Union Mill Elementary School Parent Teacher Association - Latest Blog Entries

Blood Drive on April 23

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:47:00 -0400

Extended Hours for Union Mill Blood Drive on April 23

The American Red Cross and the Union Mill PTA will be holding

our next blood drive on Monday, April 23, in the Union Mill

Elementary cafeteria from 2:30 to 8:00 pm, with the hope that

the extra hour will allow time for more parents to donate after work or to take turns donating while

the other spouse is at home reading the bedtime stories. Please contact Sheri Brown at

sheri.brown@fcps.edu or 703‑322‑8504 for help in scheduling your donation appointment or to

volunteer an hour or two to sign in donors and pass out cookie

3K/5K Fun Run/Walk. May 6

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 22:58:00 -0400

4:30 – 7:00pm

Join your friends and neighbors for the annual Union Mill Elementary School Fun Run/Walk. The events will take place through

the streets of Little Rocky Run, starting and ending at the school. Anyone interested in the run/walk is invited to participate. Light refreshments will be available after the events. Please register by Friday, April 13

th to be guaranteed a T-shirt.

Race Day Schedule

4:00…Pick up race packets at UMES

4:30…3K Fun Run/Walk starts

5:15…5K Fun Run starts

Approx 6:30...Top winners announced and Random Prize Drawings

Awards will go to 1

st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers for the following age groups: 6 and under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50+. Everyone receives a participation ribbon. Walkers, runners and strollers only, please. Strollers are free, but children must walk/run to receive an award.

Volleyball Game May 11

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:14:00 -0400

Multicultural Night and Ice Cream Social April 24

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:13:00 -0400

On Tuesday night, April 24, 2012, we will be celebrating our diverse community, promoting literacy

with good books, and sharing dessert at our PTA's ice cream social. We moved the day from the

Thursday of book fair week to avoid "Take Your Kid to Work Day" so that more families can join us.

The book fair will be open this night. Our cafeteria will be an ice cream parlor with delicious ice

cream and toppings provided by our PTA. In the gym, the Multicultural Celebration will celebrate the

2012 Olympics to be held in London with our own version of events. We would like to have student

performers, families displaying their cultures, students performing dances and reading in native

languages, and much more. The children who attend will receive a passport booklet to get stamped

as they "visit" each "country" and earn stars toward Olympic medals. Be on the lookout for forms in

Friday envelopes soon to sign your family up to be part of the celebration. Please be sure to

return your slip on time and then you will receive a confirmation from the committee. If you have

any questions, please contact Ms. Bardenhagen, the PTA Multicultural Committee

Chairperson: susan.bardenhagen@fcps.edu

Book Fair April 23-27

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:12:00 -0400

Mark the Date!

Spring Book Fair

April 24-27

Spring Into A Good Book!

Scholastic is here with a wide variety of quality books and

current titles. All proceeds benefit Union Mill Library,

which supports and nurtures students across all

curriculum areas with outstanding materials and

resources.

Any questions can be directed to the Book Fair committee.

Meghan Birkholz (703) 266-8471

Wendy Dziminowicz (703) 825-7190

Kim Fullwood (703) 830-6119

Sara Asif (571) 265-9898

Book Fair Hours:

Tuesday, April 24 8:00 AM – 3:20 PM and 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Wednesday, April 25 8:00 AM – 3:20 PM and 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Thursday, April 26 8:00 AM – 3:20 PM and 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Friday, April 27 8:00 AM – Noon

From 8:00 AM to 8:25 AM and from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM children must be

accompanied by a parent.

Chick-Fil-A night April 18th

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:11:00 -0400

T-Shirt Ordering online April 10-20

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:09:00 -0400

Got Spirit? Let's Hear It? Get a new tie dye t-shirt for the Union Mill vs. Centreville Volleyball game. ONLINE orders only...just purchase your shirt and print your receipt. Shirts will be delivered during the week of May 7-11. T-shirts ONLY OFFERED ONLINE from April 10-20. GET ONE WHILE YOU CAN!

Thank you for supporting our school...no late orders accepted.

http://orderschoolstuff.com/union-mill-elementary

PTA Meeting:April 10 @ 7:00 in the Library

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:52:00 -0400

Meeting Minutes

2012 USA Science & Engineering Festival, DC Convention Center: April 28-29th

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:50:00 -0400

2012 USA Science & Engineering Festival, DC Convention Center: April 28-29^th

“Save the Date” Cards were sent home in September!

Website: http://www.usasciencefestival.org/2012festival/finale-expo/plan-your-day

Ecology Club Announcements

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:49:00 -0400

Ecology Club meetings are Wednesdays or Fridays

April 11 or 13, May 9 or 11, May 23 or 25, June 6 or 8

April 20^th- Joint Meeting with Girl Scout troop 1729 to celebrate Earth Day

April 22^nd- EARTH DAY Clean Up of UMES Schoolgrounds: 1-4 pm (We are trying to get “Adopt a Spot” status with a sign!

May 15^th- End of Year Celebrationd

Galaxy Explorers Club Announcements

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:47:00 -0400

Telescope Night on the UMES Blacktop: Monday evening, March 26^th 8-9 pm

3^rd-4^th Grade Member Meetings: April 12 or 13 (6:30-7:30)

5-8^th Grade Member Meetings: April 16 or 17 (7-8:30)

STS Discovery Flies in over UMES to Dulles: April 17; From Dulles into Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum: April 19; weekend family events: April 20-22

Rocket Building for Members & Siblings: May 10 or 14 (7-7:45 – 3^rd -4^thgraders; 7:45 - 8:30- 5-8)

Tentative Rocket Launching at Liberty Middle School soccer fields: June 1^st

UMES PTA’s Multicultural Festival,April 24th

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:35:00 -0400

Celebrate Diversity, Literacy, and Dessert! Tuesday evening, April 24^th

UMES PTA’s Multicultural Festival Celebrating with Olympics, Book Fair (all week long), and Ice Cream Social

March 6th PTA Meeting

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:29:00 -0500

If you would like to give a report for your committee, please let us know by Friday, March 2nd. Please copy Dana Hubchen at president@unionmillpta.org in your response

Meeting Minutes

Lego Robotics Class is FULL. More offered in the spring.

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:21:00 -0500

Two new classes are coming to Union Mill as part of our after school programs. We will be starting a winter session for Lego fans from a local company, Ideaventions. This after school program starts Wednesday, January 25, 2012. The program will run in two groups for students in Grades 1-3 and Grades 4-6. The class will meet once a week every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. till 4:30 p.m for 8 weeks. We are limited to only 12 students per class, therefore the classes will be first come, first served based on your online registration, which opens on Monday, January 16^th. For further information, email Rachel DiBartolo at rachel@dibartolofamily.com.

Union Mill ES - WeDo Robotics: Amazing Mech (1st-3rd Grade)

Invent robotic LEGO creations that come alive in this introductory robotics class! Join a team of engineers to explore and learn robotics using LEGO WEDO technology. Imagine and build unique animated creations that respond to the environment using sensors, motors, programming blocks and LEGOs. *WeDo Robotics: Amazing Mechanisms is a prerequisite for WeDo Robotics themed labs (e.g. Star Wars, Harry Potter). Register online at: http://ideaventionsllc.com/Union-Mill-ES-WeDo-Robotics-Amazing-Mech-1st-3rd-Grade-UMES-JRAM.htm

Union Mill ES - Robotics: Tomb Explorers (4th-6th Grade)

The setting is an archaeological dig in an ancient Egyptian pyramid. Does the pyramid hold the secrets of the Pharaoh? Explore tunnels and chambers, recover archaeological treasures, use remote imaging technology, and hopefully discover the treasure-filled tomb. Integrating science, technology, and engineering into an action-packed storyline, we become elite robotics engineers that invent unique robots using LEGO Mindstorms technology to solve the world’s toughest challenges. Register online at:

http://ideaventionsllc.com/Union-Mill-ES-Robotics-Tomb-Explorers-4th-6th-Grade-UMES-CC.htm

More Information:

IdeaInventions.pdf

2012 Winter Union Mill ES Ideaventions Labs

Union Mill Night at Ledos Pizza February 29

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:54:00 -0500

Ledo Pizza
11725 Lee Hgwy (Rt. 29)
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 359-4747

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

4-9PM Dine In and Carry Out
Famous Square Pizza

% of Sales to UMES PTA
Support Your School Go Bears!!!

Questions: UMES PTA Business Partnerships Co-Chairs Christy Skule skule1@verizon.net or Martha Evers eversmartha@hotmail.com

Union Mill ES Night at Guapo's Fair Lakes January 12h

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:50:00 -0500

Enjoy some awesome Mexican food between 5 -9 and Guapo's donates a percentage to the Union Mill PTA.

http://www.guaposrestaurant.com/restaurants/fairlakes-va.htm

Give Together: A Family Volunteer Day

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:25:00 -0500

http://twitter.com/VolunteerFFX

http://www.facebook.com/VolunteerFairfax

http://www.youtube.com/user/VolunteerFairfax

Volunteer Fairfax is hosting its third annual Give Together: A Family Volunteer Day, Presented by UnitedHealthcare and would like to invite students and families from your school to participate. The event will be held on January 16, 2012, in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Inspired by his famous words “Everyone can be great because anybody can serve,” Volunteer Fairfax has created this event to give families an opportunity to work together to help enrich the community.

The event is expected to assemble over 1,000 parents and children. George Mason University will be one of three locations hosting this event along with Gum Springs Community Center in Alexandria and the Herndon Senior Center. Give Together: A Family Volunteer Day is geared towards families with elementary-aged children. Families can enjoy working together to help give back to the community, while providing an experience that can teach younger children about volunteerism.

The participating agencies at George Mason University are The Holiday Project, Inova Health Systems, The Library Foundation and FACETS. Projects will range from creating Valentines for people in nursing homes to making hypothermia prevention kits for people experiencing homelessness. A reflection station will be available at the end of the day for families to think about the projects they completed and reflect on the impact of their service. Each location will have two shifts to help maximize the time spent at each station: Shift 1 (10:30a.m.-12:30p.m.) and Shift 2 (1:30p.m.-3:30p.m.).

Register today by visiting www.volunteerfairfax.org. For more information, please contact Elaine Lydick at elydick@volunteerfairfax.org or (703) 246-3533.

Included is a short blurb that can be used if you would like to include it in a newsletter or e-mail:

January 16, 2012 will mark the 25^th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. As he once stated, “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve,” including children. Volunteer Fairfax invites you to its third annual Give Together: A Family Volunteer Day, Presented by UnitedHealthcare on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2012. This year the event will be expanded to three different sites: George Mason University, Herndon Senior Center and Gum Springs Community Center in Alexandria. Families enjoy the opportunity to give back to the community by working on service projects provided by various nonprofits from the region. Projects range from writing cards to deployed military personnel, to making beaded bracelets for hospital patients. The event will be divided into two shifts: Shift 1 (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and Shift 2 (1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.). Families with elementary-aged children are encouraged to attend this event. Registration is available on the Volunteer Fairfax website at www.volunteerfairfax.org. Questions and requests for additional information should be directed to Elaine Lydick at elydick@volunteerfairfax.org or (703) 246-3533.

Operation Warm Up - December 5-9

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:59:00 -0500

For K – 6^th graders:

New or gently used COATS

Drop-off Location: Boxes outside school office

New:

Earmuffs
Gloves
Hats
Scarves
Socks

To benefit the children of Wesley Housing’s

Community Resource Centers in Northern VA

And Plummer Elementary School in Southeast DC

Sponsored by: Union Mill Community Outreach

Kate Trussell voted Virginia PTA Volunteer of the year

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:58:00 -0500

Kate Trussell, mother to a third grader at Union Mill Elementary in Clifton, has always been involved — as a room parent, library volunteer, on the school’s PTA executive board. At the Virginia PTA State Convention, held Nov. 4 and 5, Trussell was honored for her school-focused endeavors, as a 2011 recipient of the PTA Volunteer of the Year Award.

Dana Hubchen, PTA President at Union Mill, is excited Trussell was chosen for this award. "We’re very proud of her. We’re very fortunate to have her as part of the Union Mill family and we’re not surprised by this honor because she is such a special person."

See complete article from the Connection Newspaper.

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=355636&paper=81&cat=104

Blood Drive December 5

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:52:00 -0500

Blood Drive at UMES on December 5 from 2:30 to 7:00 pm

The American Red Cross and the Union Mill PTA will be

holding a blood drive on Monday, December 5, 2011 at

Union Mill Elementary from 2:30 to 7:00 pm. You may

schedule your appointment with the Red Cross online by

Contact Sheri Brown at sheri.brown@fcps.edu or 703-322-8504 for help in scheduling your donation

appointment