Administrivia
Week of 10-15-18
Mid-October Already!
Last week flew by in a whirlwind! All of a sudden, we are in mid-October and heading toward Halloween! The good news, NWEA testing should be done by tomorrow as the window for testing closes tomorrow after school!
The winter conference date was selected and is listed below. Thanks for taking a minute to choose on the electronic survey sent out last week.
We have Math Expressions coaching this week. As of today, all 3 rotating positions are filled! The schedule for meeting with the Math Expressions coach is below. The coach's name is Jodi Babich. She requests that you bring your Teacher's Edition and a laptop to your scheduled coaching time.
The Color Run is this Friday! So far we have just over $5000! Keep the positive information coming with kids!
Sue
Math Expressions Coaching Day
Thursday, October 18
The district in partnership with the Houghton Mifflin will be providing Math Expressions coaching for Kindergarten – Fifth grade teachers this school year.
Per curriculum department, the morning sessions should be scheduled for grades 3-5 and the afternoon sessions should be scheduled for grades K-2.
Paperwork for 3 rotating subs has been submitted for this day.
Morgan's Schedule will be:
8:30 - 9:20 Grade 4
9:30-10:20 Grade 3
10:30-11:20 Grade 5
11:30 -12:10 Lunch
12:20-1:10 Grade 1
1:20-2:10 Kindergarten
2:20 -3:10 Grade 2
All attempts were made to avoid specials and allow teachers to be available for IEP meetings on that day.
Halloween Volunteers
Parents coming to watch the parade will be in the gymnasium and asked to leave the building prior to dismissal so students can exit safely. I have included what was sent to parents last Friday below this for your reference.
HALLOWEEN GUIDELINES INSURE SAFETY FOR ALL!!!
We welcome moms, dads, grandparents and family members to join Morgan Elementary School for a morning of Halloween fun on October 31st. However, we do ask that you help us ensure a successful and safe day by following a few guidelines….
· Please do not arrive prior to 10:30 a.m. on the 31st unless you are helping with a classroom party. Our students will be involved in classroom instruction up to that time.
· Please check-in at our welcome station upon arrival. In addition, if you are wearing a costume yourself, let your child’s teacher know who you are. No adults in masks please.
· The optimum location for spectator viewing will be in the gym.
· After the parade, we will NOT be calling classroom for early dismissal. Instead, please arrange a meeting place outside of the building to meet your child during dismissal. We will ask that parents exit the gymnasium and lobby area at the conclusion of the parade so students may exit the building safely during dismissal.
· The following is an approximate schedule for Wednesday, October 31st:
10:45 a.m. PARADE BEGINS—11:29 a.m. DISMISSAL
HALLOWEEN COSTUME GUIDELINES
Halloween is a favorite holiday for many children. Not only do they love to participate, but they also take great pleasure in planning for the occasion. Again this year, our school is stressing “positive participation” during the Halloween celebration (s) at Morgan Elementary School. As always, we are urging children to model their costumes on positive role models. Book characters, historical figures, period costumes, and folk heroes are all great ideas to consider when thinking of that perfect costume. We hope that children will design costumes that reflect the joy, wonder and imagination that childhood represents.
All of us at Morgan Elementary work diligently to teach children how to solve problems in a non-violent way. WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE CHILDREN DRESSED AS PERPETRATORS OR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE. This includes props and accessories related to blood, gore, and weapons. On the morning of October 31st, changing rooms and time to dress will be limited, so minimally-complicated costumes should be considered.
Rise Beyond The Horizon Award - Martin Luther King Student Contests
The Macomb ISD is once again very excited to bring to schools opportunities not only to your teachers, but also to your students!
Please see the attachments for more information and deadlines for these opportunities.
- Rise Beyond the Horizon: The Mel Miller Award – Teachers (#2A)
- Oratory Competition – Elementary (#2B)
- Art Contest – High School (#2C)
- Essay Contest – Middle School (#2D)
District Sponsored Health Care Insurance Notification
In accordance with federal requirements, employees enrolled in a district sponsored health care plan with Utica Community Schools will be sent this year’s annually required notification in the coming days. The notice provides information regarding certain benefit areas such as coverage rights, coordination with COBRA, Medicare and Medicare D Prescription Drug Coverage. Persons without an active district email account were sent notice via US mail. Questions regarding the notice or any other insurance matters may be directed to the Human Resources Department at 586-797-1150 or email generalbenefits@uticak12.org.
Hepatitis B Vaccination Process
Utica Community Schools will be sponsoring no-charge Hepatitis B Vaccinations for employees who do NOT have District sponsored health care insurance and currently work in potentially infectious pathogen (i.e. blood) exposure areas, including bus drivers, teachers and school support personnel. Participation is voluntary, however; there is an expectation that those who begin the three-injection series comply with the required dosage spacing schedule and fully complete the process.
Interested employees must request and secure an approved authorization form from Human Resources before beginning the series. Email generalbenefits@uticak12.org or call Theresa at ext. 1139. Approved employees will then take the authorized document with District identification to their appointments. All vaccinations are self- scheduled at St. John Providence Medical Center located at 17700 Twenty-Three Mile Road (West of Romeo Plank Road). Please contact the facility at 586-868-9120 for appointment and/or walk-in times.
First Injection Window: November 1, 2018 through December 28, 2018
Second Injection Window: January 3, 2019 through February 28, 2019
Final Injection Window: May 1, 2019 through June 28, 2019
Faces T-Shirts
Orders are due Friday, October 19. As soon as the orders are completed, I will finish the master order forms and mail off to the company. There is about a 2 week turn around time from receiving the orders to receiving the shirts!
Thanks for all of your help with this project again this year!
Winter Conference Date
Thank you to everyone who took the survey and voted on the date. The date with the most responses was:
Thursday, February 7, 2019.
After-School Professional Development
An After-School Professional Development session is being offered on the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System. During this training, participants will learn the elements of the Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment and how to use it with fidelity, explore the materials in a meaningful way, discuss reading levels vs. reading behaviors and review the running record process.
The training will be held on Thursday, October 18th from 4:30 – 6:30 pm at Duncan Elementary. Teachers should email catherine.einhaus@uticak12.org by Monday, October 15th to register for the session.
Wondering what’s in those boxes that were delivered to your building last year?
Come and find out…
When: Thursday, October 18th from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Where: Duncan Elementary
Why come…
to familiarize oneself with the Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment and how to use it with fidelity.
to explore some of the materials in a meaningful way.
to learn about reading levels vs. reading behaviors.
to review taking a running record
Please email catherine.einhaus@uticak12.org by Friday, October 12th to register for the session.
*Please bring one of the F & P BAS kits from your building to the session.
Presenters: Jill Erfourth, Nichole Krol, and Dawn Nacker,
Calendar Dates
Monday, Oct. 15: AIM Field Trip in the PM
Tuesday, Oct. 16: Elementary Principal Meeting 1-4 PM--Sue Out
Wednesday, Oct. 17: KDG Field Trip to Westview Orchards
Thursday, Oct. 18 Math Expressions Coaching Day--see schedule above
Monday, Oct. 22 9:15 AM Bus Evacuations
PTO Meeting @ Hamlin Pub starting at 6:30 PM
Tuesday, Oct. 23 3:30-4:40 Staff Meeting
Wednesday, Oct. 31 1/2 Day of school--student dismissal @ 11:29 AM
Teacher Phase I Goals/Meeting due
Tuesday, Nov. 6: No School! Teachers are NOT required to report
Tuesday, Nov. 13: Staff Meeting 3:30-4:30 PM
Wednesday, Nov. 14 Picture Re-Take Day
Conference Evening 4:00-7:00 PM
Thursday, Nov. 15: 1/2 Day of School--Conferences in the PM. Conference evening 4:30 - 7:30 PM. PTO will provide a dinner from 4-5:30 PM that evening.