Freedom Falcon Parent Newsletter
Week of December 4th
What's Happening at Freedom, this week!
Monday 4th - Friday 15th
- Student Council Humane Society Collection
Monday 4th
- Battle of the Books 12:00-12:40pm
- Tech Club 2:50-3:45PM
- Set Club 2:50-3:50PM
Tuesday 5th
- Robotics Club 7AM
- Set Club 2:50-3:50PM
- Student Council 2:50-4:00PM
Wednesday 6th
- Battle of the Books 12:00-12:40pm
- Choir 7AM
Thursday 7th
- Tech Club 2:50-3:50PM
- Choir, Band & Orchestra Performance 5:30-6:30PM
Friday 8th
- Set Club 2:50-3:50PM
- Last day for Stacking Cup orders!
Message from PTA-Help with Gift Wrapping for the Techers and Staff
It's that time of year again.. Wrapping for the teachers & staff. We wrap their personal gifts, classroom gifts, whatever they bring us. We all know the struggle sometimes with getting all those gifts wrapped after a long day. The PTA tries to make it a little easier on them. We do have supplies, but always accepting donations (tape, gift wrap, tissue paper, scissors, bows, name tags).
A Message From Mr Wilson, PE Teacher
Dear Parents,
I am really excited about the Sport Stacking unit we are currently doing in PE. Sport Stacking is an exciting sport where students stack and unstack 12-specially designed cups (Speed Stacks). Sport Stacking uses both sides of the body and brain developing important athletic and academic skills.
One of my goals, as a Physical Educator, is to promote activity at home through positive alternatives to computer, television and video game screen time. I believe that Sport Stacking is a unique, fun and simple activity that motivates kids to get up and move.
I have Speed Stacks Sets and StackMats for students to purchase here at the school with an added benefit of raising funds for our PE program. Here’s why you should participate:
Sport Stacking is healthy for kids.
Sets are $25.00. Pro Series 2 sets are $30.00. StackMats (mat, timer and gear bag) are $30.00. You pay no shipping, PLUS, the school will earn a percentage of your purchase in equipment for our PE program.
Speed Stacks Sets and StackMats are available for immediate purchase. ‘First come, First served’ on color and design choices.
Act now, I have a limited supply of colors and quantities. I plan to close our New Group Order on 12/8/23. All orders must be paid with a credit card. To purchase your student’s Speed Stacks Set and/or StackMat, go to this link, choose your school and place your order. www.speedstacks.com/go/
After you place the order, print out the receipt and have your student bring the receipt to me to pick up their item(s). Please encourage your student to have a second choice in mind since it is ‘First come, First served’ on color and design choices.
Sincerely,
Jerry Wilson
Physical Education Teacher
Freedom Elementary
Thank you for supporting our Physical Education Program!
Attendance Information and Celebrations!
What's Happening at Freedom (Looking ahead)
December
Monday 11th
- A December to Remember Kickoff - See flyer below
- Battle of the Books 12:00-12:40pm
- Tech Club 2:50-3:50PM
- Set Club 2:50-3:50PM
- Basketball Tryouts 3:00PM girls, 4:00PM boys (gym)
- Panera Bread 4-8PM
- 5985 Dublin Blvd, Ste 100 – 20% goes to PTA
Tuesday 12th
- Robotics Club 7AM
- Set Club 2:50-3:50PM
- Basketball Tryouts 3:00PM girls, 4:00PM boys (gym)
Wednesday 13th
- Choir 7AM
- Battle of the Books 12:00-12:40pm
Thursday 14th
- Tech Club 2:50-3:50PM
- Parent Academy: Mean Behavior vs Bullying - 4:30-5PM (flex room)
- SAC/PTA Meeting at 5PM (flex room)
Friday 15th
- 2nd Grade Candles performance 6:30PM (gym)
Monday 18th
- Battle of the Books 12:00-12:40pm
- Tech Club 2:50-3:50PM
Tuesday 19th
- Student Council 2:50-4PM
Wednesday 20th
- Choir 7AM
- Preschool Parent Activity Day
- Kinder Holiday Party 7:50-9:15
- Battle of the Books 12:00-12:40pm
Thursday Dec 21st until Sunday Jan 7th
- No School Winter Break
SAVE THE DATE!
Family Tech Tips: Being a good Role Model
Children have wonderful eyes and ears to tune in with how parents and other adults in their live behave. Children are keenly aware with how much media usage is happening at home. If the expectation is for children to not be on technology all the time, the adults need to model that same expectation. All family member can benefit from more connection, interaction, and playtime with one another! That makes any day so much better!
Family Reading Tips: Let your kids see you read!
Bring a paperback book with you to read while you wait at a doctor's appointment. Share favorite childhood books with your kids. Read a newspaper or a magazine over a cup of coffee. Kids like to model their parents' behavior. If they see that reading is something that you enjoy doing in your spare time, they will try and do the same!
FYI (Old Information, but good to know!)
Freedom Swag
Do not forget to order your Freedom swag! Take a look at the link below. Lots of fun options!
School Recess-When is it too cold to go outside for recess?
Please be sure that your children are dressed to play outside, with hats, coats, mittens or gloves, and appropriate footwear.
Inclement Weather Dismissal Protocol
In the event of inclement weather, including any of the following:
lightning danger
extreme winds
extreme cold
large amounts of precipitation
We will send out an email, text, phone call, and post on our FB when we do inclement weather dismissal. Please familiarize yourself with the protocol.
Falcon Club
Students go to the portables
Adventure Club
Students go to the cafeteria
Buses
Students ride the bus
Kindergarten
Parents come to the kindergarten doors.
Students will be dismissed from their classrooms.
1st-5th Grade (walkers/kiss and go/parent pick-up)
Students will be dismissed from the gym.
Parents are to walk through the front doors.
Staff will escort parents to the gym.
Child/children will go with parents.
Parent and child/children will go out the side gym doors.
Freedom Supply List 2023-2024
Free Lunch for ALL STUDENTS!!
Effective November 1, 2023 the adult lunch meal price for District 11 will be $4.65. Please contact the front office if you have any questions.
Parking Lot /Traffic Flow/Kiss & Go/Bus/Drop Off Information
Traffic is very heavy before and after school. Please teach and encourage your child to always use the crosswalk and to watch for traffic in all directions.
Our parking lot capacity is limited. Daycare vehicles and District 11 vehicles have reserved drop-off and pick-up spaces in our parking lot.
IMPORTANT: All buses pick-up and drop-off in the Freedom parking lot.
Please remember: These are your friends and neighbors, and each of you has children attending our school. Please be patient and extend courtesy to your friends and neighbors as you enter and exit our parking lot and/or pick up your children.
PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY in and around the school.
The “Kiss-N-Go” traffic lane is for drop-off and pickup up only. It is not to be used as a place to park and leave a vehicle.
Please use the “Kiss-N-Go” lane to safely drop students off at school.
All students will be dismissed at 2:50 and parents are encouraged to pre-plan pick-up location. All students will exit the building at the end of the day from the same doors that they entered the building.
Important information about Kiss-N-Go and Bus pick up and drop off:
Kiss-N-Go is located on Butterfield Drive in the street cut-out.
Bus pick-up and drop-off will be in the loop directly in front of the school.
To use the Kiss-N-Go location, please access it from Range Ranch. Head east on Butterfield drive to the cut-out in the street. Pull to the end of the cut-out.
Please access Butterfield Drive from Range Ranch so all school traffic moves east on Butterfield. Access Range Ranch from westbound Bridle Pass.
DO NOT Block the entrance and exit to the parking lot.
Kiss-N-Go: When students exit the vehicle for safety purposes it should always be from the right side of the car, not the street side. DO NOT PARK YOUR VEHICLE.
BUILDING ENTRY & EXIT:
Students using Kiss-N-Go enter and exit the school building from the double doors of the upper playground blacktop.
Students riding the bus enter and exit the building from the front double doors.
Students walking to and from school also enter and exit from the double doors off the upper playground blacktop.
To park and walk your child to the front entrance:
Enter the Freedom parking lot from Butterfield Drive
Pull into the LEFT lane
Enter the Family Parking Lot by making a left turn into the lot (this was known as the staff parking lot).
Staff Parking lot is now located by the preschool and kindergarten
Park your vehicle
Escort your student to the crosswalk to the front doors
Your student will enter through the front double doors.
Preschool and Kindergarten parking
Enter the Freedom parking lot from Butterfield Drive
Pull into the LEFT lane
Enter the parking lot by making a left turn into the lot
Enter the Family Parking Lot
Staff Parking lot is now located by the preschool and kindergarten playground.
Park your vehicle
Escort your student(s) to the crosswalk to the door of your preschool door
Pick Up - What if I can’t be here on time to pick up my child?
If you cannot be here to pick up your student WITHIN 10 MINUTES of dismissal, please make other arrangements with a family member or daycare provider. We understand everyone is going to run late at times, and we strive to be understanding of emergencies.
At the same time, late pick-ups interfere with scheduled meetings, training, and our ability to use resources effectively. Freedom staff cannot provide supervision to siblings of students practicing. Freedom staff cannot provide supervision to siblings of students participating in tutoring, athletics, clubs etc. It is the families’ responsibility to ensure students not involved in after school activities are picked up within 10 minutes of school dismissal.
Enrollment Information
GreatSchools.com
Deliveries to students
Please help your student plan ahead. Make sure they have everything they need PRIOR to leaving home. This includes items such as lunch, homework, jackets, water bottles, etc.
If they forget their lunch, they need to eat the school lunch that day. ALL food deliveries, except in emergencies, will be turned away. This includes fast food or restaurant food that you bring to them.
Our main office is protected for school operational tasks, not deliveries of items or food.
Picking up Student Early
Freedom Clinic Protocol
Visitor Procedures
Freedom appreciates your patience as we follow these procedures. To learn more about how you are approved as a visitor or volunteer, please use the QRL code below to fill out your online registration.
D11 Engage
Register to become a volunteer at Freedom
Click the registration link below and set up a username and password. Once you are registered you can log in and view your volunteer hours as well as search for available volunteer opportunities at all D11 schools.
Already a registered volunteer? No need to re-register every year. If updates are needed the system will notify you via email. If you need your username or password you can request it through the website.
Request a volunteer badge
Save time when you arrive. Your badge will be in the plastic bin under the sign-in desk. Scan your badge and wear it while you’re in the building. Scan again when you leave. Your hours will be logged on the Engage website.
https://cssd.ezcommunicator.net/edu/cssd/ezcomm/VolunteerRegistration.aspx?app=45
Click on the blue registration link to register online, fill out the forms, print, sign, and bring them by the school office with your identification.
For questions or to request a badge contact Freedom’s F.I.T. Volunteer Coach Jonna Ward at 719-288-0800 or Jonna.Ward@d11.org.
Dogs are not allowed on school grounds.
With the exception of service animals, dogs are not allowed on school grounds, playgrounds, or sports fields at any time throughout the calendar year during the school day.
This is for the health and safety of our students and staff members.
When there are no students (after hours, on weekends, and on holidays), dog owners may walk their pets on a leash along the school property borders, such as on sidewalks/school roads. Please clean up and properly dispose of pet waste.
ENTRY TIME FOR STUDENTS:
Freedom Office Hours: 7:15-3:30
Freedom School Hours: 7:50-2:50
Students will be allowed in the building at 7:40 am
Duty teachers do not start duty until 7:40 am
Tardy bell rings at 7:55
A message from our Freedom Elementary's School Accountability Committee (S.A.C.)
At Freedom Elementary, we care about your children's developmental needs! That is why our mission is to ensure that each and every student has access to the learning tools and programs they need to succeed in school, and in life. We strive for a higher standard of excellence and take the time to focus on those who need extra support. Joining our S.A.C. is a fantastic way to keep up to date with the initiatives our school has put in place to better our learners, and to also voice your opinions and concerns!
We look forward to the bright and brilliant future under the leadership of Rochelle Williams, and welcome her to the Freedom Family!
If you are interested in joining Freedom's SAC committee, please reach out to Justin Edmisson @ 719-332-3615 or justin.edmisson@gmail.com.
Looking for a way to connect and get involved at Freedom?
Contact Justin Edmission at 719-332-3615 or justin.edmisson@gmail.com.
If you are interested. Come be a member and have a voice in Freedom's PTA.