Rocket Review
Week of September 1, 2019
Only 2 Days to Go!
It was so nice to see so many of you on Rocket Day! We were happy Rocket Day could occur in the midst of final construction projects.
The Main Office is back in it's regular location with some security changes. Read below to learn how our entrance to the office has changed and how to enter Morgan Elementary safely.
Tuesday is our first day of school! We will welcome students in the double doors at the front of the building as always at 8:15 AM. Please see below for further details on 1st Day happenings.
Tuesday is also an early dismissal with students being dismissed at 11:29 AM. We will have all staff available to help students locate their bus and learn dismissal routines. This may delay the release of buses a little for the first few days of school. Thank you for your patience in advance as we strive to make sure our students are where they need to be and safe.
Kindergarten students and parents are welcome to enter Morgan through the double doors and head into the gymnasium for a short meet & greet before heading off to their classrooms for the first time on Tuesday, September 3.
There is lots of information in this newsletter, so please read though. If you have any questions, please let me know.
See you Tuesday!
Mrs. Lasky
Updated Security Procedures
- Adults enter the door with the large, orange sign by it.
- Push the new button and have your ID ready to show the camera just above the button.
- You will be connected to the Main Office by phone. Someone will greet you and unlock the door remotely for you to access the vestibule.
- Once in the vestibule, you can enter the main office through the second door without another release from the main office.
- Please check in with Sharon or Melissa upon entering the Main Office so they can help assist you.
- If you are volunteering in the building, Melissa or Sharon will provide you with a Visitor's badge after you sign in at the main office. You may then enter the building through the office door to the lobby.
- Any adult in the building without a Morgan staff badge or a Visitor's badge will be directed back to the main office to sign in or asked to leave the building.
Drop Off in the AM: Parents dropping off students will NOT be permitted to enter the double doors with the students. Any adult who does not work at Morgan Elementary, will be asked to enter the building through the secure doors during arrival and dismissal times. Arrival times are 8:15 - 8:25 AM and dismissal times are 3:10-3:20 PM. There will be older students to help with younger students needing a hand, support, or carrying items during arrival times.
Pick Up in the PM: Parents wanting to meet their child for pick are recommended to arrange a place on the South play pad (facing the church) to meet each day to avoid the congestion at dismissal time. Any parent attempting to enter the building through the double doors during dismissal time will be directed to the secure entrance to be cleared by the office.
SACC Pick Up: SACC pick up does not start until 3:20 PM. If you arrive prior to the double doors being closed at dismissal time, you will not be allowed to enter the building through the double doors and will be directed to the secure entrance to be cleared by the office.
Early Dismissal: When picking up your child for an early dismissal from school, you will enter through the secure entrance. Early dismissals can be called up to 3:05 PM. If you arrive at or after 3:05 PM asking for your child to be called down to the main office, you will be asked to pick up your child outside from their bus/SACC/or usual agreed meeting place. You may not wait in the lobby during dismissal and will be asked to wait outside for your student.
Pink Notes--After-School Plans
Example: if you need your child to go to SACC when they were planning on taking the bus home that day OR need your child to take the bus home instead of going to SACC. Parents have also left message to let students know a family friend or relative on the Emergency Card will be picking them up that day.
Any calls received after the Pink Notes go out are not guaranteed delivery due to the busy dismissal times and movement of classes throughout the building during this time.
Some parents email the classroom teacher to notify them of after-school change in plans. Please note that in the afternoon, staff are not always able to check their email regularly as they are focused on teaching and working with students. Teachers receiving emails after 12:00 PM that day will NOT be held responsible if they missed the message while teaching and working with students. Please call the office to have a pink note sent. Teachers are handed those notes to review with students at 3 PM each day.
School Bus Safety
- Students are dropped off and picked up in designated bus lanes near the school entrance.
- Parents who drive their children to school must keep bus and fire lanes free by parking or standing only in designated areas.
- Students should be at their assigned bus stops approximately ten minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. For the first two weeks of school, kindergarten and first grade students riding the bus should wear a tag indicating their name, address and bus number.
- Student conduct while riding to and from school should be an extension of good classroom behavior. Whether at the bus stop or on the bus traveling to and from school or on an off-site field trip, students are expected to behave appropriately.
- Obey the bus driver, show respect to the bus driver and fellow passengers
- Remain seated at all times and keep all parts of the body inside the seating area.
- Eating, drinking and gum chewing are not allowed
- Hold all carry-on items, such as backpacks, musical instruments, etc. in your lap
- Board and exit the bus in an orderly manner at assigned bus stop
- Name calling, vulgarity, profanity, abusive or derogatory comments or gestures, bullying, harassment, hate speech or threats of violence are prohibited
- Use of electronic communication devices (such as cell phones or cameras) is not permitted
- There are no preferential seat assignments, although bus driver or administrator may assign seats
Happy Birthday!
Celebrating birthdays at school can be fun for some students and dangerous, even deadly for others due to severe food allergies. Mrs. Lasky has issued a creative challenge to the Morgan community. Parents wishing to purchase food items usually spend around $20-$30 for these treats. Instead of worrying about severe reactions to a treat sent in to the school, spend that money on a board game, a playground ball, hula hoops, sidewalk chalk, bubbles or even special pencils to share with the class. Some parents even wrap the surprise classroom gift for the student to open with the class to celebrate their birthday. Check with your child's teacher for classroom needs and ideas for special classroom birthday gifts! Those gifts will last longer than the treat and students remember that your child brought in the game or ball instead of the treat.
Open House
Tuesday, September, 17 @ 7 PM
Open House/Curriculum Night is intended for parents/adults as you receive updates and information from our UCS representatives, learn more about Morgan Elementary, and visit classrooms to learn about grade level curriculum and classroom information.
School Supplies
What School Supplies do I Need?
Every year the teachers provide Morgan Elementary students with a recommended supply list for each grade level.
Although the district provides funds that allows our school to buy the supplies your child may need to be successful, if you would like your child to have their own personal supplies, please feel free to purchase from the list below. Some grade levels have also asked for resources such as Kleenex that could be used to supply the whole class. Please do not feel obligated to purchase any of the items listed for your child’s grade. Thank you.
Additional School Supplies for Specials/Office
- sanitizing wipes
- hand soap (no nuts: coconut, almond, etc)
- tissue: cube or rectangle boxes
- Bandages--all sizes
- hand sanitizer
- Expo markers for whiteboards
Donations for specialists or the main office can be dropped off at the main office.
Breakfast is Served!
Breakfast service at Morgan Elementary will begin on Tuesday, September 3. Students purchasing breakfast will be allowed to enter Morgan at 8:05 AM, reporting the gymnasium to purchase and consume breakfast items. If a student enters the building for breakfast, they must remain in the gymnasium until the bell rings at 8:15 AM, then head to their classroom when dismissed by our breakfast monitor.
A healthy, nutritious breakfast is a critical ingredient to the success of our students. To help our students succeed, the school breakfast program is available in all of our schools. Healthy choices include cereal, whole-grain breakfast bars, yogurt, fruit and milk in the elementary buildings. Those choices, along with fresh-made hot breakfast sandwiches and other favorites are featured in the secondary buildings. Fresh-made fruit smoothies are also available in all schools on certain menu days. Breakfast is served in the cafeteria prior to the start of the school day. For menu information and serving times at your student’s school, please check the school’s website or on the Utica Community Schools Mobile App.
Lunch Monitor Meeting--Tuesday, September 3, 1:00 PM
Those processed through EduStaff can punch in or 1 hour of pay to attend this meeting.
If you cannot attend the meeting, notes will be provided when you next visit Morgan.
See you there!
Looking for Lunch Monitors!
If you would be interested in helping in the lunchroom, please fill out a lunch monitor application with EduStaff. A link to the application can be found below. You will need to create an account, enter your information, complete some online training modules, and have a background check with finger prints. Then you can work as many lunch days as you would like and be paid for your help!
Several of our lunch monitors also complete additional training in EduStaff to serve as substitute paraprofessionals in our building. If you are interested in becoming a substitute paraprofessional, please use the EduStaff application process below.
If you have questions about becoming a lunch monitor or the online process, please contact Melissa Roth in our main office at 586-797-5800.
Lunch Shifts for the 2019-2020 School Year
Shift 1:
11:30 - 11:45/50 AM
Grades: Kindergarten, AIM, 1st and 6th
Recess: 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th grades
Shift 2:
11:50 AM - 12:10 PM
Grades: 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th
Recess: Kindergarten, AIM, 1st & 6th grades
Kindergarten and AIM students arrive in the lunchroom at 11:20 AM to move the hot lunch line and receive help openings items and settling down to eat before the big groups of students arrive.
Forgotten Lunch:
Students sometimes forget their lunch at home. When a parent brings in the forgotten lunch, it is placed on the ledge outside the main office for students to pick up on their way to the lunchroom. A reminder is sent to the classroom if the student is unaware they have a lunch waiting for them.
Parents will not be able to sit with their child to eat lunch in the lobby as there is no longer any seating available. Due to the large amount of students in the lunchroom each day with limited seating, eating with your child in the lunchroom is not an optimal way to spend lunch time together. There are some benches outside the main entrance to enjoy a picnic in the warmer weather or you can sign your child out for a special lunch time together, then sign them in when you return.
Calls home for lunch will need to be done prior to 11:00 AM when a child has forgotten their lunch or doesn't like the choice for the day. There are two options each day on the menu, the highlighted meal and a vegetarian meal option.
Allergen Table Available
Morgan provides an allergen safe table for students who choose to utilize a more controlled eating environment to address allergen concerns. Students who choose to sit at that table either have an allergen safe lunch from home or have purchased a hot lunch, which is considered allergen safe (check Nutrislice online for more allergen information).
Mark Your Calendar!
Calendar Dates
Tuesday, September 3: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! This will be a 1/2 Day with dismissal at 11:29 AM
Lunch Monitor/Volunteer Meeting 1:00 PM in the gymnasium/cafeteria
PTO Restaurant Night @ MOD Pizza from 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM. You will need to bring a copy of the flyer for PTO to receive credit for your visit.
Wednesday, September 4: Full day of school. First day of lunch in the lunchroom.
Wednesday, September 11: Bagel Day order forms due to the PTO--see below
Tuesday, September 17: UCS Open House and Morgan Curriculum Night starting at 7 PM in the gymnasium. Adults/parents only please.
Friday, September 20: Fall Festival, sponsored by our Morgan Volunteers PTO
Friday, September 27: First Bagel Day--Order information below
UCS News and Updates
Now Hiring Bus Drivers
Starting at $16.50 per hour w/paid training
Call 586-797-7100
School Meal Prices for 2019-2020
School Meal prices will remained unchanged for the new school year.
The 2019 -2020 School Meal Prices are:
2019-2020 Meal Prices
Elementary, Lunch $ 2.75
Junior High, Lunch $ 2.90
High School, Lunch $ 2.95
All Grades, Breakfast $ 1.75
School Handbooks are Online
Restaurant Night--Tuesday, September 3, 2019 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Bagel Days 2019-2020
- Bagels can be pre-ordered for up to 10 different bagel days
- You can select from a variety of 5 different flavors for each bagel day
- Bagel Order Forms are available here, or in front of the main office
- Order forms, along with payment, are due by Wednesday, September 12th to your child's teacher.
Monday, September 16, 6:30 PM
All Morgan parents are welcome to attend!
Box Tops are Going Digital!
Morgan Elementary
Mission: Morgan is dedicated to developing lifelong learners through the working relationship of students, staff, and community.
Email: sue.lasky@uticak12.org
Website: http://morgan.uticak12.org/
Location: 53800 Mound Road, Shelby charter Township, MI, USA
Phone: (586) 797-5800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ucsmorgan/
Twitter: @MorganElementa3