A Message from your Admin. Team

“There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.”

-Hodding Carter, Jr.

As parents and as educators we have the privilege of nurturing each of our children into the next phase of their development.  It is something we take to heart here at Union Pleasant and know that we are in this together with our parents and caregivers. 

Parents and staff work each day to  provide our kids with roots - a deep sense of belonging to a family or group. These roots are grown by showing kids  love whenever possible, stability, and consistency.  Roots  provide kids with a stable attachment to the adults in their lives and allows a solid foundation to grow. 

Examples of growing roots are: 

• Daily/nightly routines,

• Clear behavioral expectations,

• Dependable  reinforcement of appropriate behaviors,

• Consistent consequences for inappropriate behaviors,

• Established patterns of physical and nutritional wellness.

Wings can be a little trickier… They mean allowing for our kids to experience failure and encouraging them to persist afterwards.  Wings foster character development and grit that will serve our children well as they move forward in their lives.  While we never want our children to struggle, it is critical that, when they do, we provide comfort, but do not fix it for them. 

Examples of growing wings are:

• Don’t do for them what they can do for themselves. 

• Support them through their academic, social, and athletic challenges.

• Let them take opportunities to stretch, to do things outside their comfort zone.

• Make sure they have a support system of friends, family, and caregivers that love them.

• Be proud of them, be brave with them, and encourage them always.

The next few months of school will provide us all with opportunities to help those wings grow. There are assessments, field trips, celebrations, and milestones right around the corner. As always, UPES is here to support our families in any ways we are able.  Please know that our doors are open and we are here to deepen those roots while our kids spread their wings. 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Wilson & Mrs. Dehlinger

Examples of Previous Uniquely U at UPES Submissions:

 Let's Celebrate the Great Choices Our Children Are Making Outside Of School!

Submissions are open again through April 19, 2024. Here is the link to the form.

Staff News:  

• Congratulations to Mrs. Gibson!  She will be retiring at the end of June.  We wish her well on her future endeavors.

• Mrs. Lotocki welcomed her new baby daughter, Grace, on March 26.   Congratulations, Mrs. Lotocki!

• We welcomed Miss Luba, as a substitute for Mrs. Lotocki, while she is on her maternity leave.

Attendance Reminder

• Anytime your child is absent from school, a paper note must be sent to school with your child upon their return, stating the reason for the absence.  If you do not turn in the note, the absence will become an unexcused absence.  Parents, please check your child's report card for any unexcused absences and send in a note for those date(s).  If you are uncertain of the date(s), please contact  Margaret Duszynski in the Attendance Office in the morning at (716) 646-3288.

• Please call the Attendance Office each day that your child is absent.  Our phone number is (716) 646-3288.   A message can be left at anytime school is not open.   Please do not call the main office or email the teacher to report an absence.   

• If your child(ren) will be absent because of a vacation, please fill out a vacation form two weeks prior to your departure.  These forms are available in the main office, on our district website or click on this link: Family Vacation Form .

Union Pleasant Elementary School

150 Pleasant Avenue  Hamburg, NY 14075

Main Office Phone:   (716) 646-3280 option 1

Fax: (716) 646-3237

Attendance Office:  (716) 646-3288

Nurse's Office:  (716) 646-3287

To email the main office, contact Mary Beth Murray at mmurrayhcsdk12.org or Jenny Carrig at jcarrig@hcsdk12.org.