The Falcon Zone Flyer

**You are receiving this email because your child(ren) is/are registered in a Falcon Zone School for the 26-27 school year. If this is an error OR you need to complete the withdrawal process, please call the school office where your child previously attended.

The Falcon High School Homecoming Parade is right around the corner on September 11th at 4:30. We are hoping to have an even bigger and better parade this year! Sign up and learn more using the button below!

Are you a local business owner, nonprofit leader, church representative, civic organization member, or community partner looking to make a difference? Join us for our Falcon Zone Community CAFE on September 17th from 5-7pm, where school leaders and community members come together to build partnerships that support our students, families, and schools. (More info below).

Spread some light and love with a $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger bag from our Falcon King Soopers. Every time a bag is purchased the Falcon Zone Community Pantry receives $1!

Thanks for being part of our village,

Cari Muresan

FZ Community Liaison

There is something pretty special happening at the Firebird Nation Campus this year!

For the first time, Falcon Elementary School, Bennett Ranch Elementary School, and Falcon Middle School are all part of one shared campus community. While each school maintains its own identity, leadership, staff, students, and traditions, being neighbors creates new possibilities for collaboration, connection, and opportunity across the entire campus.

This year, Falcon Middle School brought all of our grade levels back together on the main campus, bringing all of our Firebirds under one roof. This allows us to maximize instructional time, expand opportunities for activities and connections, and strengthen our middle school culture. We have also eliminated the middle-of-the-day transition for our 6th graders, thus giving that time back for learning. It has been fun watching our Firebirds learn new routines and procedures as we settle into the year. Change takes some adjustment, but our students and staff have embraced the challenge with flexibility, patience, and a great deal of Firebird spirit!

We are also excited to welcome Falcon Elementary to its new home alongside Bennett Ranch Elementary. Sharing the building has allowed us to create modern learning spaces for classrooms, specials, and electives. Staff from both schools worked intentionally to keep grade levels together while also creating shared Flex classes that bring students from both schools together and help lower class sizes and provide additional support.

The larger campus also gives each school its own designated parking area for drop-off and pick-up, while staggered start and end times from the middle school to help improve traffic flow around the campus and surrounding community. While our three schools share a campus, they continue to operate independently while collaborating in new and exciting ways. We are especially excited about future opportunities for Falcon Middle School students to mentor, lead, and support our elementary learners right next door.

And to be clear: Falcon Elementary School is not closing. Our plan is for Falcon Elementary and Bennett Ranch Elementary to remain co-located as we continue monitoring enrollment and community growth. We are also planning for the future with the intent to eventually build a new Falcon Elementary PreK–8 school on the eastern edge of the district, where Falcon Elementary would move in the coming years. There is no specific timeline established yet, and we will continue to carefully monitor growth before determining next steps.

The Firebird Nation Campus is a wonderful example of our Falcon Zone mission in action:

Through Engaging Environments, Enhanced Opportunities, and Elevated Instruction, we Empower all Learners to Earn their WINGS.

This new campus allows us to create Engaging Environments, provide Enhanced Opportunities through collaboration, and maximize Elevated Instruction across three schools. Most importantly, it gives our learners new opportunities to develop their Wisdom, Integrity, Networking, Grit, and Self-Confidence as they Earn their WINGS.

We know there are still questions and adjustments as we settle into this new campus model, and we want to hear from you. I look forward to attending upcoming PTA meetings at Bennett Ranch and Falcon Elementary to answer questions, listen to feedback, and continue working together to make the Firebird Nation Campus the very best it can be for our students and families. Watch your school's communication channels for meeting details.

We are excited about what we can build together and the opportunities this creates for our students. We are just getting started, and I can't wait to see our Firebirds, Hawks, and Bulls continue to learn, lead, support one another, and Earn their WINGS together!

Sincerely,

Brian Smith

Falcon Zone Superintendent

Through Engaging Environments, Enhanced Opportunities, and Elevated Instruction, we Empower all Learners to Earn their WINGS!

In the Falcon Zone we pride ourselves on having the most incredible staff! We want to give our community a chance to recognize those people that make a difference in our schools and for our students every day! Please let us know who is making a positive impact for your student. Let us know who has gone above and beyond to enhance your experience in our zone. Let us know who is doing an outstanding job!

Every staff member that is recognized will receive a note of recognition and a shoutout in our community newsletter. Staff members include not only teachers but secretaries, administrators, custodial & kitchen staff, paras, etc.

We want to know who is making a difference! Thank you for taking the time to fill out this quick form!

Melissa Ardolf (FES) - We are deeply grateful for Melissa's dedication in managing student enrollment and disenrollment processes across our school. Balancing these critical administrative functions on top of leading our educational community as the Dean of Students is an incredible achievement! Our school relies heavily on her exceptional leadership!

Nicole Sinnott (FMS) - Nicole took time out of her busy back to school schedule to help set-up my classroom, and then due to changing roles, tear down and set-up a new classroom. I couldn't have done it without her encouragement and help. Nicole is a real team player!

FMS Car Line Staff - Great job directing traffic and keeping things moving in rain and shine. We appreciate you!

Amanda Woodard (FMS) - She has made a big impact on my daughter and now she is really interested in learning about the past!

8/20 - FMS Back to School Night @ 4:30 & BRES PTA Meeting @ 6

8/26 - D49 BOE Meeting @ 6:30

6/27 - FES PTA Game Night @ 6 & MRES Carnival @ 4:30

8/28 - WHES PTA Back to School Bash @ 5:30

9/3 - FZ Quarter 1 SAC @ 5 (FMS)

9/4 - Professional Day - NO SCHOOL

9/7 - Labor Day - NO SCHOOL

9/10 - D49 BOE Meeting @ 6:30

9/11 - Homecoming Parade @ 4:30

As we kick off a new school year, we’re excited to continue our Falcon Zone-wide SAC model for a third year! This year, we’re giving our shared work a new name: PIE — Partners in Education. PIE represents the families, staff, students, and community members who come together to support our schools and students. We’ll continue with a brief zone-wide conversation followed by school-specific SAC sessions, creating opportunities to connect, share information, celebrate our schools, and work together to strengthen the Falcon Zone.

September 3, 2026 at Falcon Middle School

November 12, 2026 at Woodmen Hills Elementary School

February 4, 2027 at Bennett Ranch Elementary School/Falcon Elementary School

April 1, 2027 at Meridian Ranch Elementary School

Are you a local business owner, nonprofit leader, church representative, civic organization member, or community partner looking to make a difference? Join us for our Community CAFE, where school leaders and community members come together to build partnerships that support our students, families, and schools.

Together, we'll identify school needs, explore shared goals, and discover ways to work together. Whether you're interested in mentoring students, volunteering, sponsoring events, or supporting families, we'd love to have you join us. See the invitation below for event details and registration. We hope you'll join us as we work together to help every student thrive.