The Firebird Flash
October 28, 2022
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Principal's Update
- From Zone Superintendent, Sue Holmes
- Mark your Calendar
- Halloween Costume Expectations
- Trunk or Treat at FHS
- Tutoring Available at FMS
- EmpowerFZ Updates
- Support the Firebird Band Program
- Open Gym for Boys Basketball
- Order your FMS Yearbook
- Firebird Nation Campus Expansion Update
- From Nurse Nelda - Important Tdap Information
- PTSA
- Purchase Firebird Gear
Updates from our Principal
Greetings Firebird Nation Families -
Happy Friday! We made it through the first week back from break; there was a lot going on! And, it's hard to believe that we are only 3 weeks away from Thanksgiving Break!
Students participated in Mini Course Sign Ups on Thursday. I was very appreciative of all of the parent volunteers that we had attend; Thank you! I am also very appreciative of all of the efforts of our teachers for putting together some really unique courses this year. The office team also worked extremely hard putting together the catalog, registration materials, securing transportation, and assisting with registration; Thank you! Please remember that permission slips and payments are due by Wednesday, November 9th or students will lose their places in these courses. Students may turn in permission slips and payments each morning in the Gym. We look forward to hearing about all of the adventures students have in mini courses on November 17th and 18th.
We also had our 1st Quarter Firebird Assembly on Thursday as well. Our Firebirds celebrated the outstanding seasons that our Cross Country, Volleyball, and Football teams had this year. In my 12 years as Principal, I have never had all three sports in a season reach the championship level; Well Done Firebirds! Our Football team was also presented with the championship year on the banner that will now post in the Gym. Our Firebird Band performed along with the drumline and it was AWESOME! The student performance made it feel like you were at a college level sporting event! Our 7th grade students won the class competition and we recognized some awesome Firebirds of the quarter.
FMS is looking forward to the return of our Academic Awards Night. We lost track of this event during COVID and with all of the computer system transfers when we moved to power school. So, we are excited for the return of this later this year. This is where we recognize Firebirds that have achieved a Grade Point Average of 3.5 and above for both first and second quarter. Academics are extremely important and we want to recognize students that are showing strong academic progress through the year. It is tentatively scheduled for January 11, 2023. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.
Well, this will be the final update you receive from me as the Executive Principal of FMS. It has been my honor to serve this community and all of our students in this capacity. I already know that I will miss the regular day to day interaction with the students. I was so honored this week as students came to congratulate me and also share how they were feeling about all of this. FMS definitely has AWESOME students and I will truly miss my daily interactions with them! I will still be getting updates and will visit the halls from time to time, so I will be eager to hear how they are doing!
Thank you to the entire Firebird Nation Community for your support and collaborative efforts as we provide an exceptional experience for our students. I have really appreciated all that we have done together. And, I look forward to this continued collaboration in my new role as Zone Superintendent. I plan to provide periodic Zone level updates in these newsletters and through other channels in the Zone so that everyone knows what is taking place throughout the Falcon Zone. I also want to be visible throughout all of our schools to get to know our students and Zone Community as we work together to ensure Falcon Zone is the best in everything we do. So, this is not good-bye by any means. You will hear from me again soon!
I know you will be in the best of hands with Mrs. Forehand stepping into the Principal role. She is ready for this challenge and looking forward to serving this community further in her new capacity as well. She and I have spent countless hours this past week working through the transition so that we can keep all of our processes and procedures in place. Mrs. Forehand will continue these weekly updates starting next Friday.
And, to my students, I look forward to seeing you around FMS on Monday as it will be my last official day with you full time. Have a great weekend! As always, I wish everyone nothing but the best! Finally, Thank you to the students and staff for ensuring I remember, Once a Firebird, Always a Firebird! Being a Firebird means a great deal to me!
Sincerely,
Brian Smith
Executive Principal
Falcon Middle School
_________________________________________________________________________________________
From Zone Superintendent, Sue Holmes
Dear Falcon Zone Community,
Five and a half years ago I started my work as the Falcon Zone Superintendent and knew instantly that District 49 was a very special place. As I began working with the principals in the zone, we quickly aligned in our vision for our classrooms–to create student-centered spaces of learning so that all kids would be supported in achieving proficiency and success. We came to know this vision and work as EmpowerFZ (Empower Falcon Zone).
Today as I visit classrooms in our schools, I am incredibly proud of the changes I see. We have indeed transformed classrooms at scale where students have critical voice and choice in their journeys toward educational success. I give immense kudos to our teachers who take risks every day to become better facilitators of true personalized and competency based learning. They have invested time in professional learning to support this new work, and have stepped out into foreign territory and away from what has been safe and familiar–all for the sake of their students. The results are clear: students understand what standard they are working on, what elements of the standard they have mastered and which ones they still need to gain proficiency–and their paths to get there. This is true student engagement for every single child, no matter their level!
In February 2023, the Falcon Zone schools will host site visits as part of the National Conference on Digital Convergence that will take place at The Broadmoor. We are so excited for other educators from across the country to come see the remarkable teaching and learning that is occurring in our schools.
As I sit writing this piece, I am filled with mixed emotions. Emotions of pride and joy for our work and feelings of true teamwork among leadership in the zone and staff throughout our schools. At the same time, I am experiencing excitement as I retire in a few days from my 38 year K-12 education career combined with a sense of loss as I leave the Falcon Zone and D49, which has truly been my absolute best choice to learn, work and lead. I definitely saved the best position in my career for last!
Thank you for your continued trust, support and partnership as I pass the leadership baton to interim Falcon Zone Superintendent, Brian Smith. Brian has proven his steadfast commitment to the Falcon Zone first as a Chemistry teacher at Falcon High School and most recently as Principal of Falcon Middle School for the past 12 years. I know the zone is in great hands!
Sincerely,
Sue Holmes
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Mark your Calendar
October
31: Halloween - Please see Halloween Costume Expectations below
November
7: PTSA Meeting @5:00pm
7: SAC Meeting @5:30pm
11: Veteran's Day Assembly at FMS
17-18: Mini Courses at FMS!
21-25: Thanksgiving Break - No School
Check the FMS website calendar often for the most up-to-date information.
All dates/events are subject to change.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Halloween Costume Expectations for 10/31/22
Halloween Costumes may be worn on Monday, October 31st, as long as the following expectations are being followed:
1. Normal School Dress Code still applies. Students should review the dress code in the student handbook.
2. There can be NOTHING on the face...we have to be able to see their normal face. The only exception is a safety mask due to COVID. This means there can be absolutely NO full covering masks, NO face paint, NO fake blood, NO sunglasses, and NO hoods pulled up over their head.
3. Wigs and hats will be allowed as long as they are part of a costume and do not cover the face. If during class, the hat or wig is a distraction to the learning environment, then it will be taken off for that class period at the request of the teacher.
4. There can be NO weapons of any kind, which also includes anything that looks like or resembles a weapon.
5. We want students to have fun and show school spirit, but the guidelines need to be followed so that students are not asked to call home for a change of clothes.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Tutoring Available at FMS
We wanted to reach out to all of of our Firebird Families as we continue our way through this 2022-2023 School Year at Falcon Middle School. We are spending more time working with all grade-level Firebirds on the mastery of their core contents. Due to this, FMS will continue to offer after-school tutoring and subject help.
FMS will be offering a 1-hr 15-min tutoring window on 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/Guided Support
If you are interested in attending a tutoring window, please fill out the following Google Form. Once you have signed up, we will look forward to seeing you at the tutoring session!
Any attending students 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,
Corey A. Bates
8th Grade Gold Math Teacher
Falcon Middle School
cabates@d49.org
Carrie Clay
8th Grade Counselor
Falcon Middle School
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Falcon Zone is being featured as a National Showcase District this year during the NCDC Conference through Modern Teacher. Educators from all over the country will come to Colorado Springs in February and visit our schools! They will have the opportunity to see all of the great things happening instructionally for our students. We are so honored to be selected to host this conference! Students will be selected as classroom ambassadors to help talk about how they learn within their classrooms and why they are completing specific tasks and learning plans. Be watching for more information on this exciting opportunity soon!
Mr. Smith was selected to participate in another National Webinar with 5 of our Firebird Students! Thank you to Bradigan, Liam, Tyler, Catherine, and Ashlee for helping to share about their learning experience in the classrooms at FMS. We hope to share highlights of this webinar with you soon! Our students answered a variety of questions related to all of our EmpowerFZ processes at FMS and did an awesome job! Thank you Firebirds!
________________________________________________________________________________________
Support the Firebird Band Program
The Firebird Bands are working to raise funds for a set of chimes through Donors Choose. This would really help enhance our Band Program and expand the musical selections we are able to provide our students. 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 for your support!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Open Gym for Boys Basketball
There will be open gym time for 6th thru 8th grade boys basketball on the following dates:
November - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Wed - 11/2
Mon - 11/7
Wed - 11/9
Any boys who are interested come on out and meet the coach(es)!!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Yearbooks may be ordered at www.jostensyearbooks.com or by calling 1-877-767-5217.
Supplies are limited, so order and secure your 22-23 FMS Yearbook Today!
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Firebird Nation Campus Expansion
_________________________________________________________________________________________
from Nurse Nelda
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Your Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) has close to 100 members and is looking to engage additional families in our awesome organization!
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.
More opportunities for concessions will be posted soon on Signup Genius.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Looking for Firebird Gear?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Falcon Middle School
6th Grade Assistant Principal: Joy Kovanda
7th Grade Assistant Principal/Athletic Director: TBD
8th Grade Assistant Principal: Tim Scheck
Dean of Students: Patricia Kelly
6th Grade Counselor: Amber Villani
7th Grade Counselor: Lisa Murdock
8th Grade Counselor: Carrie Clay
**************************************************
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
_________________________________________________________________________________________