Around 656

Will your child be eligible to start preschool or kindergarten in the fall? Come see our new Pre-K and Kindergarten Center at Roosevelt on May 7 for our Registration Day!

Ms. Thompson's 2nd-grade class at Roosevelt Elementary School hosted their Informative Writing Publishing Party on Friday! The students created magazines showcasing the research they conducted on an animal of their choice. They researched details about their animal’s appearance, diet, habitat, and fascinating facts. After three weeks of researching, writing, and preparing, the students did an amazing job presenting their work to their families and some of our Roosevelt staff!

Thank you to our incredible Lincoln Elementary School students and staff for presenting to the School Board and demonstrating the powerful impact of SMART—Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training. Our students showed how purposeful movement builds the brain-body connections essential for learning through activities like Learning Ladders, Creep Tracks, the Balance Beam, Alligator Crawl, and Pencil Roll. These exercises help improve focus, coordination, comprehension, and overall readiness to learn.

We are proud of the confidence, growth, and engagement our students displayed. Their demonstration was a clear reminder of the importance of supporting the whole child. Thank you for representing our district with such enthusiasm and excellence!

Check out our recording from around 5:30 - 26:15 to see their presentation!

Shout-out to Jefferson Elementary School for their Earth Day cleanup! Mrs. Wieber’s class celebrated Earth Day by walking to Faribault High School for a campus cleanup. They started in the Nature Area, cleaned around the grounds, and, of course, took a quick break to roll down the high school hill!

Back at Jefferson, our fantastic first and second graders stepped up in a big way—picking up litter and helping make the school grounds shine, showing pride in their school and care for our planet.

Congratulations to the talented cast, musicians, and directors who brought SpongeBob: The Musical to life! With 53 students and 7 directors involved, it was a vibrant, collaborative production and a true showcase of talent.

Area Learning Center Graphic Design students put their creativity to work for a cause they care about! The students recently visited Ruth’s House to proudly deliver their donation.

We’re proud to recognize the following students for being awarded the MEP Teachers of Tomorrow grant:

• Ahmed Abdi
• Hamdi Abdi
• Alison Alquicira-Ramirez
• Alexa Murillo Lemus
• Benjamin Juantos Juarez
• Rashid Ibrahim

This exciting opportunity supports 10th–12th grade students in exploring careers in education. Grant recipients will attend a free 4-day summer teaching program at MSU, Mankato from July 14–17, 2025, participate in college visits throughout the school year, gain paid education-related internship experience, and receive academic support. Some students may also qualify for a $3,600 scholarship! Application is still open! Contact Jazmine Mandujano to learn more!

Way to go, future educators!

Calling all parents with babies under 1 year! 🌟 Join us for ECFE Saturdays: Baby Edition on May 3 — a special hour of play and relaxed conversation about the joys and challenges of parenting in the first year.

VEX IQ robots and making blankets seem like an unusual comparison yet they have a

lot in common. Both were projects funded in part by grants from the Falcon Educational

Enrichment Program (FEEP) this school year. Materials provided by the grant gave

opportunities for students to work in small groups on problem solving. They have

also helped literally hundreds of students in the Faribault Public Schools learn through

projects.

Middle school students in Andrea Glynn’s Family and Consumer Science classes

created tie blankets with support from the FEEP grant. Glynn wrote, “All of my students

were able to make tie blankets to give back to our community. The students worked on

measuring and fine motor skills, as well as social skills like teamwork. Last semester,

we donated our blankets to the health offices across our district. This semester, our

donations went to Ruth’s House, Hope Center, the FMS nest, the FHS nest, and the

Faribault Police Department. We made 26 blankets first semester and 37 blankets this

semester!”

In the STEM&M program students at Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt are using the

VEX Robotic Electronic Bundles to enhance robot construction kits already in their

program. Dan Tinaglia at Roosevelt, the primary grant requestor, wrote in the grant

application, “Students will build, code, and manipulate their own technological designs

to apply innovative ideas that improve existing processes. They learn to work within

constraints, identify multiple solutions to problems, and find the best possible solution.

Educational robotics is an excellent way to make math more meaningful for students.”

If you are looking for a way to empower Faribault Public School students and support

teachers in a long term, hands on, exciting way consider a donation to FEEP. FEEP

operates under the umbrella of FAPSETA which is a 501(c)3. You can learn more about

FEEP, the Falcon Educational Excellence Program, by visiting fapseta.org and looking

under “Your Support at Work” tab. Your generosity in donating is greatly appreciated!

Jefferson kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students came together to create “Good Luck” clips for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders students who took the MCAs! These colorful clips were decorated with positive messages, fun designs, and lots of love - they then surprised the older students by clipping them on their backpacks while they were gone at specialists. What a wonderful example of our Jefferson community lifting each other up.

Looking for exciting, enriching, and fun opportunities for your kids this summer? Faribault Community School has something for every age group!

High School Activities
For high school students, we’re offering powerful opportunities to learn, grow, and stay engaged:

• Service Learning Projects – Earn elective credit if you’ve failed an elective class, while giving back to the community.

• Speed & Strength Training – Open to all students 6-12th grade looking to stay active and build athletic skills.

• YPAR (Youth Participatory Action Research) – Use your voice to lead meaningful change through research and action.

• Summer Soccer – Stay sharp, active, and connected on the field!

Whether your student is building rockets or building leadership skills, there’s a place for them here this summer.

Questions or ready to register?
Contact Gcarlander@Faribault.k12.mn.us to sign up or learn more.

Students entering grades 1 through 8 can dive into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) activities that spark creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving. From hands-on science experiments and art projects to team challenges and tech adventures, kids will explore, discover, and grow — all while having fun and making new friends!

When: June 16—July 31, 2025, Monday-Thursday from 8 AM - 3 PM

Where: Grades 1-4 at Lincoln Elementary & Grades 5-8 at Faribault High School

We’re looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to join our team! Faribault Public Schools has a variety of openings, including positions for teachers, custodians, paraprofessionals, and more. Come be part of a supportive community that values education, growth, and making a difference in students' lives.

Faribault Public Schools rejuvenated the district's wellness committee with broad representation from across the district and community. An important step was completing the School Health Index with each school building, then compiling results from across the district, providing each building team with their own individual building results. They utilized the wellness committee to make data-informed decisions around setting the district's wellness goals and ultimately championed the most significant revision to the district's wellness policy in over 15 years.

Join us on Sunday, May 4 from 8 AM to 12 PM at American Legion Post 43 in Faribault for a breakfast fundraiser supporting our elementary patrols' trip to Legionville. Enjoy biscuits and gravy, bacon, seasoned potatoes, and your choice of milk, juice, or coffee. Cost is $12 for adults, $7 for kids ages 5–10, and free for children under 4. Hosted by the Sons of the American Legion. Come out and support a great cause!

Join us at Basilleo’s 2.0 on May 6, 2025 for a FEEP fundraiser. We are grateful for

businesses like Basilleo’s 2.0 who donate portions of the evenings sales to support

students and teachers in the Faribault Public Schools.

Don't miss a beat! Check out the Faribault Public Schools activities calendar to stay informed on all activities and events.

Falcon Families,

In January, the School Board approved our district’s reorganization plan, set to take effect in the 2025-2026 school year. Developed with input from staff, families, and community members, this plan is designed to better align our resources, space, and programs to support student success. We understand that change can be difficult and are committed to supporting students, families, and staff through this transition.

Key Changes:

• Roosevelt will become our Pre-K and Kindergarten Center, meaning all Pre-K and Kindergarten classes will be held at Roosevelt. Principal Amy Bouma will oversee the Kindergarten program, and Early Childhood Coordinator Olivia Sage will lead the early childhood programs.

• Jefferson and Lincoln will serve as 1st through 5th-grade elementary schools. Nick Jurrens will continue as Principal at Jefferson, and Ashley Benhart will become Principal at Lincoln.

• The Faribault Area Learning Center (ALC) will transition from its current location to the McKinley building for the 2026-2027 school year.

This reorganization is a positive step forward in strengthening our district’s resources and programs. While we know change can be challenging, it will ultimately benefit our students and help us provide the best possible education.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,

Jamie Bente

Superintendent of Faribault Public Schools

Do you have a story to share? Email communications@faribault.k12.mn.us for a chance to be featured in the next Around 656 Newsletter.