UCS Secondary Virtual Academy

Week of April 11, 2022

UCS Mission

We are committed to exemplary teaching and learning in order for our students to be prepared for success in the 21st Century.

We will achieve this commitment by engaging the entire community to focus on each child's achievement, with the expectation that every student will pursue some type of post-high school educational endeavor.
KEEP AN EYE OUT

KEEP AN EYE OUT

Make sure to check out the home school communication for updates on school activities that are coming up. Virtual Academy students are welcome to participate in school activities offered at their home school.

KEEP AN EYE OUT
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Dates to Remember

Dates to Remember

APRIL

4/15 - No School – Good Friday



Other Dates to Keep on the Calendar

College Fair which will be held Virtual on April 21, 2022 from 7:00-8:30p.m.

Dates to Remember
NOT IN CLASS?!

NOT IN CLASS?!

It is IMPERITIVE that if your child will be out of school that the home school is contacted to report the absence. Any absence that is not reported to the HOME SCHOOL is considered unexcused!
NOT IN CLASS?!

April 15

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REPORT CARD INFORMATION

REPORT CARD INFORMATION

During April, UCS will distribute reports cards electronically. The third marking period grades will be sent electronically to families at the end of the day on Monday, April 18, 2022.



To receive the report cards, parents will need to have a secure PowerSchool account. Parents who do not have access to a PowerSchool account will need to register for one prior to Tuesday, April 12th, 2022. The report cards will then be automatically e-mailed to the address that is used to register the PowerSchool account. If you already have a PowerSchool account, you do not need to take any further action. The report card automatically will be sent to you electronically.

REPORT CARD INFORMATION

M-STEP TESTING

All students enrolled in Michigan schools in grades 3-8 and 11 will take the M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress) assessment. The M-STEP will measure your student's growth and progress on the Michigan Academic Standards. Those standards are available at this web site: www.Michigan.gov/academicstandards



As parents/guardians, you play an important role in your child’s academic success.


We are asking your help to ensure he/she is prepared for this new online assessment series. Here is what you can do:


· Encourage your child to approach the M-STEP with a positive attitude.


· Ensure your child gets plenty of rest the night before, has a good breakfast and comes to school on time each day.


Your child’s attendance is vital to his/her achievement. In addition, full attendance is necessary for our school to meet state participation requirements.


To learn more about the M-STEP assessments, please visit the Michigan Department of Education Web site: http://www.michigan.gov/mde


Please feel free to Heather Blum with any questions or concerns.

PARENTS CHECK OUT THE M-STEP NEWSLETTER BELOW FOR FAMILY RESOURCES

Check Out This Resource from Our UCS Wellness Committee

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FREE TUTORING

FREE TUTORING

UCS students have free online tutoring available to them through a partnership with the public library. Students can login by clicking the Virtual Library Card App in their ClassLink. This will connect your student to a professional tutor to receive help with difficult homework problems between the hours of 4pm – 11pm. Students login with their UCS student number (found on PowerSchool) and the password is the student's birthdate (example April 4th - 0404). ‘UCS’ is in front of the student number. More information can be found on the UCS home page in Success Tool Kit.

FREE TUTORING
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ATTENTION 10-12 GRADE STUDENTS - PSAT 10 AND SAT OPT-IN COLLEGE BOARD STUDENT SEARCH

Find out how you can opt-in to the College Board Student Search survey. Read below for more information!!

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PRIOR COMMUNICATION - BUT STILL WORTH REMEMBERING!

UCS WELLNESS PODCAST

UCS WELLNESS PODCAST

The UCS Wellness team is happy to announce the fourth episode of the podcast series will be released on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. The topic is CARE of Southeastern Michigan and the services they offer to the community. The team worked with community members to create a podcast regarding different areas of physical, mental, and social health for UCS staff, students and families. The podcasts are available on the UCS Wellness page: UCS Wellness - Utica Community Schools (uticak12.org). Below is a list of the podcasts released and the upcoming schedule.


12/14/2021

Mental Health with guest, Nancy Buyle, School Safety/Student Assistance Consultant, MISD



1/12/2022

Grief and the Grieving Process for Children with guest, Michele Kreft, Henry Ford SandCastles Children’s Grief Support Program



2/16/2022

Family Communication with guest, Erica Chavez, Counselor, Shining Light Counseling



3/16/2022

CARE of Southeastern Michigan with guests, Susan Styf and Erika Bradbury



4/13/2022

Discussing Dating Violence with Turning Point with guest, Danielle Watson



5/11/2022

Tacking Tough Topics with the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office with guest, Sargent Renee Yax



6/15/2022

Our Youth and Vaping with guest, Corey Beckwith, Access Community Health and Research

UCS WELLNESS PODCAST

Vaccine Information for Future Kindergarten and 7th Grade Students and their Families

Supervised Student Chat Restricted in Microsoft Teams

Supervised Student Chat Restricted in Microsoft Teams

Over the winter break, settings were changed district-wide in Microsoft Teams that affect student use of chat. Students are no longer able to initiate chat sessions. All chat sessions involving students must be initiated by or to a staff member.
Supervised Student Chat Restricted in Microsoft Teams

2022 Board of Education Meeting Schedule

During the organizational meeting on Monday, January 10 the Board of Education voted to hold just one meeting a month on the third Monday. The organizational/regular meeting will always be held on the second Monday in January due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The February meeting for this year was changed at the regular meeting to February 14 since the third Monday is during mid-winter break. The 2022 meeting schedule is below.
VIRTUAL STUDENT MEALS

VIRTUAL STUDENT MEALS


  • Breakfast & lunch meals are available for virtual enrolled students only.
  • Meals must be pre-ordered by Thursday the week before to ensure meal availability.
  • Meals can be ordered at www.sendmoneytoschool.com.
  • You will need your student's school ID number. This is available on PowerSchool as well as from your school's main office.
  • We have provided a video link for you on how to order these meals.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut30F33DR_U&feature=youtu.be
  • You will only be able to order meals for those students in Virtual School.
  • Students attending in person learning, meals are available in their buildings during specified meal times.
  • Menus for both programs will be different so please check the menu for your student's specified school and program.
  • Meals are available for pickup at Stevenson (door 25) & Eisenhower (door 1) from 12:30-1:30pm on Mondays (Tuesdays when holidays are on Mondays) near the main offices.
  • You must park and enter the designated door to pickup these meals. There is currently no outside pickup.
  • You receive enough breakfasts and lunches to cover the school days. Non-school days are not allowed in the current program.
  • If you have questions please call our office at 586-797-1180
VIRTUAL STUDENT MEALS