FUEL School Newsletter

Dear FUEL Families,

We had another fun-filled - and busy! - week at FUEL last week. We enjoyed our 5th grade Battle of the Books Kickoff - teams are forming and books have been distributed. We are already to our highest number of teams ever :-) Our 4th and 5th graders also learned important information about the Michigan State Police program, OK2Say - please check Rooms for the parent guide for follow up and continuing these important conversations with your students. I also got to enjoy listening to the 5th Grade Band in the All-City concert on Saturday - and seeing the future of the program! There's only one word for it - WOW!

This week, we give a shout out to PTA for sponsoring our Mindfulness Matters assemblies with Bloomfield Health - look for great calming activities and resources coming home this week. Please remember it is also SPIRIT WEEK - we had a great pajama day last week thanks to our Principal-for-a-Days, Principal Teagan & Principal Athena, as well as a celebration of "National Preppy Day" thanks to 5th grader Frankie Siffin's persuasive abilities! Let the fun continue this week - remember that Monday is Flannel Day!

Finally, as we approach winter break, I want to take a moment to thank you for your support and partnership throughout this first half of the school year. This season is a time to relax, recharge, and make special memories with loved ones. I hope you enjoy this well-deserved break, filled with joy, warmth, and laughter. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new year, ready for more learning and growth!

Happy holidays and best wishes for a wonderful winter break!

- Mrs. Jeffrey

We are dedicated this year to working on our students’ social-emotional growth in addition to their academic growth. This week we will continue with Module 3: Growth Mindset. Our focus this week:

Diversity & Difference

One of the most amazing parts of FUEL & Ferndale Schools is our commitment to equity and the celebration of all the ways we are different. Check out this article from Penn State on activities to teach diversity: “We are Different, We are the Same”

Spirit Week This Week!

• Mon. 12/16 - Mindfulness Matters Assembly, 9-2 pm; FPS Board Meeting, 7 pm

• Tues. 12/17 - SE PAC Meeting, 5:30 pm @ FHS

• Wed. 12/18 - Mindfulness Matters Assembly, 9-2 pm; Skate Night, 6:15 pm

• Fri. 12/20 - HALF DAY, 11:53 am dismissal; All-School Morning Meeting - 10 am

• Mon. 12/23-Fri. 1/3 - NO SCHOOL - WINTER BREAK

• Mon. 1/6 - School Resumes

📅 Good Attendance = Success!

Did you know that being absent fewer than five days per semester is considered good

attendance? Showing up consistently sets the stage for academic achievement and future

opportunities. #InClassIsWhereItsAt

👉 Visit www.learninclass.com for more info.

Ferndale Elementary PTA's events and meetings are open to all our school families!

To learn more about FE PTA:

Facebook: fb.me/FerndaleElementaryPTA

Email: ferndale.elem.pta@gmail.com

Instagram: instagram.com/ferndale_elementary_pta

Website: ferndaleschools.org/page/parent-organizations

To become a FE PTA member: ferndaleelementarypta.givebacks.com/store

FLower and FUEL Giving Tree

The FE PTA has sprouted a giving tree this holiday season - a wish list from our teachers and staff! Items range from $5 to $50. Please share the link with family, friends, local businesses - anyone who wants to support our schools this holiday season!

For FLower: Share the flyer https://tinyurl.com/tc4dskpb or visit amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/3AEO71M161LAR

For FUEL: Share the flyer: https://tinyurl.com/4xtejnmh or visit amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/226ART17NFG75

FE PTA Meeting

December 10, 2024 6:30-8:00PM Location: Virtual

If you missed the meeting, here is the presentation shared by our guests, Alisha Byrd the Director of Special Education, Valencia Cade, Special Education Supervisor, and the PAC representatives, Sarah Martin and Amariah Houseknecht. tinyurl.com/3sawcnue

Scholastic Book Fair at FLower

December 9-13, 2024

Thank you to everyone who volunteered, donated to Share the Fair, or shopped the Fair. All purchases earn rewards that our school librarian uses to purchase new books for the library. We'll share pictures of the new books when they arrive!

Skate Night at Troy Skate World

December 18, 2024 6:15-8:15

Free to attend (just pay for your skates or bring your own). If you bring your own skates, you can skip the line! See the flyer here: tinyurl.com/mvpp6zu9

Need transportation? Sign up for the bus: tinyurl.com/5faztev3

FE PTA Meeting

January 14, 2024 6:30-8:00PM Location: FLower

Members of the food service department will be joining us to answer your questions and provide resources and information. Please complete this brief survey with your questions about food service - tinyurl.com/y7x4aynw - questions will be shared with staff and will help guide our meeting agenda.

Save the Date!

Winter Warm Up Dance

January 16, 2024 6:00-7:30PM Location: FLower

All elementary school families are invited to this event! Dinner, dancing, and a chance to give back to our community. Flyers will be sent home this week.

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Elementary Connections Group Updates

What is the Elementary Connections Group?

Please see the attached flyer for more information about the Elementary Connections Group.'

Ferndale Elementary Schools Adults! The Elementary Connections Group is starting to gather its volunteer base for our Spring Camps. At this time we are looking for the "behind the scenes" people who are willing to help with logistics. We are specifically looking for folks willing to help coordinate grade level camps! For more information please check out What is "CAMP" . Mark your calendars using the Save the Date. And sign up to help on the Volunteer Sign Up Form. Additional sign up opportunities will be shared for each grade level as we approach camps.

Do you have a special or unique talent? We need you! Just 4 Kicks is an adults only talent show on Friday, February 7th, at The Loving Touch in Ferndale, MI. This event raises money for our Elementary Connections Group camp fund. All proceeds from the event makes sure every student has the opportunity to go to camp in the spring. Check out the flyer HERE. Please email Christina Mossine with questions or to sign up: cmossine@gmail.com. Talent signup ends Monday, December 16th.

For drop-off in the morning, please be sure to pull ALL the way up in the school driveway in the drop-off line. We will help students walk towards the entrance. This will help us to keep the line moving. Doors do not open until 8:20 am - there is no student supervision until 8:20 am. Also, please note that if students are not eating breakfast, they do not need to arrive at school until 8:28 pm. Students who arrive at 8:28 a.m. can head directly to their lockers and classrooms. Otherwise, students should report to the cafeteria for breakfast or to the gym. Car Line Safety Reminders HERE.

Please remember that the BUS driveway is ONLY for buses. This is a safety issue. Please only use the car line in the front of the building on Rosewood.

For pickup, please be sure to have your yellow identification card with student name and grade available and easy to see.

Please call the attendance line each day your child will be absent from school. Any absence will remain unexcused until the office has been notified. The teachers appreciate an email reminder, but you must still call the office. Please call the attendance line at 248.547.0880, press the #1 option & leave a message with a reason for the absence.

Thank you for helping to keep all of our students SAFE at FUEL by following our safe snack guidelines. This is a reminder that FUEL is a nut-, tree-nut, and sesame-restricted building - please double-check all ingredients before sending in a lunch or snack to school to ensure the safety of all students. Sample safe snack lists can be found ​here​. ​Reminder: NO food birthday treats this year due to our allergy policy.

If your student has a medical need, it is vitally important that our office staff and teachers are aware. Please complete the medical forms available in the main office (or in the link below) and return to school ASAP.

Medical Authorization Form & Medical Treatment Form

All adults interested in volunteering during the 2024-2025 school year must have a Volunteer Form on file. This form should be submitted at a minimum of two weeks prior to the event in order to accommodate processing times. No adult will be allowed to volunteer or chaperone unless they have an approved form on file. Forms are available at the link below. Please note: all volunteer forms must be turned into the main office. In addition, you only need to fill out a volunteer form for one school - it will then cover all FPS campuses.

Volunteer Form

Breakfast and Lunch are free again this year as part of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Please return this form to school ASAP in place of the normal Free and Reduced Lunch application.

Household Information Form