FUEL School Newsletter

Dear FUEL Families,

I hope everyone is staying warm and safe during this bout of real winter we have gotten this week! It was wonderful to see so many families (over 600 people!) at Skate Night despite the winter weather. We have a busy week ahead as we wrap up our winter assessment window. We are also excited this week to welcome author Jonathan Rand of the Michigan Chillers series for an assembly on Tuesday - a special thank you to Elliott Rauchman in our Montessori classroom for entering our name in a raffle to win this FREE author visit!!

This week, we begin our SEL focus on executive functioning. “Executive function (EF) and self-regulation skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully.” EF skills are vitally important for school success and learning that lasts. The great part about EF, though, is that it CAN be something that you continually improve in and that can be taught both at school and at home. This month, I will provide articles for supporting executive function at home as well as preview our work at school - check our SEL section below for the first skill - organization & task initiation.

Please remember that we do not have school on Monday, January 20th to celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I remind students all week that this should not be considered a "day off", but instead is a "day of service. Please consider attending a local event on Monday to honor the work of Dr. King - here are some local events in the coming week. One of my favorite message from Dr. King is his eternal focus on love as an empowering force in our world. As he once said, "Love is the most durable power in the world." I share it every year - is there anything more important than this? Our classrooms also will continue learning about and celebrating Dr. King's work this week and next week at school.

Finally, be sure to look at the PTA and ECG mailboxes below for information on important upcoming events - and don't forget that our Just4Kicks Parent Talent Show is on Saturday, February 7th - save the date!

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We are dedicated this year to working on our students’ social-emotional growth in addition to their academic growth. This week we begin Module 4: Executive Functioning. Our focus this week:

Organization & Task Initiation

Please read this short article on why kids who struggle with executive function often struggle with task initiation: Kids Who Struggle with Executive Function

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

• Mon. 1/19 - NO SCHOOL - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Tues. 1/20 - Jonathan Rand Author Assembly, 2 pm in the Gym
• Fri. 1/23 - 5th Grade Renewed Jr. Program
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SAVE THE DATE:

• Wed. 1/28 - State of the District Event, 6 pm @ FUEL
• Mon. 2/2 - Deadline for submitting Yearbook Candids
• Tues. 3/3 - Secretary of State Mobile Office @ FUEL, 10-3 pm (more info to come!)

A reminder on SMARTWATCHES - these function, in many ways, like cell phones, and are not allowed in the classrooms at FUEL. This is a reminder that we have a NO ELECTRONICS policy at school - they are a distraction and take away from the purpose of school - to engage in student learning. Please do not send your students to school with a smart watch. We appreciate your support in helping students come to school ready to learn and device-free.

This month, each classroom will participate in mid-year benchmark assessments as we prepare for Semester 1 report cards, which will be sent home in February. These assessments include the second round of i-Ready diagnostic testing, curriculum unit assessments, and individual Acadience assessments for all students.

The information gathered helps us measure student growth during the first half of the school year and allows teachers to make individualized instructional adjustments moving forward. Assessment dates are scheduled by classroom teachers and are dependent on the availability of substitute coverage within the building.

Acadience

i-Ready

Thank you for your continued partnership as we support student learning and growth.

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.

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 & Blessings in a Backpack Flyer Information & Volunteering

As we step into the new year, we want to take a moment to wish you and your family a year filled with happiness, good health, and continued success.

As the new year begins, please remember that Communities In Schools (CIS) is here to support you. If your family is experiencing challenges or needs assistance with food, housing, utilities, clothing, mental health resources, or other community supports, please do not hesitate to reach out to CIS directly.

If additional support is needed outside of school hours, families may also dial 211, a free and confidential resource that connects callers to community services in our area.

We are here to help—your school and CIS team are committed to supporting you and your family every step of the way.

FE PTA Meeting

The next PTA meeting is February 10, 2026, 6:30PM at FLower, more details coming soon.

Skate Night

Thank you to all our families and staff who came out to skate! We had over 650 people in attendance - we love seeing everyone skating, chatting, and having fun together!

FE PTA Advocacy Updates

Kick of the new year with the Advocacy Committee! Join us in-person January 24 at 11AM at Ferndale Project. Learn more about our current initiatives: Invest in MI Kids signature collection (we've already collected over 1000 signatures!), FPS Community Conversations, upcoming Board of Education elections, and more. Childcare provided.

Just 4 Kicks Event

Come one, come all (adults only)! Save the date of February 7th for Just 4 Kicks, 2026! The talented acts have been preparing for the 14th annual fundraising event at The Orchid Theater. Help support our Elementary Schools and the ECG. Invite your friends and family. This year's acts will be sure to make for an amazing night out.

We Need Grade-Level Coordinators for Spring Camp Days!

We are still in need of a few grade level coordinators for our spring camps! (See this video for an explanation of camps).

We are looking for the following:

• First Fives/Kindergarten/1st Grade- 2 volunteers
• 2nd/3rd grader- 2 volunteers
• 5th grade- 2 volunteers

Please use the following google form to Sign Up or email us at ferndale.elementaryconnections@gmail.com to learn more or sign up!

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