FUEL School Newsletter

Dear FUEL Families,

As we move further into November, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for our incredible school community. Thank you to all the families who joined us for family-teacher conferences and supported our Book Fair—it was wonderful to see so many of you engaged in your child’s learning and love of reading. Our teachers deeply appreciate your partnership and the time you took to connect about your child’s progress. This season reminds us how thankful we are to learn, grow, STRIVE, and work together each day at FUEL. Along this theme, our Student Council group this week is kicking off a short canned food drive, as well as encouraging Door Decorating around the theme of gratitude to celebrate the season. I am also grateful for our district's continued partnership with Communities in Schools, who provide so many wraparound supports for our students and families. Please take a quick look at our Communities in Schools box below for November updates regarding support for families and local resources for food in our community.

I also want to give a shout out to our FUEL staff - as one of our attendance incentives this year, our School Improvement Team developed a "Passion Projects" plan where teachers would teach something centering around their personal passions (dance, songwriting, gardening, sports, reading, games, etc.) on our half days throughout the school year. Students got to select their top 5 and were granted one of their selections for their Passion Project for the year. Check out our Facebook page for some great pictures of these passions at play!

Please also Save the Date for our Just 4 Kicks camp fundraiser in February - this is our biggest camp fundraiser of the year and supports scholarships for our students. We are looking for new acts - so if you are looking for a unique way to help fundraise Ferndale Elementary Schools, please share your talent! Grab some friends and start rehearsing for Just 4 Kicks 2026! Please contact Christina Mossine to sign up or with any questions: cmossine@gmail.com or (248)420-9603.

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

Emotions Matter

This is a short video about why emotions matter from Dr. Marc Brackett, founder of the RULER method that we use at school. This video addresses our culture and giving ourselves permission to feel: Emotions Matter: Permission to Feel (it's also a book now!)

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

• Mon. 11/10 - Last Day for Braided Bread Sales; Picture Retake Day & YB Group Pictures; YMCA Sportport, 3:45-5:15 pm
• Tues. 11/11 - Veteran’s Day; PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm @ Lower
• Wed. 11/12 - SE PAC Meeting, 5:30 pm
• Thurs. 11/13 - 4th Grade Field Trip to MI Science Center, 9-2 pm
• Fri. 11/14 - CASA Dance Assemblies; K-5 Resource Fair, 6 pm @ University HS

Save the Date:

• Mon. 11/17 - FPS Board Meeting, 7 pm (FUEL Fall Data Presentation)

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

It's November, and let's be honest, worrying about getting enough food on the table can cast a serious shadow on the holidays. But take a deep breath—CIS has your back.

If you're facing food scarcity or need help accessing basic resources, we want to make it easy for you to get the support you need.

• Start by calling 411 to be connected to immediate, broad assistance and community programs.

If you are in dire need and have exhausted the resources listed below, please contact Ms. Pettway directly. She is here to help when all other avenues have been explored.

Local Food Assistance: Dates & Locations

Please note these important food distribution resources available in the area:

1. Open Hands Food Pantry & Garden

• What: Mobile Drive-Through Food Distribution

• When: 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 8:30 – 10:00 am

• Next Open: NOVEMBER 15

• Future Dates: Open December 6 & 20

• Location: 11 Mile & Woodward (Royal Oak)

2. Zion Lutheran Church Food Pantry

• Location: 143 Albany, Ferndale, MI

• When: Every third Wednesday, 9:00 – 10:30 am

• Upcoming Dates:

  • November 19

  • December 17

No one should have to choose between keeping the lights on and feeding their family. Reach out, use these resources, and let's get through this month—and the rest of the year—together.

Did you know the Ferndale Elementary PTA organizes family and community events, school assemblies, volunteer opportunities, book fairs, and supports our teachers and schools through grants, partnerships and appreciation events? Our events and meetings are open to all our school families!

To learn more about FE PTA:

Website: www.fepta.org

Email: ferndale.elem.pta@gmail.com

Facebook: fb.me/FerndaleElementaryPTA

Instagram: instagram.com/ferndale_elementary_pta

To become a FE PTA member: ferndaleelementarypta.givebacks.com/store

To see volunteer opportunities:forms.gle/QcV4DZhnPM81uxmZ7

FE PTA Meetings

November 11, 2025 6:30PM Location: FLower

Director of Food Service, Paige Fleming, and representatives from Chartwells will join us to talk about school breakfast and lunch. They'll also set up a real lunch line so everyone can see (and taste) a school lunch. Free, onsite babysitting. Everyone is welcome! https://www.facebook.com/events/2659806014380950

FEPTA 4th Annual Community Resource Fair

November 14, 2025, 6-7:30PM Location: University High School

All Ferndale school families are invited to attend this free event!

https://tinyurl.com/FEPTAResourceFair2025

https://www.facebook.com/events/2169781433510983

Join us for an opportunity to connect with community organizations like Ferndale Youth Assistance, scouting groups, Friends of Royal Oak Township, Southeast Oakland Coalition, MET and MESP, Be SMART, area Parks and Recreation staff, area libraries, Communities in School, and more!

We’ll also have snacks, a craft station and a Book Swap! Bring gently used children’s books to share and take something new home to read. You don’t have to bring books to take books.

We're also collecting non-perishable and canned foods at the Fair and will have information about Blessings in a Backpack.

Scholastic Book Fairs

Thank you to everyone who volunteered at the FUEL Book Fair and we hope everyone is enjoying their new books! Purchases at the Fair help support our school and classroom libraries.

FLower's Book Fair will be December 8-12, more information coming soon.

Braided Bread Fundraiser begins this week!

ECG is so excited to kick off our Braided Bread Fundraiser! This delicious Ferndale tradition helps your child earn money toward their camp adventure — and every loaf sold brings them closer to their goal! All profits go directly toward your child’s camp cost, so your family and friends can enjoy fresh, tasty bread while supporting your student’s big trip! Any profits over your child's camp cost will go into the general fund which provides full or partial scholarships. Check out these digital flyers to learn more."

Start Date: Monday, October 20

End Date: Monday, November 10

Submit Order Date: Tuesday, November 11

Delivery Date: Wednesday, November 19

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