![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/greenleavessunlight.6370b565.jpg)
FES Knightly News
Weekly Family Newsletter
Week of September 11, 2023
Reading to your children at home regularly and encouraging them to read independently when they are able is one of the most proven ways parents can support their child's academic success. Countless studies have shown that exposure to books and reading from the earliest ages increase student success in school. Reading makes children better learners.
While simply reading to your child and encouraging them to read independently is a great way to start ensuring your child succeeds in school, there are more specific strategies that our teachers use that you can also help your child with at home. Many of these strategies are described in the Boone County School District's READ AT HOME plan. Please take a look at this plan and try some of the strategies at home with your child. Please let your child's teacher know if you have any questions or concerns about supporting your child's reading instruction at home.
For Your Information
Sign up for ClassDojo!
FES teachers use ClassDojo to encourage positive behavior choices and to communicate with parents. If you have not yet done so, please be sure to connect with your child's teacher so that you have all the information you need about your child's class.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
See the flyer at right to sign up for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. This program will give your child(ren) ages birth to 5 years one FREE book/month! They will be sent to your house at no cost to you!
From the Nurse (REPEAT FROM LAST WEEK)
Lions Club will be coming to FES on Monday September 18th to screen 2nd and 4th grade students. Opt-out letters will be sent home. Only families who choose NOT to participate need to return the letter by Monday September 11th. Letters are available in English, Spanish and French. Other students can be included in the screening process if teachers have concerns. Parents can also call the school for questions.
All parents are encouraged to keep an extra change of clothes in their student's backpack in case of accidents or messes. Thank you.
From the FRC (REPEAT FROM LAST WEEK)
- Be on the lookout for Big Smiles Dental forms coming home. Big Smiles is a mobile dentist that will be coming to our school in October and will stay until they see every student that is signed up and eligible.
- Food bags started coming home last week. If your student was on the list last year they will continue to stay on the list and we will add any siblings that may attend FES this year. If you weren't on the food bag list and are interested, please contact the FRC at 859-282-2156 to be added to the list. This is a brown bag of food that comes home on Fridays and are filled with kid friendly snacks and meals to help with food while students are home on the weekends.
From our Lead Bus Driver, Mr. Dave (bus 137)
We would like to remind parents and students while waiting for the bus to arrive to follow the guidelines at the bus stop.
To show respect AT THE BUS STOP by:
• Arriving at the bus stop five (5) minutes before bus pickup.
• Waiting in a quiet and orderly manner.
• Being respectful to traffic.
• Respecting private property.
• Stay at least 10 feet from the street.
If you should have any questions about school bus safety and procedures, please contact the transportation department.
From the Transportation Department- ZPass Rollout (REPEAT FROM LAST WEEK)
Parents will soon be receiving letters with information about the ZPass program. This tool will aid the school district and parents in quickly locating students and will provide transportation with real time rosters for each bus. This program will be offered to all elementary school students and students grades 6-12 who use special transportation. Parents do have the option of opting their student out of the program. Parents must indicate their desire to opt-out of the program by completing the form located here and returning it to school by SEPTEMBER 13TH.
A list of frequently asked questions has been compiled and is available at the link below. If after reviewing this document you still have questions, please reach out to the transportation department directly. Transportation Department Phone Number: 859-384-5340 Transportation Web Address: https://www.boone.kyschools.us/transportation-department Email: transportation@boone.kyschools.us
Knights of the Week
Congratulations! These students and staff were nominated by teachers because they ROCK!
Preschool- Tedosa E. (Ms. Lobenstein)
Kindergarten – Bentley S. (Ms. Hanna)
1st Grade – Beverly N. (Ms. Wilson)
2nd Grade – De'arri F. (Ms. Ballard)
3rd Grade – Asnath N. (Ms. Timmerding)
4th Grade – Kobee S. (Ms. Gripshover)
5th Grade – Sawyer C. (Ms. Ziegelmeyer)
Staff – Ms. Welden (Librarian/Media Specialist)
Here's What We're Learning This Week!
1st Grade
Reading/Writing- We will be reading about the importance of friendship this week and continuing to work on writing in complete sentences.
Math- In math we will continue to work on adding and subtracting numbers from 0 to 10!
Science- This week we will be switching gears from Social Studies to Science! We will be getting into the first half of our solar system unit, but specifically focusing on the sun and moon for the next two weeks!
2nd Grade
Reading/Writing- Students are working on using the text to ask and answer questions. We will be reading stories that focus on the question what does it mean to fit or belong someplace?
Math- Students will be using addition and subtraction strategies to solve one step word problem.
Science-We are continuing our lesson on structures and properties of matter. We hope to try some experiments this week.
3rd Grade
Reading/Writing- Students are still learning to use a summary from a text to determine the central idea. They are also explaining how diagrams, graphs, photographs, and side bars contribute to the meaning of a text. In writing, we are still working on answering questions using a statement. We call this making a claim.
Math- Students are continuing to tell and write time to the nearest minute. They are also learning to measure elapsed time.
Science- The students are still learning about forces, motion and magnets.
Social Studies- Teachers are currently planning the SS to start the week of 9/18.
5th Grade
Reading/Writing- Students will be understanding character's feelings, motivations, and intentions in a story.
Math- Students will be reading and writing decimals to the thousandths place.
Science- Students will be learning how the water cycle affects rain.
Social Studies- Students will continue to explore why we should study the past through primary sources, and studying events of the American Revolution.
STEM
Kindergarten is learning about how to prepare for severe weather. First grade is learning about patterns with the sun and shadows.
Second grade is learning about properties of matter. Third grade has started a Project Lead the Way unit on the forces of flight. Fourth grade has started a Project Lead the Way unit on energy. Fifth grade is learning about the water cycle.
Art
K & 1 are learning about Art class and making bugs!
2 & 3 created cheetahs in the wild.
4 & 5 created symmetrical butterflies with warm and cool colors.
From the Cafeteria
Meet the Cafeteria Staff
Ms. Erin Jackson
Ms. Jackson has worked in the FES cafeteria for 9 years. She grew up in Burlington and Hebron, and attended Burlington Elementary School. She has a Boston Terrier and 8 Beagles that her family has trained for hunting. When she is not preparing food to ensure our Knights have plenty of energy to learn, she spends her time cheering for her boys' sports teams. Thanks for all you do for the students of Florence Elementary, Ms. Jackson!
SBDM Update (REPEAT FROM LAST WEEK)
The School Based Decision Making Council at FES is made up of the principal (Ryan Burch), three teachers (Alicia Bachman, Abbigail Supe, and Megan Timmerding), and two parents (Alicia Coulter and Vee Miller). This group makes policy decisions and approves some of the school's financial and instructional activities. Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 4:15 in the FES library. Meetings are open to the public (except for occasional closed sessions). Click here for this month's agenda.
There have been some questions from teachers and parents recently about our a couple of our policies, specifically our dress code and visitation policy. All of our SBDM policies are available on the FES school website.
Here are some photos of Knights working hard and having fun!
5th Grade iReady Challenge
Students in Ms. Gambrel's class update their iReady Challenge Chart
5th Grade Social Studies
Students in Ms. Klette's class work on their project about Pocohontas and why it is important to study the past
4th Grade Science
4th graders Callie and Delicia made a poster about sound energy.
3rd Grade Book Tasting
Students in Ms. Timmerding's class found some great books at their "book tasting"!
3rd Grade Book Tasting
Students in Ms. Timmerding's class found some great books at their "book tasting"!
3rd Grade Book Tasting
Students in Ms. Timmerding's class found some great books at their "book tasting"!
3rd Grade Book Tasting
Students in Ms. Quinn's class found some great books at their "book tasting"!
3rd Grade Book Tasting
Students in Ms. Quinn's class found some great books at their "book tasting"!
3rd Grade Book Tasting
Students in Ms. Quinn's class found some great books at their "book tasting"!
On the Calendar
Upcoming Events
- September 11th: School Based Decision Making Council @ 4:15 in FES Library
- September 11th: PTO @ 5:30 in FES Cafeteria
- September 13th: ELL PSP Night @ 4:30 in FES Cafeteria
- September 18-22nd: SEL Survey
- September 19th: Picture Day