Beck Weekly Updates

January 14, 2022

No School on Monday, January 17, 2022

Big picture

Upcoming Important Dates to Remember:

  • January 17 - No School MLK Jr. Holiday
  • Jan. 18 - 31 NWEA Testing Window - Reading & Math Grades K-6
  • Jan. 18 - 27 BFV Pasta Sale
  • February 14 - Valentine's Day
  • February 21-25 No School - Winter Break
  • March 24 - Kindergarten Round Up
  • April 1 - Half Day of School, End of 3rd Marking Period
  • April 4 - 8 - No School - Spring Break
  • April 15 - No School

COVID Exposures and Quarantining Process

Beck families please be aware that our process for notifying families of COVID exposures is changing. The blue link below outlines guidelines for COVID exposure and quarantine. The final page of the link below shows the flowchart for who must quarantine, who can monitor, and the possible avenues for reducing or eliminating that quarantine given the appropriate conditions.


The many options made calling each family challenging. Instead, we utilize a multi-tiered approach. If your student is a direct contact, you will receive a robo-call and Email from me notifying you of that contact. The email will be titled “Beck COVID Close Contact” followed by the date of that contact. The email will have the bulk of the information including the variety of options parents have to afford you the opportunity for you to read, digest that information, and then ask more informed questions afterwards should you have them. For most, it is a simple as sending a vaccination proof, a proof of past-positive, or selecting one of the other 5 options on the Close Contact Choice Form. If you have questions on this process, we are happy to take the time to help walk you through it.


Critical to our keeping kids in school is knowing when to keep your student at home. Whether you’ve been exposed to COVID or not, anyone who is sick should stay home. Whether it is COVID, the flu, or other ailments, if you have more than one of the minor symptoms (headache, runny nose, fever, etc.) or ANY of the major symptoms (including cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell), your student MUST stay home. That and following Macomb County Dept. of Health Mitigation Strategies will help keep our students safe, well and in school!

COVID Testing Partnership

COVID Testing Partnership

Utica Community Schools has partnered with Ascension Health to offer a testing option for students that have been identified as a COVID close contact at school and not experiencing any symptoms.

The school district has partnered with two specific Ascension locations from 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., seven days a week. No appointment is necessary, but you will need the Ascension testing form along with the email from school indicating your child was a close contact.


COVID Testing Partnership Locations:

Ascension Lakeside Urgent Care

44472 Hayes Rd.

Clinton Township, MI 48038

586-412-0890


Ascension Washington Urgent Care

7701 26 Mile Rd.

Washington, MI 48094

586-935-4000

COVID Testing Partnership
Big picture
Parking Lot Update - No Left Turns

Parking Lot Update - No Left Turns

You may have noticed that the district has responded to the concern for public safety in our parking lot. When the additional lane was added for left turns, during the remodel, it was to increase the flow outbound. However, with the increased traffic on Hayes at exactly 3:30 and the traffic attempting to turn left INTO the lot, it has become very dangerous for anyone to attempt to turn left out of our parking lot. The new sign, indicating "Right Turns Only" was added before the holiday break.


The time school releases unfortunately, coincides with the end of shift of an industrial facility just south of Beck. Traffic heading north on Hayes is very heavy at exactly 3:30 p.m.


Also, we have noticed may folks attempting to enter our parking lot by driving into the exiting lanes of traffic. This is also a very dangerous practice! There will be a head-on collision if someone is exiting the lot as a car tries to travel in the wrong lane into the lot. Please do not do this. We can move cars quickly and efficiently if everyone follows the same rules.


I have been out on the street helping to get cars moving out of the lot as safely and as quickly as possibile. Please allow time to safely enter our lot, pick up your child, and make your way to the exit. Enjoy the time in the car together hearing about their day! I promise everyone will get to where they need to be if we could all just be patient and follow the established procedures!

Parking Lot Update - No Left Turns
Big picture

2022 Kindergarten Open House

Please join us for our kindergarten Open House on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 7 p.m. at all UCS elementary buildings. Come get a glimpse at the educational opportunities that await your child at Utica Community Schools. Learn about our kindergarten and Young Fives Program, meet our building administrators and teachers, and see our schools for yourselves.
Dress for the Michigan Winter

Dress for the Michigan Winter

With the Michigan winter weather being so unpredictable, all students should come to school prepared each day for outdoor play. Unless the weather is in the low teens (<12 degrees), students will be outside for recess - usually twice per day. Fresh air and excersize are important - but so is staying safe in cold and snow! We want to protect those precious fingers and toes!


Please make sure your child comes to school with boots, a warm coat, hat, and mittens or gloves every day. Boots are important because very often our playpad is not cleared of snow. Students who aren't prepared for winter weather will stay indoors and enjoy a good book

Dress for the Michigan Winter
Lost and Found - Last Call!

Lost and Found - Last Call!

Our Lost and Found center is over-flowing with items that I'm sure parents would love to have back. This week I had every student walk by the area, which was organized and grouped into items (hats, mittens, sweatshirts, backpacks, lunchboxes, ect . . .). A few items found their owners, but not many! If you are missing things from your child(ren)'s wardrobes, please stop in this coming week. Useful items not claimed by next week will be washed and donated to the Salvation Army.
Lost and Found - Last Call!