Rocket Review
Week of October 26, 2018
Last Week of October!
I know you received an update on Monday of this week so this is our second newsletter for the week. I can't believe that we just completed the last full week of October! Next week is November!
The first marking period will end Friday, November 2, with report cards being reviewed during elementary conferences and sent home electronically on Friday, November 16. Please make sure you have returned your conference note to your child's teacher to meet on either Wednesday, November 14 or Thursday, November 15 for conferences.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child's progress before conferences, Morgan teachers are an email or phone call away. The staff email list can be found on the Morgan web page.
Have a great week!
Mrs. Lasky
Firehouse Restaurant Night is TONIGHT!!
Firehouse Subs Restaurant Night
Friday, October 26th
4 - 9 p.m.
1480 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills
Come support a Morgan family-owned business and have dinner with other Morgan families!
You will need a flyer to show at the restaurant. Click on the link below and show them the flyer on your phone!
Morgan Lunch Monitors
To date, we had 5 paid and 2 volunteer adults on Monday; 5 paid and 2 volunteer adults on Tuesday; 7 paid adults on Wednesday; 7 paid and 3 volunteer adults on Thursday; and 6 paid with 2 volunteers adults Friday. That brought our coverage to about 80 students per adult on the playground on many days; coverage to about 55 students per adult on Thursday.
If you are interested in becoming a paid lunch monitor, please click on link below to start an application with EduStaff. EduStaff certified lunch monitors are paid an hourly rate each day they work. They can also complete additional, free, online training sessions and become substitute paraprofessionals for additional paid hours of work.
Morgan also takes volunteers with a current background check on file. If you filled out a Volunteer Sheet within the past few years, you should be able to volunteer for field trips, classroom help and lunch supervision. If you are unsure about your volunteer status, please contact the Main Office and Sharon or Melissa can check for you: 586-797-5800.
If you are interested in volunteering during the lunch hour, which runs from 11:30 AM until 12:15 PM each day, please contact Melissa in the main office and let her know what days you are available to volunteer. We even have grandparents and former Morgan parents either working or volunteering during our lunch hour.
If you have any questions, please call Morgan at 586-797-5800 or email Mrs. Lasky at sue.lasky@uticak12.org.
Pink Out
Spreading Good News--Shout Outs
Keep sharing the positive words!
Halloween
Costume Guidelines and Parade Information
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.
Penny Wars Winner
Box Tops Winner
Thank you to all of the parent volunteers who took Box Tops home to cut out and count.
Daylight Savings Time Ends!
Morgan Annual Blood Drive
Click the link below for more information and to sign up to volunteer or donate blood.
Mark Your Calendar!
Calendar Dates
Friday, October 26: Firehouse Sub Restaurant Night 4-9 PM at the Rochester Hills location
Wednesday, October 31: 1/2 Day of School--Students dismissed at 11:29 AM.
Morgan Annual Halloween Parade 10:45 AM
McDonald's Restaurant Day from 11 AM - 2 PM at the 26 Mile Road location
Sunday, November 4: Daylight Savings Time Ends. Set your clocks BACK 1 hour.
Tuesday, November 6: No School for all students.
Wednesday, November 14: Conference Evening--Teachers will be sending home letters in October to set up conference times.
Thursday, November 15: 1/2 Day of School--Students dismissed at 11:29 AM. Parent-Teacher Conferences in the afternoon and evening. Teachers will be sending home letters in October to set up conference times.
UCS News and Updates
UCS Texting Updates
Morgan Elementary and Utica Community Schools have a service for parents who would like information texted directly to them. The texting service provides school news and announcements, district information such as emergency school closing situations, or updates issued from UCS departments, such as transportation. To join this system, please text “Y” to 67587.
Note – if you have previously registered for this system and are not receiving texts from our school or UCS, please contact the school office to ensure we have your most recent cell phone number is on file.
Utica Community Schools Bond Proposal
Safety, technology and infrastructure improvements highlight Nov. 6 Bond Proposal
The Utica Community Schools Board of Education has unanimously (7-0) approved placing a $155 million bond proposal on the November 6 ballot to address safety and security, technology and infrastructure improvements identified through the district’s strategic, long-range facility improvement program.
“The bond proposal will allow us to continue providing an environment that supports the academic excellence for students that our community expects and deserves,” Board of Education president Gene Klida said. “The bond projects address safety and security and infrastructure priorities that directly impact our classrooms. The projects also provide our teachers the tools they need to drive learning and develop the job skills that businesses need to build our economy.”
Voter approval of the bond proposal has been structured to keep the tax rate at or below the current level.
The bond proposal will affect each UCS student and every UCS school and school facility.
The ballot proposal states that that the bond proposal will provide for:
1. making safety and security improvements, including cameras and door-locking systems;
2. equipping, furnishing, re-equipping and refurnishing school district buildings, facilities, and structures, and acquiring school buses and technology equipment;
3. constructing additions to and/or remodeling school district buildings; and
4. improving and developing sites, including playgrounds, athletic fields, facilities, and structures in the school district.
“Safe and secure schools are a top priority for our community and our district,” Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns said. “The improvements in this bond proposal are a key piece to our collaborative efforts with local law enforcement to continue to keep our schools safe places for students and staff.”
Technology improvements provide students and teachers the resources to support learning, including key areas of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and the integration of skills that ensure success in college and career.
The infrastructure projects also support the district’s long-range improvement programs in key areas of roofing, paving and the replacement of buses.
Board of Education Treasurer Dr. Robert Ross emphasized that voter approval of the bond proposal has been structured to not increase the current tax rate.
“Through solid fiscal planning, this bond issue has been designed to ensure we can address our facility priorities at or below our current millage level,” Dr. Ross said.
Dr. Ross added that the improvements will allow the district to extend the life of current school buildings and protect the investment the community has made in its facilities.
“Area realtors are clear that the strength of Utica Community Schools protects property values and draws new families and businesses to the communities we serve,” he said.
Dr. Ross noted that by law the bond revenue will be used only for capital improvements and may be not used for operating expenses, such as salaries or utilities.
“It is important that our taxpayers know that all revenue must be used for the purposes that are specified in the bond proposal and the expenditures are independently audited,” he said.
More information and an overview of projects are available on the district’s website at http://www.uticak12.org/2018bond.
McDonald's Restaurant Day--October 31
Wednesday, October 31st, 11a.m. - 2 p.m.
McDonald's 26 Mile Rd., Shelby Twp. (west side of Van Dyke)
Join us at McDonald's on our 1/2 day of school, and they will donate 15% back to Morgan Volunteers. Flyer is NOT required.
Morgan Elementary
Mission: Morgan is dedicated to developing lifelong learners through the working relationship of students, staff, and community.
Email: sue.lasky@uticak12.org
Website: http://morgan.uticak12.org/
Location: 53800 Mound Road, Shelby charter Township, MI, USA
Phone: (586) 797-5800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ucsmorgan/
Twitter: @MorganElementa3