Hawk Weekly
October 11th-15th
Havel Elementary
Our mission is to educate students, promote life long learning and encourage students to become productive citizens within a positive and safe learning environment.
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/
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I’d like to bring to your attention a current trend involving the social media platform, TikTok. Nationwide, students are being encouraged to engage in inappropriate activities while at school through countless TikTok posts. Although we do not believe this trend will be observed by the majority of our students, I would be remiss if I did not bring this to your attention. Already, we have seen examples of how poor choices by a few students impact our school environment.
To illustrate the severity of this trend, a few of the current TikTok challenges include destroying the school bathrooms, stealing school equipment and even slapping a school employee, among many other inappropriate acts.
Often, when students receive social media challenges, they may view it as exciting and fun. Regardless of the child’s intent, these challenges can hurt or negatively affect others and disrupt the learning environment. Our school must take this type of behavior seriously. Should any student engage in these activities, they will face consequences, which may include expulsion and/or criminal charges.
The connection between home and school is more important now than ever before. We are asking that you speak with your children about this trend to emphasize how inappropriate, dangerous and unlawful it is. We must continue to work collaboratively by personally modeling appropriate online behavior and setting high expectations for the choices being made by our students.
Thank you for your help in keeping our focus on teaching and learning. It is only through your continued partnership that we can support our students to be successful and positive contributing members of our community.
Mrs. Tepper
Math Update
In 6th grade math, we are working on how to multiply and divide fractions. The students are learning how to solve these equations with a model representation and the basic algorithm. The kids have learned the vocabulary word, "reciprocal." This term is very important when dividing fractions. After our fraction and decimal unit, the 6th graders will be learning about ratios and percents. Hey everyone, keep learning and reviewing those math facts. 🙂 Mr. V.
5th graders are continuing their unit on Fractions. Students are learning how to convert improper fractions to mixed number. Our mathematicians will begin adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. They are beginning to realize how important their basic math facts are. We are looking forward to seeing their growth as they dive into the lessons.
4th grade is learning about place value. So far, we have practiced name places and the value of each digit in a number. We have learned the three ways to represent a number (standard form, expanded form, word form) and we have been practicing a lot with this. This past week we began adding larger numbers. Students had to practice aligning digits and making new groups to add. We just started to talk about estimation; how to estimate the sum and adjust our estimates to get an exact answer. We will begin to work on subtraction of larger numbers next week.
Our 3rd graders are learning about multiplication and Division, along with problem solving using math drawings, arrays, and equations. We have begun our Multiplication Masters program and our 3rd graders are showing their speed and determination in Mastering multiplication.
In second grade, we are learning different strategies for addition and subtraction. We have learned how to use double facts, pictures, number lines, and making a ten to help solve equations. We are using “math mountains” to see the relationship between the operations. We have jumped into using the strategies in problem solving!
First grade has kicked off our math series, Math Expressions, and wrapped up Unit 1, all about number partners. We have started unit 2 this week. We will be learning to create addition and subtraction stories using circle drawings. We are also diving into writing equations and identifying true/untrue equations. First graders have also been learning about place value during our morning meetings. We count the days we have been in school and build the number using base ten blocks.
This week in kindergarten we are learning numbers to 10, counting routines, Mathemetical Practices, adding and subtracting, and identifying shapes. Vocabulary words we will be focusing on are: groups, how many, larger, smaller, less and greater.
1/2 Way Through 1st Quarter
Lunch Menu Changes For Next Week
FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS APPLICATION EXPIRATION
Personal Device Reminder
The personal use of non-school issued cell phones or other electronic communications devices (ECDs) by students is prohibited at any time while in school or in a district vehicle. They cannot be displayed or used without permission from a teacher or administrator for educational purposes.
Personal use of the device shall be limited to the time before and after the school day and only when students are outside the building. ECDs shall not be used during instructional time, lunch, passing time between classes or on any school bus without permission of a school official.
The use of an ECD’s picture-taking or internet connection capability is not permitted without permission of a teacher or administrator. Utica Community Schools will not be responsible for the theft, loss or damage of any ECD. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against students who violate the policy regulating ECDs.
SCHOOL APPROPRIATE COSTUME CHOICES
Students should refrain from violent characterization and may not use any fake weapons, fake blood, or any references to victims or perpetrators of violence for their costume choice at school. Violent characterization is unacceptable for school parades and where younger students might be frightened. If deemed inappropriate by school personnel, students will be asked to remove the costume and/or wash makeup.
Book, cartoon, folk heroes, historical figures, and period costumes are all good ideas to consider when thinking of the perfect costume. If you have any questions regarding suitability, please contact the school at 797 - 5200.
Since it is a half day (12:20 dismissal), students will be allowed to wear partial costumes to school. Check to be sure that your child can walk freely, and that the costume will be comfortable enough for the classroom setting. Masks may be worn (frightening masks not permitted) but those that impede vision should be left at home. Plan to have your child bring any costume props (wigs and other add-ons) to school in a bag or backpack.
Classroom Halloween Celebrations
Parents will be able to send in candy or a treat bag for the students to pass out. Please note that due to health/allergy concerns students should not being in any candy that contains nuts.
We do not allow any homemade snacks and treats, all items must be prepackaged.
Thank you for helping us keep all our Havel Hawks safe!
Halloween Parade Information
Please note, that COVID school guidelines state that we are to avoid large indoor gatherings and that only essential guests are allowed in the building. In the event the weather doesn't cooperate we will not be able to have a parade. Instead parents would be able to sign their child out from their classroom teachers exterior doors beginning at 11:30 for an early dismissal.
Who’s ready for some fall fun!? It’s a beautiful fall day, hope you all get a chance to get out there and enjoy it! As you are exploring and having adventures we thought it’d be fun to have a scavenger hunt this weekend!!! See the items below, snap a pic, and either tag us in a new post or respond to this one!
Use #HVL2021FallScavengerHunt to stay connected. To Tag us in a new post use Havel Volunteer League excited to follow your the adventure!
Click Below For The VA Newsletter
Changes in quarantine guidelines from the MCHD
As Mr. Monroe’s September 30 letter indicated, there has been a series of adjustments in required quarantine guidelines. These adjustments from the Macomb County Health Department are for students who may have been identified as a close contact. The changes are the result of discussions between our district leadership and the health department and are based on concerns shared by our parents.
Our goal remains to keep our students in-person throughout the year. The new guidelines provide an avenue that families can take to return quarantined students to classrooms earlier if they meet certain conditions, such as a vaccination, a distance of more than three feet from the contact or testing daily over seven days through either a clinic or using an at-home kit. If you choose to purse the at-home or clinic tests, our school will provide you a form to record the results.
In the event your student is a close contact, we will notify you via phone call, email and a text message. (If you do not receive regular updates from our school, please call the office to verify we have accurate information for you).
For more information, you may visit our district’s website regarding the required quarantine process and our school’s layered mitigation strategies. If you have any questions regarding the process or the learning plan for your child if a quarantine is necessary, please speak to your teacher or call our office directly.
4th & 5th Grade Maturation Program Information
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 Wednesday, November 10, 2021 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. The attached (18A) flyer has registration details and should be made available as soon as possible to families of all fourth grade and fifth grade girls.
October Dates To Know
UCS Transportation Update
Update from UCS Transportation
The UCS Transportation Department is committed to safety and efficiently transporting our UCS students. We realize that we carry precious cargo and that we make a positive difference in how our students start and end every day. We are excited to be back on the road!
While it is not unusual for it to take a few weeks for our routes to fall into place, this year has been particularly challenging. The nationwide shortage of bus drivers as well as local construction projects have created significant challenges for us. We are actively working to address both situations. We are in regular contact with the Macomb County Road Commission on project timelines and have identified alternate routes until construction is completed. These alternates, however, often add to pick up and drop off delays. In addition, we have been actively advertising our open positions and have held several job fairs to recruit candidates.
The Transportation Department has been contacting families when it is anticipated that delays will be greater than 10 minutes through automated phone calls, emails and text messaging. If you have not signed up for the UCS text system, text “Y” to 67587.
The good news is that we should be seeing some relief over the next few weeks. As road construction project season comes to an end, we will be able to return to our normal routes and you should see some improvement in many areas. In addition, we have more than 10 new drivers going through the training process and should be on the road shortly once the process is completed (training and certification takes several weeks). We are still in need of about 30 more drivers; if you are aware of individuals interested in becoming a bus driver, please have them contact 586-797-7113.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
Extreme Weather Arrival/Dismissal
Adjusted Arrival Procedure For Extreme Weather:
Grades 4th-6th will be able to enter the building from their classroom exterior doors OR from the main office front door #2. (This is the SACC door)
Grade 3 will be able to enter the building through their classroom exterior doors OR from the main office door #1.
1st Grade, Mrs. Leline's Class, & 3rd Grade will be able to enter the building through the classroom exterior doors or from the main building door #9 (please note this is NOT the classroom door 9)
Adjusted Arrival Procedure For Extreme Weather:
At the end of the day our 4th-6th grade students whose parents pick up will exit through their classroom doors exactly how they do know.
3rd Grade parent pick ups & bussers will be exiting out of the main office door #1.
1st Grade, Mrs. Leline's Class, Ms. Ritz, Mrs. Hamilton- bussers and parent pick ups will exit through the main building door #9 (please note this is NOT the classroom door 9)
Kindergarten, Young 5's, and Mrs. Kostrzeba's class will not need an adjustment to their arrival or dismissal procedures.