Welcome Back Falcon Zone -

I hope that everyone had an amazing summer break. We are so excited to kick off this new school year and there is a lot happening in the Falcon Zone!

We are moving to a Zone-wide SAC model this school year. Meetings will occur quarterly and will give the schools and the zone a chance to connect and communicate more effectively. Please mark your calendars for Sept. 5, Nov. 7, Feb. 6 and April 17. All meetings will be at 5:30 and locations are TBD but will rotate schools.

We are continuing with our Staff Recognition form each week. Staff members receiving recognition receive a personalized note from the zone office, which means a lot to our staff members! The form is linked below each week in the zone newsletter.

D49 has a new Cell Phone Protocol, which we know will positively impact instruction and learning in our schools and across the district. Please see below for a synopsis. The complete protocol is also linked below.

The FZ Community Closet & Pantry will be open almost bi-weekly, beginning August 8th, and continues to be stocked through your generosity, as well as by some local food banks. The pantry has also been officially expanded into the other side of the modular and I can't wait for you to see the space! We are always looking for donations, both food and monetary.

Engage49 will be launching at the beginning of August. This district wide collaborative focuses on Family, School and Community Partnerships and throughout the year, we will be focusing on a diverse range of topics, carefully selected based on the feedback we receive from our families. Information will be shared through monthly one-pagers as well as quarterly in-person opportunities. Keep an eye out for more information coming soon!

In Partnership

~Cari Muresan

FZ Community Liaison

Welcome Back Falcon Zone Students, Parents, Families, and Community!

I hope everyone enjoyed their summer break and had time for rest, relaxation, friends, family, and fun! We are now ready to launch the 24-25 school year and take off to a whole new level of excellence in the Falcon Zone!

This year, we want to help all of our Falcon Zone students "Earn their WINGS". WINGS stands for the core values of Wisdom, Integrity, Networking, Grit, and Self-Confidence. During the past school year, Falcon High School's Student Council and our Falcon Middle School Junior Student to Student Council group helped us focus in on the key components they need to be successful in their future. All of their ideas were shared with a teacher leadership group and administrators who met over the summer. These groups synthesized all of the student feedback on the characteristics and skills that were necessary for students to be successful in Elementary School, Middle School, High School, and beyond! This is what has led to the creation of our Falcon Zone Portrait of a Graduate, "Earn your WINGS".

A portrait of a graduate is a vision statement developed to describe the skills and competencies that students need to succeed in life, work, and learning. In the Falcon Zone, we want to ensure that our elementary students "graduating" to middle school and then our middle school students "graduating" to high school are equipped just as appropriately as our high school seniors are for the next chapter beyond graduation. All six of our Falcon Zone schools are working as one cohesive team to ensure that our students are well equipped for whatever path, challenge, or goal is in front of them. We will use our instructional model of having Engaging Environments, Enhanced Opportunities, and Elevated Instruction all operating together, as our propeller, to Empower all of our learners in the Falcon Zone. That is what EmpowerFZ is all about and it is our vehicle to help our students then "Earn their WINGS".

• Wisdom: A graduate possesses a deep understanding of various subjects and concepts, critical thinking skills, and the ability to apply knowledge to solve complex problems. They are lifelong learners who seek out new information and perspectives to make informed decisions.
• Integrity: Graduates uphold honesty, ethical principles, and moral values in all aspects of their lives. They act with sincerity, fairness, and accountability, earning the trust and respect of their peers and communities.
• Networking: Recognizing the importance of collaboration and interconnectedness, a graduate excels in building and maintaining meaningful relationships. They engage with diverse individuals and communities, fostering connections that lead to opportunities for personal growth and collective advancement.
• Grit: Persistence, resilience, and determination are key components of grit that a graduate embodies. They embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, overcoming obstacles with perseverance and a positive mindset. When faced with setbacks, they adapt, learn from failures, and continue to strive towards their goals.
• Self-Confidence: Graduates exude self-assurance and belief in their abilities. They have a strong sense of self-worth, recognizing their strengths and areas for improvement. With confidence in themselves, they take initiative, advocate for their needs, and pursue their aspirations with courage and conviction.

We look forward to the collaboration and partnership ahead with our entire community as the Falcon Zone continues to prepare our students for what is ahead. We want our students to be a passionate pilot on a flight path towards success. Here's to a phenomenal year where all of us can work together, remain focused on what is best for our students, and help empower them forward to the next level of success. I wish everyone the best school year yet! Let's Earn our WINGS together!

District 49 will implement consistent cell phone protocols across all schools. These protocols were implemented with input from staff, students, and the community. These protocols are expected to maximize instructional time and enhance student learning opportunities by removing the distraction cell phones bring to the learning environment. These protocols are expected to be implemented, with consistency, in all schools and classrooms.

Please encourage your student to adhere to the above protocols, There will be consequences for students who do not abide by these expectations. Consequences will be determined, and communicated, by each school but may include a warning, confiscation of device, detention, and suspension. Repeated instances of not following cell phone protocols will be treated as defiance and involve increased school consequences.

*Please call the front office of your child's school for any immediate messages that cannot wait for a passing period or lunch, the office will get the message to your child in their classroom.

Thank you for your support as we work to provide a school environment conducive to learning for all students.

In the Falcon Zone we pride ourselves on having the most incredible staff! We want to give our community a chance to recognize those people that make a difference in our schools and for our students every day! Please let us know who is making a positive impact for your student. Let us know who has gone above and beyond to enhance your experience in our zone. Let us know who is doing an outstanding job!

Every staff member that is recognized will receive a note of recognition and a shoutout in our community newsletter. Staff members include not only teachers but secretaries, administrators, custodial & kitchen staff, paras, etc.

We want to know who is making a difference! Thank you for taking the time to fill out this quick form!

Thank you to everyone that took the time to recognize some of our amazing staff members. Below are the recognitions gathered from last week!

8/1 - 6th and 9th grade students return

8/2 - All students return

8/8 - FZ Community Closet & Pantry Open @ 3:45 & D49 Board Meeting @ 6

8/9 - Elementary Assessment Day - No Elem. Students

8/12 - FES PTA Meeting @ 4

8/13 - WHES PTA Meeting @ 4

8/16 - D49 Personal Pro Day - No Students

8/21 - Dine to Donate - Benefiting FZ Community closet & Pantry, Texas Roadhouse @ 5