Fremd HS Newsletter
AUGUST 2023
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From the Principal
As the summer months draw to a close, I am eagerly awaiting the start of another school year as principal of Fremd High School. It is such an honor to be part of a wonderful high school community that thrives on excellence for all students.
As you and your family prepare for the new school year, please think about how you will define success. It is easy to get caught up in believing other peoples' definition of success: perfect grades, popularity, trophies, awards, et cetera. Not that all those things aren’t good - they are. But success is also about self acceptance, commitment to relationships, self determination, creativity, energy, enthusiasm and service to others. It is the individual growth that each student experiences in their four years at Fremd that is of utmost importance. Consider what you would like your Fremd legacy to be and start the journey off right by being Mighty, Brave, and Bold.
In the coming days, please be on the lookout for another communication with additional details and logistics for the upcoming school year.
May you and your family enjoy the remainder of the summer, and I look forward to an exciting and successful school year for all of us.
Mark Langer
Principal
FIRST WEEK SCHEDULE
In order to start the year strong with our students, we will be utilizing the adjusted schedule below for the first full week of school to make use of a dedicated block of time for information about expectations, safety, school culture, and a kick-off pep assembly.
Welcome New Teachers
Please join us in welcoming the following new faculty members to Fremd High School:
Administration:
Kevin Farrell, 10 Month Assistant Principal
Scott Newmark, 10 Month Assistant Principal
Charles Nichols, Dean of Students
Teachers:
Juan Pablo Ramierez-Quiroz, Art
Victoria Eldridge, English
Sarah Miller, English Learners
Maria Herrera, English Learners/World Language
Michael Constantino, Math
Katherine Gacek, Math
Michael Barnd, Special Education
A special thank you to the Fremd Viking Boosters
Through the generosity and hard work of the Fremd Viking Boosters, $89,636 was recently donated to Fremd High School. Their fundraising efforts will provide our school with the financial support to purchase items that will assist every aspect of our academic, activity, and athletic programs. We thank the Booster Board and officers, and all the parents of Fremd High School who joined the Booster Organization, for their support and hard work. Please consider joining the Fremd Viking Boosters this upcoming school year to help support the students and staff of Fremd High School. Thank you Boosters!
Online Parent Portal
The Infinite Campus Portal allows parents access to their child’s attendance, schedule, report cards, mid-terms and grades as posted by teachers, as well as demographic information for the current school year. The program allows for communication between the parent, counselor and teachers regarding student progress. Families with multiple children will have the ability to see each child’s academic record by selecting a student from the dropdown located at the top of the page.
Parents who have forgotten their Infinite Campus Username or Password can recover their information by clicking the :Forgot Your Username" or "Forgot Your Password" buttons located on the Infinite Campus login page. Technology issues can be directed to the Fremd Technology HelpDesk at 847-755-2761.
Students have access to their grades as posted by their teachers through the Infinite Campus Portal. Please note that not all teachers post grades on a daily basis. Students and parents do not share a common username and password. Each student has been assigned a user name and unique password for their account.
Have you downloaded the Campus Parent App? If not, please visit the app store on your smart device to download.
LOCKERS
For the 2023-2024 school year, incoming freshmen will be assigned a locker next year. Sophomore, junior, and senior students may choose if they would still like to have a locker. Junior and senior students wishing to have a locker should complete this locker request form.
PARKING PERMITS
All junior and senior students who will be receiving parking permits as well as those who will be entering the lottery have been notified. Please note that the permits must be seen visibly by student supervisors in order to park in the Fremd parking lot. Students must park in spaces allocated to them, which are indicated by yellow lines. For safety and to ensure that there is enough space, students that park without a valid permit will be contacted and notified of their unauthorized use of the parking lot.
iPad Pick-Up Information
Students fully registered for the 2023-2024 school year who have not already picked up their iPads will be eligible to pick them up in the morning of the first day of school on August 14. Each student has the opportunity to obtain optional District 211 iPad protection coverage at a cost of $25, which provides repair and replacement cost coverage and protects the iPad on and off school grounds for 12 months.
Yearbook and I.D. Photos - August 16 and 17
Student yearbook and I.D. photos will be taken during Wellness classes on Wednesday, August 16, and Thursday, August 17. To order photos ahead of time, visit https://schools.lifetouch.com/for-your-families/ and use the event code: EVT43CC2J.
Please note that I.D. photos should represent how students present themselves daily to school as it will be used for safety and security purposes. Students are to dress in school-appropriate attire for their photo. Students wearing inappropriate clothing, wearing face paint, or wearing/holding props will be asked to adjust or retake their photo during the make-up date.
Please see this flier for additional information.
NEW STUDENT PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
Last year, Fremd High School piloted a new student personal technology classroom procedures in several departments. This year, those same procedures will be implemented throughout the school. Please see this document for additional information.
FRESHMAN VAMP
We are excited to be continuing VAMP (Viking Advisory and Mentoring Program) for students transitioning into Fremd High School. It is designed to acclimate our freshman students to Fremd and make positive peer and staff connections. Mentors are upperclassmen who have been selected based on their leadership qualities. VAMP runs throughout the first semester and will conclude in December. Staff and student leaders will meet with freshmen students every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for 25 minutes during the first half of their lunch period; 7th period VAMP will meet during the second half of their lunch. During the first week of school, freshman students will attend VAMP on Monday in addition to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Pre-Season Athletic Meeting: August 11th 5:00pm
On August 11th, Fremd Athletics will be hosting our Fall Sports Fest. There is mandatory parent and student/athlete that our Athletic Director wil be leading at 5:00pm in the main gym. Shortly after the general meeting, program pecific meetings will be led by your child's head coach.
For more information related to Fremd Athletics and how to register for fall sports, please click here to read the Fall Sports newsletter.
All students, along with one parent or guardian, who wish to participate in Fremd athletics are required to attend their team’s mandatory pre-season meeting. Each individual program will notify students and parents of the date, time and location of the pre-season meeting. Topics discussed will include: program expectations, D211 Athletic Code of Conduct and D211/IHSA academic eligibility requirements. This meeting also serves as a way for parents to meet their son/daughter’s coach and ask questions before the actual athletic competitions begin.
If a parent or student fails to attend the pre-season meeting, the student will be restricted from competition until a make-up session can be scheduled. If you have any questions, please contact the Athletic Office at (847)755-2771.
Student Wellness
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. To advocate for positive mental health and provide resources to students, Fremd High School is promoting an awareness campaign at the start of September. District 211 has partnered with Erika’s Lighthouse, which promotes positive mental health and access to resources when in need. Schoology posts will be made throughout the month to encourage students and staff to talk about this important topic and bring awareness.
As important as this topic is, we also realize it can be difficult for many students to talk about and at times can be upsetting. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your child’s counselor by calling our student services office at 847-755-2630 or emailing the counselor directly.
For additional information on this topic, please refer to the Parent Handbook on Childhood and Teen Depression.
College Information
College Night
An excellent opportunity to get direct and personal information about colleges exists every fall when District 211 sponsors more than 170 representatives from colleges and universities across the United States in our College Night Program. College representatives will be available at Palatine High School on September 28 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. This program is for juniors and seniors ONLY.
Please check the District 211 website in late September to view a list of colleges that will be attending and updates in regard to transportation.
Applying to Colleges
With the number of qualified applicants to colleges increasing annually, students must take care to complete applications in a timely manner. Seniors should schedule conferences with their counselor early in the fall. Counselors will visit Senior English classes at the end of August to be certain every student is aware of the proper procedures. Some general reminders follow.
Each student should submit applications to a variety of schools. This is necessary for two reasons: First, there are no guarantees on college acceptance and multiple applications provide insurance against disappointments; second, a college choice made early in the fall may not seem as good in the spring. Alternatives need to be available for late changes in circumstances.
District 211 has implemented MaiaLearning, a comprehensive college and career readiness system to support students as they develop their plans after high school. To learn how MaiaLearning supports students post-secondary planning, please watch a short video. MaiaLearning will be used to support students with the common application, transcripts, scholarships and more.
Most applications are submitted electronically. Visit the admissions page of the university to begin an online application. We have a tremendous wealth of college information on our website and through the Class of 2024 Schoology Course. Please call your counselor for additional help. Our counseling staff is experienced and ready to assist you.
Apply early. Except for admissions at selective schools, most applications should be submitted prior to Early/Priority deadlines that can begin as early as October 15. Often these deadlines apply to any university scholarships.
Join the Principal
Join me for the first Parent Principal Network meeting Tuesday, September 12 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Library, with discussion centered on events for the start of the school year. Perspectives, concerns and information will be shared in a smaller, more informal setting. Future meetings will be posted on the Fremd website under the "Parent" tab, and noted in this newsletter.
D211 Updates
Attendance
Daily classroom attendance directly influences students’ academic success, social development, and overall well-being. High School District 211 encourages seven or fewer days of absence (for any reason) in a single academic year.
This ensures your student has consistent engagement in the new lessons, discussions and activities that occur in our classrooms on a daily basis. The rigorous academic environment and interactions that happen between students and educators in our classrooms are difficult to recreate. You may not realize missing about two days a month – or 18 days a year – is considered chronically absent by the state of Illinois.
Daily attendance is important to school success, access to Harper Promise scholarships and making the most of opportunities available during your four years in high school.
We know there are a variety of reasons why your student may be absent from school. However, we want to begin this school year with a clear message and strong partnership to ensure your student’s success. We look forward to working with you in a renewed proactive effort to positively instill the importance of attendance in our learning community. Additional information is forthcoming.
Food Delivery
As part of our continued work to maintain safe school campuses, schools are not accepting food deliveries from restaurants or delivery services at our building entrances. This is a safety measure to reduce the number of people who approach and enter our buildings. Parents will continue to have access at the main entrance to drop off items for their students.
Security Personnel
We’ve recently added safety and security personnel to our schools because buildings are in constant use -- well before classes begin and also into the late evening. These individuals, who are not police officers and are not armed, will assist school resource officers and administrators and help ensure the continued safety and support of all students and staff.
These individuals will be wearing shirts with security lettering. If you see them, please say hello, and of course ask for help if that is needed. We look forward to having them on our campus from the early morning into the late evening and having our students get to know them, trust them and use them as a resource whenever they need help.
PSAT/NMSQT: October 11
On October 11, we will offer the PSAT/NMSQT during the school day. This exam is used to qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship program. Only students who participate in this exam during their junior year will be eligible for this scholarship. Information regarding this test can be found on the College Board website, www.collegeboard.org. Information regarding how to register for the exam will be available on school websites later this month, or contact your school counselor.Food & Nutrition Service Programs
The food & nutrition services department offers breakfast, lunch and a la carte options daily. Complete lunch prices range from $2.60 to $3.35, and breakfast is available for $1.85. Menus are online at https://adc.d211.org/Page/6398
The food service prepayment option is a convenient way to ensure students have funds for meals daily. Credit card payments can be made using the food service payment system at www.myschoolbucks.com. If parents do not have a current MySchoolBucks account, they will need to set up a new account to access the system. Once a child’s account is established, parents can set low balance alerts and automatic account replenishment, as well as view purchase history. Funds can also be added to an account by sending a check or cash prepayment to the school cafeteria. Account balances for underclassmen are carried over to the fall.
A parent or guardian may submit a meal application for free and reduced-price meals at http://d211.schoollunchapp.com or by contacting your school’s food service department for a hard copy form. A new application must be completed each school year to qualify for meal benefits. If you received a letter in the mail in July stating your child was automatically approved for the meal program, you do not need to complete a meal application for this school year. Please contact 847-755-6681 with any questions.
Calendar Handbooks
Your Fremd High School calendar handbook will be delivered by mail soon.
Currently, it can be viewed in its entirety online here.Dates to Remember
August 10-11 Teacher Institute Days (Student Non-Attendance days)
August 14 Opening Day of School
August 16-17 Underclass Photos (S. Gym)
August 22 Student Late Start (8:50 am start time)
August 22 NHS Induction (7:00 pm Auditorium)
August 26 Boster Fall Parent Social (5-7 pm, Stadium)
August 31 Open House – 7:00 p.m. (11:50 a.m. early dismissal)
September 4 Labor Day - No School
September 5 Student Late Start (8:50 am start time)
September 7 D211 Marching Band showcase (6:30 pm-9:00 pm, Stadium)
September 12 Underclass photo retakes
September 12 Virtual lCollege Finance & App. Seminar (7:00 pm)
September 13 Fall Choir Concert (6:30 pm. Auditorium)
September 19 Student Late Start (8:50 am start time)
September 20 Fall Showcase Band Concert (6:30 pm, Cafeteria)
September 28 College Night @ Palatine HS 6:30 pm (Early Dismissal 11:50 am)
September 29 Homecoming Football Game (7:30 pm Stadium)
September 30 Homecoming Dance (7:00 pm - 10:00 pm)
October 3 Senior Yearbook Photos (Last Chance)
October 9 Columbus Day - No School
October 10 Institute Day - No Classes
October 14 Fall Play - “Peter and the Starcatcher” (7:00 pm Auditorium)
October 15 Fall Play - “Peter and the Starcatcher” (1:00 and 7:00 pm Auditorium)
October 24 Student Late Start (8:50 am start time)
October 24 D15/D211 Orchestra Festival @ PHS (7:00 pm)
October 25 Halloween Fest (4:30 - 6:30 pm Stadium)
Fremd High School
Website: fhs.d211.org
Location: 1000 South Quentin Road, Palatine, IL, USA
Phone: 847-755-2600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FremdHighSchool/
Twitter: @FremdVikings