FHS Weekly Update

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As a school, we value our partnerships with our students, parents and guardians. We want to make sure that all families have the information they need to support their student and be connected with all the resources that Fremd High School has to offer. Click on the image to start checking off the list!

In order to start the year strong with our students, we will be utilizing a modified bell schedule on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday during the first full week of school that includes an Activity Period attached to students’ 3rd period classes. The Activity Period will be a dedicated block of time where students will meet the FHS Administrative Team, hear about school expectations, and learn about how we can work together to keep Fremd High School a safe place for students and staff. We’ll end the week with a short assembly using this same schedule to celebrate the end of the 1st week.

After our first week, we will begin to use our standard bell schedule which has classes beginning at 7:30 am and ending at 2:45 pm. On select Tuesdays students have a late start where classes begin at 8:50 am. On these days, buses pick up students approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes later. Each day’s schedule can be found on our Homepage, along with links to our alternate bell schedules that are used for late starts, early releases, and assemblies.

Student Entrance Procedures

Fremd High School provides students with a well-balanced, challenging high school experience while making our building as safe and secure as possible. The ability to easily identify students and staff improves school safety and security. Therefore, students will have their ID scanned as they enter the building. Students may elect to use the virtual ID barcode that can be accessed and scanned in the Infinite Campus app using either their personal cell phone for D211-issued iPad.

Students may enter Door 1 beginning at 6:00 a.m. and Door 7 starting at 6:30 a.m. Door 7 will be closed promptly when school starts. Students arriving late or returning from an appointment must enter through Door 1 and scan in.

Visitor Procedures

After parking in the designated Visitors Parking spots in the main lot, all visitors must enter the building through the main entrance at Door 1. Once inside the vestibule, visitors will sign-on using the self-service kiosk to scan their drivers licence, passport, or state-issued photo ID card. In order to verify your identity, the kiosk will prompt you to take a selfie to match to your photo ID before prompting you to enter your destination/purpose for visiting. All data collected by the Raptor Visitor Management System is exclusively for the use of the school, school district, and law enforcement; it is stored at the highest security level. This system allows us to track visitors and alerts administration of any visitor who could compromise the safety of our students and staff. All visitors are required to wear the visitors badge provided to them and be escorted by a staff member at all times. If possible, we ask that visitors not come to campus between 7:00-7:45 AM, and 2:30-3:00 PM.

Parents/guardians dropping off student belongings (iPads, lunches, etc.) will not be given access to the building. Instead, please drop the item(s) into the drop basket located inside the Door 1 vestibule with your student’s first and last name on it. A student supervisor or member of our Safety & Security Team will bring it to the Attendance Office as soon as they are able.

Additional questions about these procedures should be directed to Assistant Principal Kevin Farrell (kfarrell@d211.org).

Fremd High School will continue the "Bell to Bell, No Cell" procedure for the 2026-2027 school year to maintain an academic environment that is conducive to active learning and engagement. Students are required to store their cell phones in their assigned phone caddy in each classroom at the start of each period and store headphones in their backpacks. This expectation remains in effect during all instructional time, including in classrooms, wellness spaces, and the Tutoring Center. Students may access their devices during passing periods, lunch, study hall, and before or after school. In the event of an urgent matter requiring communication with a student, parents should contact the main office directly to ensure a timely message is delivered.

Food & Nutrition Service Programs

The food & nutrition services department offers breakfast, lunch, and a la carte options daily. Complete lunch prices range from $3.00 to $3.75, and breakfast is available for $2.25. Menus are online at: https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/FremdHigh

The food service prepayment option is a convenient way to ensure students have funds for meals daily. Credit card payments can be made using the food service payment system at www.myschoolbucks.com. If parents do not have a current MySchoolBucks account, they will need to set up a new account in order to access the system. Once a child’s account is established, parents can set low balance alerts and automatic account replenishment, as well as view purchase history. Funds can also be added to an account by sending a check or cash prepayment to the school cafeteria. Account balances for underclassmen are carried over to the fall.

A parent or guardian may submit an application for free and reduced-price meals by visiting http://d211.schoollunchapp.com or contacting our food service department for a hard copy meal app. A new application must be completed each school year to qualify for meal benefits. If you received a letter in the mail in July stating your child was automatically approved for the meal program, you do not need to complete a meal application for this school year.

Please contact the Food & Nutrition Services department with any questions at 847-755-6681.

Eating Spaces

The primary eating location is the cafeteria. A secondary location, that provides cold lunch options, is in our media center.

Off-Campus

Juniors and Seniors have the option of off-campus lunch with parent permission. Students utilizing off-campus lunch will enter and exit through Door 15 and will be required to show and scan their ID for exit/entry. For more information regarding off-campus for upperclassmen, please contact your administrator.

Food Deliveries

We do not accept food deliveries from restaurants and/or delivery services at our entrances. Upperclassmen with off-campus privileges may meet food delivery drivers outside of Door 15 after scanning out, and can return to the building through Door 15 after scanning back in. Underclassmen and students without off-campus privileges cannot accept orders. Any deliveries brought to Door 1 will not be accepted and may be disposed of. FHS faculty and staff are not responsible for unauthorized deliveries.

Parents/guardians can drop off food/belongings in the drop basket in the Door 1 vestibule. Please have the item(s) clearly labeled with the student’s first and last name; it will be dropped off in the Attendance Office.

August 19 -20

D211 is excited to have Visual Image Photography (VIP) handle all photography for the 2026-2027 school year! Student yearbook/ID photos will be taken during Wellness classes on Wednesday, August 19, and Thursday, August 20. Freshmen and sophomores will be photographed on Wednesday; juniors and seniors will be photographed on Thursday.

Senior students who did not visit a VIP photo studio this summer will take their ID photo, which will ALSO be used as their FORMAL yearbook photo on Thursday August 20th, so dress to impress! The last day for Senior students to have a scheduled VIP photo shoot at one of their locations is Wednesday, October 1.

ALL STUDENTS NEED TO SELECT THE POSE THEY WANT USED IN THE YEARBOOK OTHERWISE ONE WILL BE CHOSEN FOR THEM.

Contact VIP customer service at support@vipis.com or (262) 275-4457.

After Thursday, August 20, photos can be purchased on the VIP website (https://www.vipis.com/). Please note that ID photos should represent how students present themselves daily to school as it will be used for safety and security purposes. Students are to dress in school-appropriate attire for their photo. Students wearing inappropriate clothing, wearing face paint, or wearing/holding props will be asked to adjust or retake their photo during the make-up date.

Absent/Make-Up Dates

Students who are not here on their original portrait day or would like a retake can do so on September 17th or October 1st on the 2nd floor in the back of the auditorium from 7:00am-3pm.

Additional questions about yearbook and ID photos should be directed to Associate Principal LaShaunda Sandifer (LSandifer@d211.org) at (847) 755-2612.

Viking Advisory and Mentoring Program

We are excited to continue the Viking Advisory and Mentoring Program (VAMP) to support students as they transition into Fremd High School. VAMP is designed to help freshmen acclimate to Fremd and build positive relationships with both peers and staff. Mentors are upperclassmen selected for their leadership qualities.

Staff and student mentors will meet with freshmen every Tuesday (except for late start days), Wednesday, and Thursday for 25 minutes during the first half of their lunch period. Students in 7th period VAMP will meet during the second half of lunch. During the first week of school, VAMP will also meet on Monday.

The program will run through the first semester and conclude on November 24th. From November 30th to December 15th, VAMP rooms will remain open and mentors will still be available. During this time, freshmen may choose to attend VAMP or remain in the cafeteria for the full 50-minute lunch period.

On Thursday, August 13th, all freshman students will attend the Athletics and Activities Fair during their lunch hour. Details about the fair will be shared during VAMP earlier in the week.

For questions, please contact VAMP sponsor Sami Cohen at scummins@d211.org or your student’s administrator.

We’re excited to kick off another amazing year of Fremd Athletics! Whether you're a returning athlete or new to the program, we've got everything you need to get started.

📬 Check out our Athletic Newsletter for:

Welcome Back Video

Welcome Back Newsletter

✅ Day 1 Tryout Info

✅ Parent Checklist

✅ Back to School Fest Details

All athletes must have a current physical on file with our nurse prior to participation.

Go Vikes!

#leavealegacy

Please consider joining the Fremd Viking Boosters this upcoming school year to help support the students and staff of Fremd High School. JOIN HERE!

Please join the principal for a Parent Principal Network meeting prior to the Fremd Viking Boosters meeting on Tuesday, September 8th, from 6:00-7:00 pm in the Library. Discussion will center on events for the start of the school year with an emphasis on school safety. Plan on staying for the Booster meeting as well!

Tuesday, August 18th

Maintaining a safe, welcoming learning environment is a priority at Fremd High School. During the first week of school, students and staff will review important school safety procedures. Throughout the year, we will reinforce that instruction through planned evacuation, shelter, and lockdown drills.

Fremd High School will conduct its first lockdown drill of the school year on Tuesday, August 18th. The drill will be conducted in partnership with the Palatine Police Department so that we can evaluate our procedures and preparedness. Families may notice an increased police presence on campus that day; officers will be present as part of the planned drill, and their presence will not indicate an actual emergency.

Students will learn about our lockdown procedures as part of a broader school safety lesson on Tuesday, August 11. This instruction will include our RUN–HIDE–SURVIVE protocol. In an actual emergency, students and staff must evaluate the circumstances and determine whether it is safest to evacuate the building or shelter in a secure location.

On the morning of the drill, an announcement will remind students and staff that the drill will occur that day. Although the exact starting time will not be shared in advance, the exercise will be clearly identified as a drill when it begins. It will not include simulated gunfire, actors portraying an assailant, or other elements intended to mimic an actual attack. Students who determine that evacuation would be the safest response will simulate that action by moving to a vestibule area rather than fully exiting the building until the drill is complete.

Once the drill begins, messaging will also be posted on the FHS website and outdoor marquee informing the community that a lockdown drill is underway. We recognize that even the word “lockdown” can cause concern. Our goal is to conduct the drill in a calm and supportive manner while giving students and staff an opportunity to practice procedures that could help protect them during an emergency.

Parents and guardians may exempt their student from participating in the walk-through lockdown drill for any reason. Students who do not participate will receive alternative school safety instruction in a less sensory format. To request an exemption, or if you have questions, concerns, or information that may help us better support your student, please contact Assistant Principal Kevin Farrell at 847-755-2616 or kfarrell@d211.org.

School safety is a shared responsibility. Students and families should report concerning information directly to a trusted adult or school administrator. Concerns may also be submitted through the Safety Concern button on every student’s iPad and on the FHS website. Reports may be made anonymously, although providing contact information often helps administrators investigate and respond more effectively.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping Fremd High School safe and welcoming for our students, staff, and community.

Remember to take a moment to log your community service hours in Maia Learning! See the attachment below for details on how to put them into your account.

Fremd High School

• Instagram: @fremd_vikings
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/FremdHighSchool

Fremd Activities

• Instagram: @fremd_actvities
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/FremdActivities

• Instagram: @fremdathletics
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/FremdAthletics

Mark Langer, Principal

Email: mlanger@d211.org
Website: https://adc.d211.org/Domain/9
Location: 1000 South Quentin Road, Palatine, IL, USA
Phone: 847-755-2600