Happy Friday, Lil Steamer Families!

From the Desk of: Principal Hoese

Lil Steamer Families --

In last week's newsletter, we had the incorrect times listed for parent/teacher conferences which are next week. The correct times are:

Thursday, Nov. 6 (students dismiss at 12:30, P/T conferences are 2-7 PM)
Friday, Nov. 7 (no student attendance, P/T conferences are 8am-1pm)
Child care is provided both days in the gymnasium for families courtesy of the FHS Key Club

Here are some excellent, insightful questions you can ask your student’s teachers if you are unsure of what to ask:

Focusing on Academics & Progress

"Where is my child excelling, and what is the specific next academic challenge for them?"
"What do you observe as my child’s most significant learning challenge right now, and what are we doing to support it?"
"What is one or two simple, effective things we can do at home for 15 minutes a day to reinforce current learning?"
"Is my child utilizing their classroom resources (like the library, tutoring, or online tools) effectively?"

Focusing on Social & Emotional Growth

"How would you describe my child's effort, attitude, and engagement in class?"
"How does my child interact with their classmates during group work or free time?"
"What can you tell me about their organizational skills and their ability to manage long-term assignments?"
"Do you notice a difference with my child during structured times (classroom) versus unstructured times (hallway, lunch, recess)?"

In addition, we will have the lost and found items on display for families to claim any of their children's missing belongings!

JAGH

From the Desk of: AP Marten

Can you believe November is already upon us? It feels like just yesterday we were welcoming your children back for the new school year. As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, we enter a special time for reflection, gratitude, and a renewed focus on learning and growth.

Focusing on Gratitude and Citizenship

November, of course, brings us to Thanksgiving, a perfect opportunity to emphasize the character trait of gratitude in our school. We’ll be discussing what it means to be thankful for our friends, family, teachers, and even the simple things, like a good book or a warm coat.

Beyond gratitude, we're continuing to focus on positive citizenship. This means being a good friend, a helpful classmate, and a respectful member of our school community. I encourage you to continue these important conversations at home. Ask your child:

"What is one kind thing you did for a friend today?"
"How did you show respect to your teacher or a staff member?"
"What are you most thankful for right now?"

Key Reminders for the Cooler Months

As the weather shifts, a few practical reminders will help us all have a smooth month:

Dress for the Weather: Please ensure your child is coming to school with appropriate outerwear—coats, hats, and gloves, especially on cold mornings. Unless the temperatures are truly extreme, we will still be enjoying our time outdoors for recess!
Safety First: With the time change and shorter daylight hours, please be extra mindful of traffic safety during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. Let's all slow down and follow the designated procedures to keep every child safe.
Upcoming Events: November is often filled with important dates! Don't forget to check the school calendar for Parent-Teacher Conferences and any other scheduled closures, like the upcoming holiday break. If you haven't scheduled your conference yet, please do so right away!

From the Desk of: Counselor Meumann

It is the most spook-tacular time of the year. I hope the spirits of Halloween make all of your spooky wishes come true. Ghosts and goblins, spooks galore, scary witches at your door, jack-o-lanterns smiling bright, wishing you a haunted night. Happy Halloween!

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!

Last week in first grade, we had a wonderful time painting pumpkins! We’ve been learning all about pumpkins in science and incorporating them into our writing, so this was an exciting and creative way to wrap up the week. A big thank-you to the family who provided all the pumpkins, materials, and fun we truly appreciate your support!

In 4D we had some fun Halloween activities! We played Halloween bingo, built towers out of pumpkin candy and toothpicks, and made dirt cups.

Lil Steamer Families,

This November, we would like to honor any and all Veterans connected to our FES families. Please read below for the two ways you can help us show our respect and gratitude.

Pictures

We are asking students and staff to send in a photo of a veteran they would like to honor. The photos will be compiled into a video for our assembly. If you sent in a picture last year, you do not have to resend it, we will keep it in for this year! If you would like to nominate another veteran, please complete the following form and attach a picture if you have one. You may nominate more than one veteran (make sure to include all of the information for all submissions). Please submit by Tuesday, November 4.

Veteran’s Day Assembly

On Tuesday, November 11th we will have an assembly to honor all Veterans in the FES gym. If you are a Veteran and are able to attend, or have a Veteran you would like to have attend, please RSVP with this form (or email janton@riverbendschools.net) by Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Please arrive at FES at 1:30 pm on November 11th.

Honor a Veteran Form