Hello United South Central Families,
It has been a great fall and start to the school year here at United South Central! As we transition into the second quarter of the school year, it's hard to believe that Thanksgiving and the holiday season are already just around the corner. We have plenty of exciting activities and events to look forward to throughout November and December, and we're looking forward to a great finish to the first half of the school year!
Facilities Referendum Update – With the passage of our facilities referendum on Tuesday, November 3rd, I want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in the election and engage in the conversations we've had over the past several months. We certainly appreciate the community's support and the trust placed in our district as we work to address our growing enrollment and facility needs. This has been a lengthy process involving considerable input from our community, staff, Facilities Task Force, and School Board, and we're excited to begin moving into the next phases of planning for our additional classrooms and elementary physical education space. There will be plenty of work ahead, and we'll continue keeping our families and community informed as the project progresses. Thank you again for your continued support of USC!
Virtual Learning/Snow Day Preparation – While we're certainly hoping that measurable snowfall is still a ways off, it's getting to be that time of year when we need to start thinking about our winter weather procedures and Virtual Learning Day preparations. As a reminder, our Board has approved the use of up to three Virtual Learning Days for the 2026–27 school year. We do have a small cushion of instructional time built into our calendar, and our plan is to likely utilize a traditional snow day for our first weather-related closure before transitioning to Virtual Learning Days as needed. As we've done in the past, we'll make every effort to provide as much advance notice as possible when a Virtual Learning Day is anticipated, allowing students and staff time to prepare and gather necessary materials. When advance notice isn't possible, our goal is to make and communicate weather-related decisions by approximately 6:20 AM. Please begin thinking through what your students will need to be successful while learning from home and ensure they have the necessary materials and resources available when needed. Hopefully, we won't have to put any of these plans into action for quite some time, but it's always better to be prepared!
Substitute Appreciation – Friday, November 20th, is National Substitute Educators Day! We are certainly fortunate to have a great group of substitute teachers and paraprofessionals who help keep things running smoothly at USC when our regular staff are away. Please take a moment over the coming weeks to thank our substitutes for the work they do, and encourage your students to do the same! We are also always looking to expand our substitute lists for both teachers and paraprofessionals. As a reminder, individuals with a four-year college degree, regardless of their area of study, are eligible to apply for a short-call substitute teaching license in Minnesota. If you know someone who might be interested in substituting at USC, please encourage them to reach out, and we'd be happy to help them navigate the process!
Upcoming Events and Activities -
November 10, End of First Quarter
November 11, Start of Second Quarter
November 11, Veterans Day Ceremony - 9:00 AM
November 19 & 24, Elementary Evening Conferences
November 25, No School Grades K-6 (Elem. Conferences)
November 26 & 27, Thanksgiving Break
November 30, Professional Development Day - No School
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns as we continue working together to provide the best possible educational experience for our students. Wishing everyone a wonderful month of November!
Go Rebels!
Taylor Topinka
USC Superintendent