FUEL School Newsletter

Dear FUEL Families,

A big shout out and thank you to our PTA and especially to our President Kirsten Suer and the Field Day committee for putting on what was arguably our best Field Day & Walk-A-Thon event yet! I particularly love this day as it gives our FUEL students a chance to shine - to take on mentorship roles, to see new strengths in themselves, and to make connections with our younger K-2 students. We were also grateful to have National Honor Society students from both FHS & UHS to support the kindergarten classes this year - this cross-building collaboration and connection is what I love most about Ferndale.

Next week, we start week 8 (!) of the 2025-2026 school year. I want to take a moment to bring everyone's attention back to our "one word" this year - STRIVE. We continue to focus in our morning meetings and in our weekly shout out announcements on the idea that it takes WORK to improve in anything we do. Work is hard. School is hard. And both of those things are OKAY. One of my favorite trainer-type quotes is "What we do today determines how good our tomorrows are." Another one - "It's not just about how bad you want it, it's about how hard you're willing to work for it." We are trying to message this a lot with students this year - we have really gotten into some bad habits around high expectations and rigor. We want things to be too easy, we quit when things are hard. And thus, we don't grow. As a parent of now (two!!) teenagers, I'm seeing this more and more in my own home - and we have some changes to make around how we approach work and resilience and grit. I know I'm striving to be better each and every day, in every part of my life. More to come!

We also look forward this week to our all-school field trip on Tuesday, October 14th to Ferndale High School to see our Golden Eagle Marching Band perform this year's show! I am particularly excited to see all of our former FUEL students performing 🥰 I also hope to see everyone at our PTA Meeting Tuesday night at FUEL at 6:30 pm - Deputy Superintendent Felicia Wright will be in attendance to present on school safety and our emergency protocols. See you there!

With gratitude,

Mrs. Jeffrey

#TheFutureisFerndale

We are dedicated this year to working on our students’ social-emotional growth in addition to their academic growth. This week we begin with Module 2: Brain States. Our focus this week:

Brain Hand & Understanding Triggers

This is a handout I share every year and recommend you review at home -What Pushes Your Buttons?

Early Release Wednesday dismissal is 2:38 p.m. Remember, every Wednesday through May

• Tues. 10/14 - All School Field Trip to FHS Marching Band, 9 am
• Fri. 10/17 - VIRTUAL HALF DAY (check email for assignments)

CUB SCOUTS

Join us at Cub Scouts every Thursday night at FUEL from 6pm to 7pm. Anyone in Kindergarten through 5th Grade is welcome and can join any time. Come try it out for a few weeks and then decide if it is right for you.

Our Cub Scouts are also collecting canned foods in their Food Drive rom now until Nov 7th at the school and will also collect from houses in the neighborhood on the 8th.

Canned goods and non-perishables will be donated to the Renaissance Vineyard Church's Food Bank and used for all those in SouthEast Michigan who are in need this Fall/Winter.

BMEA Youth Development Mentoring Program

There are still 6 spots left in our after-school boys' mentoring program which runs Mondays from 3:45-5:15 pm and Wednesdays from 2:45-4:15 pm. If you are interested in a spot, you can still sign up at http://bit.ly/fuelmentor.

After-School Making Art Meaningful Mini-Musical - Fridays

There are still a few spots open for the Friday after-school group Making Art Meaningful Mini-Musical program. Check out the flyer here for more information.

What is the Elementary Connections Group (ECG)

We are a parent-led elementary group devoted to enhancing our children’s education through outdoor learning opportunities. Our goal is to build connections, foster curiosity, and create enriching experiences that go beyond the classroom.

What We Do

The board helps keep everything organized and running smoothly so students can enjoy the best possible experience. Specifically, we:

• Plan & Coordinate – Centralize the planning of Metropark field trips in the Fall and grade level Camps in the Spring.

• Manage Finances – Collect payments (please pay online!).

• Share Information – Host information meetings to keep families updated.

• Support Volunteers – Recruit camp coordinators and provide them with resources and support.

• Build Partnerships – Seek sponsorship opportunities.

• Raise Funds – Work on sponsorships and fundraising to make even more activities possible and camp available to all who want to participate.

Every Student First Fives - Fifth Grade attends Camp

First Fives through Third grade: Fall Metropark Trip and one Center Day in the Spring
Fourth Grade: Fall Metropark Trip and a 2 day/1night Overnight at Camp Tamarack in the Spring
Fifth Grade: Fall Metropark Trip and a 3 day/2 night Overnight at Camp Copneconic in the Spring

How You Can Help

If you are interested in volunteering to help coordinate spring camps, want more information or have a business that is interested in being a sponsor, please reach out to us at: ferndale.elementaryconnections@gmail.com

Save the Dates

FALL: Classes are split up so activities are more fun and manageable (Teachers will communicate their dedicated dates).

• First Grade: Fall Trip to Stage Nature Center on 10/21, 10/22, 10/23, or 10/24

• Second Grade: Fall Trip to Tollgate Farms on 10/13 or 10/16

• Fourth Grade: Fall Trip to Stony Creek Metropark: 10/21,10/23, or 10/24

STAY TUNED FOR SPRING CAMP DATES!!!

Blessings in a Backpack (BIAB) is available for all students in Ferndale Public Schools who attend FECC, FLower, FUEL, or FMS. This program provides a bag of food items every weekend throughout the school year for any child who may benefit.

The program begins in October for all students registered by this coming Monday. Families can sign up at any time, but new registrations will start receiving food the month following sign-up.

Blessings in a Backpack sign up letter

October Resource Roundup

• Food

• Gleaners

• Forgotten Harvest

• Household/Utilities

Health

• Dental

• Nurse Hotline- 1 (800) 848-5533

• Honor Health

Mental Health

• Warmline 10 am-2 am

• Oakland Community Health Network

Multilingual Assistance

CARE of Southeast Michigan is offering a free six-week AP School Age Parenting Class at the Sterling Heights Library beginning October 6 – November 17, 2025 (no class October 13). Classes will be held Mondays from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and will provide parents of elementary-age children with ideas, support, and strategies for understanding behavior, building self-esteem, encouraging cooperation, and teaching responsibility. Topics will include school success and alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Books are included at no cost.

Sterling Heights Library, 40255 Dodge Park Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313
Call CARE at 586-541-2273 to arrange book pick-up
Click here to register

For drop-off in the morning, please be sure to pull ALL the way up in the school driveway in the drop-off line. We will help students walk towards the entrance. This will help us to keep the line moving. Doors do not open until 8:20 am - there is no student supervision until 8:20 am. Also, please note that if students are not eating breakfast, they do not need to arrive at school until 8:28 pm. Students who arrive at 8:28 a.m. can head directly to their lockers and classrooms. Otherwise, students should report to the cafeteria for breakfast or to the gym. Car Line Safety Reminders HERE.

Please remember that the BUS driveway is ONLY for buses. This is a safety issue. Please only use the car line in the front of the building on Rosewood.

For pickup, please be sure to have your yellow identification card with student name and grade available and easy to see.

Please call the attendance line each day your child will be absent from school. Any absence will remain unexcused until the office has been notified. The teachers appreciate an email reminder, but you must still call the office. Please call the attendance line at 248.547.0880, press the #1 option & leave a message with a reason for the absence.

Thank you for helping to keep all of our students SAFE at FUEL by following our safe snack guidelines. This is a reminder that FUEL is a nut-, tree-nut, and sesame-restricted building - please double-check all ingredients before sending in a lunch or snack to school to ensure the safety of all students. Sample safe snack lists can be found ​here​. ​Reminder: NO food birthday treats this year due to our allergy policy.

If your student has a medical need, it is vitally important that our office staff and teachers are aware. Please complete the medical forms available in the main office (or in the link below) and return to school ASAP.

Medical Authorization Form & Medical Treatment Form

All adults interested in volunteering during the 2025-2026 school year must have a Volunteer Form on file. This form should be submitted at a minimum of two weeks prior to the event in order to accommodate processing times. No adult will be allowed to volunteer or chaperone unless they have an approved form on file. Forms are available at the link below. Please note: all volunteer forms must be turned into the main office. In addition, you only need to fill out a volunteer form for one school - it will then cover all FPS campuses.

Volunteer Form

Breakfast and Lunch are free again this year as part of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Please return this form to school ASAP in place of the normal Free and Reduced Lunch application.

Household Information Form