Last week we had a great turn out for the PTO meeting on Monday. Please see the PTO section below for information about membership and future volunteer opportunities. We also appreciated everyone who came out for Curriculum Night on Thursday! You support means so much! There is a link for feedback and to the presentations below.

Also, as you may have heard, our teachers are in ongoing contract negotiations with the district. While there is a possibility of a strike, we remain hopeful for a positive outcome. We know this uncertainty can feel stressful and want you to know that one of our shared top priorities is always the well-being of our students. We will work together to support families through any changes. Thank you for your continued patience, trust, and partnership with our school community.

Save the Date--

• September 22--Fire Drill with TPFD
• September 23--School Pictures 
• September 24--Taffy Apple Orders Due/Lockdown Drill with TPPD
• September 26th--Fire Safety Visit with TPFD for PK-2
• October 7th--Wheel of Wisdom Assemblies
• October 8th--Walk and Roll to School
• October 9th--Parent-Teacher Conferences 11:00-8:00 No School
• October 10th--School Improvement Day No School
• October 13th--Columbus Day/Indigenous People Day No School
• October 14th-- Bus Evacuation Drills/PTO Meeting 4:30 at Sip 
• October 16th--Earthquake Drill
• October 20th-24th--Scholastic Book Fair-Volunteers Needed!
• October 23rd--Family Reading Night--Spider Challenge, Storybook Pumpkins, and Book Fair
• October 28th--PTO Trunk or Treat
• October 31st--Fall Parties AM/11:45 Dismissal

Mrs. Mitera

Curriculum Night Presentations by Grade Level

Please complete the feedback form about your experience.

School picture day is coming up on Tuesday, September 23rd. All ordering is done online. Please see the flyers sent home last week or shown here.

We’re so proud of all of our students who are recognized for displaying the characteristics of a model Flame! Keep up the great work!

In order to assure student health and safety, animals are not allowed on school property, except in the case of a service animal accompanying a student or other individual with a documented disability. This rule may be temporarily waived by the building principals in the case of an educational opportunity for students, provided that (a) the animal is appropriately housed, humanely cared for, and properly handled; and (b) students will not be exposed to a dangerous animal in an unhealthy environment.

Once bike riders or skateboarders have reached school property, they should walk their bikes/skateboards to the designated bike rack area. Bike racks are available at all schools. Please lock all bikes to the rack. Bikes are not to be left in any other area. All bikes must be locked through the frame and wheel in the bike rack. Each bike should have its own lock. Students cannot share bike locks. Store skateboards and scooters appropriately.

When leaving school at the end of the school day, riders should walk their bikes/skateboards along the sidewalk area until they are away from the school grounds. Riders should use good safety practices at all times and follow the directions of Safety Patrol Guards, crossing guards, and school staff members on duty. Failure to follow safety guidelines may result in parent notification or loss of riding privileges. The school is not responsible for damage to bicycles and skateboards nor for loss/theft of bicycles/skateboards.

For the safety of students, pedestrians, and drivers, motorized bicycles and scooters must be walked when on school grounds. This includes all sidewalks around the school, int he parking lots, and on the playground area.

Students will be going outside for recess as often as possible. The following are our school/district guidelines.

🔆Hot Weather Conditions: We will switch to indoor recess if the temperature is 100 degrees with heat index or if the grounds are too wet.

⛄Cold Weather Conditions: We will switch to indoor recess if the temperature is below 20 degrees with wind chill, or if our grounds are too icy or wet.

We value the opportunity for students to engage in movement and independent play/socialization. Please watch the weather and be sure to send whatever your child needs to be comfortable playing outside each day.

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, 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. 

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!

A few reminders for the front of the school at dismissal:

• Please do not park against a yellow marked curb. Parking nearest the exit over the yellow lines obstructs everyone's view and clearance.
• Please park behind the yellow sign closest to the school. The spaces directly in front are reserved for special transportation needs.
  
• Please adhere to the sign and turn RIGHT out of the driveway during arrival and dismissal. This reduces the chance of crossing oncoming traffic and the potential for an accident.
• Pedestrians crossing the drive to get to their cars should use the crosswalk at the east end of the drive for the safest path.
• Please avoid turning around in our neighbors' driveways and blocking entrances/exits.
• No cell phone use in school zones.

Bus transportation is also available for most students attending Fulton school. Please contact the office if you would like to add your child(ren) to a bus route.

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. 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!

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