The BeeLine
October 2024
Happy Fall, Fairmont Families!
I hope this finds you and your families safe and well enjoying fall break. We have experienced so much devastation in our neighboring communities this past week. Please reach out to us if you are in need. We are more than willing to assist you any way we can. I am proud of Fairmont's Fifth Grade Student Leadership Team who packed 50+ hygiene bags and 50+ first aid bags this week for the residents in Carter County and Unicoi County. Thank you to everyone who donated and to Mrs. Gibson, our school counselor, for leading this project!
This month we will be wrapping up first quarter and beginning second quarter. Our students and teachers have worked so very hard this quarter. Thank you for reading with your child at home each and every night. First quarter checkpoints for grades 2-5 will be given the week after fall break, and report cards will be sent home on Wednesday, October 23.
We hope you will join us this month for Family Engagement Night as we Fall Into Reading on Tuesday, October 22 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. You will be able to participate in fall-themed literacy activities with your child. Also, consider participating in Pumpkin Palooza (see below) which will be displayed in the gym that evening. Come out and join us!
October is Attendance Awareness Month. Fairmont will be participating in the district's Attendance Matters Spirit Week! Please have your child at school and on time every day. School attendance is vital to students' academic and social success.
Thank you for all the ways you support Fairmont!
Dr. JoDee Dotson, Principal
Our region has experienced such unprecedented loss and heartbreak over the last few days. So many people, including some in our Fairmont family and their family members, have been affected by the devastation, flooding, and loss of power in our area. There are so many ways to give back and I bet a lot of you have already been doing that over the weekend.
Unicoi Elementary School
If you are interested, our Guidance Counselor has been in contact with the school counselor at Unicoi Elementary School. They are in need of several items. I've included them below if you feel led to help out in this way. You can bring your donations to school; Mrs. Gibson will get them to Unicoi.
Items needed:
Cases of water bottles
Hygiene items
Books for students who lost their homes
If you have anything you would like to donate, please bring them to school and Mrs. Gibson will see that the supplies are given to those in need.
East Tennessee Foundation
Many have been asking about ways to continue to support our friends and neighbors following the flooding. The districts of Northeast Tennessee have all partnered with the East Tennessee Foundation to manage all donations intended to assist school districts and their staff, students, and families. The link to the East Tennessee Foundation is live and linked below.
Please share the link with everyone you know and ask them to share with their friends and family. Let’s get the word out and help our friends and neighbors who have been so negatively impacted by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. With 100% of donations going to affected districts, we can make a lot of progress toward getting all our communities back on the road to recovery.
Our area is in so much need right now. Thank you for all the ways you are helping on your own!
Food Allergies
Food Allergies: Fairmont strives to provide a safe learning environment for all students, which includes being aware of food allergies in each classroom. Many students have severe food allergies and coming into contact with a specific allergen can cause an emergency situation! The most common severe food allergies are peanuts, tree nuts, and other types of nuts. Many classrooms in our building are "Nut Free," which means no snacks or classroom treats for parties with nuts are allowed for the safety of one or more students. Please reach out to your child's teacher to find out if their classroom is "Nut Free." Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our kids safe!
ALL medicine must be brought to the clinic by a parent. No medicine in backpacks! This includes cough drops, inhalers, etc!
Over the counter medicine must be brought in unopened packaging and will need a medication form filled out by a parent/guardian. All RX medication must have a medication form completed by MD.
Teachers are working hard to keep classrooms clean! Feel free to send clorox wipes and sanitizer to your child's teacher to help minimize germs. These items are not provided by the school or clinic.
WCHD Flu Vaccine Clinic-CANCELLED
The Washington County Health Department will NOT be providing influenza vaccines to students with consent forms at Fairmont on October 17. Clinics will be rescheduled. Click the picture to follow the link to see more information about how to protect your child from the Flu this season.
A consent form was sent home with your child. If you wish for your child to participate in this opportunity, the consent form must be completed and returned to the office.
Why September Matters: Improving Student Attendance By Linda S. Olson
Attendance should be addressed before it becomes problematic. Chronic absenteeism, missing more than 20 days of a school year, is an early indicator of disengagement. High absence rates have negative consequences not only for individual students, but also for classroom instruction and school climate.
- Students who missed fewer than 2 days in September continued to average fewer than 2 days absent each month.
- Students who missed 2 to 4 days in September were 5 times more likely than those who missed fewer than 2 days to be chronically absent for the year.
Become a Member
If you would like to become an official PTA member, you can pay $7 for membership with the following QR code/link.
Whether you become an official member or not, we strive for the involvement and supportive collaboration of all parents, guardians, and teachers, so everyone is welcome to attend our general meetings.
Want to Help?
Please reach out to us if you have an interest in becoming a PTA Board Member this year or even next year. We may have an open position for you now or you may be able to shadow our current PTA Board Members in their duties this year for an easy transition in the future. You can email us at fairmontbuzz@gmail.com.
We would also love to hear from you if you have specials skills that could be used to support our events throughout the year. For instance, are you a handy mom, dad, or grandparent? Is your job in the STEM field? Do you own random cool stuff, such as a popcorn machine, snow cone machine, or DJ music equipment? You can email us at fairmontbuzz@gmail.com.
If your child will be absent call the office (423)434-5275 to report the absence. If we do not receive notification, you will receive an automated call informing you that your child's attendance is unverified, which results in an unexcused absence.
It is important that morning car line move quickly and efficiently to prevent unnecessary tardies. Please make sure your children are unbuckled and have their belongings ready to get out of the vehicle when our staff members open the door. Thank you!
Tardy Policy
The tardy bell rings at 8:15. After 3 unexcused tardies or early dismissals in a quarter, students will make up their work during recess time. Tardies and early dismissals are only excused by a note from a physician.
At dismissal, you are permitted to walk up and get your child at the front of the school if you walk to the school. You may not park your car and walk up to get your child. This creates unnecessary traffic congestion and, if needed, emergency vehicles would not be able to get through to the school. You must either pick your child up in the car line or let them ride the bus. We appreciate your cooperation!
If you need to change how your child will be getting home at the end of the day call the office, (423) 434-5275 BEFORE 2:00 so we can get the message to your child's teacher. Thank you!
School Buck$ Challange
The 2024-2025 Food City School Bucks Program runs from September 4, 2024 - May 6, 2025. Parents can link to the school of their choice beginning September 1 and points will start accumulating on September 4. Food City is making $800,000 available to participating schools to invest in classrooms, equipment, and essential supplies.
Since its inception, School Bucks has provided nearly $22 million to regional school - all with the help of community members like you.
Click the picture above to visit the website to register for the 2024-2025 School Bucks Challenge. You can also watch the video below to walk you through registration.
