Our mission it 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/

Happy March to all of the Havel Families. The month of March holds a special place in my heart as it is Social Worker Month. As a school social worker my focus is on the Social Emotional Learning for all students. Social Emotional Learning focuses on self-awareness, self-regulation, and interpersonal skills to help all of us succeed in school and in life. Strong social emotional skills helps us all cope with every day stressors, increases effective problem solving, encourages positive ways to regulate our strong emotions, and increases positive social communication skills. The staff at Havel focuses on SEL every day in their classroom settings. I also have the opportunities to teacher lessons on social emotional learning when I visit the various classrooms. I have covered topics such as being an active listener, showing kindness to those that are different from ourselves, understanding our emotions and the emotions of others, being respectful, and understanding that our words have an impact on others etc. There are several ways Social Emotional Learning can be reinforced at home such as:

· Create a Calm Down Corner

· Have an Emotional Check in with your Child

· Read Together

· Demonstrate Kindness and Empathy if Front of your Child

· Use Active Listening Skills When Your Child is Talking

· Celebrate the smallest accomplishments!

· Forgive easy and Love hard😊

It's time to remind families that cell phones and ECD's (smart watches, etc) are not permitted at the elementary school level, per the UCS Board of Education Policy. Recently we have had incidents involving students wearing or bringing these items to school and causing a problem with their use.

Students are to keep these items at home. If you would like approval for your child to carry a cell phone (for use after school while walking home, for example) please contact their teacher who can make an allowance for such items to be: 1.) stored out of sight in backpack, and 2.) turned OFF/powered down (not just switched to silent).

Special note regarding ‘Smart’ watches: many of the newer devices have features that provide access to the internet, phone calling or texting , and picture-taking capabilities. It is almost impossible to monitor each accessory on each student’s wrist therefore devices of this sort will not be permitted to be worn at school.

If cell phones or smart watches are seen or heard in the classroom, teachers will collect the item and send it to the office for retrieval by a parent. Upon a second offense, suspension time may be issued.

HANDBOOK/POLICY REMINDER:

Possession or use of cell phones or other electronic communications devices (ECDs) by elementary students is prohibited at any time while in school or in a district vehicle unless permission has been given by an administrator – this includes text messaging and camera usage

Kasier Photography will be here for any parents who would like to order spring pictures on Monday, March 27th. A paper copy of the order form was sent home, but just in case it didn't make it I have attached it for your reference. There is an option for you to order online at: www.kaiserstudio.com and our code is: 23HAVELFUN.

March

21st- National Down Syndrome Awareness Day- Wear crazy socks

21 @ 6:00 p.m.- WILD About Music Concert Kindergarten

21 @ 7:00 p.m.- 1st Grade Music Concert

24th- 1/2 Day 12:24 Dismissal- End of 3rd Quarter

24th- Mother/Son Event

27th- Spring Pictures

28th- Talent Show Assembly 1:30

28th- Talent Show Night Performance 6:30

April

3rd-7th- No School- Spring Break

4th - Chuck E. Cheese Night

10th- M-Step Begins

10th- Wear Blue For Autism Awareness

April 11th - Jet's Night

17th- Autism Awareness Walk- Wear blue

18th-24th- 1st, 3rd, 5th grade vision and hearing screening

20th- Breakfast with a special person 8:00-9:00am

27th- School Wide Assembly 2:15

May

1st-5th- Teacher Appreciation Week

4th- Family Cranbrook Science Night

5th- 6th Grade Dance

8th- Chick fil A Restaurant Night

16th- 6th Grade Band Concert @ 7:00pm

29th- No School- Memorial Day

31st- Field Day

June

8th- 1/2 Day 12:24 Dismissal

8th - Chuck E. Cheese Night

9th- 1/2 Day- 12:24 Dismissal- Last Day Of School

We are coming up into our winter / spring testing season. With that, please note that on testing days (MSTEP / WIDA) students personal devices (phones, apple watches etc.) are to be kept home or will be kept in a secure area determined by the building administrator.

Additionally:

*Students are not allowed to access the device for any testing.

*A student may not access any additional websites or applications during testing.

*No pictures or videos may be taken during testing.

*Students may NOT have Bluetooth headphones during testing.

Students violating this protocol may have their test invalidated and be subject to discipline up to and including suspension or expulsion for violating the District Acceptable Use of Technology Policy and the Student Code of Conduct.

Dear Parents,

Winter NWEA MAP Growth student progress reports are now available on your parent PowerSchool Account at this link: https://ps.ucs.misd.net/public/home.html.

Attached are directions on how to access and download the file. The file can only be accessed through a web browser, such as Edge, Chrome or Safari. Please note that the link is not available through the App.

If you have any questions about this report, please contact your student’s teacher.

SPONSORS and/or MENTORS NEEDED

The UCS Foundation and the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with UCS, will be hosting the 29th Annual Career Focus Luncheon for sixth grade students on Monday, May 8 and Tuesday, May 9, 2023. On both days, the event will be held in-person from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at The Palazzo Grande in Shelby Township. Students will travel by UCS bus to the venue where they will interact with a business or community mentor, enjoy lunch, listen to keynote speaker, Nicole Black Ph.D., Henry Ford II High School alum and Vice President of Biomaterials and Innovation for Desktop Health, and then return by UCS bus to their school. Information regarding the assigned day for schools and participation by students in the UCS Virtual Academy will be forthcoming.

For the past year and a half, Utica Community Schools has been collaborating with our community, students and staff to work through our strategic planning process. As a result of this work, UCS is pursuing a bond proposal on the May 2, 2023 ballot. This No Tax-Rate Increase Bond Proposal will help UCS instill excellence in every part of our school district by focusing on two key areas: SAFETY and SUCCESS

The UCS Wellness team is happy to announce the tenth episode (Self-Regulation Strategies) of our podcast series. 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. These podcasts are available on the UCS Wellness page. UCS Wellness - Utica Community Schools (uticak12.org).

Below is a list of the podcasts available on the Wellness page

• Mental Health with guest, Nancy Buyle
• Grief and the Grieving Process for Children
• Family Communication
• CARE of Southeastern Michigan
• Discussing Dating Violence with Turning Point
• Tackling Tough Topics with the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office
• Our Youth and Vaping
• Youth and Suicide Prevention
• The Detour Project
• Self-Regulation Strategies

Employment opportunities, posted both internally and externally, are accessible through the district’s online job application site https://uticak12.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx. Individuals seeking promotional opportunities are advised to regularly visit the site. Application to vacant opportunities should be made through the system and in accordance with the process as identified on the specific posting. Instructional positions posted only for internal staff with specific application instructions will still be communicated via memo and not through the online applicant system.

Below are login directions for students for their virtual library card and virtual library card - Tutor.com, located in the ClassLink dashboard. The virtual library card gives students access to digital resources from the local library and the virtual library card - Tutor.com provides online tutoring and homework help for students.

Our UCS parent and student handbook states, “general supervision begins 10 minutes before the start of school.” At Havel, that means students should arrive at school no earlier than 9:10 am. Students should not come to school before this time, unless enrolled in School Age Child Care (SACC). Teachers will allow students to enter assigned doors at 9:10 am and supervise them until school begins at 9:20 am.

If it becomes necessary for you to have your child leave the building during the school day, please conform to the following:

• Notify the office by phone or note beforehand of the reason for and time of dismissal.

• At the designated time, the parent/guardian or other person designated on the child’s emergency contact designee must come into the office to sign the child out of school.

• All adults must be prepared to show photo ID.

The teachers and staff at Havel 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 Havel will not include food treats. Instead, the focus at Havel will be recognizing the day in a variety of special ways that do not include food treats. Some possibilities include:

· Class sings “Happy Birthday”

· Happy Birthday Recess/Gift

· Morning “Happy Birthday” PA announcement

· NEHS Singing Telegram

· Parent makes a donation of book to class library/read to class

· Student reads favorite book to class

· Parent/special someone reads story 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.

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.

We are asking for your assistance to ensure that our security procedures during the school day are effective. As many of you know, our school has a security camera, intercom, and buzzer at the front entrance for use during the school day. To help us assist you when you would like to enter the school:

1. All guests must enter through the main office door

2. Please press the buzzer to speak with someone in the office

3. You will be asked to state your name and reason for visiting

4. Each time you come to the office you will be asked to show your photo ID into the security camera above the outside door

5. Office staff will assist you.

6. Guests must have an appointment to meet with a staff member during instructional hours

In addition, we are asking you to not let any visitors in the door as you enter (and they come up behind you) or as you exit the building.

Finally, all exterior doors are to remain locked and secure daily. Teachers will not prop doors open and any door that is open is to have a staff member monitoring it at all times.

The teachers and staff are committed to student safety and security and we would like to thank you for your assistance in helping keep the students of Havel safe.