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Utica Community Schools Ray Washington Township December 2018 Township Shelby Township Macomb Township Utica Sterling for the Heights community A Publication for the Residents of Utica Community Schools FFrom the CUS Superintendent... From the youngest Christine M. Johns, Ed.D. members of our community Giving Thanks As 2018 nears its end, we look come the biggest hearts forward to the upcoming holidays Whether it is spreading holiday cheer, collecting food the pediatric and special gatherings with family and friends. items, securing toy donations or making sure neighbors department of Traditionally many of us reflect back on the year stay warm this winter, UCS students are showing their Beaumont Hospital in review and give thanks for the gifts we have extraordinary compassion in big ways. Students from all in Royal Oak. received, including gifts of support, from those 36 schools are involved in charitable giving this holiday around us. Giving back to the season to more than 200 separate service projects. With this in mind, I would like to share the community appreciation of the entire district to our residents for Giving back to its community is a noteworthy UCS is also important to students at Ebeling Elementary in the care and confidence that underlined the success- tradition that thousands of its students have embraced Macomb Township. They are busily decorating a giant ful passage of our recent safety and security bond throughout the years. Current student council president Christmas tree with brand new pairs of mittens, warm proposal. at West Utica Elementary, Ashley Mathews, said it winter hats and scarfs they have collected. Four miles Community was at the heart of the bond proposal best, “If you are involved in the community, then other to the west in Shelby Township, Wiley Elementary’s from the start. Parents and residents alike came people would want to do it with you. It makes our student council worked with the Shelby Lions to collect forward with their concerns for the safety and community a better place to be.” security of our children. Our Board of Education’s nearly 500 canned foods. Here is just a sampling of the good tidings occurring swift and unanimous action placed the matter From every corner of the UCS community, east, west, daily in our schools: Burr Elementary Bull Dogs in before voters this fall. north and south, students are giving from their heart Sterling Heights are committed to community outreach. Already our district is moving forward on the and caring for their friends and neighbors near and far. In November, students raised $1,002.47 for Pennies for projects identified. We are currently developing Service is truly a lesson these incredibly selfless young Pasta. Later this month, the Bull Dogs will be caroling timelines, specifications and bid documents to people teach us all year long. On behalf of UCS stu- make these projects a reality. We anticipate issuing at the Oakmont Sterling Senior Community. Also in dents, happy holidays! bonds after the first of the year. Sterling Heights, student council members at Col- Shortly, we will be sharing additional information lins Elementary are busy sorting through hundreds of on the specific improvements so that taxpayers can donations that students have brought in for the see that our district will continue to be a strong Kiwanis Canned Food Drive. fiscal steward of the investment they make in their At Henry Ford II High School, Ford Key Club schools. students along with Key Clubbers from Our community’s support reflects a long legacy of Stevenson, Eisenhower, Utica and UAIS, in all residents working together to build stronger schools 78 students came together to make 31 blankets and neighborhoods. It is this commitment to service, and to each other, that we continue to nurture every for patients at the Children’s Hospital of Detroit day in our classrooms. using supplies donated by Utica - Shelby Kiwanis. This season alone, there are hundreds of community Over in Shelby Township service projects happening at schools throughout the at Duncan Elementary, district to support those in need. The array of drives the DC2 (Duncan Com- being held at our schools mirrors the diversity within munity Crew) is pre- them. paring goody-filled shoe The next generation of givers are embracing these boxes for the Samaritan efforts and demonstrating the same level of care and commitment they see modeled by the adults in Purse International Relief our community every day. It is another important organization. During way that we continue to build upon the legacy of December, Duncan stu- excellence that defines UCS. dents will also be taking Thank you again for your continued support of our part in Moonbeams for students. We look forward to the New Year ahead Sweet Dreams for and building upon the heritage and legacy that is Utica Community Schools. Best wishes to you and Clockwise from top: Students from Roberts Elementary collecting canned food for Shelby Lions Club; high school Key Club yours for a safe and healthy holiday season. members; student council members at Collins Elementary sorting donations; Ebeling Elementary students with donations. 2 FOCUS “Math Talk” will add up to improve student engagement Unique career event allows To continue its focus on math instruction, elementary Math Expressions is a comprehensive research-based hands-on opportunities for teachers will be introducing “Math Talk” as a way to mathematics program that addresses the rigor of all engage students more actively in their learning. Michigan Academic Standards and the eight Mathemat- students to explore careers Math Talk is part of a new mathematics series - Math ical Practices. Nearly 400 Utica Community Schools junior high school Expressions – that was introduced at UCS elementary This series integrates student inquiry, discussions students recently rolled up their sleeves to explore their schools this year. focusing on mathematical future careers. Through Math Talk, stu- thinking, hands-on The students took part in a unique hands-on career explo- dent will discuss the pro- learning and problem ration event called MiCareerQuest Southeast, the region’s cess they are using to find solving, as well as the largest interactive career exploration event featuring more solutions to math problems pairing of modeled than 100 area companies. examples. with their teacher, one-on-one or in their class. “I liked that the field trip was very hands-on and inter- By discussing their solutions, students take a greater Math Expressions provides students skills through active,” said Jeannette eighth grader Allison Felice. “We responsibility for solving problems and create a better experiences that create understanding using models, didn’t just have to listen to someone speak; we got to understanding of the process used to find answers. discussion, exploration, inquiry, and guided instruction. actually try out the jobs.” The goal, according to UCS teachers, was to give students Next Generation Science: a new way to experience their career interests and help link the future workforce to business and industry. Creating a greater connection for students The district is beginning to intro- science, earth and space science and • The use of Multi-media presenta- duce a new approach to science engineering. tions to give students the ability to instruction that creates greater Through Next Generation Science articulate connections for students in how standards, students are experiencing: • Making science accessible to all they approach the subject. • Greater conversations about the students and that all are able to The changes, now underway at the strength of evidence that is used to engage in science and engineering junior high level, are designed to draw conclusions practices. move student learning to a greater understanding of how the concepts • The importance of using multi- Jeannette students Noor Hawell and Helen Toma working connect to each other in all areas ple sources and summarizing the with an ER Doctor to learn how to insert a breathing tube of science: physical science, life arguments “As eighth grade students it is not always easy for them to make connections to their future careers, but this field Coding and programming lessons take place trip allowed for them to make those connections,” said Jeannette teacher Kristina Robinson. “They returned at every grade level from the field with excitement for what their future job “I have learned that coding is very fun,” said Beck Meanwhile, UCS students joined their peers in more opportunities might be.” Elementary fourth grader Evangelos Karasaevas. “And than 180 countries by recognizing the Hour of Code The hands-on activities provided students a glimpse of when I grow up, I want to do this.” and computer science week. available careers in the health sciences, construction, Utica Community Schools was one of the first districts Students also took part in “unplugged” activities such informational technology and advanced technology. The to partner with national Code. as creating algorithms for robots, event showcased more than 125 of the highest-demand org to expand opportunities learning graph paper programming occupations. through integration of coding using a Twister board, and mak- Students were able to perform simulated tonsillectomies, in elementary media centers, the ing paper airplanes following an build brick walls, direct a TV show talk show, scale con- creation of exploratory courses at algorithm. struction beams or perform CPR on an infant. the junior high school, expand- While students call the coding Shelby Junior High School eighth grader Isabel Lee ed computer sciences courses activities “a lot of fun,” they also worked with a microbiologist to detect an infectious at high school as well as the understand what coding means and disease. “This field trip made me realize there are so many integration of coding principles why it is important. more options in the medical field than just surgery.” in Algebra 1 programs.