The Firebird Flash
August 27, 2021
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Principal's Update
- Dress Code
- Info from our Health Office
- Yearbooks
- Athletics Communication - Team Reach
- PTSA
- Purchase Firebird Gear
Updates from our Principal
Greetings Firebird Nation Families -
We made it...we have completed the first full month of school! Students started receiving their chrome books this week. We should have the last sets distributed on Monday or Tuesday of next week. This will help our teachers begin to really expand and differentiate their lessons to best meet individual learning needs.
Through our zone's work with EmpowerFZ - Empower Falcon Zone, teachers are creating Learning Plans that are facilitated through Schoology and their Teacher Landing Pages. This allows us to leverage the available technology so that students can access new information, complete creative and innovative activities, and extend learning wherever possible. We know that a great deal of time was spent on devices through the pandemic over the past couple of years. Because of this, our plan is to provide blended learning experiences where the technology is leveraged; we must still have quality instruction from our teachers and interactive lessons where students can collaborate with each other in the classrooms. We look forward to seeing this process come alive in the next few weeks! Be looking for updates on great things happening in our classrooms in future newsletters.
During this week, we have begun to notice some additional places where our dress code has not been followed. We have included our diagram from the student handbook below along with some additional information contained in the student handbook. It is important that students are familiar with this dress code and ensure they follow the expectations each day. It is also equally important to ensure we as a staff are enforcing this consistently as well.
If you had your student take CMAS tests last year, we have just received the results in our office. Be watching for these results to come home with your student during this next week. If you do not receive these by next Friday, and you know your student has taken the test, then please reach out to our office and we can work to locate these results for you.
We will be launching our all school fundraiser this next month! Be watching for additional information to come home on September 20th. We are excited to have this return this year! This has been a place where students can sell cookie dough and other various items through our partners at Big Kahuna Fundraising. They can even set up an online store to send to their family members and relatives across the country. Each year, students help contribute ideas about where they would like to see improvements in their school and we use the proceeds from this fundraiser to make these projects happen. In the past, we have added landscaping at the front of the building, an outdoor classroom for classes to use, upgraded our soccer goals and goal posts, replaced our theater curtains, and added outside tables for lunch. We really look to our students for feedback on what beautification projects they want to see improved. Be watching for this fundraiser information to come home on September 20th.
Finally, we have been having some challenges this year acquiring guest (substitute) teachers for when teachers are out of the building. This has been a nation wide problem overall. I know that the district still has positions posted through the human resources website. We have been looking for teacher substitutes, support substitutes, nutrition service assistants, and bus drivers. We would welcome any of our Firebird Nation Community members to apply and help serve in these roles if you are available.
Fall is right around the corner! We look forward to a successful week next week as September begins. I hope everyone has a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Brian Smith
Executive Principal
Falcon Middle School
Dress Code Expectations
District-wide standards on student attire are intended to help students concentrate on schoolwork, reduce discipline problems, and improve school order and safety. The Board of Education recognizes that students have a right to express themselves through dress and personal appearance; however, students shall not wear apparel that is deemed disruptive or potentially disruptive to the classroom environment or to the maintenance of a safe and orderly school.
Any student deemed in violation of the dress code shall be required to change into appropriate clothing or make arrangements to have appropriate clothing brought to school immediately. In this case, there shall be no further penalty.
If the student cannot promptly obtain appropriate clothing on the first offense, the student shall be given a written warning and the opportunity to change into loaned clothing, if available, and the administrator shall notify the student's parent/guardian.
On the second offense a review of school expectations and rationale for dress and appearance will be accomplished, and a restorative conference with the parent/guardian shall be held.
On the third offense, parents will be contacted, and the student may be subject to suspension or other disciplinary action in accordance with Board policy concerning student suspensions, expulsions and other disciplinary interventions. Classes missed as a result of clothing related offenses are considered excused, however, the student may be required to make up class time missed.
From the Health Office
Dear Parents,
Here are a few reminders to check off from Nurse Nelda for the 2021-22 school year:
✅ Medication Policy:
Parents are encouraged to administer medication to their children outside of school hours if at all possible. Only medications which are required to enable a student to stay in school may be given at school.
Please be aware that Colorado State law governs our medication policy. If your child must take medication during school hours, you must provide the following before we can administer it:
● All medication forms must be renewed each school year. A written order from a healthcare provider (MD, DO, NP, PA) is required, including drug name, dose, route, time, duration of treatment, doctor’s and parent’s signature. This includes all over-the-counter, prescription, and homeopathic medications. PLEASE NOTE: The pharmacy label applied to the medication bottle will not suffice for a doctor’s order.
● Written permission by parent and physician is required in all cases.
Medications must be in the original, properly labeled container. Medications sent in baggies or unlabeled containers will not be given.
● All medications must be kept in the health room, except for students whose doctor requires them to carry medications on their person (for example, epipen, inhaler, etc). A physician order is required for this, and the student must sign a self-carry contract in agreement with school health services staff and parent.
See School Board Policy JLCD and JLCD – R for more information.
✅ Immunizations:
All students are required to have a Tdap vaccination prior to entry into 6th grade.
One dose of Tdap is required for all students in 6th-12th grades.
All students must have current and up-to-date immunizations in order to attend school.
The only exception to this is if the parent signs an *exemption for medical, or non-medical (personal) reasons.
*Online Immunization Education Module for Personal and Religious (Non-medical) Exemptions
(LINK:) Online Immunization Education Module
In order to successfully move through this Online Module and obtain the Certificate, you must review the “Technical Guidance and Troubleshooting Document”
The Online Immunization Education Module is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. It can take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
At the completion of the module, you will be able to complete an electronic form to obtain a Certificate of nonmedical exemption. You can complete this form for more than one child without having to retake the course.
IMPORTANT: Certificates of Nonmedical Exemption expire each year on June 30th. If you submit a Certificate of nonmedical exemption on or before June 30th, it will not be valid for the upcoming school year unless you submit the Certificate during early registration.
Please print your CERTIFICATE and bring it to the school.
We are looking forward to a healthy and safe school year!
Purchase your 21-22 Firebird Yearbook!
8th Grade Ads - 8th Grade Parents may also purchase 8th grade ads for their students using the link below.
Athletics Reminders...
Don't forget to sign up for your Team Reach!
FMS Firebirds code: 9755
Cross Country code: 9755-1
Football Code: 9755-2
Volleyball Code: 9755-3
We will continue to keep our FMS Athletics Website up to date with the latest information as well. You can access this using the link below.
PTSA (Parent, Teacher, Student Association)
We want everyone to get involved! PTSA is a great way to help out the Firebird Nation Community. Would you like to volunteer at the school? Would you like to help out at athletic or special events? Want to help problem solve issues that arise or create new programs at the school? If you answered yes to any of the questions and/or you just want to know what all is happening at FMS...then PTSA is for you! Our Principal really values the partnership with our PTSA and wants to continue to network with this group to continue to improve FMS. We hope you will join this important community group at our school.
Looking for Firebird Gear?
Falcon Middle School
6th Grade Assistant Principal/Athletic Director: Elena Forehand
7th Grade Assistant Principal: Tim Scheck
8th Grade Assistant Principal: Joy Kovanda
6th Grade Counselor: Lisa Murdock
7th Grade Counselor: Carrie Clay
8th Grade Counselor: Amber Villani
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FMS Office Hours
7:15am-3:30pm
Email: fms@d49.org
Website: https://www.d49.org/fms
Location: 9755 Towner Avenue, Peyton, CO, USA
Phone: 719-495-5232