*deep breath*

Dear Steamer Nation,

I am beyond honored (and maybe a little speechless, which doesn’t happen often!) to be named the Illinois Principals Association Northwest Region Elementary School Principal of the Year. This award may have my name on it, but let’s be real—it belongs to all of us. Our school is a place of fun, energy, passion, and joy because of the incredible people who fill its halls each day.

To our amazing students -- you are the reason I do what I do! Your curiosity, kindness, and endless enthusiasm make every day an adventure. Whether it’s your hilarious stories, your big dreams, or your determination to grow, you inspire me in ways you may never fully realize. It's a privilege to see our tiny humans grow and make big strides every day!

To my incredible school family -- you are the heart and soul of this school. Your dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment to students make this place truly special. You juggle a million things daily (often with a coffee in one hand and a stack of papers in the other), and you do it all with so much passion and grace—it’s nothing short of magic. And, I'll say this loudly for the people in the back: TEACHING HAS NEVER BEEN MORE CHALLENGING THAN IT IS TODAY. Yet, I see our school family showing up every morning with a smile on their face and love in their heart as we take on that challenge every day!!!

To our Steamer Nation community -- thank you for your trust, support, and teamwork. From cheering at events to volunteering with our remarkable PTO, your partnership makes a world of difference. It truly takes a village, and I’m grateful every day to be in this one with you. (And a special thank you to all of you families who pull all the way ahead in the drop-off and pick-up line 😉)

To my fellow admin team -- you keep me grounded, laughing, and (mostly) on schedule. Your teamwork, problem-solving, and sense of humor make even the most challenging days manageable. I’m lucky to be surrounded by such a strong group of leaders who share the same passion for kids and learning. Thank you for challenging me and allowing me to challenge you. We are truly better because of it.

And to my family and friends -- thank you for always being my biggest cheerleaders. You listen to my endless school stories, remind me to take a break (occasionally), and support me in more ways than I can count. Those closer to me know the challenges my family has faced over the past calendar year. It has definitely been difficult, but I believe we are now closer and more supportive of one another because of them. I love you all.

When I taught at Fulton High School, my principal Chris Tennyson used to comment on how he had the greatest job in the world. I believe his words to be true, but fortunately for me I have the greatest job in the universe because I get to serve as principal at the Greatest Little Elementary School in the Universe!

With appreciation and a full heart,
JAGH

Parents of Students with IEPs:

Each year, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) gathers information from a representative sample of parents with a child receiving special education services to determine the degree to which schools throughout the state are facilitating parent involvement in their child's education. Parents from districts in the state are surveyed once every six years apart.

If you are the parent of a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), you may receive a survey in the mail from Measurement, Incorporated, the current contractor administering the ISBE survey. If you do receive the parent survey, please take a few minutes to complete it.

If you have questions, please reach out to me at FES at 815-589-2911 ext. 353.

Congratulations to the following staff members who were recognized for going above and beyond at the Greatest Little Elementary School in the Universe!

Huge Shout Out to Erie Elementary School and Principal Kali Livengood for the opportunity to visit Tiny Town. The preschool kiddos had an AWESOME time!

Also, we want to send another HUGE shout out to the FES PTO who supported the preschool by paying for the transportation to and from Erie!

Huge Shout Out to Erie Elementary School and Principal Kali Livengood for the opportunity to visit Tiny Town. The preschool kiddos had an AWESOME time!

Also, we want to send another HUGE shout out to the FES PTO who supported the preschool by paying for the transportation to and from Erie!

National Read Across America Week, which started on Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2, 2025, reinforces the importance of reading with a focus on young children. The preschool was fortunate enough to have 4 amazing role models from Fulton High School come and read to them this year!!!

Thank you to Miraya, Kaedence, Alyssa and Samara!!!

SHOUT OUT! Ethan Nelson has read and earned 100 points in the Accelerated Reader program.

Congratulation Ethan and keep reading!

Mrs. VanZuiden's Kindergarten class is looking for a Junior Achievement volunteer! If you or someone you know is interested in supporting the JA program, please reach out to our JA coordinator, Monica Telschow, at monica.telschow@ja.org

The PTO is in full planning mode for several exciting events! Here's what’s coming up:

Gift a Lucky Duck – St. Patrick’s Day
We are thrilled to provide our Gift a Lucky Duck event for FES and preschool students! Flyers have been sent home, and we encourage families to participate. To ensure proper delivery, please make sure all cards are filled out completely. Due to limited supplies, each student will receive only one duck but will receive all the heartfelt messages written for them. This is a wonderful way for family and loved ones to send a little joy to students at school! Additional cards will be available at the PTO table during Family Fun Night. Money and completed cards must be turned in by the end of the school day on March 14th.

Donuts with Grown-Ups – March 18-21
We are excited to host Donuts with Grown-Ups at FES this year! With our spacious new parking lot, we ask that all guests be mindful of buses and students during arrival times. Please enter through the main FES doors and join us in the gym for a special morning treat!

• Tuesday, March 18 – Bridge House

• Wednesday, March 19 – River House

• Thursday, March 20 – Anchor House

• Friday, March 21 – Wheel House

If your assigned house day doesn’t fit your schedule, feel free to attend on a day that works for you. Since preschoolers aren’t assigned houses until kindergarten, they may join on any day. We will also have a designated area for photos—get ready for smiles and fun memories!

Outdoor Basketball Hoops Fundraiser
Mr. Hoese has expressed a strong need for new adjustable basketball hoops for the outdoor playground, ensuring that students of all sizes can enjoy them. To help make this possible, the PTO will be running a change drive in April (flyers with details will be sent home). The PTO has pledged to match up to $1,000 of the total change collected!

Each hoop costs between $750-$1,200, and we need four. If you’d like to contribute beyond the change drive, donations are welcome, and a tax receipt will be available upon request.

Preschool Transportation & Tiny Town Visit
We’re pleased to share that the PTO has approved funding for preschool transportation costs. Additionally, as a thank-you to Erie Elementary for allowing our preschoolers to participate in Tiny Town on March 3rd & 4th, we have arranged for a cookie platter to be dropped off for their staff.

PTO Elections & End-of-Year Event Ideas
Our next PTO meeting is a big one—it’s time for PTO Elections! We are also looking for ideas for an end-of-year fun experience for students. Past events have included:

• Inflatable bounce houses

• T-shirt design contest (with a free T-shirt for each student)

• Fun afternoon with games & giveaways

• Special guest entertainers (magicians, Tae Kwon Do instructors, etc.)

We welcome your suggestions! Please reach out to a current board member, send us an email, or message us on Facebook.

PTO Board Nominees:

• Co-Presidents: Katie Overstreet & Abra Richards

• Vice President: Kendra Terry

• Secretary: Cassie Johnson

• Treasurer: Tarah Manon

We invite all nominees and PTO members to join us in person for elections at our next meeting. (No Online Voting Permitted), Childcare provided:
April 1, 20257:00 PM
FES Conference Room

For updates and to stay connected, find and follow us on Facebook: Fulton PTO. If you have any questions, reach out to the PTO at Fultonelempto@gmail.com.

Starting pay is $18/hour. AM/PM Route. Up to 4 hours per day.

Paid holidays, sick, personal and bereavement time, and insurance available as well as participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.

Come join River Bend's excellent team of transportation professionals! All of our vehicles are well maintained, newer models and are all parked indoors.

No CDL? No problem! Paid training is provided (terms apply.)

Email Transportation Director Taylor Whitney at twhitney@riverbendschools.net to apply.

Be sure to read through the conversation starters at the bottom of the newsletter for great ways to discuss how to be a courageous student. Courage is our March monthly character trait!

Art - Mrs. Long

Counselor - Mrs. Meumann

Speech - Ms. Bri

Intervention - Mrs. Fish

PK - Mrs. Kurtz

PK Resource - Mrs. Marten

KB - Mrs. VanZuiden

KC - Mrs. Gardner

K/1 Resource - Mrs. Whitney

1A - Mrs. Robertson

1C - Mrs. Schipper

2A - Ms. Maloney

2B - Mrs. Roos

2C - Mrs. Stern

2/3 Resource - Mr. Hartman

3A - Ms. Guerrero

3B - Ms. Norman

3D - Mrs. Kuehl

4A - Mrs. Alexander

4B - Mrs. Iben

4C - Mrs. Miner

5A - Mrs. Snyder

Email: jhoese@riverbendschools.net
Website: riverbendschools.org/fes
Location: 1301 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Phone: (815)589-2911
Twitter: @FultonSteamers