Union Academy Family Reunion Day 2017

     Family Reunions are always special times, but especially so at Union Academy Charter School. For the third time this school year, the 1400 members of 27 Union AcaUA Character Educationdemy “families” came together Wednesday, April 5 to work, learn, eat and play.
     Families at the K-12 school consist of elementary, middle and high school students combined in groups of about 50 to form “families.” Each family is distinguished by wearing matching t-shirts. The final reunion of the year, started out with all UA families gathering for a school assembly in the football stadium filled with music and a celebratory mood. Student families then began to make rotations of morning activities.
     Mike Baucom, a trustee with Hometown Heroes, a local non-profit organization that helps children afflicted with cancer, spoke with the students about the value in being charitable with time and money to help those in need in our community. Baucom said, “Giving is the greatest gift your heart will ever receive and no matter how young or old you might be, it’s never too early or too late to start giving to others.” He talked about the organization’s annual Christmas Tree Lot fundraising event and encouraged students of all ages to volunteer helping run the tree sales.
     Following learning about the Hometown Heroes organization, student family groups rotated to the high school gym to make Christmas cards and ornaments to donate to the organization for the tree sale this year. Student-decorated cards will be given away at the lots and the Christmas trees will be decorated with the hand-made ornaments. ”This is so much fun and I like hearing the Christmas music playing now. I hope the ornaments my UA Family made will make someone want to buy a Christmas tree next year to help children with cancer,” said Addie Watkins, third grade student.
     The third and final rotation of the morning allowed an opportunity for all students to sign the base floor and wall beams of the new 32,000 square feet dining and classroom addition being built at the Upper Campus located on MLK, Jr., Boulevard in Monroe. The student names and their thoughts will be forever embedded in the structure of the building.

By Luan Ingram

1st Grade Students Brighten the Birthdays of Children in Need

Union Academy's 1st grade classes partner with Bright Blessings, a non-profit organization that cares for the needs of homeless and impoverished children in the greater Charlotte area. According to Cynthia Mitchell, first grade teacher, “This partnership focuses on the character trait of compassion. At the beginning of the year we introduce the trait to students through reading and writing.”  The team of first grade teachers then use this trait to educate the students on the needs of others in the community and the students’ ability to make a difference.  “At this young age, teachers want students to start thinking outside of themselves and start thinking about words like grateful, thankful, caring, giving, etc.  This theme of compassion is carried throughout the year whether working on service projects in the classroom, writing, reading literature, or visiting the Bright Blessings location itself,” said Mrs. Mitchell.

One of the main ways first grade students serve the community and learn the implementation of compassion is through Bright Blessings’ Bless-a-Birthday program.  This program provides presents and parties to children who do not have the financial means to celebrate their birthdays. Throughout the school year and as needs arise, first graders collect specific needs for Bless-a-Birthday such as gifts, juice boxes, cookies, lollipops, and other party supplies.  The first grade students at Union Academy do in-class projects for the program by making gift wrap and bookmarks that will be used to help celebrate the birthdays of these children.  Twice a year, first graders visit the Bright Blessings location in Matthews, North Carolina where they tour the facility and receive an update on growing needs and projects.  While at the facility, the first graders have an opportunity to do hands-on service such as making gift bags for parties or decorating gift wrap.

In addition to using this service project as a tool for learning compassion, reading, and writing, the first grade teachers also tie the project to First Grade Social Studies Essential Standards.  Standard 1.E.1.3 expects students to understand how supply and demand affects the choices families make, including why people cannot have everything they want. Discussing the causes of homelessness and poverty helps students understand why people often prioritize choices based on wants and needs.  Students recognize that birthday celebrations are a want and not a need.  Discussion on this essential standard allows the children to see how they can help fulfill this want for those less fortunate and make a difference in the community. 

 “This is a meaningful project for this age group because they are helping children just like themselves. This consistent connection to being kind and caring towards others is an important part of the whole C-A-R-R-O-T P-I, and developing the character of the students,” stated Mrs. Mitchell.

A Visit to Autumn Care: A Trip to Discover the Past and Serve the Elderly

     On March 22, Mrs. Hughes' 5th grade Cardinal Time group spent the morning interacting with the residents of Autumn Care, a nursing center in Marshville, NC. Becca Yanacsek, substitute teacher, spent the morning preceding the trip teaching the students about the importance of serving this part of the community.  They watched a video about a 102 year old dancer who saw videos of her in her youth for the first time. The video prompted discussion on the lives lived by the elderly and their wealth of knowledge about the past.  Students discussed how they learned much about the past  through the oral history part of the Fifth Grade Heritage Project completed last month.  Ms. Yanacsek suggested that the service trip was an opportunity to continue learning through oral history.  This discussion led to a "secret mission" where students were challenged to discover the history of the residents at Autumn Care.
     Once at Autumn Care, the students filled the cafeteria, armed with games, nail polish, or craft supplies.  Under the guise of activity volunteers, they used the time to ask the elderly residents questions. While playing checkers, or teaching Uno they tried to discover the ages and previous jobs of the residents.  "I met a lady who was 102 years old.  I did the math.  That means she was born in 1915!  She told me that she didn't have a car growing up, but did have a two seated carriage called a Surry," said student Shelby Brooks.
     In addition to learning about the past, students also learned the importance of serving this population. In the reflection circle after the project, students shared their experiences. Fifth grader Teigan Hatinen said, "I liked helping those people.  One lady said that her daughter and sister never come to visit.  I think she really liked that we were there."
     Everyone benefited from their time spent at Autumn Care. The elderly were entertained and felt respected and valued. The students were filled with compassion and learned a worthwhile lesson on caring for those who are older. During the service reflection circle, student Erin Collins summed up the experience with her quote, "I think it is important that we listen to their stories and pass them along.  They feel better having someone listen and I feel good for helping them."
     Union Academy is dedicated to creating good citizens for the future.  Service learning projects, such as this visit to Autumn Care, are a common experience for all UA students.  Through these opportunities, teachers and staff hope to expose students to real-world needs and  inspire them to create solutions.  Union Academy believes that community involvement is a fundamental tool for promoting the school’s core values and for developing leadership skills in students.