College Downs

As a parent of a student who just completed fifth grade, I want to sincerely thank the entire staff at Newell Elementary for an incredible school year.There are far more positives than negatives, and if you're looking for a school where the teachers genuinely care about their students, Newell Elementary is a wonderful choice.One thing I especially want to recognize is the improvement in communication from last year to this year. I had previously shared feedback, and it was clear that the administration took it seriously. They listened, made adjustments, and improved communication with families. As a parent, that meant a great deal to me, and I truly appreciate their willingness to grow.I also appreciate the school's commitment to student safety and the way the staff partners with parents to help children succeed. Fifth graders are at such a unique stage of lifethey're becoming preteens, navigating friendships, emotions, and growing independence. The teachers understood that. They recognized how much peer interactions can affect a child's day and were intentional about creating a supportive environment where students felt seen, encouraged, and protected.A special thank you to the front office staff, who were always kind, welcoming, and helpful. An even bigger thank you goes to the entire fifth-grade team, especially Ms. Sales and Ms. Berry. The positive impact they had on these students cannot be overstated. They consistently encouraged the kids to be their best while building their confidence and character. I especially appreciated how they supported healthy friendships instead of unnecessarily separating students who were positive influences on one another. They understood that strong friendships are important at this age and balanced that with appropriate structure and expectations. They gave the students opportunities to develop independence while still providing the guidance they needed.The field trips were wonderful, and overall the school created many memorable experiences throughout the year.One piece of advice I'd give to other parents is this: if an issue comes up, don't hesitate to bring it to the staff's attention. In my experience, they truly care and are willing to work with families to find solutions.

United Community School is a wonderful learning community. My son is currently a third grader and has been attending since kindergarten. He feels known and loved by faculty and staff and I enjoy volunteering and seeing first hand what a wonderful school it is. He is performing on or above grade level across subjects and enjoys going to school and is excited to learn. Every week he has special area classes that foster his creativity and health in music, art, physical education, social-emotional learning, health and maker's space. The the school is small and feels very safe. In addition to having a security guard and other additional security precautions, I feel safest knowing that the adults know and engage with all the of the students each and every day. My son is learning compassion and how to embrace differences and recognize his own learning differences because the school is so inclusive of neurodivergent learners. Administration and support staff jump in all the time to support teachers and students who need additional resources , attention or time.The head of the school sends out weekly newsletters and every classroom teacher sends out weekly newsletters about learning goals and highlights from the week. There is also a daily communication folder that includes how my child's day went and a weekly homework assignment in literacy and math go home in the folder as well. The school engages in fundraising like Scholastic Book Fairs and special events like concerts, academic presentations, and dances. UCS also offers athletic programs for students in 4th through 8th grade and is growing that program to include more sports. I am incredibly happy with the experience my child is having at UCS and I'm impressed with not only his academic success but his healthy attitude toward learning. Call and take a tour and see for yourself.

Teachers truly care for their students. It feels like an extended family, as everyone participates in the success of the students.