Happy Friday, Lil Steamer Families!
August 7, 2020
From the desk of: Principal Hoese
160 DAYS.
Last school year, our final day of student attendance was March 13, 2020. This year, our first Anchor Day of student attendance is August 20, 2020. That's 160 days since our Lil Steamers filled our classrooms, hallways, playground, and gymnasium with laughter, smiles, excitement, and wonderment. I promise you there is nobody more excited to see them again than the staff at the Greatest Little Elementary School in the Universe!
Parents, we want to thank you for your patience, understanding, suggestions, concerns, and support at the end of last school year and our planning for the upcoming school year. As you have seen, our plan has continued to adapt, change, and evolve over the last few months. It will continue to change to best serve the interests of our students.
The plan for FES was created with 3 guiding principles:
1 - Safety
2 - Relationships (Social/Emotional)
3 - Core Academics
Finding the delicate balance between the 3 has not been easy, but I truly believe we now have a plan in place that can safely address all of those needs regardless of format. It is flexible enough to handle full onsite learning, hybrid learning, hybrid learning with alternating days of student attendance, and full remote learning.
Whatever format you chose for your family to start the school year is the correct choice. Nobody knows your family better than you. Please understand that we will do everything we can to support your family dynamic as best we can this school year.
We have a simple saying at FES that hangs proudly on a sign in every room:
Every Student.
Every Family.
Every Teacher.
EVERY DAY.
#WEDOTHEWORK
Time to get to work! :)
- JAGH
New Faces at FES - Welcome Aboard!
Pat Foster
Jack Lemke
Jamie Snyder
Preschool Open House Letter
Dear Families,
We have been doing a lot of planning for the start of the 2020-2021 school year! We are excited to be getting back into the classroom and doing some onsite learning. There is a lot of information we will share with you at the Open House and will answer all your questions at that time.
Our Open House will take place on Tuesday, August 11th and Thursday, August 13th from 4-6:30pm at Fulton Blended Preschool (1217 14th Street). This will be done by appointments only. To reduce the number of people in the building, we will only be allowing 5 families per half hour time slot. So you will be able to choose one date (August 11th or 13th) and one time slot (4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00). Please email Mrs. Stern at estern@riverbendschools.net to get on the schedule. First come, first served. If you know you need a certain time, send an email now! Don't wait a few days to sign up. We will only be allowing your preschool child and one parent/guardian to enter the building. We will not allow additional family members into the building. We are also requiring that you and your child wear a mask while in the building. During the Open House you will:
*turn in supply donations (see included donation list)
*verify transportation information
*meet with the school nurse
*turn in copies of required paperwork (Birth Certificate, Current Physical, Immunizations, and Lead Screen results)
*turn in Preschool paperwork (included in this envelope)
*let your child check out the classroom & meet the teachers
*get your questions answered
In this envelope you will find information on how to register your child for school. This is all done online and we have included directions on how to do this from your home. If you have any questions, you can contact Virginia Petersen at the River Bend District Office at 815-589-2711. If you do not have internet access or computer access, you can stop into the River Bend District Office (1110 3rd Street, Fulton) Monday- Thursday 8:00-3:30 for assistance. Again, you are required to wear a mask upon entering the building. This must be completed before your child can start school.
Also in this envelope we have included paperwork that must be completed and turned in at the Open House. Please fill out prior to the Open House to shorten your time spent at the Open House.
The first day of Preschool will be on Thursday, August 20th
Morning Class: 9:00-11:30am
Afternoon Class: 12:30-3:00pm
*More info will be given at the Open House on what days your child will attend and what days they will do remote learning. We would recommend that you have your child start practicing wearing a mask because it will be required in the classroom. We plan to work in some mask breaks throughout the 2.5 hours but they will need to remain on a majority of the day. We can’t wait to see your child again and get this year started!
Sincerely,
Miss Wilkens & Mrs. Stern
Kindergarten Orientation Letter to Parents
Kindergarten Parents:
Kindergarten Orientation will take place on Wednesday, August 19th from 8:00-1:00 and 4:00-7:00. Parents and Kindergarten students will report to the school office for check-in prior to entering the building and meeting with the teacher in the classroom. In order to minimize the number of visitors to the building, Kindergarten Orientation is limited to parents and respective Kindergarten students only. All visitors are required to wear a face covering (mask, bandana, gaiter) and will have their temperature taken before they are able to enter the building. Please bring all school supplies with you when you meet with the teacher. This allows the students to feel a bit more settled and organized as they enter the classroom for the first day of school.
Teachers will provide information about in-person and remote learning. They will provide packets of information for you to take home. Due to the pandemic, we will be making individual appointments for families to meet with the teacher. Visits will be approximately 30 minutes each. Parents will need to use the link below to schedule an appointment time. Please include your students name and the parents name.
All questions are encouraged and welcome! Our goal is for your Kindergarten experience to be exciting and rewarding. We look forward to meeting with you on August 19th.
Sincerely,
(Click any teacher name above to sign up for a Kindergarten Orientation appointment).
Picture Days Are Scheduled
August 25 - Anchor Students (packets will be sent home on Thursday, August 20 w/ students)
August 26 - Boat Students (packets will be sent home on Friday, August 21 w/ students)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Preschool Open House #1
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2020, 04:00 PM
1217 14th Street, Fulton, IL, USA
Board of Education Meeting.
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020, 06:30 PM
Fulton High School, 12th Street, Fulton, IL, USA
Preschool Open House #2
Thursday, Aug 13, 2020, 04:00 PM
1217 14th Street, Fulton, IL, USA
Teacher Inservice Day #1
Monday, Aug 17, 2020, 07:30 AM
Fulton Elementary School, 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Teacher Inservice Day #2
Tuesday, Aug 18, 2020, 07:30 AM
Fulton Elementary School, 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Kindergarten Orientation Day
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2020, 08:00 AM
Fulton Elementary School, 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Picture Day for Remote Learners
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2020, 04:00 PM
Fulton Elementary School, 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Anchor Day
Boat Day - No activities.
Thursday, Aug 20, 2020, 08:00 AM
Fulton Elementary School, 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Boat Day
Boat Day - onsite student attendance.
Friday, Aug 21, 2020, 08:00 AM
Fulton Elementary School, 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Teacher Inservice Day #3
Monday, Aug 24, 2020, 07:30 AM
Fulton Elementary School, 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Anchor Day - Picture Day
Boat Day students have remote learning.
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2020, 08:00 AM
Fulton Elementary School, 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Boat Day - Picture Day
Anchor Day students will have remote learning.
Wednesday, Aug 26, 2020, 08:00 AM
Fulton Elementary School, 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Fulton Elementary School
Email: jhoese@riverbendschools.net
Website: riverbendschools.org/fes
Location: 1301 7th Avenue, Fulton, IL, USA
Phone: (815)589-2911
Twitter: @FultonSteamers