Happy Friday, Lil Steamer Families!

From the Desk of: Principal Hoese

Lil Steamers Families --

Since the start of the school year, there have been numerous bus stop-arm violations committed by vehicles going around a stopped school bus. As a reminder, all of our buses are equipped with video cameras so local authorities can review bus stop-arm violations.

In Illinois, the school bus stop arm law requires all drivers to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm when loading or unloading students, except for traffic on the opposite side of a four-lane or wider roadway.
Drivers must stop at least 20 feet away and must not resume motion or pass until the bus's lights are off, the stop arm is retracted, and it is safe to proceed.
Violations can result in significant fines and a mandatory three-month driver's license suspension.

WHEN TO STOP

Two-Lane Roads: All traffic, in both directions, must stop when the bus's red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended.
Four-Lane Roads: Traffic in the same direction as the bus must stop, but traffic in the opposite direction can proceed with caution if there are at least two lanes of opposing traffic.
Any Location: The law applies to all locations, including public roads, private roads, parking lots, and school property.

WHEN TO PROCEED

The bus resumes motion.
The bus driver signals you to proceed.
The bus's flashing red lights are turned off.
The extended stop arm is retracted.

CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATION

Fines: A first offense carries a fine of at least $150, with subsequent offenses incurring higher fines.
License Suspension: A conviction leads to a mandatory three-month suspension of driving privileges.
Late Penalties: A late payment penalty is assessed if fines are not paid on time.
Collections: Failure to pay can result in the violation being submitted to collections.

Please follow the law to help ensure the safety of our Lil Steamers (and big Steamers, too!).

JAGH

From the Desk of: AP Marten

We understand the vital role breakfast plays in student success. Research consistently shows that students who eat a nutritious breakfast have improved concentration and higher energy levels, leading to better overall academic performance.

To support this, we are pleased to offer a comprehensive breakfast program:

Primary Breakfast Service: Breakfast is served daily from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. in the middle school cafeteria. This is the primary and preferred service time for all students, including elementary students, as it offers a full meal in a supervised setting.
Late-Arrival/Grab-and-Go Service: For students who arrive between approximately 7:55 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. due to unavoidable morning challenges, we offer a quick grab-and-go breakfast option in the elementary gymnasium. This service is intended strictly as a supplement to ensure late arrivals can eat something before class. This service concludes promptly at 8:15 a.m.

We have recently observed an increase in the number of students who arrive at school with sufficient time to attend the main service in the middle school cafeteria but are instead using the playground until 8:00 a.m., then heading to the elementary gymnasium for the late-arrival meal.

We request your partnership in reinforcing the following expectation with your students:

If a student intends to eat breakfast at school, they must prioritize heading directly to the middle school cafeteria upon arrival rather than utilizing the playground. The late-arrival service is a contingency for timing issues, not a planned alternative for students who choose recreational activities over the primary meal service.

Thank you for helping us ensure all students receive a healthy start to their day in an organized and timely manner.

From the Desk of: Counselor Meumann

Children looking at their phones past bedtimes creates issues. Children get less sleep than they need. Children should have 9-12 hours of sleep. If children don’t get that sleep, they then have a hard time focusing the next day, have a hard time staying awake, and they have a more difficult time getting along with others. If possible, keep their phones out of their rooms. Children have a hard time not looking at their phones if they are left in their rooms.

It is easy to learn about the teacher that your child/children have or have had. However, at FBP and FES, we are one large team. For this reason, we will introduce and give some fun information about each of our family members in our newsletter!

PERMISSION SLIPS DUE THURSDAY, OCT. 16!!

The EGM Festival is a one-day clinic for 4th-6th grade students who are interested in music. It's hosted by the Illinois Music Educator's Association each November. Click below for more info!

2024 EGM Festival

EGM Festival Permission Slip

Last week was GLOW week in the Library! The students had so much fun reading a glow in the dark book and using flashlights to find their books to check out! This week our Library theme was APPLES! Students had the chance to taste test apples, then vote for their favorite! We will tally up the votes and find out which apple FES likes the best!

Don't forget about BOOK BINGO! We will be wrapping that up at the end of October. We have had several students turn their sheets in already, and several that are working hard to complete theirs.

Have a great THREE day weekend!