Sixth Grade Center: First Day

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Hello Sixth Grade Center Families, 

Principal Carr was made aware this evening that many families were not receiving the Skylert emails she has been sharing for the last couple of weeks.  We are working to correct this technical issue, and we hope to have it resolved this week. We apologize and thank you for your patience as we work on this. Please see Mrs. Carr’s message below that was sent to families regarding the first day of school.

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Good afternoon, Urbana Sixth Grade Center (SGC) Students & Families!

We are so excited to welcome you back on Monday! Staff have been working hard to prepare the building, classrooms, and spaces for this historic first class of sixth graders.

First days bring excitement and sometimes nerves, so this message includes all key details you need for Day 1: non-compliance reminders, arrival and dismissal procedures, band/strings/choir information, picture day, schedules, and supplies. Please read carefully—most questions are answered here.

Non-Compliance:

  • Updated physicals with immunizations are required and due Monday, Aug. 18 for students to attend.
  • Students without updated forms on file will be sent home. Unsure? Call the office: 217-384-3670.
  • If you need a walk-in option, Carle Mobile Health Clinic accepts evening patients: 217-365-7928.
  • Forms turned in Monday morning will allow students to attend. Please drop them in the main office.

Morning Arrival:

  • Accelerated Students:
    • Families must drop off at UMS (1201 S. Vine) 8:25–8:40 am. Students eat breakfast or wait until the 8:40 bell, then attend class. Afterward, they’ll be picked up by bus at Door 1 and transported to SGC.
  • Concert Band/Strings/Choir: Practices begin later (dates TBD). Students will follow the same morning routine as accelerated students when scheduled.
  • Walkers & Car Riders:
    • Enter through Door #1 at 8:30 am.
    • Florida & Anderson intersection closed—enter from Pennsylvania & Anderson.
    • Families will use circle drive, stay in vehicles, pull up in line, drop off passenger-side only.
    • Students line up outside by team signs (Aviators, Dynamic, Stellar). Check Skyward or mailed postcards for team info.
  • MTD Riders:
    • Unload at Florida Ave. cutout, enter Door 4.
    • First Student (yellow) Bus Riders: Unload behind school, enter Door 6.

Breakfast eaters → Multipurpose Room.
Non-breakfast eaters → Designated team hallway until period 1.

Picture Day: Monday, Aug. 18 (first day). 

  • Pictures during elective periods:
    • Aviators – 1st period
    • Stellar – 2nd period
    • Dynamic – 3rd period

Schedules & Materials:

  • Students receive schedules in 1st period on Aug. 18.
  • Some shipments (backpacks, binders, planners, water bottles) are delayed. Please do not send supplies on Day 1. An update will be shared Sunday and/or Monday.

Dismissal:Students dismissed after 8th period using the same doors as morning arrival.

  • Walkers: Exit Door 1, for those crossing at Florida & Anderson, a crossing guard will be present.
  • Car Riders: Exit Door 1. Pick up in circle drive via Pennsylvania & Anderson. Families will stay in vehicles, pull forward, load on passenger side.
  • MTD Riders: Exit Door 4, line up by bus sign.
  • First Student Riders: Exit Door 6, line up by bus number.
CLEAR BAG POLICY

To promote safety and maintain an efficient learning environment, the SGC is implementing a clear backpack policy. Backpacks are not permitted in the classrooms and must be stored in their assigned locker until dismissal.

  • Each student will receive one district-issued clear backpack at no cost
  • Students/Families may provide their own clear backpack if they prefer, but it must meet the requirements
  • Backpacks must be clear and easily reveal the contents inside

Students may use privacy pouches for personal items. Privacy pouches should not exceed 6″x9″ in size and should fit inside the main backpack. To ensure safety, the pouches may be searched during security screenings. 

Instruments will be stored in instrument lockers in the elective hallway. Students who enter with instruments will be instructed to put their instruments in those lockers when they arrive. 
 
Athletic bags will be allowed as appropriate for the season. 
 

WATER BOTTLE POLICY

To support safety, students will only be allowed to carry plastic, transparent water bottles. 

Water bottles must:

  • Be transparent
  • Not exceed 24 ounces 
  • Have a secure, leak-proof lid

Not permitted:

  • Metal or glass bottles (No Owalas, Stanleys, etc.)

Water bottle refill stations are available throughout the building. Bottles that do not meet these requirements will not be permitted.

CELL PHONE POLICY

Urbana Sixth Grade Center is a phone-free space where learning and engagement are prioritized. To support this policy, SGC will use Yondr pouches. Every SGC student will be provided with and assigned an individual Yondr pouch that they will take home and bring to school daily.

Message from Principal Carr on Sunday, August 17, 2025

Good afternoon, SGC Students & Families!
 
As a reminder, doors at the Sixth Grade Center open at 8:30 for breakfast. Students who arrive before that time will wait at their assigned doors for entry. We are monitoring the weather to ensure temperatures in the morning are safe enough to allow students to remain outside until the designated time. If temperatures are too warm, students will be directed inside to wait in their designated hallways.
 
Gentle Reminders:
 
To help our students build independence and ensure a smooth and safe start to the school day, families will say their goodbyes outside the building. Our staff will be ready to greet students at their assigned doors and guide them to their designated areas, making sure everyone feels supported and welcomed on their first day.
 
As yesterday’s message stated, we are experiencing delays in shipment for binders, backpacks, and water bottles. While we await the full shipment of these items, please hold off sending your students with school supplies. We will update families when school supplies can be brought in. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
 
With the delay in water bottles and the expected temperatures, please send your students to school with a plastic water bottle until we are able to distribute ours. We expect delivery this week. Thank you!
 
Physical Forms: Physicals can be turned in tomorrow. Please drop them off in the main office so your student can attend school. Please remember, students without updated physical forms will not be able to attend school tomorrow and will be sent home.
 
To promote safety and engagement, we have implemented systems and structures for students to follow. The following is a reminder of a structure that will be in place day 1:
 
Cell Phones: Yondr pouches will be provided for all students with cell phones, smartwatches, and Airpods/earbuds. These items must be kept in the Yondr pouch all day. Students will be assigned pouches tomorrow and will be expected to lock the above items in their pouch without exception. Students who refuse to follow the expectations will have their phones/items confiscated and placed in the office for parent pickup. No exceptions. Students will unlock pouches as they exit the building during dismissal. Students take the pouch home and bring it to school the next morning to lock phones/smartwatches/Airpods/earbuds inside as they arrive. Students who forget their pouch must turn in cell phones and other items in the main office where they will be held for parent pickup.
 
Athletes:
 
Softball athletes will store all sports equipment/bags in the space where the stage door is located (across from the library). Items must be dropped off first thing in the morning and can be retrieved when dismissed for the game. If the game is canceled due to weather, equipment and bags will remain in the space until dismissal at the end of the day.
 
Baseball/Cross Country:
If practice is canceled due to the weather, students will not be transported to the 7th/8th grade building at the end of the day, and will be dismissed like all other students.
 
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to respond to the email provided.
 
Let’s go, TIGERS!
Mrs. Carr & Mrs. Delgado
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