Schwarzkoff Community News

Email: officeschwarzkoff@uticak12.org
Website: https://www.uticak12.org/schwarzkoff

Location: 8401 Constitution Blvd, Sterling Heights, MI 48313

Phone: (586) 797-6300

Absence Line: (586) 797-6399 (must call in absence)

School Hours: 8:25 AM - 3:15 PM (full days) and 8:25 AM -11:29 AM (half days)

Breakfast Hours: 8:05-8:25 AM
Facebook: Schwarzkoff Elementary School

8:05 Main doors open for K-6 breakfast students ONLY

8:15 Inside doors open for classroom lineup

8:15 Kinder students enter via classroom doors (first week ONLY)

8:25 School begins

11:29 Half day dismissal

3:15 Regular dismissal

Monday, October 28th

• Pink Out SPIRIT DAY
• 3:30 Play Practice

Tuesday, October 29th

• Wear FALL COLORS DAY
• 3:30 ATG Meeting

Wednesday, October 30th

• Halloween Clothing Day (save your costume for tomorrow)

Thursday, October 31st

• Halloween Costumes (no blood, guts, or gore)

• Parent volunteer reminder, you must have a background check on file to volunteer

• Halloween Parade 10:45 (outside weather permitting)

• Parents may view parade from PARKING LOT ONLY (if we are outside)

• Half Day with dismissal at 11:29

Friday, November 1st

• PJ Day
• 10:00 AM Character Assembly
• Half Day with dismissal at 11:29

• Thanks to APEX and Zigzag we had an AMAZING FUNDRAISER learning how to be FUTURE LEADERS.
• Today's Glow Dance and White OUT was a BLAST.
• Our SVG was able to raise enough money to meet our budgeted line items for the year.

School Soft Conference Window is Open

Conference scheduling software will open to parents on 10-18 and stay open until right before conferences begin

• 11/6/2023 4:00-7:00
• 11/7/2023 12:15-3:15
• 11/7/2023 4:00-7:00

6th Grade Update:

This year the 6th grade teachers will being conducting their conferences in the gym junior high style. Each of the 3 teachers will have a table set up to meet at.

Parents:

-do not need to sign up on Schoolsoft for a timeslot

-can come at any time during the conference window.

Nov 6 4-7 and Nov 7 12:15-3:15 or 4-7

-will enter the gym and wait in a seat near the teacher's table that you need to conference with

-will meet with your child's homeroom teacher and the other 2 teachers, as needed

-can come before or after your other children's time slots

If you already signed up on Schoolsoft, you can still come at that time but you may have to wait a few minutes if your child's teacher has another conference in progress at that moment.

If you need and interpreter for your conference, let your child's teacher know in advance so he/she can coordinate a time for you and the interpreter.

If your child has an IEP, your child's teacher will reach out to you to schedule a specific time slot for you to meet with him/her and Mrs. Maki.

If you have any questions, please send an email to your child's homeroom teacher.

• Option to sign up virtually, in-person, or for a phone conference
• 100% parent attendance expectation
• Sign up at https://utica.schoolsoft.com/

• Per our SVG bylaws all funding requests over $100 must be approved by a vote of teachers, and families.
• Voting will remain open for 3 days

Most teachers will have printouts of the NWEA Family Report for Parent Teacher Conferences.

If you would like to download a report, follow the directions below.

As a reminder you must be logged into your PS portal on a laptop to follow these directions.

Each year we pause to celebrate the military on Veteran's Day

• Please note Veterans Day is for military that served but are NO longer serving.
• Memorial Day is for military that served and passed away while on duty.
• Armed Forces Day is to recognize active military.
• Since we only have one military celebration it is INCLUSIVE and will occur on Monday, November 11th.
• I create a PPT with pictures of family members in the military.
• Here is a link to the PPT from last year... Veterans Day PowerPoint Presentation.pptx
• Each year, I try to highlight NEW families or those who were NOT in last year's PPT.
• If you would like to have your service member included in this year's PPT, please send the following:
• The name of the service member, branch, rank and years served.
• A picture of the service member in uniform
• A picture of the service member with YOU (this helps our students to recognize the connections)
• I will share out the PPT on Friday, November 8th so you can share it during class on Monday, November 11th.

Some important info:

• Schwarzkoff's team is made of 4th-6th graders only, but we are willing to take on 3rd graders if they have a recommendation.

• Science O is a FREE club!

• A parent MUST BE WILLING to coach to for their child to participate: parents will have to actively assist in helping, reading rules, helping study, come to parent meetings, and fill out practice logs.

• To join, families must be committed to going to the tournament on Saturday, May 10th, 2025.

• There are limited spots available, so first come first serve, if they know they won't be able to fully commit, they need to know they might take another student's spot.

• There is a student meeting in Mr. Yang's Rm 7 on 10/25/24 at 12:00pm

• There is a mandatory parent meeting for interested families Monday November 11th at 5:00pm on TEAMS

• There will be more Science O information during parent teacher conferences outside Rm 7.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis, I hope I got everything, please let me know if I missed anything.

On the bottom of each item on the Nutrislice menus on there is a key that denotes if they are halal or halal friendly (not certified halal but do not contain any animal enzymes or alcohol.) If a child needs halal the parent fills out the dietary needs form at least 48 hours in advance notice so that way we can get food from our base kitchens. The form should be sent it to Envin.kape@uticak12.org.

Here is a link to Food Service Contact Information as well.

• Long-Term Rate $200 a day (an increase from $160)
• Building Sub $160 a day
• Retiree rate is $200 a day
• Long Term Retiree is $225 a day

• UCS has updated the Elementary Handbook for disciplinary policies.
• On Weds, September 25th a time has been scheduled for each grade level in the media center for a grade level handbook review.
• After the review each student will have to provide a signed statement showing they participated in the review.
• Teachers will be accountable for reviewing the handbook for any absent students.
• Each grade level may select one teacher to complete the review.
• The updated handbook is listed below.

• Kinder ONLY - Enter at door 8 unless breakfast
  
• 1st- 6th - Enter MAIN DOORS
  
• All cars enter and exit through same parking lot entrance (School staff at spot at 8:15)
• Parent drop off lane by gym staff on duty at 8:15.
• All students must be WALKED through the parking lot.
  
• Please note that students arrive at 8:25 will not be able to eat breakfast

Dismissal Procedures

• Kinders begin dismissal at 3:05 (first weeks ONLY)
• Khatri ONLY - Dismiss at Door 8
• 1st - Dismiss at classroom doors
• Molek & Duncan - Dismiss at classroom doors
• 3rd/Qaran - Dismiss at the classroom doors
• All bussers will wear bus tags and be supervised when walking out to busses.
• 3:20 - Staff duty ends, all students must be picked up by 3:15, 11:29 on half days.

Bell Schedule Arrival

• 8:05 - All students that enter must go to main doors in gym for breakfast. NO STUDENTS MAY ENTER AT THIS TIME UNLESS THEY ARE EATING BREAKFAST
• 8:15 - All students through main doors, breakfast students may go through inside double doors for classroom indoor line up.
• 8:25 - Arrival bell rings, all tardy students will enter through office doors, parents must walk tardy students to office, ring bell and show ID.

We are asking for your assistance to ensure that our security procedures during the school day are effective and efficient. When you wish to visit Schwarzkoff Elementary, come to front door right of main door. At this door we have a security camera, intercom, and buzzer. To help us assist you when you would like to enter our school:

1. Please press the buzzer to speak with someone in the office
2. You will be asked to state your name and reason for visiting
3. You will be asked to show your photo id into the security camera
4. Office staff will buzz the door for you to enter the building
5. Please pass through the lobby and enter the office
6. Office staff will help you with your request

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

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 Schwarzkoff safe.

While we understand the appeal of having fast food delivered to school, we prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of our entire student body. Allowing outside food deliveries creates logistical challenges, disrupts the school environment, and can lead to unfair advantages for some students. For these reasons, fast food deliveries during school hours will not be permitted. We encourage all students to either bring a packed lunch or enjoy the free meals provided in our cafeteria.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Students will have the opportunity to go outside with their classmates during designated times throughout the day. Recess helps to promote social and emotional learning and development for all children. Allowing time for our students to engage in peer interactions allows them to role play essential social skills. Recess also benefits our students by increasing their level of physical activity improving their memory, attention, and concentration. Each class will have a recess attached to the lunch program. We go outside whenever possible and stay inside if it is raining or the temperatures are below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Students will have an optional second recess each day with their classroom teacher. Please have children dress for the weather.

All meals are free this year thanks to the Michigan School Meals law. Students that would like to be eligible for benefits, such as pay-to-participate sports, college entrance fees, AP testing fees and more still need to fill out the Education Benefits Form or the School Meals Form. These forms are available at https://utica.familyportal.cloud. Please download and complete the forms to ensure we receive our Title I and other specialized funding from the state. Paper applications will be sent home with the youngest child in the family the first week of school.

Any prospective volunteer of Utica Community Schools including those who will be supervising students, working with students, chaperoning field trip, etc. must complete a Criminal History Check Form and be cleared prior to any volunteer services.

Volunteer background checks must be completed annually. If a parent has students in more than one school, only one volunteer form must be completed.

Click on the link below the photos, complete the form and return to Schwarzkoff Office