All-Star Announcements

Email: officebeacontree@uticak12.org
Website: https://www.uticak12.org/beacontree
Location: 55855 Schoenherr Shelby Twp., MI 48315 586.797.7300
Phone: 586.797.7300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beacontreenow

The school year is about 10 days away! I know that even though our Beacon Tree All-Stars do not want summer to end, there may be an eagerness to come back to their "home" and be with both new and old friends. We are excited to bring you a year filled with academic rigor, creativity, and experiences that will deepen the knowledge of your All-Star. Our teachers and staff have been hard at work preparing classrooms and activities that will surely ignite and challenge your children.

Families, we look forward to partnering with you to create your child(ren)'s most successful year yet. We encourage you to engage with your child's educational journey by attending school events, participating in parent-teacher conferences, and staying connected through our school communications, as well as talking nightly to your children about their school days.

Let's support one another, celebrate our achievements, and learn from the challenges we encounter along the way.

Here's to a fantastic school year filled with discovery, growth, and memories to last a lifetime!

Have a great weekend,

Mrs. Lenz

As we gear up for the upcoming fall semester, we would like to kindly remind you to complete and submit any necessary paperwork for your elementary school student.

This paperwork includes:

1. Forms in PowerSchool
2. Device Insurance
3. Educational Benefits Form.
4. Volunteer Background (Paper Version will be given out the first week of school. Both pages must be completed.)

Your cooperation in completing these forms ensures the safety and well-being of your child while they are under our care. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education.

Only complete these sections "Student Address, Contacts, Health Info." if there have been changes. Everyone must complete the "Required to Complete Each Year" section.

**Please note insurance has increased from $17.50 to $20.00 this year**

Please click the button below to view the full UCS device insurance plan. The cost of device insurance is $20.00 per student. The initial fee to purchase device insurance can be paid online using your checking account, debit card or credit card through PaySchools. The link to PaySchools is the same for ALL schools: https://www.payschoolscentral.com/.

• (Important - it is not recommended to use the app as it does not properly support UCS content).
• Search for Technology Device Insurance

Note to new kindergarten families and families new to the district - You will need to first create the PaySchools account for your family.

• 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 in PowerSchool, and 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.
• 
  

Please note that the final date to enroll in the optional device insurance plan is Friday, September 6th.

All UCS schools now utilize a central PaySchools site, which can be visited at www.payschoolscentral.com.

With PaySchools, you can pay for your children’s school fees, registrations, and more online, securely and quickly. No more lost cash or checks!

1. Create your account using your computer or tablet at: www.payschoolscentral.com
2. If you want to use your phone, download the PaySchools Central app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
3. Complete account registration by selecting register, entering your profile details, setting up your password via the email link we’ll send you, then logging in.
4. Add your children to your account using their student ID numbers.
5. If you’d like, enter credit card and/or banking information as forms of payment to use with your PaySchools account.

Need help with your PaySchools Central account?
8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET (M-F)
psc_help@payschools.com
877-393-6628

Rest assured that PaySchools is PCI-compliant and maintains industry-standard SSL certificates, ensuring all your family’s data is safe and secured.

When logging into PaySchools this year you will need your Student ID number. A quick and easy way to find it is to look on your child's report card and it will be located to the left of their name.

You may also print an Education Benefit Form below and fill it out and email it to officebeacontree@uticak12.org or turn it into the Main Office. Additional copies are in the office.

Completing online is the quickest and easiest way to complete.

Please note that in order to volunteer at Beacon Tree, a Volunteer Criminal History Check Form will need to be completed and submitted EVERY YEAR.

The form is attached below. Please fill it out and email it to officebeacontree@uticak12.org or turn it into the Main Office.

August

August 19: Bus Stops emailed

August 22: Teacher Notification Emailed

August 26: Sneak Peek 4:00-5:00

August 27: 1st Day of School (half-day / school dismisses at 12:04)

August 30: No School

September

September 2: No School (Labor Day)

September 3: School Resumes (full day)

September 18: No School (PD Day)

September 19: UCS Legacy of Excellence Night

October

October 2: Picture Day

October 16: No School (PD Day)

October 31: Half-Day (school dismisses at 12:04)

Bus Stops will be emailed the afternoon of Monday, August 19th.

The classroom teachers, learning center teachers, and the admin team collaborated to place your children in the most cohesive classroom. Our Kindergarten and preschool teams screened many of the incoming students and made initial placement. As students are placed together in classroom groups, we look at many factors such as general academics, reading abilities, and sociability to create a well-balanced classroom. Once classroom groups are designed, that is when a teacher is assigned to that group of students.

Classroom placement is an extremely long and arduous process each year that is well thought out by our team and other staff. As it is difficult for me to honor specific teacher requests, I am confident that the team will place all children in an environment where they can be most successful as I whole heartedly trust my teams. We thank you in advance for support and trust in this area as classroom teacher changes will not be made after the communications go out at the end of the day on Thursday, August 22nd.

We are asking for your assistance to ensure that our security procedures during the school day are effective. As many of you know, our school has a security camera, intercom, and buzzer at the front entrance for use during the school day. To help us assist you when you would like to enter the school:

1. All guests must enter through the main office door

2. Please press the buzzer to speak with someone in the office

3. You will be asked to state your name and reason for visiting

4. Each time you come to the office you will be asked to show your photo ID into the security camera above the outside door and once again at the main office.

5. Office staff will assist you.

6. Guests must have an appointment to meet with a staff member during instructional hours.

In addition, we are asking you to not let any visitors in the door as you enter (and they come up behind you) or as you exit the building.

Finally, all exterior doors are to remain locked and secure daily. Teachers will not prop doors open and any door that is open is to have a staff member monitoring it at all times.

The teachers and staff are committed to student safety and security and we would like to thank you for your assistance in helping keep the students of Beacon Tree safe.

The first day of school is Tuesday, August 27th. It is a half-day for elementary students, with dismissal at 12:04 PM.

Upon arrival at school, students line up outside of their designated door (BEGINNING AT 8:50 am).

Teachers will be holding signs with their names on them.

8:50 - Doors open. NO Adult on duty before this time; children must be accompanied by an adult prior to 8:50.

8:50-9:00 - Student arrival

9:00 - Bell rings

9:00 am and afterwards - Students arriving after this time must enter the Main Office door and be accompanied by a parent and signed in as 'tardy'.

ENTER AND EXIT LOCATIONS

KDG & 1st: enter and exit through door 1

2nd, 3rd, & 4th: enter and exit through door 2

5th & 6th: enter and exit through door 3

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures Cont.

School officially begins at 9:00 AM. Students may begin lining up at their designated locations and supervision begins at 8:50 AM.

*There will be TWO separate lot loops. The NORTH lot will be the designated BUS LOOP and the SOUTH lot will be the DROP OFF LOOP.

Arrival Procedures:

• Students will line up outside their designated main door beginning at 8:50 until the doors open.

• The drop off lane in the parking lot will allow students to exit vehicles on the passenger side and walk to their line up spot.
• Supervision does not begin until 8:50. Parents DO NOT leave your child unattended or drop them in the drop off lane prior to our supervision times.

Dismissal:

Walkers/car riders/pickups will be dismissed from their door locations at 3:50 PM. At the 3:50 bell, teachers (or safety/service squad students) will walk all lower grade bus students to their bus for departure.

The teachers and staff at Beacon Tree support the recognition of a child’s birthday during the school day - it is an annual milestone in every child’s life. While there are many wonderful and creative ways to celebrate a child’s birthday in school, birthday celebrations at Beacon Tree will not include food treats. Instead, the focus will be on recognizing the day in a variety of special ways that do not include food treats. Some possibilities include:

• · Class sings “Happy Birthday”
• · Happy Birthday Recess/Gift
• · Morning “Happy Birthday” on monitors
• · Parent makes a donation of book to class library/read to class
• · Student reads favorite book to class
• · Non-Food treat bags for classmates

We do not accept deliveries on behalf of students (balloons, flowers, food items) Parents may drop off a special lunch (for their child only, not the class) or choose to take their child out to lunch on their special day. Your child’s teacher will have more information on how birthdays will be celebrated in the classroom. As educators, caregivers and loved ones we all want the best for our students. Thank you for joining us in giving students healthy opportunities to celebrate important events and achievements.

If your child is coming in for breakfast, they must enter through the main doors and proceed directly to the gym. Doors will open at 8:40. Please do not have your child enter at this time if they are not eating breakfast.

Utica Community Schools has a mobile app! Search for 'Utica Schools' in your phone's app store and download the free app to stay up-to-date on district and school news. The old mobile app 'Utica Community Schools' is no longer supported and should be deleted from your devices. Download at the App store here and Google Play here.

Let's talk SLEEP 😴

• Start a bedtime routine 1-2 weeks before school starts
• Move up bedtime by 15-30 minutes each night to get back to a regular bedtime
• Limit sugary snacks after dinner
• Limit screen time an hour before bed
• Encourage quiet activities before bed
• Reading
• Puzzles
• Coloring
• Playing with stuffed animals

On the day of absence, parent/guardian are asked to report an absence before the school day begins. Calls may be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be received by an answering machine during non-school hours at 586-797-7399. Absences may also be reported by email at officebeacontree@uticak12.org. Please do not call the main line, use the absence line or report by email. Documentation or other verification may be required to establish an excused absence. Please review the Board Policy 5115 below for more information regarding student attendance.

August

August 19: Bus Stops emailed

August 22: Teacher Notification Emailed

August 27: 1st Day of School (half-day / school dismisses at 12:04)

August 30: No School

September

September 2: No School (Labor Day)

September 3: School Resumes (full day)

September 18: No School (PD Day)

September 19: UCS Legacy of Excellence Night

October

October 2: Picture Day

October 16: No School (PD Day)

October 31: Half-Day (school dismisses at 12:04)

November

November 1: Half-Day (end of 1st report card marking) (school dismisses at 12:04)

November 5: No School (Election Day)

November 14: Picture Retake Day

November 27-29: No School (Thanksgiving Break)

December

December 20: Half-Day (end of 2nd marking period) (school dismisses at 12:04)

December 23-January 3: No School (Winter Break)

January

January 20: No School (MLK Day)

February

February 3-7; Jump Rope for Heart

February 17-21: No School (Mid-Winter Break)

March

March 21: Half-Day (end of 3rd marking period) (school dismisses at 12:04)

March 24-28: No School (Spring Break)

April

April 18: No School (Good Friday)

May

May 26: No School (Memorial Day)

June

June 6: Field Day

June 10: Half-Day (school dismisses at 12:04)

June 11: Half-Day (school dismisses at 12:04) / Last Day of School

Cheers to a new school year coming soon, All-Stars! On behalf of your 2024-2025 BTV board, welcome back to our returning families and welcome to all of our new students and families!

What’s the BTV? We’re glad you asked! The Beacon Tree Volunteers (BTV for short) is our parent group here at Beacon Tree similar to other schools’ PTAs, PTOs, etc. We just happened to be our own unique entity.

Our goal is to create the BEST possible school and the BEST possible educational experience for our children.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we share more about what we have planned for this school year and all the ways you can be involved! We simply aren’t the BTV without you!

NOTE: We’ll have overviews in this newsletter each week, but here are the best ways to stay informed on what’s happening as well as contact us:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/beacontreevolunteers

Website: beacontreevolunteers.com

Email Address: btvolunteers@yahoo.com