CUBS COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION
Issue #2 8.25.23
SCHOOL HOURS: 8:25-3:15 DAILY
HALF-DAY HOURS: 8:25-11:29
BREAKFAST OPENS @ 8:05-8:25
email: mailto:officecollins@uticak12.org
website: https://collins.uticak12.org
Location: 12900 Grand Haven, Sterling Heights, MI 48312
Phone: 586-797-4200
Attendance Line: 586-797-4299 (24 hours)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CollinsCubs
COMMUNITY UPDATE ISSUE #8 OCTOBER 8, 2023
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
OCTOBER DATES
9th: PTO MEETING 4pm Media Center
10th: Behavior Assemblies by Grade Level with Principal and Mrs. Oakie, SSO
10th: NEW LUNCH SCHEDULE BEGINS
10th: Practice Bus Evacuation @ 9:20
11th: Behavior Assemblies by Grade Level with Principal and Mrs. Oakie, SSO
12th: PICTURE DAY!!
18th: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS-Professional Development for Teachers
19th: School Soft Parent Teacher CONFERENCE SIGN-UP OPEN!!
27th: Half-Day of School END OF QUARTER 1
31st: Half-Day of School
NOVEMBER DATES
7th: NO SCHOOL for STUDENTS-PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS
9th: HALF-DAY of SCHOOL Dismissal @ 11:29
9th: Parent Teacher Conferences 12:15-3:15
9th: Parent Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00
15th: Parent Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00
COMMUNITY UPDATE-SUNDAY S'MORE EDITION
COMMUNITY UPDATE 10.9.23
❤️GREETINGS COLLINS CUBS-
A very special thank you to all those students who participated and got to school in a timely manner for our COUNT DAY! This is a critical day for all public schools and we appreciate you very much! This week, we will have our BEHAVIOR assemblies. Students will also be signing their behavior contract and bring home a letter stating they had their behavior assemblies at school. Please be sure to review all policies and procedures.
STUDENT SHOUT-OUTS!! LET'S CELEBRATE!
The students in the school have been working diligently to earn PRINCIPAL PAW points for showing their P.A.W.S. in a variety of ways. Each morning announcement, a grade level or class will be celebrated for demonstrating positive behavior in our schools. Students in the lunch room have the opportunity to earn a SIT WITH MY FRIEND day, extra recess hosted by Mrs. Ciacchella, and prizes. Please be sure to review the rules with students. Thank you!
BEHAVIORS AT SCHOOL
Students will be celebrated with POSITIVE REFERRALS coming home, beginning this week. Please look for those opportunities to celebrate great behaviors and progress in our schools. As a reminder, the following school rules should be adhered to each day:
P.: POSITIVE CHOICES LOOK LIKE-
- Appropriate Language Used During the Day in ALL areas of COLLINS.
- No THREATS OF ANY KIND-Students that do not adhere to this issue will be addressed with our immediate school safety protocol. This is a very serious offense. Please speak to your students about refraining for any INTIMIDATING BEHAVIORS or THREATS OF ANY KIND. Please see the Student Policy Book to review UCS POLICIES
- HANDS/FEET/OBJECTS TO OURSELVES at ALL times.
- Walking feet in the hallways
- PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE ON-MUST BE SECURELY PUT AWAY and TURNED OFF-this includes SMART WATCHES, HEADPHONES, PHONES, etc. . If there is an exception to this, a family member will be notified. Please see SCHOOL POLICY in HANDBOOK.
A.: ACT RESPONSIBILY LOOKS LIKE-
- NO SHARING OF FOOD or CLASSROOM TREATS PERMITTED: Due to severe allergies and unique issues, students are not permitted to share food or bring in a treat to school. This rule must be followed at all times. Students that have received warnings about this already will now receive additional behavior communication/referral forms if this measure is not followed. Please speak to students about this as we will do so during the Behavior assemblies.
- HANDS/FEET To OURSELVES on the Playground: NO tackle football is permitted. Chasing students may continue without touching of another individual.
- Listens to classroom teacher, specials teachers, staff, or substitutes the first time a direction is given in class.
- Kindness in our words and actions towards other students and staff.
- Following rules of school.
- Trustworthy with objects in the school
- Doing the right thing when others are not watching.
- Honest and reporting any issues directly to the teacher when it happens.
REVISED LUNCH SCHEDULES TO BEGIN on TUESDAY, October 10th:
- 11:05-11:45 LUNCH/RECESS TIME for Kindergarten, 6th grade, 2nd, and 3rd grade.
- 11:50-12:30 LUNCH/RECESS TIME for 1st, 4th, and 5th grades.
BREAKFAST REMINDERS & ARRIVING EARLY TO SCHOOL:
As you are already aware, our school is providing FREE BREAKFAST FOR ALL STUDENTS. Doors open for Breakfast at 8:05 AM and students are released to their classrooms at the first bell of 8:15-8:20. Students attending breakfast are to adhere to behavior expectations and SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT as well. Students that are choosing to attend breakfast MUST REMAIN IN THE CAFETERIA until the first bell rings-students are not permitted outside of the cafeteria after they arrive for breakfast, due to safety protocol. In addition, students are not monitored outside of the building until our first bell and teacher duties begin at 8:15. It is a critical safety issue that students are NOT PERMITTED to be dropped off at school until the first bell rings OR until the breakfast door opens. Thank you! If you need additional information for SACC or before-school care, please let us know in the office and we will be happy to assist you with finding care for our Cubs. Thank you.
PAID LUNCHROOM SUPERVISORS STILL NEEDED
At this time, we are looking for approximately TWO MORE PAID LUNCHROOM SUPERVISORS to manage the lunchroom schedules. If this is something you are interested in doing, please let Mrs. Ciacchella know as soon as possible. This is a GREAT opportunity to get involved in your child's school AND to get PAID!!
SCHOOL BEHAVIOR ASSEMBLY-CELEBRATING P.A.W.S. BEHAVIORS!
Students will have a special BEHAVIOR ASSEMBLY BY GRADE LEVEL this week with Mrs. Ciacchella. During this 25 minute assembly, we will be reviewing SCHOOL CODE OF CONDUCT, behaviors in the school and cafeteria, as well as special ways to CELEBRATE our CUBS! Students have the ability to earn Principal P.A.W.S points in the lunchroom and cafeteria as well as for an office referral for PAWS-itively awesome behavior. If you see a special award coming home to celebrate your student, it is because they were nominated by a Collins' staff member for showing their P.A.W.S!! Students will be brining home some information after the assembly for you to review and sign. All students will be signing a BEHAVIOR COMPACT to be displayed in the school. 🐻
OFFICE REFERRAL FORMS/REFLECTION SHEETS
It is that time of year when we are actively working to help students continue to be successful in school. From time to time, students may be referred to the office for a behavior issue that took place in their classroom, recess time, special, or anywhere else throughout the building. If you receive a note from the office regarding this referral request, it is simply to communicate transparently with you and your family. Please review the sheet and sign, if requested and return to school the next day. Please also know that by receiving this form, its purpose is to inform you that we had an issue at school that we worked through together as a TEAM only. We are simply communicating and being proactive to support your child.
Your child may also be asked to complete a RESTORATIVE REFLECTION sheet simply to help our CUBS mindfully reflect on the action of their day and work to be proactive in finding alternative solutions to handling any issues that may arise. We are a TEAM at Collins and we look forward to working WITH YOU in partnership to help our CUBS continue to be successful. *PLEASE NOTE:* Should an escalated behavior issue arise, or an event that is an emergency happen, a phone call or email will ALWAYS precede or follow the referral notice home.*
Wishing you all the best week ahead and we look forward to a successful week at Collins!
Working with our community is the greatest part of my day! Love our Collins Community!!
Kind Regard,
Principal Ciacchella
STUDENT BEHAVIOR POLICY
P.A.W.S.
SUPER CUBS SHOW THEIR P.A.W.S!
P: Positive Choices
A: Act Responsibly
W: Will be Respectful
S: Shows Integrity
All Collins Cubs are expected to follow protocols and procedures while showing their PAWS! That includes inside the classrooms, during the hallways, on the playgrounds, and for arrivial/dismissal as well. Teachers will be on the lookout for ways to celebrate students showing their PAWS and have a chance to earn incentives.
UTICA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PARENT HANDBOOK FOR BEHAVIORS
Please review all Utica Community Schools behavior policies in the Parent Handbook attached to the link below. It is expected that all UCS policies and procedures will be adhered to at any/all school functions and on school properties. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
PICTURE DAY 10/12
Lifetouch
SCHOOL SAFETY UPDATE
Safety remains a priority for our school. Collins Elementary is once again providing training to our students on our safety protocols. The protocols identify actions that students may be asked to take in the event of a potential incident: hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter.
The training is provided through a short, animated video. In the video, the teacher – Mrs. Appleton – and her students walk through the different responses in a very relaxed and engaging way for younger children. The script was written by our staff.
The protocols will continue to be part of the training while practicing our regular school safety drills, such as fire drills, security drills, tornado drills, evacuation procedures, etc.)
The video is available for you to review at this link: UCS School Safety: Standard Response Protocol - Elementary - YouTube If you have any questions, please contact our office.
BRUCE COLLINS EVENT CALENDAR
OCTOBER HALF-DAY and NO SCHOOL ALERTS
*NEW* SMILE! SECURITY UPDATE!
*NEW!* In adherence to our safety protocols, every member of the community must show their PHOTO IDs to the camera prior to entering our school doors. Please have your IDs with you at all times when coming to the front office. Even if we know you, we are making sure to have a record of all our wonderful families present and following necessary SCHOOL SAFETY measures. Thank you for your understanding and support in keeping all our CUBS safe at school!
FREE MEALS AT COLLINS
ATTENTION FAMILIES: FREE MEALS AT UCS UPDATE 2023-2024
All meals are free this year thanks to the Michigan School Meals law (2A). Students that would like to be eligible for benefits, such as pay-to-participate sports, college entrance/AP testing fees, summer EBT cards and more need to complete the Eligibility Benefits Form or the School Meals and Summer EBT Form (2B). These forms are available at https://utica.familyportal.cloud. Please encourage your parents to complete these forms to ensure our Title I and other specialized funding is received from the state. Paper applications are arriving at your schools this week. For Elementary schools please only send 1 copy home with either the oldest or the youngest child in the family. Secondary schools please have paper copies available in your main offices.
SPECIAL DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
Students with food allergies that wish to use school meals must have a Special Dietary Needs form (11A) completed and signed by a physician. Forms need to be turned in to the office of Food and Nutrition Service. Without this form we cannot make accommodations. This form must be updated every year to ensure accuracy. Since all schools have vegetarian options, parents do not need to complete a form for that option.
*PAY SCHOOLS UPDATE*
Important Note About Pay Schools for the 2023-2024 School Year
PaySchools has improved its platform this year to provide a system that is consistently more reliable and user friendly. The end result for parents will be that the information they need will be personalized for their child.
As a result, families will be asked to recreate an account (even if you previously had a PaySchools account). Once created, you will be provided with those product choices that directly relate to your child.
Just follow these easy steps:
Create an account from your computer or tablet at: www.payschoolscentral.com
Complete the account registration by selecting register, enter your profile details, setting up your password via the email link that will be sent to you, then logging in.
Add your children to your account using their student ID numbers. ID numbers are found on their report card available through PowerSchool.
If you like, enter credit card and/or banking information as forms of payments to use with your PaySchools account.
A complete guide (with screen shots) is available at this link.
Need help with your PaySchools Central account?
8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET (M-F)
877-393-6628
PTO EVENTS & REMINDERS
COMMUNITY EVENTS
PREVIOUS CUB COMMUNICATION
Bruce Collins Elementary
Principal of Collins Elementary
Email: collinsquestions@uticak12.org
Website: https://www.uticak12.org/Collins
Location: 12900 Grand Haven Drive, Sterling Heights, MI, USA
Phone: (586)797-4200
Facebook: facebook.com/collins