Welcome to

Upton Elementary 2023-24

Arrival & Dismissal

First Bell – Students enter the building 8:20 a.m.

Second Bell – Classes begin 8:25 a.m.

School Dismissed 3:30 p.m.

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PLEASE NOTE: Late Start (PD) Times 9:20 a.m. first bell; doors open; students admitted to building

9:25 a.m. second bell; morning session begins

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Students should not arrive at school before 8:10 a.m. because there is no direct supervision provided on the playground areas. For safety reasons, students should go directly home after school.

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Students are assigned specific doors to enter and exit. These doors are determined by their grade-level.

Developmental Kindergarten: Door 9

Kindergarten: Door 8

1st Grade: Door 1

2nd Grade: Door 10

3rd Grade: Door 2

4th & 5th Grade: Door 3

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Attendance

Students should be in their classrooms by the second bell at 8:25 a.m. Any student arriving after the second bell is tardy.

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All absences should be called in by parents/guardians using the Safety Check number. Absences that are not reported are considered unexcused.

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Safety Check number

248-549-4968 option #1

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Option 1:

If your child will be absent, please follow the procedure below:

• Call the Safety check before 8:25 a.m. on the day of the tardy or absence. Messages can be left on the Safety Check line 24 hours a day.
• When recording your message, please leave the following information:
• Student’s first and last name
• Student’s teacher
• Nature of your child’s absence and anticipated length of absence (morning only, today only, two days, etc.)
• Lunch choice for the day of return (if ordering a school lunch)

Breakfast Program

We will have a breakfast program starting at 7:55 a.m.

• Breakfast is FREE for all students
• In order to receive a breakfast, students must be in the Cafeteria before 8:10 a.m.
• Breakfast will not be served after 8:20 a.m.

Curriculum Subjects

Students will be learning information in the following subject areas:

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• Reading
• Writing
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies

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Students will also participate in additional classes:

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• Physical Education
• Spanish
• Art
• Vocal Music

Curriculum Night

This fall event provides an opportunity for parents to meet their child’s teacher(s) to discuss the goals and objectives of the academic year. Individual conferences are not held on Curriculum Night, nor are children present for this evening.

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Elementary Curriculum Night- September 13, 2023 6:30 - 8:30 PM

• 6:30 – 7:15 p.m. grades DK-2
• 7:30 – 8:15 p.m. grades 3-5

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Electronic Devices

Students are allowed to possess electronic communication devices on school property; however, such devices shall not be used during the school day or in a manner that disrupts school activities or events.

• Electronic devices should be kept in the student’s locker and turned off
• Electronic devices include but are not limited to the following:
• smart phones
• smart watches
• bluetooth earbuds
• tablets

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Any device found to be used for any illegal purpose or used in a manner that violates the Student Code of Conduct may be confiscated pending a parent conference. Where appropriate, police authorities may be contacted. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen electronic devices.

Field Trips

Field trips are an extension of the instructional program and it is expected that children will participate. A field trip involves leaving the school, and written permission is required from the parent/guardian of every child.

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• Transportation may be by a school bus or a private car driven by parent chaperones. Parents must have car seat restraints (booster seats) for appropriate-age students (required by Michigan Law).
• Parent chaperones may not bring any siblings on field trips, use their cell phones (unless for an emergency), or smoke while on the field trip.
• Parent chaperones must submit required paperwork one week prior to the date of the trip, including a copy of their driver’s license and proof of insurance.

Homework

The Board of Education recognizes homework as an essential part of the student’s learning process that is initiated in the school setting. The assignment of homework to students by their teachers is expected and deemed to be an appropriate step toward the achievement of instructional objectives.

• Assigned homework activities should be clearly defined and should reinforce important skills and knowledge being developed in the classroom.
• The nature, quality, and frequency of homework may vary from level to level and from subject to subject.

Lunch

The supervised lunch period begins the first full day of school. All lunches are FREE this school year. The classroom teacher takes lunch orders one day in advance. If a child is absent, a lunch choice must be left on the Safety Check line; it will not always be possible to obtain the lunch of choice on the day the child returns to school. If school is only in session for a half-day, lunches for the next full school day are ordered on the last full day of school. Orders will not be placed if you call lunch in on the ½ day for the next school day.

• Lunch Times: 11:35-11:59 a.m. (Grades DK-2); 11:59-12:23 p.m. (Grades 3-5)
• Recess Times: 11:59-12:23 p.m. (Grades DK-2); 11:35-11:59 a.m. (Grades 3-5)

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Lunch options for students in grades DK-5 are:

• Bring a sack lunch to school. Please do not send carbonated beverages or beverages with red food dye.
• Order a school lunch.
• Free and reduced lunch applications are available at the school office and online.
• Monthly menus are sent home with students.
• Leave the building with a parent/guardian for lunch.

Media Center

The Media Center contains a collection of books for assignments or recreational reading, covering many subjects. Students will be given time to come to the media center to check out books. The teachers arrange times once a week for the students to use the school library.

• Students are responsible for all books issued to them during the school year. All lost or damaged books must be paid for by the student’s family. If a lost book is found before the end of the school year, the money paid will be refunded.
• Students are not allowed to check out books if they have overdue books.

Health Guidelines

In consideration of your own child and others, please do not send a child who is ill to school. Attendance at school indicates that your child can participate in the full school program including recess and gym. As a guideline, a child should not be sent to school if the child:

• has a temperature (a child MUST be fever-free for 24 hours)
• is vomiting or has diarrhea
• has green or yellow discharge from the nose
• has any contagious disease

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The Oakland County Health Division makes recommendations involving uncomplicated cases of communicable diseases. The recommendations are for use by school administration to exclude and re-admit children who are ill or are suspected of being ill.

Emergency Information

• Each student must have up-to-date Emergency Information. This should be completed yearly within MiStar Parent Portal. This information will be referred to in case of a medical emergency at the school. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to update the phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and medical information when necessary.

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• Immunizations

Upon enrollment in school, a student must have a physical exam form signed by a licensed physician or his/her designee certifying that the student has been immunized against diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, rubella, and mumps.

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• Medication

If your child requires medication during school hours, it will be dispensed by school personnel and only under the following conditions:

• There must be a Royal Oak Schools form on file entitled “Request for Dispensing Medication” signed by the physician as well as a parent/guardian.
• An adult must bring the medications to school in the original pharmaceutical container. The container must be labeled with the following information:
• child’s name, name of medication, name of physician, physician’s instructions for dosage and administration
• Medication may only be dispensed by school personnel.

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PTA

PTA meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center. Meetings are open to the members of the school community. Parents are invited to take part in the different committees the PTA sponsors that benefit the students and the school.

• The PTA sponsors many activities for our students throughout the school year:
• Welcome Back Family Picnic
• Fun Run
• Trunk or Treat
• Book Fair
• Holiday Shop
• Skate Night
• Family Bowling Event
• Sweetheart Dance
• Carnival
• Bagel Sales
• Restaurant Nights
• Bingo Nights
• Movie Nights
• PTA memberships are available for $10.00.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

The District schedules Parent Teacher Conferences each year. Conferences may also be arranged with your child’s teacher. Teachers may be contacted by phone, prior to the start of the school day, or by email (first name.last name@royaloakschools.org).

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The goal of any conference is the achievement of a better understanding of the child & his/her learning. Parent involvement is crucial to success at school. Scheduled dates for parent-teacher conferences are in the fall. Parent/guardian may request additional conferences at any time. Conferences should be informal, pleasant, and constructive.

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• Conference Dates & Times:

November 16- 1:00-3:00 p.m., 4:00-7:00 p.m.

November 30- 4:00-7:00 p.m.

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If further questions remain regarding your child’s progress in school after a meeting with the teacher, conferences may be set up between the principal and/or school support personnel. Contact the school office to make these appointments.

Parties within the Classroom

School district policy limits the number of class parties to two per year. Please note our food restrictions:

• If you volunteer to bring food to a school party or event, please be aware of food allergies and food restrictions that may be present. Ask the teacher for specific guidelines. Please avoid peanuts and peanut products.

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Birthday Recognition

• Consistent with health and wellness goals, and cognizant of various student and staff allergies, Royal Oak elementary schools recognize student birthdays with non-food-based celebrations.  We do recognize birthdays as special days and will recognize a child’s birthday with individual recognition by the classroom teacher.  The students will also have their names announced on the school broadcast and receive a birthday pencil from the office.
• Please do NOT send food or beverages as birthday treats.
• Please do not send party invitations to the school for distribution.

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Personal Items

Students’ personal items that should not be brought to school include anything of great value. Other items that should not be brought to school include the following:

• Electronics that are potentially disruptive to the classroom
• Toys or other distracting items
• Trading cards or other items with numerous loose pieces
• Any other items that are not directly used in the classroom for instructional purposes

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All items brought to school including jackets, boots, hats, gloves, backpacks, etc. should all be clearly labeled with your child’s name.

Picture Day/Pictures

School photos are taken in early fall by a professional school photographer. Information is sent home regarding packages and pricing shortly after the school year begins. School yearbooks are available to order and purchase in the spring. Please check for this information as it comes home.

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Teachers and parent volunteers often take photographs of the children for classroom projects, special school activities, or field trip outings. Other photographs may be taken of children at school by photographers who may be at the school for a special event to be publicized. Please inform the teacher if you do not wish for your child to be photographed for any reason.

Professional Learning/Late Start Days

Several times during the school year, staff members will be involved in Professional Development learning. On these Late Start days, the first bell will ring at 9:20 a.m. with classes starting at 9:25 a.m. Here are the scheduled Late Starts for the school year:

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• September 13, 20, 27
• October 4, 11, 18
• November 1, 15, 29
• December 6, 13
• January 31
• February 7, 28
• March 6, 13, 20
• April 3, 17, 24
• May 1, 8, 15

Report Cards

Report cards are provided four times each school year to all students.

• Report cards will be available electronically for all families through MIStar Parent Portal.
• Students will be evaluated on their grade level performance and applied work habits in each of the core curriculum subjects.
• Other subject areas are further evaluated based on specific skill development milestones taken from Royal Oak Schools and State Curriculum guidelines.
• Personal behavior and social development will also be commented upon.
• If there are any questions concerning your child’s progress, you are strongly encouraged to contact your child’s teacher for a conference.

Testing

In addition to routine tests administered by the classroom teacher, tests are given on a District-wide basis at specific grade levels during the school year. The district is also responsible for State Standardized Testing administered throughout the year. Testing includes:

• NWEA (Reading & Math)
• Developmental Reading Assessments (DRA)
• Dolch Words
• Spelling Inventory (grades 1-5)
• Writing On-Demand: Informational, Narrative, Opinion
• Michigan Literacy Progress Profile (MLPP)
• M-STEP (State Testing for grades 3-5)

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Volunteering

The services donated to Royal Oak Schools by parents and citizens are valued and appreciated. They are an important part of our total school program. There are many opportunities for parents to become involved in the school program:

• Classroom helpers
• Library assistants
• Tutors
• PTA members
• Field trip chaperones

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All volunteers must complete a district Parent Volunteer form.