MESSMORE MESSENGER COMMUNICATION

Issue #2: August 21, 2026
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: 8:30-3:20 DAILY
HALF-DAY HOURS: 8:30-11:34
BREAKFAST OPENS @ 8:15-8:30
email: mailto:officemessmore@uticak12.org
website: https://messmore.uticak12.org
Location: 8742 Dill Drive, Sterling Heights, MI 48312
Phone: 586-797-5600
Attendance Line: 586-797-5699 (24 hours)
IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES: FYI
AUGUST DATES:
27: LUNCH CASHIER TRAINING 8-11 Administrative Services Center HR LAB
27: SNEAK PEEK 5-6:30pm and Meet the Teacher Maverick Night
31: First day of School HALF-DAY DISMISSAL @ 11:34 AM NO SPECIALS!
31: 1:30PM LUNCH SUPERVISOR in GYM
SEPTEMBER DATES:
4-7: NO SCHOOL LABOR DAY WEEKEND
9: MMA Pre-K Meet and Greet 8:35 AM
10: MMA Parent Meeting in Gym @ 8:45 after drop off!
11: MMA Fun RUN KICK OFF ASSEMBLY!
16: NO SCHOOL DPPD
24: MESSMORE FUN RUN EVENT!!
FUTURE DATES:
October 5: Buddy's Pizza Night
October 6: PICTURE DAY!
October 16: Trunk or Treat
MAVERICK MESSENGER UPDATES
Greetings Mavericks-
"If you show them, they will want to it themselves," ~Maria Montessori.
What an exciting time it is to be part of our Maverick community! We are so looking forward to a wonderful year filled with discovery, connection, growth, and lots of joyful learning. At Messmore, we believe education is more than just academics and also includes nurturing peaceful, confident, compassionate human beings, who are curious about their world, respectful of others, and empowered to make a positive difference. We are so excited to welcome our Maverick families in to see this beautiful journey in progress on August 27th!
SNEAK PEEK AUGUST 27th 5-6:30pm: Our classroom teachers have been busy over these past few weeks, donating their free time to creating a learning space and environment that draws from Montessori's vision of peace education. We look forward to welcoming you into Messmore for SNEAK PEEK on August 27th from 5-6:30. Teachers continue to work on their learning environments but you may stop by to say hello, drop off supplies, and meet your child's teacher.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Families, please be sure to follow us on our social platforms and keep an eye out for important updates, announcements, and exciting glimpses into all that is happening at Messmore Montessori. Be sure to check out our NEW INSTAGRAM PAGE!
The future is bright at Messmore Montessori and we are building this journey together, one peaceful, joyful learner at a time.
Warm regards,
Principal Ciacchella
Upcoming Dates!
Follow Us on Social Media!
Supply List-UPDATE
ATTENTION KINDERGARTEN (5yo) Families- The supply list has since been revised and updated for our Kindergarten Families. As the Kindergarten students are receiving the new updated versions of i-pads, there was one addition made for the suggested earbuds on the supply list. Please see the picture below.
Volunteer Information- UPDATE
Reminder! Sneak Peek August 27th 5-6:30pm
MESSMORE REGISTRATION INFO:
📘 Important Back-to-School Reminders for Families
As we get ready for a great year, please take a moment to review our Elementary Handbook, available on the district website. It includes key information about attendance, behavior, and school expectations.
📱 PowerSchool App – Stay connected! Use the PowerSchool app to view your child’s grades, absences, and other important updates.
✈️ Planning a Vacation? Families may request up to 10 days of pre-approved vacation time using the proper absence request form. Anything beyond 10 days will be marked as unexcused, and students may be dropped from enrollment if more than 10 unexcused days occur.
💳 Fines & Fees – Any school-related fees (such as lost books or materials) can be viewed and paid online through the web version of PowerSchool.
❗HEALTH FORMS
Attention Messmore Families-
If your child has any health concerns, allergies (food related), asthma, and/or other needs that requires medications to be administered at school, please know that all forms must be completed prior to the start of the school year and shared with the front office staff. There is a Health Plan SMORE below for more information. Additionally, please see our district's guidelines and requirements at the website below.
FOOD ALLERGY: Food_Allergy_and_Anaphylaxis_Form.pdf
SPECIAL DIET PLAN: Special Diet Form
ASTHMA PLAN: UCS_Asthma_Health_Care_Plan.pdf
DIABETIC PLAN: UCS_Diabetes_Health_Care_Plan.pdf
SEIZURE PLAN: Seizure_Action_Plan_Epilepsy_Foundation_9-13-2023.pdf
AUTHORIZATION for MEDICATION: 5325_FORM_1_Fillable.pdf
HEART CONDITION PLAN: UCS_Heart_Condition_Health_Care_Plan.pdf
GENERAL PLAN: UCS_General_Health_Care_Plan.pdf
FOOD ALLERGIES: Students with food allergies that wish to use school meals must have a Special Dietary Needs form (21A) filled out and signed by a physician. Forms must be submitted to the office of Food and Nutrition Service. Without this form we cannot make accommodations. 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.
❗TECHNOLOGY INSURANCE INFO
We encourage and strongly suggest purchasing device insurance policy from Technology. Utica Community Schools provides personal devices to students to support their learning. Technology device insurance for the 2026-2027 school year will be available for purchase via PaySchools Central between Monday, August 10, 2026 and Friday, September 4, 2026.
The initial fee to purchase device insurance can be paid online using your checking account, debit card or credit card through PaySchools. The link to PaySchools is the same for ALL schools: https://www.payschoolscentral.com/
Just follow these easy steps:
- Log in to your account from your computer or tablet at: www.payschoolscentral.com (Important - it is not recommended to use the app as it does not properly support UCS content).
- Search for Technology Device Insurance
Please note that the insurance will not be available to purchase until after August 10th.
Note to new kindergarten families and families new to the district - You will need to first create the PaySchools account for your family.
- Complete the account registration by selecting register, enter your profile details, setting up your password via the email link that will be sent to you, then logging in.
- Add your children to your account using their student ID numbers. ID numbers are found in PowerSchool, and on their report card available through PowerSchool.
- If you like, enter credit card and/or banking information as forms of payments to use with your PaySchools account.
Need help with your PaySchools Central account?
8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET (M-F)
psc_help@payschools.com
877-393-6628
PaySchools is PCI-compliant and maintains industry-standard SSL certificates, ensuring all your family’s data is safe and secure.
PICTURE DAY @ MESSMORE October 6th!
MMA UPDATES
9: Pre-K Meet and Greet in Gym 8:35 AM
10: MMA MEETING in GYM 8:45 AM
11: Fun RUN KICKOFF ASSSEMBLY IN AM
24: FUN RUN!!
25: Last day for Mum Orders
30: Pickup Mum Orders
OCTOBER MMA DATES:
5: Buddy's Pizza Nigh
16: TRUNK OR TREAT
💮MONTESSORI MINDSETS
***OLD BUSINESS ITEMS***
MESSMORE VACATION PLANNER-FYI
UCS DISTRICT 2026-2027 CALENDAR
EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT FORM 26-27
From UCS:
"Meals for the 2026-27 School Year are Free for All UCS Students!
All UCS families are asked to complete the Education Benefits form Here - enter "Utica Community Schools" and follow the prompts. These forms help maintain our Title 1 funding as well as other essential funding for our schools. It can also help reduce fees for pay-to-play sports, lower internet costs, reduced AP/college application fees and more!
Most online forms are processed within two (2) working days compared to 10 using paper applications. Paper copies of these forms are distributed to all student households or are available at your child’s school.
Complete the forms and return them to your child’s school or mail them to: Utica Community Schools, Food & Nutrition Services, 11303 Greendale, Sterling Heights, MI 48312."
MEAL MAGIC ACCOUNT:
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 .
DEVICE INSURANCE
Family Wellness Fair September 19@ HFII Highschool
PREVIOUS MESSMORE MESSENTGER NEWSLETTERS
Messmore Elementary
Principal of Messmore Elementary School
Email: messmorequestions@uticak12.org
Website: https://www.uticak12.org/Messmore
Location: 8742 Dill Drive, Sterling Heights, MI, 48312 USA
Phone: (586)797-5600
Facebook: facebook.com/Messmore


