Dear
UCS Parents/Guardians,
Last
month I asked you to help recognize resiliency and service within our
educational community through a program we called #UCSChampions. I am pleased
to report more than 200 nominations and stories of innovation and support were
shared! Thank you to those who submitted
a nomination and I encourage you to visit the UCS social media sites to read these inspiring
stories.
At
UCS, excellence comes in many forms, through many people, and is displayed in
our commitment to the core academic areas and specialized programming geared
toward college and career preparation. We provide a range of choices all
designed to meet the collective and individual needs of students leading to
high levels of academic achievement and growth. These choices allow families to
make decisions that fit the unique needs of their child.
I
am grateful to students, families and staff members for taking care of your own
health and contributing to the good health of others through your actions each
day during the pandemic. Your commitment has enabled our community to return to
a sense of normalcy in our everyday lives and optimistically approach the new
school year.
As
I have shared previously, we are actively planning a back-to-school this fall
that will have the look and feel of a traditional school year. Based on the recommendations
released on June 25, 2021 by the Michigan Department of Health
and Human Services
and the Macomb County Health Department’s Return to School Toolkit, our plans
for this fall remain:
· A return to five full days
a week of in-person learning. Families that are seeking an on-line alternative
may enroll in the UCS Virtual Academy. We will share a second
enrollment period for the program in early August.
· Consistent with the protocols
that are in place for our summer learning programs and camps, face coverings will
not be required for students and staff in our schools and work environments
this fall. The wearing of face coverings
will be based on the choice of each family or individual. It should be noted
that while no longer required, the Macomb County Health
Department
recommends that individuals who are not fully vaccinated should consider
wearing a face covering when indoors, especially in crowded settings. Utica
Community Schools respects each family’s or individual’s decision.
· UCS has no plans to
require students and staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The decision to receive the vaccine remains a
choice of the family or individual.
· We have no information to
indicate testing for COVID-19 will be required for schools in the fall and UCS
has no plans to test students or staff.