FES: Monthly Newsletter
October 2023
Principal Message
Freeland Elementary Families,
October is one of my favorite months! The cooler weather, changing leaves, football, apple orchards, and so much more! It is a month full of learning, and community collaboration. At Freeland Elementary School, we are a team. As a staff, we collaborate to make sure that the needs of our students are being met on a daily basis, and October brings a month full of instruction, which leads to November when we kick off our parent teacher conferences.
Coming up next month are parent teacher conferences. This is a time when our partnership is most important. Our teachers prepare notes and provide information to you that is critical for your child’s academic, social, and emotional growth. We have a school goal of 100% attendance, and with many modes of conferences available to you, we hope that you can make your conference with your child’s teacher. We want each child to be as successful as they can and partnering with each one of our families makes that possible.
Conferences will look different this year than they have in the past years, offering more flexibility with scheduling and more modes of conference types to accommodate for busy schedules. Throughout the month, there will be information coming from your child's teacher about your preferences for schedules, and also a Sign Up Genius will be sent for all grade levels on the same day and time, so you will be able to find a time that best fits your schedule. To honor our teachers schedules, we do ask that each family/child sign up for one conference time. Conferences will take place throughout the weeks of November 6-17. For our 5th and 6th grade families, you will hear from your child's homeroom teacher (first hour teacher) to sign up for conferences. They will be able to offer you information on progress for your child as it relates in their classes, as well as note any concerns in other classes as well.
As a staff, we look forward to partnering with you, and achieving our goal of 100% attendance at conferences!
Your Proud Principal,
Mrs. Kali McKenna
Falcon Fridays!
Save the Date!
FCSD is excited to partner with Bark Technology Experts to provide families in the Freeland Community with a viewing event on Parenting in a Tech World (check out the trailer here). Childhood 2.0 will be screened at 6 pm on November 7th, 2023 at the FCSD Performance Art Center. The film runs for 90 minutes and a Q&A Panel with two live experts via Zoom will begin at 7:30pm. The live zoom experts for this event will be Katey McPherson, Parenting Expert/Influencer, National Speaker on Suicide Prevention and Awareness and Detective Rich Wistocki, Founder BeSure Consulting, Training for Law Enforcement and Parents. To register for this event, click HERE. For more information check out our Save the Date.
Falcon Homecoming Fun!
Falcon Homecoming Fun!
Falcon Homecoming Fun!
Falcon Homecoming Fun!
Happy Halloween!
School Store Starts Thursday
Do you want to Volunteer at FES?
Are you interested in volunteering at FES? If so, you will need to fill out this form, and hand it in to our front office.
FCSD Volunteer Background Form
We welcome families and community members to visit our building and volunteer their time. At all times when children are in the building, we will be following district policy which includes utilizing the secure entrance, signing in at the Main Office, having an approved background check, and having a prearranged purpose for a visit.
Michigan/Michigan State Day!
On October 20 celebrate the Big Rival Weekend by wearing your Wolverine or Spartan gear!
FCSD Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
Attendance
Good attendance is important in order for children to be successful in school. When a child is absent, they miss up to six hours of instruction each day. While provisions can be made to make up assignments, nothing can replace all the instruction and learning that takes place during the school day. Late arrivals and early dismissals greatly inhibit your child’s learning. Procedures have been established to deal with patterns of attendance that interfere with a child’s learning. This may be deemed as “truancy” and may involve outside agencies (such as the truancy officer, intervention program and/or court system) to help the family and child correct this issue.
Please refer to our attendance policy on page 12-13 of the family handbook.
- Excused Absences: An excused absence is defined as one that provides the front office with proper documentation (doctor's note, etc.) After 10 parent verified absences (those without proper documentation, but a phone call was made), any absence will be marked unexcused. After 10 unexcused absences, truancy may be filed.
- Unexcused Absence/Parent Verified: An unexcused absence is defined as any absence where a call to the office is not made by the parent or guardian. Students that leave class without teacher permission will be marked unexcused and an appropriate consequence will be applied.
Learning Center and Elementary School PTO!
Bus Changes on FCSD Transportation
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENUS
FCSD Vision and Mission
Vision: Preparing Students for the Demands and Opportunities of the 21st Century
Mission Statement: The purpose of the Freeland Community School District is to prepare students to be successful adults by providing a challenging curriculum that connects students' lives to their future in a safe and supportive environment.
Important Upcoming Dates
October 3: PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Elementary School
October 18: FCSD School Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. @ HS Auditorium
October 20: Michigan/Michigan State Day
October 31: Happy Halloween!
November 5: Daylight Saving Time Ends
November 6-17: Parent/Teacher Conference Weeks!
November 6 and 7: Vision Screening for 3rd and 5th Grade: Please call the office if would like to opt your child out of vision screening.
November 7: Viewing Event: Parenting in a Tech World
November 10/11: Happy Veteran's Day!
Freeland Elementary School
Kali McKenna, Principal
Lauren Hall, Secretary
Meghan Maxwell, Secretary
Annette Moore, Secretary
Email: mckennak@freelandschools.net
Website: freelandschools.net
Location: 710 Powley Drive, Freeland, MI, USA
Phone: 989-695-5371
Facebook: facebook.com/freelandschools