Hawk Weekly
February 7th-11th
Havel Elementary
Our mission is to educate students, promote life long learning and encourage students to become productive citizens within a positive and safe learning environment.
Email: kristina.tepper@uticak12.org
Website: havel.uticak12.org
Location: 41855 Schoenherr Road, Sterling Heights, MI, USA
Phone: 586 7975200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HavelElementary/
Dates To Know
February-
7th- Bemis Counselor Visit for 6th graders--- Junior High Scheduling TIME!!!
9th- Severe Weather Drill
10th- 100th Day of School
11th- 1/2 way through the 3rd quarter
11th- Friendship Friday- Dress Like a Friend Today/Twin Day!
14th- Happy Valentine's Day!
21st-25th- No School- Mid-Winter Break
Free Tutoring
Family Fun - In honor of Black History Month - Lupita Nyong'o Reads "Sulwe"
Mrs. Wolf has a variety of books on famous African Americans on display and available for checkout!
WIDA Testing
Some of our students will begin the state assessment called the WIDA this week. WIDA MODEL (Measure of Developing English Language) is a suite of English language proficiency assessments for Grades K-12. This state required test provides information that informs instructional planning and other decisions related to students' education. Mrs. Zeig, our English Language teacher sent a note home to all students with more information last week.
Parking Lot Reminders
Here at Havel we take the safety of all of our students and families very seriously, so I am writing to you today to ask you to please be mindful of the parking lot rules and etiquette. Dismissal time is often rushed as we have places to go and things to do, but none of that should be more important than ensuring that everyone is able to make it home safely.
- Please ONLY PARK IN A PARKING SPOT, do not park in an un-designated parking spot. This includes the back (or any part) of the bus lane and to the right or left of the parking lines. Daily we have parents blocking the flow of traffic and causing more congestion than necessary. This has the potential to cause accidents or for tempers to flare. I have tried to help by putting cones up as a reminder and they are driven over or completely disregarded.
- Once the busses begin to leave the parking lot DO NOT CUT THEM OFF!! Allow the busses to exit on to Schoenherr before you continue on your way.
- For their safety, children ARE NOT ALLOWED to walk unsupervised into the parking lot to find your car.
Drop Off/Pick Up Lane
- If traffic is stopped, please do not block the crosswalk
- As soon as there is a stop in the flow/movement of cars and you are by the sidewalk near the gym, please have your child exit the car and not wait until they get to the loop by the 4th grade classrooms.
- For your child's safety they should exit the vehicle on the passenger side of your vehicle and not the drivers side. (which is into traffic)
- Please have your child ready to go so that when you stop they have all their belongings ready and can hop right out to start their day.
In order to help elevate the congestion, and hopefully make pick up a little smoother for everyone, I am offering a few suggestions:
1. If you pick your child up, consider parking in the subdivision next door or across the street and walk over.
2. If your child is eligible for a bus, have them take the bus regularly.
3. If you are a school of choice family or a non-bussing family with students in 3rd-6th grade, I am offering you the opportunity to pick up your child at 4:15. We will have them wait on the playground (weather permitting) or in the lobby until they see your car. You can pull up to the bus lane (all the busses will be gone) and they can walk directly to your car. You won't have to get out, or get here early to get a parking spot. If this is something that you are interested in, please email me so we can make arrangements. Please note this is for families who are not eligible for bus service.
Check Out The Link Below To Nominate A UCS Champion
Change In Macomb County Quarantine Guidelines
Dear UCS Community,
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Utica Community Schools has worked closely with the Macomb County Health Department (MCHD) and its expert guidance in the development of health and safety protocols. This week, the MCHD has revised its guidance for how schools should approach the isolation and quarantine of students and staff for in-school exposure. The most important pieces have remained the same:
- Keep those who are sick home
- Staff/families must report positive COVID-19 cases and isolation/quarantine remains at five days
- The district will notify families of positive cases in school buildings
- Cases will continue to be reported on the district’s COVID-19 Dashboard
PROTOCOL CHANGE
The Macomb County Health Department has adjusted its contact tracing and school-based case notification from individual to entire classroom. No longer will individuals be identified as close contacts. Instead, the entire class where a positive case was reported will be notified of the potential exposure.
- All students and staff in the impacted classroom should monitor for symptoms.
- Those who have or develop symptoms should isolate/quarantine and test for COVID-19.
- Others may quarantine individually but are not required to unless symptoms develop.
These changes follow CDC guidance and will support our commitment to ensure healthy students who do not have symptoms remain in school. They will also help with staffing issues and the significant amount of resources being spent in schools on individual contact tracing. The continued daily contact tracing has moved the focus of our staff from other critical work, including supporting students’ social/emotional needs, school safety measures, staff development and educational leadership of our schools. We need our education professionals focused on the education and well-being of our students and staff.
The countywide protocol changes will become effective on Friday, January 21. Staff and students currently quarantined due to in-school exposure or are on day 6 or later of a COVID-19 illness and have significantly improved symptoms, can return to school on Monday, January 24. The MCHD website reflects the new protocols.
Your partnership remains critical. Our communities should continue to self-screen every morning and students that do not feel well should remain at home. In addition, I encourage you to take advantage of a federal program that provides up to four free COVID-19 testing kits to families.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,Robert S. Monroe
Virtual Academy News
2022 Kindergarten Open House
Check Out Information From Our Parent Group!
Havel Elementary Is Hiring!
Ever thought of joining the team at Havel?
Our school has a variety of positions now open for parents who may be interested in working here with a family-friendly calendar. It is an opportunity for you to be even more involved in your child’s school and have a direct impact on the students in this community.
Positions we have available at our school include:
Daily Classroom Substitute Teachers
Daily Health Aide
Special Education Para Professionals
Lunch Supervisors
Openings across the district for positions that provide an important service to Havel include:
Food Services
Transportation
Child Care
Skilled Trades
We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity. If interested, the district will be hosting a job fair on Wednesday, November 10 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Community Education Building at Walsh, 38901 Dodge Park Road (at 17 Mile Road), Sterling Heights, MI 48312.
More information is available at: https://uticak12.org/ucsjobs
Birthday Celebration Reminder
All teachers and staff at Havel 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! While there are many wonderful and creative ways to celebrate a child’s birthday in school, birthday celebrations at Havel will not include food treats or items delivered to the school. As adults, we will certainly acknowledge children who are celebrating a birthday in the same way as usual (for example: a crown, a sticker, a visit to the Principal). Some possibilities for recognizing the day in a variety of special ways that do not include food treats include:
· Class sings “Happy Birthday”
· Happy Birthday Recess gift to class from child
· Morning “Happy Birthday” PA announcement
· Parent makes a donation of book to class library/read to class
· Student reads favorite book 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.
Attendance Policy
Your child will be excused from class for illness, bereavement, recognized religious holidays and medical or dental treatment that cannot be scheduled after school or on weekends.
Your child is responsible for makeup work.
Homework requests may be made for an absence of two or more days in the case of both excused and pre-excused absences.
Homework requests require 24 hours to process.
VACATION POLICY
Absence for family travel during scheduled school days is discouraged.
However, should family travel be necessary, parents must submit a written request to the teacher for a pre-excused absence at least one week in advance.
Arrangements to complete classroom assignments can be made with the teacher.
You can arrange for home study through the school principal should your child be absent from school for an extended period due to physical disability or illness.
LATE ARRIVAL
If a student arrives late to school, the parent must accompany the student into the office, and the student must be signed in before he or she can go to class.
Truancy officials will be contacted in the event of a student having excessive tardies or absences.