SEPTEMBER CONFERENCE 2023

Join U2L and community partners for food, fellowship, and a fun-filled day of planning supports for your staff and students. All U2L principals and their one designee should register today.

LITERACY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES

Register today for our virtual Literacy PD Series! In just 30 minutes, participants will learn strategies that can be implemented the very next day! Principals, please share this detailed flyer with your teachers. Email questions to mrodriguez@unitedtolearn.org

COMMUNITY CAMPUS DAY 2024

Principals, each campus is eligible to receive a Community Campus Day project. Please browse the CCD 2024 Catalog to select a project offering. Then complete the CCD Application to confirm your project. You may also apply to win a larger scale "Dream Big" project that aligns with your campus goals in lieu of the standard Community Campus Day. The deadline to apply is September 1st. Email ccd@unitedtolearn.org

U2L IS SEEKING OUTSTANDING TEEN ADVOCATES

Do you know any student leaders who are passionate about education and advocating for positive change? Encourage them to consider connecting with our Teen Corps programming! Share this link with prospective students to learn more about Teen Corps and other opportunities including our Fellows program, Teen Board, and more! Email questions to mriemer@unitedtolearn.org

THE BENEFITS OF LEARNING: TAKE IT OUTSIDE

As temperatures in Texas begin to cool, don’t underestimate the importance of incorporating outdoor learning into your schedule. 

Studies show that children are not only more engaged in learning during outdoor classes, but the effect also lasts upon returning to their classroom. Not to mention, just 20 minutes spent in nature significantly lowers cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone.

Multisensory learning improves memory and recollection and nature is the easiest place to activate them all.

Sources:

How Nature Supports All 8 Senses

Nurtured by Nature: How time in nature can improve our mental health

MS. CUEVAS IS CULTIVATING AN ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT FOR EXCELLENCE!

Ms. Janette Cuevas, a first-grade bilingual educator, is in her fourth year of teaching at Foster Elementary.

“What I love the most about Foster is our community and welcoming staff and families. My students and teammates have made me feel more confident in my teaching and feel valued as a teacher. My hope for my students this year is for them to always feel safe, know they are loved, learn to love school, believe in themselves and be proud of all their accomplishments. I hope to be the person that they look up to for the next 187 days of school that we will share together.”- Ms. Janette Cuevas

“Ms. Cuevas shows our parents and community a caring and understanding teacher who serves her scholars in a full capacity both academic and socially. Her positive impact has increased our scholars' language capacity and beginning reading skills while building trust within our community.” - Ms. Crystal Torres, Foster Elem. Principal

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES

September 1 Community Campus Day Applications Due

September 1 Dream Big Applications Due

September 1 Volunteer Requests Due (Amplify/LE)

September 15 Literacy PD (Session 1)

September 22 U2L Annual September Conference

September 29 Literacy PD (Session 2)

U2L SCHOOL GARDEN COLLABORATIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Join United to Learn in a collaboration with Grow Garden Grow for "School Garden 101"!

Whether your school garden is well-established or being installed this year through Community Campus Day, this professional learning opportunity will provide your campus garden team with tools and strategies to create an impactful learning experience for your students of all ages. 

Date: Saturday, October 7th (9:30am-11:30am)

Location: McShan Elementary (School Garden)

SPRINKLES OF SEL WITH U2L

We’re back! Season 2 of our podcast, Sprinkles of SEL with U2L, is a podcast about social emotional learning, wellness, neuroscience, and healthy habits for educators or anyone in the education space. Episodes will be released biweekly on Wellness Wednesday! 

Available on all major podcast streaming platforms. 

Leave us a review or send us an email (SEL@unitedtolearn.org) about any topics you want us to cover and be entered into a raffle to win a prize!

U2L CAMPUS STAFF SHOWCASE

Do you know any staff members who deserve two thumbs up? Please help us showcase the fabulous educators in the U2L Network. Nominate an outstanding campus staff member to be showcased in future issues of our monthly Campus Connection. 

Featured staff will be eligible for exciting prize opportunities!