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June 5, 2021
Good afternoon Utica High Families,
It has truly been a fantastic week for Utica High and it’s only going to get better! We had a wonderful Senior Celebration last night the Palazzo Grande, we are looking forward to Commencement at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheater tomorrow at 6pm. A big shout out to Mrs. Hilliard and Mrs. Lelito, my office staff and everyone who has helped them make senior dreams, not possible a few weeks ago, a reality! They’ve truly worked miracles. Baseball and softball districts started this morning and Track and Field State Finals tomorrow! So, as always, great things are happening at the U!
Senior families, I sent a series of reminders and some new information about commencement yesterday at 3:30 pm. If you didn’t receive it, as always, the information is posted on the Utica High website under the Senior page. That email included links to the Live Stream for Saturday and the Virtual Ceremony. Both of those, the program and more can be found on the Graduation 2021 button at the top of the UHS Website! Don’t forget to use the social media hashtags #UCS21 #UHS on those posts so we can share them!
Next week is a busy week, and also an adjusted calendar. Monday and Tuesday will be normal A/B days with 1-3 on Monday and 4-6 on Tuesday. Wednesday, we begin our adjusted half-day exam schedule. Students will arrive at the usual time and will be dismissed after their 2nd block at 10:22 am. Transportation will be provided for those who take the bus. Here is that schedule:
- Wednesday, June 9, 2021 (half day) Dismissal 10:22 am
1st hr (Exam) 7:20 – 8:48 (88 Minutes)
2nd hr (Exam) 8:54 – 10:22 (88 Minutes)
- Thursday, June 10, 2021 (half day) Dismissal 10:22 am
3rd hr (Exam) 7:20 – 8:48 (88 Minutes)
4th hr (Exam) 8:54 – 10:22 (88 Minutes)
- Friday, June 11, 2021 (half day) Dismissal 10:22 am
5th hr (Exam) 7:20 – 8:48 (88 Minutes)
6th hr (Exam) 8:54 – 10:22 (88 Minutes)
Next Monday we receive our UHS Warrior Yearbooks! They arrive at 7am and Mrs. Smale and her amazing team will organize and distribute those books that same day! Underclassmen will receive them during lunches. Our seniors have a specific schedule they will follow to do a drive-thru style pick up by the ECC. Mrs. Smale’s Email to students outlines that process and the pick-up times.
A reminder that sophomores and juniors will be keeping their laptop computers through graduation! We will not be collecting them next week before they leave. Students and families are responsible for caring for them and making sure no damage comes to the devices as we will be using them for learning in the fall in our full-time in-person format. Many textbooks will remain digital, Schoology will remain a constant and Teams will be utilized to enhance learning and more tools added! So, please take care of those devices.
Speaking of next year, Utica Community Schools has released student and staff schedules for the 2021-22 school year. Not only are we excited about restrictions lifting so we can return face to face, we’re also excited to have all of our major dates for next year. The 2021-22 Calendar of dates can be found under the Calendar tab on the UHS Website. The rest of 2021-22 back to school information will come out over the summer! I’ll send our tentative Chieftain Days Registration dates out next Friday!
As you know, I love the arts! Our visual arts students are amongst our most decorated student scholars. Many will be featured in this year’s UCS Secondary Virtual Art Show! By following that link, you can see Utica’s best artists and also those from around the district. Please take a moment to honor the work these students have done and enjoy the creative commons that is Utica Community Schools!
In a year like no other, we celebrate our champions. Utica Community Schools is celebrating the stories of individuals and groups who demonstrated resiliency, leadership and service during the global pandemic. And to tell the stories, the district is seeking the help of the community. #UCSChampions is a monthlong series of stories about those who made a difference for students while addressing the impact of COVID-19. “This has been a tough year, and each of us has been asked to step outside our comfort zone,” said Superintendent Robert Monroe. “But as we reflect on the road UCS staff, students, parents and community have traveled together, we recognize that tackling tough challenges is what we do in UCS.” Please see this press release and this flyer for more information on how YOU can nominate a #UCSChampion in your student’s life!
Attention all UCS families, our last meal distribution for this school year will be as follows: A 7-day and a 3-day meal distribution will be available on Wednesday, June 9 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Eisenhower, Stevenson and Henry Ford II high schools. Gleaners Food Bank will have a family meal pickup at Stevenson High School on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Thank you very much for allowing us to serve you this year. We look forward to seeing you in the fall. For summer meal locations please visit http://www.uticak12.nutrislice.com/menu under the Meet Up & Eat Up Food Truck Logos.
This summer we will have four Meet Up & Eat Up pickup locations where children 18 years and younger can pick up 7 days of meals. Additionally, 1-day meal packs will be available daily at Roberts Elementary. Meals will begin Monday, June 14, 2021 and run every Monday, except for July 5 during the holiday week. Please see this flyer for all locations, dates and times. Menus and nutritional information can be found at www.uticak12.nutrislice.com under the Meet Up & Eat Up Food Truck Logo. We look forward to seeing you over the summer.
Additional resources for free meals can be found by:
That’s it (and a lot) for this week! We look forward to our last week with our sophomores and juniors and a great end of the school year! As always, I want to thank you all for what you do, for your support and understanding, and for being such an incredible community to serve!
Have a great weekend!
Tom Lietz
Principal