Falcon Forum Parent Newsletter
March 11th, 2024
Mission Statement and Values
Fairmont's Mission Statement:
Falcons respect and support each other while advancing and achieving our goals with integrity, effort, and individual determination.
Falcon Values: "Falcons RISE" : Respect - Integrity - Support - Effort
From the Principal
Dear Fairmont Jr. High Parents and Guardians,
As we near the end of the third quarter, I wanted to take a moment to express my thanks for your ongoing support and partnership in your child's education journey. It's remarkable how fast time flies, and yet, in the span of this quarter, we've witnessed tremendous growth, both academically and personally, in our students.
As we approach the final stretch of the academic year, I want to encourage both students and parents to reflect on the progress made so far and to set goals for the last quarter of the school year. Let’s continue to work together to support our students' in all ways. Whether it's through open communication, involvement in school activities, or providing a nurturing home environment conducive to learning, your involvement is invaluable.
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, concerns, or feedback you may have. Your input is instrumental in shaping our educational programs and ensuring the success of our students.
Very Respectfully,
Jeff Roberts, Principal
Falcon's RISE!
- To translate: click on" translate newsletter "in the black box on the right side of the newsletter. In the" select language menu" choose the language you need.
- "Para traducir al espanol: haga clic en "translate newsletter" que esta en la caja negra al lado derecho del boletin. En el menu de "select language" escoga "Spanish".
- للترجمة إلى اللغة العربية: انقر فوق "ترجمة النشرة الإخبارية" في المربع الأسود على الجانب الأيمن من الرسالة الإخبارية. من قائمة "تحديد اللغة" ، اختر "العربية".
- Kutafsiri kwa Kiswahili: bonyeza "Tafsiri jarida" kwenye sanduku nyeusi upande wa kulia wa jarida. Kutoka kwa menyu ya "Chagua lugha", chagua "Kiswahili".
- Si aad ugu turjunto Af-Soomaaliga: dhagsii "Tarjumida warsidaha" sanduuqa madow ee ku yaal dhinaca midig ee warsidaha. Laga soo bilaabo "Dooro luqadda" menu, dooro "Af-Soomaali".
The weeks ahead:
- March 14th - Orchestra Spring Concert at 7:00 pm
- March 18-22 - Spring Break
- March 28th - All 8th graders Field Trip to Morrison Center
- April 16, 17, 23, 24 - ISAT Testing
- April 17th - PSAT Testing
Boise School District Calendar
I just wanted to remind you all of the new round of classes beginning April 9th with the Family Strengthening Education Program at Family Advocates! Our courses are 10 weeks long and aim to reduce stress in families and to encourage healthy bonds.
Our classes are FREE and offered VIRTUALLY and IN PERSON. Class topics will include Coping and Managing Stress, Attachment and Healthy Relationships, Child Development, the Importance of Play, and Peaceful Parenting.
The FSEP program also offers class participants concrete resources such as diapers, wipes, books, school supplies, hygiene products, pajamas, and more.
Attached you will find the different flyers for our upcoming classes that are still open for enrollment. Enrollment will close on April 3rd. So, if you or anyone has questions regarding the classes, please email enroll@familyadvocates.org.
Here is the link to enroll: https://familyadvocates.socialsolutionsportal.com/apricot-intake/2f9a6bf9-07a5-40ff-8ff3-dc87c137e157
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Best,
Katie Ragan | Family Support Services Coordinator Family Advocates 3010 W State St, Boise, ID 83703 Phone: 208.425.7056 | Fax 208.345.3700 katier@familyadvocates.org | www.familyadvocates.org Office hours: Mon -Thur. 8:30 AM -5:30 PM Fridays 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
If you are interested, you can order gear from this Falcon Store. It has the new and older logo's. The store officially closes on March 30th. The orders will then be delivered Mid-April.
March 11-15 is Spirit Week!
School Dance - March 13th
SUMMER SCHOOL
Registration for summer school is now open. Please have your student stop by the front office to pick up an application. FJH counselors are happy to answer any questions.
7th grade AVID students can use AVID funds to pay for summer school.
All 8th and 9th grade students can use advanced opportunity funds to pay for summer school.
A message from or Well Being and Culture Specialist
Fairmont Parents,
Hello! My name is Jason Adams, and I am the Culture and Wellbeing Specialist at Fairmont Junior High. I Introduced myself in a newsletter at the beginning of the year, but I thought it would be a good time to check in and update parents on how this new position at Fairmont has been working out.
To start the year, I focused on helping students and staff maintain a healthy nervous system. The skills I help teach for that come from the Trauma Resource Institute and are known as CRM or the Community Resiliency Model. Research shows that dysregulated adults cannot regulate dysregulated kids, and dysregulated kids cannot learn. So, I start with the adults, but I have been able to support many students as well. We have covered these skills in Wellness Wednesdays, and I have also worked with individuals who might need regulation. My goal is to help build resiliency and coping skills for dealing with the stressors of being a staff member and a student.
I also work with a team of staff members on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, or PBIS. This team has worked to improve safety by creating consistency with expectations, but we also focus on healthy connections. We want our kids to feel seen, respected, and valued by our staff. This has been the focus of many of our staff goals and learning cycles this year. I have led several book studies on related topics: How To Calm Your Mind by Chris Bailey, What Happened To You by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey, and How To Know a Person, The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen, by David Brooks).
Starting in December, with the help of our Social Worker, I have been able to work with several Focus Groups. These are groups of students that our Social Worker and I talk to and get input from on how to improve different elements of our school. We want kids to feel safe and connected, and we want them to want to come to school. We have had many positive suggestions from these groups, and we are working to implement some of them.
We have improved our club offerings and launched a Club Rush to promote existing clubs. This is an event during the school day where food, music, and tables are set up for kids to visit each club, hear what they are about, and hopefully join one or two. Since then we have added several new clubs, and we plan to focus even more on this next year with an August Club Rush and more convenient ways for kids to access clubs. I started my own club, Strum Club, for students interested in guitar to come and learn/play in my room. This has been another great way for me to get to know many of our unique and talented kids who have shared their musical gifts and interests with me and each other.
I have also had the privilege of working with individual students on a variety of issues. All of our kids have a counselor assigned to them by alphabetical order, but I am available as an added layer of support if a student has a need I can assist with.
There are several other roles I have carved out in the last three quarters, but these are a few of the main things I have focused on here at Fairmont. I will continue to build culture and support staff and students in various ways, and I look forward to sharing the journey with you and your kids! Thank you!
Student Drivers'
As students' approach the age where driving to school becomes an option, those intending to drive to Fairmont and park on our premises must ensure that the following documentation is on record in the office:
Drivers License
Registration
Proof of Insurance
Please fill out this link with the necessary information and submit copies of the drivers license, registration, and proof of insurance. Upon receipt we will issue a pass for their dashboard bearing their name. Students are instructed to park on the east side of the lot, adjacent to the donation box.
Flag Football
Attached please find two flyers from Optimist Youth Football. Any questions regarding the program should be addressed to the organization; contact information is on the flyers.
Free and Reduced Lunch
Student pick-up and drop-off
Attendance
ATTENDANCE REPORTING
* Parents are required to call the school’s ATTENDANCE OFFICE, 208-854-4794 or send an email to: amy.lindenberg@boiseschools.org, on the day a student will be absent from class and repeat this call EACH DAY the student will not be in attendance.
* Please leave a voicemail if you are not able to talk to someone directly.
* HAND WRITTEN NOTES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
ABSENCES
* Students who are 20 or more minutes late to school are considered absent.
* All absences, for partial/full day need to be excused by a phone call or email from a parent/guardian within 48 hours of the absence.
* Even though an absence is “excused,” it will still count against the student’s attendance and the 90% attendance expectation unless one of the following occurs:
1) Medical documentation is provided by a health care provider.
2) Legal documentation is provided proving required attendance for court appointment.
3) A student is participating in a school sponsored activity (ex: class field trips, performances, class competitions, sporting events sanctioned by the district.)
LEAVING CAMPUS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
Fairmont is a closed campus (including lunch), which means that students are not allowed to leave campus without a Permit to Leave. Any time a student must leave during the school day a PTL must be issued. In order to get a PTL the student may bring a note from parents on the day of the departure or parents can phone the office at least one hour prior to the students departure. The office staff will issue the student a Permit to Leave. If a student leaves the school grounds without a permit, a truancy will be issued and the student may receive detention.
TARDIES
* A student is marked tardy if he/she is not in the classroom and/or assigned seat when the tardy bell rings. Tardies are not excusable per our district's policy. We ask that students still check in at the attendance office when arriving late to school or from an appointment.
TRUANCY
A truancy is an unexcused absence verified by the following actions:
1) Leaving campus during or between classes without a permit to leave.
2) Intentionally missing class, or arriving more than 20 minutes late to avoid a tardy.
3) Choosing to loiter elsewhere on campus other than the assigned class.
4) A legitimate call or note from a parent/guardian is not received within 48 hours.
Title 1 school
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Federal law requires that each Title I-A school notify families/parents of each student attending any school receiving these funds that information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teacher(s) may be requested.
As a parent or guardian of a student attending a school receiving Title I-A funds, you have the right request the following information:
· Is my child’s teacher licensed to teach the grade(s) and subject(s) assigned?
· What is the college major of my child’s teacher(s)?
· What degree or degrees does my child’s teacher(s) hold?
· To request the state qualifications for any of your child’s teacher(s) and/or paraprofessional(s), please contact the school.
If you would like more information about the school’s Title I-A program, feel free to contact us.
Falcon Store
Fairmont is working hard to recognize and reward kids for good behavior at our school. Students can earn "Falcon Feathers" from any of the teachers and staff for exhibiting good behavior. Students can save up their feathers and trade them in for fun toys and treats at the Falcon Store (open every Thursday during lunch). Fairmont Families is seeking donations to help stock our "store". Kids love candy, gift cards, trinkets, extra school supplies, etc. Any random thing that is school and age appropriate goes! If you are interested, please follow this link. Fairmont Families is helping to gather these supplies for us.
If you would prefer to donate to our Rhino fund (the account we use to purchase some of these supplies) you can do so by scanning this QR code or following the Rhino Fund Link.
Fairmont Counseling Department
Fairmont Counseling Department
Fairmont school counselors assist students in the areas of academic achievement, college/career and social/emotional development. If your student wants to meet with their school counselor during the school day, they can fill out a virtual call slip.
Our role is to provide:
School counseling classroom lessons based on student success standards
Short-term counseling to students (Brief, Solution-Focused)
Small group counseling on a variety of topics
Referrals for long-term support
Collaboration with families/teachers/administrators/community for student success
Advocacy for students at student-focused meetings
Individual student advisement, academic planning, and goal-setting
Data analysis to identify student issues, needs and challenges
Fairmont School Counselors are assigned to students by student last name:
A-G: Kathi Hancock
H-O: Gary Koopman
P-Z: Kristen Piña
Student/Parent/Guardian Resources
Fairmont Families
Fairmont Families is a parent-based volunteer organization that has the sole mission of helping make Fairmont great! We support teachers and staff, pop popcorn, raise funds for student needs and plan events such as the Community BBQ , Fun in the Sun and the Freshman Farewell. If you would like to get involved, sign up here: FAIRMONT FAMILIES
Athletics
AKTIVATE
****7th and 9th graders must have an updated physical to participate.
Athlete Registration for Parents-- Must be completed prior to participation in athletics.
❏ Go to www.aktivate.com
❏ Click Login
❏ Click Create an Account (You only need ONE account, even if you have children in more
than one high school and/or junior high; Do Not create another account if you have used
Register My Athlete in the past)
❏ Fill in personal account information (this should be the Parent’s personal information)
❏ You will be using the site as a Parent
❏ Click Submit
After you have an account:
❏ Login
❏ Under the Parents header (Blue), Click the button labeled “Click here to start/complete
athlete registrations“. (the first time you log in you will be asked to agree to terms and
conditions)
❏ Click Start/Complete a Registration (upper left hand corner of the page)
❏ Click Start a New Registration - this is where you will enter all of your Athlete’s information
❏ Click on the red bars to complete all requirements
❏ Click the orange button on the lower left side of the screen for live chat
or email support@aktivate.com for assistance
Yearbook
Purchase your yearbook in the front office to ensure that you have one when they are delivered next Spring.
If you would like to check and see if you already purchased a yearbook, please contact
Fundraiser
Your support matters! Consider making a donation to our school to help provide much-needed supplies for our students. Your generosity directly contributes to creating an enriched learning environment. Every contribution, big or small, makes a significant impact. Let's invest in the future together. Thank you for being a part of our community and for supporting quality education at Fairmont. So, if you are so inclined please follow this link to donate to Fairmont's General Education account.
You can also share this link with friends and family who you think may be interested in supporting Fairmont as well.
Your contribution can go even further if you or your spouse works for a company that matches their employees’ gifts. And remember, your donation is tax deductible.
Thank you so much!
Who to Contact: Administration and Counselors
Principal - Jeff Roberts jeff.roberts@boiseschools.org
Assistant Principal - Robin Butler A-L (Last Names) robin.butler@boiseschools.org
Assistant Principal - Ryan McGill M-Z (Last Names) ryan.mcgill@boiseschools.org
Counselors
Kathi Hancock A-G (Last Names) kathi.hancock@boiseschools.org
Gary Koopman H-O (Last Names) gary.koopman@boiseschools.org
Kristen Pina P-Z (Last Names) kristen.pina@boiseschools.org