The Falcon
Fieldstone Middle School August 9, 2019
Dear FMS Families,
We hope that you've all had an enjoyable summer filled with family, friends, and time in the sun. We're looking forward to greeting your children on Tuesday, September 3rd and are especially excited to welcome our incoming fifth graders. As a reminder, students may enter the building at 8:15 A.M. and will then gather in the cafeteria until they are dismissed for homeroom. The first day of school will be a single session day, and students will be dismissed at 12:55.
Thanks to the efforts of our custodial and maintenance crew, our building looks wonderful and will be ready for use in just a few weeks. A number of areas have been painted, floors shined to a luster, and classrooms cleaned. Our technology department members have worked tirelessly to install new equipment and prepare Chromebooks for our use. Mrs. DeGraw and Mrs. Duffy have done an amazing job of handling all of the necessary tasks that will ensure a smooth opening of school.
The learning experiences of our students continue to be enriched through strong community partnerships. We are so grateful for the generosity of the Montvale Parent Teacher Organization and the Montvale Educational Foundation, both of which continue to provide opportunities for curricular extensions and the enhancement of learning spaces. Through a grant from the PTO, our students will be returning to a number of newly air conditioned classrooms. We will all appreciate these comfortable learning spaces during the warm days of September. Additionally, the PTO funds curriculum enhancement opportunities which have included author visits, speakers, multi-cultural performances, and visits from scientists. The MEF has generously provided funding for both innovative learning tools and resources. Because of this, our fifth graders will benefit from a newly implemented Lego Robotics Program, and teachers will work with a literacy consultant who will guide the alignment of curriculum and instructional practices.
It is a privilege for us to work with such an outstanding faculty at FMS. Your children will continue to benefit from our teachers' high levels of professionalism, strong commitment to educational excellence, and deep concern for the well-being of middle school children. Teachers continuously engage in professional development throughout the school year. This summer, a cohort of ten teachers will be immersed in training supported by Innovative Designs in Education Corporation (IDE). The purpose of this work is to develop authentic learning units and classroom environments that engage students in real world problem solving while developing critical competencies. Additionally, with the support of Dr. Parks and Dr. Walsh, a number of teachers have committed countless hours to updating curricular units and coordinating instructional planning. As previously mentioned, we are very excited to be launching an initiative around literacy in grades five and six. As in the past, our teachers will work with the Regional Curriculum Office on articulation across content areas and will contribute to the ongoing dialogue around how to best prepare our students for the demands of the future.
On or about Friday, August 23rd, you will receive an email providing access information to the Parent Portal. After completing the required forms and acknowledging receipt of various documents, you will be given access to your child's schedule for the 2019-2020 school year. If you should experience technical difficulties, Tech Support should be contacted at support@montvalek8.org. (Please allow at least 24 hours during the school week for a response to your request).
Many variables are taken into consideration when devising an individual student’s schedule. Due to the complexity of the process, the individualized attention to student placement, and optimized class sizes, we will not be able to honor any schedule change requests.
We are looking forward to seeing all of you at Back to School Night on Thursday, September 12th. Further communication about this important event will be forthcoming.
Please see below for other pertinent information about the opening of the school year. We look forward to greeting our students on opening day!
All the best,
Gina McCormack, Principal
Richard Scherer, Assistant Principal
Staff Updates
We look forward to welcoming the following new FMS staff members to our school community.
- Mr. George Merrill, Eighth Grade Social Studies, has served as a seventh/eighth grade social studies teacher in Philadelphia, PA.
- Mrs. Diane Donovan, School Nurse, has most recently served as a nurse for the New Milford Public Schools and previously in Montvale.
An Important Message from the Montvale PTO
We hope you are all enjoying your summer. The PTO has been busy planning the Welcome Back Breakfast for Staff and Teachers which will take place on August 28th. Thank you to everyone who has signed up to bring or make something for this special day. We are still in need of a few items. If you would like to donate, please sign up here:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0A4EABA823A5F58-welcome
Hot Food Ordering for Session I will begin on August 23rd once teacher assignments have been announced. You need to purchase a PTO Membership before you can order food, which will also be available on August 23rd.
Our first PTO Meeting will be on Friday, September 27th at 9:00am at Memorial School in the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR). We hope you can join us and learn about all of the activities we have planned for the new school year!
Click here for the attached document on "Why you should Join the PTO."
School Supplies
Copies of the supply lists for each
grade can be found at the following link:
Fifth Grade and New Student Orientation Reminder
Sixth Grade Chromebook Pick-Up
FMS Technology Department Updates
- Students in grades 7 and 8 must bring in a $45 check in order to cover the cost of Chromebook insurance. This will be collected by homeroom teachers on the first day of school and Chromebooks will be distributed on Wednesday, 9/4.
- The use of Chromebooks will not be permitted during lunch or recess.
- Students must take care when handling their Chromebooks. Periodic check-ins will be conducted in order to ensure that these devices are working properly.
- Insurance only covers accidental damages. Students will be responsible for any damage or loss caused by neglect, abuse, or misplacement.
- Any repair needs must be reported using the following online form: Chromebook Repair Form.
Health Office Update
Students entering sixth grade must have received a Tdap booster and the vaccine for Meningitis BEFORE they start school in September. Compliance is mandated by the State of NJ, and documentation must be provided to Ms. Donovan, FMS school nurse, at the beginning of the school year.
Food Restrictions Reminder
Back to School Night
Back to School Night will take place this
year on Thursday, September 12th for all
grades. Session 1 (Grades 5 and 7) will
begin at 6:00 p.m. and Session 2 (Grades 6
and 8) will begin at 7:45 p.m.
A more detailed communication
and schedule will be shared in the near
future.
Milk Order
Milk orders can be placed using our online
form. The form can be accessed HERE. Once the form has been submitted online, please send payment to the school by September 6th, 2019. The daily charge for milk this year is 23 cents, making the cost per student for the year $40.02. Please note that late orders will not be accepted and there are no refunds.
Athletics Update
Students are reminded that in order to participate in fall athletics, they must have an updated physical completed before returning to school. Students will not be permitted to attend fall tryouts unless they have a current physical on file. ALL FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH.
More information can be accessed on our school's site by clicking on the Athletics tab, or by accessing it using the direct link: https://sites.google.com/montvalek8.org/fmsathletics
FMS Morning Drop-Off Procedures
Students should not be dropped off earlier than 8:15 AM unless they have an appointment with a staff member or are participating in a club.
Cars arriving should:
Drive straight into the circular driveway.
Pull all the way up to the second entrance to drop off child(ren).
Avoid passing vehicles or buses.
Students should not be dropped off in the staff parking lot. This creates a dangerous situation for both students and arriving staff members.
FMS Afternoon Pick-Up Procedures
Because of the high volume of vehicles that arrive at dismissal time for use of the pick-up lane, it is very important for the safety of our students that our procedures be carefully followed.
Please be sure to follow the route outlined in “Figure A” and only pick up students along the sidewalk in the rear of the building, as shown in “Figure B.”
• Pick-up curbside only; do not park in the parking lot.
• Form two lanes when approaching the rear of the building.
• Wait for a staff member to help your child cross to your car; do not wave him or her over.
PLEASE REMIND STUDENTS WHO WALK HOME TO AVOID PASSING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORS' YARDS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY A CONCERN FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO UTILIZE THE CUT-THROUGH TO HILTON PLACE.
Upcoming Events
August 21st - Sixth Grade Chromebook Orientation - 10:00-11:00 A.M.
August 26th - Fifth Grade Student and New Student Orientation 10:00-11:15 A.M.
August 26th - Sixth Grade Chromebook Orientation - 1:00 - 2:00 P.M.
September 3rd - Schools Open for Students: Single-Session Day- 12:55 Dismissal
September 4th - Full Day for Students - 3:06 Dismissal
September 9th - PTO Lunch Begins
September 10th - Sports Physicals Due
September 12th - Back to School Night - Schedule for grades 5-8 to follow
September 20th - Picture Day - (Photos taken during PE classes)
September 26th - Washington D.C. Eighth Grade Parent Meeting 7:00 P.M.
September 30th and October 1st - School Closed- Religious Holiday
October 9th- School Closed - Religious Holiday
October 14th - Professional Development Day - School Closed for Students
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