FES Monthly Newsletter

FES Families,

It has been a wonderful start to the school year. Classrooms have been busy implement routines and procedures, and making sure that the rest of the year can run smoothly. Students have been watching videos and participating in lessons to support our SOARing expectations. We had our first SOAR ticket drawing last week, and students were excited to earn their prizes!

PBIS: What is SOAR? The acronym PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Intervention Supports. This tiered framework supports all students academically, behaviorally, and social emotionally. It is a way to create positive, predictable and safe learning for all. At Freeland Elementary School, we have worked over the course of the last year to revamp our support system for PBIS. Please watch for more information as the school year goes on about how you can continue support your child at FES. We all want them to SOAR to their highest protentional, and we do that by working together to support the whole child. SOAR stands for:

S-Show Respect

O- On Task

A- Always Safe

R- Responsible

Beginning of the Year Testing: Classes have began to complete their beginning of the year assessments for iReady Math and Reading (2nd-6th) and NWEA Math and Reading (3rd-6th). Over the next few weeks, teachers will be analyzing the reports, and providing families with information about how they will best support their child moving forward. Our parent conferences will be coming up in November!

Falcon Fridays (or the last day of the week): On Fridays (or the last day of the week), all students, teachers, staff, and families are encouraged to celebrate Falcon Pride and wear Falcon gear, or our school colors! This is a great way to show school spirit!

Igniting the Flame 🔥

One of the best parts about starting a new school year is finding clarity and purpose in what we are doing each day. As a staff, we refocus, and usually have a theme to do so. This year during our back to school professional development week, our teachers engaged in new learning around our FCSD Graduate Profile, Professional Learning Communities, iReady Language Arts Curriculum, and as a staff we came together to determine "How We Would Ignite the Flame?" for our students this school year. Check out some of these great ways that our teachers will be serving our students and families this year!

🔥 Find the JOY of learning

🔥 Finding the passion of learning

🔥 Helping students to reach their goals

🔥 Engaging student interests in learning

🔥 Model and build confidence

🔥 Bring excitement to learning

🔥 Find the drive

🔥 Empower each other

🔥 Try new thing

🔥 Encourage student to live through their experiences

🔥 Being flexible with student learning and responsibility

🔥 And so many more!

It is an honor and privilege to be a part of the FES staff. The dedication that they display, day in and day out, is top notch! Our students are in great hands, and we will focus this year on "Igniting the Flame."

Sincerely,

Your Proud FES Principal

Mrs. McKenna

Please complete if you haven't done so already.

Yearly Information Review & Forms

Our Yearly Information Review & forms for the 2024-2025 school year is now open in Skyward Family Access. This is something new we are rolling out to keep student information in Skyward up-to-date and to get important yearly forms in your hands.

This process will allow you to review/change your home address, phone numbers, email addresses, emergency contacts, and student health information. It will also give you access to our:

• Transportation Form
• Photo/Video Release Form
• Family/Student Handbooks
• In Town Field Trips

Please note: If you are using a mobile device you will want to use a browser, not the App to complete.

Please be sure that you have read our Acceptable Use Policy and filled out the link for the Google Form to approve you have read it so your child will be set to use technology at the start of school. Click here for access to the Google Form.

The Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) school program is a national initiative that encourages fathers and father figures to engage with their children and schools, creating a positive impact on students and communities. By volunteering at least one day a year, dads and male role models actively participate in various school activities, offering support in classrooms, hallways, and playgrounds. This presence enhances school security, fosters positive relationships, and provides students with strong role models. With thousands of participating schools nationwide, Watch D.O.G.S. is dedicated to promoting father involvement and strengthening family and school connections. If you are interested, please contact Mrs. McKenna at mckennak@freelandschools.net. Our kickoff informational night is scheduled for Thursday, September 5 at 5:30 p.m.

WATCH D.O.G.S. Program Information

If you are interested in volunteering and giving back to the school community, please follow these steps!

• Step 1: Fill out Volunteer/Background Check: Throughout the school year, if you plan to be in the building for any reason during the school day, you must fill out a background check as part of our district volunteer policy. This includes any volunteer opportunity (field trips included), classroom presentations, etc. You can access the form online by clicking here, or you can pick up a hard copy in our main office starting on August 5.
• Step 2: Fill out an interest survey. As results come in from the survey, I will use those to reach out to set up school wide volunteer opportunities. Parent Volunteer Interest Survey 24-25
• Next Steps: Various classrooms will also offer different opportunities throughout the year. Please be patient as the teachers set these up. Setting up procedures, routines in the classroom environments are most important when starting off the year, so this may take time.

Freeland Community School District utilizes Meal Magic as an online portal for nutrition accounts. Available on our website is access to this account, or you can click the link here (https://freeland.familyportal.cloud/).

September Breakfast Menu (September 3-13)

September Lunch Menu (September 3-13)

September Breakfast Menu (September 16-27)

September Lunch Menu (September 16-27)

September 4: PTO Meeting @ 6:30 in the FES STEM Room

September 5: Watch DOGS Kick Off Night, 5:30 p.m. FES Cafeteria

September 13: Clash for a Cure Football Game

September 18: FCSD School Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at High School Auditorium

October 4: FCSD Homecoming!

October 8: FCSD School Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at High School Auditorium

October 21-25: National School Bus Safety Week

November 4-15: Teacher/Family Conference Window

November 11: Veterans Day

Kali McKenna, Principal, mckennak@freelandschools.net

Lauren Hall, Secretary, halll@freelandschools.net (PM Only)

Meghan Maxwell, Secretary, maxwellm@freelandschools.net (AM Only)

Annette Moore, Secretary, moorea@freelandschools.net (All Day)

5th/6th Grade Information

Doors Open: 7:15 a.m.

First Bell: 7:25 a.m.

Official Start Bell: 7:35 a.m.

Dismissal Time: 2:25 p.m.

2nd-4th Grade Information

Doors Open: 8:25 a.m.

First Bell: 8:50 a.m.

Official Start Bell: 9:00 a.m.

Dismissal Time: 3:50 p.m.

Freeland Community School District Website