Freedom Falcon Parent Newsletter
Week of October 30th
Holiday Attendance
Dear Parents,
Are you planning a family trip for the holidays? As you think about your arrangements, we want to stress the importance of sending your child to school every day possible. Every year, absences spike in the weeks before and after the Thanksgiving holiday and winter break as families squeeze in a few more vacation days. It’s time to break that cycle. We know that just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school. Put simply, too many absences at any age can affect a student’s chances for academic success and eventually for graduation.
We recognize that holidays are an important time for reconnecting with families far away. The costs of plane tickets often influence when you want to travel. But keep in mind the costs to your children’s education if they miss too much school— and the message you will be sending about the importance of attendance. Even if you’ve got a homework packet from the teacher, it doesn’t make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning, right up until the holidays starts and the first day back. We also hope you will keep in mind that school is closed on Monday, Nov. 20th through Friday, Nov. 24th and Thursday, Dec. 21st through Friday, Jan. 5th. This holiday season, give your children the gift of an education and the habit of attendance.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rochelle Williams
Principal
Freedom Elementary School
719-228-0800
Colorado Springs School District 11
What's Happening at Freedom, this week!
Monday, Oct 30th - Chess Club 2:50-3:50pm
Wednesday, Nov 1st
- Choir 7am
- Pre-K Family Day
Freedom Website Update
Freedom Families: All District 11 websites are moving to a new platform. The migration will happen this week. The Freedom website may look a little obscure for a few days as the process is being finalized. Please be patient! Thank you!
Chromebook Homework Take Home Expectations
Freedom Third-Fifth Grade Families: Here is a copy of the Agreement Forms that students must returned signed by themselves and a parent before they can start taking their Chromebooks home for homework.
Here are a few other expectations:
1. Chargers will stay here at school.
2. Chromebooks will only go home Monday-Thursday nights when there is school the next day.
3. If a student forgets to bring their Chromebook back to school the next day, there will be a "natural consequences" for the day. Meaning the following:
- Students will get to use paper/pencil for the day.
- Students may not use an extra Chromebook available in the classroom.
- Students may not call home to have a parent bring in their Chromebook or borrow one from the library.
Attendance Information and Celebrations!
A message from Ms. Blankenship about Attendance!
We want to motivate and reward our students for good attendance. We will start giving out Free Meal coupon awards beginning next week. We will look at student attendance each week. If your student comes to school on time, every day, with no absence or tardy within the week they will receive a coupon from either, Raising Cane's, Whataburger or other local favorites!
ATTENDANCE CHALLENGE!
For every day your child's class has perfect attendance by 8:00 AM, the teacher will color in a letter; complete all letters, and win a party for the entire class!
Who's going to be the first class to get a party??
What's Happening at Freedom (Looking ahead)
November
Thursday 9th – SAC/PTA Meeting at 5PM (flex room)
Friday, 10th-Veterans Day Assembly
Monday 13th – Chipotle Hightrails Restaurant Night 4-8PM
o 6530 Tutt Blvd, 80923 - 33% goes to Hightrails
Friday, 17th- Coffee and Conversations with the principals!
Monday 20th through Friday 24th – No School Thanksgiving Break
Monday 27th through Dec 1st – Holiday Shop
Thursday 30th – Hightrails Info Night (6:30PM)
December
Monday 11th – Panera Bread 4-8PM
o 5985 Dublin Blvd, Ste 100 – 20% goes to PTA
Thursday 14th – SAC/PTA Meeting at 5PM (flex room) (TBD)
Thursday Dec 21st until Sunday Jan 7th – No School Winter Break
SAVE THE DATE!
Free Toy Shop in Colorado Springs for Families in need
We are hosting our Annual Toy Shop for families in need on December 2, 2023. This event is free to any family in need. Registration will be required and will open on our website on November 29th at 9am. We expect all spots to be filled within 30 minutes. Anyone who does not get a spot can come the last 30 minutes of the event to see if there are toys left.
Our event serves children birth to 18. Parents are required to bring a photo ID from anywhere in the world and a birth certificate for their child(ren). If they do not have a birth certificate, they will need to be able to provide other documentation that shows they are the parent of the children they would like gifts for. Student ID's or social security cards do not work.
I have attached event flyers that you can share with families in need. The most up to date information can be found on our Facebook Event Page.
FYI (Old Information, but good to know!)
Freedom Swag
Do not forget to order your Freedom swag! Take a look at the link below. Lots of fun options!
School Recess-When is it too cold to go outside for recess?
Please be sure that your children are dressed to play outside, with hats, coats, mittens or gloves, and appropriate footwear.
Inclement Weather Dismissal Protocol
In the event of inclement weather, including any of the following:
lightning danger
extreme winds
extreme cold
large amounts of precipitation
We will send out an email, text, phone call, and post on our FB when we do inclement weather dismissal. Please familiarize yourself with the protocol.
Falcon Club
Students go to the portables
Adventure Club
Students go to the cafeteria
Buses
Students ride the bus
Kindergarten
Parents come to the kindergarten doors.
Students will be dismissed from their classrooms.
1st-5th Grade (walkers/kiss and go/parent pick-up)
Students will be dismissed from the gym.
Parents are to walk through the front doors.
Staff will escort parents to the gym.
Child/children will go with parents.
Parent and child/children will go out the side gym doors.
Freedom Supply List 2023-2024
Free Lunch for ALL STUDENTS!!
Effective November 1, 2023 the adult lunch meal price for District 11 will be $4.65. Please contact the front office if you have any questions.
Parking Lot /Traffic Flow/Kiss & Go/Bus/Drop Off Information
Traffic is very heavy before and after school. Please teach and encourage your child to always use the crosswalk and to watch for traffic in all directions.
Our parking lot capacity is limited. Daycare vehicles and District 11 vehicles have reserved drop-off and pick-up spaces in our parking lot.
IMPORTANT: All buses pick-up and drop-off in the Freedom parking lot.
Please remember: These are your friends and neighbors, and each of you has children attending our school. Please be patient and extend courtesy to your friends and neighbors as you enter and exit our parking lot and/or pick up your children.
PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY in and around the school.
The “Kiss-N-Go” traffic lane is for drop-off and pickup up only. It is not to be used as a place to park and leave a vehicle.
Please use the “Kiss-N-Go” lane to safely drop students off at school.
All students will be dismissed at 2:50 and parents are encouraged to pre-plan pick-up location. All students will exit the building at the end of the day from the same doors that they entered the building.
Important information about Kiss-N-Go and Bus pick up and drop off:
Kiss-N-Go is located on Butterfield Drive in the street cut-out.
Bus pick-up and drop-off will be in the loop directly in front of the school.
To use the Kiss-N-Go location, please access it from Range Ranch. Head east on Butterfield drive to the cut-out in the street. Pull to the end of the cut-out.
Please access Butterfield Drive from Range Ranch so all school traffic moves east on Butterfield. Access Range Ranch from westbound Bridle Pass.
DO NOT Block the entrance and exit to the parking lot.
Kiss-N-Go: When students exit the vehicle for safety purposes it should always be from the right side of the car, not the street side. DO NOT PARK YOUR VEHICLE.
BUILDING ENTRY & EXIT:
Students using Kiss-N-Go enter and exit the school building from the double doors of the upper playground blacktop.
Students riding the bus enter and exit the building from the front double doors.
Students walking to and from school also enter and exit from the double doors off the upper playground blacktop.
To park and walk your child to the front entrance:
Enter the Freedom parking lot from Butterfield Drive
Pull into the LEFT lane
Enter the Family Parking Lot by making a left turn into the lot (this was known as the staff parking lot).
Staff Parking lot is now located by the preschool and kindergarten
Park your vehicle
Escort your student to the crosswalk to the front doors
Your student will enter through the front double doors.
Preschool and Kindergarten parking
Enter the Freedom parking lot from Butterfield Drive
Pull into the LEFT lane
Enter the parking lot by making a left turn into the lot
Enter the Family Parking Lot
Staff Parking lot is now located by the preschool and kindergarten playground.
Park your vehicle
Escort your student(s) to the crosswalk to the door of your preschool door
Pick Up - What if I can’t be here on time to pick up my child?
If you cannot be here to pick up your student WITHIN 10 MINUTES of dismissal, please make other arrangements with a family member or daycare provider. We understand everyone is going to run late at times, and we strive to be understanding of emergencies.
At the same time, late pick-ups interfere with scheduled meetings, training, and our ability to use resources effectively. Freedom staff cannot provide supervision to siblings of students practicing. Freedom staff cannot provide supervision to siblings of students participating in tutoring, athletics, clubs etc. It is the families’ responsibility to ensure students not involved in after school activities are picked up within 10 minutes of school dismissal.
Enrollment Information
GreatSchools.com
Deliveries to students
Please help your student plan ahead. Make sure they have everything they need PRIOR to leaving home. This includes items such as lunch, homework, jackets, water bottles, etc.
If they forget their lunch, they need to eat the school lunch that day. ALL food deliveries, except in emergencies, will be turned away. This includes fast food or restaurant food that you bring to them.
Our main office is protected for school operational tasks, not deliveries of items or food.
Picking up Student Early
Freedom Clinic Protocol
Visitor Procedures
Freedom appreciates your patience as we follow these procedures. To learn more about how you are approved as a visitor or volunteer, please use the QRL code below to fill out your online registration.
D11 Engage
Register to become a volunteer at Freedom
Click the registration link below and set up a username and password. Once you are registered you can log in and view your volunteer hours as well as search for available volunteer opportunities at all D11 schools.
Already a registered volunteer? No need to re-register every year. If updates are needed the system will notify you via email. If you need your username or password you can request it through the website.
Request a volunteer badge
Save time when you arrive. Your badge will be in the plastic bin under the sign-in desk. Scan your badge and wear it while you’re in the building. Scan again when you leave. Your hours will be logged on the Engage website.
https://www.d11.org/Engage/Registration
Click on the blue registration link to register online, fill out the forms, print, sign, and bring them by the school office with your identification.
For questions or to request a badge contact Freedom’s F.I.T. Volunteer Coach Jonna Ward at 719-288-0800 or Jonna.Ward@d11.org.
Dogs are not allowed on school grounds.
With the exception of service animals, dogs are not allowed on school grounds, playgrounds, or sports fields at any time throughout the calendar year during the school day.
This is for the health and safety of our students and staff members.
When there are no students (after hours, on weekends, and on holidays), dog owners may walk their pets on a leash along the school property borders, such as on sidewalks/school roads. Please clean up and properly dispose of pet waste.
ENTRY TIME FOR STUDENTS:
Freedom Office Hours: 7:15-3:30
Freedom School Hours: 7:50-2:50
Students will be allowed in the building at 7:40 am
Duty teachers do not start duty until 7:40 am
Tardy bell rings at 7:55
A message from our Freedom Elementary's School Accountability Committee (S.A.C.)
At Freedom Elementary, we care about your children's developmental needs! That is why our mission is to ensure that each and every student has access to the learning tools and programs they need to succeed in school, and in life. We strive for a higher standard of excellence and take the time to focus on those who need extra support. Joining our S.A.C. is a fantastic way to keep up to date with the initiatives our school has put in place to better our learners, and to also voice your opinions and concerns!
We look forward to the bright and brilliant future under the leadership of Rochelle Williams, and welcome her to the Freedom Family!
If you are interested in joining Freedom's SAC committee, please reach out to Justin Edmisson @ 719-332-3615 or justin.edmisson@gmail.com.
Looking for a way to connect and get involved at Freedom?
Contact Justin Edmission at 719-332-3615 or justin.edmisson@gmail.com.
If you are interested. Come be a member and have a voice in Freedom's PTA.