Rocket Review
Week of September 28, 2018
Last Week of September
Fall is officially here and we are already heading into October, the month of pumpkins, colorful leaves, apples, hayrides, corn mazes, hot chocolate, and Halloween activities!
Our students are excited about the cooler weather and wearing their hoodies and jackets to school. Some of those hoodies and jackets are finding their way into the Lost and Found bin, as students need the jacket in the cool morning, then take it off on the playground when it is warmer during the day. Please have your child check our Lost and Found bin in the main lobby to find their missing clothing, lunch boxes, and water bottles.
Thank you to everyone who attended our annual Open House/Curriculum Night on Thursday. It was great to see so many parents there to learn more about Morgan and meet our staff who get to work with your children each day. It takes a full team of all of us working together to help each of our Morgan students be successful.
Have a great week!
Mrs. Lasky
Eisenhower Band Visit
Playing a musical instrument in the band has proven to help students with their mathematical abilities and helps build a community of friends from multiple grades as students move into secondary education.
Trombone Antics
Morgan student flag twirling
Ike Guard ready to perform
Morgan Artwork in China!
Six Morgan elementary art students have had their work selected for an exchange program that will inspire and inform their peers half-a-world away.
The Morgan students are among 100 students to have work sent to China as part of a cultural exchange program sponsored by the Michigan 4-H Art Exchange through Michigan State University Extension.
The students and their work are:
-Eli L>, Piggy in a Puddle
-Sophia V.>, Winter Trees
-Evan T.>, Ice Skating in the Wintertime
-Noor H. , Birch Trees
-Ava P., Ship of the Great Lakes
-Elizabeth M., Pacific Northwest Coast Hummingbird
Their teacher is Morgan art teacher Karen Borbolla.
The China Art program is a free global education opportunity provided by MSUE. It is an annual statewide program that connects students with children their own age in China. The program has two components.
The first is a ready made in classroom teaching kit to facilitate learning about China and about creating art. Each teaching kit is unique and consists of ten original pictures by Chinese children, a study guide and a description of the pictures that come with the kit.
The second part is a program where participants are invited to send “visual letters” to children their own ages in China. A visual letter is like a written letter in that both tell stories, share important ideas and feelings, and connect children regardless of where they live.
The selection process begins in the classroom with the teacher selecting pieces from the classroom participants and submitting to the County Coordinator.
The County Coordinator then selects pieces to send to campus. Campus staff then select pieces to send to China as a gift to the children of China. Participants also receive Certificates of participation at each level.
The Michigan children’s artwork sent to China will be exhibited in schools in Shandong Province. The artwork will also be featured on the Michigan 4-H China Art website http://www.canr.msu.edu/china_project/index
Fresh Plums for Lunch!
Plums taste sweet!
He stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum!
Loving the fresh plums!
Reserved Seating Winners
Congratulations to our concert/graduation reserved seat winners!
Kindergarten: March 19
Left side: The Lukasik Family
Right side: The Folino Family
Second Grade: May 14
Left side: The Visca Family
Right Side: The Ryan Family
Third Grade: December 11
Left side: The Caldwell Family
Right side: The Lukasik Family
Fourth Grade: May 14
Left side: The Sacco Family
Right Side: The Nightingale Family
Fifth Grade: December 11
Left side: The Visca Family
Right Side: The Ryan Family
Sixth Grade DARE Graduation: TBD
Left Side: The Noelke Family
Right Side: The Lukasik Family
Sixth Grade Graduation: June 14
Left Side: The Nightingale Family
Right Side: The Lechner Family
I will follow up with an email to the winning families as well. The day/evening of the concert, the winning families will have seats reserved with signs.
Checks for winning payment can be made out to Morgan Elementary.
Former Morgan Students Back Together for IKE!
Mark Your Calendar!
Calendar Dates
Tuesday, October 2: Fire Truck Visit for 1st Grade
Thursday, October 4: Fire Truck Visit for 2nd Grade
Friday, October 5: PTO Fall Festival
Wednesday, October 10: Walk to School Day!
Monday, October 22: PTO meeting 6:30 PM @ Hamlin Pub
Wednesday, October 31: 1/2 Day of School--Students dismissed at 11:29 AM.
Morgan Annual Halloween Parade 10:45 AM--details to come
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
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.
Monday, October 22 starting at 6:30 PM
First Skate Night is Wednesday, October 3, from 6-8 PM
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