Fulton Focus
For the parents and patrons of the Fulton School District
March 17, 2017
A message from the Superintendent
Dear Parents and Patrons,
Wow! We are one week away from Spring Break and at this writing, your student(s) have 36 days of school remaining in this academic year. In my view, this year is literally flying by! Yet, we are still in school and teachers have activities planned for the remainder of the year, some fun-some required.
Upon returning from Spring Break, our teachers will continue participating in the Missouri Foundation for Health grant which is designed to develop strategies and activities in support of student’s social-emotional development. These activities are just one component of ensuring success for your child(ren). This Focus contains a descriptive letter and questions regarding the grant and process.
I trust your student(s) and family will have quality time to relax and rejuvenate during the break. We are looking forward to finishing the year strong and believe all of our students are prepared for end of year activities.
Thank you for letting us participate in your child’s life.
Jacque A. Cowherd, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Grant Letter/Information
Dear FPS Parents and Guardians,
As you were informed last fall, our district is participating in a Missouri Foundation for Health grant, titled “Shared Service for Mental Health Assessment, Counseling and Consulting in the School Setting” partnering with the Missouri School Boards’ Association and the University of Missouri.
The goals are:
1. Increase teacher capacity to promote students’ social-emotional development and address areas of concern in their classroom
2. Increase parent engagement regarding their child’s social-emotional development.
3. Improve identification, referral, and treatment of students in need of social-emotional supports within tiered systems of support.
Fulton 58 is continuing to refine the process of providing social-emotional support. Specifically, the district is working to directly link services to the assessed needs of our students. The goal of this system is to provide all students with timely and targeted interventions based upon the results of universal screening tools.
Universal screening helps school staff to determine potential needs for enhanced student support. These screening assessments are typically administered to all students two or three times per year. The use of universal screenings refines and strengthens our efforts to help all of our students be successful by allowing us to take positive and preventative measures as early as possible. The results will be used to provide identified students with mentoring, social skill building, and other supports to help them engage positively in learning. You will be notified if your student is selected for participation in an intervention program and will have the opportunity to determine if participation is appropriate for your child at that time.
Teachers will complete the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBERS) for FPS students in their classroom. Teachers at Fulton Education Center will complete the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) for FPS preschool students in their classroom. The DECA also provides social-emotional learning strategies linked to the screening results. Students in 5th – 12th grades will also have the opportunity to complete a self-report measure called the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Please see additional information about the screening and screeners below.
Screening tools are available at your school for your review. Please contact your child’s school counselor if you have questions about your child’s participation or would prefer your child not participate in the screening. Middle and high school students will have the opportunity to opt out of completing the self-report tool. Thank you for your willingness to assist FPS in refining a system of student supports that is linked directly to data. This will ensure that each of our students has the opportunity to receive the assistance they need.
Sincerely,
Jacque A. Cowherd, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Information: Fulton Mental Health Screening
2016-2017
The Fulton Public School’s District School Mental Health Team will be conducting a voluntary district-wide mental health screening this fall. The purpose of the screening is to identify social-emotional supports to help all Fulton students be successful. This screening is being supported by the Shared Services for School Mental Health (S3MH) Project funded by the Missouri Foundation for Health. All information collected through the screening will be kept confidential. Screening tools are not diagnostic. Rather, screening data will be used to identify students who may benefit from additional assessment or supports for emotional or behavioral problems. As part of the screening process, teachers in all buildings will complete a brief assessment of students’ social, academic, and emotional behavior. Students in the middle and high school will also complete a brief behavioral self-assessment. Participation in the screening is completely voluntary: parents or guardians may notify their building administrator if they do not want their child to participate, and middle/ high school students can also opt out themselves.
Why screen? Fulton School District is committed to helping all students be successful at school. The district already provides a variety of emotional and behavioral supports. Conducting a social-emotional screening gives Fulton School District one more tool to best serve young people in this community. Screening data can help identify students who may need additional help and allows for earlier identification of possible problems. The screening also provides a snapshot of current social-emotional needs in the district to inform ongoing improvement efforts.
What screeners will be used? Teachers in all buildings will complete the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBERS) for students in their classroom. Teachers at Fulton Education Center will complete the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) for FPS preschool students in their classroom. Students in 5th – 12th grades may complete a self-report measure called the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
Is the screening mandatory? No. Parents/guardians can request for their child not to participate in the screening process. Middle and high school students can also opt out of completing the self-report tool.
When and where will the screening take place? Teachers will complete the screeners during regularly-scheduled, district professional development in October. Middle and high school students will complete the screener during a school day in October. Screeners will be completed online.
How long does the screening take? It is estimated that teachers will spend about 20-35 minutes completing the screening tool for students in their classroom. The self-report measure takes about 5 minutes for young people to complete.
How much does it cost? The screening will be completed at no cost to the Fulton School District with the support of the Shared Services for School Mental Health (S3MH) Project.
Where will the data be stored? Teachers and youth will complete the screeners online, so data from the screeners will also be saved in a secure file.
Who will have access to the results? Screening results will be used to identify Fulton students who may benefit from further assessment or supports. Technical assistance will be provided by trained staff supported through the S3MH Grant. School personnel, including teachers, school counselors, teachers, and/or staff, will have access to student data. Results will be de-identified and shared more broadly at the district level to inform ongoing planning and improvement efforts.
McIntire Musical
FHS Academic Week
Each year, the students eligible for Academic Week have a different activity each day to celebrate.
**Monday, a banquet was held for the students and their parents.
**Tuesday, Cris Cakes from St. Louis came and served breakfast--flying pancake style! **Wednesday, students enjoyed an ice cream social and on Thursday the students visited the Cathedral Basilica and the Spaghetti Factory on their field trip.
**Friday is the much loved open lunch!
Thank you to the local donors of Academic Week for helping to make this week special for FHS students!
Fulton Public Schools Foundation
Ameren Missouri
Backer's Potato Chips
Bob McCosh Chevrolet
Columbia EDP Center
Brooklyn Pizza
Amy Crane
Callaway Bank
Debo Funeral Home
Callaway County Live Stock
FCTA
Central Bank Fulton
HLW Builders
Century 21-Jennifer Stoker
MoCON
Coldwell Banker Niedergerke & Co
Weber Communications LLC
Academic Week Banquet--Coloring Our World
Chris Cakes--flying pancake breakfast
Ice Cream Social
Field trip on fancy buses!
The beautiful Cathedral Basilica
Learning about the Cathedral Basilica
First Robotics Competition
The robot, #5147, was built by students using the equipment in the Fab Lab at Fulton High School. Countless hours were spent building and practicing skills. Students involved are: Sofia Hansert, Ashleigh Jackson, Abby Barton, Tabitha York, Ben Rowe, Haydon Windsor, Martin Morard, Bud Wood, Sarah Hanson, Seth Van Engelenhoven, Ambria VanEngelenhoven, Elise Barton, Tanner Steffen, Kenny Allen, A.J. Ballard, Shane Edwards, Hayden Long, and Hollis Long.
Mr. Jim Hall is their coach, and Mr. VanEngelenhoven volunteered throughout the process.
Until next year!
Important Dates
March 21: Kindergarten Orientation 6 p.m. Fulton High School
March 27-31: Spring Break NO School
April 4: Board of Education election
April 12: Board of Education Meeting Fulton High School Library 7 p.m.
April 14: Mid-Quarter Break NO School
April 29: FHS Prom
May 10: Board of Education Meeting Fulton High School Library 7 p.m.
May 16: Last Day of School; Dismiss 2 hours early
May 19: FHS Graduation, Champ Auditorium
Fulton Public Schools
Email: ksnethen@fulton58.org
Website: www.fulton58.org
Location: 2 Hornet Drive, Fulton, MO
Phone: 573-590-8000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fulton-Public-Schools-298183414812/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @FPSHornets