Around 656

This is the first edition of Around 656. Every month, this online newsletter will inform the community about some of the great things happening in Faribault Public Schools.

As always, you can submit ideas, information, photos and videos to msteichen@faribault.k12.mn.us for use in this newsletter, as well as on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

Go Falcons!

We started the school year by honoring our longtime staff members for their years of service to the district. At our staff day on Aug. 27 in the Michael J. Hanson Performing Arts Center, we presented plaques to employees who reached the 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 year milestones.

That week we also thanked Lyle and Ruth Olson, both at the Aug. 26 school board meeting and before the first home volleyball game, for their combined 91 years of service to the district! Upon "retirement" in 1999, Lyle and Ruth both subbed in our district for 20 years.

15 years

Jill Boudreau, Misty Daws, Shauna Enget, Damien Fox, Deborah Hawley, James Huberty, Thomas Katra, Debra Kittlesen, Ryan Lueken, Lisa H. McDonough, Lisa J. McDonough, Victor Mendoza, Dean Morkassel, Scott Morrissey, Nichole Wels and Anne Wieber

20 years

Kristin Eustice, Mark Reuvers, Debbie Taghon, Sheryl Tinaglia, Deborah VanZuilen

25 years

Brian Cherwinka, Brenda Pittman, Sharon Sadergaski

30 years

Lauren Satrom, Kathryn Zavoral

35 years

Lisa Carlberg

40 years

Annette Bock

Our high school staff continued to raise the bar with their back to school videos. Freddy looked good in cowboy boots.

Our sixth-graders got the middle school to themselves for orientation on Tuesday, Sept. 3, before being joined by the seventh and eighth-graders on Sept. 4.

Some elementary students got started by telling us what they're looking forward to this year.

Our music department wants to perform as often as possible during the upcoming school year. In addition to the 50 or so times they perform as part of musicals, concerts, pep rallies and parades, they would like to perform at luncheons, festivals, farmers markets and other community gatherings. You can read more about the 45 Gig Challenge here: https://www.faribault.k12.mn.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3060799&pageId=69249145

If you have any good leads for the music department, contact Jefferson Elementary music teacher Megan Fishman at mfishman@faribault.k12.mn.us or call 507-333-6560.

Two weeks ago, we held a grand opening for The Nest, a new student-run store at FHS that will provide free essential clothing and supplies for students in need. Click here to learn more about the store and how you can donate: https://fhs.faribault.k12.mn.us/our_school/the_nest

At the Region One AA annual meeting and awards program Sept. 11 in Mantorville, sound and lighting tech Mark Tousignant was presented with the 2018-19 Fine Arts Distinguished Service Award.

Throughout the year we will be spotlighting staff members from around the district on our websites. Here's a sampling of what we've heard so far...

"The best is having the satisfaction of a student outside of school seeing you and saying, "Hi, you're my lunch lady. Thank you for all the good food you make" and still remembering years later. It puts a smile on my face every time." -Kim Knott, Kitchen Supervisor at FMS

"I am proud to be a Falcon! I work with amazing teachers and staff at Jefferson. Our students are one of a kind, unique, and inspiring. I love getting to know my students and their families." -Amy Staloch, 5th Grade Teacher at Jefferson

"I enjoy seeing kids work hard and feel accomplished when they complete a hard task. Being able to challenge my students to be the best that they can be physically, mentally, and socially and then relating that to real life is what makes my job great." -John Scheil, Physical Education teacher at Roosevelt

The fall sports season is in full swing. The boys soccer team started strong, going unbeaten through its first six games.

The cross-country teams had great showings at their home meet Sept. 6 at Alexander Park (video below). The boys posted their best home meet finish since 2001 by placing fifth and the girls placed sixth, led by Madelyn Skjeveland's seventh-place finish out of 99 runners.

The football team opened the season with a tightly-contested 19-12 loss to Austin.

For activities information and updates go to https://www.faribaultfalcons.com/ or follow the Falcons on Twitter at @frbo_falcons.

Faribault High School band students got some great news to start the year.

The entire band, which includes 50 members this year, was selected to perform at the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s Midwinter Clinic at the Minneapolis Convention Center in February. It's the state’s largest annual professional development conference for music educators.

“As a music educator, this is by far the biggest thing I’ve been a part of,” Band Director Joe Timmer told the Daily News. “Certainly it’s exciting when an individual is selected for All-State, but this is the biggest thing for the whole ensemble so far.”

What lessons did you learn or what was it about your experience in our schools that have helped you be successful in life?

I learned in high school that you shouldn’t let your grades define you. I know that I struggled in freshmen year and thought I couldn’t possibly ever become better. I took some time to change my perspective and listen to what my freshman AVID teacher told me. Mrs. Oanes pushed me to become the best version of myself. She constantly reminded me that I am important."

What do you think are the strengths of Faribault Public Schools?
Faribault Public schools has some of the most amazing teachers I have ever seen. I currently still talk to my teachers and they check up on me once a while. My teachers showed me that they cared about my education and my well-being. Faribault Public Schools has a small ratio to faulty: student compared to bigger schools. This gives students and teachers a great opportunity to get to know each other on a deep level and form bonds.

Also the school administration has a close relationship with students and faculties. I know in high school I created a friendship with the amazing administrative assistants, Karyn, Jenny, and Deb. Each day when I entered high school I was greeted and welcomed. I don’t know a lot of high schools that have that.

Was there a class or a teacher that inspired you or helped point you down your chosen career path?
AVID inspired me to continue my education. As a first generation student, I didn’t think college was possible. AVID made it possible for me. From tutorials to helping me maintain a good GPA, to helping me apply for scholarships. Each AVID teacher had a personal impact on me and I am who I am because of them.

On Nov. 5 our community will vote on a two-question operating levy. If approved, the first ballot measure would provide funding for a seven-period day at Faribault High School. The second ballot measure would provide funding for additional support for our students through staffing, programming and transportation.

Go to our levy website to find answers to frequently asked questions, information on how to vote, the tax impact, and what opportunities approval of the levy would open up for our students:

https://www.faribault.k12.mn.us/district/2019_operating_levy_resources_and_information

Did you know you can have a percentage of all your Amazon purchases go to the Faribault Area Public Schools Educational Trust Association? FAPSETA is a non-profit that provides funds to assist Faribault students in meeting their ongoing educational goals. All you have to do to support FAPSETA is go to smile.amazon.com and select Faribault Area Public Schools Educational Trust Association as your charitable organization. For all your future Amazon orders, use the URL smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of the price of eligible purchases to FAPSETA.

Donors Choose is a non-profit organization that has raised nearly $900 million in funds for classroom projects in public schools across the country. Teachers create their own project requests on donorschoose.org, and users can donate any amount they want to support the project. Last year, Donors Choose donors supported eight teacher projects in our district that totaled $6,832. You can use the search feature to find classrooms to support here in Faribault.

Faribault Public Schools is now in Instagram. Follow us at Faribault_falcons to see even more of the great work being done by our students and staff!

We welcomed several new members to our leadership team at our first district leadership meeting of the school year Sept. 10.

Julia Jelen

District Health Coordinator

Olivia Sage

Early Childhood Coordinator

Vonna Dinse

ALC Coordinator

Adam Woods

FMS Dean of Students

Mallory Fuchs

Chemical Health Specialist

Email: msteichen@faribault.k12.mn.us
Website: faribault.k12.mn.us
Location: 710 17th St SW, Faribault, MN, USA
Phone: 507-333-6000
Facebook: Facebook.com/faribaultpublic
Twitter: @District656