Falcon Flyer
Fall Creek Intermediate - August 11th, 2019
From Mrs. Day
I am so excited to welcome you to the 2019-20 school year as the principal of Fall Creek Intermediate! We have had a fantastic week with your children!! With a focus on both academic and social-emotional growth, our staff embraces their commitment to helping all students grow and be successful. Creating relationships with students and their families is key in this effort!
I look forward to seeing you TUESDAY, August 13th for our Falcon Family Connection (formerly Meet the Teacher Night). The teachers on your team will be in contact as to where you will meet. Our goal for this time together is to focus on how we can all help each other connect and better communicate/impact all of our students. We know you want to know about FCI...but we want to also know about you! What are your concerns with a new grade level/new school/new friends? What are hopes for your child? What do you want us to know? This will be an informative time for all to share!
Schedule for Falcon Family Connection Night:
Enjoy your weekend!
Mrs. Day
Principal
FCI First 20 Days
Cross Country Team
Picture Day
Dress Code
Student clothing and appearance should not draw undue attention from other students or the faculty or disrupt normal routine. We would like to remind all families that the following items are not permitted:
- tank-tops
- spaghetti straps
- off-the-shoulder tops
- strapless shirts
- Shoulders must be covered between the neck and shoulder by at least 3 inches of fabric.
- Sleeveless tops should also fit tightly around the under arm ensuring all undergarments and body parts are fully covered.
News From Your PTO
Student Planners
FCI's Welcome Back Hangout!
We have lots of fun events planned for the students and staff this year! Volunteers are needed to make our student and staff events fun and successful. Please read through our volunteer needs, fill out the form below, and return the form to school with your student by Friday August 30th.
PTO Meetings
• Friday August 23rd 9:30am
• Friday September 20th 9:30am
• Friday October 11th 9:30am
• Friday November 15th 9:30am
• Friday December 20th 9:30am
• Friday January 24th 9:30am
• Friday February 21st 9:30am
• Friday March 20th 9:30am
• Friday April 24th 1:30pm
• Friday May 8th 9:30am
Spirit Wear
The PTO will be selling FCI Spirit wear in the coming weeks. The school district has been updating many of the schools' mascots (giving them a new look) and our Falcon is currently being worked on. Once our new Falcon mascot is finalized, we will begin working with our vendor to come up with spirit wear designs and items. Stayed turned for information on our upcoming spirit wear sale.
News From The Treasurer
News From Attendance
Tardiness to school
All students will be counted tardy if they are not in their homeroom by the 7:45am bell. If student's arrive to school after the bell, students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian into the front office to sign-in.
Absences Procedures
If your child will be absent, please call into the 24-hour attendance line, 317-915-4228. Be sure to state your name, your child's full name, their grade, homeroom teacher, the reason for their absence, and a contact number in the event of questions. When stating the reason for their absence, please be specific to ensure the absence will be notated correctly.
If an absence is due to a doctor's appointment or medical restrictions, please be sure to send in the doctor's letter for attendance purposes. Medical absences are coded differently according to our state/district policies.
Early Dismissal/Transportation Changes
You may choose one of the following options to notify the school in the event of an early dismissal or transporation change:
- Send a note io school with your child
- Send an email to the office staff and your child's teacher
- Michele Pitts - mpitts@hse.k12.in.us
- Julie Green - jgreen@hse.k12.in.us
- Susan Peterson - sdpeterson@hse.k12.in.us
- Ebony Roberts - eroberts@hse.k12.in.us
- Student's teacher
Call the office at 317-915-4220
After school hours:
Call the 24-hour attendance line at 317-915-4228. Be sure to state your name, your child's full name, their grade, homeroom teacher,the transportation/early dismissal change, and a contact number in the event of questions.
HSE Attendance Policies
Students are allowed 8 absences per semester and/or 16 absences in a school year. Excused absences are absences that have been called in by a parent or guardian. Unexcused absences are absences where the student was not present in school and a parent or guardian did not call the absence in. An 'excused' absence listed in Skyward only means that the parent called it, but the excused absence will be counted in the student's attendance balance for the school year. Medical or legal documentation is required to exempt absences for illness, medical appointments or legal appointments. Students that exceed the absence limit may be referred by HSE Schools to the Hamilton County Deputy Prosecutor for the Town of Fishers and referred to the ACES Program.
From Band & Orchestra
Supplies
Supply lists can be found on the FCI website:
https://fci.hseschools.org/happenings/news/supplies-list-2019-2020
Remember that students may bring the basic items for the first two weeks as noted in the previous Falcon Flyer and the website. Items such as their iPad (if not renting), notebook paper, folder, and pen/pencil will suffice to get them started for the year.
Please attempt to have supplies by Monday, August 19th, 2019.
Starting a new school year is an exciting time, but it can also bring about stress or anxiety. You can help calm your child's fears with these easy tips.
Ease into the Routine - Switching from a summer to school schedule can be stressful for everyone in the household. Avoid first-day-of-school craziness by practicing your routine a few days in advance. Set the alarm clock, go through your morning schedule, and get going early in the morning. Routines help kids feel comfortable, and establishing a solid school routine will make the first day of school much smoother.
Connect with the School - For many of our students, they are starting at a new and larger, building. Ease their anxiety about a new building and/or new teachers by taking advantage of opportunities to see the school. The Ice Cream Social (Monday August 5th 3:00 - 4:30 pm) is a great opportunity to see the school, meet teachers, and walk through their daily schedule. The Falcon Family Connection Night (Tuesday, August 13th - Falcon Family Connection [for parents] - 6th grade from 6:00pm–7:00pm; 5th grade from 7:30pm–8:30pm) is an opportunity for parents to learn more about FCI, their child's teachers, and how to help their child be successful here at school.
Tool Up - Taking the time to shop for and organize school supplies and other essentials can help your child feel prepared. Before obtaining their schedule the first week of August, you can stock up from the general supply list posted on the FCI website. Know that once your child has been assigned to a teaching team, you will have a chance to get all of the details needed for the year. If you need any assistance getting school supplies, please contact your child's school counselor (Mrs. Sullivan - 5th grade & Mr. Kozloski - 6th grade).
Connect with Friends- A familiar face can make all the difference when starting a new school year. Summer schedules are busy and your child may have lost touch with their friends from last year. Encourage them to reconnect with a friend from the bus or last year's team. Also, help them to get excited about the idea of meeting new friends with the new year.
Mind Up
Mind Up is a social and emotional curriculum that promotes and develops mindful attention to oneself and others, acceptance of differences, and the capacity of each member of the community to grow as a human being and learner. This week your child learned about the brain, how it functions, and how it can impact choices and behavior. Please click on the link below to learn more about this Mind Up lesson:
Help us meet or get to know your child this year! The link below will take you to a short Getting to Know You survey you can fill out about your child.
News From Youth Mentoring Initiative
Who is YMI?
Local non-profit, YMI - Youth Mentoring Initiative, has been serving the Fishers community, in partnership with Hamilton Southeastern Schools, since 2008. YMI partners with our schools to come alongside counselors, teachers, and parents by providing another caring adult to support and encourage the success of each student. YMI Mentors are adult volunteers that mentor once a week, for one hour, during the school day. Mentors meet one-on-one with students to provide them with a caring and consistent presence in their lives; become a reliable friend; a role model; and simply someone they can count on. Founded on the knowledge that kids need 4-6 non-parental adults supporting them through their developmental years, mentoring can have a profound impact on a child’s life!
YMI mentors are a vital resource not only to HSE Schools initiatives to further the social and emotional well-being of their students but also to parents looking for additional support. Every week, approximately 300 mentors visit students in Fishers schools, offering encouragement and being an example of why Fishers continues to excel in the quest for a vibrant community!
YMI mentoring is currently offered in the following nine schools: Fall Creek Intermediate, Fall Creek Junior High, Fishers Junior High, Fishers High School, Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate Junior High, Hamilton Southeastern High School, Riverside Intermediate, Riverside Junior High, Sand Creek Intermediate. Mentoring times vary according to the students schedule and can be accommodating to the mentor’s work schedule! If you have an hour a week to spend with a student, we’d love for you to consider joining us! Students can be recommended by counselors, teachers and parents by completing a recommendation form on the YMI website. Learn more about becoming a mentor or financially supporting our work by visiting us online at www.ymionline.org. YMI is changing the world, one student at a time.
Please contact Courtney Lawhead, FCI campus coordinator, courtney@ymionline.org or 317-572-5003 with any questions
Notes From The Nurse
ATTENTION PARENTS OF 6th GRADE STUDENTS:
The Indiana State Department of Health requires additional immunizations for students entering 6th grade. The 6th grade requirements are as follows:
- Tdap (Tetanus diphtheria & acellular pertussis) booster
- Meningococcal conjugate
- Hepatitis A **
**Hepatitis A is a relatively new requirement. Please review your child’s immunization status with his/her health care provider to determine if Hepatitis A is needed at this time. (2 doses of Hep A complete the requirement; the minimum interval between the first and second dose of Hepatitis A is six calendar months.)
After your child receives the vaccines, please provide an updated shot record to the school nurse as soon as possible. Your child’s Skyward account will be updated accordingly. If your child is unable to receive the required vaccines prior to the first day of school, please schedule an appointment to have the vaccines administered and PROVIDE THE SCHOOL NURSE WITH THE APPOINTMENT DATE TO KEEP YOUR CHILD “IN PROGRESS” until the immunizations are administered. Students are permitted to attend school with a future appointment date on record in the clinic. Any student who has not received the necessary vaccines or provided a future appointment date to the nurse, may be excluded from school.
Students with a medical or religious exemption on file are required to have a new form completed each year. Please contact the nurse for more information or to obtain the necessary forms.
FCI school nurse, Carol Gump, can be reached during normal school hours, or by email at cgump@hse.k12.in.us, to answer any questions you have about your child’s immunization status.
Meal Viewer
2019-2020 Intermediate Schedule
Please note the revised intermediate school hours throughout the district:
- Breakfast – 7:20am (Bus students will be dismissed for breakfast at 7:25am or upon arrival if after 7:25am.)
- Arrival bell – 7:35am (Students dismissed from buses and car drop-off line.)
- School begins – 7:45am (Students will be tardy after 7:45am. Parents must sign-in their child in the office after 7:45am arrival.)
- Dismissal – 2:33pm on Mondays (Early Release Days); 2:53pm Tuesday-Friday
Student handbook
All HSE Schools student handbooks (K-12) are now online for easier access. The handbook for FCI can be found at the link below.
We encourage you to review it at your earliest convenience. Should you have any questions, please contact the FCI main office at 317-915-4220. Our staff is available to assist you.
What's Happening @ the Creek
Monday, August 12 - rot F1
- First 20 Days - Day 4 - FCI Expectations
- Band/Orchestra begin today!
- 2:33pm - Early Release
Tuesday, August 13 - rot F2
- First 20 Days - Day 5 - S of SOAR - Supportive
- Falcon Family Connection: 6th grade- 6:00-7:00pm; 5th grade- 7:30-8:30pm
Wednesday, August 14 - rot F3
- First 20 Days - Day 6 - O of SOAR - Open-Minded
Thursday, August 15 - rot F4
- First 20 Days - Day 7 - A of SOAR - Appreciative
Friday, August 16 - rot F5
- First 20 Days - Day 8 - R of SOAR - Reflective
Monday, August 19 - rot C1
- First 20 Days - Day 9 - Community Circles/Empathy
- 7:50-8:50am - SOAR - MindUp
- 2:33pm - Early Release
Tuesday, August 20 - rot C2
- First 20 Days - Day 10 - FCI Mindfulness Practices
- 3:00-4:15pm - Cross Country Practice (5th Grade)
Wednesday, August 21 - rot C3
- First 20 Days - Day 11 - Grit & Growth Mindset
- 3:00-4:15pm - Cross Country Practice (6th Grade)
Thursday, August 22 - rot C4
- First 20 Days - Day 12 - SLT/Learning Clubs
- 3:00-4:15pm - Cross Country Practice (5th Grade)
Friday, August 23 - rot C5
- First 20 Days - Day 13 - iPad usage
- 3:00-4:30pm - The HangOut
Important Safety Item Reminders
- Buzzer protocol - When you ring the buzzer for entry, remember that the office staff will ask you your name, intent, child's name/homeroom to ensure those that enter FCI should enter.
- Photo ID - Whether picking up or dropping off, please have photo ID such as your driver's license ready for identification purposes.
- Door 1 entry - All visitors must enter via door 1 regardless of time of day. Please do not come in the cafeteria door with students before school.
- Bus lot - Do not enter the bus lot prior to bus arrival or while buses are in the lot.
- Drop-off - Please make all attempts possible to have your child exit your vehicle on the side of the curb. Exit the opposite side and walking in between cars is not safe.
Safe Visitor Badges
Per HSE Policy, visitors must have their Safe Visitor Badge scanned to check-in to the building. Please download the SafeVisitor App (available for iPhones and in Google Play for all other phones) or have your badge available when you come into the school. Looking up names can lead to the wrong person being signed in.
Upon leaving, please give your printed badge to the office staff for quick check-out.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Tobi Fields at 317-594-4100.
Mental Health Concerns
If you or someone you know is at risk of self-harm, suicide, or harmful towards others, please contact one of the following (All lines are free, confidential, and available 24/7):
Community Health Network - Call 800-662-3445 or Text HELPNOW to 20121
National Suicide Prevention Hotline - Call 800-273-8255
LookUP - Call 800-284-8439 or Text LookUp to 494949
Mental Health Issues are common and treatable. Hamilton Southeastern Schools has a contract with Community Health Network and has a mental health therapist working with students in each of our schools. If you have questions or concerns please reach out to your school’s school counselor for further information.
Non-Discrimination & Non-Harassment Information
All students in HSE Schools deserve to come to school free of fear and to feel safe to be their authentic selves. Discrimination of any type is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated at HSEHS Schools – this includes sexual harassment (Title IX) and discrimination based on disabilities or race (Titles II and VI).
If students ever experience any type of harassment, we ask that they report this immediately to an administrator, school counselor or trusted adult. Beyond reporting directly to building officials, HSE Schools has an entire support system in place for filing concerns and complaints, which can be located on our District website. https://www.hseschools.org/about/legal-notes
All About FCI
Assistant Principal - Mr. Marc Williams (mwilliams@hse.k12.in.us)
Email: FCI-General@hse.k12.in.us
Website: https://fci.hseschools.org/
Location: 12011 Olio Road Fishers, IN 46037
Phone: (317)-915-4220
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fall-Creek-Intermediate-Falcons/536020973132615
Twitter: @FCI_Falcons