FALCON FAMILY NEWS

• Friday, January 24th: Q2 Awards Ceremony (Letters came home in the January 15th Thursday folder, yes on a Wednesday)

• Friday, January 31st: Hat Day

• Monday, February 3rd: Military Day (see below)

• Tuesday, February 4th: Diversity Day (see below)

• Tuesday, February 4th: Mandatory Play Parent Meeting 4:45 & PTA Meeting 5:30

• Wednesday, February 5th: Love & Kindness Day (see below)

• Thursday, February 6th: Disney Day (see below)

• Friday, February 7th: Super Bowl Day (see below)

Students will arrive between 7:50 AM-8:15 AM

Instruction starts at 8:20 AM (Students who arrive after 8:20 will be marked late.)

Dismissal will begin at 2:50 PM

Information Worth Repeating

North Frederick staff are so proud of our students and families who continue to work hard to establish school and home routines, and keep students engaged in school. Our goal is for 96% attendance each month. Congratulations to 2nd grade for reaching that goal in every month this year. Congratulations to PK, K, and 3rd grades for coming very close to our goal.

We’re thrilled to share that our elementary, middle, and high schools are joining forces for an exciting new initiative focused on tackling chronic absenteeism and harnessing the power of data-driven decision making. Our entire feeder pattern is ALL IN for this collaborative effort, working together to ensure every student has the support they need to succeed. Stay tuned for more updates as we roll out strategies designed to make a meaningful impact across all grade levels.

Chronically absent is defined as missing 10 percent or more of school days for the year. At the end of the 180 day school year, 18 absences is considered chronically absent. Wednesday, September 18th marks our 20th day of school. If your child has missed 2 or more days by September 18th, they are technically chronically absent. We understand that some illnesses prevent students from attending school. If your child has missed 2 or more days, there is plenty of time to turn their attendance around by coming to school each day on time.

Parent Handout English

Parent Handout Spanish

Tracy Kibler, Principal Thomas Johnson High School

Josh Work, Principal Thomas Johnson Middle School

Tracy Poquette, Principal North Frederick Elementary School

We want to inform you of an update regarding lunchroom supplies. Due to increasing costs and a focus on responsibly managing resources, Food Services are no longer able to provide forks, spoons, ketchup, ranch, or other condiments for students who do not purchase or obtain a school-provided lunch. We encourage families who pack lunches for their children to include any preferred condiments in their lunchboxes. This ensures all students have what they need to enjoy their meals to the fullest. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to continue providing quality services for all students. For additional information about FCPS Food Services, please click on the link below. https://www.fcpsnutrition.com/

We are working with the local police and City of Frederick to modify our procedures to limit the cars lined up on Motter Ave for an extended period of time:

• Please wait until 2:30 to get in the car rider line. When families come early and start the line early, it means a backup on Motter Ave before we even begin dismissal. We really appreciate all the families that have helped with this. If you arrive prior to 2:30, please pull in one of our parking spots in the back of the parking lot.
• Please consider coming closer to 3:05-3:10 for pickup. The line is much shorter at this time and is moving quickly.
• If we do backup on Motter, please do not block any driveways!

We've been trying really hard to get the word out. We've talked to each family personally when they arrive early, we've had our school resource officer monitoring our lot and we have sent several School Messengers out to families. We really appreciate everyone who continues to follow our school policies and procedures. Please remember...if you see one car in line prior to 2:30, this doesn't mean you should be joining the line.

To better support our miitary families and ensure we are meeting your unique needs, we kindly ask you to complete the brief Google form below. Your input is invaluable in helping us provide tailored resources, programs and support systems for our military-connected students and families.

https://forms.gle/xuRGPcKMgJMRcTgV6

Please help us keep North Frederick Students and Staff safe by:

• Only enter the school at the front of the building.
• Have your drivers license with you when you arrive at the school.
• Do not let any other parent or visitor in the door when you are buzzed in. Each visitor must be "screened" and approved before being invited in.
• Help us keep students and staff safe when they are outside for recess and PE. Our school property is off limits to dog walkers and trespassers during our school hours.
• Dogs are not allowed on our property during arrival, dismissal and school hours.

The first step of the process is to follow these detailed directions on how to create an account in Unified Talent and then how to complete the two required trainings. After you complete your trainings, you will receive an email with the next steps in the process. Please be aware that the process can take 48-72 hours and MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR to you volunteering for FCPS.

If you are a current FCPS Employee who is interested in volunteering, you must complete the Volunteer training listed under your Recommended Courses on your Unified Talent Home Page.

• Visitors: Individuals attending school events (e.g., awards ceremonies, assemblies) do not need to register as volunteers. Visitors must:

• Bring valid identification and complete a Raptor screening each time they enter a school building.

• Volunteers: Volunteers are individuals who support and interact with students under staff supervision (e.g., assisting in classrooms, lunchrooms, class parties or chaperoning field trips). Volunteers must:

• Complete two (2) required training modules through Unified Talent and register via the Volunteer Center.

• The training modules must be completed before registering at the Volunteer Center.

• Upon arrival, they must present valid identification and undergo a Raptor screening.

• FCPS Staff as Volunteers: FCPS staff volunteering as parents/guardians or community members must:

• Register as volunteers.

• Complete the mandatory training modules in Unified Talent under "Volunteers in Schools."

• Bring their valid identification and undergo a Raptor screening each time they volunteer.

24.25 PTA Officers-

President – Alicia Graves

Vice President –Lauren Herbster

Secretary – Amelia Saris

Treasurer – Ryan Trout

NFES PTA Updates

There's a lot to be excited about at NFES as we move through winter and into spring. Mark these dates on your calendar and read on for details:

• PTA Student Directory Re-opened Through Jan 31st!
• Play Parent Meeting: Feb 4th
• PTA Meeting: Feb 4th
• Cugino Forno Fundraiser: Feb 19th
• Play Auditions: Feb 25th and Feb 27th
• Girl Scout STEM Days Coming in March: Volunteers Needed!
• Hershey Park Tickets are Almost Here!

The School Play is Ready to Kick Off

Is your student auditioning for the School Play? While the production title is still a secret, we’re excited to get the ball rolling with the MET, our parent volunteers, and our amazing staff leader, Tarah Hudson.

Things kick-off on Tuesday, February 4th at 4:45pm with the parent/guardian meeting in the NFES cafeteria. If you are a new play parent this year, this meeting is mandatory. If you are a past play parent, you do not need to attend this year. Past play parents, just be on the lookout for updates in our newsletters and the school-wide Falcon Family e-news.

Auditions will be held February 25 & 27, 3:30–4:30 PM. Performances will be May 9–10th at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School.

Other things to remember:

-The performance is for 2nd-5th graders.

-If you’re a PTA member, participation is free. -If you’re not a PTA member, there is a participation fee of $20. Please email tarah.hudson@fcps.org with any questions!

Sign up for the PTA Directory and Connect with Others at NFES Now Through 1/31

Have you joined the North Frederick Elementary School PTA Student Directory yet? The directory is designed to help families connect outside of school for playdates, homework help, birthday parties, and more.

Access is limited to current PTA members for personal use only—your privacy is important to us.

What you need to do: 👉 Submit your info by January 31st to be included. 👉 The digital directory will be sent to all current PTA members by mid-February.

Sign up now here:

• English Form
• Spanish Form

Don’t miss out on this valuable resource for our school community. Thank you for being part of it! If you have any questions, please reach out to us at northfrederickpta@gmail.com.

Girl Scout STEM Days in March: We Need 1-3 Volunteers!

The NFES PTA is excited to support a fantastic opportunity through Girl Scouts: a 3-week afterschool series called Science Discovery, designed to inspire and engage girls in STEM! This free program, open to girls in Kindergarten through 5th grade, offers hands-on science activities and a chance to build community in a supportive and welcoming space.

Here’s where we need your help:

We’re looking for one parent volunteer per session to assist during the program. The sessions will take place on March 4, 11, and 18, starting at 4 PM and lasting about an hour. It’s a minimal time commitment, but your presence will make a big difference in ensuring we can do this.

This is a perfect opportunity for anyone who:

• Has an interest in STEM.
• Wants to support an empowering program for our girls.

If you’re able to help out on one (or more!) of these dates, please email us at northfrederickpta@gmail.com

Get Ready for the Annual NFES PTA Hershey Park Ticket Fundraiser!

Our annual Hershey Park Ticket Fundraiser is just around the corner! This is the fundraiser many NFES families look forward to, and the proceeds go far to help fund our school initiatives each year.

It's never too early to start planning your family’s 2025 Hershey Park adventure, and we can’t wait to help your family make special memories together. Stay tuned for all the details on dates and pricing!

Join us for our next meeting: Tuesday, February 4th

Our next PTA meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 4th, at 5:30pm, in the cafeteria. We'll also send out a Google Meet link to all members through email for those that can't make it in-person. You can also find up-to-date meeting links and info on our Facebook page and Instagram.

Haven't joined the PTA for this year yet? It’s not too late! Members can participate in the 2nd-5th Grade Spring Play for free! Teachers who join the PTA get a $75 reimbursement for classroom needs, and all current members get to opt-in the the school directory!

Don’t miss out – join today!

Communication is very important to your child’s success at school and we want to keep you informed of what is going on at North Frederick Elementary School. We do not want you to miss important information.

• FCPS School Messenger

• Twitter: @FCPS_Poquette

• PTA Facebook page: North Frederick Elementary School PTA

• North Frederick Elementary Website: https://edu.fcps.org/nfes/home

Mrs. Tracy Poquette: Principal

Mrs. Angela Roland: Assistant Principal

Ms. Courtney Fike: Specialized Programs Coordinator

Mrs. Ericka Villatoro-Somarriba: Administrative Secretary

Mrs. Alex Brown: Front Office Secretary

Location: 1010 Fairview Avenue, Frederick, MD, USA
Phone: 227.203.1480