Union Park Middle School - The Park News

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The Park News

Union Park Middle School

Integrity. Respect. Perseverance. Unity.

(The Four Pillars of Success)

UPMS is the place to "Be"!

From The Principal’s Office

Good Day ECON CHIEFS. Welcome to Day 141 of 180 Days of Being Committed.

Report Cards / Maximum Potential

We wanted to remind you that last week quarter three report cards were distributed. Our students have been making significant efforts to stay engaged with their academics, and we appreciate all the hard work they have put in. Stay the course.

As the assessment season is drawing near, it is crucial that we continue to support our students to ensure their success. Please continue to encourage our scholars to give their best effort and make wise choices. It is especially important now to stay focused and avoid distractions.

Together, we can help our students achieve their full potential. Thank you for all your dedication and commitment to their academic growth.

Safety & Security

We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the importance of campus safety. The well-being of our students is our top priority, and we rely on your assistance in ensuring a safe environment for everyone.

Please continue to encourage our scholars to communicate any concerns they may have while on campus. It is crucial that they feel empowered to speak up and address any issues that may arise.

We would also like to highlight the significance of safety beyond our campus boundaries. Our dedicated crossing guards work diligently to ensure the safety of our students when crossing the streets. As our school is situated at a major intersection, it is essential for students to be mindful of their surroundings and practice caution while crossing the streets.

In regards to bike and motorized vehicle use for students, it is crucial that they follow the set protocols to ensure their safety and the safety of others while using these modes of transportation.

Please remind students to wear their helmets at all times, obey traffic laws, and operate their bikes or scooters in a safe manner. When arriving on campus, students are expected to walk their bikes or scooters, especially in areas where cars may be present.

Additionally, bus safety is paramount as well. The school bus is considered a moving classroom, and it is essential that all students adhere to the policies and procedures while riding. Our bus drivers work diligently to ensure a safe journey for all students every day.

Thank you for your attention to these important safety reminders and we take care of our Econ Chiefs.

Mr. Brown

Principal

Upcoming Events

Apr. 07-11 - We Celebrate our Assistant Principals for National Assistant Principals Week.

Apr. 09 - Track Meet @ ACE 4:30pm

Apr. 09 - Renaissance Citizenship Breakfast (invitation only)

Apr. 15 - 8th Grade Residency Information is Due

Apr. 15 - Last Day for the 2025 Parent Survey

Apr. 16 - Renaissance Field Trip Forms Due

Apr. 22 - Earth Day

Apr. 23 - Bus Drivers Day

Apr. 23 - Renaissance Celebration at SeaWorld Orlando

May 01 - ELA F.A.S.T.

May 06 - Math F.A.S.T./Algebra 1 EOC

May 13 - Civics and Science EOC

May 21 - 8th Grade Social (5:30-7:30)

May 27 - 8th Grade Honoring (10:00- 11:30)

bit.ly/FamiliesSpring25

Stay Connected

Website:

Stay up-to-date with events and activities by visiting our website.

Testing Calendar

Attendance Challenge

Week of March 27 to April 2:

Let’s keep striving to have 95%-100% attendance. If there are any concerns with your child’s attendance, please reach out to Ms Brenda Sparks, at Brenda.sparks@ocps.net. It is our commitment to help each student experience success while they are here at UPMS. The goal is to be at or above 95% daily.

Great job 7th grade class for your increased attendance!

High School Transition/Celebration

Congratulations on this educational milestone for your student. Transitioning to a new school is exciting and should be smooth and without any delays. In an effort to ensure all student’s records are accurate and up to date, our district requires parents to provide updated current proof of residence to your child’s present school. This documentation should be provided to the school by close of business on April 15, 2025. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Brito at Prisca.Brito@ocps.net.

Address Verification Eng..pdf

Address Verification Spn..pdf

Yearbook

The 2024-2025 UPMS Yearbook orders are now available! The cost is $30. We will also begin selling yearbooks during lunches on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Accolades and Recognitions

The Park Scholar of the Week

Demetrius Harris

We are thrilled to announce that our Park Scholar of the Week is none other than Demetrius Harris! Let's take a moment to celebrate his outstanding dedication and commitment to being the best in all that he does. It's not every day that we come across someone as humble and hard-working as Demetrius, and his success truly reflects his exceptional character.

Let's all give a round of applause to Demetrius for embodying the true spirit of success through his humility and determination. Continue to exhibit what it means to L. E. A. D. on our campus.

The G.O.A.T. of the Week

Mr. Towle (prior G.O.A.T. of the Week) and Mr. Roman

I want to introduce you to the G.O.A.T. of the Week, Mr. Roman. I can’t think of a better person who deserves this recognition. He is our PASS teacher. There are days where he has 15 or more students in his class. For our teachers and school, he will order, pick-up and deliver the supplies from A Gift for Teaching. He helps students and the school during student/bus transition. There are many more tasks that Mr. Roman does for our students and staff. I’ll sum it up this way: When I see Mr. Roman, I see a blessing that is part of our school. Please join me in recognizing Mr. Roman as our G.O.A.T. of the Week. Congratulations Mr. Roman!

~ Mr. Towle

It’s A Renaissance Thing

What an amazing moment it has been! Last week, the anticipation was high as our students had no clue about the mysterious 6th period meeting. The room filled with joy as we announced the exciting news about the SeaWorld Orlando Renaissance Field Trip. It was a wonderful way to recognize and celebrate our scholars who made the Honor Roll at any point during the school year, as well as those who earned the esteemed Renaissance Citizenship Award. Each student's dedication to our vision and goals has been truly inspiring.

Let's continue to strive for excellence together and look forward to the adventures that lie ahead!

The Park's Happenings

Classroom Vibes

Students engaging in their Science EOC (End-of-Course Assessment) review.

Mrs. Carrie is one of our Program Specialists that helps support our students and teachers.

Mr. Nguyen provides an opportunity for students to label the layers of the Earth.

Mrs. Rollins helps students identify the layers of the Earth.

Be Internet Awesome by PTSA

Our PTSA hosted the Be Internet Awesome special event this past week. Families were able to engage and understand the importance of being aware and acting responsibly while utilizing the online platforms. Resources were provided to help keep our family safe. Thank you to Ms. Daria Hagood, our PTSA Vice President, for facilitating this event.

Junior Achievement 8th Grade Field Trip

Junior Achievement of Central Florida hosted the JA Inspire event and OCPS Superintendent Dr. Vazquez cordially invited all 8th grade students across our district to participate. The Junior Achievement Inspire program is designed to align with our school district's initiatives to inspire and engage middle school students in thoughtful education and career planning. This works to motivate students towards taking advantage of their educational opportunities once in high school and beyond. As pictured below at the Orange County Convention Center, our Econ Chiefs were readily engaged during this special event!

The Park’s Athletics:

The ECON Chiefs Track Team.

Gabriel Vega in action with the long jump.

It has been a truly joyous time watching our athletes compete. Last week we ran against College Park Middle School and Arbor Ridge K8. Many of our students made personal records and surpassed goals. Our last meet of the season will be this coming Wednesday at ACE in downtown Orlando. Please come support our Econ Chiefs.

OCPS News

Weekly Superintendent's Message - "Mondays with Maria"

March 31, 2025

Dr. Vazquez's student town halls offer a great opportunity for students to share their thoughts on the high school experience. This week on Mondays with Maria presented by Addition Financial, she's answering more questions from students and discussing how OCPS is implementing their ideas.

To hear the extended conversation, check out the Mondays with Maria Podcast, wherever you get your podcasts.

2025-2026 Bus Registration

Dear Union Park Families,

The 2025-2026 School Bus Rider Registration form is now accessible to parents, schools, and Student Enrollment staff via the Skyward portal. Completing this form is mandatory, as it will facilitate the issuance of student bus ID cards. Please refer to the attached document for detailed instructions on how to access and complete the form.

Screenshot of page #1 of school bus form instructions:

Reflection of the Week

Success is like light. It has more than one form, depending on the situation. Success is an outcome and it is also a process.

I wanted to take a moment to share some reflections from the past week that have inspired me greatly, and I hope they do the same for you.

This past week was a whirlwind of personal successes and family celebrations. From my youngest son's 14th birthday to my 16-year-old achieving his driver's license, there was so much joy and pride to be experienced. These milestones reminded me of my own journey at those ages and the significance of each step forward.

While celebrating with my family, I also had the privilege of witnessing the excitement of students on campus. Some came to me with beaming smiles, eager to share their report cards and accomplishments. It was a reminder that every achievement, big or small, deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated.

However, there were also students who approached me feeling discouraged, assuming I would be disappointed in their grades. In those moments, I made a conscious choice to honor their efforts, offer encouragement, and remind them that setbacks are opportunities for growth.

It made me realize that milestone moments come in various forms, and we must cherish each one. Let us seize every opportunity to uplift and support one another, recognizing that success is not always measured in grades or accolades but in the resilience and determination to keep moving forward.

Wishing you all a week filled with positivity, perseverance, and a deep appreciation for the milestone moments in your lives.

The year of commitment.

Principal Brown

#becommitted

Union Park Middle School Senior Leadership Team

Asst. Principal Dr. Gaspar, Principal Brown, and Asst. Principal Felipa.

Principal: Mr. Aski-Melik Brown AskiMelik.Brown@ocps.net

Assistant Principal: Ms. Grace Felipa Grace.Felipa-Hayes@ocps.net

Assistant Principal: Dr. Maria Gaspar GasparMaria.Gaspar@ocps.net

Athletic Director: Paul Antonelli Paul.Antonelli@ocps.net

Dean of Students 8th Grade: Joel Brown Joel.Brown@ocps.net

Dean of Students 6th and 7th Grade: Dennis Richardson Dennis.Richardson@ocps.net

Guidance Counselor 8th Gr. & 6th Gr. M-Z: Sonia Barcelo Sonia.Barcelo@ocps.net

Guidance Counselor 7th Gr. & 6th Gr. A-L: Wendy Griffin Wendy.Griffin@ocps.net

Instructional Coach (Math/Science): Angie Yowler Angela.Yowler@ocps.net

Media Specialist: Pamela Joseph Pamela.Joseph@ocps.net

PASS/Transportation: Juan Roman Juan.Roman@ocps.net

SAFE/504 Coordinator: Gisselle Rackley Giselle.Rackley@ocps.net

School Based Social Worker: Alyssa Casey Alyssa.Casey@ocps.net

Staffing Specialist: Sophia Afriani Sophia.Afriani@ocps.net

Testing Coordinator/CRT: Cindy Peterson Cindy.Peterson@ocps.net

Union Park is the Place to "Be"!

Integrity

Respect

Perseverance

Unity

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.

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 Mr. Aski Melik Brown (Principal) at 43191@ocps.net with any questions or for further information.