FUEL School Newsletter

Dear FUEL Families,

This month, we kick off our March is Reading Month celebrations - and we are so excited to announced our first-ever One Book, One School reading event! A big shout out to our grant funders, including Donors Choose and State Farm via our Communities in Schools team to help make this happen! Our Reading Month focus is to "Get WILD About Reading" and we will be sending home one copy of The Wild Robot with each family in our school! If you have multiple students at FUEL, the book will come home in backpacks on Monday with the oldest sibling! We will also be sending home our March Is Reading Month packets with once-per-week spirit days and activities focused on our theme and daily reading logs. There is also a read-aloud version of the book located via QR codes on the calendar. A shout out to our K-5 Reading Month Committees for supporting and planning this initiative. Please also check out the CIS box below for a sign-up link to read to students on our State Farm Literacy Day on Wednesday!

This week we also have the opportunity to take an all-school field trip to see our FHS Musical, Newsies! One of my favorite parts about being in the Ferndale family is that we are a small school district with great opportunities for inter-school connections and celebrations. We are a community that comes together to support one another in times of need and to celebrate each other’s successes as well. We can't wait to see all of our former FUEL kiddos on the stage on Thursday!

This week we also have the opportunity to showcase all of our district's programs - and our forthcoming dynamic plan - at the State of the District event on Tuesday, March 4th at 6 pm at the Lower Elementary. Come learn more about our district, tour the amazing new Lower Elementary building, take a school bus ride to the FHS/FMS campus, and come learn more about our 2025 Bond Proposal. I'll see you there!

See you soon,

- 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 complete Module 4: Executive Functioning. Our focus this week:

Flexible Thinking

Flexible Thinking addresses your ability to “go with the flow”, adapt to change, and improvise. Check out some fun games for improving this skill: Games for Flexible Thinking

• Tues. 3/4 - State of the District Event, 6 pm @ Lower
• Wed. 3/5 - State Farm Literacy Day (thanks CIS!) - sign up HERE to read
• Thurs. 3/6 - All-School Field Trip to FHS Musical, 8:45-11 am ($1 per student)

Save-The-Dates:

• Tues. 3/11 - 6 pm - 4th Grade Camp Tamarack Info Meeting; 7 pm - 5th Grade Camp Copneconic Info Meeting (w/ Zoom meetings with Camp Staff)
• Thurs. 3/20 - 4th Grade Music Concerts @ FHS

Communities in Schools Supports

As Black History Month comes to a close, it’s important to remember that we can celebrate and honor the contributions of those who came before us all year long. At CIS, we are committed to promoting the uniqueness and strength that make us who we are, fostering an environment where every student is recognized and valued. As we transition into March, which celebrates Women's History Month and Reading Month, let’s continue to reflect on the progress we've made, the lessons we've learned, and the work that still lies ahead. Together, we will continue to uplift diverse voices, celebrate our shared histories, and empower future generations.

Remember to sign up for Literacy Day Reading THIS WEDNESDAY !!!!! We still have spots available.

Denazia Pettway | (she/her)

Student Support Coordinator
Ferndale Upper Elementary

denazia@cismichigan.org , 248-5470-0880 ext 1653

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

Did you know FEPTA sponsors assemblies for our students? Check out this video from ArtLabJ who recently provided an art, music and movement experience for our third grade students: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC_ZE4GURus

Winter Resource Fair

Thank you to everyone who attended or hosted a table at the Fair! Next week, we'll have a list of all the organizations, their services and contact information.

FE PTA Monthly Meeting

March 11, 2025 6:30-8:00PM Location: FLower

Family Literacy Night - Pop of Indie Traveling Book Fair

March 19, 2025 6:00-7:30 Location: FUEL

We're celebrating National Reading Month with a fun night for all K-5 families! The event features local authors for story time, arts and crafts, and a writer's workshop. There's also an opportunity to purchase books from the featured authors. For more details: facebook.com/events/58850362743851

Save the Date

Skate Night

April 10, 2025 6:15-8:15PM - free to attend!

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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.'

Get your babysitter ready for a FABULOUS night out for a great cause (your kids!)!!!! We have local bands Killsound, The Band Mint and The Heavy Dose! We have local comedians Meghan Nyeste and Steve Widzinski who have both book d shows at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle! We have the Ladies of Breckenridge Ave. We have professional dancers and several other wonderful musical acts! Meet fellow Ferndale Elementary supporters and have a well deserved night on the town!

Just 4 Kicks Flyer

Camp Updates

"Camp" Season is coming up and the Elementary Connections Group is looking for people to join us in planning our grade level camps this spring!

If you're interested in being part of the planning committee for each grade level, please fill out the Camp Coordinator Sign Up google form and expect to be contacted during the first week of February. Information about center designers and day-of volunteer roles will be coming out in the next few weeks.

Grade level camp planning includes organizing meetings, keeping track of deadlines, and coordinating volunteers. We need 2-3 Camp Coordinators from our First Fives, Kindergarten and 1st grade families as well as 2-3 coordinators for 2nd/3rd grade camp. There is A LOT of support available from past coordinators!

Camp is a vital part of the Ferndale Public Schools curriculum. Camp is designed to create a strong partnership between parents, teachers and administrators to provide an outdoor community learning experience for our students. The success of Camp relies on parents/guardians to create and plan this incredible outdoor experience for all of our kids.

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