Falcon's Wing
May 2024
A message From Mrs. Flemming
Hello Farmar Families,
As we approach the end of the school year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some recent accomplishments, share some of the feedback from our Family Survey, and provide some important reminders. Let me first start off by thanking our families for your continued partnership. Supporting young people to become well-rounded citizens is what we consider very important work and it takes teams of people working together to make that happen!
We had our final spirit rally last week, where we celebrated students for their positive behavior, making the right choices, and working diligently to improve. It was a wonderful event that highlighted the incredible efforts and determination our students have shown throughout the year.
We also had our annual Open House, last Thursday. This event provided an opportunity for families to see the amazing projects and work your children have been engaged in all year. It was a chance for our students to proudly showcase their achievements. Families were not only praising the hard work of their own students, but also complimenting others and that says a lot about our community!
This school year has been full of a lot of learning, proud moments, and some opportunities to reflect.
Family Survey Feedback
Thank you for your invaluable feedback on our 2023-24 Family Survey. Your input is crucial to us, and we deeply appreciate the time and effort you put into sharing your experiences and perspective. We were fortunate to have 186 families respond!
Below are some highlights and important information that was shared:
90.8% of families that completed the survey reported that their child’s classroom teacher keeps them informed about what is happening in the classroom
78.8% of families that completed the survey indicated that Parent Square and/or email is their preferred way to access school communication
96.2% of families that completed the survey express satisfaction with their child’s overall experience at Mary Farmar.
We also were able to see some themes emerge as opportunities to strengthen:
Concerns about ‘bullying” were clearly communicated by many families. We recognize the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students. To prevent bullying, we continue to remain committed to fostering social and emotional development by teaching about and encouraging empathy, teaching students to speak up for themselves and others, and strategies to promote positive peer interactions. We continue to work on steps to solve problems peacefully with our STEP process using the Second Step curriculum. We are looking at ways to train our students to be conflict resolution leaders. Attached here is a link to our district policy about ‘bullying’ which includes a clear definition and the different types of bullying. We are also breaking this language down with students, considering our language based on their age. It is helpful to understand how bullying is actually defined. Students having conflicts with others does not automatically mean it is bullying.
It was expressed that there is a need for more enrichment opportunities and challenging tasks, to support students working at different levels, but specifically students that are demonstrating skills at grade level. We understand the need to and work hard to provide diverse and challenging learning experiences that cater to students at all levels. Providing open-ended questions, exploring themes, and opportunities to engage in projects that stimulate curiosity and foster a love of learning are ways that we can continue to work to keep each and every student engaged and challenged. .
Many families expressed concerns with Drop Off. In late January, as a result of this feedback, we were able to offer families the option to drop their students off as early as 7:30 a.m. We hope that the rebuilding of the Pedestrian Bridge will begin soon and help with this area of concern.
Your feedback matters and serves as a guidepost as we strive to continuously improve as a school and enhance the educational experience for every student at Mary Farmar. Our staff has carefully reviewed your feedback and we are committed to building upon our collective strengths while addressing opportunities for growth.
Parent/Guardian Support Needed
Recently, there has been an uptick in inappropriate behavior among some of our students. This includes physical interactions such as putting hands on other students' bodies, making inappropriate comments about others' bodies, and generalizations based on gender and ethnicity.
We urge you to continue having meaningful conversations with your children about these behaviors and the importance of respecting others. We consistently praise positive behavior at the individual, class, and for grade levels, teaching our students that their actions have consequences—both positive and negative. When inappropriate behavior occurs, we implement consequences and work closely with students and their families to provide support. If such behavior persists, our disciplinary measures will become more progressive.
The end of the school year can evoke a range of emotions due to changes and transitions, which can sometimes lead to big emotions. While these emotions are normal, we want to emphasize that causing harm to others will not be normalized. Please help us guide our students by continuing to discuss the importance of making respectful and responsible choices.
We are committed to ending this school year on a positive note for our students and our community as a whole. Your continued support is crucial in helping us achieve this goal.
Thank you for your partnership and dedication to our school community!