FAPS #WeAreFenton Community Update

Welcome to the October, 2025 newsletter! October is National Principals Month. I would like to thank all of our building principals and assistant principals for their dedication to our students and staff members. Across our six instructional buildings we have eleven administrators. This group of eleven individuals represents 224 total years in public education and 105 years of administrative experience. Fenton is fortunate to have such a group of committed instructional leaders.

Fenton Area Public Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ryan Reece to the Board of Education. With the resignation of Mrs. Ashely Prew, the Board of Education posted, interviewed and selected Dr. Reece at the October 21, 2025 meeting from a pool of six qualified candidates. Dr. Reece is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Michigan. Dr. Reece is also on the Board of Directors for several nonprofit organizations. Dr. Reece's family includes his wife and two children who attend elementary school here in Fenton.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Reece to the Board of Education!

Congratulations to our October ABCD Award recipients! Your dedication, hard work, and commitment truly make a difference every day. Thank you for all you do.

It's not just an award; it's a heartfelt celebration of the extraordinary dedication that sets Fenton Area Public Schools (FAPS) staff apart. Get ready to ignite the spotlight on the exceptional heroes among us! The ABCD (Above and Beyond the Call of Duty) Award is your chance to recognize the remarkable contributions of FAPS employees who consistently defy expectations.

This award directly aligns with the Fenton Area Public Schools' mission to foster a supportive and enriching environment where every student can thrive, and where staff are empowered to achieve excellence. It highlights those who embody our vision of community partnership and unwavering commitment to student success.

Every year, or even each semester, the stage is set for this grand recognition. There's no limit to the number of awards we can give out – the more, the merrier!

Calling all students, parents, and staff: here's your golden opportunity to share a remarkable tale of a superhuman feat performed by a FAPS staff member. Fill out our ABCD Award nomination form so we can give our dedicated staff the special recognition they deserve.

Individuals receiving this ABCD Award may be recognized at public Board of Education meetings and/or in District communications.

Join us in honoring the FAPS stars who truly go the extra mile and leave us all in amazement! Bookmark our ABCD Award page for future nominations.

Do you want the world to know how a wonderful FAPS staff member goes Above and Beyond the Call of Duty to support you, other students, staff and/or our community? Please - tell us about that person by submitting them for an ABCD Award. Students, parents and colleagues are ALL encouraged to nominate an FAPS staff member for this award!

How does it work? Students, staff or parents may complete and submit this form detailing something truly Above and Beyond the Call of Duty by a FAPS staff member. Submissions are received by the district and will be reviewed for award consideration. Recognition may include presentation at public Board of Education meetings and/or inclusion in District communications.

We’re proud to recognize our outstanding Teacher of the Year & Nominees who go above and beyond each day to inspire, support, and empower our students. These educators exemplify excellence in teaching, creativity in the classroom, and a deep commitment to our school community. Congratulations to Teacher of the Year, Kim Weingartz and nominees!

A special thank you to the LaFontaine Automotive Group, sponsor of the Fenton Spark of Inspiration Teacher of the Year Award and the generous grand prize of $5,000, as well as $300 for each of our runners-up. Your support and recognition are greatly appreciated.

The Fenton Marching Tigers are headed to Ford Field! Our Marching Tigers earned a season-high score of 75.85 at the MCBA Preliminary Contest on October 25th, securing a spot in the State Finals. FMT will perform first in Flight III at Ford Field on Saturday, November 1st at 8:00am. Best of luck at State Finals!

With the colder weather season upon us, it's that time of year when we start preparing for possible inclement weather and the possibility of school cancellation. Please take time to plan for what you and your family will do in the event we have to cancel school.

The process used to consider weather cancellations is below:

• The district, in conjunction with the transportation department, operations department, law enforcement and local road commissions monitor the weather.
• Fenton collaborates with other area superintendents to make decisions based on the road conditions for our area currently and/or in the near future.
• The district will notify designated individuals in the event of a school closure to then disseminate information as quickly as possible.
• Families can check: the district website, messaging through our FAPS app to phones in the form of voice, text message, email message, district Facebook, and news stations (ABC 12, WNEM 5, NBC 25, Detroit Fox2).

When the weather breaks and road conditions are in question, remember to leave early and drive slowly. Ensure your contact information is updated with your school office so the district can provide the most efficient communication and download our Fenton Area Public Schools App from your app store. Please note that during a Saturday in November we expect to conduct a test of our alert system. When the test occurs, there is nothing needed on your part as a recipient.

Don’t forget to visit our website and download the “Fenton Area PS” Mobile App. This will be our primary way of keeping you informed, both with regular updates and in the event of an emergency.

Website: www.fentonschools.org

Mobile App: www.fentonschools.org/o/fps/page/mobile-app