Admiral's Log Dec. 7, 2020
Admiral Strong - Honor, Courage, and Steadfastness
Inclement Weather/Early Dismissal Form
Tech Tip
As we enter into the winter season with an increased chance of inclement weather and as Covid 19 numbers increase across the nation, we want to make sure that each student is fully prepared if we need to move to distance learning. Remember the district does not have any snow days built into the calendar, and our expectation is that learning will continue from home on inclement weather days. On inclement weather days, teachers will provide asynchronous work and will be available via Microsoft Teams and email to provide support and answer questions.
One of the most difficult parts of distance learning for students and parents is keeping up with assignments. Remember there are several places to check on assignments. One spot is the "To Do" list that is in each Canvas course. Another spot is the calendar. The calendar can be somewhat confusing, but remember that completed items will be marked through upon submission and that you will need to select which course calendar you want to see. Thirdly, go into each class module and look at each day's work. This will help you know what work was assigned each day. If a teacher assigns work from an external site and puts a link on the day's work, like Brain Pop, it will not show up on the To Do List or Calendar. At FIS, teachers' modules should be organized with the most current date at the top. Next, reference the teacher’s weekly or daily communication. Another helpful spot is to check Aspen. Aspen is a good resource to know when your child is missing work or to know how they are performing in class. Finally, if you are unsure and need assistance, reach out to the teacher. We are always here to help!
We hope that everyone stays healthy and has a wonderful week.
Coffee with the Counselors
Link to Coffee with the Counselor
Looking forward to seeing you!
PTA Notes
The TN PTA Reflections Program provides students from across the state the opportunity
to be creative in developing artwork in any (or all) of six art categories: dance
choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography,
and visual arts. Students work on their own to create artwork which best relates
their vision of a theme, which for 2020-2021 is “I Matter Because....” There are
multiple levels at which the students may be recognized for their work,
including the local PTA unit, council (where applicable), state, and ultimately,
for the best in each category for each division at state, National.
For more information contact Gerand Saffles or Lacey Fitzgerald at reflections@fispta.org or visit http://www.tnpta.org/student-programs.html.
Submit all Reflections entries to the Farragut Intermediate PTA or school office on or before January 6, 2021 to qualify for State. Students registration forms can be found at https://tnpta.org/reflections/2020/studententryform.pdf.
Collections Reminder
Amazon Smile
Holiday shopping is upon us! Make sure your Amazon Smile account is set to donate to Farragut Intermediate School, and Amazon will donate directly back to our school with no cost to you!
Kroger
With the holidays coming up, we all might be spending a little more time at Kroger! Link your Kroger card to Farragut Intermediate School, and at least our school will benefit from our higher grocery bill!
The Importance of Being on Time to School
We want to send a huge shout-out to all the students who arrive at school every day on time ready to learn. We realize these cold winter days can be difficult at times. We want to not only encourage being at school on time but also share some tips on how to make that happen. We all know the importance of being on time to school, to work, or to appointments. Teachers arrive at school early to ensure that the final preparations are ready for the full day of teaching. Arriving at school 10 minutes late causes a disruption to the entire class, not just the teacher who has already started teaching the lesson. If a student arrives 10 minutes late each day, think about how much instructional time is lost throughout the school year.
Here are a few tips to help establish a more efficient daily routine.
· Wake-up Earlier
· Layout Clothes the Night Before
· Pack Backpacks and Lunchboxes the Night Before
· Create “Last Stop” Area
· Pack the Car
Being organized and having your child arrive at school on time helps reduce classroom interruptions and distractions, allowing teachers to focus on teaching lessons to all students. Try making doctor or dentist appointments after school so that your child doesn't miss a minute of learning. We really appreciate all your efforts to help with this.
School/Instruction starts at 7:45.
Giving Tree Update
The Farragut community is an amazing place to live with such caring people. We are overjoyed to announce that the Giving Tree Project has EXCEEDED our fundraising goal by several thousand dollars! What a blessing to share with families that are struggling this season!
We would like to thank everyone for their generosity including: Concord United Methodist, Christ Covenant, Compassion Ministries, First Baptist Concord, Virtue Church, Grassy Valley Baptist, and Faith Promise. May our eyes be wide open and our hearts full by all the blessings we receive this season!
Lost and Found
Second Semester Student Placement
Dates to Remember
Dec. 10 Coffee with the Counselor 8:00
Dec. 11 Festive Friday-Polar Express Day
Dec. 18 Report Cards Go Home, 1/2 day for students
Dec. 19 - Jan. 1 Winter Break
Jan. 5 First day back for students
FIS Office Hours
Office Phone: 865-966-6703