Schwarzkoff Friday Phone Call
2-9-24
Important Dates
Monday, February 12th
- WIDA Continues
- Show Love for your Favorite Team
Tuesday, February 13th
- Show Love for your Inner Cowboy
- 3:30-4:30 Friendship Bracelet Club (must have completed the permission slip)
Wednesday, February 14th
- Count Day
- Show Love for Valentine's Day
- Yearbook Candid Pictures
- Yearbook Group Pics - ATG, service squad, announcement crew, safeties, Cougar Council, Science O, Social Studies O, Math O, etc
Thursday - February 15th
- Show Love for Your Culture
- School Store @ Lunch
- Cougar Character Assembly @ 1:30
Friday - February 16th
Show Love for your Comfy Day
11:30 Popsicles with the Principal
Scholastic Book Fair is Coming
Beginning Monday, March 4th, the Schwarzkoff Media Center will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair. It will run through Friday, March 8th. A flyer will come home with your child the week before the fair and a sign-up link for parent volunteers will be in next week’s Friday Phone Call. If you are not comfortable with your child selecting their own books to purchase, you can:
- Have your child create a Wish List on their shopping day, review the books at home through our online book fair link, and allow your child to shop on our last call day.
- Shop from home through our online book fair link.
- Bring your child to our Family Pancake and Pajamas night and shop at the book fair with your child.
Thank you for your anticipated support for our book fair and watch for more information coming soon!
A new set of soccer goals PURCHASED!!!
- Thanks for all the candy bar fundraiser help.
- We have over 400 boxes of chocolate sold.
- We are going to purchase our soccer goals.
- They will be installed in upper el when the ground thaws.
Lost and Found
- Lost and Found will be donated at Winter Break, Friday February 16th.
- Please be sure to take a tour of the Lost and Found with your class.
- These pics will be included in the Friday Phone Call to give parents a chance to review and call the office and claim an items.
Pancake's in Pajamas
- Pancake event has been rescheduled for Friday, March 8th.
- Printed order forms will be sent home next week.
Need Volunteers for Daddy Daughter by 3-1
No Smart Watches
Page 54 of the handbook states "Non-School Issued Electronic Communications Devices for personal use of non-school issued cell phones or other electronic communications devices (ECDs) by students is prohibited at any time while in school or in a district vehicle. Students may carry ECDs during the school day, but they cannot be displayed or used without permission from a teacher or administrator for educational purposes. Personal use of the device shall be limited to the time before and after the school day and only when students are outside the building. ECDs shall not be used during instructional time, lunch, passing time between classes or on any school bus without permission of a school official.
WIDA Parent Guide
GSRP Pre-Application
Safety Reminders for Parents
- No parents on school playpads from 8:25-3:15
- All volunteers must have background check
- Parents with issues with students that are NOT their children, speak to the teacher so we may address these issues.
- No students may be dropped off BEFORE 8:05 unless they are going to BREAKFAST.
- Duty supervision begins at 8:15.
- Parents must supervise students that are not going to breakfast from 8:05-8:15.
Questions or Concerns – Who to Contact
When you have a concern it is critical to move through the steps below:
Step 1: 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
Step 2: Your Child’s Principal
• Program and classroom concerns, following conversation with teacher
• Discipline concerns
• Building management questions
• School and classroom curriculum, materials, instruction, and/or assessment questions
Step 3: 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
Over the Counter Medications
- Our staff is unable to provide ANY cough drops, cough medicine, aspirin, Benadryl, etc. without a form being completed by your doctor.
- Please complete the form below, have the doctor sign, and bring ANY medications to the office.
Birthday Celebrations
The teachers and staff at Schwarzkoff strongly 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 Schwrzkoff will not include food treats. Instead, the focus at Schwarzkoff will be recognizing the day in a variety of special ways that do not include food treats. Some possibilities include:
· Class sings “Happy Birthday”
· Parent makes a donation of book to class library/read to class
· Student reads favorite book to class
· Student donates a special class gift for recess
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.
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.
Policy on Personal Items
Any cell phones must be turned off and out of view during school hours or while on the bus.
Students should NOT bring toys, game boys, Nintendo DS or any hand-held electronic games, CD players, MP3 or IPods, PDA’s, memorabilia, special cards or other collectible or expensive items to school.
Schwarzkoff Elementary School is not responsible for personal items that are lost or damaged.
Such items will be collected and kept in the office. A parent must come and retrieve any items they wish to have returned.
Pet Policy
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 allows them to role play 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.
Reminder there are NO PARENTS allowed in Recess Areas during School Day
Allergen Form for Special Dietary Needs
Students with food allergies that wish to use school meals must have a Special Dietary Needs form (11A) completed and signed by a physician. Forms need to be turned in to the office of Food and Nutrition Service. Without this form we cannot make accommodations. This form must be updated every year to ensure accuracy. Since all schools have vegetarian options, parents do not need to complete a form for that option.
Background Checks
ONLY NEW VOLUNTEERS WILL NEED TO COMPLETE BACKGROUND CHECKS. (This is a change in policy)
A new volunteer is considered someone who did not volunteer for the 2022-2023 school year. (new enrollment, parent/guardian with opportunities to help this year that they didn't have last year).
Please remember that any person who is sanctioned to engage students on the district’s behalf (i.e., assistant athletic coach, Science Olympiad, Lego Robotics, chaperone, etc.) requires a cleared check.