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*new or updated information as of this week

*17-18 School Year Calendar *Malow Website

* This Week’s Events Main Office Information Fundraising Opportunities 7th/8th Grade Malow Sports—All sports-related information Malow Club Information Freshman/JV/Varsity Ike Sports—All sports-related information Counseling Information

* Upcoming Events * Malow Highlights

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This Week at a Glance Monday, December 4

• Homework Club in Media Center from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• Chess Club in room B207 from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• S.T.A.T.I.C. Club in room C301 from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• Ike Bowling vs. Cousino (Sterling Lanes) @ 4:00pm

Tuesday, December 5

• LCCE field trip from 8:30am – 2:00pm

• Santa Hat, PJ & Hat passes on sale during all lunch periods

• Ike Lacrosse players will set up a table in the cafe during lunches

• Homework Club in Media Center from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• Art & Anime Club in room B210 from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• Mandatory Parent Meeting for basketball in the Media Center @ 5:00pm

• Ike Girls Basketball @ GPS, 4:00pm, 5:30pm, 7:00pm

• Ike Boys Basketball @ Troy Athens, 4:00pm, 5:30pm, 7:00pm

Wednesday, December 6

• Bagel sales before school

• Saginaw Valley State University presentation – 9th English classes

• Santa Hat, PJ & Hat passes on sale during all lunch periods

• Bake Sale during all lunch periods

• Subway Box Lunch option during all lunch periods

• Homework Club in Media Center from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• Magic the Gathering Club in room B203 from 3:05pm – 4:30pm

• Ike Wrestling @ Anchor Bay, 5:00pm

• Ike Girls Soccer meeting in the Ike Commons @ 6:00 pm

• Ike JV Hockey @ Berkley, 9:00pm

Thursday, December 7

• Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

• Santa Hat, PJ & Hat passes on sale during all lunch periods

• Cookie Dough pick up in the café from 2:00pm – 5:00pm

• Homework Club in Media Center from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• Student Council meeting in room A111 from 3:10pm – 4:00pm

• 7th Girls Basketball vs. Heritage @ 4:00pm

• 8th Girls Basketball vs. Heritage @ 5:30pm

Friday, December 8

• Santa Hat, PJ & Hat passes on sale before school

• Holiday PJ / Santa Hat Day – passes MUST be pre-purchased

• Militello sprinkle donuts available for $2 before school (all proceeds go directly toward toy purchases for Toys for Tots)

• Bagel sales before school

• Making Positive Choices presentation during 5th/6th hour (7th grade-5th hour, 8th grade – 6th hour)

• Jet’s Pizza Box Lunch option during all lunch periods

• Ike Girls Basketball vs. Romeo @ 4:00pm, 5:30pm, 7:00pm

• Ike Boys Basketball @ Romeo, 4:00pm, 5:30pm, 7:00pm

• Ike Eagles Nest open from 5:00pm – 8:30pm

• Ike JV Hockey @ Stoney Creek, 8:30pm

Saturday, December 9

• Ike Varsity Competitive Cheer @ Troy (CCCAM), 9:00am

• Ike Wrestling @ John Glenn, 9:00am

• Ike Varsity Hockey vs. Howell (Suburban Ice Macomb) @ 6:30pm

• Ike JV Hockey vs. Troy (Suburban Ice Macomb) @ 9:00pm

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Macomb Feeding the Need

Please click here for more information on this program. *Dance/Party Interest Survey

Attention Students! Are you interested in attending an end of winter dance/party? If you are, please complete the survey attached to the following link. Be sure to share your opinion before the results are compiled at the end of December! Thank you from the Malow Student Council! Dance/Party Interest Survey *Student Council Toys for Tots and Other Holiday Happenings

November 27th – December 14th: Toys for Tots collection box in the front office.

December 1st: Morning Militello donut sale for $2.00 (all proceeds go directly toward purchase of toys) December 8th: Morning Militello donut sale for $2.00 (all proceeds go directly toward purchase of toys)

Holiday PJ/Santa Hat Day – Purchase Santa hats for $2, pj or hat passes for $1 (must be pre-purchased). You MUST purchase a pass to wear a hat or pajamas on Friday, 12/8!!! Or bring a new toy worth at least $5 and your coupon to wear pj’s and a hat will be free! Passes for sale at lunch on 12/5, 12/6 and 12/7 and before school on 12/8. All proceeds go directly toward purchase of toys. Student Council thanks you for your donation!

December 11th – December 20th: 4th hour Holiday Door Decorating Contest. Rules are to follow.

December 14th: The Marines arrive at Malow for Toys for Tots pick up.

December 18th – December 22nd: Holiday Spirit Week December 20th: Holiday Door Decorating Contest - judging takes place by the office staff.

December 22nd: Holiday Door Decorating Contest - winners receive a cookie decorating party.

*Eisenhower School Store Holiday Hours

For those of you who like to come in to the Eagles Nest School Store, we have three parent shopping nights in December during basketball games on the 8th, 12th and the 21st from 5:00pm - 8:30pm. There will be 15% off all apparel now through the December Holiday Break. Checks or Cash only please as no credit cards are accepted.

*NJHS News

The NJHS meeting that was previously scheduled for Thursday, December 7 has been cancelled. Letters will be given to 8th and 9th Graders who are eligible to become members of the Malow NJHS during their 6th Hour on Friday, December 1st. The requirement for eligibility was a first quarter GPA of 3.50 and above. The deadline to apply is no later than December 20th. The process for application is explained in the letter. If you have any questions, please contact Joe Pretari (joseph.pretari@uticak12.org) or Michelle Witt (michelle.witt@uticak12.org). After-School Homework Club for December 2017 and January 2018 www.slyreply.com/app/sheets/7pnpsazsptxb/ Pop Can Recycling Program

We have started a new pop can recycling program at Malow! During lunch, please put any returnable pop cans into the specifically marked green trash bins. Thank you for supporting this “green” idea! Teaching and Learning College Readiness Evening Series

Teaching and Learning has partnered with Community Education to offer a College Readiness Evening Series for students and parents. The series will run from November through May. The cost will be $10 per person for each session. Payments will only be accepted online at www.ucscommunityeducation.com Sessions will be held at Henry Ford II High School in the ECC room. Click here for more information on this series.

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Fall Sports

All athletes MUST have a physical on file dated after April 15, 2017. Students will not be able to try-out for a sport without this physical. For information and downloadable forms for the school year click here. Online Link for Pay to Play

Click here to access the PaySchools link to Pay to Play for your Malow student athlete.

Early Dismissal for Away Games

All players who need an early dismissal for an away game will be dismissed at 2:45pm unless notified by their coach. Parents will not need to call in or provide an early dismissal with the front office. Students will sign out in the office at 2:45pm prior to leaving the building. No passes will be issued. 7th/8th Grade Sporting Event Expectations

Expectations for student behavior at athletic events are the same as if you are in a class during the school day at Malow. We want all students who come to the games to cheer and support our teams and have a great time. Any behavior issues at the games will result in the forfeiture of your right to attend future sporting events. Please remain in the gym and concession areas after purchasing a ticket and refrain from going into the school hallways. Students who leave the gym may not be allowed to re-enter after they have left. 7th Grade Boys Basketball

Coach Jason Thoel (jason.thoel@uticak12.org). There was an informational meeting on Tuesday, November 14th in Room E503 from 3:15pm – 3:30pm. Tryouts began on Friday, November 17th. 7th Grade Girls Basketball

Coach Bob Savage (robert.savage@uticak12.org). There was an informational meeting on Thursday, November 9th in Room C305 from 3:05pm – 3:30pm. Tryouts began on Monday, November 13th. 8th Grade Boys Basketball

Coach Gregg Diggs (gregory.diggs@uticak12.org). There was an informational meeting on Tuesday, November 14th in the SLA from 3:05pm – 3:30pm. Tryouts began on Friday, November 17th. 8th Grade Girls Basketball

Coach Jim Thomas (james.thomas@uticak12.org). There was an informational meeting on Thursday, November 9th in the gym from 3:05pm – 3:30pm. 7th & 8th Grade Competitive Cheer

Informational packets are available in the front office or by clicking here. Tryouts were on Tuesday, November 14th and Thursday, November 16th from 3:30pm – 5:30pm in the cafeteria. Eisenhower Eagles Youth Wrestling Club – Community Education

The Eagles Wrestling Club is starting soon! The club provides folk style amateur wrestling instruction (style used in high school) to all levels from beginning to advanced (grades 1 – 8). For additional information and how to register please click here. If you have questions, please email: eaglesyouthwrestling@gmail.com or david.drath@uticak12.org. 9th Grade Sports

All 9th grade sports are handled through Eisenhower. Please see the next section for all Eisenhower High School sports information. UCS Code of Conduct

The UCS Code of Conduct for Student Athletes 2017-2018 may be found here.

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Senior Citizen Athletic Pass

Local senior citizens are invited to take advantage of “Friday Night Lights” and all other home athletic games with a Utica Community Schools lifetime pass. The pass gives residents 62 years and older free admission to UCS home athletic events at all junior high schools and high schools. The pass is not valid at tournaments hosted by the Michigan High School Athletic Association that are held at UCS sites.

Passes are available for free at athletic events, UCS secondary schools or by calling 586-797-1078. 7th/8th Grade Athletic Admission and Prices

Event Ticket Prices Season Passes

Football Volleyball Basketball Track

Students = $1.00 Adults = $2.00

• Student Pass = $20, Admits 1 student only. Good for 7th/8th grade home athletic events only.

• Adult Family Pass = $30, Admits 2 adult members 18 years and older in addition to 6th grade and younger children when accompanied by a parent.

• Senior Citizen Pass = No Charge. Lifetime pass, age 62 years or older. Admits bearer to all UCS athletic home events.

Free admission for all K-6 students when accompanied by parent or adult.

Competitive Cheer Students = $1.00 Adults = $3.00

• You can purchase a season pass in the Malow office. Click here for form. (Click on 7th and 8th Grade Admission Prices)

• You can purchase a pass online at Athletic pass through Pay Schools or through Mrs. Campbell Malow Junior High Athletic Booster Club

Join the Malow Athletic Booster Club at monthly meetings to hear how you can help support your child’s athletic endeavors at Malow. Please join us in the Media Center on meeting dates. The next meeting is set for November 13th at 6:30pm.

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9th Grade / Freshman Sports

9th graders participate in sports through Eisenhower’s sports program. Check the IKE website for further information or contact Eisenhower’s Athletic Director: John Bertich john.bertich@uticak12.org. For information about the IKE Booster club, follow this link: http://www.eisenhowerathletics.com Early Dismissal for Away Games

All players who need an early dismissal for an away game will be dismissed at 2:45pm unless notified by their coach. Parents will not need to call in or provide an early dismissal with the front office. Students will sign out in the office at 2:45pm prior to leaving the building. No passes will be issued. Eisenhower Ice Hockey

Coach Bob Hall (robert.hall@uticak12.org). Eisenhower Ice Hockey tryouts were on October 30th & 31st @ 4:00pm. Eisenhower Bowling

Coach John Snider (248-721-3516 call or text). Ike Bowling team tryouts are November 13th & 14th at Shelby Lanes from 3:30pm – 5:30pm. Tryouts are open to all 9th – 12th grade students. All skill levels are welcome. Eisenhower Freshman Boys Basketball

Coach Jay Gilbert (jay.gilbert@uticak12.org). There was an informational meeting for anyone interested in trying out for the team (parents are optional) on Thursday, October 26th in the Ike Commons at 6:30pm. Tryouts began on November 13th from 6:30pm – 8:30pm at Ike. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Coach Gilbert either by email or call (586) 797-3560. Eisenhower Girls Basketball

Coach Mike Satawa (michael.satawa@uticak12.org). There was a pre-season parent and player informational meeting for any girl interested in trying out on Tuesday, October 24th in the Ike Media Center at 6:30pm. You MUST have a physical on file to try out. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Satawa. Eisenhower Girls Tennis

Coach Michael Pearson (michael.pearson@uticak12.org). There was a pre-season meeting for 9th grade girls interested in playing tennis this spring on Wednesday, November 8th. Eisenhower Cheer

Freshman Coach Toni Crudo (ikecheerfr@gmail.com). Ice Hawks (Eisenhower Hockey’s Off-Season Team for Spring/Fall)

Questions about the program? Contact the off-season hockey director Matthew Kendziuk @ (586)789-6658 or mkendziuk@gmail.com.

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Eisenhower High Sporting Event Expectations

Athletic events and after-school functions are an extension of the school day. All school rules apply and proper behavior is expected. Inappropriate behavior at ANY after-school event will NOT be tolerated. UCS Code of Conduct

The UCS Code of Conduct for Student Athletes 2017-2018 may be found here. Eisenhower Athletic Booster Club

Join the Ike Athletic Booster Club at monthly meetings on the second Monday of every month at 7:00pm to hear how you can help support your child’s athletic endeavors at Eisenhower. For information on the Fall Ike Boosters click here. For information on the Fall Mega Raffle click here. For 2017 - 2018 membership information click here. Eisenhower High School Athletic Admission Prices

Event Ticket Price Season Passes/Use for UCS home athletic events

JV/Varsity Football JV/Varsity Basketball (Boys & Girls) JV/Varsity Volleyball JV/Varsity Soccer Wrestling Swimming Competitive Cheer

$5.00 Home Games

• Athletic Pass Adult Family (Eisenhower) $55.00 This item is an adult family season pass to UCS home athletic events. The pass admits 2 adults (18 and older) in addition to 6th grade and younger children when accompanied by a parent.

• Athletic Pass Student (Eisenhower) $35.00 This item is a student athletic season pass to UCS home athletic events. (Students in 7th thru 12th grade) Admits one only.

• Athletic Passes-Single Adult (Eisenhower) $40.00 This item is a pass which admits one adult (18 years and older) to all UCS home athletic events.

• Student Pass: 7th-12th grade student only. $35.00

• Senior Citizen Pass: No Charge Lifetime pass, age 62 years or older. Admits bearer to all UCS athletic home events. (See below)

• FREE ADMISSION for all K-6 grade students, when accompanied by parent or adult.

You must show your on-line purchase receipt to the Bookkeeper at Eisenhower High School to pick up your athletic pass.

*Freshman Football *Freshman Volleyball *Freshman Basketball

$3.00 Home Games

*Freshman Soccer *Varsity Track

3.00 Home Games (if admission charged)

*When a freshman contest is immediately followed by a JV contest on the same date, the freshman admission rate will be applied until 45 minutes prior to the start of the JV contest. At that time, the JV admission rate will be used.

• You can purchase a pass during registration at the beginning of the year.

• You can purchase a season pass in the Eisenhower High School office. Click here for form. (Click on High School Admission Prices)

• You can purchase a pass online at Athletic pass through Pay Schools NOTES: League, State and Invitational Tournament games are not covered by any season pass. If for any reason a pass should be lost or destroyed, we will NOT replace it.

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Next Week at a Glance Monday, December 11

• 4th Hour Door Decorating Contest begins

• Homework Club in Media Center from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• Chess Club in room B207 from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• S.T.A.T.I.C. Club in room C301 from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• Malow Comic League Club in room A104 from 3:05pm – 5:00pm

• Student Council meeting in room A111 from 3:10pm – 4:00pm

• 7th Girls Basketball @ Bemis, 4:00pm

• 7th Boys Basketball vs. Bemis @ 4:00pm

• Ike Bowling vs. Ford (Shelby Lanes) @ 4:00pm

• Ike JV Hockey @ Rochester United, 4:30pm

• 8th Girls Basketball @ Bemis, 5:30pm

• 8th Boys Basketball vs. Bemis @ 5:30pm

Tuesday, December 12

• Naviance for 8th graders during Science classes

• Homework Club in Media Center from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• Art & Anime Club in room B210 from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• Ike Girls Freshman Basketball @ Sterling Heights, 4:00pm

• Ike Boys Freshman Basketball vs. Ford @ 4:00pm

• Ike Eagles Nest open from 5:00pm – 8:30pm

• Ike Girls JV Basketball @ Sterling Heights, 5:30pm

• Ike Boys JV Basketball vs. Ford @ 5:30pm

• Ike Boys Varsity Swim & Dive vs. Dakota @ 6:00pm

• Ike Girls Varsity Basketball @ Sterling Heights, 7:00pm

• Ike Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Ford @ 7:00pm

• Malow Vocal Concert in the Ike PAC @ 7:00pm

• Ike Varsity Hockey @ St. Clair Shores, 7:30pm

Wednesday, December 13

• Bagel sales before school

• Naviance for 8th graders during Science classes

• Subway Box Lunch option during all lunch periods

• Homework Club in Media Center from 3:05pm – 4:00pm

• Ike Competitive Cheer @ Cousino, 6:00pm

• Malow Booster Club meeting in the Media Center @ 6:30pm

Thursday, December 14

• Toys for Tots pick up by Marines

• Naviance for 8th graders during Science classes

• Sounding Board Staff Luncheon

• Snowsports Club travels to Mt. Holly from 3:20pm – 9:30pm (weather permitting)

• 7th Girls Basketball vs. Jeannette @ 4:00pm

• 7th Boys Basketball @ Jeannette, 4:00pm

• Ike Girls Freshman Basketball vs. Stevenson @ 4:00pm

• 8th Girls Basketball vs. Jeannette @ 5:30pm

• 8th Boys Basketball @ Jeannette, 5:30pm

• Ike Girls JV Basketball vs. Stevenson @ 5:30pm

• Ike Boys Varsity Swim & Dive @ Utica, 6:00pm

• Ike Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Stevenson @ 7:00pm

Friday, December 15

• Bagel sales before school

• Jet’s Pizza Box Lunch option during all lunch periods

• Ike Boys Freshman Basketball @ Utica, 4:30pm

• Ike Boys JV Basketball @ Utica, 5:30

• Ike Boys Varsity Basketball @ Utica, 7:00pm

• Ike Varsity Hockey @ Calumet, 7:00pm

Saturday, December 16

• Ike Wrestling @ Fraser, 9:00am

• Malow Comic League Club field trip to Gamer’s Gauntlet from 11:00am – 2:00pm

• Ike Varsity Hockey @ Houghton, 1:00pm

• Ike Competitive Cheer @ Cousino, 6:00pm

• Ike JV Hockey vs. Birmingham (Suburban Ice Macomb) @ 6:30pm

*Upcoming Naviance Schedule

December 12, 13, and 14: Counselors will be meeting with all eighth-grade students through their science classes to complete tasks on Naviance. Those tasks include: updating their personal profile and email address, creating an Academic and Personal SMART Goal, completing the Career Cluster, creating a four-year Educational Development Plan (EDP), and uploading that plan into Naviance. December 18: Counselors will be meeting with all seventh-grade students through their science classes to complete tasks on Naviance. Those tasks include: updating their profile and email address, completing the Learning Style Inventory, creating an Academic SMART Goal, and completing the Career Key. January 9 and 10: Counselors will be meeting with all ninth-grade students through their social studies classes to complete tasks on Naviance. Those tasks include: updating their profile and email address, creating an Academic and Personal SMART Goal, completing the Career Interest Profiler, choosing at least two careers of interest, completing the Course Planner, entering activities to the Resume, and completing the Game Plan Survey.

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Malow Vocal Concert

*Secondary Specialty Programs (UAIS, MST and CSI) – Information for 8th Grade Students

The Secondary Specialty Programs application goes live on the UCS website on January 15, 2018 at 4:00 pm. The Secondary Specialty Programs application are due February 26, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. Secondary Specialty Programs information nights will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Program Location Information Night

CSI IRC January 30

UAIS/IB Heritage/UAIS February 1

MST IRC February 6

Shuttles run from Havel Elementary on February 6 for MST information night. Secondary Specialty Programs testing dates:

Program Testing Location Testing Date Testing Date

UAIS/IB Heritage/UAIS March 3 8:00 a.m. or

12:30 p.m. March 10 8:00 a.m.

MST IRC March 3 12:30 p.m. March 10 8:00 a.m.

CSI IRC March 3 8:00 a.m. March 10 12:30 p.m.

Notification Mailing Date - Accept/Decline/Waitlist notifications will be sent by email on March 29, 2018. Program Commitment Date is April 20, 2018. UCS App Settings

The UCS App has undergone a number of recent upgrades. Please check the settings tab (located under the wrench and hammer icon in the lower right corner of the home screen) to ensure you will continue to receive personalized notifications and information specific to (insert the name of your school). You may follow one or more schools. If you have not downloaded the App, we encourage you to do so to receive updated alerts from our school. Links to download the app are available at: http://www.uticak12.org/social

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2017-2018 Utica Community Schools Student Calendar – Important Changes to Note

Below please find an overview of the 2017-2018 Utica Community Schools calendar. Please note some important changes from previous years’ schedules. These changes are required under a new state law that expanded instructional time for all Michigan students. For the next school year, legislation for expanded instructional time has resulted in full days on January 3, 2018, May 25, 2018, and a half-day on Friday, June 15, 2018. In addition, three minutes will be added to the high school instructional day (Eisenhower, Henry Ford II, Stevenson and Utica high schools) with dismissal at 2:14 PM. Please click here to access the 2017-2018 UCS student calendar. Save the Date for the Academic Blitz!

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Back to Menu Security

The front doors will be locked during school hours. To gain access, ring the button near the far left door at the main entrance. Office staff will see you through the security camera and unlock the doors if deemed appropriate. Please report directly to the main office.

Attendance Line / Late Arrival Call-in

If an absence is absolutely necessary, parents must call the Malow attendance voice mail BEFORE 9:00 a.m. The attendance phone

number is 797-3599. Give the student’s name (spelling the last name), grade, reason for absence and length of absence. The voice mail

is on twenty-four hours a day, so you can avoid busy phone lines in the morning by phoning in the night before. If unable to reach the

voice mail, parents may call the Main Office at 797-3500. If it is impossible to call the school, the parent must supply a signed note

stating the date and reason for absence when the student returns to school or the absence will be counted as unexcused.

Automated Attendance

For the safety of our students, Malow uses an automated attendance phone system. If you have not called the attendance line to excuse your student’s absence for the day, you will receive an automated phone call beginning at 6:00 pm. Early Dismissal

If a student must be excused for any portion of the school day, a note signed by the parent stating the child's name, grade, date and

reason for the dismissal is required. The note should be placed in the early dismissal request box on the counter in the Main Office

before school begins on the day of the early dismissal. The student will then pick up an early dismissal pass after first hour so he/she can

be released from class at the time of the dismissal. To reduce the number of disruptions to important teaching time and to reduce

the waiting period for the parent, a note must be sent in.

For liability and safety purposes, parents MUST come in to the Malow Main Office to sign out their student for the early dismissal.

Homework Requests

Per district policy, as spelled out in the Junior High School Parent and Student Handbook, “Homework requests may be made for an absence of three or more days in the case of both excused and pre-excused absences. Homework requests require 24 hours to process.” Homework requests will be honored after three consecutive days of absence. This request is done through the Main Office by calling 797-3500. Twenty-four hours are needed to complete this task. Students absent for one or two days can check PowerSchool for their assignments. Please encourage your child to

make a list of other students’ phone numbers from each class so they may contact them about missed homework and assignments. Emergency Cards

It is crucial that we have accurate information on your child's emergency medical card. This information is used when a child is ill, for an

emergency at school or for disciplinary concerns. We need to contact you quickly. If this information is incorrect, it will take us longer to

locate you. Make sure this information is updated regularly. A student will not be released to anyone who is not on the emergency

card. If you have not already done so, please teach your child your cell and work phone numbers.

Injury or Illness – Dispensing of Medication

When a student becomes ill or injured during the school day, we will contact a parent or designated adult (from the emergency card) for

directions. Please arrange to pick up a sick or injured student as quickly as possible.

Students who require medication (prescription or over-the-counter) during the school day, must have a medication permission form

signed by the parent and the doctor. This form will be filed along with the medication in the Main Office. All medication MUST be in the

original container labeled with the student’s name.

Student ID Card Replacement

Student ID cards were given to students when pictures were taken at the beginning of the school year. If these cards have been lost or misplaced, they can be replaced for a $5.00 charge. Please make these requests in the front office.

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Do You Drive Your Student to School?

If it is necessary to drive your child to school, please use the outer lane for quick drop off of students while reserving the inner lane for thru traffic. Have your student exit the vehicle as quickly as possible. Please do not wait until you are the first car in line before dropping your student off, and do not wait until your child is in the building before driving away. The idea is to reduce the long line of cars coming into the parking lot in the morning by allowing several cars to drop off students at one time. If you or your student insists on waiting to get to the front of the line to exit the car, the purpose is defeated and traffic flow will be impeded.

Malow Phone List

Please click here for a summary of important contact information. Malow Daily Schedule

First Hour 8:10 – 9:08 Second Hour 9:14 - 10:10 Lunch: A Lunch 11:18 – 11:49 Third Hour 10:16 – 11:12 B Lunch 11:55 – 12:20 Fourth Hour 11:18 – 12:57 C Lunch 12:26 – 12:57 Fifth Hour 1:03 – 1:59 Sixth Hour 2:05 – 3:01 Malow Map

Click here to see a map of Malow Junior High. Visitors and Parents Who Visit Malow

Everyone who enters Malow Junior High must report to the Main Office. This is a school district policy. You will need to sign in and put a

visitor’s pass on. If you need to see your child, our office staff will be glad to assist you. Please do not attempt to meet your student in

the building without first checking in at the Main Office.

Discipline Policy

Please click here for the Malow Junior High Discipline Policy Procedures Electronic Device Policy

1. Student usage a. Students are allowed to use electronic device before school, during lunch, and after school b. Students are allowed to use electronic devices in the classroom per the teacher’s discretion c. Students are not allowed to use electronic devices in the hallways during passing time for any reason d. Earbuds are not to be worn in the hallways during passing time e. If a student needs to use a phone, they are to come to the main office or use the teacher’s classroom phone with the

permission of the teacher 2. Violation of student usage

a. Malow faculty member is to confiscate the electronic device and turn it into office. Faculty member is not to view items on phone.

i. First offense 1. Electronic device will be given to the office with first and last name of student 2. Mrs. Wyckoff will email parent(s) 3. Student picks up at end of day

ii. Second offense 1. Electronic device will be given to the office with first and last name of student 2. Mr. Snitgen will contact parent 3. Parent to pick up electronic device by 4:00 pm

iii. Third (+) offense 1. Electronic device will be given to the office with first and last name of student 2. Mr. Snitgen will contact parent 3. Parent to pick up electronic device by 4:0pm 4. Possible student detention/suspension

Once buses begin exiting after school, cars must

wait until all buses are in the driveway before

exiting the parking lot or pick-up area.

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Backpack Policy

1. Students are allowed to use any type of backpack to and from school 2. Student are to use string backpacks or hand carry books during the times of 8:10am until 3:01pm 3. Violation of student usage

a. Malow faculty member is to confiscate the backpack i. First offense

1. Student is allowed to remove items needed from backpack 2. Backpack will be given to the office with first and last name 3. Mrs. Wyckoff will email parent(s) 4. Student picks up at end of day

ii. Second offense 1. Student is allowed to remove items needed from backpack 2. Backpack will be given to the office with first and last name of student 3. Mr. Snitgen will contact parent 4. Parent to pick up backpack by 4:00 pm

iii. Third (+) offense 1. Student is allowed to remove items needed from backpack 2. Backpack will be given to the office with first and last name of student 3. Mr. Snitgen will contact parent 4. Parent to pick up backpack by 4:00 pm 5. Student detention/suspension

Insubordination

Immediate suspension/detention pending the level of severity Dress Code

a. No mid-drift, short skirts, short shorts, soffe shorts b. Dresses, skirts, and walking shorts shall be no shorter than fingertip length c. No cleavage is to be visible d. Shoulder straps on blouses and shirts must be at least 3 inches wide – 3 finger rule. Sleeveless shirts, tank tops or jerseys with wide openings at the sleeves must wear an undershirt that meets dress code e. Teacher sends students in violation to office or ask to change and return to class Malow follows the dress code printed in the UCS handbook that has been approved for all UCS junior high schools. Please be aware that this dress code differs from the elementary dress code. Student conduct is affected by student dress. Malow strives to maintain a comfortable learning climate and staff appreciates parental support in guiding appropriate dress for school. Students not conforming to the district code will have to call home for a change of clothing. Bus Safety Reminders

Please be sure you are following these rules:

• Stand 10 feet from the road at the bus stop.

• NO cell phones/electronics on the bus.

• Don’t rush to the bus as it approaches the stop.

• Must be sitting while the bus is moving (at all times).

• Respect the bus driver. Legislative Updates

The UCS website contains regular updates, links to recent news articles, and contact information for state lawmakers. To access the UCS page, click on the “Legislative Updates” button on the upper left corner of the district’s website: http://www.uticak12.org. Or click here: http://www.uticak12.org/districtinfo/legislativeupdates.asp.

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UCS Community Education

The UCS Community Education department is introducing a new website that features an easy to use on-line registration system. Please visit www.ucscommunityeducation.com. Mustang Respect Code

Malow Junior High is a safe, positive and caring educational community. Our behavior reflects our attitude toward others and their

rights as human beings. As a Malow Mustang, I will demonstrate respectful behavior, a positive attitude, and a spirit of teamwork by:

• Being organized, prepared, and on time for class • Doing my best and being accountable for my actions • Practicing honesty and integrity • Extending kindness to all • Being flexible, cooperative and attentive in all situations • Never interfering with the learning of others • Displaying an appropriate sense of humor • Abiding by the school rules set forth in the Junior High Parent and Student Handbook

This is my commitment as a member of the Malow Junior High learning community.

Success Skills

In an ongoing effort to reinforce the elementary schools’ teaching of Success Skills and prepare the students for the expectations set forth in Eisenhower’s Eagle Respect Code, Malow staff will continue to emphasize the Mustang Respect Code. The Success Skills of respect, responsibility, integrity, personal best and positive communication will be reinforced through focus on monthly themes. Malow staff asks that families support us in our efforts by focusing on these skills at home and recognizing their children for demonstrating them outside of school, too. Malow 411

Malow utilizes a school wide email information system. If you choose to participate, you will receive important information relative to upcoming events such as athletic information, specific grade level contests and activities, individual classroom events, reminders of important dates, a link to the school newsletter as it is published, and more! This email system is strictly for information that relates to Malow Jr. High. Email addresses will not be used for any other purpose. This is a voluntary system, set up and run by volunteers. Simply send an email to our address at Malow411@uticak12.org. If you are not sure if you are in this system, just email the above address. Please be sure to list your family name on file, student(s) names and grade(s) to ensure accuracy and clarity. Malow Copy Room Volunteers Needed

The Malow Copy Room is looking for volunteers during the afternoon from 12:00pm - 2:30pm on a weekly/biweekly basis. If interested please email Tina Lewis at malowcopymom@gmail.com with any questions. Training can be provided if needed. Thank you. Parents: Your Support is Essential

Malow administration and staff regard education as a partnership. We ask that you help us teach your children to be good citizens and good students by encouraging them to use Success Skills and to follow the Mustang Respect Code. Please review the following with your student: Attendance: Regular, punctual attendance is a habit. At the high school level, a strict attendance policy is in place, and Malow’s

procedures are directed toward preparing students to meet that standard. Skipping school and/or habitual tardiness to school and

class will result in disciplinary measures being taken. Please note that the ONLY reason for which late arrival to school will be excused is

illness or a medical/dental appointment.

Buses: The bus driver is the authority on the bus. Bus drivers have an extremely important job to perform. A misbehaving student

causes unnecessary distraction in a form that could result in injury or even death to students riding the bus. Therefore, THE BUS

DRIVER IS TO BE OBEYED AT ALL TIMES. Students who choose not to cooperate with bus rules will receive disciplinary consequences

and they may temporarily or permanently be removed from bus privileges. Bus transportation is a privilege, not a right.

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Bus Passes: From time to time students who are bussed may request to ride home with a friend. A one-day bus pass will be issued

provided there is room on the bus and written permission is received from both the guest’s parent and the regular rider’s parent. The

written permission must be turned in to the Main Office at the beginning of the school day. Each note MUST include the following: 1)

first and last names of both students, 2) bus numbers of both students, 3) parent signature. Bus passes can be picked up from the Main

Office after school. Last minute requests will be denied. Only a registered bussed student will be issued a guest pass on another

student’s bus.

Conduct: For the safety, welfare and educational opportunity of all, students will be expected to adhere to school rules as set forth in

the handbook and the Mustang Respect Code, and conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates good manners, sound judgment,

and positive choices. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action.

Homework: Help your student to be organized about recording homework assignments, and strive for balance between checking on

their work and helping them be responsible for their affairs. Do not accept the excuse, “No homework” on a regular basis. Call the

school and ask to talk to your student’s teacher if you have questions. All academic teachers assign homework on a regular basis and we

encourage the use of a student planner.

Lockers: It is the student’s responsibility to keep their locker secure. Parents, please help us by encouraging your student to keep the

locker combination private information! Each student will be assigned a locker on Malow Mustang Days for use throughout the year.

Sharing a locker and/or combination nearly always results in problems such as lost property or charges for lost books.

Remember: the student is responsible for his/her assigned locker and its contents.

Textbooks: Textbooks are issued at the beginning of the school year. Please encourage your student to cover his/her textbooks, and to

keep track of them! Students are responsible for books they are issued. The expectation is that books will be returned in the

same condition as when they were issued. If books are damaged or lost or show wear and tear beyond what is expected in one

year, a fee to cover replacement of the book will be assessed to the student. The average cost of a new textbook is now well over

$40.00.

Inclement Weather – School Closing

Inclement weather or building problems sometimes bring unexpected school closings. At Utica Community Schools there are several ways parents can be informed about these unanticipated closings. Utica Community Schools will implement the use of School Messenger, our mass parent communication system, to make telephone calls to parents/guardians informing them of school closing information. It is important that we have updated contact phone numbers. Please make sure that you notify the main office if there are any changes. For parents connected to the Internet, the district’s web page, www.uticak12.org, lists school closings under the emergency school closing button listed on the main page. School closing information is broadcasted on radio stations WJR 760 and WWJ 950. Television stations airing school closing information are UCS TV, Channel 2 (WJBK), Channel 4 (WDIV) and Channel 7 (WXYZ).

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Stay Connected

Are you connected? Utica Community Schools has several ways to help you stay connected! We are on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, RSS News Feed, YouTube, and the UCS phone app! In addition, parents are encouraged to stay connected through our other social media sites:

• Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/uticaschools

• Twitter - https://twitter.com/uticaschools

• YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/uticaschools

• LinkedIn - http://www.uticak12.org/districtinfo/linkedin.asp

• The UCS App - http://www.uticak12.org/districtinfo/news/app.asp

• The UCS RSS Feed - http://www.uticak12.org/districtinfo/rss/UCS.xml

Utica Community Schools has created a new blog site for regular updates on district initiatives. You can access the site at: http://drchristinejohns.wordpress.com/. Click here to view the graphic full size. UCS App now available at App and Android Stores

The UCS App includes the latest news, athletic updates, lunch menus, videos, updates, and calendars for our schools. Click here for iTunes and click here for Google Play. Concussion Awareness

As part of a new state law, all UCS and Michigan parents will receive information about concussions, their symptoms, and what to do if you suspect a concussion. UCS parents will receive the form as part of the back to school registration packets. The form, which parents are asked to sign and return to the school office, is also available at this link. The form will also be required of all new families registering in UCS for the first time. In addition to providing the parent information sheet, UCS physical education staff members and coaches will also take part in an on-line training program about concussions. For more information about concussions, please visit the recommended sites below from the Center for Disease Control:

• Primary Link for concussions in young athletes at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention

• Facts about Concussion and Brain Injury

• How Can I Recognize a Possible Concussion?

• Resource Links About Concussions News from the Double M School Store

The Life Skills class is continuing their adventure in the 2017/2018 school year! The Double M Store is open daily during all lunch periods. Please see below what is being offered:

DAILY WEDNESDAY / FRIDAY

Jet’s Pizza - $2.00 per slice Box Lunches – Subway & Jet’s $4.00

Frozen Yogurt - $2.00 per cup Big Apple Bagels - $1.00

Slushees - $1.00 Drinks – Arnold Palmer / Gatorade $1.00

Gum - $2.00 Candy - $1.50

Mints - $1.00

Water - $1.00

*** Box lunches include entrée, drink, and a candy choice ***

This lunch offering will be on a first-come first-served basis. The Life Skills program continues to explore the real workings of a small business including product sales, marketing and service skills while partnering with local businesses in the community. The school store continues to provide Malow Spirit wear and backpacks (cash or check payments only please). Please support the Double M Store in its efforts to provide students with future employable job skills.

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Food and Nutrition Service Meal Policy

A new meal charging policy is in effect this year in an effort to provide clear and consistent meal account procedures, including the charging of meals and handling and disposition of negative meal balances. When a student meal charge creates a negative balance, prompt repayment is expected. To bring the meal account up to date, families can make deposits online, send cash or a check to school with the student’s full name on the memo line (checks made payable to Utica Community Schools). By establishing an account with sendmoneytoschool.com through the food and nutrition service link on the district website (http://www.uticak12.org/foodandnutrition) or app, families/parents can monitor balances and receive low balance email alerts on their students’ account. Students who pay for meals may only charge (have a negative account balance) up to five (5) meals (breakfast and/or lunch). If a student has a zero or negative account balance, they will not be allowed to make any a la carte or beverage purchases. After the fifth charge, students will not be able to make purchases of any kind in the cafeteria using their meal accounts. Instead students will be offered a regular meal (alternate meal). Alternate meals are provided at no charge and include all the components federally required to qualify for a reimbursable meal. Alternate meals will continue to be offered while the negative balance is being resolved. For elementary school households, auto-messages from the school regarding negative/low balances are initiated weekly each Thursday (by email if provided or letter sent home). When an account balance is low or negative, cashiers will share that information with the student in a respectful age-appropriate manner. Please contact the Food and Nutrition Services Department at 586-797-1180 for further assistance. On-Line Lunch Deposit / Free and Reduced Lunch

Parents are encouraged to make a deposit into their student’s lunch account using: sendmoneytoschool.com. Each student will have an individual account. The student ID number is needed to open an account. Call the Main Office for the students ID number. Deposits can be made at any time. Free and reduced price meal applications must be updated annually for benefits to continue without interruption. In October students who do not have an approved 2017-2018 meal application on file will be removed from meal benefit eligibility. Families are strongly encouraged to go to www.lunchapp.com or complete a paper application as soon as possible in order for benefits to continue. Click here for information regarding access and use of sendmoneytoschool.com for school lunch and breakfast purchases. Healthy Snacks

Click here to view a guide to help with appropriate snacks for children, especially those with food allergies. Breakfast – Start the Day Right – Come Join Us For Breakfast!

A healthy, nutritious breakfast is a critical ingredient to the success of our students. Studies have shown that eating breakfast significantly improves student achievement. To help our students succeed, the school breakfast program is available in all of our schools. Healthy choices include cereal, whole-grain breakfast bars, yogurt, fruit and milk in the elementary buildings. Those choices, along with fresh-made hot breakfast sandwiches and other favorites are featured in the secondary buildings. Fresh-made fruit smoothies are also available in the high schools. Breakfast is served in the cafeteria prior to the start of the school day. For menu information and serving times at your student’s school, please visit http://www.uticak12.org/foodandnutrition or download the new app by searching Utica Community Schools at the App Store or Google Play. A nutritious breakfast is available for students when they arrive at school each morning. The cost is $1.75, milk included. For students with an approved free or reduced-price application on file, the price is 30¢ or free. A variety of food choices are offered. Milk alone is 45 cents. We look forward to serving our students the most important meal of the day! Breakfast is available for purchase at 7:30 am in the cafeteria. If you choose to eat breakfast here, you MUST be in class at the start of class (8:10 am) NO LATE PASSES WILL BE GIVEN and you will be marked tardy if you are late. Lunch Time

All students are expected to eat lunch in school, a policy that makes us a “closed campus.” Students may bring lunch from home or purchase lunch from the cafeteria. Lunch – UCS school lunchrooms are serving up important menu changes as a result of new federal regulations

There will be a number of important menu changes in our school’s lunchroom this year as a result of new federal regulations. The changes will create healthier menu items for our students by requiring larger portions of fruit and vegetables. In addition, our lunches will feature more whole grains, along with lower sodium content. Full lunches are $2.75 for elementary students, $2.90 for junior high students, and $2.95 for high school students. Milk is 45¢ at all levels. Food Service staff members are ready to continue their partnership with parents to make sure our students are well-nourished and ready to learn.

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Bus Information

To determine your child’s bus stop, please refer to the district bus schedule. This schedule is posted on the Utica Community Schools website the week prior to the start of school. Bus information can be found by clicking here. If you have any questions, please call us at 586-797-3500. Malow Sounding Board

Parents and guardians are invited to attend our monthly Sounding Board meetings, which are held in the Upper Media Center at 1:30pm. Mark your calendars for the following meeting dates for the 2017-2018 school year: October 5th February 8th November 2nd March 1st December – No Meeting April 12th January 11th May 3rd

Malow bake sales are for the students and occur once a month during the three lunch periods. Everything at the sale will sell for 50¢

each.

You may bake/buy anything that you would like to donate for the sale. That's right, you can buy something to donate if you don't have

time to bake! Some bake sale ideas are as follows: Cupcakes, Puppy Chow, brownies, cookies, donuts, Rice Krispie treats, muffins,

popcorn, chocolate covered pretzels, etc. It is extremely helpful if you can individually wrap your items (with the exception of cupcakes

and store bought cookies).

Please bring your items to the front office at Malow by 10:15 a.m. on the Bake Sale day. This will give us enough time to set up for the

sale. There are three lunch hours and we try to evenly distribute the “goods” so that each group has the same treats to choose from.

Please label your bag or box with the number of items you have in your container (24, 36, etc.)

The proceeds from the sales help pay for different items approved at the sounding board meetings. We have approved monies for

classroom equipment, for the theatre and music departments, and even for the comic book club!

Our Bake Sales for 2017-2018 will be:

September 27th February 28th October 25th March 21st December 6th April 25th January 31st May 23rd

If you would like to volunteer at a bake sale, please click on the following link to sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a45abaf2da6f85-malow1 Questions? Please contact Angela Grammatico (angelagrammatico@yahoo.com) or Wendy Johnson (johnsonwendy862@gmail.com) Office 365 is Free! for Junior High and Senior High Students

Office 365 is available to all secondary students at no cost. Office 365 is a collection of tools that combines online cloud features with the power of Office 2013 and Office 2016. Student copies of office include full versions of Word, OneNote, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Access on up to 5 personal PCs or Macs, and Office apps on other mobile devices including Android, iPad, and Windows. Virtual Library Card

NEW for 2017-18, the UCS Virtual Library Card includes access to eBooks, music streaming and downloads, eMagazines, and a host of other electronic reference resources. Also available: Tutor.com. Parents will be sent a secure email with your student’s Library Card Number and PIN. A separate email will be sent for each student. For more information on what the Virtual Library Card offers, please click here. To get started, please click here.

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Back to Menu Clubs at Malow

Research shows that kids who are involved in extracurricular activities do better in school and enjoy school more. Malow Junior High

School offers many opportunities for student involvement, and our staff encourages all students to get involved in at least one school

club, activity or sport. For additional details, please use the contact information listed below for each group.

Art & Anime Club Mrs. Sara Palombo Sara.Palombo@uticak12.org

• Tuesdays after school until 4:00pm in room B210.

• The first meeting of the 2017-2018 school year is September 26th.

• The Malow Art & Anime Club meets weekly for students interested in creating art AND interested in Japanese animation – no experience necessary!! Students work on individual and group projects. In this club we explore various art mediums in drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Students also play games, watch videos, and play Japanese style music. This club is student led.

• Grades 7 – 9

Chess Club Mr. Martin Ashman Martin.Ashman@uticak12.org

• Mondays after school to 4:00pm in room B207.

• The first meeting of the 2017-2018 school year was September 18th. Students should arrange a ride home at 4:00pm.

• The Malow Knight Chess Club is open to anyone who likes to play chess or is interested in learning the game.

• Grades 7 - 9

Comic League Club Mr. Greg Kupke Gregory.kupke@uticak12.org

• Meets monthly; schedule provided to participants

• The first meeting of the 2017-2018 school year was September 25th in room A104 from 3:05pm – 5:00pm.

• The Malow Comic League Club is a hobby-based club. Students gather to discuss and enjoy comics, play Magic the Gathering, and participate in field trips to places like Gamer’s Gauntlet Store. There are lots of free incentives for all club members. We are looking to exceed our 68 member roster from last year so please come and join us! All 7th – 9th graders, male AND female, are welcome.

Homework Club / IB Tutoring Program Malow Teachers (rotating basis)

• After School Homework Club and the IB Tutoring Program runs after school on select days from 3:05 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the

library beginning Monday, October 16. As these dates change from week to week, please refer to the weekly calendars above for dates offered.

• Grades 7 – 9: This teacher-supervised after-school homework club is held in the library. Students must have a signed permission slip on file to attend. Students must come prepared with work to do and will need to make arrangements for their own transportation home. Student tutors are sometimes available to assist students.

Magic the Gathering Club Ms. Karen Narkus (Teacher) Karen.Narkus@uticak12.org

Magic the Gathering Club will begin meeting in October. Please see Miss Narkus in room B203 with questions. Miss Narkus will teach

you how to play if you need it and has decks you can use : )

• Meets twice a month after school from 3:05 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in room B203.

• Grades 7 – 9: This is a card-playing club. Magic the Gathering is a cerebral game that requires considerable thought and strategy. Students can learn to play with others or begin playing right away if already familiar with the game. Food is allowed at club meetings.

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National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Mrs. Michelle Witt (Counselor) Michelle.Witt@uticak12.org

• Meets monthly after school in the Science Lecture Area. Some meetings are held during lunch.

• Grades 8 – 9: National Junior Honor Society is an organization that recognizes outstanding middle level students. More than just an honor roll, NJHS recognizes students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character. NJHS recognizes students for their accomplishments, but also challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service.

Each year eligible 8th and 9th grade students with a 3.5 or higher grade point average will receive an invitation.

NJHS 2017 – 2018 Welcome Back, Dues, New REMIND Welcome Back returning members to the NJHS 2017-2018 year! Dues for returning members are 28.00. No Cash! Please make checks payable to Malow Jr. High and on the Memo line please indicate: NJHS Dues – Your First & Last Name. Dues are due no later than Friday, October 13, 2017. Dues are to be put in an envelope and placed in a drop box located in the front main office. Those submitting dues before the deadline will be entered in a drawing to receive a gift card. Members will need to re-sign up for a New REMIND. Enter this number 81010 and text @njhsmalow in the message area and hit send. Be sure to sign up with your first and last name to identify you. No nicknames or partial names will be allowed. Not following these specific guidelines will be cause for your name to be removed from REMIND until corrected. If you do not have a cell, you can sign up for REMIND through e-mail. Please check the NJHS Board for directions. All information regarding meetings, community service, and general information will be communicated through REMIND and on the NJHS Board inside the front of the Counseling Office. On occasion, information may be placed at the NJHS 2017-2018 link on the homepage of Malow’s website, as well as addressed during morning/end of the day school announcements. Be in the know, stay informed. Attendance at meetings is a requirement of membership. Please stay tuned as meeting dates, time and location, are being finalized. Note: Our first meeting for returning members will take place in October. We are looking forward to a year filled of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, Citizenship, and Character.

Science Olympiad Mrs. Sara Pohutsky (Parent) sarapoe@aol.com

• November through April practices for individual events held after school throughout the week

• Grades 7 – 9: Science Olympiad is a nationwide academic competition. Students compete in 23 science-oriented events that involve engineering, biology, chemistry and physics. Students compete first at the Macomb County level tournament in early April.

Snowsports Club Mrs. Beth Pierzecki (bethany.pierzecki@uticak12.org)

Meets Thursdays from December through February. Grades 7 – 9: There was an informational meeting for interested 7th – 9th grade students and their parents on Wednesday, November 29th in the Malow cafeteria at 6:00pm. For more information and the 2017 – 2018 registration packet please click here.

S.T.A.T.I.C. Club

• The Malow S.T.A.T.I.C. Club (Students Taking Action Together in Christ) is a Christian youth group that meets after school one day per week (currently Mondays from 3:05pm – 4:00pm). The S.T.A.T.I.C. Club’s mission is to: serve, get to know, encourage, grow in faith, and to fill our halls with God’s love. All are welcome to attend.

• The first meeting of the 2017-2018 school year is on Monday, September 25th in room C301.

Student Council Ms. Amy Gastmeier (Teacher) Amy.Gastmeier@uticak12.org

Mrs. Annmarie Hitzelberger (Teacher) Annmarie.Hitzelberger@uticak12.org

• Meets weekly after school.

• Grades 7 – 9: The Malow Student Council promotes student body participation in fundraising, school events, and school improvement. Student Council also participates in community service projects such as the canned food drive and Toys for Tots. The main goals are to make Malow Jr. High a more enjoyable environment and to increase the school spirit of the students.

Current Malow students may apply in the spring for the following year. Incoming 7th grade students may apply in the fall. Student Council consists of five committees: Dance, Community Service, Success Skills, Communications and School Spirit.

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Back to Menu Malow Counseling Department Contact Information

Malow counselors are eager to help students have a wonderful junior high school experience. We are available to assist students with

personal, social, career, college, academic, scheduling and other concerns. Students can sign up to see counselors by completing a blue

request slip in the front office. Parents are encouraged to reach out to us at any time with questions or concerns. If you’re not sure

who to call or where to start, please reach out to us and we will be happy to help! For answers to frequently asked questions click here.

Mrs. Raupp Counselor (A – Go) april.raupp@uticak12.org (586) 797-3592

Mrs. Witt Counselor (Gr – N) michelle.witt@uticak12.org (586) 797-3591

Ms. Vernon Counselor (O – Z) jennifer.vernon@uticak12.org (586) 797-3594

Malow Counseling Department Website

The Malow Counseling Department website can be found on the Malow Naviance Family Connection page.

Click on: Malow Naviance Family Connection Page Or go to: http://connection.naviance.com/malow Choose “I’m a guest” to enter without a password

Ninth grade students can use Naviance using their regular school username and password to enter Naviance. All Malow Parents and students in grades 7 and 8, are welcome to enter Naviance as a guest. Students in grades 7-8 can also use the Career Cruising program anytime they wish after receiving their username and password from their counselor. Tips for Success at Malow

Please click on the links below to utilize some tips for success at Malow: Typical Supplies Used / Tips for Becoming a Super Organized Student Top 10 Tips for Success at Malow Malow Phone List Advice for 9th Graders

High School officially begins in 9th grade and students are encouraged to make a strong start with their GPA. We also recommend that students begin recording their involvement in clubs, sports, community service, and other activities. On our Malow Naviance Family Connection Page families can find a sample “Student Record for College” located in the documents area in the upper right hand corner. Recording this information each year will make college application time much less stressful. Macomb Community College Event – Discover Macomb

Please click here for information on Discover Macomb. This is an event offered at each Macomb Community College location – Saturday, November 18th at the Center Campus and Saturday, February 17th at the South Campus. November is Scholarship Month in Michigan!

November has officially been declared scholarship month in Michigan! All month long, MI Student Aid will be actively posting on social media to celebrate. We will be highlighting our very own scholarship database, compiled of Michigan scholarships, where students can submit a request and get scholarships sent right to their email inbox. We will have tips and tricks for filling out the perfect scholarship application in order to help students with their search. We will also be discussing the various scholarships and grants programs provided by the State of Michigan as well as other resources, beyond scholarships, that can help make college Accessible, Affordable and Achievable for Michigan students and families. Follow us on all of our social media accounts @mistudentaid Struggling Students

It is important to Malow counselors that ALL of our students are successful. For students who may be struggling, we first encourage communication between the parent and the classroom teacher. Many teachers offer additional support to students during lunch hours, before school or after school. In addition, homework club is running in the library from 3:05-4:00 p.m. most Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays—check the weekly Malow Mustang Messenger for exact dates. Counselors are eager to meet with struggling students and their families to develop a plan for success. If missing assignments are a problem, we encourage parents to try changing the question from, “Do you have homework tonight?” to “When will you complete your nightly study time?” Even on rare nights when no homework is assigned, all students will benefit from spending a minimum of 20-30 minutes each night reading textbooks, reviewing vocabulary flashcards, preparing for upcoming quizzes/tests, etc. If students don’t bring home books and materials for this study time, parents can assign reading from a book at home, etc. Once students realize that their parents are serious about consistently enforcing a mandatory nightly study time on each school night (Sunday through Thursday), they will begin to bring home and complete their assignments.

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PSAT Score Release

Students who participated on the initial test day(s) for PSAT 8/9 can expect to receive scores in their College Board account on May 10, 2017. Please note that students who tested as part of the makeup test day may not be included in the release of scores on this date, these will be released on a weekly basis as they become available. To view their scores, students will need to create a College Board account to get their full PSAT 8/9 score report. 1. Before you get started have your: * Email address * Expected high school graduation date (month and year) * School year 2. Go to collegeboard.org 3. Click on "Sign Up" 4. Select "I am a Student" 5. Create a username and password * Your username should have 6-15 characters and be made up of letters and numbers * Your password must be 7-15 characters with at least one number and one letter * Choose a security question and provide an answer you can easily remember. Please click here for a link to “Creating a College Board Account” on Malow’s website (located under “Your Child’s Counselor”) Once students have created their College Board account, they can set up an account with Khan Academy. When you link these two accounts students will get free, personalized SAT practice. Khan Academy resources can also be used to prepare for the PSAT 10/SAT. How can I use the score report? The student score report is designed to both clearly summarize the student's current achievement levels and to help guide and encourage next steps for academic progress. As you look through the report with your student, there is a substantial amount of information you will want to share: Check-in: On Track for College Readiness? Grade level benchmarks allow students and educators to understand how they are progressing toward college readiness. Evaluate Relative Strengths and Weaknesses: Test scores, cross-test scores, and sub-scores provide an opportunity to evaluate a student's strengths and weaknesses and highlight specific opportunities to strengthen the student's college readiness skills. Define Next Steps-Actions to Support Skills: The "Your Scores: Next Steps" page identifies the specific skills that the student should address. Understanding Results Test scores, cross-test scores, and sub-scores in Evidence-Base Reading, Writing, and Math will give the student a better understand of areas they needs to work on. The scores will also show if the student met or exceeds the benchmark and if they are on track for college readiness. Please click here for a link to “Understanding 2016-2017 PSAT 8/9 Results” on Malow’s website (located under “Your Child’s Counselor”) Percentiles-compare the student's scores with those of all 9th graders in the nation. The score report is designed to help students see how they performed by showing the skill areas covered and whether the answer was correct, incorrect, or omitted. For questions or more information about the PSAT 8/9 please contact or see Ms. Vernon. AP Boot Camp

On Tuesday, June 6th students registered for Advanced Placement World History and/or Advanced Placement Human Geography were invited to participate in an AP Boot Camp at Malow. Students participated in sessions including: A Day in the Life of an AP Student, Tools for AP Success, and AP World History and/or AP Human Geography Preview. The purpose of the Boot Camp was to help students feel more comfortable and confident as they enter their AP classes in the fall. Students received an AP Boot Camp Handbook which can be accessed here on the Malow website under “Your Child’s Counselor”. Making High School Count – 8th Grade Parent Presentation

Parents of 8th grade students were invited to join Malow Counselors for an evening presentation Making High School Count on Thursday, March 2. If you missed it, please click here for the PowerPoint presentation.

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“13 Reasons Why”

The trending Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why, is based on a fictional adult novel of the same name and is meant to be a cautionary tale. The series revolves around a 17-year-old girl who takes her own life and leaves behind audio recordings for 13 people who she says were, in some way, part of why she killed herself. The series is very popular among teenagers right now and many are watching without adult guidance and support. The series shows a suicide death and addresses many other difficult topics. The series should not be viewed by all students. However it can provide an opportunity to better understand young people’s experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Children and youth who view the series will need supportive adults to process it. If your student has viewed the series, help them articulate their perceptions and help them understand that the difficult issues portrayed in the series do occur in schools and communities. Reinforce that there are people available to help, and that suicide is never a solution. It is an irreversible choice for a temporary problem. For more information on 13 Reasons Why or for Tips on Preventing Suicide please see the links below. If you have questions or concerns, or know someone in need of help, please contact your student’s counselor or another trusted adult. Talking Points – 13 Reasons Why https://www.jedfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/13RW-Talking-Points-JED-SAVE-Netflix.pdf Tips on Preventing Suicide

www.save.org Malow College Mondays

Malow College Mondays are back! Students are invited to join the staff in wearing college shirts and sweatshirts on Mondays. Students are encouraged to ask questions and learn more about the colleges they see others wearing. Suicide Prevention and Awareness Presentations

During our visits to English classrooms in October and November, counselors will also speak to students about suicide prevention. Counselors will distribute cards describing the steps students can take if they ever feel suicidal or if they have a friend who is considering suicide. The cards distributed will also include suicide warning signs and a suicide prevention hotline. Any parents who would like to preview the materials or would prefer to excuse their child from this part of our classroom visit are asked to contact their child’s counselor. NUMATS Talent Search Assessment Information

Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS), the most prestigious program identifying, rewarding, and meeting the needs of gifted children throughout the Midwest, is inviting students to participate in their program. The program provides a gateway to opportunity for high-ability students in grades 3-9. For more information please visit the website at www.ctd.northwestern.edu/numats. UCS Grading Policy

The school year is divided into two semesters of 20 weeks each. Each semester is comprised of two ten-week marking periods. Semester grades will be determined using the following criteria. Grade 7 Grade 8 Grades 9 – 12

10 weeks =45% 10 weeks= 45% 10 weeks = 40%

10 weeks=45% 10 weeks= 45% 10 weeks= 40%

Final Exam = 10% Final Exam=10% Final Exam = 20%

Final Grade=100% Final Grade=100% Final Grade=100% Beginning in the ninth grade, any combination of two failing marks within the semester will result in a failing final grade, regardless of the mathematical average (i.e. first 10 weeks=F, second 10 weeks=C and final exam=F will result in a final grade of F).

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Group Counseling Opportunities – New Opportunities This Fall

Malow counselors received information about teen counseling groups being run at Perspectives Counseling Center. We wanted to pass this information along to interested families. Groups are available focusing on a range issues including: self-injury, substance abuse, depression and anxiety, social skills, self-control/anger, self-esteem and bullying, and achievement (focuses on building motivation, confidence and initiative). Utica Community Schools cannot recommend or endorse any specific counseling centers or professionals. Parents/Guardians should thoroughly investigate any professional before seeking services. CARE of Macomb Student Assistance Center Offerings

The CARE of Macomb Student Assistance Center is a great resource for families. CARE offers parenting classes as well as groups for teens struggling with issues such as anger management and substance use. More information can be found on the CARE website http://www.careofsem.com/classes/specialty-classes/ Click here for upcoming classes and more information. IB Tutoring Program

We will soon have high school volunteers from the Utica Academy for International Studies (the UCS IB High School Program) joining us at our after school homework club on Mondays. We also have 1-2 IB students joining us most Tuesdays and Thursdays. SAT Information and Practice

The Khan Academy site for SAT and PSAT practice is now available. Students, parents, and staff members can access the practice site at: https://www.khanacademy.org/mission/sat/tasks/onboard-92829382938. MI Child

Utica Community Schools is committed to promoting the safe and effective use of technology. Through our district’s K-12 digital citizenship initiatives, we are providing students with information that promotes the proper use of digital content and tools.

A tool that families can use to help protect their children is the Michigan Child Protection Registry. This free service from the State of Michigan protects children’s e-mail, cell phone numbers and Instant Messaging addresses from receiving inappropriate, adult-themed

material. The registry can be accessed by visiting www.protectMICHild.com. In addition, parents can click on the Protect MI Child icon,

which will soon appear on the district and school Web sites for direct access to the registry. Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids – What they haven’t told you…about tobacco

Sadly, many tobacco users are aware of, and simply ignore, the enormous risks they are faced with when they smoke or use smokeless tobacco (heart disease, cancer, emphysema and other deadly tobacco-related illnesses.) What's more, before dying from tobacco use, smokers and other tobacco users (including those exposed to secondhand smoke) face significantly higher risks of all sorts of other debilitating and simply ugly harms. Click here for the article “What they haven’t told you…about tobacco”. The Utica Community Action Team (UCAT) is devoted to developing and implementing strategies that will prevent, delay or reduce alcohol, tobacco and other drug use by youth in our community. For more information about UCAT, or to join our effort, email us at ucat@rk-net.com. Power School

Parents must create an account to access data for multiple children with a single login. Parents/students new to the district will need the access ID and access password for each student. Parents and students with existing IDs and passwords can continue to use those IDs and passwords from last school year. Click here to view the document that describes the process for setting up the account. For PowerSchool mobile app user tips click here. Parents can now opt-in to receive an email alert when their child’s meal account balance falls below $10. Click here for easy to follow directions on how to set up the alert. For questions, please contact UCS Food and Nutrition Services at foodservice@uticak12.org or call 586-797-1180.

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*Student Council Canned Food Drive Results

The Malow Student Council would like to thank everyone who donated to the canned food drive. As a school we collected 1,385 cans! All proceeds go to “Extended Hand”, a food bank that assists Utica families. The 5th hour results were: Honorable Mentions: Mrs. Gendreau, Ms. Baldiga, and Ms. Berg’s 5th hour classes with over a 4 can/student average. 2nd Place: Mr. Pretari with a 4.8 can/student average. 1st Place: Mrs. Paquette’s 5th hour class with a 7 can/student average! Congratulations on winning the ice cream sundae party!!

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Rewards

The Malow Sounding Board has simple ways that families and friends can help raise money to benefit all of our students. The following are a few: Kroger Rewards

Box Tops for Education – You can earn cash for our school by clipping Box Top coupons from hundreds of participating products. Just turn in your Box Tops to the main office! Click here for information on the new Box Top App.

1. Simply register online at krogercommunityrewards.com 2. Have your Kroger Plus card handy and register your card with “MALOW JUNIOR HIGH” after you sign-up.

▪ If you do not have a Kroger Plus card, they are available at customer service at any Kroger.

▪ Do you use your phone number at the register? Call 877-576-7587 to get your Kroger Plus card #.

3. Click on “Sign In/Register” 4. If you are a new online customer, you must click on “SIGN UP TODAY” in the “New Customer?” box and

enter your information. ▪ Almost immediately, Kroger will send you an email. Click on the link in the body of the email and

sign-in to “My Account” with your email and password to activate your account. 5. Click on “Edit Kroger Community Rewards” information and input your Kroger Plus card number. 6. Update or confirm your information. 7. Enter 28150 or MALOW JUNIOR HIGH, from list and click on confirm. 8. To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see “MALOW JUNIOR HIGH” on the right side of your info

page.

• REMEMBER, purchases will not count for your group until after you register your card(s). • Members must swipe their registered Kroger Plus card or use the phone number that is related to your

registered Kroger Plus card when shopping for each purchase to count.

Finally, we would be grateful if you would pass this along to your family and friends! Thank you!

Don’t Miss Out on the Opportunity to

Give FREE Money to Our School!