Trojan Update

Importance of School Attendance

Students should miss no more than 9 days per year to stay on track. Frequent absences may signal disengagement, academic struggles, or other issues. By 6th grade, absenteeism is a dropout risk, and by 9th grade, it's a stronger predictor of graduation than test scores. Missing 2 days a month can harm academic success.

Tips for Parents

Prioritize daily attendance, maintain routines, and avoid non-urgent appointments during school. Ensure sick students catch up on missed work.

Keep Teens Engaged

Ensure teens feel engaged and safe at school. Monitor their academic progress, social circle, and encourage participation in extracurricular activities.

Communicate with the School

Know the attendance policies, track absences, and seek help from school staff or community resources if needed.

FMS Attendance percentages for the month of August:

6th - 93.2%

7th - 90.7%

8th - 91.98%

School - 92%

Sports

Monday 9/6:

• A & B Volleyball @ Falcon
• C Team Volleyball vs. Falcon 4:15

Wednesday 9/8:

• A & B Team Volleyball @ Skyview
• A & B Team Football @ Janitell
• C Team Volleyball vs. Skyview 4:15

Saturday 9/14:

• Volleyball Championship Tournament @ CMHS

PTO

• 10/8 - FMS Conf. Room - 4:15 pm

Student Council

• 9/9 - 7:45 am, all students are welcome to join. Applications available at lunch.

Fall Bazaar

• 9/21 - FMS Parking Lot

Picture Make - Up

• 9/27

After School Clubs & Tutoring Schedule: https://shorturl.at/fxMYW

• Monday - Thursday, 4 - 5 pm

Other Events

• 10/4 - FFC HS Football MS Night
• 10/5 - Choir Solo and Ensemble

On September 23rd we will start Girls’ Soccer and Co-Ed Wrestling. Students can sign up in the cafeteria at lunch.

Students are encouraged to attend after-school sporting events, but please note we don't offer transportation for spectators. Ensure your student is picked up at the venue by 6:30 p.m. Students leaving campus after school must have an adult escort to return for events.

Password Changes

Student account passwords are being reset July 15-22. If passwords don't work, use the new one. Parents/guardians can find the new password in the IC Parent Portal under "More" > "Student Email." New passwords will also be given to students at the start of school. You can contact our Help Desk (719-382-1608) for assistance (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.).

Otus Gradebook

We are excited to introduce a new system for reporting student grades called Otus.

• Why Otus: Otus replaces Infinite Campus for viewing grades, offering a more detailed picture of student learning.
• Accessing Otus: Access Otus through a link in the Infinite Campus portal, your school's website, or by visiting otus.com. Bookmark the website for easy access.
• Adding Students: Use a unique student code provided by the school to link your child to your Otus account.
• Viewing Grades: The Gradebook module shows enrolled classes, standards mastery (progress bars with color codes), and assignment details (due dates, submission type, comments).
• Filtering: Filter the Gradebook by standard or assessment for a more focused view.
• Activity Tab: This section displays notifications about class activities and upcoming/outstanding assessments.
• Reports Module: View third-party data like district, state, and national assessments (if available).
• Help & Resources: A help center is available within Otus. You can also contact your child's school or find resources linked in the video description.

For a more detailed walkthrough, watch the full video provided.

Vape Sensor

We've installed vape sensors to create a healthier learning environment for all students. Vaping is harmful and can disrupt the classroom. We want our students focused on their education, not addictive substances.

Throughout the year, we'll work with student groups to educate about the dangers of vaping. Please watch the attached video with your child to start a conversation about this important issue.

Thank you for helping us keep our campus tobacco and vape-free.

We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring a safe and efficient carpool line. To maintain a smooth drop-off and pick-up process, please:

• Be patient and courteous to other drivers.
• Utilize the crosswalk for student drop-off and pick-up.
• Use the parking lot for longer drop-offs or unloading.
• Avoid blocking crosswalks or changing lanes within the carpool zone.
• Observe speed limits and follow traffic flow.
• Quick drop-offs: If your drop-off is quick, use the carpool line. For longer unloading, please use the parking lot.
• No trunk unloading: The carpool lane is not for unloading items from your trunk.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe!

To maximize classroom time, follow these guidelines for delivering forgotten items during the school day:

Drop off forgotten items at the table near the Attendance Secretary's office, labeled with your student's name and grade.

Students can retrieve non-classroom items during lunch. Please note that only parents or guardians can deliver personal lunches to the Attendance office; we cannot accept deliveries from businesses or organizations.

"Change happens, like housing loss, homelessness, job challenges, and resource needs. If this applies to you, contact your District Liaison for support. We offer resources like a school pantry, clothes closet, hot meals program, parent resource nights, and more. Reach out to Promis Bruno, MSW, at 719-492-8810 or pbruno@ffc8.org for assistance."

Website: https://www.ffc8.org/FMS
Location: 515 North Santa Fe Avenue, Fountain, CO, USA
Phone: 719 382 1580
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FMSTrojansFFC8/