Wiley Way
Week of January 29, 2024
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
SCHOOL INFORMATION
Dates to Remember
Tuesday, January 30: Learning Gizmos Family Game Night (details to come!)
Month of February: Black History Month
Friday, February 2: 3rd Quarter Progress Reports via PowerSchool
Monday, February 5: Rink Night 6:00-8:00 PM
Tuesday, February 6- Friday, February 9: Valentine Grams
Wednesday, February 7: Winter Conferences, 4:30 -7:30 PM; information will come home this week
Monday, February 12: K-2 Literacy Night (6:00-7:00 PM; see flyer below); Parent Volunteer Meeting (7:00 PM)
Monday February 12-Friday, February 16: Kindness Spirit Week!
Wednesday, February 14: Happy Valentine's Day!
Thursday, February 15: DNO at Buddy's Pizza (on Hayes) Parent Volunteer Fundraiser
Monday February 19- Friday, February 23: NO School; Mid-Winter Break
Monday, February 26: School Resumes
Tuesday, February 27: NO School; Primary Elections
Message From Mrs. Merivirta
Our Family Gizmo Game Night will be held on Tuesday, January 30, from 6:00-7:00 PM. We hope that you will join us for an evening of family fun. The first 65 families to participate will be given a voucher for a free game.
February is going to be a busy month with many opportunities to be involved ~ whether it is family skate night, Dinner Night Out Fundraiser, Early Literacy Event, or our Parent Volunteer Meeting, we hope that you will join us. Please be sure to mark your calendars for all of our events!
Progress Reports for the 3rd quarter will arrive via PowerSchool on Friday, February 2. Please be sure to have a conversation with your child about their current progress.
Teachers will be meeting with parents (as requested) for Winter Conferences, held on Wednesday, February 7. Meetings will be held in person and via TEAMS.
We are asking for your help in the mornings at drop off. PLEASE be sure to pull up as far as you can (up to the sign that says NO PARKING/NO STANDING), have students exit ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY, and then pull away. If you/your child are unable to do so, please park and walk your child to the school. We need to ensure everyone's safety. Thank you for help in this matter.
Cold weather is definitely here! Please be sure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. All students need to have a coat to go outside for recess. If you are in need of a coat for your child, please let us know; the Coyote Community Closet is here to help. Students must have boots to go out onto the field if there is snow. Without boots, they will be able to stay on black top only. You may want to send a second pair of socks/shoes that can remain in class in the event that feet get wet at recess.
As always, thank you for all that you do to support and enrich your child's education and our school community. Together, we are achieving great things!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Merivirta
NO SCHOOL FEBRUARY 27
PLEASE NOTE CALENDAR CHANGE
Safety remains a priority in Utica Community Schools.
The State of Michigan has announced that it will hold a presidential primary on Tuesday, February 27th. Our schools remain the centerpiece of the community, and we are proud that many of our school facilities are used to support the voting process. During these elections, school facilities need to be open and easily accessible to allow voters to cast their ballots.
As has been the practice of UCS for past elections, there will be no school on Tuesday, February 27. The cancellation of school maintains our commitment to safety and allows our facilities to be open for community members to cast their ballots.
SPIRIT WEEK IS COMING!
Looking Ahead
It is hard to believe but we are already planning for next year! If you have a child that will be entering Kindergarten next year, please take this opportunity to begin the enrollment process! UCS offers both Kindergarten and Young 5's. Additionally, applications are now being accepted for the Great Start Readiness Preschool Program. Please check out the flyers below.
CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Throughout the month we will be featuring stories that will help you share the accomplishments of important African-Americans, books written by African-American authors as well as stories about their culture and history. Take time to share these stories with your child!
PARENTING CONFERENCE
Raising children can be challenging! Check out the flyer below to learn about an upcoming parenting conference that can provide support and understanding for many of the challenging situations you may be facing with your child. Save the date and plan to attend!
WILEY HAPPENINGS
- Last week ATG (Academically Talented and Gifted) students participated in a "Spaghetti Challenge". Students were given 18 minutes, 20 pieces of dry spaghetti noodles, one marshmallow, 3 yards of string, and 3 yards of tape to create the tallest, free standing, structure that also held the marshmallow at the top. Students used team building, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. All students did an amazing job, however, in the end Cameron B. and Ryland M. created the tallest structure and Zoey T. and Narjis Z. created the only structure to hold the marshmallow.
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!
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 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.
Stay Connected with our Wiley Volunteer Parent Group
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, 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.
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