Dear UCA Family,

“From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”  Psalms 61:2

IT’S NOT TOO LATE
We are accepting applications for second semester.  If you know a student who should be at UCA, contact Shelley Bacon, at Shelley.Bacon@ucaa.org or call (509) 675-5003.

BASKETBALL

WWU FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT
We are excited that our varsity students are able to participate in the WWU Friendship Tournament being held at Walla Walla University this Thursday through Sunday, January 26-29.  Students will leave at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday and will return early afternoon on Sunday.  To see the schedule/bracket of the games, visit https://wallawalla.edu/admissions/recruiting-events/tournaments/friendship-tournament/online-brackets/.  These brackets will be updated as game results become available.  To stay on top of the action, follow @WWUtournaments on twitter.

REMINDER:  In an effort to support our sports program and its ability to continue to participate in the Friendship Tournament as well as support our academics, we are unable to excuse classes for non-varsity students to attend the tournament.  However, our students are welcome to go to this event when their classes are finished on Friday, and our teams would be excited to have their fellow students come and support their final games on Saturday night.

ONE-TIME REC SKI
For students who would like to go skiing on a one-time basis, the rate for transportation is $20.00 and the ticket  is $50.00 + tax per day ($55.00).  If interested, please fill out a permission slip and pay the transportation fee to Pastor Sid by Wednesday before going.  You can find this form at http://www.schweitzer.com/uploaded/pdfs/2016_lesson_rental_release.pdf.  You also need to bring your own sack meals or make arrangements with the cafeteria for a sack breakfast and lunch.  Bring a sack supper or money for a Taco Bell dinner on the way home.  See you at Schweitzer!

DAY STUDENTS – NO SUNDAY SCHOOL BEFORE FEBRUARY HOME LEAVE
There will be no Sunday school before the February home leave this year.  Home leave begins at 12:12 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, and classes resume on Tuesday, February 7. The shortened class schedule for home leave is attached.

HOME-LEAVE BUS
Students planning to ride the UCA home-leave buses should reply to the transportation email by Friday, January 27.  Please be at the drop-off and pick-up points early.  The bus driver is on a very tight schedule and it affects everyone if they wait for late arrivals. Thank you for helping us be on time by ensuring your student is on time.  The home-leave bus schedule is attached with cell numbers for the drivers.

COLLEGE DAYS
Seniors, if you plan to visit a college in preparation for next year, it is imperative that this happens during the 3^rd quarter rather than the 4^th quarter, as we want you to graduate!

ABSENCE REQUESTS
If your student is needing to miss school for any reason (other than illness), they will need to fill out an Absence Request form and turn it in to Administrative Council.  This is a form your student is responsible for filling out and can be obtained from the front office.  It is imperative for the success of your student and avoidance of a detention that they fill out this form in advance and turn it in to the front office in time for Ad Council review on Wednesday, (Tuesday, when home leave is on Wednesday), PRIOR to the date they are requesting to be gone.

LAST-WEEK-OF-SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Because we value your student’s education so much and want them to be able to complete all required school work in the time frame given and without added stress, especially as the year comes to a close, all students will be required to attend all of their classes the last week of school unless there is a family emergency or specific family event.  Please make your plans this year with this in mind to avoid unwanted surprises at the end of the year.

INTERNATIONAL TOUR OPPORTUNITY
Would you like to travel to Italy? Join Upper Columbia Academy for a tour of Italy in March of 2018. We will be visiting sites in Venice, Florence, Assisi and Rome. For more information contact John Spano, at john.spano@ucaa.org.

DAY STUDENT NOTICE!!
Please see the WINTER DRIVING/ATTENDANCE POLICY below.

DOCUMENTS
Thiswkuca-1-20-17
Thiswkuca-1-27-17
Shortened-schedule-for-home-leave
Home-leave-bus-schedule
Menu Jan-22-28

LOOKING AHEAD

Facebook Friends: Follow us on Facebook [www.facebook.com/uppercolumbiaacademy] for all the latest campus news and information.

WINTER DRIVING/ATTENDANCE POLICY
SAFETY IS OUR FIRST CONCERN!
Day students are encouraged to stay in the dorm when it is unsafe to travel.  In this case, the fee for staying overnight in the dorm will be waived.  Please make arrangements with the deans.  Students driving during poor road conditions should allow extra driving time.

Even if Liberty School District is closed, we will continue to have classes.  Parents will need to evaluate the situation.  Our top priority is student safety, but we also don’t want them to miss classes unnecessarily.  Liberty often closes due to conditions that do not affect travel to UCA.  If Liberty is closed, students’ perfect attendance will not be affected and absences will be excused.

If Liberty School District is on a two-hour delay, we will operate as normal.  If you have a special circumstance, please advise us.

Tune in to the radio or TV stations in the morning to have a list of school closings.  You may also receive the same information on their websites.

If students have travel emergencies or will be staying home due to road conditions, parents need to call Flor Smith at 245-3614.

Again, you are encouraged to help your student allow extra travel time or have them stay in the dorm when necessary.  We are all praying for a safe winter.