CUBS COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION
Issue #2 8.25.23
SCHOOL HOURS: 8:25-3:15 DAILY
HALF-DAY HOURS: 8:25-11:29
BREAKFAST OPENS @ 8:05-8:25
email: mailto:officecollins@uticak12.org
website: https://collins.uticak12.org
Location: 12900 Grand Haven, Sterling Heights, MI 48312
Phone: 586-797-4200
Attendance Line: 586-797-4299 (24 hours)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CollinsCubs
COMMUNITY UPDATE ISSUE #9 OCTOBER 13, 2023
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
OCTOBER DATES
18th: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS-Professional Development for Teachers
19th: School Soft Parent Teacher CONFERENCE SIGN-UP OPEN!!
23-27th: Red Ribbon Week of Events
27th: Half-Day of School END OF QUARTER 1
27th: Trunk or Treat 5:30 pm (3:30 car set up in MAIN parking lot by Front Walk).
30th: Texas Roadhouse Night
31st: Halloween Parties in AM and Parade 10:45 OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL
31st: Half-Day of School Dismissal 11:29
NOVEMBER DATES
7th: NO SCHOOL for STUDENTS-PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS
9th: HALF-DAY of SCHOOL Dismissal @ 11:29
9th: Parent Teacher Conferences Half-Day 12:15-3:15
9th: Parent Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00
15th: Parent Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00
22-24th: NO SCHOOL THANKSGIVING BREAK
27th: Return to School
30th: Picture Retake
COMMUNITY UPDATE-SUNDAY S'MORE EDITION
Students did a great job this week in school. The students enjoyed special Grade Level Assemblies and discussed behavior expectations. They earned Principal Paw Points and rewards for returning their Behavior Contracts. Way to go Cubs! I have so enjoyed celebrating so many students throughout the week. Keep up the great work!! Also, our PM MEDIA CENTER TEACHER has officially started here at COLLINS! Welcome Mrs. Taubitz!! Mrs. Taubitz is a veteran teacher with 21 years in Utica Community Schools and comes to us from the Virtual Academy. She has experience with technology and numerous grade levels and has already acclimated to our building. Welcome Mrs. Taubitz!🐻
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
The SCHOOLSOFT MANAGER system will be open to scheduling parent-teacher conferences either in-person or virtually, beginning on OCTOBER 19th. A note will be coming home for you to review. A reminder that specials teachers have a bit-less flexibility in their schedules due to being shared between other buildings. Thank you for your understanding and we are always willing to work with you to accommodate a conference.
HALLOWEEN PARTIES and PARADE on 10/31-HALF DAY!
Please look to your classroom teachers' newsletters communicating the Halloween Party time in the MORNING. Our school parade will be held on 10/31 with a starting time of 10:45-10:50. The parade will last approximately 15 minutes and our dismissal will be at 11:29. If you are planning to volunteer for classroom parties, you must have a background check on file. Please see the form below. If you are attending our PARADE, this will take place OUTSIDE around the exterior of the building. If the event of inclement weather, we will be hosting the parade in the gymnasium only. EARLY DISMISSALS: If you are planning to sign-your child out early on HALLOWEEN, a sign-up sheet will be in your child's classroom and available in the office. Please be sure to send in a note with this as well to notify the office. Thank you.
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
A friendly reminder for appropriate costumes:
- NO MASKS ALLOWED
- NO FAKE BLOOD OR WEAPONS ON COSTUMES
- NOTHING TOO SCARY
- PLEASE COME TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR COSTUMES ON-We will not be changing as it is a half-day.
FREE AND REDUCED MEALS APPLICATION EXPIRATION 10/13/23:
Last year’s free & reduced applications will expire on Friday, October 13, 2023.
As required by federal guidelines, students without an approved 2023-2024 Free and Reduced Meal Application on file will not be eligible to receive additional benefits such as EBT assistance, reduced pay to participate and AP test fees, and other items beginning October 14th. Families must fill out a new application form located at https://utica.familyportal.cloud as soon as possible in order for benefits to continue.
If there are any questions, please call the Office of Food and Nutrition Services at 586-797-1180.
LUNCH ROOM SUPERVISORS and RECESS SUPERVISORS NEEDED!
We are still in need of RECESS SUPERVISORS!! Please contact the front office if you are interested in this paid position from 11-1pm Monday-Friday. Thank you.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend ahead!
Principal Ciacchella
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
🐾INTRODUCING COLLINS CARING CUBS!🐻
Congratulations to the following staff members for showcasing their PAWE-SOME Caring CUBS! We appreciate you and value your support with our Collins Community. Please join me in celebrating our CARING CUB staff members!!
RED RIBBON WEEK 10/23-10/27
STUDENT BEHAVIOR POLICY
P.A.W.S.
SUPER CUBS SHOW THEIR P.A.W.S!
P: Positive Choices
A: Act Responsibly
W: Will be Respectful
S: Shows Integrity
All Collins Cubs are expected to follow protocols and procedures while showing their PAWS! That includes inside the classrooms, during the hallways, on the playgrounds, and for arrivial/dismissal as well. Teachers will be on the lookout for ways to celebrate students showing their PAWS and have a chance to earn incentives.
UTICA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PARENT HANDBOOK FOR BEHAVIORS
Please review all Utica Community Schools behavior policies in the Parent Handbook attached to the link below. It is expected that all UCS policies and procedures will be adhered to at any/all school functions and on school properties. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
SCHOOL SAFETY UPDATE
Safety remains a priority for our school. Collins Elementary is once again providing training to our students on our safety protocols. The protocols identify actions that students may be asked to take in the event of a potential incident: hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter.
The training is provided through a short, animated video. In the video, the teacher – Mrs. Appleton – and her students walk through the different responses in a very relaxed and engaging way for younger children. The script was written by our staff.
The protocols will continue to be part of the training while practicing our regular school safety drills, such as fire drills, security drills, tornado drills, evacuation procedures, etc.)
The video is available for you to review at this link: UCS School Safety: Standard Response Protocol - Elementary - YouTube If you have any questions, please contact our office.
BRUCE COLLINS EVENT CALENDAR
OCTOBER HALF-DAY and NO SCHOOL ALERTS
*NEW* SMILE! SECURITY UPDATE!
*NEW!* In adherence to our safety protocols, every member of the community must show their PHOTO IDs to the camera prior to entering our school doors. Please have your IDs with you at all times when coming to the front office. Even if we know you, we are making sure to have a record of all our wonderful families present and following necessary SCHOOL SAFETY measures. Thank you for your understanding and support in keeping all our CUBS safe at school!
FREE MEALS AT COLLINS
ATTENTION FAMILIES: FREE MEALS AT UCS UPDATE 2023-2024
All meals are free this year thanks to the Michigan School Meals law (2A). Students that would like to be eligible for benefits, such as pay-to-participate sports, college entrance/AP testing fees, summer EBT cards and more need to complete the Eligibility Benefits Form or the School Meals and Summer EBT Form (2B). These forms are available at https://utica.familyportal.cloud. Please encourage your parents to complete these forms to ensure our Title I and other specialized funding is received from the state. Paper applications are arriving at your schools this week. For Elementary schools please only send 1 copy home with either the oldest or the youngest child in the family. Secondary schools please have paper copies available in your main offices.
SPECIAL DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
Students with food allergies that wish to use school meals must have a Special Dietary Needs form (11A) completed and signed by a physician. Forms need to be turned in to the office of Food and Nutrition Service. Without this form we cannot make accommodations. This form must be updated every year to ensure accuracy. Since all schools have vegetarian options, parents do not need to complete a form for that option.
*PAY SCHOOLS UPDATE*
Important Note About Pay Schools for the 2023-2024 School Year
PaySchools has improved its platform this year to provide a system that is consistently more reliable and user friendly. The end result for parents will be that the information they need will be personalized for their child.
As a result, families will be asked to recreate an account (even if you previously had a PaySchools account). Once created, you will be provided with those product choices that directly relate to your child.
Just follow these easy steps:
Create an account from your computer or tablet at: www.payschoolscentral.com
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 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.
A complete guide (with screen shots) is available at this link.
Need help with your PaySchools Central account?
8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET (M-F)
877-393-6628
PTO EVENTS & REMINDERS
COMMUNITY EVENTS
PREVIOUS CUB COMMUNICATION
Bruce Collins Elementary
Principal of Collins Elementary
Email: collinsquestions@uticak12.org
Website: https://www.uticak12.org/Collins
Location: 12900 Grand Haven Drive, Sterling Heights, MI, USA
Phone: (586)797-4200
Facebook: facebook.com/collins