One of the most popular questions involves cell phones for students. Elementary students are asked not to bring cell phones to school. They are not needed, and use of other technology is provided to students as needed for school work while at school. Due to circumstances at home, however, with family schedules, it may be necessary for a student to need to bring their phone to school. IF a parent would like their child to carry their cell phone to school please follow these two guidelines:

1. A note from parent requesting student bring their phone (so we know you approved), and
2. Student parks phone in teacher's cupboard, or our office 'cell phone parking lot'

Device Insurance Plan for Accidental Damage – Annual OPTIONAL COVERAGE

DEADLINE TO APPLY - SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

An annual insurance plan has been designed to help families if there is an accident that causes damage to the school issued device. When participating in the district’s insurance plan for $15 per year, any accidental damage reported will be covered as described below.

How to Purchase Device Insurance -- ONLINE:

The initial fee to purchase device insurance ($15 per device) can be paid online using your checking account, debit card or credit card through PaySchools. The link to PaySchools is unique to each individual school within the district. The link can be found on the homepage of the school your student attends, under “Parents” - “My *school name*” I have included the link for you below.

by Cash or Check: You can send cash or check to school with your child. Make sure to seal it in an envelope with your child's full name, teacher's name, and mark it "Device Insurance". Teachers will forward these envelopes to our school office. Please remember, the Sept. 8 deadline. The office cannot accept insurance payments after Sept. 8.

FINAL DATE TO ENROLL FOR TECHNOLOGY INSURANCE (2022-2023)

In order to be considered enrolled in the optional Technology Insurance Program, payments for 2022- 2023 school year must be received no later than Thursday, September 2, 2022.

https://utica.familyportal.cloud/

Click on the picture (right) to watch a quick video on how to set up your account!

Beck is an allergy-safe school, meaning we do everything within our power to keep our children safe, limit the potential exposures to allergens, and have many guidelines and precautions in place to protect children. Part of this protection is watching for possible cross-contamination issues, where a child with an allergy could be exposed to an allergen that has accidently been smeared on a table or spread onto other common items, such as computers, pencils, or other shared supplies. Because of this all of our classrooms have food restrictions in place. Only fresh fruits and vegetables (no dips) are allowed for classroom snacks.

The lunchroom has more staff available and more space to accommodate the varied requirements of our students with allergies. We are able to place students with allergies at designated tables decreasing their risk of cross-contamination. For this reason, we do not have restrictions placed on lunches, instead we change who can safely eat at a table with our students with allergies.

This situation would be much easier for school staff if our only concerns were peanuts and tree nuts. There are 8 allergens, however, that are the cause of 90% of all food allergies. These allergens include: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts. In the Utica Community School district, sesame seeds allergies are also on the rise in addition to the above allergens. Managing all of these allergens proves to be very challenging. This is why we need the help of all our parents and students.

Please remember:

• No School Friday, September 2 - Monday, September 5, for Labor Day Weekend
• September 6 - School resumes
• September 14 - No School, Teacher Professional Development Day
• September 15 - Beck Open House 7:00 p.m. Live! At Beck!