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,

It was another great week of learning at Flickinger last week including a fourth-grade trip to the Cranbrook Institute of Science to experience interactive, hands-on lessons about Matter, Energy, Electricity and Magnetism. Meanwhile, our sixth graders participated in a video conference with a meteorologist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association to ask about tornadoes.

Thanks to UCS voters, our school district is embarking on a transformative approach to how our elementary school facilities will support future generations of learners. To learn more about the exciting work being done around reimagining UCS elementary schools, please read the Legacy of Learning document below.

We are happy to be supporting the efforts Wreck-it like Beckett, a non-profit organization founded in honor of a Beckett, a cancer warrior himself, and sibling of two of our very own Flickinger students. The organization provides crucial support to those affected by pediatric cancer by helping families navigate the challenges of a cancer diagnosis. We will be a drop off location for their annual toy drive, please see details in the flyer below.

Thank you to all who attended and the Parent Group for organizing the fabulously fun Pastries with Parents event on Friday morning. We look forward to seeing you at this week's Parent Group Meeting on Tuesday, November 19th at 6:30 PM in the media center. There will be high school volunteers providing supervision for students in the gym and an online option available for you to join in from home. We are excited to announce a free after school STEM club starting on Thursday November 21st for interested fifth and sixth graders, see the flyer below for details.

Thank you for sharing your children with us every day. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. Flickinger Elementary School is a great place to be!

Pauline Roberts

Principal

November

19-Parent Group Meeting 6:30 PM

21 -Thankful Thursday

21-After School STEM club 5th and 6th Grade Permission Slip

27- No School Thanksgiving

28-No School Thanksgiving

29-No School Thanksgiving

December

5-Gizmo Night 4:30-7:30PM

20- Half-Day (end of 2nd marking period) (school dismisses at 11:29)

23-January 3: No School (Winter Break)

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.

A big thank you to the committee, volunteers, and everyone who showed up on Friday morning to make Pastries with Parents such a wonderful event. It was great to see so many smiling faces so early to start the day! Please join us Tuesday November 19th at 6:30 PM in the media center for our next Parent Group Meeting.

• 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

Are you interested in seeing whether or not your child is eating their lunch? Are you curious as to who your child's friends are? Do you like to help? Then this may be the job for you!

We are looking for lunchroom and lunch recess supervisors. If you are interested in volunteering, all we would need is a Criminal History Check Form filled out and submitted. These take approximately two weeks to be processed and then you can sign up here

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 refer to this file if you need translation services.

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.