FMS BLAST
Monday, October 4th, 2021
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Dear Parents:
I understand there is a lot of confusion and concern for parents when you receive the emails and robo-calls from the school about your child’s absences. Sometimes you have already called them into the office and you may still get the call. I hope my explanation will suffice to alleviate some of the confusion.
When you call a student in ill or out for the day to the office the attendance clerk does note this.
However, in the classrooms the teachers do not have the ability to mark a student excused. Teachers only mark students: Present; Absent; or Late. The office then goes back through to mark students: Unverified; Excused; Etc. This process takes time and does not always happen before the school day is complete. Thus, even though you may have called your child in, you are still receiving these messages.
If you did contact the school for the student missing that day, there is no need to respond to these messages. We apologize for the annoyance of receiving them. They are automatically generated through the district office and we do not have the ability to adjust that.
Also, there seems to be confusion on what is considered an excused absence. There are only some situations that the absence, even if you notify the school, are considered excused. California Education Code is very staunch about these. They are as follows:
California Ed. Code 48205.
A pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:
(1) Due to the pupil’s illness.
(2) Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.
(3) For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic services rendered.
(4) For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of the pupil’s immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in California and not more than three days if the service is conducted outside California.
(5) For the purpose of jury duty in the manner provided for by law.
(6) Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the pupil is the custodial parent, including absences to care for a sick child for which the school shall not require a note from a doctor.
(7) For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of the pupil’s religion, attendance at religious retreats, attendance at an employment conference, or attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization when the pupil’s absence is requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board.
(8) For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Section 12302 of the Elections Code.
(9) For the purpose of spending time with a member of the pupil’s immediate family who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in Section 49701, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position. Absences granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be granted for a period of time to be determined at the discretion of the superintendent of the school district.
(10) For the purpose of attending the pupil’s naturalization ceremony to become a United States citizen.
(11) Authorized at the discretion of a school administrator, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 48260.
(b) A pupil absent from school under this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit therefor. The teacher of the class from which a pupil is absent shall determine which tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence.
(c) For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed four hours per semester.
(d) Absences pursuant to this section are deemed to be absences in computing average daily attendance and shall not generate state apportionment payments.
(e) “Immediate family,” as used in this section, means the parent or guardian, brother or sister, grandparent, or any other relative living in the household of the pupil.
My hope is that by sharing this information parents may have a clearer understanding of what constitutes an excused absence by law. Keeping a student out of school for any other reason will not be excused.
Also, please see the information on truancy versus chronic absenteeism. Even though a student may be excused from school, that absence does count toward chronic absenteeism as measured in the state of California. Any of the administrators are happy to meet with parents to explain the process and these laws in more detail if you would like. We are open to making sure this information is as clear as possible as we work in partnership with you on the education of your child.
I hope you have a wonderful week and month as we enter the month of October. It will prove to be a busy month here at FMS.
Fondly,
Dr. Terri Daniels
YOUTH VAPING……IS YOUR CHILD DOING IT?
There are many things that have come out of the pandemic. Here at FMS one of the negative impacts we are seeing is the upgrade in vaping among our students. Some have shared that they started during the pandemic due to boredom, anxiety, isolation, or just for something to do. Here is a study out just this week regarding the number of high school and middle school students who are turning to the use of e-cigarettes.
The paraphernalia used for vaping are getting harder to detect. Many are very small and easily concealed.
PARENTS, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO BE AWARE AND TALK WITH YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE DANGERS AND CONCERNS WITH THIS USE.
We know it is happening and some of the FMS student body is engaging in these negative choices. While it is not always easy to catch the students in the act, we do know students are turning to using as they enter into adolescence for a variety of reasons. We want our students to make healthy life choices. Please work with us collaboratively as we strive to keep all our students safe. Thank you for remaining aware. If you are concerned that your child is engaging in vaping, we are here to support you and them. We have resources so please reach out if you feel the need.
Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy: What is the Difference?
When a student reaches 3 unverified absences, or tardies over 30 minutes, they are designated as a truant in the state of California. California Ed. Code states clearly:
EC Section 48260 (a) A pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than a 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, shall be classified as a truant and shall be reported to the attendance supervisor or to the superintendent of the school district.
EC Section 48263.6: Any pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without a valid excuse for ten percent or more of the school days in one school year, from the date of enrollment to the current date, is deemed a chronic truant, provided that the appropriate school district officer or employee has complied with EC sections 48260, 48260.5, 48261, 48262, 48263, and 48291.
By law, the school is required to send out notification letters for truancy based upon the California Education Code. Thus, if parents receive the letters regarding truancy, this is something that is mandated by law in the state of California and is a means of warning that students are at risk of falling behind in their educational progress.
Separate from truancy, the state also tracks attendance for the concerns of chronic absenteeism. It is noted that students who miss 10% or more of their school year instruction, for any reason, are likely to fall behind their peers in educational progress by one or more years. This is a large concern for schools as we strive to provide students with a consistent education for the purpose of their future success. Missing 10% or more of instruction seriously impacts the student’s ability to be successful in their courses, particularly as they increase in their age and grades and expectations increase placing a larger burden on them to have to catch up. Even absences that are excused count against a student in monitoring their chronic absentee rates on their school record. We want to make sure that parents are aware of this as this is often a section of the law that is not understood.
Ed Code: 60901
(c)(1) For purposes of this section, “chronic absentee” means a pupil who is absent on 10 percent or more of the schooldays in the school year when the total number of days a pupil is absent is divided by the total number of days the pupil is enrolled and school was actually taught in the regular day schools of the district, exclusive of Saturdays and Sundays.
If you have any questions in regards to these laws, please let us know. Thank you for your understanding as we move through the 2021-22 school year and work to help students move forward with their academic success.
MISTER BROWN AND THE CHOOSE WELL PROGRAM IS BACK AT FMS!
If you and your child are new to FMS this year, boy are you, and they, in for a treat. At FMS we work together with Mister Brown to bring positive messages to students weekly in their advisory classes.
Mister Brown provides video messages geared right to our students about making better choices. His motto: WHEN YOU MAKE BETTER CHOICES, YOU WILL LIVE A BETTER LIFE! Ask your child to share with you about the Mister Brown message of the week. Later in the school year, Mister Brown will visit campus.
This is always a highlight for the students as he interacts with them in person. To get a snapshot of Mister Brown’s message here is the link to the lesson from last week your child saw:
Also, as parents, Mister Brown would LOVE your feedback as The Choose Well Program is working on curriculum needs for schools on character development. If you would take a moment to answer a short survey, your feedback is very much valued.
Thank you from Mister Brown.
REMINDER: Funding Form Due by October 15th
We need ALL parents and guardians to fill this form out, so our school will continue to receive some important supplemental services and programs. General funding takes care of the basics. Supplemental funding supports many additional services such as intervention teachers, mental health professionals, nurses, bilingual aides, and parent coordinators just to name a few.
The School Funding Form ensures our school receives the greatest amount of funding available from the state and this funding is used to increase services for our school.
Without everyone’s participation, we may not receive all the funding we are entitled to from the state - meaning fewer services for our students. So, we are counting on YOU!
● Our system is confidential, your information will stay secure.
● Your tax dollars pay for public education. By filling out this form, you can reclaim tax dollars for your school and District programs.
● No documents or proof of income needs to be submitted.
● There is no cost for filling out the School Funding Form
You may access the School Funding Form through the forms section of the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Thank you from FMS for participating so we may get the funding to make our school as supportive for your students as possible.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Friday, October 8th is a minimum day…..school is dismissed at 12:50 p.m.
It is also the end of our first quarter of the school year. Progress Reports will be accessible on the parent portal of PowerSchool as of Wed. Oct. 13th.
ATTENTION ALL BOYS INTERESTED IN BASKETBALL:
The 2021 Boys Basketball season is just around the corner. Please plan ahead and get your athletes' physicals completed and uploaded to athleticclearance.com before tryouts begin on Monday, October 18.
An up-to-date physical form must be uploaded to athleticclearance.com in order to try out for any school sport. If you have any questions, please contact the coaches.
6th/7th Grade Coach
Miss Bell sbell@fcusd.org
8th Grade Coach
Mr. Isbell visbell@fcusd.org
FOLSOM MIDDLE SCHOOL'S ANNUAL SPELLING BEE
Written Bee
Friday, November 12th, at 2:20 p.m.
Anyone is welcome to participate in this portion.
Meet in the MULTI after school.
Bring a PENCIL and a piece of PAPER and be
ready to start by 2:20!
__________________________________________
Oral Bee – After school on Friday, December 17th, 2021
The students with the top 12 scores from the
written bee will be invited to participate in
the oral bee. Guests are welcome to watch.
We will start at 1:15 in the multipurpose room (it’s a super minimum day)
The winner of FMS’s Oral Bee will go on to participate in the
California Central Valley Spelling Bee in March!
See Ms. Jones, Mrs. Myre, or Ms. Handy if you have any questions
Join us this summer 2022 and travel to Europe with FMS teachers! Our next international trip will be in 2024. Both trips are inclusive educational tours that include round trip airfare, safe & quality hotels, breakfast & dinner daily, guided tours and itinerary, on-tour transportation, tour director 24/7, worldwide safety network, and global travel protection plans (optional upgrade). Both companies offer flexible payment opportunities for families. Both trips are for students and parents! They are not FCUSD sponsored.
Check out all tour travel videos, the daily itinerary and links to enroll below:
UPCOMING BOOK FAIR
We need volunteers...we need YOU! Volunteering at the FMS Haunted House Book Fair is the perfect way to stay connected to your child at school and help students find the books they can't wait to read. Our book fairs bring in money for the library so we can get the newest and best books for our students! Sign up now and get ready for a fun and rewarding volunteer experience!
FMS is Celebrating this News:
We have had over 2,000 library books checked out this month!! And with the online check out system it is even closer to 2,500! That’s the most we’ve ever had at FMS in a single month! Our students are so excited to get back to school and back in the library and reading!! We are proud of our Jaguars. Keep it up, Jaguars.
Masks Required by Visitors to the Office:
Parents,
Please do not enter the school office without wearing a mask. You will be asked to leave if you are not wearing a mask. This is a mandate on California public school campuses as well as required in places of business in Sacramento County.
The staff appreciates your adhering to these safety measures when entering the FMS campus.
Thank you.
STUDENTS, PLEASE PACK EXTRA MASKS IN YOUR BACKPACK
TUTORING/HOMEWORK HELP/TARGETED INTERVENTION OPPORTUNITIES
At FMS we recognize that there are some students that can benefit from extra support that looks different based upon the needs of the students. We are moving forward with offering a few different types of academic help.
One on One and Group Tutoring provided by VDL students: These sessions will be available after school on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. beginning October 13, 2021. To sign your student up to participate in this opportunity we will need parents to contact your child’s counselor and identify the need that they need assistance with so we can match them to a tutor that will focus on that struggle. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CHILD’S COUNSELOR WITH THE DESIRED NEED TO SIGN YOUR STUDENT UP FOR THIS TUTORING OPPORTUNITY.
Homework Help: We are in the process of setting up a study lab where students are able to come after school to get help with homework assistance. Sign ups will be required to limit the number of students, but this can be more of a drop-in service as long as students are pre-registered. More information on this schedule will be forthcoming later this week for families.
Targeted Intervention: Math and ELA instructors will be working together to provide targeted interventions based on student needs. More information will be forthcoming as the intervention sessions are scheduled. Parents will be notified if your child is identified to participate in these sessions.
The goal at FMS is that ALL STUDENTS will learn and will make academic growth. We plan to provide ALL OUR STUDENTS with the ability and opportunity to be able to master the academic standards. For more information, please contact your child’s counselor for assistance.
Thank you.
HEALTH NEWS
Teens & Caffeine
Sports drinks and energy drinks with caffeine have become a popular choice for adolescents/teens at FMS. Please speak with your child about possible side effects of consuming caffeine (for example, heart palpitations, and headaches) and symptoms of caffeine withdrawal (trouble concentrating, headaches, feeling tired, and irritability)
Here is a resource to learn more on this topic:
GIFT CARDS AND CLASS PARTY FOR THIS WEEK'S WINNERS
THERE IS STILL TIME TO SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL AND WIN
We are excited to announce Folsom Middle School's largest ANNUAL SCHOOL FUNDRAISER will be 100% online this year. You will be able to reach out to family, friends, neighbors, and businesses by email, Facebook, and Twitter.
This week, you will receive an email with a link to your student's unique pledge page. Simply click the link to make a donation to your student's unique pledge page, and share your student's link with others. We are shooting for 100% participation so no amount is too small.
If you do not receive the email for whatever reason, simply search and find your student's unique online pledge page here: https://www.99pledges.com/fund/fmsjagathon21 or email president.fmspto@gmail.com for assistance.
🎯WE'RE ASKING EACH FAMILY TO RAISE $50. Having a unique pledge page URL makes it easy to notify family, friends, neighbors and businesses by sharing your student's URL link. Imagine: if 5 people donated $10 (tax-deductible) then each student would reach their goal!
📝DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE. Jagathon is sponsored by Folsom Middle School Parent Teacher Organization- a registered 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization. Federal Tax ID 68-0187183. Please share this tax-deductible Federal Tax ID so they can use it as well. This event helps you and all who donate to your student's fundraising efforts reinvest your tax dollars in your student's education.
JAGATHON is our school's largest- and most important- Annual School Community Giving Campaign. Administrators, Teachers, Staff, and Parents work together to guide and encourage students to do their best! 🐾 Will you help them achieve their goal? Your donation directly impacts our 1,300+ students and over 100 staff members for the entire 2021-22 school year!
😷 SAFETY of our Jaguars is our highest priority. For the safety of our students and staff, our Jagathon has been modified to take place throughout the school day in smaller groups, outdoors, applying all appropriate health and safety precautions.
🌈You will be receiving more information via email this week. You can also find out more on our website. Our link is on the Folsom Middle School website face page. If the have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at president.fmspto@gmail.com
💛THANK YOU! On behalf of all our Jaguar Students, Administrators, Teachers, Staff, PTO Members and Parent Volunteers, please accept our warm gratitude for your generous support!
QR Code to Membership page: Join and Pay online here.
FOLSOM MIDDLE SCHOOL
Website: www.fcusd.org/fms
Location: 500 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom, CA, USA
Phone: 916-294-9040
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fms.pto