Eagle News
December 3, 2021
Ebeling Elementary School
Email: officeebeling@uticak12.org
Website: ebeling.uticak12.org
Location: 15970 Haverhill Drive, Macomb, MI, USA
Phone: 586-797-4700
Twitter: @ebelingelem
WISHING YOU PEACE AND SENDING HUGS FROM ME TO YOU!
Letter From UCS Superintendent Mr. Monroe
Dear UCS Community,
I want to share with you an update regarding our district’s continued response to the senseless tragedy at Oxford High School. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the students, staff and families directly impacted by this event. Specifically, I would like to address the need to maintain our school routines across the district.
As you are aware, there have been a series of threats against school security throughout our region and in our community. I want to be clear that all threats to school security are taken seriously. Every reported threat is thoroughly investigated by law enforcement and our schools – whether that threat occurred in our community or in our region. We share all information with our local police departments and work in partnership with them to immediately address the issues.
During their investigations, law enforcement provides information on whether the issues represent a credible threat to school security. This information is critical to the determination of whether to make adjustments to the school schedule. In all cases, the school sends their school community a message once we have accurate information on the incident.
Regardless of the nature of a threat, the standard procedure in our communities is to have an increased police presence during and immediately following investigations. Our local police departments and the Macomb County Sherriff’s Department already have a regular presence near our schools and conduct “check ins” with the office. Tomorrow, we will have law enforcement presence in every school in Utica Community Schools.
In addition, we recognize that any decision to cancel school will remove a critical support structure for our students. The partnerships between staff and students - and between school and our families - are key to supporting students who may be experiencing stress.
UCS staff members are skilled in providing students the tools and skills they need during this critical time. Research is clear that this loss of relationships will remove the support that students need when they experience isolation or feel disconnected. Our staff members have been encouraged to talk with our students, calm their fears and continue to build relationships at school.
Social Media does not represent an effective support system and can never replace the type of work our team does every day with students. Earlier today, we addressed an issue where several students not in attendance took the opportunity to make false social media claims regarding a fabricated threat to one of our junior high schools. It created unnecessary alarm as several parents picked their children up based on the false reports manufactured by the students.
I want to share with you again information recommended by our special services staff on how to talk with your children. Please contact your building administrators should you need additional support.
Also, I want to express my appreciation for the UCS team for their continued resilience, dedication and commitment to our students. Working together, we are continuing to make a difference in the lives of our students.
Sincerely,
Robert S. Monroe
Superintendent of Schools
UPCOMING DATES:
NOV 22-DEC 3 - Gum Drop Gift Shop Online. Items shipped to school.
NOV 22-DEC 16 - Hat and Mitten Tree Donations Accepted
NOV 29-DEC 9 - FOOD DRIVE - canned food donations accepted
DEC 8 - Leo's Coney Island PTA Restaurant Fundraiser (9:00 AM-7:00 PM)
DEC 10 - PTA Holiday plant sale pick up (3:30-7:30 PM) from SCIENCE ROOM
DEC 20 - Half Day of School. Dismissal at 11:34/11:44 AM
DEC 21 - Half Day of School. Dismissal at 11:34/11:44 AM. Semester Ends.
DEC 22 - DEC 31 - No school. Holiday Break.
JAN 3 - School Resumes
JAN 17 - No School. MLK Jr. Holiday.
COVID Testing Partnership
Utica Community Schools has partnered with Ascension Health to offer a daily testing option for students that have been identified as a COVID close contact. Asymptomatic close contact students may continue to report to school through the daily COVID testing option.
The school district has partnered with two specific Ascension locations from 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., seven days a week, and no appointment is necessary. Students identified as a close contact will receive the daily testing form from their respective school.
Please ensure the daily testing form is complete prior to arriving at Ascension.
COVID Testing Partnership Locations:
Ascension Lakeside Urgent Care
44472 Hayes Rd.
Clinton Township, MI 48038
586-412-0890
Ascension Washington Urgent Care
7701 26 Mile Rd.
Washington, MI 48094
586-935-4000
HAT AND MITTEN TREE:
KIWANIS CANNED FOOD DRIVE:
HERE'S WHAT MRS. SCHLITT HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE AWESOME COLLECTION FROM HER KIDDOS SO FAR:
Our class is crushing it in the canned food drive! We are at a total of 468 items! This is amazing and the kids are SO proud of themselves!!! Thank you so much to everyone that has donated and thank you to a very special Grandma that is helping our class out as well! This picture does not even do justice to how much food is actually here. It is really impressive to see in person!
THE CHALLENGE IS REAL - THEY WANT THE PIZZA PARTY!
Outdoor Recess
PTA NEWS:
Our Ebeling Elementary PTA provides educational & monetary support to our staff & students through fundraising events, community events and school activities. Our January meeting will be held in-person in the Ebeling Media Center!
SALE ENDS TODAY!
GUM DROP GIFT SHOP: NOV 22-DEC 3
We are inviting you and your child to participate in the upcoming virtual “Gift Shop ” program for our school. This program makes it possible for children to experience the joy of choosing their own special holiday gifts for family and friends. Imagine the fun they will have surprising a loved one with a “secret” gift they bought...all by themselves! Flyers were sent home with students this week, and one is reproduced below along with a budget and purchase planning sheet you can download and print.
Gifts will be delivered right to your school and will include self-sealing gift bags so the students can wrap the gifts to complete the surprise of gift giving.
There are Still a Few More Spots Available on the Science Olympiad Team!
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD NEWS
Ebeling's Science Olympiad team will be competing this year on Saturday, May 14th! If you are a 4th, 5th, or 6th grade student interested in participating in Science Olympiad please fill out the application using the link below. Applications must be completed by Monday, November 29th and all applicants will be notified by Monday, December 6th. If you are interested in learning more about the Science Olympiad program, please visit their website at Home (macombso.org). If you have any questions or concerns, please email Ms. Lewandowski at rachael.lewandowski@uticak12.org.
Application Link: https://forms.gle/W3tU2BbvKdihTTjTA
REPEATED NEWS FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE EAGLE NEWS:
ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
4TH AND 5TH GRADE MATURATION PROGRAM
The Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD) will be presenting another maturation program for fourth grade and fifth grade girls and their mothers/guardians, at which time they will answer growth and development questions. This virtual event will take place on multiple dates - see below. The flyer below - in picture and downloadable link - has registration details.
EBELING IS HIRING!
Ever thought of joining the team at Ebeling?
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:
lunch supervisors, crossing guards, and substitute teachers (see descriptions below).
Openings across the district for positions that provide an important service to Ebeling 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
LUNCHROOM HELPERS NEEDED!
We have openings for lunch supervisors at school daily. The lunch supervisors work both inside the lunchroom (helping students open lunch items, handing out napkins, etc) and supervising at recess (indoors or out), and typically work between 1.5 and 2 hours daily. Accommodations can be made for those wanting to work less than 5 days per week as well!
Those interested - please call the school office to request information on how to apply.
CROSSING GUARDS NEEDED!
We have openings for parking lot crossing guards at school daily. This position is ideal for someone living close by school, or folks who drive their child/ren into school daily. Accommodations can be made for those wanting to work AM or PM shift, or less than 5 days per week!
Those interested - please call the school office at 586-797-4700 to request information on how to apply.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION REMINDER
All teachers and staff at Ebeling 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 Ebeling 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.
CURRENT QUARANTINE GUIDELINES:
ATTENDANCE POLICY
ABSENCE
If your child is going to be absent call 586-797-4799 and leave us a message.
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 or principal 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