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,

There are lots of fun things happening at Flickinger this week including 100 days celebrations, Valentine's Day events and a trip to the Macomb Center. This is the final week of our heart challenge and if we reach our school goal Miss Rothwell will teach in a duck suit! There is a Service Team meeting after school on Monday and conferences have been rescheduled for this Thursday, February 13th.

In upcoming news, we are excited to announce that Flickinger will be hosting an Around the World Event on Thursday, March 6th from 5:30-7:30pm. We want to learn from each other and enhance our children’s multicultural awareness and we would love for you to be a part of our learning and fun! If you are interested in sharing traditional attire, stories, music, art, food, dance, etc., please complete the form below, and return to your child’s teacher by Wednesday, February 12th.

.

Students in 5th grade have the opportunity to participate in a Growth and Development session facilitated by members of UCS physical education team on March 5th. Please be on the lookout for the information letter that was sent home, and sign and return the bottom portion of the letter indicating if you would like your child to participate.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our shared dedication and commitment to providing all students a safe and engaging learning environment is what makes Flickinger a great place to be.

Enjoy some football today!

Pauline Roberts

February

10- 1st and 2nd Grade trip to Macomb Center

10-Service Team Meeting 3:30pm

10-14 Heart Challenge

11-SMILE Club 3:20pm

12-STEM Club 5th and 6th Grade 3:20-4:30pm

13- Parent-Teacher Conferences

14-Make a Difference Award Nominations Due

17-21 No School Mid-Winter Break

March

3-7 Book Fair

5-5th Grade Growth and Development

6-Around the World Event 5:30 pm

8-Daddy Daughter Dance

10--Service Team Meeting 3:30 pm

11-SMILE Club 3:20pm

12-STEM Club 5th and 6th Grade 3:20-4:30pm

Utica Community Schools will be hosting a community ribbon cutting/open house event on Sunday, August 24 to celebrate the completion of our reconstruction project at DeKeyser Elementary School. Thanks to the support of our community for the 2023 Safety and Success Bond Issue, DeKeyser Elementary represents the first step to our vision on how UCS school designs will spur growth and achievement.

Nominations

Parents with students who receive Special Services are encouraged to submit the completed form, including the required supporting criteria to ensure eligibility for recognition of any staff that is making a difference in the life of a student with special needs.

Examples of staff to nominate for Make a Difference Award may be teachers, related service providers, paraprofessionals, administrative assistants, bus drivers, cafeteria staff or administrators.

Important Details:

Nomination Deadline: All forms must be submitted by February 14, 2025, to Laura Miskelly at the MISD via van mail, email at lmiskelly@misd.net or faxed to (586) 263-6240.

Award Ceremony: The recognition will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 6:00 p.m. at the MISD.

Forms are fillable and may be submitted electronically.

Please help us in recognizing the outstanding individuals who make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students with special needs.

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.