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 August 9, 2019

Hello FHMS Families! Last week's "Meet Your Teacher" event was a resounding success. The tremendous turnout speaks volumes about your commitment to your child's education and his/her development as a student in the FHUSD community. With the first week behind us, I would like to take this opportunity to remind families of some established guidelines and procedures that are worth repeating, as well as some new procedures here at FHMS that are important to the learning environment.

ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBILITY

In an effort to reduce interruptions of instructional time, as well as promote responsibility and accountability with our students, FHMS only allows lunches and/or water bottles, glasses, and medically required items to be dropped off at school for students.

Forgotten athletic equipment, homework, backpacks, projects or musical instruments cannot be dropped off at the front office for students. Classes will not be interrupted to notify students. Middle School sports equipment may be dropped off to a waiting student upon dismissal at 3:10 pm.

Beginning of the day and end of day procedures are important components of your student's learning process. For this reason, we ask that FHMS students arrive by 8:25 am and remain at school until 3:10 pm. Students who are not in their first hour class by 8:30 am will be marked tardy, and three (3) tardies in one week will result in a 30-minute, after school detention.

DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

To avoid classroom interruptions and confusion at dismissal, please make any changes of after school pick-up plans with your child before they arrive at school. Messages for students should be limited to emergency situations only.

If a student must be signed out early, this should be done prior to the last 10 minutes of the school day. Due to the busy nature of dismissal time, no students will be permitted to be signed out between 3:00 - 3:10 pm (2:00 - 2:10 on early release Wednesdays).

Only adults 18 years of age and older listed on the child's contact information in PowerSchool or their emergency medical card will be permitted to sign out a student from school. Relatives other than parents/guardians and other designated adults must be listed on the student's contact information in PowerSchool or on their emergency medical card. In case of a last minute change or addition, please email (sbeck@fhacademics.org) or fax (480-664-5499) to the school office a signed and dated note authorizing your child's release to the new person, including the date(s) for which permission is given. Permission may NOT be left in a voicemail. The school will not release students to anyone, under any circumstances, other than those stated above.

Anyone picking up a student prior to dismissal time must be prepared to show a valid photo ID, each and every time. NO EXCEPTIONS!

When a parent/guardian or other authorized adult arrives at school to pick up a student for early dismissal, they are to report directly to the front office. Parents/guardians are not permitted to go to the student's classroom or any other secure areas of the building.

The photo on the ID must match the individual, and the name on the ID must match the name listed on the students contact information in PowerSchool and/or emergency card. If the name and/or photo does not match, the student will not be released. All individuals must be 18 years or older to sign out a student. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Once ID is confirmed, the office staff will then call the student from class to the office. When the student arrives at the office, the parent/guardian will have to sign the "Sign-Out" log book. Once all information is provided in the log book, the parent/guardian may leave with the child.

It is important to notify the school of any changes in contact information. This must be done in person, or in a signed and dated note which may be emailed (sbeck@fhacademcs.org) or faxed (480-664-5499) to the front office.

VISITOR / VOLUNTEER POLICY

Classroom visits, including parties, should be prearranged with your child's teacher.

When visiting during school hours, you must sign in at the front office and present a valid photo ID. Once your identification is confirmed you will be given a visitor badge which must be worn while on campus. Upon leaving, please sign out at the front office and discard your visitor badge.

Any parents/guardians who will be chaperoning a field trip or volunteering on campus must review the FHUSD Volunteer Handbook and complete the Volunteer Application located within the Handbook. For further explanation and to review these documents, please go to the Volunteer page of the FHUSD website.

STUDENT HANDBOOK and RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

The 2019-20 FHMS Student Handbook can be found on our website under the "Parents" link at the top of the homepage.

http://www.msfp.fountainhillsschools.org

Students and parents are expected to read all information contained in the Handbook. (If you prefer a paper copy of the Handbook, please contact the front office at 480.664.5414, and we will be happy to provide one.)

Today we sent home a packet of documents with all students, which contained the following:

*Pink cover page, which explains the other documents in the packet. This cover page must be signed by both student and parent and returned to the student's Academic Strategies (grades 6-8) or Homeroom (grades 4-5) teacher by Friday, August 16.

* FHUSD Start of Year Parent Notification, which explains the Opt-Out Options for students' internet access, district and media coverage, and directory information, as well as attendance requirements. This document stays at home.

*Address verification letter and Arizona Residency Documentation Form. Parents/guardians should review the letter to verify the address we currently have on file. If there is no address change, sign and date the bottom of the letter and return it to school. If there is an address change, parents/guardians are required to complete the Arizona Residency Documentation form and return it to school with a copy of one of the documents listed on the form. This annual proof of residency is required by Arizona law. Lastly, the Military Parent/Guardian Affiliation Form is the last document in the packet that must be completed one time and returned to school. The only families exempt from these requirements are those that have newly enrolled students for the 2019-20 school year and therefore have already submitted these documents.

Please be sure to ask your student for this packet, or call the office if you need another one.

GRADES and POWERSCHOOL
Lastly, be sure to check PowerSchool for your student's grades. Checking PowerSchool on a regular basis is a great way to keep informed of your student's progress and should you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher(s) via email or by phone.

Thanks again for all you do!

James Carrick
Principal

Special Announcements

See what is happening at our schools

2019-2020 FHMS Office/School Hours FHMS Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. School Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 3:10 p.m. Early Release Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m. - 2:10 p.m.

Welcome Denise Blosser, FHMS Dean of Students

Mrs. Blosser is an Arizona native and comes to us from the Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD). She attended school there, worked there, and also volunteered in her own children's classrooms while they attended school in PVUSD. She has a total of 25 years experience in the education system.

Mrs. Blosser has a passion for working with students, parents, and staff. She started her career as a school bus driver and duty aide (1994) in PVUSD. During this time, she attended Ottawa University to obtain her BA in Education and teaching certificate (2002). Mrs. Blosser then continued to get her Masters Degree in Curriculum & Instruction (2004) at ASU and lastly, completed her Principal Certificate at The University of Phoenix (2015). Mrs. Blosser began her teaching career in 2002. She has taught 4th & 5th grade in the regular classroom, Gifted Education, and finished her teaching career as a Title I Site Coordinator/Reading Specialist. Additionally, Mrs. Blosser completed the AIM (Administrator Internship Management) Program through PVUSD, in 2015.

Mrs. Blosser is married and has two children, a son and daughter. Outside of school, she likes to travel and spend time with her family.

Mrs. Blosser is excited to be part of such a welcoming and supportive community here at Fountain Hills Unified School District and is off to a great start in her position as a Dean of Students here at Fountain Hills Middle School.

Welcome Mrs. Blosser!

School Picture Day

It's not too late to order school pictures. Order forms can be returned to homeroom teachers, or save time and order portraits online at mylifetouch.com using picture day ID: SR219059Q0.

Gifted and Talented Testing

The Fountain Hills Unified School District will be offering three rounds of gifted and talented testing for the 2019-2020 school year. The first testing window for all school sites will be August 26, 2019 - September 13, 2019. Applications are due no later than August 19 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 FHUSD website.

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail Allison Barbor, Director of Instructional Support.

Back to School Bash

VEX IQ Robotics Club The Robotics Club is accepting applications for students in grades 4-8. Space is limited and completed applications are due by Friday, August 16. Applications are available at the front office or can be downloaded HERE.

FHMS Running Club Mrs. McDonald's Running Club is back by popular demand! The club is open to all students in grades 4-8 and will meet Wednesday and Friday mornings before school. Permission slips are available in the front office or may be downloaded HERE.

Chess Club Chess Club, Sponsored by Chess Emporium, is back! Chess can help students increase their math and verbal skills, and their creative and critical thinking abilities. Chess also helps students develop self-discipline, concentration, critical insights, analysis, and writing skills. For more information and to sign up, see the attached FLYER.

Looking Ahead

View upcoming events of the week ahead


08/14/2018	First Early Release Wednesday Release time at 2:10 p.m.
08/16/2019	Back to School Bash Four Peaks Park 5:00-8:30 PM
08/19/2018	Band Students: Milano Instrument Rental Night Cafeteria 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.