The Firebird Flash
December 3, 2021
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Principal's Update
- Check the Lost and Found!
- 7th and 8th Grade Explore Class Information
- Book Fair
- Important Info from our Nurse Nelda!
- Purchase your 8th Grade Yearbook Ads
- PTSA
- Yearbooks
- Purchase Firebird Gear
Updates from our Principal
Greetings Firebird Nation Families -
Welcome Back! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Break and was able to take some time for rest, relaxation, and family.
It is hard to believe that there are only 2 weeks left in the 2nd quarter. Our 21-22 school year is at the halfway point. This is a critical time for students to stay on top of their grades so that they end the quarter on a positive note. Also, please remember that Friday, December 17th, is a 3-hour early release day. Falcon Middle School will dismiss at 12:00pm on 12/17. We will not have full lunch service on this day, but can provide a sack lunch to a student if requested. We will announce to students as we get closer how to request a sack lunch if needed. D49 Transportation will still be running at this modified time.
We are approaching the deadline for Tdap vaccination compliance. Our School Nurse, Nelda, has included some information below on what must be submitted to ensure this requirement is met. Students that are not in compliance with this requirement will not be able to return to school on Thursday, January 6th. Please make sure to read through this information below and contact our Health Room if you have any additional questions.
Our 7th and 8th grade students met with the explore team yesterday to begin the process of making course requests for their semester long explore classes starting in January. Students need to return their forms to their explore teacher or grade level counselor by Friday, December 10th. The email that we sent to families had a broken link for 7th grade; we apologize for this. We have included the same information with the updated link below for parents and students to review and make their course selections.
Our 8th Grade Students will be taking the PSAT next week on Wednesday. This is an opportunity for our students and parents to see how students are performing in English/Language Arts and Math. It also provides an indicator for students and parents to know what score their student is on track to receive on the SAT when they take it in the future. It is a great opportunity for our students to help prepare them for these college readiness assessments in their future.
I want to continue to encourage our parents to get involved at FMS! We really appreciate partnering with our families to ensure we provide the best experiences we can for our students. The School Accountability Committee and Parent Teacher Student Association are two great ways to get involved, learn what is happening at FMS, and help provide ideas to continue to improve our school. Please feel free to attend these meetings when you can...I would love to have your input! The next School Accountability Committee meeting is on Monday, January 10th, at 5:30pm in the FMS Learning Commons. The next PTSA Meeting is on Monday, January 24th, at 5:30pm in the FMS Learning Commons. We are looking for officers to help with PTSA and this is an awesome way to get involved in our school! Please consider being a part of one or both of these groups.
I hope everyone has a great weekend. I look forward to working together these next two weeks as we close out 2021. I have been encouraging students to keep their behaviors in check; I know these can be challenging weeks, but by working together we will make it successfully to our next break. Thank you for your continued support of Firebird Nation!
Sincerely,
Brian Smith
Executive Principal
Falcon Middle School
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Explore Classes For 7th and 8th Grade Students
7th and 8th grade Firebird families,
Tomorrow, December 2nd, your student will be making choices for their second semester explore classes. They will be meeting as a group to hear about all the course offerings before receiving a registration form to complete. This form requires your student to request FOUR DIFFERENT course options. It also requires a parent signature so that we know that parents are aware of the requests their students are making.
Please ask your student to show you the form so you can go over it together. All directions and other information is included on these forms. You can look at the course offerings in one of these locations:
7th Grade Presentation
8th Grade Presentation
This form must be returned to us no later than December 10th. Counselors will then use these forms to finalize your student’s explore classes for 3rd and 4th quarters of this year. They will make every effort to help students get classes that they are requesting. If there are questions after schedules are completed, please contact your student’s counselor directly.
Thank you!
Falcon Middle School
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Important Info from Nurse Nelda
School District 49
NOTICE OF EXCLUSION DATE 2021-22
Dear D49 Parents & Guardians;
District 49 Nursing Services is currently working on getting notices out to parents regarding immunization requirements and compliance. If your student DOES NOT meet the requirements under Colorado School Immunization Law you should have already received at least one notice requesting immunization records or exemption. We will not send notices if your student is up to date with all required immunizations. No further action from you is required.
If your student has not met the state immunization compliance requirements, or a complete record is not on file at school showing that they are fully immunized, he/she will be excluded from school in accordance to Colorado School Entry Immunization Law and the Colorado Board of Health and not be permitted to return to school on Thursday, January 6, 2022, for the second semester at Falcon Middle School.
Colorado School Entry Immunization Law and the Colorado Board of Health require students who attend public school to be vaccinated against many of the diseases vaccines can prevent.
There are three ways a student can meet the compliance requirements established by Colorado law:
Student has received all doses of school-required vaccines according to the current ACIP schedule
Student is “in process” of getting up-to-date on required vaccines and has a written plan from parent/guardian on file with the school (or at least a phone call to explain the plan).
Official Exemption Forms are on file with the school:
An official Immunization Medical Exemption Form has been provided to the school (if the student has a medical condition that prevents them from being able to receive vaccine(s)
Or, a signed non-medical exemption form or parent statement has been signed by parents and is on file with the school (this is an annual requirement).
If you have questions about your student’s immunization status, please communicate with school health office personnel at (719) 495-5227.
Sincerely,
Nursing Services
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Purchase your 8th Grade Yearbook Ads
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It's not too late to join the Parent Teacher Student Association! Dues are just $8 for the year. You may pay at the office or online at: https://falconmsptsa.memberhub.com/store
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8th Grade Ads - 8th Grade Parents may also purchase 8th grade ads for their students using this link.
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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