News from the Nest
Principal Weekly Newsletter ~ Week of August 22, 2022
A Message from Mrs. Lucas
Dear Fern Drive Families,
I want to thank you for a very successful first week of school! It was so exciting to welcome our students and families back to campus and I am very much enjoying getting to know our students and families. Our students have been very welcoming, polite and engaging!
As you know, this week is our Back to School Night. We are looking forward to seeing everyone and providing you the opportunity to officially meet our wonderful teachers! Please see the information below regarding our evening together. Additionally, there is a post on Facebook and Instagram.
As shared last week, starting on Monday morning, we will be a closed campus before and after school. That means that only students and staff will be permitted through the gates Monday-Thursday. Parents and guardians are welcome to join our weekly Friday Assembly that begins at 8:30 am. Thank you for empowering your child to be independent as well as playing an active role in ensuring our campus is safe.
Warmly,
Mrs. Lucas
Go Falcons!
Back to School Night
Please join us for our 2022-2023 Back to School Night this Wednesday, August 24th!
5:00-5:30 PM ~ PTA/Foundation Meeting in MPR
Special Staff Introduction at the beginning of the meeting!
5:30-6:00 PM ~ Session 1
6:10-6:40 PM ~ Session 2
This is a parents only evening in which the teachers will be sharing all about the upcoming year, curriculum and the "how-to's" of the classroom that will help you partner with them to help our kids succeed! We look forward to seeing you Wednesday! Presentations will take place in your child's classroom.
Upcoming Events and Calendar
- August 24th ~ Back to School Night ~ 5:00-6:40 pm
- September 5th ~ Labor Day Holiday, No School
- September 5th - 9th ~ Book Fair
- September 17th ~ PTA Pancake Breakfast
- September 26th ~ School Picture Day
~ SPIRIT DAYS ~
Every Wednesday is College Colors Day!
Every Friday is Green Day ~ wear our school spirit wear and/or green and white!
Meet some of our Fabulous Falcon Team!
Our AP
Our Office Manager
Our Day Custodian
Our Health Clerk
Our Office Clerk
School Spirit Days
School Breakfast and Lunch
School Attendance and Absences
Here is a link to FSD guidelines as to when students should remain at home.
If your student is sick or needs to miss school, parents or guardians must call the school attendance line within 24 hours to report the absence. Any absences not cleared within five school days will become a truancy in the student's permanent record. Any time your child is seen at the doctor's office, please bring a doctor's note clearing the office.
Thank you for ensuring your child is in school every day they are well. Having your child at school daily, on time, sets that routine and foundation that school is a priority and an expectation, setting children up for a successful and positive school career. We are a team at Fern Drive. Please keep open lines of communication with your child's teacher, the office and Mrs. Lucas. Together, we can help our students be their best and reach their full potential!
Fern Drive PTA
Plan to attend our PTA Meeting this Wednesday from 5:00-5:30 pm before our BTSN classroom sessions begin. We will meet in the MPR and Mrs. Lucas will also be introducing our 2022-2023 staff. See you there!
Join our PTA: former members should have received an email from Totum and our Fern Drive PTA to renew your membership. Please check your email. If you are a new member, you will have an opportunity to join. Keep an eye out for more information in the coming weeks.
Getting involved: together is always better and benefits our kids! If you would like to volunteer for any of our PTA events, please reach out to one of our amazing Fern Drive PTA Board Members.
Fern Drive Foundation
Hello Falcons!
The Fern Drive Foundation for Education and Techknowledgey is thrilled to welcome you to the 2022-2023 school year! The Fern Drive Foundation is a volunteer organization made up of parents, teachers, and staff. Our foundation is dedicated to the successful education of our Falcon students. Last year with the help of Apex Leadership we helped raise over 21,000 dollars to help toward our school’s technology fund.
Fern Drive Foundation for Education and Techknowledgy helps create numerous forms of fundraising to give our Falcons the very best education technology available.
Welcome back Falcons, we’re so excited to learn with you. Keep an eye out for our upcoming meetings!
Arrival and Dismissal Protocols and Rules
Falcons, our number one priority during arrival and dismissal times is SAFETY.
As a PBIS Platinum Award winning school, we all have a place in modeling and following our school expectations. We appreciate the role our parents play. Please follow the following rules and procedures to ensure our entire Falcon community is safe:
- Drive SLOWLY when on the surrounding streets and in our parking lot
- Please be free from cell phone distraction and keep your eyes on the road and sidewalks
- Follow the directions the staff have given to students regarding entering and exiting campus and where to walk and/or cross the street or parking lot
- If you park on the neighborhood side of Fern Drive, you MUST exit your car and walk across to meet your student. They will not be permitted to cross without an adult.
- Students in cars may ONLY exit their car when it has come to a complete stop and along the sidewalk in front of school. Students are NOT permitted to exit their car in the drive through lane; just the drop off/pick up lane.
- Students should have all belongings ready to go when parents pull up to drop off
- Cars entering the parking lot MUST exit on Pico Street. NO U-TURNS are permitted in our lot and cars are NOT permitted to enter via Pico Street.
- Parents must park in unmarked spots only. Parents are not permitted to park in the staff lot or the stalls marked for persons with disabilities, unless they have a placard. Please note that we do have families that have this placard and use these spots daily.
- Starting week 2 of school, we will be a closed campus meaning that only students and staff will be permitted through the gates before and after school Monday-Thursday. As has been our tradition, we will continue with our weekly Friday Assembly at 8:30 am on our upper grade blacktop. We will invite parents to join us for this assembly and then we ask that you leave immediately after the assembly ends.
- ALL TK and K parents MUST walk their students DAILY to the kindergarten gate at arrival for school. At the 2:30 pm dismissal, parents will MUST meet their student at the classroom door for pick up. *See the email from your teacher for addition clarification/instructions.
- Students in grades 1-6 can enter the campus through our Main Breezeway gate or the Fern Drive gate. Students going to The Lab before and after school will use the gate nearest The Lab (outside the MPR).
- Teachers will be teaching their students where to enter and exit the campus and sharing more specific information with you too.
Thank you for helping to create and maintain our safe, inclusive and caring school community by respecting and modeling for our students how to follow these very important rules and protocols. Go Falcons!
Helpful and Important Links
AIR (Annual Information Review) Data Confirmation ~ This MUST be updated for all students.
Follow us on Social Media
IG: fern_drive_falcons
Twitter: @Fern_Drive