Wiley Way
Week of November 20, 2023
SCHOOL INFORMATION
Welcome to Wiley ~ Home of the Wiley Coyotes
Office Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
School Hours: 9:00 AM - 3:50 PM; early dismissal @ 12:04 PM
If you need anything, PLEASE EMAIL or phone the office staff at officewiley@uticak12.org/
586-797-6700 ; someone will respond promptly.
24 hr. Attendance Line: (586) 797-6799
Office Staff:
- Mrs. Candice Merivirta, Principal
- Mrs. Cathy Baumgartner, Administrative Assistant
- Mrs. Cari Muirhead, Clerk
Dates to Remember
Tuesday, November 21: 2nd Quarter Progress Reports available in PowerSchool; Dinner Night Out Fundraiser (Mavrix)
Wednesday, November 22-Friday, November 24: NO SCHOOL ~ Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 29: Science Olympiad Informational Meeting @ 6:00 PM
Thursday, November 30: Picture Retake
Friday, November 17- Friday, December 8: Toys for Tots toy collection
Thursday, December 7 and Friday, December 8: Holiday Shop
Monday, December 11: Parent Volunteer Meeting @ 7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 13: 6th Grade Vocal Concert @ 6:30 PM
Message From Mrs. Merivirta
It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost upon us. I hope that this holiday provides an opportunity for you and your family to come together, share a meal, make memories, and reflect on all that you are blessed with.
The Merivirta family is excited to be hosting this year ~ with family coming if from Virginia, Canada and across Michigan. My sisters and their families will join us, along with my daughter and son-in law, two amazing grand babies, and my sons. We are so blessed to have the opportunity to spend time together, share a meal and play family games. If weather permits, we will make a trip to Yates as well!
As a school community, we are thankful for the opportunity to work with you and your child(ren), on a daily basis, helping them to achieve and succeed. We are grateful for your support and involvement in our school community, making us the best that we can be!
We were so very proud of our Wiley Community today as the Lion's Club Helping Hands group picked up our canned goods collection for those in need. The response was tremendous! Way to go Wiley Coyotes, helping others. Through your generous donations, others within our own community will enjoy a wonderful holiday meal.
If ever you have a question or a concern, please reach out to me. I am here to help answer questions about happenings at Wiley ~ whether it be transportation, our parking lot, classroom concerns, or anything else! If I cannot provide the answer that you are looking for I will direct you to the person who can assist you.
As always, thank you for all that you do to support and enrich your child's education and our school community.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Merivirta
ACCENTUATING THE POSITIVE!
Teachers at Wiley are recognizing students for great choices and behaviors. Teachers submit Positive Behavior Office Referrals that recognize students who are serving as great role models and meeting our Coyote expectations. Once a form is submitted, students are called down to the office to meet with the principal and celebrate their success. Join us in recognizing this week's recipients!
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
It’s Science Olympiad Team Time. This year we need 17 students to study with their partners for their 2 or 3 events from late December until early May.
For Wiley's Science Olympiad team, this year we are looking for 4th, 5th or 6th graders who:
· enjoys science
· works well with partners and teammates
· are responsible
· gets class homework done on time
· has time to add 2 hours of Science Olympiad work per week to
his/her schedule
· is available on March 18th and 19th for our 2 practice tournaments
· is available Saturday, May 11, 2024 9 to 5 for tournament and awards
· could use a little extra challenge above and beyond what he/she is
receiving in the classroom
If you think your child would like to join the Science Olympiad Team, please join us Wednesday, November 29th at 6:00 p.m., in the Media Center.
National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November. It is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation. This November and every month, we celebrate the culture and heritage of these remarkable Americans who deeply enrich the quality and character of our Nation. We celebrate Indian Country with its remarkable diversity of American Indian and Alaska Native cultures and peoples.
Please share the story below with your child.
HAPPENINGS AT WILEY
Sixth graders learned about Diwali and combined their engineering and technology skills to make lanterns for the Festival of Lights! The lanterns are made of strawbees and feature flowers, and they programmed their microbit in the center to light up and flash a pattern.
Student Council put together Wiley coyote water bottles for our bus drivers, lunch parents, office staff, para professionals, subs and more! They were complete with “hugs and kisses” for helping make our Wiley community a better place.
Student council is sponsoring a Smencil sale. Funds raised will go towards acts of kindness in our community.
STU CREW UPDATES
WHO SHOULD YOU CONTACT?
Often times parents have questions or concerns but do not know who direct them to. Below is information from the UCS handbook in regards to communication flow and creating a winning team. Please read below to help direct you to the correct person.
Your Child’s Teacher
- Classroom curriculum, materials, instruction, and/or assessment questions
- Questions regarding your student’s progress
- Information that may impact your child’s learning
- Minor classroom discipline concerns
Your Child’s Principal
- Program and classroom concerns, following conversation with teacher
- Office Referrals (discipline concerns)
- Building management questions
- School and classroom curriculum, materials, instruction, and/or assessment questions
- Concerns that were brought to teacher's attention but were not resolved
School District - Executive Administrator of Schools
- If questions/concerns have not been addressed after speaking with the building principal, please contact the Executive Administrator of Schools Office at (586) 797-1114
- Parents and eligible students who have questions or concerns regarding pupil rights may contact the Executive Administrator of Schools Office at (586) 797-1114
Reminder About Birthdays
Birthday Celebrations
The teachers and staff at Wiley support and encourage the recognition of a child’s birthday during the school day. It is an annual milestone in every child’s life that should be celebrated not just at home, but in school as well, where children spend one-third of their day with teachers, classmates, and peers. While there are many wonderful and creative ways to celebrate a child’s birthday in school, birthday celebrations at Wiley will not include food treats. Instead, the focus at Wiley will be recognizing the day in a variety of special ways that do not include food treats. Some possibilities include:
· Class sings “Happy Birthday”
· Happy Birthday Recess/Gift
· Morning “Happy Birthday” PA announcement
· Parent makes a donation of book to class library or a classroom game
· Student reads favorite book to class
· Parent/special someone reads story to class
Your child’s teacher will have more information on how birthdays will be celebrated in the classroom. As educators, caregivers and loved ones we all want the best for our students. Thank you for joining us in giving students healthy opportunities to celebrate important events and achievements.
Wiley Parent Volunteer Updates
WILEY COMMUNITY CLOSET
At this time they are not accepting any more donations. If you would like information or would like to schedule a visit to the Closet please email Mrs. Kurmas at karrie.kurmas@uticak12.org.
LOST AND FOUND
Please take a moment to look at the items in lost and found to see if they belong to your child.
WAYS TO SUPPORT WILEY AND STAY IN TOUCH
Extended Day Opportunities
Too Sick to Come to School?
Take a Peek at These Health Department Guidelines
When is your child too sick to attend school? The following guidelines, along with the advice of your family doctor, will help you decide when your child should stay home:
• Cold and/or cough – a child with deep mucus that causes a cough and heavy nose drainage cannot function at school.
• Fever – fever is a warning that something is wrong. A child should remain at home for 24 hours after the fever is gone without the use of medication.
• Rash – a rash, spots or blotches on the skin can be the first sign of many illnesses. Rashes require a physician’s release stating they are not contagious.
• Stomachache/Upset – a child who is vomiting or has diarrhea should be kept at home and may return 24 hours after the symptoms are gone.
• Head Lice – a child with head lice must remain at home until treatment is complete and school officials confirm he or she is free of lice. Check your child’s head before school begins in the fall and routinely during the school year or if he or she complains of an itchy scalp. Look around your child’s ears and back of the neck for nits, which are tiny, 8 white, oval-shaped lice eggs that are attached to the hair near the scalp. Nits may look like dandruff or scalp flakes, but nits do not move and are difficult to dislodge. Notify the school office immediately if your child has head lice. Begin treatment immediately by contacting your doctor or purchasing over the counter medication from the drug store. To prevent spreading head lice, wash all infested garments, hair accessories, bedding and other surfaces with hot water and disinfectant. You must sign your child in at the office when he or she is returning to school after treatment for head lice.
Utica Community Schools has a no pet policy on school property.
Recess
Students will have the opportunity to go outside with their classmates during designated times throughout the day. Recess helps to promote social and emotional learning and development for all children. Allowing time for our students to engage in peer interactions provides them with an opportunity to practice essential social skills. Recess also benefits our students by increasing their level of physical activity improving their memory, attention, and concentration. Each class will have a recess attached to the lunch program. We go outside whenever possible and stay inside if it is raining or the temperatures are below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Students will have an optional second recess each day with their classroom teacher. Please have children dress for the weather.
Stay Connected with our Wiley Volunteer Parent Group
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER, AT WILEY...
Previous Newsletters
STAY CONNECTED WITH WILEY
Email: candice.merivirta@uticak12.org
Website: wiley.uticak12.org
Location: 47240 Shelby Road, Shelby Charter Township, MI, USA
Phone: (586) 797-6700
Facebook: facebook.com/ucswiley