Wiley Way
Week of December 11, 2023
SCHOOL INFORMATION
Welcome to Wiley ~ Home of the Wiley Coyotes
Office Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
School Hours: 9:00 AM - 3:50 PM; early dismissal @ 12:04 PM
If you need anything, PLEASE EMAIL or phone the office staff at officewiley@uticak12.org/
586-797-6700 ; someone will respond promptly.
24 hr. Attendance Line: (586) 797-6799
Office Staff:
- Mrs. Candice Merivirta, Principal
- Mrs. Cathy Baumgartner, Administrative Assistant
- Mrs. Cari Muirhead, Clerk
Dates to Remember
Sunday, December 10 - Saturday, December 16: 5 Below Fundraiser (see flyer below)
Monday, December 11: Parent Volunteer Meeting @ 7:00 PM
Monday, December 11 - Friday, January 19: Winter NWEA Testing
Tuesday, December 12: Science Olympiad Parent Meeting (in case you missed the first)
Tuesday, December 12-Thursday, December 14: Candy Cane Gram Sale (see flyer below)
December 13 and 14: Science Alive
Wednesday, December 13: 6th Grade Vocal Concert @ 6:30 PM
Friday, December 15: Candy Cane Grams Delivered
Thursday, December 21: Early Dismissal (12:04 PM)
Friday, December 22 - Tuesday, January 2: NO SCHOOL ~ Holiday Break!
Monday, January 1: Happy New Year!
Wednesday, January 3: School Resumes
Tuesday, January 9: Report Cards send out via PowerSchool, Rink Night
Wednesday, January 10: Parent Volunteer Meeting @ 7:00 PM
Monday, January 15: MLK Day ~ No school; Chuck E. Cheese Fundraiser (details to follow)
Message From Mrs. Merivirta
Great things are happening at Wiley! Thank you to our amazing Parent Volunteer Group and all of the parents who volunteered to make the Holiday Shop a huge success! Every student was afforded the opportunity to buy something special for their family members. This week students will experience animals in their classrooms as Science Alive visits Wiley. Docents will travel from room to room to share animals and information about them. Our 6th graders who have worked all semester in music class will perform for students and parents this week as well. We are excited to hear the performance that they have prepared for us!
The winter NWEA window has opened; students will take the NWEA in math and reading once again to see the progress that they are making. Your child's teacher will notify you of the testing dates; the window is open from December 11 through January 19.
The second quarter/first semester ends on December 21; report cards will be sent home via PowerSchool on January 9.
This week our Parent Volunteer Group is sponsoring a fundraiser: purchase items at Five Below and a portion of the proceeds will be sent to Wiley! You will need the flyer (below) to have your purchases count towards our school. Hopefully, you will get a little holiday shopping done while helping our school community!
Please be sure that your child is dressed for the weather ~ boots, winter coat, hats, mittens, snow pants (if they want to play at recess). If your child is in need of winter items, please call to make an appointment to visit our Wiley Community Closet; we have many items (some new, some gently used) to share with community as needed. A number of our older students (5th and 6th grade) are not wearing coats to school when the temperature is in the 30s; they need a coat to go out at recess. Please be sure your child wears a coat. If you are in need of one, please contact our office as we have a number of them in our Community Closet.
If ever you have a question or a concern, please reach out to me. I am here to help answer questions about happenings at Wiley ~ whether it be transportation, our parking lot, classroom concerns, or anything else! If I cannot provide the answer that you are looking for I will direct you to the person who can assist you.
As always, thank you for all that you do to support and enrich your child's education and our school community.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Merivirta
Looking Ahead
It is hard to believe but we are already planning for next year! If you have a child that will be entering Kindergarten next year, please take this opportunity to begin the enrollment process! UCS offers both Kindergarten and Young 5's. Additionally, applications are now being accepted for the Great Start Readiness Preschool Program. Please check out the flyers below.
ACCENTUATING THE POSITIVE!
Teachers at Wiley are recognizing students for great choices and behaviors. Teachers submit Positive Behavior Office Referrals that recognize students who are serving as great role models and meeting our Coyote expectations. Once a form is submitted, students are called down to the office to meet with the principal and celebrate their success. Join us in recognizing this week's recipients!
PARENTING CONFERENCE
Raising children can be challenging! Check out the flyer below to learn about an upcoming parenting conference that can provide support and understanding for many of the challenging situations you may be facing with your child. Save the date and plan to attend!
Parent Volunteer Sponsored Fund Raiser
Last minute shopping? Find a great deal and help support Wiley! Please consider shopping at Five Below and support Wiley as you do. 10% of your purchases will be donated back to Wiley. See below for more details.
HAPPENINGS AT WILEY
Sixth graders help their Kindergarten buddies write letters to Santa.
UHS DECA students visited 5th graders to teach the importance of saving money. They were allowed to “purchase” items at a mini store. Some students chose to save their money. Productive discussions were had within groups. The senior students were professional and executed excellent leadership.
STU CREW UPDATES
WHO SHOULD YOU CONTACT?
Often times parents have questions or concerns but do not know who direct them to. Below is information from the UCS handbook in regards to communication flow and creating a winning team. Please read below to help direct you to the correct person.
Your Child’s Teacher
- Classroom curriculum, materials, instruction, and/or assessment questions
- Questions regarding your student’s progress
- Information that may impact your child’s learning
- Minor classroom discipline concerns
Your Child’s Principal
- Program and classroom concerns, following conversation with teacher
- Office Referrals (discipline concerns)
- Building management questions
- School and classroom curriculum, materials, instruction, and/or assessment questions
- Concerns that were brought to teacher's attention but were not resolved
School District - Executive Administrator of Schools
- If questions/concerns have not been addressed after speaking with the building principal, please contact the Executive Administrator of Schools Office at (586) 797-1114
- Parents and eligible students who have questions or concerns regarding pupil rights may contact the Executive Administrator of Schools Office at (586) 797-1114
Reminder About Birthdays
Birthday Celebrations
The teachers and staff at Wiley 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 Wiley will not include food treats. Instead, the focus at Wiley 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
· Parent makes a donation of book to class library or a classroom game
· 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.
Wiley Parent Volunteer Updates
WILEY COMMUNITY CLOSET
At this time they are not accepting any more donations. If you would like information or would like to schedule a visit to the Closet please email Mrs. Kurmas at karrie.kurmas@uticak12.org.
LOST AND FOUND
Please take a moment to look at the items in lost and found to see if they belong to your child.
WAYS TO SUPPORT WILEY AND STAY IN TOUCH
Extended Day Opportunities
Too Sick to Come to School?
Take a Peek at These Health Department Guidelines
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, 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.
Utica Community Schools has a no pet policy on school property.
Recess
Students will have the opportunity to go outside with their classmates during designated times throughout the day. Recess helps to promote social and emotional learning and development for all children. Allowing time for our students to engage in peer interactions provides them with an opportunity to practice essential social skills. Recess also benefits our students by increasing their level of physical activity improving their memory, attention, and concentration. Each class will have a recess attached to the lunch program. We go outside whenever possible and stay inside if it is raining or the temperatures are below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Students will have an optional second recess each day with their classroom teacher. Please have children dress for the weather.
Stay Connected with our Wiley Volunteer Parent Group
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER, AT WILEY...
Previous Newsletters
STAY CONNECTED WITH WILEY
Email: candice.merivirta@uticak12.org
Website: wiley.uticak12.org
Location: 47240 Shelby Road, Shelby Charter Township, MI, USA
Phone: (586) 797-6700
Facebook: facebook.com/ucswiley