The Falcon Focus

Flickinger Mission Statement

The mission of Flickinger Elementary School is to provide a caring, academic environment that empowers students to become responsible citizens and lifelong learners.

Dear Falcon Families,

Our cereal community service project was a huge success thanks to all of your support. Students are excited for our domino train of cereal boxes tomorrow afternoon to celebrate their efforts supporting local food pantries. As April 22 approaches, we invite you to join us in promoting sustainability and a love for reading by participating in our Earth Day Book Swap event! Gently used books that you would like to pass on to another reader can be placed in your classroom donation box until April 17th. On Earth Day, all students will have the opportunity to "shop" for a new-to-you book in the media center. See details in the flyer below.

Week one of M-Step state testing went well last week, and we begin week two tomorrow with 5th and 6th grade math testing. Please remind students to bring their fully charged laptop to school each day. Check below for more information about testing dates for other grades and know that we will be mostly testing during the morning. This is because research suggests students perform best on tests at the start of the school day. I am confident that our students will do well. They have worked extremely hard and have grown so much! They are scholars!

Here are some tips to help your students during testing:

• Get a good night’s rest
• Have a positive attitude
• Eat a healthy breakfast
• Be on time to school

As always, thank you for being a partner in education and do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, suggestions or concerns. Remember there is no school this Friday April 18th, enjoy the long weekend!

Pauline Roberts

Principal

April

14-16 fifth and sixth Grade Math M-STEP

18-No School

21-Fifth Grade Science M-STEP

22-Fifth Grade Social Studies M-STEP

22-24 third and fourth Grade ELA M-STEP

22-Earth Day Book Swap

23-Spring Pictures

25- Take Your Child to Work Day

25-Last date to order a yearbook

28-Chick Fil A Restaurant night

29-1 May third and fourth Grade Math M-STEP

30- Mother/Son event

May

7-Career Focus Luncheon

9-Flower Sale

15-Art in the Park

27-6th Grade Tree Runner Field Trip

28-6th Grade Visit to Eppler

30-Field Day

The UCS Foundation and Connect Macomb, in cooperation with UCS, will be hosting the 31st Annual Career Focus Event for sixth grade students on Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7. On both days, the event will be held in-person from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at The Palazzo Grande in Shelby Township. Students will travel by UCS bus to the venue where they will interact with a business or community mentor, enjoy lunch, and then return by UCS bus to their school. Please consider signing up to be a sponsor or a mentor

The MDE has changed the name of the summer EBT program to Sun Bucks. There is also a new way to qualify for this program. Please see the attachments below for more information.

The attached Schools of Choice applications and In-District Student Transfer forms (5A, 5B) for the 2025-2026 school year are now available on our District website.

Below are current and revised attendance areas scheduled for fall of 2027. The

attendance revision is made in conjunction with planned reconstruction at Havel

Elementary and Graebner Elementary. The reconstruction work is part of a

long-term vision for our schools that is focused on safety and designs that support

innovation, growth and achievement. The revised attendance areas provide more

students access to reconstructed elementary schools and reconnect communities.

Report cards are available on your parent PowerSchool account. The file can only be accessed through a web browser, such as Edge, Chrome or Safari. Please note that the link is not available through the PowerSchool App.

Directions on how to access the report cards are available at this link.

Utica Community Schools will send an email when the report cards are available. If you have issues accessing the file once it is available, please contact us at 586-797-4900 or email Pauline.Roberts@uticak12.org

Creating an account- PowerSchool / Creating a PowerSchool Account (uticak12.org)

Click through tutorial- PowerSchool - How to Create a Parent Account (iorad.com)

Parent sign in- Parent Sign In (misd.net)

Adding a student- PowerSchool / Adding a Student to PowerSchool Account (uticak12.org)

Resetting a password- PowerSchool / Resetting a Password (uticak12.org)

Click through tutorial- PowerSchool - How To Reset a Password (iorad.com)

Mobil app- PowerSchool / Mobile App (uticak12.org)

At the beginning of each year, we ask our families to complete the necessary paperwork for the school year. This year, most of those forms need to be completed online in PowerSchool.

All Parents MUST COMPLETE the Mandatory Forms NO LATER THAN Friday, September 6th for their student(s).

The instructions on how to access Power School Forms through a browser are below (the screenshot is below as well):

1. Log into Unified Classroom Parent Account (BROWSER ONLY – the mobile app will not work)

2. Click on Forms

3. Under General Forms click on "Annual Update"

4. Complete ONLY if there are changes to: Student Address, Student Contacts, Health Information

5. REQUIRED TO COMPLETE EACH YEAR – MUST be completed.

6. Complete any additional forms below (e.g. Technology Agreements)

If you have another student, please repeat the process for them.

• Free meals are in effect again this year due to Michigan School Meals being passed in the budget
• Families need to fill out Educational Benefit Forms (EBF) Paper forms will be coming home to each family. Families can skip the paper/pencil routine and go to https://utica.familyportal.cloud to apply online. This process is quicker than paper.
• Families with allergies need to have the MDE Special Dietary Needs Form filled out and signed by a physician every year. Please submit those forms to Ebeling office.
• Menus are available on Nutrislice at https://uticak12.nutrislice.com

Flickinger spirit wear is now available to purchase online. Please click here to get to our online store. Flickinger spiritwear. You will find a fun selection of sweatshirts, T shirts, flannel pants and zip up hoodies. Grade Level T Shirts are also available. Order soon so you are ready for our upcoming spirit week events.

When is your child too sick to attend school? The following guidelines, along with the advice of your family doctor, will help you decide when your child should stay home:

• Cold and/or cough – a child with deep mucus that causes a cough and heavy nose drainage cannot function at school.

• Fever – fever is a warning that something is wrong. A child should remain at home for 24 hours after the fever is gone without the use of medication.

• Rash – a rash, spots or blotches on the skin can be the first sign of many illnesses. Rashes require a physician’s release stating they are not contagious.

• Stomachache/Upset – a child who is vomiting or has diarrhea should be kept at home and may return 24 hours after the symptoms are gone.

• Head Lice – a child with head lice must remain at home until treatment is complete and school officials confirm he or she is free of lice. Check your child’s head before school begins in the fall and routinely during the school year or if he or she complains of an itchy scalp. Look around your child’s ears and back of the neck for nits, which are tiny, 8 white, oval-shaped lice eggs that are attached to the hair near the scalp. Nits may look like dandruff or scalp flakes, but nits do not move and are difficult to dislodge. Notify the school office immediately if your child has head lice. Begin treatment immediately by contacting your doctor or purchasing over the counter medication from the drug store. To prevent spreading head lice, wash all infested garments, hair accessories, bedding and other surfaces with hot water and disinfectant. You must sign your child in at the office when he or she is returning to school after treatment for head lice.

Vacation Absences

Vacation or travel during school days is discouraged. Families should seek permission from a building administrator for an excused vacation absence prior to making any travel arrangements. The request should be made in writing at least one week prior to the vacation. Vacation absences of more than ten days in a semester will not be approved. Vacations taken without approval will be marked as unexcused absences. Arrangements should be made with the student’s teacher in advance as to timelines for completing class work. Homework may be requested and requires 24 hours to process.

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 main entrance for use during the school day. To help us assist you when you would like to enter the 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 above the outside door

4. Office staff will then be able to buzz you inside

5. All visitors must immediately register in the office

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.

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 Flickinger safe!

Follow us on Facebook to keep up with fun daily happenings and events at school.

If you have a student with medical concerns, a physician must complete and sign the health care forms every year.

Anyone working with students on the district's behalf requires a cleared background check every year prior to working with students.

Please find the handbook for your reference

PowerSchool: https://ps.ucs.misd.net/public

Family Portal (Lunches): https://utica.familyportal.cloud

PaySchools: https://parent.payschools.com/categories.asp?id=31141EF5772F4EBFAD7ADFAE5A1727B7&

UCS Vision

Utica Community School, in partnership with our community, will empower students to positively transform their future and the world.

UCS Mission

Utica Community Schools ignites a passion for learning in all students. We strengthen our community by welcoming all learners, honoring culture, and inspiring remarkable growth and achievement.