• Literacy in UCS

    Monroe Memo

    The past few years have brought the most comprehensive review and improvement to our curriculum since I joined UCS over 20 years ago. Every core subject area, the arts, and Career and Technical Education has been updated to ensure our students have access to relevant, engaging curriculum.

    One area that has experienced greater focus is early literacy. Thanks to this concentrated effort, we are quickly being recognized as an educational leader in providing our students with a strong literacy foundation.

    Utica Community Schools implements Structured Literacy, which is an evidence-based approach to reading instruction that aligns with the Science of Reading. Our instruction emphasizes explicit, systematic, and sequential teaching of foundational skills such as phonology, phonics, syllable instruction, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Our teachers ensure that literacy instruction explicitly develops both decoding skills and language comprehension.

    Much of the public debate centered on literacy instruction is focused on these time-tested strategies. It is important for our families to understand that decoding skills and language comprehension are integral to our program. Decoding skills are essential for literacy development because they allow students to accurately read and recognize words, which is the foundation for fluent reading. Language comprehension is equally important, as it enables students to make meaning from the words they read. Without both skills working together, true reading comprehension cannot occur.

    UCS further commits its investment to the literacy of all students through literacy coaches at each elementary school, highlighting the importance we place on building this foundation. We are unique among school districts with this critical resource for our staff and students.

    Our literacy investment goes hand in hand with effective professional development.  Through professional development known as Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS), we are giving our elementary teachers the tools they need to develop students who are effective communicators.

    Foundational literacy is important to our UCS Empowered Strategic Plan. It is essential to nearly every trait we identified in our graduate profile - contributor, communicator, creator, collaborator and critical thinker.

    Literacy will continue to be an area of focus, both inside and outside our district. In UCS, we want our families to recognize that as public debate continues around us, we remain committed to a proven strategy that makes our students successful communicators who have a life-long love of reading and learning.

    UCS showcased as eSpark leader in Michigan

    espark

    eSpark, a supplemental elementary education tool, recently showcased Utica Community Schools as a leader in utilizing the platform to support student achievement. eSpark invited school districts from across Michigan to UCS to learn more about how our team works with the program.

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    No Days Off: Malow Skater Glides Toward Her Dreams

    Malow SkateEach day before school, Malow Junior High 9th grader, Brooklynn Twork, goes to Suburban Ice with the Onyx Suburban Skating Academy for an hour and a half of ice time. She returns to the rink after school for another hour, and even practices on the weekends – Twork takes no days off from her passion of figure skating.

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    Schuchard honored for community service project

    Schuchard Community Service

    What started as a classroom discussion at Schuchard is now a 20-year annual service project that is being honored for the difference it makes in our community.

    The Schuchard Elementary annual sixth grade garage sale has been honored by MCREST with its Good Samaritan award for supporting the agency’s effort to assist the homeless in our region. 

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    Doctor Day at Duncan – Fueled by Amplify CKLA

    Doctor Day

    "Where is the esophagus?" “No! The stomach is above the intestines." "A pediatrician is a doctor that takes care of kids, not animals!" These were all sentences that 1st graders shared with classmates on their first ever Doctor Day at Duncan Elementary.

    Amplify CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) was introduced this school year as the Language Arts curriculum for UCS students in kindergarten through 5th grade.

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    When the Carnival Comes to Town

    CarnivalSenior CSI students hosted 3rd grade students from Harvey Elementary to try out the carnival games they created using advanced sensor technology. 🎪🎯🕹️

    Each game had unique marketing/branding and thematically represents a piece of literature read at the high school level. Each group created a 3D animation to advertise their game, and they defended the age-appropriateness and safety of their creations with a research essay.

    ▶️Check out the Carnival Reel, here: https://vimeo.com/1127505593?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

    UCS Attendance Areas

     

    CTE automotive program receives grant from local foundation

    Ford Auto ShopThe Margaret Dunning Foundation, a foundation founded in honor of the late Margaret Dunning, has provided a $43,000 grant to support Henry Ford II High School’s automotive repair program.

    “We are fortunate to have such an extensive Career and Technical Education (CTE) program in UCS that includes our automotive program,” superintendent Robert S. Monroe said. MORE.

     

    Messmore opens outdoor learning oasis to encourage curiosity, collaboration and peace

    Messmore Peace Pole

    Messmore Elementary marked the International Day of Peace by showing its year-round commitment to taking care of each other and their earth.

    The school unveiled its new Outdoor Learning Oasis on the grounds – an outdoor area where students and classes can gather to encourage curiosity, collaboration and peace.

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    Malow Bands

    Malow band students go collegiate

    Ahead of the Michigan vs. Michigan State rivalry football game in October, Malow Junior High 8th and 9th grade band students experienced both collegiate marching band programs for themselves.  

    The students first visited the University of Michigan, performing a small concert at the historic Revelli Hall. Students received feedback and musical pedagogy from conducting PhD students, second year undergraduate students and professors. MORE. 

     

     

    It’s Electric!

    It's Electric

    8th grade Shelby Junior High students learned about electric vehicles (EVs), electric generation and natural resources thanks to GM’s rEV program.

    Students shared that they enjoyed learning about how EVs worked and that they were surprised to find out that it only took $0.05 and 20 minutes to charge an EV.

     

    UCS students to perform in ‘An Irish Nutcracker’

    Irish Dancers

    Seven UCS students are eager to take the stage on December 20 in An Irish Nutcracker. The performance will swap out ballet with Irish dancing and classical music with Irish music but will otherwise follow the same classic storyline, complete with holiday charm. MORE.


     

     

    GLK-UAIS students look to spread lifesaving message

     

    Pink Girls Club

    Smridhi Chanda and Mariam Zakri are on a mission to get their peers to take steps now that could very well save their lives in the future.

    The two Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies juniors have become youth ambassadors for the Pink Girls Club, a non-profit that informs the younger generations about early Cancer detection and prevention. MORE. 

     

     

     

    Ebeling students set aside 100 lbs. of Halloween candy for military

    Ebeling

    Student Council at Ebeling Elementary came back to school after Halloween with a sweet goal in mind – collect 100 pounds of Halloween candy to donate to active military members.  

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