FES Mid-Summer Update

Summer 2023

Principal Message

FES Families,

I hope that you are enjoying your summer vacation and that the students are recharging for a new school year ahead. I can't wait to hear about all of their adventures when they return for the 2023-2024 school year. As we mark the middle of summer, I want to send out a summer update so that you have information in a timely manner to start the new school year.

In this newsletter, you will find information about:

Open House Dates and Times
School Supply Lists for All Grade Levels
Elementary School and Learning Center 23/24 Family Handbook
Information about FES/LC PTO for the upcoming school year
Join our FES Staff as a Lunch/Recess Paraprofessional!
And more!

One of the largest wonderings of summer is student placement and "Who is my child's teacher going to be for next school year?" I wanted to take a moment to explain all that goes into student placement for the next school year, and how important it is that we take many factors into consideration. Classroom placement for the 2023-2024 school year was completed at the start of summer and is reviewed continuously throughout the summer. Our goal for student placement in a school year is to provide a safe and successful learning experience for all students. The following list includes, but is not limited to some of the criteria we consider when placing students into classrooms:

Program needs of students (for example: special education services, 504 services, individual learning plans, etc.)
Classroom configuration
Social needs of students
Compatibility of individual students and groups of students
Behavioral factors
Balance of achievement levels in groups of students
Information/Input provided by parent/guardians and teachers
Balance of class sizes throughout the grade level

The process for student placement is a careful process and one that takes a great deal of time and consideration. We want our teachers and students to have the most successful school year and one of the ways we do that is providing a balanced classroom approach. Each one of our teachers at Freeland Elementary School are the best in their profession and your child will have a wonderful school year. Please note that requests for a specific teacher are considered, however, are not guaranteed. Once assigned, class placements will not change. Placement (and schedules for 5th/6th grade) will be available to access on your parent portal for Skyward by August 18 (an email will be sent when these are available if it is earlier), or will be available on open house night for those without access. For information on how to access Skyward Family Access, please see below in the newsletter.

I look forward to seeing you all in August!

Your Proud Principal,

Mrs. Kali McKenna

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Skyward Family Access

Please use the links below to make sure to register for Skyward Family Access. By creating an account, you can update personal information, and check the progress of your child during reporting periods. Report cards will all be available online this year through Skyward, but paper copies will be available through request to our front office.

Helpful Links:

Important: 5th and 6th grade families, it will be very important for you to register for an account if you don't already have one. Our 5th and 6th grade teachers will use Skyward to report your child's progress in their subject areas throughout the school year. You will be able to access missing assignments, and scores on assessment by having an account.

Trying Something New: 5th and 6th Grade Open House

We are thrilled to be able to offer this new and improved open house experience for our 5th and 6th grade students and families! Prior to school being released in June, we met as 5th and 6th grade teams, because we felt that offering a new and improved open house experience for our families would increase communication, allow each family to meet their new teacher and to see their new classroom, and also allow the teachers an opportunity to share important information about their classroom and content area. In the past, the time frame offered has been a drop in time frame, with this change, during the time frame, each teacher will be providing a short presentation. There will also be two different Chromebook handout time frames for students to pick up their Chromebook, sign up for optional technology insurance, and sign the technology acceptable use policy.

On August 23, our 5th and 6th graders will have an open house opportunity for families. From 5:30-7:00, the teachers will offer a back to school learning experience, where families will get a chance to hear from each grade level teacher and will hear them speak about their content areas and what your child can expect during that class. There will be an opportunity to ask questions on notecards, where the team will compile a list of questions and email those out to all the families. This will be a time sensitive opportunity, as each classroom will be on a rotation. In order for the teachers to talk to each classroom full of families, please avoid lining up to talk with the teachers, rather utilize the question/note cards to further the communication. We are hopeful that this style of open house will allow all of our families to gain more insight into the expectations for the school year.

Schedule for 5th and 6th Open House (Subject to Change)

4:30-5:25 Chromebook Handout #1

5:30-5:42 First Hour

5:44-5:56 Second Hour (6th Grade) and Third Hour (5th Grade)- Schedule is different due to specials on a normal school day for students

5:58-6:10 Fourth Hour

6:12-6:24 Fifth Hour

6:26-6:38 Sixth Hour

6:40-6:52 Seventh Hour

6:55-7:30 Chromebook Handout #2

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Information from our Technology Department

Each year our technology department updates the technology policies and expectations for our student usage with Chromebooks and all things technology. These forms are due by August 18, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.

2023-2024 Acceptable Use Policy

Once you have reviewed the acceptable use policy, please fill out the form that will show student and parent electronic signature. ALL students at FCSD must submit the signature form, no matter the grade level. If multiple children in the home, please fill out a form for each child.

2023-2024 FCSD AUP (Acceptable Use Policy) Signature Form

Student Emergency Card and Family Handbook 2023-2024

At your child's open house, teachers will be giving out student emergency sheets for you to provide updated contact information. On the card will also be a space for you to verify that you have read and reviewed the Freeland Learning Center and Elementary School Family Handbook. Included here is a copy of the emergency sheet if you would like to print ahead of time and bring it with you, and also a link for our family handbook for you to review.

FES Student Emergency Sheet

LC/FES Family Handbook Link

Supply Lists

Click Here for 2023-2024 Supply Lists!- Click on the grade level for links to all supply lists.

Freeland Elementary School is a FREE, public school. All students will participate in all classroom activities and have the same opportunities and supplies for instruction regardless if their parents donate supplies or not. Thank you in advance for your consideration. If you are in need of assistance with providing supplies, please contact our office at 989-695-5371.

Student Drop Off 2023-2024

Our student drop off times will be the same as they were in the 2022-2023 school year. Please refer to the map above for our drop off procedures. These procedures are put in place to protect the safety of our students and staff. Please follow the yellow areas, and do not cut through the parking lot to pull in front of other cars to drop off. Our FCSD buses will be using our front lot for pick up and drop off.

Map of Student Drop Off

Morning Drop Off Times

5th and 6th Grade: 7:05-7:35 a.m.

2nd-4th Grade: 8:25-9:00 a.m.

If dropping off after the end times, please use the office entrance as students will need to check into the front office. Students getting dropped off late will need to be signed in by a parent. The end times are the official start times for school, and any student dropped off after that time will be marked tardy.

Stay tuned for more information to come about student pick up.

WE NEED YOU! Join our Learning Center and Elementary School PTO!

PTO will be looking for new board members as well as help with dances and Frosty Shop for the upcoming 2023-24 school year. If you have interest please email the PTO at freelandptoeslc@gmail.com or send a message in Facebook.

We would also like to thank outgoing members Candice, Amber, Alison and Melissa for all their time and contributions to the group!

FCSD Nutrition Services

Freeland Community School District utilizes Meal Magic as an online portal for nutrition accounts. Available on our website is access to this account, or you can click the link here (https://freeland.familyportal.cloud/).