8th Grade Profile
"Our Mission is to Graduate 100 Percent of Our Students, College & Career Ready."
Together We Make a Difference
Welcome to Union 8th Grade Center!
The Union 8th Grade Center is designed to help students make the transition between middle school and high school from both an academic and social perspective. Union offers a unique design as only the eighth grade class resides in our facility.
Our state-of-the-art media center acts as the origin for literacy and learning as students embark upon their high school journey.
The Union 8th Grade Center faculty is committed to providing a safe and secure environment focused on learning which encourages academic excellence for all students. We recognize the importance of the eighth grade in developing responsible individuals and realize that the success of each student is dependent upon a cooperative effort of the student, parents, teachers and administrators.
Accreditation
The 8th Grade Center is accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Its accreditation process, involving parents, teachers and administrators at each site, is considered a model for other school districts.
History
The 8th Grade Center was dedicated in 1980 and underwent a major renovation which was completed in 2006. The improvements include the new media center, security features, an expanded cafeteria, additional classrooms and offices and improved parking.
In 2015, an additional renovation was completed that included Fine Arts classrooms, a second gymnasium and an updated soccer facility.
Eighth graders and their families are welcomed at Union.
Eighth graders play band instruments during a fine arts assembly.
Cell Phone Expectations
Parents, who need to contact their student during the school day, may call the main office and a message will be delivered. The main office phone number is 918-357-4325.
How Cell Phones Affect Students
- Brain Drain: Studies show that just having your phone out on your desk causes a decline of focus in class.
- Better Grades: Test scores significantly improve when phones are off in the classroom.
- More Attentive: Avoiding social media at school helps in paying attention to the people who are with teens.
- Not Easy But Worth it: Concentration, grades and respect go up when phone are away.
Off And Away, All Day
Cell phones must be off and away, all day, from the first belle to the last bell of the school day. Students will be reminded daily to "power off" their phones and put them away.
Failure to meet these expectations may result in disciplinary action.
Studies show that the endless stream of notifications and constant phone phone use is detrimental to learning and student wellness. In an effort to provide a safe school environment for all cellphone usage is not allowed during the day. awayfortheday.org
Eighth graders walk to their next class.
Principal Michelle Cundy and Assistant Principal Michael Harmon help welcome students to the Union 8th Grade Center.
Principals
Principal
Michelle Cundy
Michelle Cundy is a 1984 graduate of Westville High School. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in business education from Northeastern State University and received her master's degree in education administration from the University of Oklahoma in 2008.
Cundy taught business and computers a total of 20 years including eight years at the Union 8th Grade Center. While teaching Cundy received certification as a Microsoft Office Expert and a Microsoft Certified Professional. She served as 10th Grade Assistant Principal at the Union Intermediate High School for three years, before joining the administrative team at Union High School as assistant principal in 2011. She was named principal of the 8th Grade Center in 2015.
Assistant Principal
Meghan Bender
Meghan Bender was named assistant principal at the 8th Grade Center in 2023.
She previously served as director of Student Life at the High School.
Meghan Bender is a 2002 graduate of Union High School. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education with an emphasis in biology from Oklahoma State University and received her master's degree in educational leadership from Southern Nazarene University in 2017.
Bender taught science a total of nine years including three at Union. She has previously served as an administrator at the high school as an assistant principal serving the class of 2018, one year of serving as the assistant principal at the 7th Grade Center, and Director of Student Life at the High School from 2018-2019 school year and the 2021-2022 school year.
Assistant Principal
Michael Harmon
Michael Harmon was named assistant principal at the 8th Grade Center in 2023.
He previously served as an ER2 Math Teacher at the Freshman Academy. Harmon has been in the education field since 2016, worked in various locations, including Guthrie High School and Putnam City North High School.
Harmon, who graduated from Guthrie High School in 2008, earned his bachelor's degree in health and sports science education from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 2013 and a master's degree in special education with an emphasis in administration from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 2024.
8th Grade At A Glance
