UCS Elementary Virtual Academy
Week of April 11, 2022
UCS Mission
We are committed to exemplary teaching and learning in order for our students to be prepared for success in the 21st Century.
Virtual Academy Expectations
KEEP AN EYE OUT
Make sure to check out the home school communication for updates on school activities that are coming up. Virtual Academy students are welcome to participate in school activities offered at their home school.
Dates to Remember
APRIL
4/15 - No School – Good Friday
4/19 - M-STEP testing - 6th grade at home school
4/20 - M-STEP testing - 5th grade at home school
4/21 - M-STEP testing - 5th grade at home school
4/22 - Earth Day
4/26 - M-STEP testing - 4th grade at home school
4/27 - M-STEP testing - 3rd grade at home school
Other Dates to Keep on the Calendar
College Fair which will be held Virtual on April 21, 2022 from 7:00-8:30p.m.
NOT IN CLASS?!
April 15
REPORT CARD INFORMATION
During April, UCS will distribute reports cards electronically. The third marking period grades will be sent electronically to families at the end of the day on Monday, April 18, 2022.
To receive the report cards, parents will need to have a secure PowerSchool account. Parents who do not have access to a PowerSchool account will need to register for one prior to Tuesday, April 12th, 2022. The report cards will then be automatically e-mailed to the address that is used to register the PowerSchool account. If you already have a PowerSchool account, you do not need to take any further action. The report card automatically will be sent to you electronically.
Please note that if you have students in junior high school and high school, the reports cards will also be electronically sent by the end of the day, Monday, April 18, 2022.
M-STEP TESTING
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
Third through sixth graders will be tested in English language arts and mathematics using a computer. Additionally, students in fifth grade will be tested in science and social studies. They will be assigned specific dates and times to take the M-STEP during the 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.
Testing is scheduled on the following dates for Virtual Academy learners at the student's home school:
Grade 6 : April 19 (ELA/English language arts and Math)
Grade 5: April 20 & 21 (English language arts and Math, Science and Social Studies)
Grade 4: April 26 (ELA/English language Arts and Math)
Grade 3: April 27 (ELA/English language Arts and Math)
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
Please feel free to Heather Blum with any questions or concerns.
PARENTS CHECK OUT THE M-STEP NEWSLETTER BELOW FOR FAMILY RESOURCES
Check Out This Resource from Our UCS Wellness Committee
FREE TUTORING
UCS students have free online tutoring available to them through a partnership with the public library. Students can login by clicking the Virtual Library Card App in their ClassLink. This will connect your student to a professional tutor to receive help with difficult homework problems between the hours of 4pm – 11pm. Students login with their UCS student number (found on PowerSchool) and the password is the student's birthdate (example April 4th - 0404). ‘UCS’ is in front of the student number. More information can be found on the UCS home page in Success Tool Kit.
UCS WELLNESS PODCAST
The UCS Wellness team is happy to announce the fourth episode of the podcast series will be released on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. The topic is CARE of Southeastern Michigan and the services they offer to the community. The team worked with community members to create a podcast regarding different areas of physical, mental, and social health for UCS staff, students and families. The podcasts are available on the UCS Wellness page: UCS Wellness - Utica Community Schools (uticak12.org). Below is a list of the podcasts released and the upcoming schedule.
12/14/2021
Mental Health with guest, Nancy Buyle, School Safety/Student Assistance Consultant, MISD
1/12/2022
Grief and the Grieving Process for Children with guest, Michele Kreft, Henry Ford SandCastles Children’s Grief Support Program
2/16/2022
Family Communication with guest, Erica Chavez, Counselor, Shining Light Counseling
3/16/2022
CARE of Southeastern Michigan with guests, Susan Styf and Erika Bradbury
4/13/2022
Discussing Dating Violence with Turning Point with guest, Danielle Watson
5/11/2022
Tacking Tough Topics with the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office with guest, Sargent Renee Yax
6/15/2022
Our Youth and Vaping with guest, Corey Beckwith, Access Community Health and Research
Vaccine Information for Future Kindergarten and 7th Grade Students and their Families
PRIOR COMMUNICATION - BUT STILL WORTH REMEMBERING!
Supervised Student Chat Restricted in Microsoft Teams
2022 Board of Education Meeting Schedule
VIRTUAL STUDENT MEALS
- Breakfast & lunch meals are available for virtual enrolled students only.
- Meals must be pre-ordered by Thursday the week before to ensure meal availability.
- Meals can be ordered at www.sendmoneytoschool.com.
- You will need your student's school ID number. This is available on PowerSchool as well as from your school's main office.
- We have provided a video link for you on how to order these meals.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut30F33DR_U&feature=youtu.be
- You will only be able to order meals for those students in Virtual School.
- Students attending in person learning, meals are available in their buildings during specified meal times.
- Menus for both programs will be different so please check the menu for your student's specified school and program.
- Meals are available for pickup at Stevenson (door 25) & Eisenhower (door 1) from 12:30-1:30pm on Mondays (Tuesdays when holidays are on Mondays) near the main offices.
- You must park and enter the designated door to pickup these meals. There is currently no outside pickup.
- You receive enough breakfasts and lunches to cover the school days. Non-school days are not allowed in the current program.
- If you have questions please call our office at 586-797-1180