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FES Knightly News
Weekly Family Newsletter
Week of March 4th- March 8th
New and Important Information
Yearbook Cover Contest
The winners of the 2023-2024 FES Yearbook Cover Contest have been decided! In first place is 3rd grader Tyler Bartel from Ms. Supe’s class. Tyler's design will be on the cover of this year's yearbook. The runners up are: Adeline Evans, SadieMae Chappell, Natan Vasquez Hernandez and Laylah Hord. The runner-up designs will be featured on the back cover of the yearbook.
Superintendent Search Committee Nominations
The Boone County School District is currently taking nominations for a minority parent to serve on the Superintendent Search Committee. If you are interested in serving as a minority parent please call 859.282.4628.
According to KRS160.345 (1) (a.), the definition of minority means American Indian; Alaskan native; African-American; Hispanic, including persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American origin; Pacific islander; or other ethnic group underrepresented in the school.
The parent must have a student that attends a school within the Boone County School District. The student does NOT have to be a minority. The deadline for all parents to nominate is noon March 11th, 2024. All parents may vote in the minority election Wednesday March 13th at 6:00 p.m. at the Ralph Rush Development Center located at 99 Center Street in Florence. A tie in votes will be decided by a coin toss. For more information, please go to www.boone.kyschools.us
Ramadan Preferences
If your family is of the Muslim faith, please respond with your preferences for your child to observe Ramadan at school using this form.
Family Movie Night
Family movie night has been moved to Friday, March 8. Doors will open at 5:30 and the movie will begin at 6:00. Make sure to bring your own chairs and blankets. We will have the concession stand open. We will be selling popcorn, candy bars, and soft drinks. The concession stand is cash only. Admission is free and adult supervision is required. Have a great weekend!
From Mr. Dave, FES Lead Bus Driver (Bus 137)
Parents and students a friendly reminder that eating food and candy is not allowed on the school bus. If the student is eating the driver will ask them to put it away or throw it in the trash. Eating on the bus is unsafe and unsanitary.
If there are any questions please contact FES or the transportation department
Repeats from Last Newsletter
American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge
Kids Heart Challenge is HERE!
FLORENCE Families, Kids Heart Challenge™ has officially kicked off!
Our students will feel good by doing good, knowing they made a difference for kids just like them!
Start by downloading the Kids Heart Challenge APP or click this link
http://www2.heart.org/goto/FlorenceElementarySchoolKY to sign up!
• Complete Finn’s Missions: learn TWO lifesaving skills as a family TONIGHT!
• Become a Heart Hero: Send emails/e-cards on the website or texts via the app to invite friends and family asking for support.
Thank you so much for supporting our school and the American Heart Association!
Jolly Plumbing Teacher Award
Does your child's teacher deserve some special recognition? Nominate him or her for the Jolly Plumbing Teacher Award at the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc971BfcdTmxbsuCWTgKa2wIXZTWwzZy84574dNPW-btjTXkQ/viewform
Zonar Card Information for Parents
Haga clic aquí para ver esta información en español
Cliquez ici pour voir ces informations en francais
Soon, Florence Elementary students will be issued a card to scan when they get on and off their school bus. This card works with the Zonar app to inform parents that their student is on the bus. Students will wear this card on a lanyard during the school day, and will also be able to use it in the library and in the cafeteria to easily access their accounts. Please encourage students to keep it in the front pocket of their backpacks when they are not at school. Please see the message below from the district about this program:
The Boone County School District strives daily to ensure the safety of your children in
everything we do. In our continued efforts, we are excited to begin the rollout of the new
ZPass student ridership program. This tool will aid the school district and parents in quickly
locating students and will provide transportation with real time rosters for each bus. This
program will be offered to all elementary school students and students grades 6- 12 who use
special transportation.
How does the card work? Each Zpass card contains a passive RFID chip which is assigned
a unique identifier when the card is issued to the student. When the card is tapped on the
scanner, the RFID is activated and automatically logs their entry or exit time and location. The
card does not offer any capability to track a student - it merely tells us when and where a
student scanned the card on and off of the bus. Parents can download the My View Parent
App and choose to receive information instantly and securely regarding when their child
boarded or loop exited a bus.
What happens if my child loses their card? Students without cards will still be permitted to
board the bus. If the card is lost or damaged, a new card can be requested by notifying your child’s
school. If the card was recently lost, we ask that you look for one day before reporting the card as
lost. If it is still lost after that time, please notify the school and a new card will be issued. If a lost card
is found please return it to school.
What information is stored on the card? The only information that is stored on the ZPass
card is the unique identifier that is only meaningful to the ZPass program. A lost or stolen
ZPass card does not put sensitive student information at risk. Parents will only have access to
their student’s information. Under our terms with the company providing this technology, all
student information is protected.
Students whose families opted out of this program will receive a NON-RFID card. The
NON- RFID card will still contain the student barcodes for use in the cafeteria and media
center but will be clearly labeled “NON RFID Card”. This student identification card will still
need to be presented when a student boards district transportation so that transportation staff
will be able to identify students who are present on the bus.
Still have questions? A list of frequently asked questions has been compiled using responses from
the parent survey and from other districts who have already implemented this program. This
document is found on the transportation page of the district website. If after reviewing this document
you still have questions, please reach out to the transportation department directly.
Transportation Department Phone Number: 859-384-5340
Transportation Web Address: https://www.boone.kyschools.us/transportation-department
From the FES Library
Library: Mark your calendars! Book Fair will be March 18-29, Students will have the opportunity to visit and create a wish list to take home the week of March 18-22. Students will shop the week of March 25. Your child's teacher will send home more information about the date they will shop. Family shopping will be Thursday, March 28, 2024.
Read Across America Week
See the photo at right for the themes for Read Across America week dress up days! This will be the week of 03/04-03/08.
Ryle High School Cheer Team Fairytale Ball
Meet your favorite princess at the Ryle High School Cheer Team's Fairytale Ball on Saturday, March 2nd from 10 AM to noon. See the picture at right to sign up.
Kindergarten Registration
Please spread the word! If you know have a child or know a family who has a child who will be 5 years old on or before August 1st, 2024, kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year will be on March 4th from 4:30-6:30 at all Boone County elementary schools.
All registrations will be online, and paper registration packets will no longer be accepted. If you don't have access to a computer or have questions about registering, there will be staff on hand to assist at Florence Elementary on March 14th.
The following items are required to complete registration:
- Certified Birth Certificate
- Proof of residence (phone bill, utility bill, lease agreement, etc.)
- Current KY Immunization Certificate (must be dated within 1 year of start date of school
- Current Physical
- Social Security Card
Parents with children currently enrolled in Boone County preschool will still be required to register their child for kindergarten.
Knights of the Week
The Knights pictured below were chosen as Knights of the Week because the ROCK! They consistently RESPECT themselves and others, OWN their actions, make the CHARACTER count, and KEEP expectations for themselves high!
Here's What We're Learning this Week
Kindergarten
Reading/Writing- We will be participating in Dr. Seuss Week. We will compare books in our writing this week.
Math- We are working on 10 frames with composing and decomposing teen numbers.
Science- We will be looking at life cycles.
Social Studies- We are focusing on building positive relationships among peers.
First Grade
Reading/Writing- Students will read Dr. Suess books this week! We will be partcipating in Read Across America Week!
Math- Students will be adding two digit and one digit numbers.
Social Studies- Students will review community helpers and why they are important.
Second Grade
Reading/Writing- Students will be celebrating Read Across America week by reading several Dr. Seuss. Students will also be using information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.
Math- Students will begin a unit on Geometry. This week students will begin by naming and drawing two-dimensional shapes.
Science- Students will continue their unit on plants and discuss how animals help disperse seeds and pollinate plants.
Other Information from 2nd Grade- The second graders will be going to the Cincinnati Zoo on April 3rd. Cost is $20 and includes an FES 2nd Grade Field Trip shirt to wear. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher.
Third Grade
Reading/Writing- This week will be working on publishing our biographies. We will also be reading hybrid texts.
Math- We are still learning about fractions.
Science- This week in Science, students will be taking the Panorama Survey.
Social Studies- This week in SS, students will be working to complete the Unit 4 Reading CFA.
Fourth Grade
Reading/Writing- Students will continue learning text structure, specifically compare and contrast text structure.
Math-Students are learning how to compare fractions with unlike denominators.
Science-Students are learning the structure and function of plants and animals.
Fifth Grade
Reading/Writing-Students will be explaining relationships in historical texts.
Math-Students will be starting their unit on fractions. They will be focusing on conversions as fractions.
Science-Students will be learning about earth's rotation and shadow patterns.
Social Studies-Students will be learning about James Madison and constructing the Constitution
STEM
We have had chicken eggs in an incubator for the past three weeks, and this week they will be hatching! Check dojo for a message about a live streaming link so you can watch the baby chicks!
Gym
Kindergarten is learning to follow a rhythmic activity leading up to a dance.
First grade is learning to move in various pathways and levels during a dance.
Second grade is focused on aerobic activities and Cardiovascular.
Third grade has started a learning a dance sequence and pattern leading to a dance.
Fourth grade is working on muscular endurance using plyometric
Fifth grade is learning how flexibility and muscular endurance can be beneficial in their daily life.
Music
All grades will observe and interact with new instruments daily. Participation includes briefly playing the instrument, learning about the history of the instrument and the related cultures, and clapping/dancing along with the performance. Instruments that will be discussed: (Jan.29-Mar.1) Djembe (West African Hand drum) Darbuka (Turkish Hand drum) Lekgodilo (South African Flute) Egg Shaker (America) Steel Pan (pitched percussion instrument from island of Trinidad) Students will also collaborate musically through singing songs, drumming on pads to notated rhythms, learning dance choreography, listening and analyzing music, and playing fun music related games.
Photos from Around the Building
Ms. Wilson's Class
1st Grade Math
Things We Love About 5th Grade
Archery Club
Happy Birthday!
Birthdays this week include:
Students
- Josh F.
- Maya T.
- Roberto J.
- Cayra Ann S.
- TJ B.
- Reece M.
- Kinley H.
- Melanie J.
- Christian N.
- Isaac B.
- Layla D.
- Madeline T.
- Braylon F.
- Navy P.
Staff
- Ms. Jeronimo
From the First Aid Room
Information from health services regarding Covid:
If your student tests positive for Covid and have no sick symptoms, please contact your primary care provider to obtain guidance and determine when your child can return to school. If your child is sick and tests positive for Covid please contact your primary care provider for guidance on care and when to return to school. Students should not return until they are recovered, and symptoms resolved.
Pictures from Our Past
This week's photo is of Ms. Washam's first grade class from 1974-1975.
From the Cafeteria
These menus are accurate at the start of the week, adjustments may be required due to supply issues. If you have any questions about meals or food service, please contact the FES cafeteria manager at Melody.Linneman@boone.kyschools.us.
SBDM Update (UPDATED FROM LAST WEEK)
The School Based Decision Making Council at FES is made up of the principal (Ryan Burch), three teachers (Alicia Bachman, Abbigail Supe, and Megan Timmerding), and two parents (Alicia Coulter and Vee Miller). This group makes policy decisions and approves some of the school's financial and instructional activities. Meetings are usually held on the first Monday of each month at 4:15 in the FES library. Meetings are open to the public (except for occasional closed sessions).
Click here to view the January minutes. At the February meeting, SBDM approved the hiring of two special education para-educators for the remainder of the year. They also reviewed and approved the family engagement policy for next school year. The full minutes of the February meeting will be available after the March meeting.
The March meeting has been rescheduled from it's original date of March 4th due to kindergarten registration. The meeting is now March 11th at 4:15 in the library. Click here for the March agenda.
All of our SBDM policies are available on the FES school website.
On the Calendar
Important January/February Dates
- March 4th; Kindergarten Registration, 4:30-6:30
- March 7th; Boone County Board of Education Meeting, 7:00, Ralph Rush Professional Dev. Center
- March 8th; End of 3rd Quarter
- March 8th; Family Movie Night, 5:30-8:00, FES gym
- March 11th; SBDM Meeting (rescheduled); 4:15, FES Library
- March 11th; PTO Meeting (rescheduled); 5:30, FES Cafeteria
- March 15th; No School, Teacher PD Day
- March 26th; Boone's Beginners, 5:30-7:00, Burlington Elementary Cafeteria
- March 28th; Circus Mojo, 5:30-7:30, FES Gym
Click the calendar above to see the schedule of all events throughout the year.