Freedom Elementary Newsletter

It’s hard to believe we have already been in school for over a month! September was filled with learning, building relationships, establishing routines, and welcoming new members to our Freedom Family.

Throughout the month, learners have been learning and practicing our three schoolwide expectations: Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. Our current Profile of a Graduate focus is Being Responsible. We know that true character is demonstrated not only when someone is watching, but in the choices we make when no one is looking. Thank you for continuing to help our learners understand what responsibility looks like throughout their school day.

Our teachers have also been busy getting to know their through assessments, observations, and daily interactions, staff are gathering important baseline information that will help guide instruction and ensure we are meeting learners where they are and helping them grow.

We also had the exciting opportunity to welcome 88 new learners to our Freedom Family this school year! It has been wonderful watching new friendships form and seeing our returning learners help make our newest members feel at home.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held October 12 and 13. We are looking forward to connecting with families and celebrating the learning and growth happening at Freedom!

Fifteen minutes flies by! To help make the most of your conference, we ask families to help us honor the scheduled time. Teachers have conferences scheduled back-to-back, and another family may be waiting for their opportunity to meet.

If there are specific topics, questions, or concerns you would like to discuss, please share them with your child’s teacher at least a week ahead of time. This allows the teacher to prioritize what is most important to you, gather any helpful information or data, and, when appropriate, ensure the right staff members are available to join the conversation.

As we come together, we ask everyone to:

• Come ready to celebrate growth. Every learner has strengths and successes worth recognizing.
• Seek first to listen and understand. Conferences are an opportunity for families and educators to learn from one another.
• Keep the learner at the center. Our shared purpose is the success, growth, and well-being of your child.
• Be respectful. We may not always see a situation in exactly the same way, and that is okay. We can ask questions, share perspectives, and work through concerns respectfully.
• Assume positive intent and ask questions. If something is unclear, please ask for clarification rather than making assumptions.
• Focus on solutions. When there is a concern, our goal is to identify what we can do together to help the learner be successful.
• Honor confidentiality. Conferences are a time to discuss your child. Staff cannot discuss the behavior, progress, services, or consequences of other learners.
• Honor the 15-minute timeframe. Some conversations need more than 15 minutes—and that’s okay! If additional time is needed, we will schedule a follow-up conversation so your concerns receive the time and attention they deserve.

We are on the same team. Families know their children in ways we never could, and our educators bring another important perspective from the school day. When we listen to one another, communicate respectfully, and work together, our learners benefit most.

We look forward to seeing our Freedom families on October 12 and 13!

Thank you to our PTA for providing classroom snacks for our learners who are unable to bring or forget one!

1st - Dine to Donate LeeAnn Chin, West Acres Mall 11-8

2nd - PTA Code Ninjas Parents Night Out, 6-9

8th - PTA Meeting, Library 7-8

12th- Parent Teacher Conferences and Bookfair, 3-7

13th - Parent Teacher Conferences and Bookfair, 3-6

15th - NO SCHOOL

16th - NO SCHOOL

22nd - PTA BOO BASH DANCE, 6-8

Sign up today for your time to meet with your learner's teacher at Parent Teacher Conferences being held Monday, October 12 3:00 - 7:00 PM and Tuesday, October 13 3:00 - 6:00 PM. Click the PTCFast link below!

If you need help signing up for conferences, please call the school office 701-356-5221.

Note: There will be no Fall Parent Teacher Conferences scheduled for Mrs. Ramberg's 3rd grade class as she is still out on maternity leave. We welcome you to come and meet with our specialist teachers (gym, library, art, music) and enjoy the book fair with your learners.

Hello!

This month, we will begin our safety units! Learners in grades K-1 will receive our child protection unit, where we will discuss personal safety, touching safety, and assertiveness . More information can be found on the CPU Family Letter. A paper copy will also be sent home with your learner. If you do NOT want your learner to participate, please sign and return the sheet to your learner's teacher by Friday, October 19th.

Learners in grades 3-5 will begin their bullying prevention lessons as well. More information will be sent home with your learner later this month.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Kalli Caron

kcaron@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

(701) 499.3405

Please follow the district's illness policy - www.west-fargo.k12.nd.us/families/health-services/illnesses. Parents should monitor their child for signs of illness each morning and keep them home until they are both fever free for 24hrs and symptoms are overall improving without the use of medications that may suppress symptoms. Learners who are symptomatic and report taking cough, cold, or fever reducing medication(s) before coming to school will be sent home. Prevention is best to reduce the spread, contact your healthcare provider today to schedule your annual vaccines for flu, RSV, & COVID if eligible.

October is National Dental Hygiene & Orthodontic Health Month. It's a good time to change your toothbrush if it's been longer than 3 months, the bristles are worn, or you have had a recent illness. If you need any assistance getting a new toothbrush, we may be able to assist.

Freedom Elementary is a schoolwide Title I school. Each year, the administration and staff meet to review the school’s data to determine a focus for goals and activities for the upcoming school year.

Information is collected from various sources, including, but not limited to, parents, staff and student surveys, demographic data, achievement data, program data and perception data. This is all compiled to review and make decisions. These plans are laid out in continuous improvement goals that Freedom Elementary staff will work on throughout the school year.

The following goals are our focus for the 2026-2027 school year.

Reading Goal:

• By May 2027, 42% of learners will be proficient in NDA+ (baseline of 38% spring 2026)
• By May 2027, 75% of learners will be proficient as measured by BAS (baseline of 71% spring 2026)

Wellness Goal:

• By May 2027, 100% of K-5 learners will identify a trusted adult as measured by formative data 3 times a year (baseline 98.8% spring 2026)
• By May 2027, 100% of staff will identify a marigold.

Math Goal:

· By May 2027, 68% of grades 1-5 learners will meet an SGP of 35 as measured by STAR Math. (baseline of 65% spring 2026)

· By May 2027, 50% of grades 3-5 learners will be proficient in NDA+. (baseline of 46% 2026)

Choice Goal:

• By May 2027, 100% of learners K-5 will have set at least one SEL or academic goal.

You may also view Freedom Elementary School’s Parent/Guardian Compact at the link provided below:

https://www.west-fargo.k12.nd.us/Page/5037

PARENTS RIGHT TO KNOW

Through federal education law, parents have the right to request information on the professional qualifications of the teachers and paraprofessionals at our schools.

If you are interested in learning this information, please contact the school administration office at (701) 356-5221.

Halloween is almost here! SRO Skwiera and Clover want everyone to have a fun, spooky, and—most importantly—SAFE Halloween!

🐾 Clover’s Tip #1: Be Seen!
Wear bright colors or add reflective tape to your costume. If you’re carrying a flashlight, even better! Drivers need to be able to see all those little ghosts, superheroes, witches, and princesses.

🚔 SRO Skwiera’s Tip #2: Use the Sidewalk!
Walk on sidewalks whenever possible and cross the street at crosswalks. Look both ways before crossing—even if you’re in a hurry to get to the next house for treats!

🎃 Clover’s Tip #3: Make Sure Your Costume Is Safe!
Make sure costumes fit properly so you can walk, run, and see clearly. Avoid costumes or masks that block your vision.

🍬 SRO Skwiera’s Tip #4: Wait for the Treat Check!
Wait until a trusted adult checks your Halloween candy before you eat it. If something looks unusual or your candy has been opened or damaged, show an adult.

🏠 Clover’s Tip #5: Trick-or-Treat Together!
Younger children should have a trusted adult with them. Older kids should stay with friends and make sure a trusted adult knows where they are going.

🚗 SRO Skwiera’s Tip #6: Drivers, Slow Down!
There will be lots of excited trick-or-treaters out and about. Drivers should slow down, stay alert, and watch carefully for children crossing the road.

🐾 Clover’s Bonus Tip: Be Kind to Pets!
Not every dog or pet enjoys costumes, doorbells, or lots of people coming to the door. Give pets plenty of space and always ask before approaching an unfamiliar animal.

👻 Most importantly…

Have fun, look out for one another, and make some great Halloween memories!

🎃 Happy Halloween from SRO Skwiera & Clover! 🐾
Stay safe, stay visible, and don’t forget to save a treat for Clover! (A puppy safe treat of course!)😉

We understand that life happens and things can come up at the last minute, but our office staff would like to ask if you happen to have a change in how your child is leaving at the end of the day, please let us know before noon if possible. Thank you!