What's Happening at the "D"
Return to In-Person Learning kindergarten - Sixth Grade
Welcome Back In-Person Learning Students!
If you didn't get a chance to read the previous What's Happening at the D newsletter, please take some time and review the information.
What does my child need to bring to school every day?
If you do not have any of the supplies, no worries! We will have supplies if needed.
If your child needs a backpack to carry the supplies to and from school, please call the office at 586-797-4400. We have backpacks!
Student Schedule/Calendar
Structure of the Day
In-Person Learning
Students will receive core curriculum direct instruction from their classroom teacher during in-person learning.
Students may have a short recess break outside.
Students will receive instruction on how to wash their hands and how to wear/take care of their mask.
More specific information will come directly from your child's teacher.
Remote Learning
Students will be logging into their teacher's meeting for attendance and attending their scheduled special during their remote time. They will work on their independent learning that the teacher has assigned.
Our teachers will be communicating with you the structure of the day in the coming week.
Gradual Arrival and Gradual Dismissal
Students will enter their classroom through the outside classroom doors. School officially begins at 9:10 for the AM session and 1:20 for the PM session. Students may begin lining up at 9am for the morning session and 1:15pm for the afternoon session.
As a reminder, due to our security protocols, parents WILL NOT be allowed in the classroom.
Gradual Arrival Procedures
To maintain social distancing, we will have a gradual arrival for students.
- Students will wait on a social distancing spot outside of their classroom door while they wait for their teacher to welcome them into the classroom.
- If you are driving your child to school and walking them to the classroom we are highly encouraging ONE ADULT ONLY per student (and no siblings)
- Students must wear a mask
- Masks are required for all adults and children over the age of 2 years old
- The playground is not to be used while waiting for the teacher to open the classroom door
- Supervision does not begin until 9:00AM for the morning session and 1:15 PM for the afternoon session. Parents DO NOT leave your child unattended prior to our supervision times.
Gradual Dismissal Procedures
Car Riders:
- Parents who are picking up students after school are encouraged to stay in their cars until dismissal times. This will help us maintain social distancing and reduce overcrowding in the pick-up areas.
Gradual dismissal times will be staggered at these times:
- Kindergarten- 11:40 am session /3:50 pm session from their exterior classroom doors
- 1st Grade- 11:45 am session/ 3:55 pm session from their exterior classroom doors
- 2nd Grade- 11:40 am session /3:50 pm session from their exterior classroom doors
- 3rd Grade- 11:45 am session/ 3:55 pm session from their exterior classroom doors
- 4th Grade- 11:50 am session/ 4:00 pm session from their exterior classroom doors
- 5th Grade- 11:45 am session / 3:55 pm session from their exterior classroom doors
- 6th Grade- 11:50 am session/ 4:00 pm session from their exterior classroom doors
Will My Child Have to Wear a Mask?
Face coverings provide an essential shield to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 from spreading from child to child, adult to child, child to adult or adult to adult.
Face coverings will be used by all individuals in schools at all times. This includes hallways, indoor common areas and classrooms.
The only exceptions will be taking a water break. When removing the face covering, they should only be touched by the strings and students should be careful not to rub their eyes, nose or mouth.
Below is a sign being displayed at schools that shows the proper way to wear face coveringsBuilding Protocols
Our school staff members have been working collaboratively to establish the health measures that will be in place when our students return. These protocols include:
· Distancing in hallways and classrooms
· Regular, scheduled handwashing with soap and water
· Limiting the sharing of personal items and supplies to small groups and disinfecting between use
· Keeping student personal items limited and making sure they are individually labeled and placed in student cubbies, desks, containers or backpacks.
Our staff will be modeling proper protocols for our students, including line ups, movement in the halls and distancing. In addition, we have placed reminders throughout the schools about the importance of taking simple steps to support our health and safety measures. Your child may have seen evidence of these protocols through various signage in the building.
The signs are in place to encourage students to wash their hands frequently, maintain appropriate distancing, help locate disinfecting stations and reminders on wearing face coverings. There is also signage on each UCS school entrance reminding everyone about COVID-19 protocols.
SELF SCREENING/REPORTING AN ABSENCE
Self-screening students before school is essential to the health and safety of the school community.
Before your child leaves in the morning, ask these simple questions:
1. In the past 10 days has the student tested positive for COVID-19?
2. In the past 14 days has the student come in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?
3. Is my child experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:
· Temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when taken by mouth
· Sore throat
· New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing
· Diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain
· New onset of headache, especially with fever
The answer should be no to all of these questions. If not, your child should remain at home for their protection and the health and safety of his/her classmates and the adults in your local school.
Please call our attendance line at 586-797-4799 to report the absence. Be sure to include the specific symptoms that your child is experiencing/reason for the absence.
What If I Need to Pick My Child Up From School Early or Check Them In Late?
- For the safety of our staff and students, parents/visitors will not be allowed in the building unless they have an approved appointment.
- If you need to check your child out of school early, you will need to walk up to the main entrance, buzz the intercom and request your child be released.
- Be prepared to show ID so we can verify you are authorized to pick up the student.
- The student will check out with the office staff and then walk out the front entrance to the parent.
- If your child needs to check in late, simply walk him/her to the front door, buzz the intercom, state the reason for being late, and the student will be allowed to enter the building.
What if my child forgets something at home?
If your child forgets an item at home, you may bring that item to school. Walk up to the main entrance and buzz the office. Let the office staff know that you are dropping off an item for your child. Place the item inside the first main office door in a bag labeled with your child's name on the table.
What do I do if I need technical support with the UCS device?
Starting Tuesday, January 19, 2021 the UCS Helpdesk will offer two ways for parents and students to contact them directly for technical support:
- Telephone: 586-797-1055 from 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Email: techsupport@uticak12.org
Visitors and Volunteers
We love having parents volunteer in our schools. Unfortunately, we need to limit the interactions among adults and students to reduce the possible spread of COVID-19.
Visitors are not permitted at school at this time, this includes at drop off and pick up. If you do have a need to meet personally with school staff, please call ahead to make an appointment. Before you arrive, please make sure you have completed a self-screening process (see appendix for self-screening document), wear a face covering and use hand sanitizer as you enter the building. Be sure to have your photo ID available.
UCS Food and Nutrition Services
Elementary students in the AM and PM programs will be provided a grab and go breakfast and lunch at the end of their school day. Please refrigerate these meals once they come home. If you do not want your child to participate in this free meal program, please go to this link to disenroll. Unless otherwise noted in this opt-out form, food service will provide this service for your student.
Starting Wednesday, January 20, we will have remote meal pickup available for the days that your students are not in school for face-to-face learning and for our Virtual Academy students.
Transportation News
Students are eligible for transportation service if their residence is 1.5 miles or farther from the school. Elementary students should not walk further than 0.5 mile to reach a bus stop and secondary students should not walk further than one mile.
The Transportation Department and schools will be contacting families directly regarding pick up and drop off times and locations.
While On the Bus
For students receiving bus service, the commitment to health and safety for in-person learning starts and ends each day at their bus stop.
Prior to entering the bus, students will need to use hand sanitizer provided by the district and wear face coverings. The students should look to their driver for instruction on proper seating and distancing while on the bus and the process for exiting the bus at arrival at school.
UCS Wellness
Utica Community Schools has created a wellness page for parents that provides resources to make sure we are all caring for our physical, mental and social well being. The page includes resources for self-care, supporting your child and remote learning strategies.
The page is located at http://www.uticak12.org/ucs_wellness
About Us
Our DeKeyser Community creates a safe and engaging culture of learning where thinking is visible, valued, and actively promoted.
Email: marybeth.merlo@uticak12.org
Website: http://dekeyser.uticak12.org
Location: 39600 Atkinson Drive, Sterling Heights, MI, United States
Phone: 586-797-4400
Twitter: @principalmb