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 May 11, 2018

We are so proud of FHMS 4th grade teacher, Mary McDonald, who learned this week that she is the recipient of a $5,000 Learning Grant from SRP for the 2018-2019 school year. Mrs. McDonald wrote the grant with a wish list for a Makerspace/STEM classroom (for a new STEM elective we are offering next year) so we would be able have a 3D printer and materials, as well as a class set of STEM kits.

Learning Grants by SRP provide a unique opportunity that allows schools, teachers and students to develop projects and programs geared toward attainment of state-mandated competencies. Specifically, the grants support innovative teaching strategies that improve student performance objectives in math and science. SRP offers a total of $125,000 for Learning Grants in math and science, with up to $5,000 available for each school site.

Thank you to Mrs. McDonald for taking the initiative to obtain the grant, as we are very excited for the opportunity to expand upon the STEM offerings at FHMS for the 2018-19 school year.

Special Announcements

See what is happening at our schools

Kiwanis Falcon Leaders

Congratulations to this month's Kiwanis Falcon Leaders, 8th graders Fatima Naranjo and Ruby Xia. Way to go!

Kiwanis K-Kids and Builders Club

Last week our Kiwanis K-Kids and Builders Club held their end-of-year meeting where students were recognized for their accomplishments this year. We were thrilled so many parents and high school Key Club members could be there to help us celebrate!

Our students in K-Kids and Builders have had an outstanding year. As a club, the students amassed 296 hours of community service. They earned these hours by spending 30 minutes of each meeting working on projects and by assisting the Kiwanis Club of Fountain Hills with activities and fundraisers such as festivals, Halloween in the Hills, Thanksgiving Parade, Breakfast with Santa, Super Pancake Breakfast, and Bike Safety Rodeo, just to name a few. We would like to thank the students and their parents for all their work and support in helping children and families in and around our community, and a HUGE thank you to Marcia Hoenle, the FHMS Kiwanis Adviser to K-Kids and Builders Club, for her dedication to and support of our students!

8th Grade Promotion

Attached HERE is a letter that was sent home with all eighth graders this week that includes important UPDATED information our students and families need to know about promotion and the promotion dance. As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call the office at 480.664.5414.

End of Year

We are winding down the school year - only 9.5 school days left and it really seems to go by fast! Now is a good time for students to check their backpacks and at home for any library books and text books that have been checked out. All library books and text books must be returned no later than Tuesday, May 15. Books and textbooks can be returned, at any time, directly to the library return slot or to the front office.

Fines will be assessed for outstanding books not returned by the due date. Eighth graders with outstanding books and/or other fines will not be able to participate in the promotion dance and ceremony.

Sports Physicals Fundraiser

Spooner & Shaft Physical Therapy is offering $25 sports physicals for FHHS and FHMS students on Thursday, May 17 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. All proceeds will be donated to the FHHS Athletic Department! Please see the attached FLYER for all the details.

Spring Band Concert

This spring we will be celebrating rock throughout the ages with our spring concert. The concert will feature the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands and will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 17. The students have been working hard and having a lot of fun with these pieces that they have been working on for most of the quarter. Come rock out with us and celebrate music here at FHMS!

Summer School and Summer Enrichment

Be sure to check out the "In the News" page of the FHUSD website, which has all the information and links you need to plan summer activities for your students. FHUSD will continue to offer high school academic courses for credit, and sports camps for middle school and high school students. In addition, the district is once again partnering with the Boys & Girls Club to offer summer camp and enrichment classes. Finally, the Town of Fountain Hills' Community Services Department offers a wide variety of classes and activities for students.

Skills and Drills Basketball Camp

Who: Boys and Girls ages 9-14

What: Youth Basketball Camp

Where: FHMS Gym

When: May 29, 30 & 31; 9:00 a.m. - noon

Why: Three days of basketball fundamentals and fun! See the attached Flyer and Registration form for all the details.

Learn SCUBA at ASU!

The ASU Scuba Club has a Summer Scuba School outreach program for Middle and High School Students! They have put together a fantastic summer program starting in June, where students can pick one week, M-F, and complete all facets of Scuba training...AND learn a lot about aquatic environments in the process! The Scuba School is very flexible in that students can take the program straight through to completion in a short time, or they can put together the classroom, pool, and diving portions as their schedule allows.

Their club has been on the Tempe campus for over 12 years, and they have trained hundreds of students in basic PADI Open Water Scuba, as well as many Advanced and Rescue Divers. Please see the attached FLYER for more details, or visit the Devil Divers website.

Looking Ahead

View upcoming events of the week ahead


05/11/2018	Parks & Rec Open Gym FHMS Gym 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
05/17/2018	Spring Band Concert FHMS Gym 6:30 p.m.
05/18/2018	NJHS Induction Ceremony FHMS 7/8 Team Room 7:45 a.m.
05/23/2018	8th Grade Promotion Dance FHMS Courtyard 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
05/24/2018	This is a full day of school. 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony FHMS Gym 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
05/25/2018	Last day of school. This is a half day of school with a release time of 12:15 p.m.