FMS Newsletter
Issue 9: February 2023
Principals Message
February is an exciting month! The first day of Semester 2 started and it marks the beginning of the second half of our school year! Also, in February we celebrate Black History Month and our Nation's Diverse History! It is an exciting month and a lot to look forward to!
As always, please let us know how we can best support you and your student. The education and wellbeing of our students is the utmost importance to us and we will continue to do everything we can to meet the needs of all our students. We are here to support, encourage, partner together, and engage students in their learning. Thank you for partnering with us!
Warmly,
Amy Cochran
Principal
Fridley Middle School
~New Information in this month's Newsletter~
Mark Your Calendar!
February 7th- 6th Grade Winter Band/Choir Concert
February 10th- 7th/8th Grade Winter Dance
February 16th- History Day
February 20th - NO SCHOOL; President's Day
February 28th- 7th/8th Grade Band Winter Concert
Report Cards
Start of Semester 2
As we start 2nd Semester, now is a great time to ensure that students' binders and school supplies are restocked. Restocking the following items:
- pencils
- paper
- cleaning out the old work
- Making the backpack clean
Incoming 5th Grade Parent Night
This evening is geared towards parents/guardians. We will have an event in May that will allow students and families an opportunity to visit the middle school, meet teachers, see classrooms, practice opening lockers and much more!
Please note the change of date that was originally printed in the district calendar.
National History Day: 8th Grade Students
NUTRITIONAL SERVICES NEWS
Hello Families,
February is Black History Month, and we will be serving some new items to our students. Nutritional Services worked with a group of High School students to plan several different menu items. On February 16th we will be serving Jollaf Rice with the Jerk Chicken. Jolllaf Rice is a rice dish from Western Africa and is made from white rice, tomatoes, onions and spices all cooked together. Next on February 23 we will be serving Gumbo with rice.
Our gumbo will be made with Thousand Hills Beef Andouille Sausage (from Becker, MN). Gumbo is popular in the Southern United States, especially in Louisiana. Gumbo can be made with a variety of different meats and the High School Students were very excited that we would try this dish. The final request was Collard Greens and those will be served on February 27 or 28, depending on the school. We hope that you will encourage your students to try these menu items and experience some different flavors and cuisines.
If your families, income has changed, you can still apply for Educational Benefits (free/reduced priced meals). The application can be completed online through the Campus Portal at https://fridleymn.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/fridley.jsp If you do not have Campus Parent Portal access, paper applications can be found at your school's office or on the Nutritional Services Web Page. Please check your students lunch balance, we have quite a few students who have a negative lunch balance. If you are having trouble paying your outstanding lunch balance, please contact Kathy Backstrom at 763-502-5021 to discuss payment options. If your child is bringing a cold lunch and wants a milk, the cost is $0.55, and your child needs to have money in their account.
Interactive menus and pdf menus are posted on the Nutritional Services website. Please note that menus are subject to change due to supply chain and staffing issues. The most current menus are found on using the Titan link on the Nutritional Services web page. If you have any menu questions or concerns, please contact Renee Arbogast at 763-502-5022
Campus Parent - Infinite Campus
Tuesday 08/23/2022 Fridley Public Schools encourages all guardians who have children enrolled in the school district to use the Parent Portal.
fridleymn.infinitecampus.org
Read below/General Information in Every Newsletter
FMS Arrival and Breakfast Time!
- Student arrival begins at 7:45 am
- Free breakfast will be served from 7:45 - 8:05 am
- School day starts at 8:00 am: Students entering after 8:00 am will be marked tardy.
- Dismissal is at 3:00 pm
Remember to call FMS at 763-502-5400 to update your student's attendance if they will not be in school.
Important Dismissal Procedures
- School ends at 3:00 pm.
- Busses and vans leave at 3:12. If your student rides a bus/van, please help remind them that they need to head straight to their bus/van after school so they do not miss their ride.
- Students who are picked up after school should go to the front loop to find their rides immediately after the 3:00 dismissal bell. The front vestibule is to be used in emergency situations while students wait, but not meant to be used as a long-term waiting area. There is NO after-school supervision after 3:15 pm so it is important that students are picked up right away. (5th and 6th-grade students who need after-school supervision can sign up for Tiger Club through the Fridley Community Center).
Help is Available!
Fridley Middle School Families!
The student support office, made up of our school social workers and school psychologist, is reaching out to let you know that we will be offering a variety of groups here at school covering topics such as Anxiety, Depression, Organization, and Social Skills.
Groups offer an experience where students with shared commonalities can discuss their struggles in a safe space, while receiving support and guidance from a mental health professional. Groups will be lead on a weekly basis.
If you have a student who you think could benefit from one of these groups, please reach out to our Student Support Office by emailing us.
Alyssa Rademacher, School Social Worker (Grade 5th and 6th): alyssa.rademacher@fridley.k12.mn.us
Jaimie Beran, School Social Worker (Grade 7th and 8th): jaimie.beran@fridley.k12.mn.us
Jeff Williams, School Psychologist: jeff.williams@fridley.k12.mn.us- Are you staying with a friend or family member? Currently in a hotel, shelter, or car? Are you displaced and not sure of what to do next? We have resources for you! Under the McKinney-Vento Law, your student is eligible for transportation provided by the district. Please reach out to your school social worker via phone or email to connect about next steps.
- Whether in person or online, our district-wide backpack program is up and running! If you are in need of additional food resources, please reach out to Ms. Beran at (763-502-5575) and she will coordinate getting items to you. It might look a little different this year, but please do not hesitate to reach out. If you have students in other buildings, please feel free to reach out to the school social worker as well!
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Activities Update: Middle School
www.smore.com
Fridley Activities Guidelines
Please remember the expectations/guidelines for Fridley High School events:
1. A middle school or elementary student MUST be accompanied by their Parent/Guardian to any Fridley HS Athletic or Fine Arts Event. Middle school students will not be able to purchase a ticket without a paid parent or guardian present. These students must sit with their parents or guardian and be supervised at all times.
2. Game Procedure that must be followed:
No Bags, backpacks, balls of any kind may be brought into the Fridley Tiger Stadium
All bags/purses are subject to being searched.
All students must remain in the stands throughout the whole game. Concessions and restrooms are the only reasons to be out of the bleacher space.
Thank you for your help to ensure that our events are a safe and fun place for students and families!
Transportation Information
For the 2022-23 school year all students eligible for transportation MUST request by this form: https://www.fridleyschools.org/-us/departments/transportation
Winter Weather Reminders From Transporation
- Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the winter weather.
- Your child is required to be at the scheduled stop 5 minutes prior to bus pick-up time.
- If the bus is more than 10 minutes late, your child should go home and call the assigned bus company (see below).
- Information about late busses is communicated through our messenger program, so please make sure that your contact information is accurate on the Parent Portal.
- If school buildings are closed due to severe weather, the district will communicate by email and phone, and on the district website, local news channels and district social media.
If your child receives bussing from outside of the Fridley school district it is through a program called NW Suburban. This policy dictates that if the student's service district or magnet school is closed, CSTrans-MN will not provide transportation to the school or any other location on that day. This means if your home district closes for weather you will not receive bussing to Fridley on that day.
Our Bus Companies:
· Route #’s 10 – 37: First Student (Champlin location) 763-421-5785
· R & D Transportation (Vans) 763-767-1804 (then select #1) (RD routes)
· Halo Transportation (Vans) 763-432-6806 (FR) routes
FRIDLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
Phone: 763-502-5151 | Email: transportation@fridley.k12.m
Health Services Information
Illness message to families
With seasonal flu, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses on the rise, remember to keep your students home when they have a fever of 100 degrees or higher, are throwing up, have diarrhea, or are generally not feeling well.
Please teach your kids how and when to wash hands with soap and water, cover their cough, and how and when to use hand sanitizer, to help decrease the spreading of germs.
Is Your Child Too Sick For School?
Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols
It is also important that we are told about any health conditions your child might have. This information is listed on the emergency sheet as well. If anything has changed over the summer, please call the Health Office about this.
Attention parents of 7th graders
There are additional immunizations that are required for 7th grade; Tdap and Menningococcal. These are required BEFORE starting school or a conscientious objection form must by notarized and given to the health office BEFORE school starts. Notification letters were mailed to parents in May. The immunization form is on the District Web Page under Health Services. Please make an appointment with your clinic to get these immunizations completed as soon as possible.
Per our District Policy, all immunizations must be current in order to start school. Please help in making it a great start for your child's school year by getting this done.
Influenza Season is approaching!
Connect with your child clinic to schedule a flu shot with your primary doctor. Good hand washing is the BEST PREVENTION!
Technology News
Protecting Student Data at Fridley Public Schools
Fridley Public Schools uses a variety of digital tools to support student learning. Depending upon the particular educational technology being used, our district may need to collect different types of student data, which is then shared with educational technology vendors through their online sites, services, and/or applications. Under Minnesota’s Student Data Privacy Act, educational technology vendors are prohibited from selling or renting a student's information or from engaging in targeted advertising using a student's information. Such vendors may only disclose student data for K-12 school purposes and other limited purposes permitted under the law. This act also requires districts to provide timely notice of the tool used, data collected, and contact information.
Download a spreadsheet that catalogs the full library of evaluated resources. If you have any questions or concerns about any digital resources used by your child, please contact your child’s teacher.
Chromebook Agreement Forms
Completion and submission of this form is required for all students prior to checking out a chromebook for usage during the school year. Students will be receiving their Chromebook next week Monday - Wednesday during school.
Parent Portal
We have an important announcement we want to share with you. All parents/guardians will need to have a Parent Portal account in Campus. The Parent Portal provides secure access to your child/children’s information such as class assignments, attendance, calendar, and grades. You can also use Parent Portal to pay for meals, fees, or school supplies.
There are many advantages of signing up for and using your Parent Portal account. It is convenient and easy to use, and gives you instant access to important information:
Nutritional Services: Manage your child/children’s meal accounts
· Make online payments using checking, savings and/or credit/debit card to pay for your student’s meals.
· Families can also set up automatic payments to pay for meals.
· Check current balances and see any purchases made on your child’s account.
Meal Benefits Application: Annual renewal made easier
· Apply for Meal Benefits Application in Parent Portal
· Parents/Guardians must apply each year to qualify for free and reduced priced meals.
· By applying, you also help the district receive additional funding to support classroom learning.
Activities & Athletics & School Store: Now includes shopping for school supplies
· Sign up and pay for Activities and Athletics fees for your child
· View and shop for your child/children’s school supplies
Transportation: Access important updates and information
· Access your child/children’s transportation information on the Parent Portal.
How to Activate your Parent Portal Account:
1. Go to Fridley Public Schools Home Page: www.fridleyschools.org
2. Select the Campus Parent Portal Login link in the top right-hand corner of the webpage.
3. On the Parent Portal login page, select New User.
4. Enter the Campus Portal Activation Key provided here: <this is the GUID>
5. Choose SUBMIT.
6. You will be asked to create a Username and Password.
7. Choose SUBMIT.
8. Your Campus Portal account will be activated.
Tech Tip
All Middle School students will need to update their account information by enrolling in the district Password Portal system. The Password Portal provides the security REQUIRED to protect their Fridley account information from digital theft and other possible cybersecurity threats.
If you have login questions, please go to the Fridley Public Schools Student Online Support (SOS) page at the following address: https://sites.google.com/isd14.org/student-tech-resources/home?authuser=0
Also, if you have issues, you can submit a Service Desk Ticket using the following link: https://fhs.fridleyschools.org/support/student-tech-support
Hiring!!!!
Fridley Middle School
Email: amy.cochran@fridley.k12.mn.us
Website: www.fridley.k12.mn.us
Location: 6100 West Moore Lake Drive Northeast, Fridley, MN, USA
Phone: 763.502.5401
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FridleyMS
Twitter: @FridleyMSTigers