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2013-2014 D49 Calendar

Good Afternoon Firebird Nation Families –

The year has progressed quickly...we are definitely in the home stretch with only one month left to go. So many great things have happened over the past several weeks and we are excited about the additional events coming up to help bring a positive close to the school year. We would also like to thank all of our parent volunteers that helped throughout the year in classrooms, at the TCAP Carnival, mini-course registration, and the list goes on and on. We appreciate all that you do for our school!

We had another great success with our mini courses that took place last week. Students were very excited about all of the opportunities and what they learned through this experience. We received many positive compliments from the organizations that hosted our students, along with theguest presenters in our building. They all complimented about how positive our students were and that they were some of the best students they have workedwith. Way to go Firebirds!

Teacher Appreciation Week is right around the corner. It takes place from Monday, May 6^th, through Friday, May 10^th.  We hope that students, parents, and community members will take this time to recognize the hard work that our staff puts in on a regular basis to teach all of our students. Education is constantly changing and our staff continues to adapt to ensure that we are meeting theneeds of our students each and every day. I would encourage all of our families to find a way to thank a teacher for all of their hard work. A special thank you goes to our PTSA who has planned a few continental breakfasts and a celebration lunch for our staff!

In a few short weeks, our 8^th grade students will officially become high school freshmen. Their middle school journey will come to a close and we will celebrate their accomplishments at our annual promotion ceremony. The ceremony takes place on Thursday, May 23^rd, at 5:00pm. Students will be required to arrive in advance to line up for their recognition. The ceremony will last from 5-6pm in the Gym, with the 8^th grade dance starting immediately after and lasting until 8pm. Seating for the ceremony is open, but is limited based on the number of students that we have participating. 8^th Grade students can be excused from school on May 24^th if parents choose.

As the year draws to an end, this tends to be the time where we see a rise in student behavior issues, dress code violations, and potential bullying. We take these situations seriously and work to enforce each situation based on our school and district policies. Students are aware of our 4 “Be’s” and what it means to be a Firebird on a regular basis. We expect that students continue to follow the expectations and know that their behavior at this point can impact their ability to participate in our different events. Please encourage your students to stay focused and finish the year strong so we can all celebrate together all of their hard work at the end of the year.

Upcoming Events:

May 3^rd & 4^th – FMS Theater Production of “The Axe of Murder” at 7pm each night

May 6^th – Home Track Meet

May 7^th – Talent Show at 6pm in the Commons

May 14^th – PTSA at 6:30pm in the Library

May 14^th – Band Concerts – 6^th grade – 6 p.m./7^th grade – 7:30 p.m.

May 15^th – NJHS Induction Ceremony at 6pm in the Commons

May 16^th – Band Concert – 8^th grade – 7 p.m.

May 17^th – Choir Concerts

May 17^th – Yearbook Signing Party at 3:00pm in the Commons

May 21^st – School Accountability Committee Meeting at 5:30pm in the Library

May 23^rd – 8^th Grade Promotion at 5:00pm with Dance to follow until 8:00pm

May 24^th – LAST DAY OF SCHOOL – Early Release!

As always, thank you for all of your help and support for Firebird Nation. We appreciate the continued collaboration we have had over the course of the past year. We hope to continue this through the end of the school year. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help! We look forward to a successful closure to the school as we wish our 8^thgrade students the best, look forward to continuing to work with our 6^th and 7^th grade students, and welcome our new incoming 5^th grade class. We look forward to the years to come!

Sincerely,

Brian Smith, Greg Pottorff, and Mandy Maranville

Your Proud Firebird Administration Team