Welcome Back UTEA!
Hope you had a great summer and you and yours are healthy and safe. UTEA Leadership participated in many, many meetings this summer to make sure re-opening our schools will go smoothly. It’s going to be a big week, yes, lots of rules to follow, but all for our safety. As part of the Township of Union Community, I’m asking all members to remember to:
-Sign up for PD workshops asap, so an email list can be developed in case we go virtual.
-Attend the opening day meetings on the football field and:
-wear a mask till you find a seat.
-follow social distancing rules by using the markers in the stands.
-welcome the newly elected NJEA Secretary/Treasurer, Petal Robertson, at the UTEA General meeting directly following the Superintendent’s address. (In case of rain, a separate email will be sent with a zoom link for the meeting.)
-do not congregate in big groups.
-do not bring food, UTEA will supply plenty of cold water.
-On September 2nd, wear masks at all times, no food in the PD sessions, and again there will be water available.
-Participate in the Educator Appreciation Day lunch on September 2nd from 1 to 3pm @ Rabkin Park. RSVP yes here: bit.ly/unionedappreciation
-****Also at Rabkin Park there will be the Union County COVID mobile unit. No appointment necessary to get your vaccine. Spread the word.
-**Complete the mandatory GNC trainings on the afternoon of September 8th. It is a half day for students only. Staff has a full day in their buildings. The UTEA contract states that PD should be completed during the work day, and that is why we negotiated for this time to do so. Please encourage your colleagues to be cognizant of this addition to the calendar, so we don’t lose it in the future.
And there’s more fun in your future!
-UTEA Back to School Social is coming at the Stagehouse – date TBD.
-September 9th: UTEA Representative Council meeting in UHS Library @ 4pm.
-September 26: Contact Matt Beveridge, BMS for the UTEA Mayor’s 5k Walk/Run.
-October 3rd: Contact Suzanne Whitley @ UHS to volunteer for the UTEA table at the Township of Union Fall Festival.
-October 23rd: Participate with the UTEA @ the Recreation Department Trunk or Treat @Jefferson School.
And one last important announcement. It’s been a while since the Board of Education changed the rules about hiring full-time paraprofessionals, but UTEA is happy to share that fourteen of our part-time paras have been made whole again with a full-time position. There are still more paras that need our help, and the UTEA will continue to fight for them. Two more negotiations meetings are scheduled, so stay tuned to your emails.
