UCS: Top 5 Things Parents Should Know Before School Starts

With the start of school only a few days away, most parents have purchased supplies, new clothes, and maybe even snacks for the lunchbox. Utica Community Schools has put together the following key points for Patch readers to prepare for the first day and the upcoming year. 

 Online Back-to-School Survival Kits

Everything back-to-school is posted on the Utica Community Schools district website (uticak12.org), including calendars, bus routes and changes in the food service program, such as , and menus. School sites also include information on suggested school supplies and information. Class lists have also been posted at the UCS schools.

Facility and Technology Upgrades 

There will be a few changes for UCS students this year, thanks to the 2009 bond issue. The most noticeable will be at This year, students will return to Utica to find three in the place of the former media center, overall improvement to  the building's infrastructure, and upgrades to the school's first-floor hallways and student lockers.

PowerSchool

All secondary parents all have access to their child’s grades and attendance records through PowerSchool, a web-based program. Parents can also sign up to receive regular email updates on their child’s progress. The tool will be introduced to elementary students through the course of the school year.

Staying Up-to-Date on Your Child’s School

There are several ways parents can get regular information about UCS, such as the district’s Facebook and Twitter pages or daily updates on the UCS website. The district also sends out an e-newsletter every Friday to parents. You can also get updated information on the UCS Reaching Higher initiative and how to help student at home at reachinghigher.uticak12.org. The site includes recommended parent links, updated scholarships, the Teaching and Learning tweet of the week, UCS blog, a College Culture timeline and stories on UCS programs and alumni successes. 

School Open Houses

Parents are asked to circle the date of their school’s open house on their calendars. Open houses give parents an opportunity to meet their child’s teachers and learn more about the class goals and objectives. Open houses are critical in creating a positive start to the new school year.