Fremont Focus

We are looking forward to welcoming our students, staff, and families to Fremont School District 79 for the 2022-23 school year! The following are a number back-to-school updates to get you prepared for the start of the new academic year.

For those of you with returning students, you will notice our rebranded e-newsletter, The Fremont Focus. Parents and guardians can expect to receive this email update from the District twice a month. This will be in addition to the principal's e-newsletter that you will receive from the schools each week. We hope that you find the new approach informative and helpful.

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

• August 5 - Teacher assignments emailed for Grades 1-8
• August 9 - Teacher assignments emailed for Kindergarteners
• August 9 - Sixth-Grade Tech Boot Camp
• August 10 - Kindergarten practice bus ride
• August 16 - Meet & Greet for Grades 1-8
• August 17 - First day of school for Grades 1-8
• August 17 - Meet & Greet for Kindergarteners
• August 18 - First day of school for Kindergarteners
• August 19 - Meet & Greet for Preschool/Early Childhood
• August 22 - First day of school for Preschool/Early Childhood

• The first day of school for Grades 1-8 is Wednesday, August 17. The regular school day at the Middle School runs from 7:55 a.m. to 2:43 p.m., while the regular school day at the Elementary and Intermediate Schools runs from 8:55 a.m. to 3:38 p.m.

• The first day of school for Kindergarten is Thursday, August 18. In addition to full-day kindergarten, A.M. classes run from 8:55-11:45 a.m. and P.M. kindergarten is from 12:45-3:38 p.m.

• The first day of school for Preschool/Early Childhood is Monday, August 22. The morning session runs from 9-11:30 a.m., while afternoon session goes from 1-3:30 p.m.

Parents should expect to receive an email from their respective building(s) by the end of the day on Friday, August 5 regarding their child’s teacher assignment(s) and schedule(s). For kindergarten, this will take place on Tuesday, August 9 as previously communicated.

• Students in Grades 1-8 are invited to drop off supplies and meet their teacher(s) from 2-3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16. Please click here to view school supply lists.

• Parents may arrive at 1:30 p.m. to pay for school lunches (bring a check or pay online). Grades 1-5 may also pick up bus tags in the Intermediate School gymnasium at this time. Grades 6-8 do not need bus tags.

• Kindergarten students and their parents are invited to meet their teachers and drop off their supplies on Wednesday, August 17. More information regarding the kindergarten meet and greet event will be sent to families once kindergarten teacher assignments have been shared on August 9.

• Preschool/Early Childhood students and their parents are invited to meet their teachers on Friday, August 19.

• 10-11 a.m. for A.M. Preschool/Early Childhood (practice bus ride at 10:30 a.m.)

• 2-3 p.m. for P.M. Preschool/Early Childhood (practice bus ride at 2:30 p.m.)

Fremont Middle School will be hosting its annual tech boot camp for incoming sixth-graders on Tuesday, August 9. Tech Boot Camp is required for all incoming sixth-graders with all sessions being led by students leaders and supervised by teachers. At Tech Boot Camp, students are given their Chromebooks and taught how to access applications and textbooks they will use at the Middle School. The morning session will run from 8:30-11:30 a.m., while the afternoon session is from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Registration has already taken place. Please contact Krista Winkelman, Middle School Principal, with any questions.

Health information and medical forms are available on the FSD79 Health Services website page. Please drop off forms at your child’s school.

• Kindergarteners must show proof of current physical/immunizations, as well as dental and eye exam forms.

• Second graders must complete a dental examination prior to starting school.

• Sixth graders must provide a dental examination form and a health examination form with proof of up-to-date immunizations.

Please familiarize yourself with FSD79's updated COVID-19 health and wellness practices for the 2022-23 school year.

If you do not want your child’s name or photo used for school publicity purposes, please fill out the non-consent photo form and return it to your child’s school.

Right at School offers before and after school child care at FSD79, for Grades K-8. Please visit the Right At School website for information and to register your child(ren) for the program. Please click on the 'Locations' tab to find information about the FSD79 program.

In an effort to best meet the needs of our incoming kindergarten students, the FSD79 Board of Education approved the following changes to the kindergarten program for the 2022-2023 school year:

• Reduction in the full-day kindergarten annual tuition rate from $3,500 to $2,334. (Families who qualify for financial assistance have an option for reduced or waived full-day tuition).

• Addition of a kindergarten teacher to support the increased full-day enrollment.

For more information, or to register, please visit: https://www.fsd79.org/Page/149

Incoming kindergarteners will have the opportunity to take a practice school bus ride at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, August 10. Buses will depart from the parking lot located between the front of Fremont Elementary and Intermediate Schools. Students will be introduced to bus safety, as well as how to load and unload the bus. A short route also will be performed.

Parents and guardians should have received an email from the Transportation Department last week asking for their busing needs for the upcoming school year. Bus information then will be disseminated the week of August 8. If you have any questions, please contact transportation@fsd79.org.

Parents and guardians are invited to join us for the following upcoming Curriculum Nights:

• Elementary School: August 23, 6:15 p.m.

• Intermediate School: August 24, 6:15 p.m.

• Middle School: August 25, 6:30 p.m.

In addition to meeting and hearing from your child(ren)'s teacher, new FSD79 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Trisha Kocanda -- as well as other members of the District Office leadership team -- will be on hand for meet-and-greet opportunities. This will be the first of a number of opportunities to meet our new superintendent. Curriculum Night for Lincoln Early Learning is scheduled for September 23.

Lunch menus for the month of August are available and can be found here. For more information on the school lunch program, please click here.

Notice is hereby given by the Board of Education of Fremont School District 79, Lake County, Illinois, that a public hearing on the District’s renewal of the e-learning program will be held at 7:00 p.m. on the 22nd day of August, 2022 in the Fremont Middle School Media Center.

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. Check back regularly for upcoming offerings. Events that are upcoming include:

• Girl Scouts - National S'mores Day

• The Center for Gifted

• Brookfield Zoo

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