Hawk Weekly
April 12th-16th
Havel Elementary
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/
Letter From Mr. Monroe
Last week, I met a group of UCS junior high school students demonstrating the values of resilience, leadership, service and living out the partnership that we have with the community. The Shelby Junior High School student council members created a “reverse fundraiser” to support local restaurants struggling during the pandemic. The students are giving the proceeds earned during designated school restaurant nights to the business owners that have supported them year after year. Throughout the pandemic our district has implemented a planning process reflective of these same values of leadership, service, and resilience. In service to our community, we have taken gradual steps forward, evaluated our progress, and adjusted as necessary. We are committed to leading the region with educational excellence, while providing a healthy and resilient environment.
As we plan for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year and into the future, we want to reduce uncertainty and increase stability as much as possible. Families may use the following schedule for planning: * As previously communicated, K-12 schools will be fully remote the week of April 12. This approach reduces the potential spread of COVID-19 that may occur as families return from spring break. * Secondary students will take state-mandated assessments in-person on Tuesday, April 13 and Wednesday, April 14.
On Monday, April 19 through the end of the school year, the district will continue in-person instruction four days per week, with select Wednesdays serving as remote learning days. There are five remote learning Wednesdays left this school year. These days allow teachers to provide both flexible and focused time for academic and social-emotional support. This is particularly helpful for students when quarantine occurs and they are unable to attend in-person classes.
The remote learning dates are: o April 21 o April 28 o May 5 o May 12 o May 19
A calendar overview for elementary and secondary students is provided at this link. Students who are quarantined for confirmed positive or mandated close contact relative to COVID-19 will be afforded opportunities for daily engagement with their teacher(s) to foster continuity of learning. Applicable students should monitor their Schoology account for specific and available times.
- Students who are quarantined for confirmed positive or mandated close contact relative to COVID-19 will be afforded opportunities for daily engagement with their teacher(s) to foster continuity of learning. Applicable students should monitor their Schoology account for specific and available times.
- Students enrolled in the Virtual Academy will continue to receive online instruction. Following spring vacation, we will share information with families interested in this option for the 2021-2022 school year. Interested parents are invited to join us at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 15 for an informational program regarding this option for the next school year.
- UCS will be providing K-12 students with opportunities for summer learning. Information on these initiatives and enrollment opportunities will be coming in the next several weeks.
- The district is actively planning for full-week, in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year. Our secondary schools are currently engaging parents in the scheduling process, and new and expanded opportunities for students are moving forward, including a Bridge to Kindergarten: Young Fives Program.
- While the vaccination rate continues to increase and eligibility has expanded to anyone 16 years or older, COVID-19 remains unpredictable. There may be further challenges in the coming months. Over the past few weeks, there has been a statewide increase in COVID-19 and our communities have mirrored this trend. As transmission increases, the Macomb County Health Department continues to mandate that the district utilize quarantine to proactively mitigate the spread of COVID-19. As a result, I have made the difficult decision to temporarily return two schools to remote learning. For families with questions regarding the quarantine process, which is required by the Macomb County Health Department, please see the following link.
We will continue to work closely with health agencies while maintaining protocols for safe in-person instruction. During these final weeks of school, we can mitigate the need for mandated quarantines by following the self-screening protocols each morning. Using healthy strategies, we can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and allow our community to emerge from the pandemic stronger.
Please be safe and enjoy your spring break. As we look to our final weeks of school, let’s both celebrate and follow the example set by our Shelby Junior High School students as we collaborate to support and take care of each other!
Sincerely,
Robert S. Monroe
Interim Superintendent
Meal Distribution
Attention all UCS families, meal distribution for the next three weeks will be as follows:
- There will be a 7-day meal pickup on Monday, April 5 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Eisenhower, Stevenson and Henry Ford II high schools.
- There will be a 7-day meal pickup Monday, April 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Eisenhower, Stevenson and Henry Ford II high schools.
- Gleaners Food Bank will have a family meal pickup at Stevenson High School on Wednesday, April 14 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday meal distribution will resume on April 21 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Eisenhower, Stevenson and Henry Ford II high schools.
3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th Grade M-Step Testing
April 1st 2021
Dear Parent/Guardians,
All students enrolled in Michigan schools in grades 3-8 and 11 will take the M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress) assessment. The M-STEP will measure your student's growth and progress on the Michigan Academic Standards. Those standards are available at this web site: www.Michigan.gov/academicstandards
M-STEP for third, fourth, and sixth graders will test in English language arts and mathematics. Our fifth graders will be tested in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies using a computer. They will be assigned specific dates and times to take the M-STEP during the April 19 – May 21, 2021 online testing window. The M-STEP will provide an accurate view of your child’s achievement levels and learning needs to help us identify areas where we can improve instruction and teaching.
As parents/guardians, you play an important role in your child’s academic success.
We are asking your help to ensure he/she is prepared for this new online assessment series. Here is what you can do:
· Encourage your child to approach the M-STEP with a positive attitude.
· Ensure your child gets plenty of rest the night before, has a good breakfast and comes to school on time each day.
Your child’s attendance is vital to his/her achievement. In addition, full attendance is necessary for our school to meet state participation requirements.
To learn more about the M-STEP assessments, please visit the Michigan Department of Education Web site: http://www.michigan.gov/mde
Your child’s teacher will be sharing testing dates with you as the testing window approaches.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Tepper
April Dates to Know
April 12th- HVL 6th grade parent meeting @ 6:00
April 13th- HVL Meeting @ 6:00
April 19th- Bus Evacuation Practice
April 20th- Fire Drill
April 21st- Remote Day
April 22nd- 5th Grade M-Step Testing
April 23rd- 5th Grade M-Step Testing
April 26th- 5th Grade M-Step Testing
April 28th- Remote Day
April 29th- 5th Grade M-Step Testing
April 30th- 5th Grade Virtual DIA Field Trip
Passcode: 085651
Passcode: 085651
VIrtual Academy for the 2021-2022 School Year
The Utica Community Schools Virtual Academy will begin accepting applications on April 19 for families seeking a virtual learning option featuring the district’s nationally recognized academic programs.
“Our Virtual Academy offers the choice to combine the district’s educational excellence in a virtual environment,” Interim Superintendent Robert Monroe said. “We are proud to now offer the academy as part of the Utica Community Schools portfolio of options that meet our students’ unique needs and interests.”
Families interested in the program can learn more at a virtual informational night at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 15. Pre-registration is recommended for the event, which will allow parents to receive an overview of the program and participate in a virtual Question and Answer period.
The virtual academy gives families virtual access to K-12 programs offered through the Utica Community Schools, including core elementary and specials and secondary elective and required courses. Students can participate in extra-curricular activities, including marching band and athletics, through their home schools.
The program is open to UCS families and those wishing to enroll through Schools of Choice who reside in Macomb, St. Clair, Wayne, Lapeer and Oakland counties.
This year, more than 5,000 students were part of the inaugural year of the academy.
“This has been an amazing opportunity for my family,” said parent Meghan Ciacchella, who has two students in the program. “This program is distraction-free, education-focused and it provides students with unique 21st century skills.”
The initial enrollment period for next year’s program will be open from April 19 through May 2.
2021-22 Informational Town Hall
Thursday, April 15
7-745 p.m.
April 19th In Person Breakfast/Lunch Menu
Travel Guidance
As Utica Community Schools approaches spring break, the school community including staff and students are reminded to familiarize themselves with all applicable guidelines for travel as issued in the January 18, 2021 Presidential Executive Order and Center for Disease Control (CDC) Travel Guidance. Please reference the links below:
- CDC Guidelines: Testing and International Air Travel
- Executive Order: Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel | The White House
Notably, the Presidential Order establishes that the CDC recommendations for international air travel currently remain in full force and effect (same as mid-winter break guidelines). For Utica Community Schools this means both students and staff must adhere to the following upon international air travel return and prior to resuming in-person school or work within the district:
- Quarantine at home immediately upon return from international air travel. This should be for a minimum of seven (7) or ten (10) calendar days.
- Get tested for COVID-19 upon return from international air travel. Two types of viral tests are acceptable: PCR and/or rapid (antigen). This is best conducted during the window of three to five days after return.
- If test result is positive for COVID-19, follow all applicable quarantine requirements.
- If test result is negative for COVID-19, continue to self-monitor, and may return to school or work after the full seven days, provided no symptoms emerge.
- If an individual does not get tested within the window indicted above, she/he is to self-monitor for ten days and may return to school or work after the full ten days, provided no symptoms emerge.
- Even upon completing quarantine, individuals who have engaged in international air travel should continue to distance from medically fragile persons for fourteen days from return.
Persons who have been fully vaccinated and/or tested positive for COVID-19 in the past three months are not exempt from the mandated quarantine.
The week following spring break, April 12 through April 16, is scheduled for remote teaching and learning so quarantined students and staff should be able to engage as applicable. Students who must quarantine into the week of April 19 must notify the school.
Safety Protocols - As a school, we will continue following the protocols that are important to keeping everyone safe, including encouraging frequent hand washing, use of sanitizers, distancing to the extent possible, decreasing density in common areas, and wearing face masks. Cleaning practices will include common touch points sanitized every four hours and all classrooms cleaned nightly. These protocols are all detailed in the updated parent handbook that is on the district website.