The Falcon
Fieldstone Middle School August 2018
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 Thursday, September 6th 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.
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 technology 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.
It is a privilege for us to work with such an outstanding faculty at Fieldstone Middle School. Your children will continue to benefit from our teachers' high level of professionalism, strong commitment to educational excellence, and deep concern for the wellbeing of middle school children. As part of our ongoing efforts to closely examine and implement conditions that optimize student learning, teachers engage in professional development throughout the school year. Prior to the start of this school year, a cohort of nine teachers will be immersed in ten days of training supported by Innovative Designs in Education Corporation (IDE). The purpose of this workshop will be to enhance the development of learner-active, technology-infused classrooms. Throughout the school year, our teachers will continue to 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 twenty-first century.
As you know, the district has switched to a new student data system, Realtime. On or about Monday, August 27th, you will receive an email providing access information to the Parent Portal, and schedules for the 2018-2019 school year will be available at that time. If you experience technical access difficulties, tech support should be contacted at support@montvalek8.org. (Please allow our Tech Department time to respond 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 13th. 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
Mrs. Myhre's Retirement
At the conclusion of the school year, Mrs. Myhre (pictured above with her daughter Mikayla) retired from teaching. We are so grateful for her commitment to the students of Fieldstone Middle School who for 12 years benefitted from her love of mathematics, kindness, and positive energy. She has touched many lives at FMS, and all who had the privilege of working with her have been impacted by her ability to build consensus and camaraderie, smile through any challenge, and easily make sense of the most daunting mathematical problems. We wish her and her family all the best.
Staff Updates
The following teachers have changed their grade level assignments as indicated below:
- Mr. Sean Boyle- 6th Grade ELA
- Ms. Laurie Murrell- 8th Grade ELA
We look forward to welcoming new members of our FMS staff, and are sure they'll immediately recognize what a wonderful school community they have joined.
- Mr. Justin Neitzer, Instrumental Music, has served as a band instructor in Freehold, NJ.
- Mr. Jason Simodejka, Industrial Arts, has served as a technology instructor at Norwood Public School.
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
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.
- The use of Chromebooks will no longer be permitted during lunch or recess.
- Student 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 Mrs. Halder 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 13th for all
grades. Session 1 (Grades 6 and 8) will
begin at 6:00 p.m. and Session 2 (Grades 5
and 7) 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 5th, 2018. Please note that late orders will not be accepted.
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.
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
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Safety 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.”
Additionally, the following will help keep our students as safe as possible
while finding their ride home:
• Please pick-up curbside only; do not park in the parking lot.
• Please form two lanes when approaching the rear of the building.
• Please wait for a staff member to help your child cross to your car; do not wave him or her over.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
PLEASE REMIND STUDENTS WHO WALK HOME TO AVOID WALKING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORS' YARDS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY AN ISSUE WITH THOSE STUDENTS WHO CUT THROUGH TO HILTON PLACE.
Anti-Bullying Program
As part of our character education program, we are focusing our efforts on raising awareness about bullying and cyberbullying with both students and parents. On 9/26, Mr. John Halligan will be returning to FMS to conduct presentations during which he will relay the story of his son Ryan, who took his own life. This tragedy resulted because of bullying by peers and underlying mental health challenges. Through this program, issues related to cyberbullying, appropriate social media use, and sensitivity for individual differences will be examined.
In order to support dialogue around these critical topics, Mr. Halligan will also be presenting to parents at 7:00 PM on 9/26 in the FMS cafeteria. Please plan to attend this very important event. For additional information and resources, we encourage you to visit Mr. Halligan's website named for his son: www.RyansStory.org .
Upcoming Events
August 21st - 6th Grade Chromebook Orientation - 10:00 AM
August 29th - 6th Grade Chromebook Orientation - 1:00 PM
August 30th - Fifth Grade Student/New Student Orientation 10:00-11:15 AM
September 6th - Schools Open for Students: Single-Session Day- 12:55 Dismissal
September 7th - Full Day for Students - 3:06 Dismissal
September 10-11- School Closed - Religious Holiday
September 13th - Back to School Night - Schedule for grades 5-8 to follow
September 19th - School Closed- Religious Holiday
September 20th - Picture Day - (Photos taken during PE classes)
September 26th - John Halligan - Cyberbullying/Social Media - Parent Presentation 7:00 PM
October 8th - Professional Development Day - School Closed for Students
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