Meeting teachers, finding classrooms, discovering who is in your class, dropping off supplies...At Open House, the excitement in the air was contagious and there were smiles all around. On the first days of school the sun was shining, the music was playing, and (almost) everyone was smiling and excited to begin the new school year. Students are already happily practicing new routines, socializing with their peers, and learning together!

Thank you for your patience as we navigate arrival and dismissal routines and transportation routes. Overall, things seemed to go very smoothly with the exception of some bus delays. I'm hopeful busses will be running closer to schedule next week. Please see the Bus Bulletin sign up information below for text messages from the bus company when there is a delay. The service typically starts up a couple of weeks into school. We appreciate you patience and care when arriving and departing Fulton School each day!

Save the Date--

• August 25-September 12--MAP Testing Window
• August 27--Fire Drill
• September 1--Labor Day--No School
• September 2--Institute Day 8:00-3:00
• September 8--PTO Meeting 4:30
• September 4-18--MAP Window
• September 10--Beginning Band Registration
• September 11--Patriot Day--Wear Red, White, and Blue/SIP Team 7:45/Curriculum Night--6:00-7:00
• September 12--Beginning Band Registration
• September 23--School Pictures (Information from Van Gogh to follow)
• September 24--Lockdown Drill with TPPD

Mrs. Mitera

Thank you to our PTO for the Welcome Back sign! Several classes took their first day of school class pictures with the sign!

August 2025

Dear Fulton Families, 

Between August 25-September 12, students in grades 1-5 will take MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments. Kindergarten does not take the MAP assessment. Students take these assessments to determine their instructional level, and measure academic growth throughout the school year, and from year to year, in the areas of Reading and Mathematics. Your child will take the tests on a computer and/or an iPad. 

MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to be appropriate for your child’s level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. MAP tests are designed to be shorter tests and use less class time while still providing detailed, accurate information about your child’s growth. 

Parents will receive a report showing your child’s growth following the testing periods.

Your child’s teacher will explain the testing process and schedule. 

We are pleased to continue these testing programs that focus on every child’s individual growth and achievement. Partnering to help all students learn, parents and teachers can have a profound positive effect on the lives of our children. 

I’m happy to answer your specific questions about our testing process. Please feel free to call me at (708) 614-4525.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Megan Mitera

Principal

Instrument “Test-Drive” for all 5th grade students

Friday, August 29th 9:00 – 12:30 Kruse

Wednesday, September 3rd 9:00 – 12:30 Fierke

Thursday, September 4th 9:00 – 12:30 Fulton

Friday, September 5th 9:00 – 12:30 Memorial

Beginning Band Registration Nights at CMS

Wednesday, September 10th 5pm, 6pm, or 7pm (pick a time to attend, process takes 1 hour)

OR

Friday, September 12th 5pm, 6pm, or 7pm (pick a time to attend, process takes 1 hour)

Band Sectionals for the 25-26 School Year

30-minute group instruction starting at 9:05am

Location: Multipurpose room

Starts the week of September 15th

Tuesdays = Memorial

Wednesdays = Kruse

Thursdays = Fulton

Fridays = Fierke

Band Morning Rehearsals for the School Year

Tuesday & Thursday mornings at CMS 7:15am-8:15am

Students are bused to elementary buildings at 8:15am

Starts the week of September 15th

To ensure the safety of all students and to remain in compliance with state law, parents are required to notify the school office if their child will not be in attendance. This notification must take place within the first hour of school. When reporting an absence, please call the school office (708-614-4525), use the voicemail system, or enter the absence into Powerschool anytime, day or night. You may inform the office of attendance 24 hours day/7 days a week. 

If notice is not received, District procedure is for the school office to attempt to make contact via all phone numbers provided during registration. If unsuccessful, all emergency contacts will be called until confirmation of the absence is received. If all attempts to contact are unsuccessful, a District administrator and/or designee will notify local law enforcement to ensure the safety and well being of the student.

 Please notify the office of any absence or anticipated late arrival by calling 708-614-4525. Additionally, if your child will have a change in dismissal plans (leaving early, not taking the bus, etc.), please let the office know by 2:00. Informing the office in a timely way makes dismissal run more smoothly for all!

Arrival and Dismissal

Students may be dropped off between 8:40-8:55 A.M. Students will be marked tardy after the 8:55 bell, as they should be in their seats, ready to learn at that time.

Pre-K and Kindergarten walkers and car riders (and their older siblings) will use the front entrance (Door 1).

Grades 1-5 will be dropped off and picked up in the back turn around, entering Door 15. Bus riders will also arrive and be dismissed in back.

*Please do not park in the Administration Center Parking Lot during arrival or dismissal.*

Our primary goal at arrival and dismissal is student safety paired with efficiency.

Arrival:

• All Pre-K and Kindergarten car riders will park in front of the building in the lane closest to the sidewalk to Fulton or on 171st Street to walk the children to the closest staff member or school entrance.

• All Grade 1-5 car riders will be dropped off in back in the turn-around lane.

  • This is a flow-through lane with no standing/parking. 
  • Please use the whole sidewalk to exit the car and go to the nearest door. 
  • Please do not exit your vehicle to assist your child. Stop, student hops out, and continue driving. **If you need to help your child out of the car, please use the drop off lane in front of the school where you can park and exit your vehicle.**

Dismissal:

• All Pre-K and Kindergarten car riders will park in front of the building in the lane closest to the sidewalk to Fulton or on 171st Street and may meet their child in front of the school.

• All grade 1-5 car riders will be picked up in the back of the school, in the turn-around.

  • Please have the name card displayed in dashboard or hold it up to the driver's side window.
  • The first car to arrive should pull all the way up to the playground. Others that follow should pull all the way up to the car in front of you when arriving.
  •  Do not leave a large space between cars. 
  • Cars will be dismissed in a single file wave. 
  • Please do not pull out of line to go around the cars in front of you.
  • After the first wave of cars is dismissed, the following wave should pull all the way up to the playground, with all others pulling up as far as possible.

• All walkers will be dismissed out the front door (door 1). All bus riders will be dismissed in back (door 13).

Anyone who would like to volunteer in classrooms or at school events must have a background check on file. Please be sure to submit an application here: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/ODQzMzplbi1VUw== If you are unsure whether you have submitted a background check in the past, please contact the office. 

As you may have seen, we have a new food service vendor, Whitsons Culinary Group. Breakfast and lunch will be available for all K-5 students for a fee (breakfast $1.50, lunch $3.75). Lunch money may be set up through Pushcoin. Students will receive a debit card to purchase meals through the breakfast/lunch lines. If needed, applications for free and/or reduced fees should be completed. These forms are available in the school office and on the district website. When available, monthly menus will be posted to the district website, https://www.fdmealplanner.com/, and the FD MealPlanner app. 

During the first weeks of school, we practice many safety drills including evacuation drills, tornado drills, and a lockdown drill with the police department as required by Illinois School Code. Fire drills are done three times, once with the fire department. We plan on having our first fire drill next week. Students may also walk to the off-site evacuation location (opt-out forms shared at a later date).

Lockdown drills with students will be communicated with you before and after so you are aware of those procedures, the language used, and the time they'll be conducted.

These drills are crucial to ensure our students and staff follow safety procedures efficiently. Thank you!

Within a couple of weeks, American School Bus will use Bus Bulletin to alert District 146 parents of bus delays and schedule changes.
Bus Bulletin sends parents instant notifications via text message, email, and/or phone call. There is no cost for parents to sign up and receive notifications.
For more information or to sign up for notifications, please visit the Bus Bulletin website.

We want to hear from YOU! Please let us know about your experiences at Fulton School so we can work together to improve or keep the good things going!

• 
  
  
  

  WELCOME (or WELCOME BACK) to the following new or new-to-Fulton staff members:

  • Meghan Sepich--Kindergarten
  • Ann Michuda--Long Term Sub for Claire Edwards starting in September
  • Jill Burger--2nd Grade
  • Trude Buchanan--ORE
  • Pilar Lopez--ELL
  • Rand Judah--Long Term Sub in ELL
  • Ashley Trang--EL Psychologist
  • Madalyne Martinez, Tanya Cloman, Rudy Deluna, Mary Kate Roehl--Paraprofessionals
  • Christina Chapan-teacher, Cathy Crotty, SLP, Janet Hudak, Class Aide, Toni Fratto, 1:1, Jackie Riley, Para, Kyerra Henderson, SW, Brad Foster, OT, Anne Wilke, PT--Co-Op 209
  • Jason Munguia--Daytime Custodian
  • Night Custodian--TBD
  • 
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

Our 25-26 PTO Board can't wait to partner with YOU for events like Book Fairs, appreciation days, etc.!

President: Megan Combs

Vice President: Melissa Sands

Treasurer: Jamie Bellik

Secretary: Melissa Santangelo

Committee Members: Jennifer Matise and Kristin Wooten

Email: mmitera@district146.org
Website: http://fulton.district146.org/
Location: 6601 West 171st Street, Tinley Park, IL, USA
Phone: 708-614-4525
Facebook: facebook.com/FultonFlames