Academics
Middle School
Greetings University Academy Families
Check our our 23-24 Welcome Letter! Or you can continue scrolling to read the letter below. Be sure to click Read More at the bottom to view the rest of the letter.
On behalf of all staff at University Academy Middle School, we are pleased to welcome you and your student(s) back for the 2023-2024 school year. Our mission at UA is to prepare students to be successful in college and beyond. We can do that by building strong partnerships with all of our families. We look forward to a very successful year and hope you will partner with us in providing your student a safe and rigorous educational experience!
On behalf of all staff at University Academy Middle School, we are pleased to welcome you and your student(s) back for the 2023-2024 school year. Our mission at UA is to prepare students to be successful in college and beyond. We can do that by building strong partnerships with all of our families. We look forward to a very successful year and hope you will partner with us in providing your student a safe and rigorous educational experience!
Meet the Teacher
- Finally, we are hosting a “Meet the Teacher Event” to be held on August 15th from 2:00pm-6:00pm and we request that all MS parents and students attend!
- You will have an opportunity to go to each of your child’s classes to meet their teachers and receive important information.
- This will be a come and go event, so families do not need to remain for the duration of the event.
- We will have a parent meeting with Administration available at two different times slots; 2:00pm or 5:00pm in the Theater.
- We will discuss policies and updating parents regarding Standards Based Grading information for returning parents and 6th Grade parents. We would encourage ALL new parents and 6th grade parents to attend one of these meetings!
If you cannot make these meetings, please contact us directly to set up an alternate time for questions. We will make every effort to ensure your child has a safe and comfortable first day of school and we invite you to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to a successful and productive school year! See you on August 15th for the “Meet the Teacher Event” and August 17th for the first day of school!
Below are a few important items for your review:
- Please review these documents prior to the first day of school. The school calendar is also provided for you via the link below and on our website:
- School Hours: The first day of school for your student will be August 17, 2023. School hours are 7:30am-2:32pm. Students not riding the bus may begin arriving at 7:00am and breakfast will be served from 7:00-7:20am for MS students. All students must be picked up by 3:10 pm daily.
- Breakfast & Lunch: Breakfast will be served in the cafeteria from 7:00am-7:20am. All meals will be FREE this year. Students will be allowed to receive one tray per meal. If students want an additional breakfast or lunch they will be charged. Breakfast will be $2 and lunch $3.10.
- Tardies: Middle School Students must be in their seats, ready to go, by 7:30am or they will be marked tardy. Please see the Parent-Student Handbook for the tardy and absence policy.
- Dismissal: Dismissal and parent pick up will begin at 2:40pm. Buses will leave campus at approximately 2:50pm. All students must be off campus by 3:10pm. Failure to be picked up will incur a fee as stated in the Parent/Student Handbook.
- Student Handbook: The 2023-2024 University Academy Handbook, which contains relevant policies, will be made available electronically. We ask that parents and/or guardians read the Handbook thoroughly so that all parties understand the policies and procedures intended to ensure a safe and structured learning environment.
- Student Schedules: Your child’s schedule will be provided at the “Meet the Teacher Event.” This event will be held on August 15th from 2:00 pm- 6:00 pm. Encourage your child to bring this schedule with them on the first day of school! The Middle School Supply list is available on our website or link below. Your student may bring these supplies on August 15th so they are prepared for school. Middle School Supplies
- Uniforms: Please make sure your child is always in uniform which is navy or khaki bottoms (skirts, pants, shorts are acceptable), a navy or white collared/polo shirt, and a belt. A belt is required for all students whose pants/shorts have belt loops. Jackets are not permitted throughout the day and must be kept in the student’s locker. Only sweaters that are navy or white (solid color) are acceptable. UA branded sweatshirts and hoodies are also acceptable when worn over a collared shirt. Should your student be out of uniform, they will have an opportunity to correct the infraction. After the third infraction, you will be informed and required to bring him or her the appropriate clothing.
- Gryphon Gear: If you are interested in ordering Gryphon Gear, you may order at the following link UNIVERSITY ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL - Home (weebly.com). Orders placed by August 7th, 2023 may be picked up at the Meet the Teacher Event on August 15th, 2023. Just a reminder, students must wear a uniform shirt under their Gryphon Gear.
- 1-1 Technology: University Academy utilizes a mandatory 1-to-1, laptop computer program for 6th-12th Grades. In order for your student(s) to participate, parents/guardians are required to pay a nominal nonrefundable fee of $15.00. Please click this link to access the technology expectations, policy and agreement. Families who pay the $15 nonrefundable fee by August 8th via SchoolPay will be able to pick up their student’s device during our Meet the Teacher Event. We highly encourage families to take care of this in advance so that your student has all of their supplies on the first day of school.
- SchoolPay: You can pay most UA fees online by setting up a school account at SchoolPay. Simply create an account where you can add money to lunch accounts, pay for ASP, put a deposit toward a device, buy yearbooks and Gryphon gear, and more! To register for an account, go to www.SchoolPay.com, click on the green Create an Account button and follow the steps. SchoolPay is currently available.
- PowerSchool: PowerSchool is our system that is utilized to house grades, attendance and promotes a dialogue between parents, students, teachers and administration. All students, parents and staff have access to this platform. We encourage all parents to take advantage of this platform and check your student’s grades on a weekly basis. The PowerSchool link can be found here.
- Masks: Currently, masks are not required but are optional. If students would like to wear masks they will be responsible for bringing their own. Masks may not be provided by the school.
- Water: Every student may bring a water bottle to fill at the bottle station.
- Transportation: Contact Mrs. Kendall Johnson with transportation questions at johnsonk@universityacademy.org.
- For information on the status of a bus (location, late arrival, etc.), parents or guardians should contact First Student at 816.254.5262. Additionally, University Academy now offers a free bus-tracking app called “FirstView.” FirstView is an app that allows you to track the arrival time of your student’s bus.
- Additional Transportation Information-Click here.
- CurbSmart: Every student has been assigned a CurbSmart number, regardless of transportation status. If your child is a regular Parent Pick Up (PPU), you will receive 2 blue placards with your child’s CurbSmart number. These will be sent home during the first week of in-person learning. The outside staff member can enter your student’s name the first few days until you receive your placard. Once you know and have your placard with your student’s number, please display the number in the passenger windshield to assist the outside staff. Your student will be dismissed to the car once the information is provided and comes up on the CurbSmart App.
- Afterschool Program (ASP)/YMCA: The ASP Program will be provided for UA K-8 students on a first-come, first served basis. For more information, please read the following document: ASP/YMCA Information
- Fall Athletics: Official Practices for Middle School begin on August 14th. Volleyball conditioning will begin on Wednesday, August 2nd and will be from 3pm-5pm in the big gym for 7th and 8th grade. If you have questions, please reach out to Coach Turner via email at turnerm@universityacademy.org or Coach Shay at greenr@universityacademy.org Football will begin on August 14th. For questions, please contact Coach Blakemore via email at blakemorea@universityacademy.org. Middle School Football is for 6th-8th grade. All student athletes must have a physical before they can start “official practices”. Student athletes will not turn in a physical but will turn in the Medical Eligibility Form. For questions about physical paperwork, please contact Mr. Gresham, Athletic Director, via email at greshamj@universityacademy.org.
- Need Assistance?
- Absences: Call 816-412-5904 to report an absence for your middle school student.
- UA Technology Issues: If you are having trouble with your UA provided device, please email the Help Desk at helpdesk@universityacademy.org. Include your name (parent), the child's name and grade and the best way to contact you.
- Schoology Login Issues: Email Sarah Buck at bucks@universityacademy.org - NOTE: Schoology information and logins will be sent closer to the start of school in a separate email. Be sure to mark email@finalsiteconnect.com as a safe sender so that you receive all emails from UA.
Sincerely,
Find Us
About
University Academy is a public charter school serving students Pre-K through 12th grade who reside in the Kansas City Missouri School District.
© 2021 University Academy All Rights Reserved