tools for team collaboration, articles and research about PLCs, blog posts, and other related resources are also available on the site. The site was developed and is maintained by Solution Tree, a leading provider of educational strategies and tools that improve staff and student performance. For more than 20 years, Solution Tree resources have helped K–12 teachers and administrators create schools where all children succeed.

Congratulations, Uinta Meadows Elementary School! You make a difference in the lives of children and families.

To read more about the amazing things UME is doing for students check it out at All things PLC

UME has Achieved Level 2 HRS!!

***Click on View More for Group Photo***

Our primary responsibility at UME is to keep your children safe. We firmly believe these procedures provide all children and adults with the safety they deserve.

1. Lower Parking Lot
   1. This will be the bus loading and unloading zones before and after school. There will be multiple openings in the fencing for students to walk along the sidewalk, locate their bus, walk through the nearest opening and load their bus. We will have staff members on duty daily to assist students getting to the busses, similar to the supervision we currently have. Parents can use this lot to park. However, it is not a parent lane for pick-up or drop-off . The only access for parents to enter and exit the school is through the front doors. All vehicles parked in this lot will not be able to enter or exit while busses are loading students after school. This is not a drop-off location. This lot is ONLY designed for the use of parking and bus loading and unloading. There will be a crossing guard on the corner of Cheyenne Drive and Sioux Drive. Please follow their directions.
2. Upper Parking Lot
   1. This will function almost the same as it currently functions. Parents will enter the far right lane and circle around the loop until we walk your student to your vehicle. You will then wait your turn to exit the upper parking lot back onto Cheyenne Drive. There will be a barrier that will prohibit anyone from turning to go down the front of the school. This addresses the issue of incoming and outgoing traffic to and from Cheyenne Drive getting in the way of each other. There will be staff on duty each day to direct traffic. Please follow their directions.
3. Parent Pick-up and Drop-off in Front of the School (Lane closest to School)
   1. There will be a one-way entrance from Cheyenne Drive turning into this lane. When you enter this lane you can choose to go to the far right lane, which is the parent pick-up and drop-off lane or to the left if you would like to park. If you head to the right lane you will NOT be allowed to park and get out of your vehicle for any reason. You will need to communicate with your child as to which lane you will be in each day. We will have these students waiting near the front of the school. As we see your vehicle we will walk students to you. They will get in, buckle themselves, and you may exit. Again, you will not be able to get out and assist your child or buckle them. If you have little ones who need that assistance you need to use the Upper Parking Lot Loop or the parking that is discussed in #4 (2nd Lane). There is only one lane for the majority of this parent pick-up and drop-off. We need to keep traffic flowing as efficiently as possible. If you already have your student loaded you may pull around to the left and pass. You are never allowed to pull to the left to pass traffic on the right, then stop in the left lane while you then load or unload your student(s). This is unsafe. We will ask you to exit the lane and try again following the rules we have designated. There will be no loading and unloading past the crosswalks. There will be no parking in this lane at any time. There will be crossing guards at all intersections in front of school. Please follow their directions.
4. Parent Parallel Parking/Pick-up and Drop-off (2nd Lane)
   1. There will be a one way entrance from Cheyenne Drive turning into this lane. When you enter this lane you can choose to go to the far right lane, which is the parent pick-up and drop-off lane or to the left if you would like to park. There are two functioning lanes here. The right side is to parallel park. You are welcome to wait in your vehicle for your child to come to you or you can get out and either wait by your vehicle or come into the school. There is no time limit for this parking. The left side is for through traffic who are ready to exit back onto Cheyenne Drive. There will be crossing guards at all intersections in front of the school. Please follow their directions.

Uinta Meadows Elementary

90 Cheyenne Drive

Evanston, WY 82930 Principal: Brad Francis

Phone: 307-789-8098 Fax: 307-789-3426 Email: bfrancis@uinta1.com

Our Culture:  Student-centered  * Collaborative *  Data-driven * Learners  * Positive

Our Mission:  Ensure High Levels of Learning for All

Our Vision:  Every Student, Every Day

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UME Parents and Guardians,

At UME, our mission is to ensure high levels of learning for all. We have grown in our capacity to take on the Professional Learning Community (PLC) framework to ensure all students learn at these high levels. Our growth and learning around PLCs has also led our staff to have open and honest conversations around how we place our students into grade-level classes. Research and best practice tells us that balancing classes is a must.

Many years ago we allowed parents to request their child’s teacher for the upcoming school-year. During those years we had approximately 100-150 teacher requests. Honoring teacher requests at UME has not allowed us to have balanced classrooms, which are essential to students learning at high levels. In fact, it created the opposite of balanced classrooms. As a result of this imbalance, we have not taken/granted teacher request letters for the last five years. We will continue this practice moving forward. We will place students evenly between each classroom. This will allow teachers to have meaningful collaborative meetings where they are focused on student learning, and able to assist each other and each other’s students throughout the entire school year.

While students will be placed in a classroom with a specific teacher, we want to be clear that the entire grade level team takes ownership for your child(ren). Teachers work collaboratively for the benefit of all students. Grade level teams have a common WIN (What I Need) Time where students are grouped for 20-30 minutes, 4-5 days per week. Students of like ability, across the grade level, are able to focus on very specific skills/strategies in which they may be lacking, or to extend their learning. The groups are flexible and change regularly as students master these critical skills.

If you reference the top of this letterhead and read Our Culture, Our Mission and Our Vision you will see that we are striving for greatness. We aspire to be a school that prepares your child for the next grade level, post-secondary education and to be a productive citizen. We ask that you join us on this journey to ensure high levels of learning for all. I am grateful for the opportunity to be the Principal at UME. I am impressed daily with the work ethic and intelligence of this staff. They work tirelessly to provide the highest quality of education for all students. They are committed to continual learning so they can improve their instructional practices each and every day.

If you have questions, comments or concerns regarding the placement of your child please contact me.

Many thanks,

Brad Francis, Principal

Dear UME Families,

We will be holding parent teacher conferences (PTC) during the week of March 24th-28th. Thursday, March 27th will be our late night of PTC’s from 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Our specials teachers and special education teachers will be available March 27th from 4:00 until 8:00 pm, or any other time by appointment, if you would like to visit with them. Our counselor, Tiffany Hogue is also available to talk to that evening, but you can reach out to her anytime and she is happy to meet with you.

Teachers will send out notifications (hard copy or electronic) prior to the conference giving you an opportunity to sign-up for your parent-teacher conferences. We have encouraged all teachers to send out their schedules electronically so you can sign up right from your phone or computer. We are trying to simplify the process for everyone, especially families who have multiple children at UME.

Our goal is to conference with 100% of parents. Teachers spend a great deal of time preparing to share pertinent information regarding the growth and development of your child. We hope to see every single parent during conferences!

We look forward to sharing the progress of your student(s)!

Sincerely,

Brad Francis, Principal

REMINDER

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Dear Parents/Guardians,

This is a reminder that on each of the early dismissal days this year the children will be served a sack lunch before being dismissed. In order to serve the students lunch, all of the elementary schools will be dismissed at 12:50pm. Student lunches will be picked up by staff and taken to classrooms and then distributed to the students who ordered a sack lunch. This year all student breakfasts and lunches are free. Students not ordering a sack lunch can bring their own lunch or snack from home if they’d like.

Our gratitude goes out to the food service and school staff for making this possible. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the district at 307-789-7571 Ext. 1026, Sheila Stewart the Food Service Director at 307-789-7571 Ext. 1010, or your individual school office.

Sincerely,

Brad Francis, Principal

Use your Rewards Card & help our School Grow!

Supporting our School has never been easier- just shop at Smith's and swipe (or enter in your card) your Rewards Card! Here's how to enroll:1. Visit SmithsFoodandDrug.com/inspire2. Sign in to your digital account, or choose "Create an Account" and fill in the information.3. Link your Rewards Card to our School:

Our School Organization # is IL909

You'll start earning rewards for our School on qualifying purchases made using your Rewards card!

Click here to enroll!

***Click on View More for Flyer & Instructions***

Weather is always a factor here in Wyoming and as winter fast approaches students are going to need their Big 5 items.

Parents are asked to dress their children appropriately for the often sudden and extreme Wyoming weather changes with our Big 5!

Students are expected to play outside during all recesses unless the real feel temperature is 0 degrees or less. We will have inside recess for those days. Students will still need their Big 5 items on those days to go from the school building to the bus or parent’s vehicle.

What is the Big 5?

They are the following items:

Coats

Gloves or Mittens

Hats

Boots

Snowsuits or Pants

These things should be labeled to aid in the return of lost or misplaced items. 

**On P.E. days, make sure to bring your gym shoes!**

All parents are invited to learn more about Title One Services and associated programs at UME by viewing the presentation. After you have viewed the presentation please complete the Parent Involvement Survey.

Parent Involvement Survey

***Click on View More to see image of Interventionist Shannon Williams***