Happy Friday, Lil Steamer Families!

From the Desk of: Principal Hoese

Lil Steamer Families --

Each year, our K-5 students complete benchmark testing 3 times:

Fall (August)
Winter (December/January)
Spring (May)

These benchmarks allow us to determine various literacy and math levels for each of our students so that we may better support them. We break down our instruction into 3 tiers:

Tier 1 - Classroom instruction by their respective teachers
Tier 2 - Small groups of 3-6 students working with their teacher or an interventionist on a specific skill (such as letter blends or two-digit multiplication) as identified through the benchmark testing
Tier 3 - 1:1 or smaller groups of 1-3 students receiving direct support by an interventionist
Special Education Note - Students who receive special education supports receive specialized instruction specific to their Individual Education Plans (IEPs) to meet their respective goals based on their current academic levels.

We started our fall benchmarking Thursday and it will conclude early next week. We will send home paper copies of your child(ren)'s Fastbridge results, but some families have received STAR testing results via an automated email. You may also receive notification of your child(ren) receiving intervention support. These supports occur during the school day and not during any core instructional time in the classroom.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any benchmarking or testing results, please reach out to your child(ren)'s homeroom teacher.

Have a great weekend; it's September next week already! 🍁

JAGH

From the Desk of: AP Marten

A Fantastic First Full Week is in the books!

What an incredible first full week of school we’ve had! Walking through the halls, visiting classrooms, and seeing our students on the playground this week has filled my heart with so much pride and joy. The energy across the building is electric, and our Lil Steamers are settling into their daily routines. This past week, our primary focus has been helping students adjust to their classroom expectations, navigate lunch and recess routines, and build strong connections with their teachers and classmates. Whether it was learning a new morning routine, practicing hallway transitions, or making new friends at recess, our students showed resilience, adaptability, and true Steamer Spirit every step of the way.

As we continue forward this school year, building strong habits remains a top priority. At home you can help support your child by maintaining consistent evening and morning routines:

Evening Preparation: Laying out outfits and packing backpacks the night before helps reduce morning stress for the whole family.
Consistent Sleep: Aiming for a regular bedtime ensures our students arrive rested and ready to learn.
Positive Conversations: Take a few minutes each evening to ask open-ended questions about their day, like "What was something that made you smile today?" or "What new thing did you learn?"

Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us every day. Have a restful and wonderful weekend!

From the Desk of Counselor Meumann:

As children return to school, it is important that we establish routines and structure.

-Practice routines for getting ready for school and winding down in the evening to minimize stress and maximize efficiency. Laying out outfits the night before and making sure that backpacks are ready to grab in the morning helps keep stress away in the morning.

-Create a quiet, organized space for homework and studying.

-Encourage healthy eating, especially a nutritious breakfast to support focus and energy.

FBP & FES Lockdown Drills Scheduled for Sept. 4

On Friday, September 4, we will have our annual safety lockdown drill. Prior to our drill, classroom teachers will have instructed their students on what to do in the event of a lockdown. Our faculty and staff are trained in the “Run-Hide-Fight” program and will tailor the instruction and drill to age/grade appropriate information.

Depending on the age/grade, this may include alternative exit routes, barricading the door, or throwing objects. Again, this will be discussed with the students. This is not conducted as a live scenario and there are no intruders to worry about. Our drill is conducted more as a walkthrough to ensure that everyone knows how to react in the event of a lockdown.

The most important thing for a student to remember in any emergency situation is to listen to the teachers and to follow their instructions.

We will utilize our school resource officer Jeremy Leitzen to assist with safety concerns. We will also utilize our counseling team to support any students who may become anxious or distraught due to the drill.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding our annual safety lockdown drill, please let me know.

If you would like your child(ren) to NOT PARTICIPATE in the drill, please email Principal Jeffrey Hoese at jhoese@riverbendschools.net and an alternative method of safety instruction will be provided.

Meet the FBP/FES Family

Steamer Home Events: Student Code of Conduct

Supporting our teams with pride, safety, and respect.

While we are excited that our elementary and middle school students enjoy attending home events, it is important that everyone understands the expectations for student behavior. Our priority is to keep students safe and ensure all fans can enjoy Steamer events.

⚓ Entry & Supervision

Enter Together: All K–8 students must enter the event with an adult, who is responsible for them the entire event.
No Re-entry: Once inside, students may not leave and return.
Elementary (K–5) Students: At home football games, may sit in the designated student section and must follow all expectations. All other games, they must stay with their parent/guardian.
Middle School (6–8) Students: May sit in the designated student section (when provided) and must follow all expectations.
High School (9-12) Students: May sit in the designated student section(s) and stand along the fence.

⚓ Where to Be

Stay in the Stands: Students should remain in the bleachers watching the event – not roaming hallways, fields, or campus.
Designated Sections: Student sections, when available, will be clearly marked.
Building Access: Students may only be in approved areas (e.g., concessions, restrooms). All other areas are off‑limits.

⚓ Game Day Behavior

Watch the Event: We are here to cheer on the Steamers! The focus should be on the field or court. Do not bring footballs, basketballs, or other sporting equipment.
No Side Games: Playing separate games or running around school grounds is prohibited to ensure everyone’s safety.
Show Respect: Treat staff, concession workers, officials, players, and fellow fans with kindness. Respect school property at all times, this includes picking up after themselves.
Follow directions: Students must follow all directives from school staff and event supervisors.

⚓ Consequences

First Warning: Students who misbehave will be sent to sit with their supervising adult for the rest of the event.
Serious or repeated violations – including being in unauthorized areas or causing disruptions – may result in removal from the event and/or loss of privilege to attend future home events.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe, positive, and respectful environment for all Steamer fans. Together, we ensure our students enjoy events safely while cheering on the Steamers with pride.

Extra Safety Precautions at FBP

Student safety is our top priority at Fulton Blended Preschool! Because our building is separate from FES and sits near a busier street, exterior doors remain locked at all times. As an added layer of security, we have installed door alarms on all exterior doors, along with cabinet and refrigerator locks inside to keep items safely out of reach of curious little hands.

Door Alarm

Cabinet Locks

5th Grade Team Building!

Last Friday, our 5th graders spent the day building teamwork, practicing communication, and getting to know their classmates through fun team-building activities! Students also worked together to create our Social Contract, establishing expectations for how we want to treat and support one another throughout the school year. We had amazing participation, lots of laughs, and plenty of excitement, especially when prizes were involved! We are so proud of the positive energy our 5th graders brought to the day and are looking forward to a fantastic year together!

Doing Chores Develops Your Elementary Schooler's Skills

When children are active participants in taking care of their homes, they learn valuable skills and gain a sense of ownership.

Chores help children:

Become "stakeholders." When your child contributes to household care, it’s an investment in your home. This sense of ownership makes your child more careful and respectful of the shared space.
Gain essential life skills. Each new chore you teach is a practical hands-on lesson, equipping your child with useful skills that build independence.
Learn to be less self-centered. Kids understand that everyone in a family or group has a responsibility to the others. They don’t expect others to handle their responsibilities.
Improve time management skills. Accomplishing homework, activities and chores teaches your child to budget time effectively.
Develop self-discipline and persistence. Chores require children to stick with a task even when it’s not fun—which helps them develop a strong work ethic and the ability to push through challenges.
Gain a sense of pride and competence. A completed task provides immediate gratification. If your child is responsible for the laundry, the stack of clean shirts is a visible and rewarding accomplishment.

Delay the Screen, Protect the Dream: Take the Wait Until 8th Pledge!

The River Bend school district is committed to nurturing healthy, thriving students both inside and outside the classroom. Growing research shows that early smartphone access negatively impacts children's mental health, sleep, attention spans, and social development.

To help our kids build real-world connections and protect their developing brains, we are encouraging families to join the Wait Until 8th initiative. By taking the pledge, you agree to delay giving your child a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade.

Empower your child to just be a kid a little longer. And remember, you don't have to do it alone! Joining the pledge connects you with other parents in our school community who are making the same commitment.