FUEL School Newsletter

Dear FUEL Families,

We have a whirlwind of a week ahead! December is full of assemblies and enrichment opportunities, including this week's instructional assembly for 3rd graders by Genot Picor and our OK2Say Assemblies from the Michigan State Police courtesy of our Ferndale Youth Assistance & SEOC partnerships. 4th and 5th grade families should take a click look at the OK2Say Parent Guide for more information prior to the assemblies. Our 5th graders will also get to kickoff our Battle of the Books for 2025 with a visit from the Ferndale librarians on Thursday - get ready to see some awesome books in hand!

We also have a virtual PTA meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 pm - please check out the PTA box below for information. The PTA meeting will also be joined by our new Special Education director, Alisha Byrd. Please consider joining in at this link.

I also want to shout out our final Robotics teams - our amazing third graders - who completed their final competitions this weekend - woot! A shout out to Mr. Fennig as well for coordinating and leading this group to incredible growth over the past two years, and to our many parent volunteers who help to bring these experiences to our students. I was also such a proud principal this week as our 5th graders performed in their Choir, Orchestra, & All-City band concerts. We are thriving and I am so grateful to the incredible family support at these events.

Finally, our winter Reminders: Our students enjoy going outside as much as possible and play is great for the brain. We only stay inside when it feels like 17 degrees or lower. Please dress your students in layers and have them bring mittens, hats, scarves and boots. If you need support in getting these items, we have many at school - please contact our CIS Student Support Coordinator, Denazia Pettway at denazia.pettway@ferndaleschools.org or reach out directly to me.

Enjoy the week ahead and please reach out if you need anything.

- 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:

Cooperation & Problem-Solving

This is one of my favorite sites for cooperative game play at home . Check out Rabbit Hole - all you need is a hula hoop! Group Games for Kids

• Mon. 12/9 - Genot Picor Assembly (3rd/MONT); YMCA Sportport, 3:45-5:15 pm

• Tues. 12/10 - Genot Picor Assembly (3rd/MONT); PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm @ Virtual

• Wed. 12/11 - Principal for a Day; OK2Say Assembly (4th), 9-11; ; 5th Grade Battle of the Books Kickoff Assembly; Playlabs Performance, 5:30 pm @ FUEL Cafeteria

• Thurs. 12/12 - OK2Say Assembly (5th)

• Sat. 12/14 - All-City Band Concert, 1 pm @ Ferndale HS

📅 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

FE PTA Meeting

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

Join us at the December PTA meeting - we have invited the new Director of Special Education, Alisha Byrd, and the parent representatives from the Parent Advisory Committee to talk about special education programming. Please complete this brief survey with your questions about special education - https://tinyurl.com/y7x4aynw - questions will be shared with Ms. Byrd and will help guide our meeting agenda. Here is the Zoom link for the meeting: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75052641454?pwd=myTWbvZOcfBoxENPbAdSp0d8SqoTaa.1

Scholastic Book Fair at FLower

December 9-13, 2024

Students will shop during their Media Time, Monday through Wednesday and we have open shopping hours Thursday and Friday. We’ll also be open until 5:30pm on Wednesday. tinyurl.com/4uraw8fj

We take cash, check and credit. You can also set up an e-wallet, the cashless way for students to shop: bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/FerndaleLower

Volunteers are still needed to help students shop: tinyurl.com/4r3hbza3

Donate to the school e-wallet and help all students shop the Fair: tinyurl.com/39zd3x3w

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. More information coming next week.

========================================================

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