Teacher of the Year finalists announced
On March 18, UCPS announced the 10 Teacher of the Year finalists. Superintendent Dr. Andrew Houlihan, senior leaders, and Board of Education members surprised each teacher at their schools.
Congratulations to the following Teacher of the Year finalists:

  • Megan McCarver -Benton Heights Elementary School of Arts
  • Casey Starkey - Central Academy of Technology and Arts
  • Sarah Haydn - Cuthbertson Middle School
  • Mallory Bricker - Forest Hills High School
  • Stephanie Tomberlin - Porter Ridge Middle School
  • Joya Wortham - Prospect Elementary School
  • Kelsey Marinero - Rea View Elementary School
  • Cheryl Konopka - Rocky River Elementary School
  •  Nicholas Horne - Sun Valley High School
  • Ashley Klepfer - Western Union Elementary School
UCPS teacher a finalist for national award in math, science teaching
Rocky River Elementary teacher Adam Haas has been selected as one of the North Carolina state-level finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The award recognizes teachers who have deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas.

Join us in congratulating Haas on the UCPS Facebook post!
Two divisions, two championships
The Weddington High Warriors finish the season 31-0 as 4A state champs. The team has won 49-straight games dating back to last season when they won the 3A state championship. Other congratulations go out to student-athletes Chase Lowe who was named the Most Valuable Player and Kyle Frazier who was named the Most Outstanding Player.

Join us in congratulating the Warriors on the UCPS Facebook post!
Extension Master Gardener Scholarship available to seniors
The Union County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers is offering a scholarship for $1,000 to graduating seniors planning to attend a college or university and be majoring in botany, environmental studies, forestry, landscape architecture, horticulture, crop sciences, local foods, animal husbandry or related fields. 

For full scholarship guidelines, click here.

The application deadline is April 1 and the recipient will be notified by May 1. 
Portrait of a graduate from the viewpoint of fifth-graders
In the above video, fifth-grade leaders from Antioch Elementary share how UCPS Portrait of a Graduate is incorporated into their day. There are five qualities UCPS believes will prepare each student to succeed after high school, no matter if they attend college, the military or enter the workforce. A UCPS graduate is an innovative leader, a skilled collaborator, a key contributor, a resilient problem-solver and an effective communicator.
Unionville students send letters of support to Navy sailors
Unionville Elementary students wrote letters of support and encouragement to the Navy crew aboard the USS Porter. One of the sailors, Benjamin Harris, is the son of the school's music teacher William Harris. William Harris is a 15-year U.S. Air Force veteran.

The letters were also part of writing and social studies lessons.
The minutes are in and the Final Four have been selected! Students have eagerly picked up those books and turned those pages to build good reading habits while having fun.
Mark Your Calendar

  • March 24 - Parent Education Series, 6 p.m., Porter Ridge High, topic: suicide awareness
  • March 28-April 1 - Spring Break for Wolfe School
  • April 5 - Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m.