Fulton Focus
For the parents and patrons of the Fulton School District
October 7, 2016
A message from the Superintendent
Dear Parents and Patrons,
Throughout this month, we are approaching your student’s first grading period. As in past years, grade cards and state test results will be distributed during the fall Parent/Teacher conference period. High School parents have had the opportunity this week to participate in Parent/Teacher conferences; the remainder of the District will have this opportunity prior to the end of October. I urge you to take this opportunity to review your child’s progress, and interact with his/her classroom teacher(s). Specific research and most observational data indicates students with supportive, engaged parents excel in academic success.
Highlighted in this issue of the Focus is a variety of activities celebrating National Anti-Bullying Month. Your Board of Education will be discussing slightly revised Bullying and Hazing Policies next week. Originally, both topics were outlined in the information you received in August; however, additional clarifying language has been added to the bullying policy and the hazing section has been separated to a new policy. The Board of Education meeting materials will be posted Monday on the website if you wish to review the policies or any other meeting information. After the Board policy discussion and subsequent re-adoption, the revised policies will be available on the FPS website.
In addition, various state assessment results will be reviewed and discussed at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting. Your next Focus will contain state assessment information.
On behalf of the Board of Education and staff, we sincerely appreciate your support. Thank you for sending great kids for us to work with!
Jacque A. Cowherd, Ed.D.
Superintendent
National Anti-Bullying Month
National Bullying Prevention Month is a campaign in the United States founded in 2006 by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. The campaign is held during the month of October and unites communities nationwide to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention. Schools in the Fulton Public School District participated in activities this week to raise awareness and to help prevent bullying in our schools.
Monday: Students wrote on paper hands to signify, "Lend a Hand To Take a Stand" against bullying.
Tuesday: Mismatch Day to help us all appreciate our differences.
Wednesday: Because it is challenging and eye-opening to walk in others shoes, Wednesday students wore two different shoes.
Thursday: To signify that words hurt more on the inside than the outside, students wore their clothing inside out.
Friday: Silent Strength Spirit Day. Students and staff are wearing black and gold to show our community that we are a unified front to ‘Stand Together Against Bullying! FMS is also wearing their UpStander bracelets to show they have taken the pledge to wipe out bullying.
Highway 54 Bowl
Please remember: all middle school students are required to sit in the middle school section during the game; elementary age children will only be admitted with a responsible adult and be supervised by that adult; and any child misbehaving will be asked to leave the area and not readmitted.
Volunteers
Application FAQs:
I filled one out last year. Do I still need to do this?
Applications are required on a yearly basis. Even if you filled one out last year, you will need to fill a new one out for the 2016-2017 school year.
How long does it take to process my application?
Applications take 7 days to process, so the sooner you get yours filled out, the better! Please do not wait until a couple days before a field trip/class party to submit your application. Get it done now so the office does not have to turn you away on the day of the event.
Will I be notified once my application has been approved?
You will only be notified if something was flagged on your background check that prevents you from attending events during school hours. However, if you have questions, once you have waited the 7 days for processing time, you may call the child's school of attendance to verify that your application has been approved!
I have kids in multiple schools within the district. Do I need to fill one out for each school?
No. One application can be used district-wide!
Why do I need to fill out a background check?
The safety of our students is a top priority at Fulton Public Schools. We require background checks to ensure our students will be safe with any of our volunteers. If you have further questions about this matter, you may contact our Central Office (573) 590-8000.
Written by April Gray, Bush Elementary Admin Assistant
FMS Innovations Class
This year, Fulton Middle School started an Innovations class, based on the book, "LAUNCH Cycle: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student".
This class is self-led using Tower Gardens to grow food. Students are given a task--in this case, to grow plants in tower gardens. The students plant the seeds or transplant plants, do whatever they need to make the plants grow, and then harvest the bounty. The students decide what to grow, where to put it, and how to maintain it. Ms. Windmiller, Physical Education and Innovations Class teacher, gives the students resources on troubleshooting, how-to videos, and helps with online research which will guide the students in decision making. However, the decisions on what to do and how to do it is up to the students. The students have had success and failure with the gardens, but every decision is a learning opportunity that helps students learn and grow themselves.
The tower gardens are hydroponic gardening systems, which means growing plants without soil. The students in the class started by sowing seeds into rockwool cubes, which act as a base to start seed growth. When the seedlings grow tall enough, they are transplanted into the tower garden system. From there, nutrients are added to the water reservoir. Inside the reservoir, a pump draws the water and nutrients up the tower and cascades down over the roots. During all of this, students take pictures and document what they do and what they see into their garden progress chart.
Once produce is ready to harvest, the class will give the food to SERVE, who in turn will donate it to the soup kitchen to serve to the Fulton community. Students will be visiting SERVE soon to learn more about what they do and to help volunteer.
Submitted by Ashley Windmiller, FMS
Congratulations!
FMS HIVE
The Fulton Middle School Hive started a few weeks ago. The purpose of the HIVE is to help at-risk students with their late or missing work and work corrections. The Family and Community Involvement Team has worked hard to find volunteers from the community to help these students. FMS has volunteers from William Woods, Westminster, and Fulton High School A+. FMS will continue to reach out to community members and groups to see if we can get more volunteers so we can help even more students be successful.
One student came in after 2 days of working at the Hive and proudly stated, "My grades are all up to A's and B's now because of this class!" Another student said, "I wanted to tell you thank you for doing the Hive because it has really helped me a lot." It is nice to see that all of the students are appreciating the help and building their self confidence while building relationships with mentors.
Submitted by Kristen Clark, FMS
Blithe Spirit
An ASL interpreter will be available at the Thursday, October 13th performance!
Purchase tickets at fhstheatre.brownpapertickets.com
All shows will be performed in the Allbritton Theater at Fulton High School.
Important Dates
October 10: NO SCHOOL District Professional Development Day
October 12: Board of Education Meeting 7 p.m.
October 31: NO SCHOOL Earned Day Off
November 6: Fall Back Daylight Savings Time ends
November 9: MAP Gold Medal Awards, Roger D. Davis Gymnasium 6:00 p.m.
November 9: Board of Education Meeting 7 p.m.
November 23-25: NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Break
Fulton Public Schools
Email: ksnethen@fulton58.org
Website: www.fulton58.org
Location: 2 Hornet Drive, Fulton MO
Phone: 573-590-8000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fulton-Public-Schools-298183414812/
Twitter: @FPSHornets