Fremont Elementary School

Dear Fremont Families,

Over the past few weeks, our students have been busy settling into routines and working on their beginning-of-the-year benchmark assessments. These help us get a clear picture of where each child is starting and how we can best support their learning.

Each year, we also take time to share important information about bullying so that our families know where to turn if concerns arise. The paragraph below gives us an overview and also helps us recognize the difference between “mean” behaviors, which can happen occasionally between children, and true “bullying” behaviors, which are repeated and involve an imbalance of power. Understanding this difference allows us to respond in the most effective way and support all students in feeling safe and cared for at school. We value our partnership with parents in this work and encourage you to reach out whenever you have questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Beth Carmody

Principal

Students in Miss Kasamis’ class are learning about bugs and where they live. From the dirt under our feet to the tops of trees, they’re exploring all the different homes bugs can have.

Week of September 15 - Fire Drill
September 17 - Early Release Schedule (ES dismissed at 3:08 p.m.)
September 17 - PTO Meeting, 7:00 p.m. (Middle School Media Center)
September 22 - Board of Education meeting (live stream), 7:00 p.m. (Intermediate School Cafeteria)
September 23 - No School (Students Not In Attendance)
September 24 - Early Release Schedule (ES dismissed at 3:08 p.m.)
September 25 - Parent University: Parents' Guide to School Safety ALICE Drills, 6:30 p.m. (Middle School Media Center)
October 1 - Early Release Schedule (ES dismissed at 3:08 p.m.)
October 2 -No School (Students Not In Attendance)

2025-26 FSD79 School Calendar

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Bullying in any form, by anyone, is not acceptable. Every student deserves to feel safe and free from bullying. Those who bully others need to learn more appropriate ways of interacting with their peers. This letter is intended to inform you about the School District’s anti-bullying program and to encourage you to help us identify students who are being bullied.

The School Board policy on bullying begins with this goals statement:

Bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors is an important District goal.

Bullying is defined as follows:

Bullying means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

1. Placing the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or property.

2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health.

3. Substantially interfering with the student’s academic performance.

4. Substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.

Bullying, intimidation, and/or harassment may take various forms, including without limitation: threats, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying.

School staff members are asked to respond compassionately and immediately to a student who reports bullying or school violence. After evaluating the situation to determine if an immediate referral to the building administrator’s office is needed, a staff member will give the student the report form for bullying, 7180.15 Report Form for Bullying. Building Administrators will inform you, the parent/guardian, whenever your child is involved in a bullying report.

Staff members were also asked for their feedback regarding locations that may be bullying hot spots needing additional supervision or monitoring or if there are any known bullies or targets of bullying in the building(s). We ask you to do the same thing. Please inform building administrators if you know of any bullying hot spots in or around our schools or if you are aware of a known bully or target of bullying.

Finally, staff members are instructed to intervene immediately to stop a bullying incident. If the incident involves a weapon or other illegal activity, they will immediately contact building security and/or law enforcement.

Below are some of the signs that a young person is being bullied:

· Does not want to go to school and refuses to explain the reason

· Talks about not having any friends

· Has unexplained bruises, cuts, scratches, or abrasions

· Has unexplained damage to clothing, possessions, books, etc.

· Frequently loses money or possessions

· Loses interest in school and/or has declining grades

· Becomes withdrawn and/or has stress or depression symptoms

These signs do not necessarily mean your child is being bullied, but if present, ask your child whether they are being bullied.

Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Beth Carmody, Principal Fremont Elementary School

Stefan Ladenburger, Principal Fremont Intermediate School

Dr. Emily Loerakker, Principal Fremont Middle School

Katie O'Brien, Principal Lincoln Early Learning Center

Absences need to be reported to the school by 9:00am by calling the attendance line or submitting the electronic absence form

847-837-0437 option 2
https://www.fsd79.org/families/student-absences/report-an-absence

Excused Absences Include

Illness (physical, mental or behavioral) Please note, after 3+ consecutive days of an illness related absence, a doctor's note is required on day 4 in order for the absence to be considered excused moving forward
Medical/Therapeutic appointments
Religious Holidays
Family emergencies or civic events
Parenting or safety-related concerns

Vacations

Vacations during school are discouraged and count as unexcused absences.

We encourage you to keep your child IN SCHOOL before and after field trips and special events.

Report an Absence Form

Welcome back, Wildcats! September is Attendance Awareness Month, and there’s no better time to start strong. Showing up each day helps students build routines, connect with classmates, and stay on track with learning. Let’s work together—families and school—to make attendance a priority from the very beginning. And as always, if your child is experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever, please keep them home until they’ve been symptom-free (without medication) for 24 hours.

Fremont School District 79, in collaboration with the Fremont PTO, is excited to once again offer Parent University programming to our families throughout the 2025-26 school year. Together, we are offering programming on a variety of topics related to the District's goals that might interest our parent community.

Please make plans to join us for our first in-person presentation of the year on Thursday, September 25. We sincerely hope you take advantage of these opportunities to learn and connect with others. For more information, please visit our Parent University webpage.

RSVP Form

FSD79 has collaborated with Mundelein School Districts 75 and 120, Fremont Library, Mundelein Parks and Recreation District, and Village of Mundelein to create a shared community resource guide. This document provides families with information on a wide variety of programs and services that each organization offers. To view the resource guide, please click here.

Unless your child is a regularly scheduled pickup, you must email or call our building receptionist
Aura Perez Cruces at aperezcruces@fsd79.org or 847-837-0437 no later than 2:45 p.m. *On Wednesdays, you must let us know by 2:15 p.m.

A friendly reminder about our drop off and pick up line ...

Please stay in your car when dropping off or picking up your student(s).

Please do not park in the parking lot and send your student(s) to the school. Stay in the drop-off line.

Please pull all the way forward in line when dropping off and picking up. Students exit the car on the sidewalk only.

If you arrive at school after 8:55 a.m., you must come into the school to sign your student in. Doors close at 8:55 a.m.
Please refer to our Pick-up and Drop-off Procedures for our specific guidelines.

Lunch menus can be found here. For more information, including how to set up a lunch account for your student, please click here. Parents will need their student's Lunch PIN/Student Number to set up a lunch account. This information can be found in TeacherEase by clicking on the Miscellaneous tab and then selecting Locker/Lunch PIN. For more information Food Service page on our website.

Health information and medical forms are available on the FSD79 Health Services website page. Please drop off forms at your child’s school.

Kindergarteners must show proof of current physical/immunizations, as well as dental and eye exam forms.
Second graders must complete a dental examination prior to starting school.

Right at School offers before and after-school child care at FSD79, for grades K-8. Please visit the Right At School website for information and to register your child(ren) for the program.

Right at School Fall Registration

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The Fremont PTO would love to see you at our meetings this year! Meetings are on the third Wednesday of the month in the Middle School Den at 6:00 pm. Our next meeting is on September 17th.

Here is the list of all meeting dates for the 2025-2026 school year.

To stay in the know of what Fremont PTO is up to, follow and tag us on social media:

Instagram: @fremontpto

Facebook: Fremont PTO

ROOM PARENT UPDATE

All volunteers were notified of the Room Parent selection. If you were selected to be a Room Parent, please remember, there is a MANDATORY meeting on Wednesday, September 17th at 6:45 pm in the Middle School Den immediately following the PTO meeting. If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Glidden at pto@fsd79.org.

AUTUMN MUM FUNDRAISER - LAST DAY!

Our Autumn Mum fundraiser ENDS TODAY! Grab your beautiful fall mums now through 9/12 with a pick-up date at the Elementary school parking lot on 9/20 from 9:30-12:30!! There are 5 colors (orange, yellow, red, purple and white) and 2 sizes to choose from! 9” are $12 and 14” are $40. This year we are adding some ornamental kale and cabbage too for $8 for each 1 gallon pot! Order yours today! If you have any questions, reach out to Elisabeth Reigle at fsdvpis@gmail.com.

HALLOWEEN CLASS PARTY HOST SIGNUP

Sign up now to volunteer to be a Party Host at the Halloween class parties! Halloween parties will be held on Friday, October 31st. Party Times are as follows:

Kindergarten Classes: Eddy & Sherman 10:30-11:15 AM;

Kindergarten Classes: Cohen, Goldman, Hay, Hoehne, Kastein, Martinelli, & Van Reck and Grades 1st - 5th 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM;

Lincoln AM 9:45 - 10:15 AM;

Lincoln PM 2:00 - 2:30 PM.

Each class party is designated 3 Party Hosts. If more than 3 parents sign up for a classroom party, volunteers will be chosen at random. Please note: All remaining parents who have not been assigned to host a party will not be invited to attend the party.

The sign up will close on September 26th. Volunteers that are chosen to be party hosts for the Halloween parties will be notified by October 3rd.

Party Host Sign Up

PANERA DINE-IN NIGHT

Please join the Fremont PTO at Panera Bread on September 25th for our next dine-in night. It’s located at 1575 S. Lake St. in Mundelein, and runs all day. Check out our flyer, and use code FUNDU at panerabread.com, in the Panera App, or at the kiosk in-cafe Online orders placed all day at your event will count toward your total sales.

TRUNK OR TREAT

Mark your calendars! Our Trunk or Treat event is Saturday, October 18th from 10 am-noon. More info coming soon!

If you would like to decorate your trunk for this event, please fill out the form below!

https://form.jotform.com/252507044821148

Questions? Contact Elisabeth at fsdvpis@gmail.com.

ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK NOW - 10% DISCOUNT

Order your student's 2025-2026 yearbook by October 31st and get 10% off. Use the correct school code from the list below when you order!

SHOP. SCAN. EARN.

Forget the scissors - Box Tops for Education has gone digital! Simply download the Box Tops for Education app (see www.boxtops4education.com for more info), select Fremont School District 79 (in Mundelein, IL) as your beneficiary, and you're all set! Enter the code H02P2R0D when you register and you'll receive 50 bonus points after you scan your first receipt - that's $5! There are monthly bonus opportunities too, so watch the points (and $$) add up for our schools! Last year we raised just shy of $500 - let's see if we can beat that this year!

PTO MEMBERSHIP/ONLINE DIRECTORY FOR 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR

If you already have an account in Membership Toolkit, thank you for creating and/or updating your Membership Toolkit account last year.

If you don't have an account with Membership Toolkit, set it up now for free! Once you have created an account in Membership Toolkit your child will appear in the online directory immediately (that's if you choose to do so). To create an account, go to fsd79.membershiptoolkit.com and follow the directions in the attached form.

To gain access to the Online Student Directory your account must be active and you must pay the $15 PTO Membership Family Fee. If you paid your PTO Membership fee through your TeacherEase account before June 15th, your payment has been confirmed and you currently have access to the Online Student Directory. If you didn’t pay your PTO Membership Family Fee before June 15th, you can pay the $15 PTO Membership Family fee thru Venmo @Fremont-PTO; or by bringing or sending the attached form with your cash payment or check made payable to Fremont PTO to any school front office. The option to pay the PTO Membership Fee thru your TeacherEase account is no longer available. Once we receive confirmation of your payment, we will give you access to the online directory. Please note it may take up to one week to be granted access to the online directory.

Don't forget to download the FREE Membership Toolkit app to your smartphone-search "Membership Toolkit" in your app store.

BIRTHDAY BOARD

Celebrate your Fremont Student's special day! "Happy Birthday, Your Child's Name" can appear on the Fremont Electronic Message Board. Just complete the Birthday Board Request Google Form 2025-2026; or complete the birthday board form and send it back to any school front office with your $5 payment per birthday message. If you have any questions, please contact Christie Johnson at cjohnson@fsd79.org.

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Fremont School District 79

Address: 28908 N. Fremont Center Road

Phone: (847) 837-0437

Website: elementary.fsd79.org

Facebook: facebook.com/FremontSchoolDistrict79

Instagram: @FSD79

YouTube: youtube.com/FSD79

A Message From Mrs. Carmody A Message From Mrs. Carmody

Important Dates Important Dates

Information Regarding Bullying Information Regarding Bullying

Attendance Awareness Month: Start Strong! Attendance Awareness Month: Start Strong!

Parent University Presentation—September 25 Parent University Presentation—September 25

Community Resource Guide Community Resource Guide

Student Pick-Up/Drop Off Student Pick-Up/Drop Off

School Lunches School Lunches

Medical Forms Medical Forms

Before and After School Care Before and After School Care

Translation Translation

Fremont School District 79