FUEL School Newsletter

Dear FUEL Families,

We had a wonderful first week at FUEL - we began our transition back to school with our First Four Days activities, including grade level SOAR meetings and our first all-school morning meeting and celebration for the year (and one pretty amazing Cupid Shuffle dance party!). Students learned procedures and routines, engaged in relationship- and culture-building activities with their new classmates and teachers, and celebrated being back together.

Our FUEL “one word” this year is STRIVE - a powerful reminder that growth comes from giving our best every day. Striving means working hard, even when things get tough, and having the courage to try again after mistakes. We want our students to know that progress isn’t about being perfect — it’s about perseverance, grit, and never giving up on themselves. Together, we’ll celebrate effort, resilience, and the small steps that lead to big successes. We also will focus on the idea that discomfort is what often leads to growth - we are going to push ourselves to reach outside our comfort zone! Let’s make this a year where we all STRIVE to be our very best!

This week, we also hope to see you at our Curriculum Night on Thursday, 9/4 from 6:00-7:30 pm at FUEL - check out the flyer for important information and times for this event. Please also note that our first PTA meeting will be next Tuesday, 9/9 at the Lower Elementary.

Please note that this newsletter will contain all of your need-to-knows for each week, including sections from our Communities in Schools Student Support Coordinator, our PTA & ECG groups, information on student groups, and more. Please take time this week to also read about our car line procedures and to familiarize yourself with our bottom newsletter sections that include our important forms for volunteering, medical needs, and lunch applications.

Finally, please remember to contact me via Rooms, email, or phone if you need anything. We are here for you!

See you soon!

- Mrs. Jeffrey

We are dedicated this year to working on our students’ social-emotional growth in addition to their academic growth. This week we begin Module 1: Building Our School/Class Family. Our focus this week:

Composure & Identifying Emotions

Check out this video again from previous years as part of our work as a RULER school through YALE University. We want to focus on helping kids recognize and label emotions and will be rolling this out this week. To learn about the mood meter, see this short video: Mood Meter Video

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

• Mon. 9/1 - NO SCHOOL, Labor Day

• Tues. 9/2 - School Resumes

• Wed. 9/3 - FIRST Early Release Wednesday, 2:38 p.m. dismissal

• Thurs. 9/4 - Curriculum Night, 6:00-7:30 pm

• Fri. 9/5 - Summer Reading Packets due

Save the Date:

• Tues. 9/9- PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm at LOWER

• Sun. 9/14 - PTA Playground Playdate @ Lower - 12:30-2:00PM

  Sun. 9/21 - PTA Playground Playdate @ FUEL - 12:30-2:00 PM

Please check out these informational letters regarding our emotional support dog, Kiddo! Paper copies were sent home in backpacks last week.

FUEL Emotional Support Dog School Letter

FUEL Emotional Support Dog FAQ

CARE of Southeast Michigan is offering a free six-week AP School Age Parenting Class at the Sterling Heights Library beginning October 6 – November 17, 2025 (no class October 13). Classes will be held Mondays from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and will provide parents of elementary-age children with ideas, support, and strategies for understanding behavior, building self-esteem, encouraging cooperation, and teaching responsibility. Topics will include school success and alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Books are included at no cost.

Sterling Heights Library, 40255 Dodge Park Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313
Call CARE at 586-541-2273 to arrange book pick-up
Click here to register

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

Upcoming FE PTA Events - Everyone is welcome!

FE PTA Meeting

September 9, 2025 6:30-8:00PM Location: FLower

Learn more about FE PTA and our plans for the coming year, share ideas for future FE PTA events, and meet other school families. Onsite, free babysitting available.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1104992917802121

Playground Playdates

Lower: September 14, 2025 12:30-2:00PM

Upper: September 21, 2025 12:30-2:00PM

Join us on the playground for games, playground fun, and conversation with other school families! tinyurl.com/ysswp2b8

Field Day and Walk-A-Thon.

October 8, 2025

A Ferndale tradition returns! This fun-filled morning brings our two elementary schools together for games, physical fitness challenges, and a picnic lunch. More details coming soon including volunteer opportunities.

Elementary Connections Group Updates

What is the Elementary Connections Group?

Please see the attached flyer for more information about the Elementary Connections Group.

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