BROWNING BEARS BEST NEWS

Our mission in Utica Community Schools ignites a passion for learning in all students. We strengthen our community by welcoming all learners, honoring culture, and inspiring remarkable growth and achievement.

SCHOOL HOURS: 9:05-3:55 DAILY

HALF-DAY HOURS: 9:05-12:09

BREAKFAST OPENS @ 8:45-9:05

email: mailto:officebrowning@uticak12.org

website: https://browning.uticak12.org

Location: 12400 19 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313

Phone: 586-797-4000

Attendance Line: 586-797-4099 (24 hours)

AUGUST

20: TEACHER ASSIGNMENT available in PowerSchool after 3pm

20: CASHIER TRAINING 8-11 AM Administrative Services Center

21: BROWNING BEAR DAY: Supply Drop off and Sneak Peek

24: Dekeyser Open House (See Below)

25: NO SCHOOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

26: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL & HALF-DAY

26: HALF-DAY DISMISSAL 12:09PM

29-SEP.1: NO SCHOOL-LABOR DAY WEEKEND

SEPTEMBER DATES:

1: NO SCHOOL-LABOR DAY WEEKEND

5: Technology Insurance DUE

17: NO SCHOOL-PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Greetings Browning Bears-

Welcome to the official beginning of our 2025-2026 academic school year at Browning Elementary! Our staff at Browning sure have missed our BEARS. Please be sure to check our website often as well as the Community S’MORE Newsletter that will be sent out each week for update information: www.uticak12.org/Browning. We look forward to welcoming all returning students and new students on the first official day of school on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 with a half-day dismissal at 12:09.

*NEW* START TIMES:

As a reminder, our late start time has shifted by five minutes. Our new start time for a full-day of school will be 9:05-3:55 with half-days being from 9:05-12:09PM. Our first day of school is a HALF-DAY.

BROWNING COMMUNICATION:

A community newsletter will be shared with our families weekly. These will be emailed directly to the address we have on file. If you are not receiving the emails, please be sure to contact our office directly. It will be in the form of a S’MORE newsletter. All updated information will be posted here as well as to our school website.

IMPORTANT DATES

Although some dates continue to be a work in progress, please see a list of our important dates below (and be sure to check our S’MORE Newsletter for updated information):

· Aug. 20: Classroom assignments available in PowerSchool after 3pm.

· Aug. 21: BEAR DAY *Sneak Peek* from 4-5pm

· Aug. 24: DeKeyser Open House event (see newsletter and website DeKeyser Open House Information)

· Aug. 26: FIRST DAY! School starts at 9:05 and is a Half-day dismissal @12:09PM

· Aug. 27: FIRST FULL DAY OF SCHOOL 9:05-3:55

· Aug. 29: NO SCHOOL LABOR DAY RECESS

· Sep. 1: NO SCHOOL LABOR DAY RECESS

· Sep. 2: School resumes 9:05-3:55

BROWNING BEAR DAY: August 21st from 4-5pm.

On Thursday, August 21st from 4-5 pm, we would like to invite families to visit the school for our official Browning BEAR DAY event. During this sneak peak, you and your BEAR may see your child’s classroom and drop off any/all school supplies in front of their classroom, at that time. Please note: our classroom teachers are busy getting things prepared for the upcoming school year. Therefore, some teachers may be in attendance and some may not. Some classrooms may be open to walk in and meet the teacher. Our formal Curriculum Night/Meet the Teacher Open House will be scheduled later in the month of September (with a date TBD).

SACC & BREAKFAST:

Browning will be hosting AM and PM SACC at our building next year as well. REGISTER FOR SACC HERE. In addition, we will continue to have our breakfast door (DOOR 2) open at 8:45AM.

We look forward to the official start of our 2025-2026 school year, with a half-day on August 26th from 9:05-12:09PM here at BROWNING THE BEST! As a reminder, we will not have any school on FRIDAY, August 29 and MONDAY, September 1st, due to the Labor Day holiday. As always, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at 586-797-4200.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Ciacchella (Chickella)

Principal

We look forward to welcoming you all on August 21st from 4-5pm here at Browning for our BEAR DAY! Our teachers will still be busy prepping their classrooms and getting materials prepared for the following school year and may not be in attendance. However, some may be here to say hello! Please feel free to stop by and take a quick glance/sneak peek of your child's classroom along with bringing your child's labeled classroom supplies, should you choose to do so.

*NEW KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES*: If you have updated medical forms, immunizations, or any other form that still need to be submitted, please free to bring those forms on August 21st!

We will have a slight change in our school hours next year.

The change will ensure that we are able to create greater stability and reliability for our transportation service at all grades throughout the school district. The new hours will also ensure that all UCS junior high schools are able to follow the same schedule. Our new hours next year will be from 9:05-3:55.

We are encouraging interested Browning families to take a sneak peek at our future at the DeKeyser Elementary Open House on Aug. 24. The improvements made at DeKeyser represent our district’s long-term vision for elementary schools. While each school will have will have their own unique design and look, the changes at DeKeyser – particularly those related to safety and learning communities - are a model for what we can expect for our students after the attendance area transitions in fall, 2027.

The DeKeyser Ribbon Cutting/Open House will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 24 at DeKeyser Elementary, 39600 Atkinson in Sterling Heights. The ceremony will begin with a ribbon cutting followed by self-guided tours that display the unique features of the school. The playground will be open and free food trucks will be available through the generous sponsorship of our construction team, Barton Malow Co., Anderson Eckstein & Westrick, and Integrated Design Solutions.

For those interested in attending, we strongly encourage using a shuttle that will run regularly between 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. from Browning Elementary. Parking will be limited at DeKeyser Elementary and roads into the subdivision will be closed to reduce traffic congestion. The shuttles are expected to run every 10 minutes from Browning.

More information on the open house is available at www.uticak12.org/dekeyseropenhouse.

MANDATORY TRAINING on AUGUST 20th: 8-11AM at the Administrative Services Center

Calling all returning and NEW cashiers!!

Are you interested in working for UCS and BROWNING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL for a Breakfast and/or Lunch cashier position? If so, please see below for our upcoming cashier training!

Please see the attached flyer regarding purchasing the optional Device Insurance Program.

Students with food allergies that wish to use school meals must have a Special Dietary Needs form filled out and signed by a physician. Forms must be submitted to the office of Food and Nutrition Service. Accommodations can only be made through this form. This form must be updated every year to ensure accuracy. Since all schools have vegetarian options available, parents do not need to fill out a form for this option.

Families that wish to put money in their students’ Meal Magic account(s) via credit card will need to create a Family Portal account. Please go to https://utica.familyportal.cloud to create the account. This is also where parents can fill out the Educational Benefit Forms (EBF). Menus can still be found online at https://uticak12.nutrislice.com.

Browning Bears-

Did you know that this newsletter has a translation feature? Check out the HOW-TO video below!

Principal of Browning Elementary School

Email: browningquestions@uticak12.org
Website: https://www.uticak12.org/Browning
Location: 12400 19 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI, 48313 USA
Phone: (586)797-4000
Facebook: facebook.com/browning