Wiley Way
Week of January 22, 2024
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, January 30: Learning Gizmos Family Game Night (details to come!)
Month of February: Black History Month
Wednesday, February 7: Winter Conferences, 4:30 -7:30 PM; information will come home this week
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
Students will be finishing up NWEA testing this week. Results of the winter testing will be shared with parents in the upcoming weeks electronically. Please take time to discuss and celebrate your child's success thus far and encourage them to give their personal best each and every day. Additionally, scores from the Reading NWEA in grades K-3 will help identify students who will have an IRP (Individualized Reading Plan) to help close literacy gaps.
This week information regarding our Winter Conferences (held the evening of February 7) will come home. The winter conferences are by request only. Either the teacher may request a conference if there are concerns, or you may request a conference as well. Please note that conferences will be held both in person or virtually, whichever is most convenient for you and your family.
Our Family Gizmo Game Night will be held on Tuesday, January 30, from 6:00-7:00 PM. A flyer went home last week and another will be sent home this week. Please RSVP if you plan on attending. The first 65 families to sign up will receive a voucher to purchase a game that evening. Come enjoy time with your child(ren). Many of our staff will be there as well! 😀
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 can achieve 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.
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.
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!
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