Eagle News
Ebeling Elementary School I October 27, 2023
CONFERENCE SIGN-UP CLOSES TONIGHT AT 8:00 PM
Email: officeebeling@uticak12.org
Website: ebeling.uticak12.org
Location: 15970 Haverhill Drive, Macomb, MI, USA
Phone: 586-797-4700
Attendance Line: 586-797-4799
Twitter: @ebelingelem
UPCOMING DATES:
OCT 27 - Student Half Day of School. 11:29 Dismissal.
- Trunk - or- Treat (see flyer info below) 6:30-8:15 PM
OCT 30 - Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-up closes a@ 8:00 PM
OCT 31 - Student Half Day of School. 11:29 Dismissal.
- Halloween Parade @ 9:00 AM (see info below)
NOV 7 - No School. Teacher professional development workday.
NOV 8 - Parent-Teacher Conference Evening 4:30-7:30 PM
NOV 9 - Student Half Day of School, 11:29 dismissal. Parent-Teacher Conferences in PM (12:30 - 3:30), also P/T Conferences in Evening (4:30 - 7:30 PM).
NOV 15 - PTA Meeting @ 7:00 PM
NOV 16 - 5th Grade Field Trip Troy Historical Museum
- 4th Grade Concert @ 6:30 PM
- 6th Grade Choir Concert @ 7:30 PM
NOV 17 - Picture Re-take Day
NOV 22-24 - No School. Thanksgiving Holiday Break
SCHOOL IS IN SESSION:
Line up Bell at 8:15, School Begins @ 8:25, Tardy after 8:30.
Dismissal at 3:15
HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS
Dear Parents,
Our all-school Halloween parade will be held on Tuesday, October 31st at 9:00 AM. Weather permitting, we will conduct the parade outside on the blacktop around the school. If we are able to run the parade outdoors, parents are invited to attend. In the event of inclement weather, we will hold the parade inside with students parading through hallways and visiting each classroom. If held indoors, parents and visitors will not attend.
At school, students must refrain from violent characterization and from using any kind of fake weapons, fake blood, or any references to victims or perpetrators of violence. Violent characterization is unacceptable for school parades where younger students might be frightened. 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 - 4700.
October 31st is a half-day for all students at Ebeling. Dismissal will be at 11:29 a.m. Because of the timing of our parade, 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. Plan to have your child bring any costume props (wigs and other add-ons) to school in a bag or backpack.
Looking forward to a great Halloween celebration!
THE WEATHER MAY NOT COOPERATE ON TUESDAY - STAT TUNED FOR PARADE UPDATE
NEW! PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE INFORMATION
Parent-Teacher conferences will be held November 8th and 9th, with both in-person and online conference options. Click on the link below for complete information including registration for a Schoolsoft account, selection of conferences, and important dates. Sign-up begins October 16th @ 8:00 AM.
SIXTH GRADE PARENT CONFERENCE INFORMATION:
Dear Sixth Grade Families:
Conferences for 6th grade students will be held in the gym. All four teachers will be available during fall conference dates (Nov 8 & 9) and times. To accommodate 95 students, each conference will be held to 5-7 minutes. If the teacher is meeting with another parent, please have a seat in the chairs that will be set up for you. When the conference before you is over, please walk up to table. the expectation is for all parents to attend a conference with at least one of the 6th grade teachers; please note that you do not need to meet with each teacher. In addition, teachers will be happy to accommodate a phone or video conference if you have a special circumstance and cannot attend in person.
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE TIPS
Gone are the days when teachers and parents had the time to mingle before and after school to discuss how kids are doing. As demands on teachers and their time continue to rise and the over scheduling of our kids creates a rush from the moment the school day ends, the ability for teachers and parents to communicate regularly has drastically declined.
Classroom webpages and group emails allow teachers to update parents on what is happening in the classroom, parents can track grades, and you can even watch videos of your child working on a science project. While helpful in many ways, this type of interaction cannot replace face-to-face time with the person who is likely spending more time with your child than you are.
Most parents get only a couple of opportunities to sit down face to face with their child’s teacher and discuss their child’s progress. Often, we are capped at 15 minutes to learn everything we can about our child’s life at school.
Being intentional about the knowledge you want to gain during these conferences is critical. The parent teacher conference provides you with the opportunity to gain the perspective of a trained professional who spends an enormous amount of time with your child.
Here are a few ideas to help you get the most out of your meeting.
Before the Conference:
- Talk to your child. Ask them what their teacher may say, what they like and do not like about school, and if they want you to discuss anything in particular with their teacher.
- Talk to your spouse. Find out if they have questions or concerns prior to the conference so you aren’t surprised during your time with the teacher. If your spouse cannot attend, find out if they have questions or concerns for the teacher. Make a list of questions and concerns and bring them with you. Don’t rely on your memory, especially if the conference may bring up strong emotions. When our mind is in a state of stress, often everything we planned goes out the window.
- Arrive early. You don’t want to come racing into the school in a frazzled state of mind. Give yourself plenty of time so you arrive relaxed and ready to listen.
During the Conference:
- Listen. Sometimes we get so involved in our thoughts about what we want to say that we fail to be present and really hear what the teacher is saying. Know that you will have the opportunity to speak your mind (remember that is what your list is for) but be intentional about actively listening. The teacher has valuable information that they want to share, so listen to them!
- Keep an open mind. Parent teacher conferences can bring out all kinds of emotions. Remember the conference is an opportunity to work with the teacher as part of a team. If the teacher points out areas of concern ask them how they plan to help your child make improvements and ask how you can support their efforts at home. Ask the teacher how they prefer to communicate about progress. Do they prefer email, phone calls or a personal check-in. Make it as easy as possible for the teacher to communicate with you. Breathe. When our kids struggle we struggle. Often when concern is expressed about our child our brain interprets it as a personal attack. If you feel your blood pressure rising, the tears coming, take a few deep breaths. Give yourself time to reflect on what the teacher is saying, don’t feel you need to respond right away. One of my favorite quotes by Elizabeth Stone is “Making the decision to have a child – it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”
After the conference:
- Follow up with the teacher. Check in on progress and let them know what you are working on at home. If there is something you forgot to discuss at the conference, follow up with a note or phone call. Keep the dialogue going.
- Talk to your child. Tell your child right away about the positive things the teachers discussed and then talk about their suggestions for improvement. Create process-oriented goals with your child if you want to create a plan to improve behavior or performance.
Process Oriented Goals
Most kids and adults tend to think in outcome-oriented ways (i.e. what grade you received on a test or whether you won or lost a game). While your child may work incredibly hard, they still may not achieve the score they were hoping for on a reading assessment. Children who are more focused on the outcome than the process tend to display less task persistence (they give up sooner), less task enjoyment, more low-ability attributions (felt badly about themselves when they didn’t get it correct), and worse task performance. Children who focus on the process are more persistent, don’t beat themselves up if they make a mistake, and ultimately perform better.
Examples of Process Oriented Goals include:
- Read 20 minutes per night rather than read 3 books each month
- Practice 5 one-minute math fact worksheets per night instead of complete the sheet in less than one minute
- Practice spelling words on car rides instead of getting 100% on the spelling test
Share your process goals with your teacher in an email, they might have additional process goal suggestions depending on what your child’s needs are academically. Make a fun process goal chart to ensure your child sticks with them. If you want to implement a reward system, reward the process instead of the outcome.
Parent teacher conferences are a great opportunity for parents and teachers to connect over shared goals and they’re a great reminder for all of us that together we can do so much!
BOOK FAIR!
Ebeling's Fall Scholastic Book Fair will take place from November 13 - 17. The book fair is a wonderful way to promote literacy among our students as well as raising funds for our school. These book fairs are only possible with the help of volunteers. Please take a moment to review our Sign Up Genius and consider signing up if you are able.
NOTE: All volunteers must have a background check on file. If you have not done so, please contact us for assistance.
Update! Heritage Junior High/Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies Building Study
Parents, please see the following update from Mr. Monroe:
Utica Community Schools is committed, in partnership with the community, to empower students to positively transform their future and the world. We strive to prepare students for success beyond UCS, focusing on their education and safety today, and ensuring our schools are meeting student needs both now and in the future.
This commitment requires us to constantly review the use of our physical resources, to make certain our buildings are functioning safely and effectively and meeting the needs of the students and families in our community.
As we shared during last year’s Safety and Success Bond election, we are taking a long-term approach to our facility needs. This study is based on:
- Safety
- Age of the Facility
- Enrollment Patterns and Trends
This study includes a comprehensive look at the future of the shared site for Heritage Junior High School and the Gene L. Klida for International Studies. This was a need identified during both our strategic planning process and community surveys about future facility improvements. Heritage Junior High School and GLK-UAIS have been sharing a facility for the past 16 years. During that time, enrollment and building needs at Heritage and GLK-UAIS have experienced significant changes.
The district’s long-standing citizens’ committee – the Enrollment Distribution Advisory Committee – began to look at this issue in the spring. Their input will be considered along with enrollment projections, building needs assessments from our auxiliary services department, the efficient use of district resources, and making sure our students have access to programs and experiences that will empower their future.
Additional information is available through a Fact Sheet on this website: https://www.uticak12.org/buildingforthefuture. You can also share your thoughts and questions here: http://www.uticak12.org/feedback. A final determination on the future of this site is expected in November.
Safe, secure, and educationally vibrant schools remain a priority. We also recognize that change can be difficult. By working in partnership, we can position our district to continue supporting student success for today’s students and our future generations.
Our Winter "FRIENDS" Return
Head lice can occur any time of the year, but oftentimes we see an increase in cases during the cold winter months - when we spend most of our time indoors sharing close-quarters and coatrooms.
A great habit to get into to avoid a runaway case of head lice is to conduct a regular head and scalp check on your children. If you confirm (or suspect…) head lice, there are lots of over the counter products to help eliminate them. Please inform the school office staff and we will provide for additional disinfecting in the classrooms. We can also provide tips and tricks if needed!
Questions or Concerns – Who to Contact
Below is information from the UCS handbook in regards to communication flow. You can use this as a guideline when you need to reach out.
When to Contact 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
When to Contact Your Child’s Principal
• Program and classroom concerns, following conversation with teacher
• Discipline concerns
• Building management questions
• School and classroom curriculum, materials, instruction, and/or assessment questions
* Also: email denise.bailey@uticak12.org for vacation requests/approvals
When to Contact the UCS 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
🍩SIXTH GRADE BAKE SALE INFO🍪
ATTENDANCE POLICY
If your child is going to be absent call 586-797-4799 and leave a message on the 24-hour automated absence line. Any absences not called in to the office will be marked as 'unexcused' on student attendance records.
Your child will be excused from class for illness, bereavement, recognized religious holidays and medical or dental treatment that cannot be scheduled after school or on weekends.
Your child is responsible for makeup work. Homework requests may be made for an absence of two or more days in the case of both excused and pre-excused absences. Homework requests require 24 hours to process.
VACATION POLICY
Absence for family travel during scheduled school days is discouraged.
However, should family travel be necessary, parents must submit a written request to the Ebeling office for Principal approval of a pre-excused absence at least one week in advance. Vacation days in excess of 10 days per semester will not be approved.
Arrangements to complete classroom assignments can be made with the teacher.
You can arrange for home study through the school principal should your child be absent from school for an extended period due to physical disability or illness.
LATE ARRIVAL
If a student arrives late to school, the parent must accompany the student into the office, and the student must be signed in before he or she can go to class.
Truancy officials will be contacted in the event of a student having excessive tardies or absences.
BREAKFAST PROCEDURE
If your child wishes to eat breakfast at school, they must order breakfast the day before when asked by their classroom teacher. When entering school for breakfast, students must enter through the main doors (either Door 1, or Door 9) and proceed directly to the gym/cafeteria. Doors will open at 8:05, and breakfast will be available to eat until 8:25.
PTA INFORMATION:
PTA NEWS
We are off and running this school year with the Back to School Picnic in the works, a new spirit wear vendor (with grade level shirts returning for purchase this year), and a calendar full of opportunities to get involved! We would love to see you at our monthly PTA meetings held in the Media Center, so grab a friend and join us!
SPIRITWEAR DESIGNS & ONLINE ORDERS:
Show your school spirit! Shop for T-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, bags and beanies - all customized to show your EAGLE PRIDE! Lots of designs to choose from. Items are personalized locally and delivered right to school - no additional shipping charges.