Falcon Focus - FHMS Weekly Newsletter

Home of the Falcons!

"Fountain Hills Middle School empowers students to learn, to care, and to succeed."

Principal's Message April 6, 2018

Last week was "Kindness Week" here at FHMS. We kicked off the week Monday morning when the Falcon Leaders invited students to join them in thanking our bus drivers. Dozens of students and staff arrived to school early that day and held up big "THANK YOU" signs as the buses pulled up. The bus drivers were delighted by this genuine and fun display of appreciation!

On Wednesday and Thursday our 4th and 5th graders attended an in-school Kindness Retreat; a high-energy, interactive retreat focused on creating a more positive school community by engaging students in a variety of activities that build students' empathy skills and teach ways to help prevent bullying. Our school brings in Youth Frontiers to facilitate this amazing experience where students are empowered to be "everyday heroes" by using kindness to include others, to be respectful and to make our school a better place. With original music and high-energy facilitators, students are encouraged to play, laugh and connect with one another, and are challenged to make a difference by living out the value of kindness in our school community.

I would like to thank Mrs. Goodell and the Falcon Leaders for organizing this inspiring week, as well as the FHHS Falcons Leaders who were an instrumental part of the Kindness Retreats. I would also like to thank Dwight Johnson for his continued support of this amazing event, and encourage everyone to continue the kindness all year long!

Special Announcements

See what is happening at our schools

AzMERIT Testing

Testing continues on our campus this coming week with all grades taking AzMERIT. Please review the attached schedule for your student's exact testing dates. Students should be well rested and are invited to pack an extra snack on testing days. Please be sure students arrive to school on time, as testing on most days starts at 8:30 a.m. Please also try to avoid scheduling appointments on testing days as students who leave early from a testing segment are not permitted to finish the test later.

Camp Invention

Many parents ask about additional learning opportunities for your children. If you have not heard, we are hosting Camp Invention in our District this summer. Camp Invention is a fun, innovation and creativity based program that students really enjoy! During the program, Campers in grades K-6 explore the technology behind self-driving cars and create vehicles of the future, build their very own "smart" homes, design a mechanical robot dog and take home an Optibot - a robot that senses dark and light surfaces. See it in action here: Fast Forward

If you are anything like me, this comment from another parent might be helpful: "There aren't many programs that really challenge (my 6-year-old son's) thinking. He is an introvert who prefers to stay home but he was so excited for camp each day! He made new friends and says he wants to go every year! I've never been so happy with a program for bringing this out in my son! Thank you!"

Students in the upper grades can sign up as helpers with the program.

www.campinvention.org

Please let me know if you have any questions. The program is being taught by local teachers in our district and I will happily put you in contact with the Director.

Mrs. Ivy Violette
FHMS contact for Camp Invention
iviolette@fhacademics.org

Gifted and Talented Testing

The Fountain Hills Unified School District will be offering the next round of gifted and talented testing April 23, 2018 - May 14, 2018. Applications are due no later than April 16 to the front office. Students may apply for testing only once per calendar school year. If you are interested in having an assessment completed for your child, please turn in a completed application. We will not accept incomplete applications. You may see the front office or your child's teacher for assessment information if needed.

Applications are available at the school sites or on the Student Services page of the district website. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Caroline Lynch, Executive Director of Human Resources and Student Services, at (480) 664-5017.

Movie in the Park

FHUSD Dance Concert

Bike Safety Rodeo

Looking Ahead

View upcoming events of the week ahead

04/09/2018	Basketball Games at FHMS Girls B Team 3:00 p.m. Boys B Team 4:00 p.m. Girls A Team 5:00 p.m. Boys A Team 6:00 p.m.
04/13/2018	Basketball Games at FHMS Boys B Team 4:00 p.m. Girls A Team 5:00 p.m. Boys A Team 6:00 p.m.