ECONCONNECT
UNION PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL
ECONCONNECT where UPMS is the place to "B"
Stay Connected this Year
Please stop by our social media sites!
Announcements & Reminders
Electronics Policy:
Dress Code Policy:
Transportation:
Welcome to a pair of new Econs!
Ms. Grace Felipe, Assistant Principal
Favorite Quote? My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. — Maya Angelou.

What are you looking forward to the most in the new school year? I look forward to working and serving my new UPMS school community.
Ms. Wendy Griffin, Counselor
Favorite Quote? Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.

What are you most looking forward to in the new school year? I'm excited to be part of a dynamic UPMS team focused on supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally on the road to excellence. And I am eager to connect with our students and school community to facilitate the journey. It's going to be a great year!
PTSA Meeting
Please join us virtually or face to face for our 1st meeting of 2023-2024 next Tuesday.
Membership dues only $5.00. Please support our PTSA.
Pre-Planning Week
2023-2024 Theme: "Celebrating Stars!"
As the nearby pictures illustrate, our staffulty had a wonderful experience during pre-planning! The few days set out just before our students return each year is when we collaborate, review our goals, conduct large and small group trainings, discuss school policies and procedures, and enjoy some spirited camaraderie—all done in time to set the stage for that first week of school!

Thank you so much to our pre-planning week sponsors: Chick-Fil-A (University & Dean Road location), Voyage Retirement, Equitable, Union Park Middle School Renaissance Program, Core Financial and Crosspointe Church.
Ms. Antonio is welcoming everyone back and introducing the leadership team on the slides.
Back row standing: Ms. Hoesten (Front Office Clerk), Ms. De Jesus (Bookkeeper), Ms. Brito (Registrar), Ms. Walker (School Secretary), Ms. Sparks (Attendance Clerk), Ms. Lopez (Parent Engagement Liaison)
Kneeling: Ms. Brezicki (Program Assistant)
Ms. Kendall (Assistant Principal), Mr. Bernstein (6th Grade World History) and Ms. Antonio (Principal)
Ms. Avelino (8th Grade US History) and Ms. Rudolph (8th grade Math)
Ms. Kendall (Assistant Principal), Mr. Alvarado (Assistant Principal), Ms. Antonio (Principal), and Ms. Walker (School Secretary)
Ms. Safavi and Mr. Lofton (6th grade Math)
Union Park's Behavior team (Mr. Perez, Mr. Brown, Ms. Peynado and Mr. Roman) leading a training session during pre-planning week. 
Ms. New (Behavior Specialist), Ms. Coursey (7th grade Math teacher), Ms. Ahmudally (7th grade Math teacher), Mr. Lara (7th grade Civics teacher), Ms. Collazo (7th grade Civics teacher), Ms. Brown (Academic coach)
Econ Athletics
We held Soccer tryouts this week. Our first game is at home on August 30th.
Soccer tryouts were held this week:
  • August 14th 4:15pm – 4:45pm Student and Parent informational meeting
  • Tryout Day 1 August 15th 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
  • Tryout Day 2 August 16th 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Reminder: Your child must have an updated physical on file, 2.0 GPA and signed up with the YMCA in order to participate in all sports

Soccer Schedule:
Wednesday, August 30th HOME VS Glenridge
Wednesday, September 6th HOME VS Audubon Park
Monday, September 11th AWAY @ Maitland
Wednesday, September 13th HOME VS ACE
Monday, September 18th BYE 
Wednesday, September 20th AWAY @ College Park
Wednesday, September 27th AWAY @ Arbor Ridge

** Boys play 1st game starting at 5pm, girls will follow at the conclusion of the game. **

Soccer FEST
Round 1 Tournament – Monday, October 2nd
Round 2 Tournament – Wednesday, October 4th
Quarter Finals – Monday, October 9th
Semi-Finals – Wednesday, October 11th
Championship – Week of October 16th @ West Orange High

** Top 3 teams during regular season from each Cluster advance to a single elimination 21 team playoff against all other Middle Schools in Orange County.

For more information about any of our Athletic Programs at UPMS please call 407-249-6309: Chiante’ Berry (Athletic Director) extension 5262270 chiante.berry@ocps.net
Rigor in the Classroom:
2023-2024 is off to a fast start!
Highlights from last week . . .
Ms. Hall (8th Grade ELA) discussing entering and exiting classroom procedure.
Ms. Searles ( 6th grade ELA)
We were very pleased to see our Econs actively engaged and learning starting right here, on the first day of school!
Ms. Figueroa (6th grace ELA)
OCPS News
This week Superintendent Vazquez talks with Jamie Holmes about about the new student cell phone policy and how it came about.
Parent Consent Forms
Emergency Forms

All parents must complete Emergency Student Information forms on an annual basis. We ask that you fill out the form electronically and e-mail it to your student’s first period teacher, or print it in your preferred language, complete it and send it with your student to school. Forms should only be returned to first period teachers.

You can access these forms through the links below:
       Emergency Student Information FormEnglish
       Emergency Student Information FormSpanish
       Emergency Student Information FormPortuguese

Todos los padres deben completar los formularios de información estudiantil de emergencia anualmente. Le pedimos que llene el formulario electrónicamente y lo envíe por correo electrónico al maestro del primer período de su estudiante, o imprímalo en su idioma preferido, complételo y envíelo con su estudiante a la escuela. Los formularios solo deben devolverse a los maestros del primer período.

Puede acceder a estos formularios a través de los siguientes enlaces:

Todos os pais devem preencher os formulários de Informações de Emergência para Estudantes anualmente. Pedimos que você preencha o formulário eletronicamente e envie por e-mail para o professor do primeiro período de seu aluno, ou imprima-o em seu idioma de preferência, preencha-o e envie-o com seu aluno para a escola. Os formulários só devem ser devolvidos aos professores do primeiro período.

Você pode acessar esses formulários através dos links abaixo:

Parent Consent Forms & OPTIONAL Device Refusal Form (due ASAP)

Skyward Online Forms:
• Login to Skyward (https://parents.classlink.com/ocps ). If you are a new user you will need to register for access.
• Select “Online Forms” on the left.
• Complete PCF (Parental Consent Forms). These forms are required each year.
• The ‘Optional 2023 Device Refusal Form’ only needs to be completed if refusing an OCPS device for your child.

*** A Health Services Consent form is located in the PCF forms. This form gives consent for the school nurse to treat your child should they need to go to the clinic.
 
Formulários de consentimento dos pais (Skyward Online Forms):
· Acesse a Skyward (https://parents.classlink.com/ocps ). Novos usuários precisarão se registrar para acessar o site.
· Selecione "Online Forms" à esquerda.
· Preencher o PCF (Formulários de consentimento dos pais). Estes formulários devem ser preenchidos a cada ano letivo.
· Você só precisa preencher o “Formulário de Recusa de Dispositivo 2023 Opcional” se não quiser que seu filho(a) empreste ou use um dispositivo OCPS.

*** O formulário Consentimento para Serviços de Saúde encontra-se nos formulários do PCF. Este formulário dá consentimento para a enfermeira da escola ver seu filho(a) no caso de ele precisar ir à clínica. ***
 
· Inicie sesión en Skyward (https://parents.classlink.com/ocps ). Los nuevos usuarios deberán registrarse para acceder el sitio.
· Seleccione "Online Forms" a la izquierda.
· Completar el PCF (formularios de consentimiento de los padres). Es necesario completar estos formularios cada año escolar.
·  Sólo necesita completar el “Optional 2023 Device Refusal Form” si no desea que su hijo(a) tome prestado o utilice un dispositivo de OCPS.

*** Un formulario de Consentimiento de Servicios de Salud se encuentra en los formularios PCF. Este formulario da el consentimiento para que la enfermera de la escuela atienda a su hijo(a) en caso de que tenga que ir a la clínica. ***

OCPS Parent Portal
· Most apps (Skyward & Canvas) will be accessed through “Parent Portal”
· Click: https://parents.classlink.com/ocps and set up an account if you haven’t already.
· Make sure to sign in with the email or phone number that is in your student’s profile in Skyward.

Note: If your current email or cell phone number do not allow you to establish a LaunchPad account, please contact our registrar at prisca.brito@ocps.net. This means your contact information needs to be updated in Skyward.
__

· A maioria dos aplicativos (Skyward & Canvas) será acessada através do “Parent Portal”
· Clique aqui: https://Parents.classlink.com/ocps e configurem uma conta caso ainda não tenham feito isso.
· Certifique-se de entrar com o e-mail ou número de telefone que está no perfil de seu aluno na Skyward.

OBSERVAÇÃO: Se o seu e-mail ou número de telefone celular atual não permitir que você estabeleça uma conta no LaunchPad, entre em contato com sua escola. Isso significa que suas informações de contato precisam ser atualizadas no Skyward.
__

· Se accederá a la mayoría de las aplicaciones (Skyward y Canvas) a través de "Parent Portal"
· Oprima: https://parents.classlink.com/ocps y configure una cuenta si no lo ha hecho.
· Asegúrese de iniciar sesión con el correo electrónico o el número de teléfono que aparece en el perfil de su estudiante en Skyward.

Nota: Si su correo electrónico actual o número de teléfono celular no le permiten establecer una cuenta LaunchPad, comuníquese con su escuela. Esto significa que su información de contacto debe actualizarse en Skyward.

Canvas Email Alerts
● Parent signs in to Classlink with email that is registered in Skyward
● Go to Canvas App
● Click on Account, which is located at the top left corner in Canvas
● Click on Notifications from the drop-down list
● Enable grading alerts 

● Os pais assinam o Classlink com e-mail registrado no Skyward
● Ir para Canvas App
● Clique em Account , que está localizado no canto superior esquerdo em Canvas
● Clique em Notificações a partir da lista suspensa
● Habilitar os alertas de classificação

● Los padres se registran en Classlink con el email registrado en Skyward
● Ir a la aplicación Canvas
● Opriman en Cuenta , que se encuentra en la esquina superior izquierda en Canvas
● Oprimen en Notificaciones de la lista desplegable
● Activar las alertas de calificaciónes

Sports Physicals
UPMS offers 4 sports, 1 per quarter: soccer, volleyball, basketball, and track. 
To be eligible to play, students must hand in a completed Sports Eligibility Forms.
Note that 1 form requires a doctor's signature and stamp. 
Sports Physical Forms:

UPMS oferece 4 esportes, 1 por trimestre: futebol, vôlei, basquete e atletismo. 
Para se qualificar para jogar, os alunos devem entregar os Formulários de
Elegibilidade Esportiva preenchidos. Observe que 1 formulário requer assinatura
e carimbo do médico.
Formulários de Elegibilidade Esportiva:

UPMS ofrece 4 deportes, 1 por trimestre: fútbol, voleibol, baloncesto y atletismo.
Para ser elegible para jugar, los estudiantes deben entregar los Formularios de
Elegibilidad Deportiva completo. Tenga en cuenta que 1 formulario del paquete
requiere la firma y el sello de un médico.
Formularios de Elegibilidad Deportiva:

SchoolPay
The SchoolPay website is how you will pay for everything for school: class donations, school events/fieldtrips, library fines, digital device fines, etc. Click here to access the site: https://www.schoolpay.com/

O site SchoolPay é como você pagará tudo pela escola: doações para as aulas, eventos escolares/fitas de campo, multas da biblioteca, multas de aparelhos digitais, etc. Clique aqui para acessar o site www.schoolpay.com/

El sitio web SchoolPay es la forma en que pagará todo para la escuela: donaciones de clase, eventos escolares/paseos escolares, multas de la biblioteca, multas de dispositivos digitales, etc. Oprima aquí para acceder al sitio: www.schoolpay.com/
Econ Vital Signs
Positive trends that might affect many of our Econ students one day.
Educational attainment is up sharply for young Hispanic Americans in just a few years. Many more see education as a top priority and now are continuing their education well beyond high school.
Making sense of the chart for our Union Park community:
In 2005, one-third of Hispanic people ages 25-34 had some college: 2.7 million had less than a high school education; 2.3 million only had a high school degree; and 1.6 million had some college; and fewer than 1 million had a bachelor’s degree or higher.

By 2021, over half of young Hispanic people had some college. The number with less than a high school degree dropped 45.8% to 1.5 million. There were increases in all other categories: high school only (up 28.3% to 2.9 million); some college (up 76.5% to 2.9 million); and a bachelor’s degree or higher (up 145.2% to 2.2 million). 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Read full article
Community News
FREE Immunizations:
Friday's Motivational Moment!
Colin Powell's Leadership & Life Lessons for our Econs

Colin Powell (1937-2021) was a four-star general, the 12th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and secretary of state. He left behind an important legacy of leadership that both students and adults can learn from. Powell had a reputation for being a problem-solver.
Powell's 13 Rules Of Leadership

1. It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.

2. Get mad, then get over it.

3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.

4. It can be done!

5. Be careful what you choose.

6. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.

7. You can’t make someone else’s choices.

8. Check small things.

9. Share credit.

10. Remain calm. Be kind.

11. Have a vision. Be demanding.

12. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.

13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

Source: Colin Powell’s 2012 memoir, It Worked For Me: In Life and Leadership
WELCOME BACK ECONS!
Ms. Antonio, Principal
Union Park Middle School
Friday, August 18, 2023
2023-2024 Union Park Leadership Team
• Principal: Ms. Antonio - 96400@ocps.net
• Assistant Principal: Mr. Alvarado - 59266@ocps.net
• Assistant Principal: Ms. Felipa - 45370@ocps.net
• Assistant Principal: Mrs. Kendall - 24730@ocps.net
• Counselor: Mrs. Barcelo - Sonia.Barcelo@ocps.net
• Counselor: Mrs. Griffin - Wendy.Griffin@ocps.net
• Student Support & MTSS: Ms. Brown - Mica.Brown@ocps.net
• Dean: Mr. Richardson – Dennis.Richardson@ocps.net
• Dean: Mr. Brown – Joel.Brown@ocps.net
• Dean: Mrs. Brown: AmberMarie.Peynado@ocps.net
• Math Coach: Ms. Yowler - Angela.Yowler@ocps.net
• Instructional Coach/Testing Coordinator: Mrs. Peterson - Cindy.Peterson@ocps.net
• Staffing Specialist: Ms. Afriani – Sophia.Afriani@ocps.net
• Mental Health Counselor: Ms. Berry – Chiante.Berry@ocps.net
• SAFE Coordinator: Mrs. Rackley – Giselle.Rackley@ocps.net
• Behavior Specialist: Ms. New – Jasmine.New@ocps.net
• Media Specialist: Ms. Joseph - Pamela.Joseph@ocps.net
• ESOL Compliance/CCT: Ms. Bocourt - Ana.BocourtGonzalez@ocps.net
• Parent Engagement Liaison: Ms. Lopez – Denise.Lopez@ocps.net
1844 Westfall Drive
Orlando, FL 32817
Phone 407-249-6309
Fax 407-249-4404 | EEO Statement
This communication may contain information that is legally privileged, confidential or exempt from disclosure, and intended only for the use of the addressee(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, please note that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Anyone who receives this message in error should notify the sender immediately by telephone or by return e-mail, and delete the message from their computer and any printout thereof. Please note that OCPS utilizes spam and junk e-mail filtration applications in its e-mail systems. That filtering process may prevent or delay delivery of certain e-mail communications. If you do not receive a timely response to an e-mail communication, please contact the intended recipient by phone.
Copyright Notice
Reproduction of this material, either written or electronically, including the general layout, graphics, analyses, and content topics without the express approval of Target Performance Systems, Inc., a Florida corporation, and OCPS - Union Park Middle School is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of Union Park Middle School and the Orange County Public Schools. Please contact Ms. Isolda Antonio (Prinicpal) at 96400@ocps.net with any questions or for further information.