FALCON FAMILY NEWS

We hope all of you enjoyed the time off for Thanksgiving! We want to express our gratitude for everyone who makes it possible for as many students as possible to come to school every day, on time, ready to learn.

We thank:

• Our students and families for making daily attendance a priority since they know the habit of attendance will help them do well in the classroom and eventually in a job.
• Our wonderful teachers who pour their energy into making each classroom an exciting place for exploration and knowledge so children do not want to miss out on learning
• Our Care Team and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need.

Finish 2023 Strong! We have three more weeks until winter break. The last day of school before the break is Friday, December 22nd. Please talk with your child about the importance of giving their best effort each day! Let's work hard, stay focused, and finish strong!

Picture Retake Day is on December 7th.

Please fill out this form if you would like your child to have their picture retaken.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJduxyh4qoblF5XN8ELPJMLkqr9aqXpk41qDNA5VOhcCrzSA/viewform

Please have your child bring back their school picture to give to the photographers on December 7th.

Please have your child check our lost and found. We have several coats, jackets and sweatshirts that have been left at school. All unclaimed lost and found items will be donated over winter break.

• Dec. 4th-8th: Inclusive Schools Spirit Week (See below)

• Dec. 7th: Picture Retakes (You must complete the google link above if you want retakes)

• Dec. 11th-22nd: December to Remember Spirit Days (See below)

• Dec. 25th-Jan.1st: School Closed

Our Winter Class Parties are scheduled for Dec. 22nd. This year, only the volunteers will be present for the class parties. This allows us to screen all visitors prior to the day of the party. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the Google Form below. The volunteers will be responsible for planning the party, coordinating donations and being present for the entire party. Please see the dates and times of the party listed to the right. Your child's teacher will contact you to let you know if you were selected.

https://forms.gle/JtroTCWWPDqPjjyn8

We are seeking substitute teachers to work with our students when teachers are absent.

The Substitute Teacher instructs students during the absence of a regular teacher. Substitute Teachers are expected to maintain a professional attitude toward their work and support the mission and goals of the school system. Substitute Teachers are assigned on an as needed basis and are temporary employees. Substitute Teachers hours are 7:50am-3:20 pm each day. https://www.fcps.org/careers

Our bellies are full of locally grown produce! Last week FCPS Food and Nutrition Services Farm to School Program and University of Maryland Extension office visited our cafeteria. The students were excited to vote on how they enjoyed the cauliflower, spinach and mixed greens, and apples they selected from the cafeteria line. Most of the students said they "loved it"! All of the produce was grown by local farms, Pleasant Hill Produce, Moon Valley Farm, and Chestnut Hill Farm and Market.

Recently, we have noticed a lot of unsafe practices when dropping off and picking up students, mainly past the crosswalk and crossing guard. Children and parents are walking through cars and nearly getting hit. If a child gets away from a parent, cars do not anticipate that and may not have time to stop. This is unsafe and could lead to an accident. Although children are under a parent's supervision, we highly recommend crossing at the crosswalk during every arrival and dismissal.

Dropping children off and picking them up is prohibited along Fairview and Motter. That includes at or near the crosswalk. Our car loop is the only place to pick up and drop off your child without getting out of the car. Parents/Guardians must park legally and walk to the front of the building to drop off or pick up their child(ren).

We are looking forward to welcoming volunteers into our building again this year. Please make sure you complete the registration and training . This is required by FCPS annually following our fiscal year calendar. If you have questions about volunteering at NFES, please contact Erin.Stewart@fcps.org.

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

Instruction starts at 8:20 AM (Students who arrive after 8:15 will be marked late.)

Dismissal will begin at 2:50 PM

At NFES, we continue our commitment to attendance knowing that being at school each day opens opportunities for our students. Please check out our grade level percentages for each month on the right. Our goal is for 96% attendance. Congratulations to our 2nd graders who met our goal 2 of the 3 months.

The research strongly correlates good attendance with school success and, ultimately, high school graduation. Below are some facts related to attendance that highlight the importance of good school attendance (from Attendance Works, www.attendanceworks.org):

• Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade
• By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
• When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.

We appreciate your support in establishing positive attendance habits at home and reinforcing the importance of coming to school on time each day. Please let us know how we can support your efforts.

23.24 PTA Officers-

President – Alicia Graves

Secretary – Lauren Herbster

Treasurer – Ryan Trout

The MET School Play dates have been set!

We are excited to announce the MET School Play is set for Wednesday, April 25th and Thursday, April 26th at Governor Thomas Johnson High School!

Auditions for 2nd and 3rd graders will be held on February 5th, while 4th and 5th graders can audition on February 7th. Keep an eye out for posters around the school and announcements for more details! The performance remains a secret for now!😉

Additionally, we're looking for enthusiastic PTA Committee Chairs (2 or more) to lend their support to the dedicated staff and MET team who work tirelessly to make this event a success every year. Join us in creating an unforgettable experience for all involved!

Dine at Texas Roadhouse in December!

Prepare your taste buds for a delicious fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse this December!

From November 27th to December 10th, purchase a Texas Roadhouse gift card where 10% of all gift card sales will support our PTA. Opt for virtual gift cards, the preferred choice, and if you prefer physical cards, they'll be sent home with your child on December 21st. Link to purchase will be coming soon.

You can also support this effort by dining in at Texas Roadhouse. December 21st is our Dine to Donate Event, where 10% of all NFES dining proceeds will directly benefit our PTA. Join us in savoring great food while supporting our school community!

Motter Avenue Safety - Let your voices be heard

Ensuring the safety of our children is paramount.

Join us in collaborating about safety concerns by participating:

There is a presentation being held in the City Hall on December 13, 2023, at 3:00 pm. We hope you can make it, but if not, are able to watch live on Channel 99.

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.

• Find Out First: register online at www.fcps.org/fof/nfes

• Twitter: @FCPS_Poquette

• PTA Facebook page: North Frederick Elementary School PTA

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

Mrs. Tracy Poquette: Principal

Tracy.Poquette@fcps.org

Mrs. Kelly McConville: Assistant Principal

Kelly.McConville@fcps.org

Mrs. Ericka Villatoro-Somarriba: Administrative Secretary

Ericka.Villatoro@fcps.org

Mrs. Alex Brown: Front Office Secretary

Alexandra.Brown@fcps.org

Email: tracy.poquette@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/nfes/home
Location: 1010 Fairview Avenue, Frederick, MD, USA
Phone: (240) 236.2000
Twitter: @FCPS_Poquette