The Bobcat Bulletin

Dear FMS Families,

We had a great January so far at FMS! Between our schoolwide field trip to the UVM Basketball Game last week (go, Cats!) and great fun at last night’s Family BINGO Night, and all the learning students are doing in between - we have been busy! Thank you to all who came out for some friendly competition yesterday. Mark your calendars for our next PBIS Family Night, scheduled for April 17, 2025.

Next Friday, you will be able to access your child’s progress report. Please be sure to take time to review this important information. Your child’s teachers take time to provide many updates for you in this written report. You will get a separate message next Friday, 1/24, with instructions for how to access your child’s progress report, otherwise known as a report card.

I hope you are finding time to enjoy our snowy weather - stay warm this weekend!

Sincerely,

Sara Jablonski

FMS Principal

This morning we gathered for a schoolwide meeting to do some shared learning about the history of the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. You are welcome to view the slides we used today. As a school we listened to the song “Happy Birthday,” by Stevie Wonder, which was written to advocate for this observance to be recognized nationwide.

Schoolwide Meeting Slides, 1.17.25

The Read-a-Thon is coming soon! At FMS, we will be logging our reading minutes between January 27 and February 7. Look for more information coming soon!

We will have our first FMS Spirit Week of the year from January 27-January 31. Please see the flyer below for ways your child can participate and show their FMS pride!

Dear Founders Families,

Please be advised that we are seeing an increase in Influenza like illness at FMS.

The flu is a highly contagious respiratory disease that usually affects people during the winter and spring months. It is spread person-to-person by coughing and sneezing, or by touching contaminated surfaces. It can be spread before a person even shows symptoms.

Symptoms of the flu include: fever, headache, chills, body/muscle aches, dry cough, and sore throat. A person may also experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but those symptoms alone without any respiratory symptoms are often caused by another disease.

Here are some ways to keep your family and others healthy this flu season:

• If your child is sick, keep them home from school.
• If they vomit, have diarrhea, and/or a fever (> 100) they should stay home until these symptoms have resolved for over 24 hours AND they are feeling better.
• Practice good hand hygiene.
• Scrub all surfaces of hands with soap for 20 seconds and then rinse and dry.
• Use hand sanitizer.
• Wash before you eat or prepare food, after using the bathroom, and when hands are visibly dirty.

• Always cover your cough and sneeze.

• Perform routine surface cleaning of commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, desks, computer equipment, etc.
• Flu virus can remain on surfaces for up to 48 hours.
• Common household cleaning products can kill the flu virus.

• Get a flu shot each year- it is not too late to get protected

Thank you,

Alicia Goodkind, MSN, RN

802-857-6304

agoodkind@ewsd.org

To stay on top of all important PTO happenings, please check the PTO Website.

PTO Website Link

2024-2025 EWSD Calendar

Dates for your Calendars

Monday January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School for Students
February 24 - March 4: Winter Break
Tuesday March 4: Family Conferences
Monday March 31: Eid al-Fitr, No School for students

FMS is a caring, inclusive and connected community.

We foster critical thinkers by providing diverse and equitable learning opportunities.

Together, we work to ensure growth for all.

Email: sjablonski@ewsd.org
Website www.ewsd.org/fms
Location: 33 Founders Road, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: 802-879-6326
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Founders-Memorial-School-1509308329359547