The Firebird Flash
September 9, 2022
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Principal's Update
- Star 360 Reports and Notifications for Parents
- Yearbooks, Firebird Band Support, and FMS Facebook
- EmpowerFZ - Classroom Updates and FMS Featured Nationally!
- Tutoring Available
- Military Minute
- Mark your Calendar
- From Nurse Nelda
- Firebird Nation Campus Expansion
- PTSA - Meeting Schedule and Volunteer Opportunities Included
- Purchase Firebird Gear
Updates from our Principal
Greetings Firebird Nation Families -
Happy Friday! We have completed another week of school. Did you know there are only 3 weeks left in the 1st quarter? We are also only 4 weeks away from our October Break. This year continues to progress quickly!
This is definitely a time that students should check their grades, make sure work is getting turned in, and network with their teachers on what needs to take place to finish this quarter strong. The first quarter sets a strong tone for the remainder of the year and we want students to know that being a good student in their academic and explore classes is important. Our teachers will also be looking to conduct the STAR Assessments at the end of the quarter to check academic progress and allow students to see progress on the goals they set with these assessments for the year. Check out the information below on how to sign up to receive updates on your student's STAR Assessments; this is an awesome new tool for parents.
Students' first quarter grades also have an impact on mini course sign ups, which will take place after Fall Break. Mini Courses are an awesome opportunity for students to check out future careers, try out a new skill, or explore different hobbies that could impact their learning. They take place on November 17th and 18th, which are the two days before Thanksgiving Break. Students have an opportunity to participate in our arena scheduling process to choose mini courses they are interested in during the sign-up day on October 27th. Students in good academic and behavioral standing will get to sign up for their mini courses on time. For this, we look at both 1st and 2nd quarter grades. Students that earned multiple D’s and F’s in the 1st quarter and again demonstrate this pattern for 2nd Quarter will be enrolled in an intervention/study hall for one of their courses, which will delay sign ups. So, it is highly important for students to monitor their grades and finish this 1st quarter strong; we have been reminding them of this on the announcements in the morning as well.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are also coming up! These will take place on Thursday, October 6th, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm and again on Friday, October 7th, from 7:30am - 3:00pm. Conferences are a great opportunity for parents to connect with our teachers and teams on how their students are performing. Each team and explore teacher will post schedules and sign-ups on their team landing pages here soon. We encourage all of our families to sign up for a conference to learn more about how your student is doing.
Did you know Falcon Middle School broadcasts our announcements live each morning on our Firebird Nation News Channel via YouTube? FMS is fortunate to have our own news studio located in the Learning Commons to stream our announcements live each morning. Students and staff learn about upcoming events, opportunities available, and hear about Firebirds that have gone above and beyond. We continue to look for students that are interested in being part of the team as an anchor, director, script writer, weather reporter, video feature producers, etc. If your student is interested in being part of this team, please see Mrs. Ramirez in room 47; we are looking for new members. We also encourage students and families to subscribe to our channel and see our FMS Newscast each day!
Students, just as another reminder, please check your grades and make sure your work is submitted as the first quarter begins to wrap up. I want all of our Firebirds to finish this quarter strong! Your grades and academic progress in ALL of your classes is so important.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership at Firebird Nation! I hope everyone enjoys their weekend!
Sincerely,
Brian Smith
Executive Principal
Falcon Middle School
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Star 360 Reports for Parents
Dear Parent or Guardian:
FMS Students uses a software program called Renaissance at school. This program has a special feature called Home Connect, which both your student and you can access outside of school from any computer with an Internet Connection. Home Connect allows you to view information about your student 's progress on the Star360 Assessments. It also allows you to sign up to receive email notifications when your student completes an activity or assessment at school.
You can log in to Home Connect from any computer with an Internet Connection and compatible browser. For a list of compatible browsers, type the following in any browser: http://support.renlearn.com/techkb/techkb/10624292e.asp
To log in to Home Connect Website:
User Name: FMS Student ID Number
Password: #FMSrocks! (can be changed later)
If you have questions about Home Connect, please call your student's school.
Thank you.
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Important Links!
Order your Yearbook Today!
Yearbooks may be ordered at www.jostensyearbooks.com or by calling 1-877-767-5217.
Until September 16, the price will be discounted at $45!
The Band Program is Closer to the Goal!
PLEASE HELP POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The Firebird Bands are working to raise funds for a set of chimes through Donors Choose. We still need help reaching $5,000 by Nov. 29th. We would be grateful to anyone who shared our project link via social media and/or donated. Every contribution helps! Thank you!
Like us on Facebook!
Watch our page to learn about the great things taking place at Falcon Middle School.
Click above and follow FMS's new Facebook Page!
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Teachers are continuing to perfect the classroom visions, codes, and SOP's within the learner centered cultures in the classrooms. Our instructional coach and administrators have been continuing to visit classrooms and talk with students about why it is important to learn specific subject content and specific priority standards. The students have communicated this importance very well and are articulating their ownership of the learning process.
Learning Road Maps showing the overall progression of standards during the year continue to be developed and posted in classrooms so students know what they must master by the end of the year. Teachers are beginning to roll out Data Notebooks. This is a tool that students use to track their progress of the mastery of specific standards. Data Notebooks can be created digitally within Schoology or as a hard copy, similar to a portfolio, within the classroom. Students are also using their data notebooks to set goals for their classroom assessments and STAR Assessments to help track their growth in achievement. Students also communicate what specific assessments or work products they use to show their proficiency of a specific standard. We should see these implemented further as we complete the 1st quarter of the year.
FMS to be Featured in National Webinar
Each teacher will have multiple students featured to talk about components of EmpowerFZ in their classrooms. Students will share about their Classroom Visions, Classroom Codes, Standard Operating Procedures, Data Notebooks, Learning Road Maps, and Learning Plans. Smith, Balk, Esquibel, and Copeland will share their journey with this process and highlight how learning has come to life within classrooms. They will then dialogue with numerous administrators, teachers, and coaches on how this process has transformed learning and personalized it for our students. Kudos to Falcon Middle on being recognized in this National Network!
The Learner Profile
Teams continue to work on the Student Learner Profiles. This is where students take a personality inventory related to the True Colors personality test. Students will determine whether they are Gold, Orange, Blue, or Green. All of us exhibit characteristics of all of these colors, but we each have a strong personality color that drives our actions and learning behaviors. Students are entering their True Color into the Learner Profile within PowerSchool. Once completed, we will share instructions with you on how to access this for your student. You can see characteristics related to your student's personality style along with information on how they best learn both inside and outside of the classroom.
Mrs. Siemsen, our Choice and Success Advisor, launched an activity through Advisory this week to help students begin building their ICAP (Individual Career and Academic Plan). These plans are required in the State of Colorado to help students explore various future career options and interests that will focus learning through Middle School and High School. Mrs. Siemsen is working to compile this information with the students so that it can be further highlighted on their learner profile. This will help teachers see what the interests of our students are and provide learning opportunities that utilize these strengths. Students and families will be able to use this information to explore various career pathways and courses available to students as they progress further in their education.
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Tutoring Available at FMS
Hello Firebird Nation Families,
We wanted to reach out to all of you as we begin our 2nd half of Quarter 1 during this 22-23 School Year. This year at Falcon Middle School, we are wanting to spend more time working with all grade-level Firebirds on the mastery of their core content. Due to this, FMS will be offering after-school tutoring and subject help.
FMS will be offering a 1-hr 15-min tutoring window Mondays through Thursdays from 3:15-4:30 pm. These times will be used to:
· Master current standards and concepts
· Master former standards and concepts
· Work on current learning plans and receive guided support
If you're interested in attending a tutoring day(s), please fill out the following this link:
Any students attending academic tutoring ARE REQUIRED to have a plan for being picked up at 4:30 pm. Please feel free to reach out to either of us or your child's teachers if you have any concerns or questions,
Carrie Clay
8th Grade Counselor
Corey Bates
8th Grade Gold Math Teacher
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Military Minute
Military and Family Life Counseling at Falcon Middle School
Ms. V
CYB Military and Family Life Counselor
719-639-3671
Child and youth behavioral military and family life counselors are available to meet with military children and their families to discuss self-esteem issues, relationships at home and school, behavioral issues, and changes at home such as deployment, reunion, divorce and grief. Children and teens can learn how to put their military-life strengths to use in their everyday lives.
PLEASE FILL OUT THE ATTACHED PARENT CONSENT FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE FRONT OFFICE
MCEC supports all military-connected children by educating, advocating, and collaborating to resolve education challenges associated with the military lifestyle.
Tutor.com
Military Resource for Academics open to ALL Families
What is Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families? Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families (Tutor.com/military), funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CMGA), is a program that allows eligible students in grades kindergarten through college to connect to a live tutor online at any time (24/7/361) for one-to-one help with homework, studying, test prep and more, at no cost.
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Mark your Calendar
September
22: Picture Re-take Day
22: Pie with the Principal - Come chat, celebrate, and ask questions with our Admin Team!
30: End of 1st Quarter
October
6: Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:00pm - 7:00pm
7: No School for Students, Parent Teacher Conferences - 7:30am - 3:00pm
8-23: Fall Break!
Check the FMS website calendar often for the most up-to-date information.
All dates/events are subject to change.
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From Nurse Nelda
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Firebird Nation Campus Expansion
Wow! Look at this progress! You can see that the exterior framing is just about complete and the exterior walls are being constructed. Rock and decorative brick is being installed to enclose the building and connect it to the existing BRES building. Framing has almost wrapped up on the inside and teams will be conducting their walk of the areas to ensure all electrical and plumbing is in the right place. Dry Wall is coming soon as we begin to finish the interior portion of the building. Construction is on-time, if not a little ahead, which means we will be ready to go for next fall!
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Your Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) has close to 100 members and is excited to announce a membership incentive to keep up our momentum! All members who join PTSA by September 18th will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card (one for staff and one for parent/community) or a yearbook for student members.
The drawing will occur at the PTSA meeting on September 19 at 5:00 p.m. in the Learning Commons.
Don't miss out! Join now for only $10 using the following links or get a form from the office to use cash or check:
Parent/Guardian: https://falconmsptsa.memberhub.com/store/items/105273
Staff: https://falconmsptsa.memberhub.com/store/items/104029
Student: https://falconmsptsa.memberhub.com/store/items/105101
Community: https://falconmsptsa.memberhub.com/store/items/104034
PTSA Meeting Schedule
We are looking for volunteers on Fridays to help with the PBIS store during lunches at the school. Use this link to sign up.
Looking for volunteers to help with concessions. Use these links to sign up:
More opportunities for concessions will be posted soon on Signup Genius.
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Looking for Firebird Gear?
Falcon Middle School
6th Grade Assistant Principal: Joy Kovanda
7th Grade Assistant Principal/Athletic Director: Elena Forehand
8th Grade Assistant Principal: Tim Scheck
6th Grade Counselor: Amber Villani
7th Grade Counselor: Lisa Murdock
8th Grade Counselor: Carrie Clay
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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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FalconMiddleD49
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