MESSMORE MESSENGER COMMUNICATION

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 @ 8:10-8:25

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)

SEPTEMBER DATES:

4: LAST DAY TO PURCHASE TECHNOLOGY!!!

4-7: NO SCHOOL LABOR DAY WEEKEND

8: Service Squad/Safety Squad Permission Slips DUE

9: MMA Pre-K Meet and Greet 8:35 AM in GYMNASIUM

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

Dear Maverick Community,

What a beautiful first week back! Thank you for helping us begin this new school year with such warmth, patience, and enthusiasm. Our halls and classrooms have been filled with the joyful sounds of children reconnecting, discovering, practicing, and growing together. We are grateful for the partnership of our families as we settle into the rhythm of a new year.

At the heart of Montessori is the belief that peace begins with the individual and grows through community. In these first days, our teachers and staff have been intentional about creating an environment where children can practice peaceful action: learning to pause, listen, care for one another, solve problems with respect, and take responsibility for their choices and their shared environment. Our Mavericks are ready to grow for the 2026-2027 school year!

We are deeply committed to each of our students and to creating a community where every child feels known, valued, capable, and supported. The Montessori classroom invites children to develop not only academic skills, but also independence, grace, courtesy, concentration, compassion, and a sense of responsibility for the world around them. These are lessons that unfold slowly and meaningfully, one day and one interaction at a time.

As we approach Labor Day weekend, we invite our families to embrace the Montessori spirit beyond the classroom. May this long weekend offer opportunities for meaningful connection, practical life, time in nature, rest, and participation in the life of your family and community. Please remember that there is no school on Friday, September 4, or Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday, September 8.

Thank you for entrusting us with your children and for being such an important part of the Maverick community. We are excited for all that this year will bring and grateful to walk alongside you as we nurture capable, compassionate, peaceful young people.

With warmest wishes,

Principal Ciacchella

BREAKFAST EXPECTATIONS:

Just a reminder that breakfast doors open at 8:10-8:25. All students must be buzzed into the building for breakfast. Breakfast is for those students who plan to eat breakfast. Once students arrive, they will sit at their tables until the morning breakfast bell is completed rings at 8:25. School begins at 8:30. Please see below.

If your child plans to attend breakfast, Messmore doors open at 8:10AM.

• Students that are attending breakfast are expected to remain in the cafeteria for the duration of breakfast.
• Students stay until the Breakfast Ends Bell rings at 8:25.
• Peaceful behaviors are expected to be displayed at all times and respectful language utilized with our students and staff working the cafeteria.
• The school day bell will ring at 8:30.
• Student should be ready to learn by 8:30.

**Due to allergens, all food items must remain in the cafeteria.**

Thank you for reminding our independent Montessori students of the peaceful expectations in the cafeteria during breakfast time. We appreciate your support and guidance with our Mavericks!

Thank you for your attention to keeping our students, staff, and parents safe during drop off and pick-up. We cannot thank you enough for your kindness and attention to the parking lot rules. Safety is the priority of all our decisions in the parking lot and we appreciate your attention to this matter, deeply.

STUDENT DROP OFF LANE REMINDER:

• Just a reminder that that the student drop off lane is for just letting your child get out of the car.
• Students should exit on the right side of the car.
• Parents should remain in vehicles.
• Please refrain from exiting vehicles on the left side of the car, due to the passing of cars in this lane.

CROSS WALK CROSSING:

• Please cross at the designated white-lined crosswalk only.
• We appreciate your attention to this matter this week! Safety is our priority.

REMINDERS FROM LAST WEEK: Parking Lot Expectations

Please help us keep our parking lot safe and organized!! 😀

• Be mindful of student crossers and families walking through the parking lot.
• Please follow all posted signs and directions.
• Do not park in designated staff parking areas.
• Please allow extra time and bring patience as everyone adjusts to the routines of a new school year.

Safety remains a priority for our school. Elementary is once again providing training to our students on our safety protocols. The protocols identify actions that students may be asked to take in the event of a potential incident: hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter.

The training is provided through a short, animated video. In the video, the teacher – Mrs. Appleton – and her students walk through the different responses in a very relaxed and engaging way for younger children. The script was written by our staff.

The protocols will continue to be part of the training while practicing our regular school safety drills, such as fire drills, security drills, tornado drills, evacuation procedures, etc.

The video is available for you to review at this link: UCS School Safety: Standard Response Protocol - Elementary - YouTube If you have any questions, please contact our office.

We are asking for your support to help keep our students safe.

• All visitors to the classroom areas of our school are now being asked to swipe their driver’s license or government issued ID before entering the main part of our building. This swipe will quickly provide an updated check against national sex offender registries. This process is for anyone who is going past our school office for any reason.

• If you are planning to volunteer in our classrooms or work directly with a student, you will need to have a volunteer background form on file. The form is located at this link. The background check involves multiple state and federal law enforcement data bases.

· apps.raptortech.com/Apply/OTQ4Mjplbi1VUw==

We greatly appreciate the involvement of our families and the difference you make at Messmore Elementary. Thank you for your partnership with this extra step that will improve safety in our school.

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 .

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

1. August 14, 2026 Messmore Messenger
2. August 21, 2026 Messmore Messenger
3. August 28, 2026 Messmore Messenger

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