Fremont Focus

Dear Fremont Community,

Fremont School District 79 is uniquely positioned in Lake County given the opportunity for growth. We are very proud of the culture that we have developed in making our District a destination for families. I wanted to take this opportunity to provide updates on a pair of topics as we plan for the future of Fremont.

Embedded within our Strategic Plan, the District is in the process of developing an education-based, 10-year Educational Master Facility Plan (EMFP) that encompasses enrollment forecasting, facility and systems assessments, grounds, traffic management, as well as other community-based considerations. This extensive process will take approximately one year to complete. A variety of stakeholders will have a voice to provide feedback and direction. Please mark your calendars to participate in a community launch event, Global Perspectives, on Monday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m. at Fremont Intermediate School. Also, as we begin to plan engagements, please be on the lookout for our upcoming mailed newsletter, which will provide details on how to express interest in being a member of our EMFP stakeholder committee.

Additionally, FSD79 administrators recently had their first meeting with the “Ivanhoe Village” development representatives and the Village of Mundelein. In December 2022, the Village of Mundelein announced the annexation of over 700 acres of farmland located northwest of Mundelein on Illinois Route 60 to pave the way for a new residential, commercial, and industrial development. This new plan is in the early stages of a 25-year development with over 3,000 residential units in the mix. Falling completely within the Fremont boundaries, the District has a vested interest in being active partners early in the planning. Fremont’s commitment in managing the enrollment growth is to uphold educational excellence while ensuring fair and sustainable funding from the developers. The District will continue to keep our stakeholders updated throughout the development process.

We look forward to building our future together. We truly desire active community engagement to ensure our constituents have a say in the future of our District.

Sincerely,

Dr. Trisha Kocanda

Superintendent of Schools

Please read the following newsletter for detailed information, but here is a summary of key dates for quick access:

• October 11 - Early Release Schedule (MS dismissed at 2:13 p.m.; ES/IS dismissed at 3:08 p.m.)
• October 12 - ELL/Bilingual Parent Involvement Night; 6:30 p.m. (Elementary School gym)
• October 11-13 - Sixth-grade class trip (Camp MacLean; Burlington, Wis.)
• October 16 - Parent University event - Supporting our Children in their Hardest Moments, 6:30 p.m. (Middle School Media Center - RSVP form)
• October 18 - Early Release Schedule (MS dismissed at 2:13 p.m.; ES/IS dismissed at 3:08 p.m.)
• October 18 - PTO Meeting, 6:00 p.m. (Middle School Media Center)
• October 20 - No School for PK/EC (Lincoln)
• October 23 - Board of Education meeting (live stream), 7:00 p.m. (Middle School Media Center)
• October 25 - Early Release Schedule (MS dismissed at 2:13 p.m.; ES/IS dismissed at 3:08 p.m.)

Make plans to join us for our next Parent University presentation coming up on Monday, October 16 with a focus on student social-emotional health. Child care, provided by Fremont Middle School students, will be available for children ages 3+.

Supporting our Children in their Hardest Moments

Monday, Oct. 16 • 6:30 p.m. • Middle School DEN

1-hour presentation, Q&A to follow

Our children are struggling emotionally in unprecedented ways and often, as parents, we struggle to know how to respond to their most challenging moments. Over the past several years, research has helped us understand these challenging moments better and have given us new tools to help our children when they are struggling. Psychologist and educator, Dr. Doug Bolton, will provide us with new ways to understand children's meltdowns and provide us with strategies for supporting them in their hardest moments. (RSVP form)

The next meeting of the Fremont School District 79 Board of Education will be held Monday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the Fremont Middle School Media Center. The meeting will include the following presentations:

• Tentative 2023 Levy Presentation
• Fremont Communication and Branding Plan
• Ivanhoe Village Update

A live video stream of the meeting will be available via the District’s YouTube page. The stream will go live shortly before the start of the meeting. Recaps of previous Board meetings can be found here. The Board meeting agenda and materials can be accessed here. Board materials are available by noon on October 23.

Session 3 of the four-week Wednesday after-school (3:08 - 4:08 p.m.) childcare program for K-5 students runs over the following Wednesdays: October 18, October 25, November 1, and November 8. Please review the following two-step registration process:

FOR CHILDCARE

To participate, families must register via the Right at School website by Wednesday, October 11.

FOR BUS TRANSPORTATION

If 4:08 p.m. bus transportation home is necessary, parents must complete this form for every child needing bus transportation by Wednesday, October 11. These bus routes are run similar to activity buses with neighborhood group stops. If you do not register your child(ren) for bus transportation, you are committing to picking your child(ren) up each week.

This form is just for Wednesday Right at School transportation. Parents of students participating in one of the Wednesday after-school enrichment programs should have received a separate communication regarding bus transportation.

It is important to note that requests made after October 11 cannot be accommodated due to our need to devise a safe supervision and transportation plan.

We recognize that violence and war, most recently in Israel, can be distressing and scary for many, including our students. We are sharing two resources that provide guidance for parents on how to talk to your children about tragic events.

• How to Talk With Kids About Tragedies & Other Traumatic News Events

• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Educators from the National Association of School Psychologists

Additionally, Text-for-Tip is a free, anonymous resource available to all members of the Fremont community. Simply text Fremont (and your message) to the number 1-844-823-5323. Within seconds, you will receive an automated response, and within minutes a live mental health counselor will respond to your text. Text-A-Tip is available for anyone in need of emotional support, at any time.

Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or the school’s social worker/counselor if you believe your child needs additional support. We are here to help you and your family.

Preparedness is vital in an emergency situation. As such, FSD79 staff members recently collaborated with first responders from the Lake County Sheriff's Office and Countryside Fire Protection District for an annual review of the District's crisis plan. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss security enhancements, review procedures, and incorporate best practices in the event of an emergency event on District grounds or the surrounding area. For more information on the FSD79 crisis plan, please see the Safety & Security page on the District's website.

Congratulations to Fremont Middle School seventh-grader Izzy on earning a spot at the IESA state cross country meet based upon her finish at the sectional meet last weekend. Good luck!

Congratulations to our four Fremont Elementary School students who were named winners in the Countryside Fire Protection District poster contest: Louis W., Dylan J., Brooke A., and Ryley P. The students had their winning entries on display at the Countryside Fire Open House last weekend and they were recognized at an awards ceremony on Monday.

Fremont Elementary School kindergarteners enjoyed getting outdoors to participate in some fall-themed activities.

FSD79 is currently working through technical difficulties with the District’s Facebook page. In the meantime, please be sure to follow the FSD79 Instagram and X (Twitter) accounts as well as the District website for the latest content.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The Fremont PTO would love to see you at our meetings this year! Meetings are on the third Wednesday of the month in the Middle School Den at 6:00 p.m. Our next meeting is on October 18. Here is the list of all meeting dates for the 2023-2024 school year.

HALLOWEEN CLASS PARTIES

Party Hosts for the Halloween Classroom Parties have been assigned and notified. Each class party is designated 3 Party Hosts. If more than 3 parents signed up for a classroom party, volunteers were chosen at random. Please note: All remaining parents who have not been notified, have not been assigned to host a party will not be invited to attend the party.

ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK NOW - 10% DISCOUNT EXTENDED

Order your student's 2023-2024 yearbook by October 31 and get 10% off. Use the correct school code from our flyer when you order!

TRUNK OR TREAT

Mark your calendars! Our Trunk or Treat event is Saturday, October 21 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

There will be trunk or treating, Holcomb Hollow and Bry the fry guy selling delicious munchies, Raffle baskets to win, and like always, voting for the best trunk!! Bring a donation to Antioch’s traveling closet from the approved list from our flyer and receive 1 free raffle ticket per item (up to 2 free raffle tickets per family).

If you would like to decorate your trunk for this event, please fill out the form HERE!

Questions? Contact Elisabeth at fsdvpes@gmail.com.

FSD79 offers local groups and organizations the opportunity to advertise their upcoming events in the Virtual Backpack. To submit your group's event for consideration, please submit a PDF flyer to publicrelations@fsd79.org. Current offerings include:

• Millburn District 24 Kids Resale
  
• Lake County Special Needs Trick or Treat Event
  
• Mundelein HS Dance Fall Kids Clinic
  

The next edition of the Fremont Focus will be distributed on Wednesday, October 25. This will be in addition to the weekly e-newsletters sent on Fridays from principals at the school level.

Address: 28855 North Fremont Center Road, Mundelein, IL

Phone: (847) 566-0169

Website: fsd79.org

Facebook: facebook.com/FremontSchoolDistrict79

Twitter: @FSD79

Instagram: @FSD79

YouTube: youtube.com/FSD79