Fremont Elementary School

Welcome to the final stretch of summer, Fremont Families! We hope you've had a wonderful break filled with rest, relaxation, and memorable moments together. As we look forward to the upcoming school year, we’ve put together a few essential updates to help your family get ready and feel confident for day one. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back soon!

STREAM Class Replacing Technology

One exciting change this year is the evolution of our Technology class into a STREAM class (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math). Adding reading/literacy into the curriculum ensures students don't just learn appropriate use of technology, but actively read, analyze, and communicate effectively. Because every age group learns differently, instruction will look distinct across grade levels.

For our youngest learners, screen time will be minimal. They will focus primarily on unplugged problem-solving, hands-on building, and story-driven instruction. As students mature, technology is introduced thoughtfully as a tool for research and creation. We aim to teach students how to navigate the digital world safely, responsibly, and critically, fostering a healthy balance where technology supports, rather than replaces, active, real-world learning.

Student Technology Devices

To ensure a calm, focused classroom where every child can thrive, we strongly discourage elementary students from wearing smartwatches or bringing personal cell phones to school. Protecting valuable learning time and encouraging real-world social connection are top priorities for us. While we recognize every family's unique needs, we strongly suggest keeping these items at home whenever possible. Please review our full personal device guidelines below.

To ensure a healthy balance between screen time and home life, school iPads will remain at school this year for all K-2 students rather than traveling back and forth daily. Unless we anticipate a remote learning day or a specific assignment requires at-home device use, students will keep their devices safely docked in their classrooms.

Slight Menu Shift

As we continuously look for ways to improve our menu and support student health, we are removing ice cream as a Friday option at the Elementary School. We appreciate your partnership as we make adjustments to foster good energy and focus throughout the afternoon.

Details about Fremont Elementary School can be found in our Family Handbook. Please make sure that you have read this over as it will answer many of your questions. More details below.

We can't wait to see everyone back at school!

Sincerely,

Beth Carmody

Principal

• August 7 - Teacher assignments are available on TeacherEase (see above for more information)

• August 12 - Kindergarten Practice Bus Ride: Please meet at 9:30 a.m at the bus loop between the Elementary and Intermediate Schools. This will give your incoming kindergartener the opportunity to take a 30-minute ride to become more familiar with the school bus. Please note that this won't be your child's assigned bus or bus route for the school year. You will be receiving final bus route information specific to your child from our transportation office via email this afternoon; if not, please email transportation@fsd79.org. No need to RSVP. One parent/guardian will be allowed per kindergarten student. Due to safety concerns, siblings are not allowed.

• August 18 - Kindergarten Kickoff: 5:00-6:30 p.m. at the Elementary School Playground (More Information)

• August 19 - Meet and Greet: 1:00-3:00 p.m. Students are invited to drop off supplies and meet their teacher (School supply lists). Students with last names beginning with A-L attend from 1:00-2:00 p.m. and M-Z attend from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Stop by the Intermediate School Gymnasium to pick up bus tags and meet your child’s bus driver; set up and pay for lunch accounts at the Quest table (Lunch account Set Up Info); drop off health forms to Nurse Dana at the Nurse’s table; and visit host representatives from our PTO, Fremont Public Library, Mundelein Recreation and Park District, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, and Right at School.

• August 19 - PTO Meeting: 6:00 p.m. at Fremont Middle School Den

• August 20 - First day of School:
• Elementary school hours are 8:50 a.m. to 3:38 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Please keep in mind that doors open daily at 8:45 a.m. and students begin each day promptly at 8:50 a.m.
• Each Wednesday will be an early release day so that teachers and staff may participate in professional learning. Elementary School students will be released at 3:08 p.m.

• August 25 - Curriculum Night: 6:15-7:45 p.m. See below for more details.

• August 28 - PTO Back-to-School Bash: 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Fremont Intermediate School

To help you and your child prepare for a successful school year, we encourage you to review the FSD79 Family Handbook 2026-2027, which outlines important school expectations, policies, and procedures.

Excused Absences Include

• Illness (physical, mental or behavioral) Please note, after 3+ consecutive days of an illness related absence, a doctor's note is required on day 4 in order for the absence to be considered excused moving forward
• Medical/Therapeutic appointments
• Religious Holidays
• Family emergencies or civic events
• Parenting or safety-related concerns

Vacations

• Vacations during school are discouraged and count as unexcused absences.

We encourage you to keep your child IN SCHOOL before and after field trips and special events.

Key expectations:

• Cell phones must be turned off and stored in a Chromebook bag or sleeve during the school day. For the Elementary School, devices must remain in backpacks while at school.

• Smartwatches must be in school mode and used only to tell time.

• Devices may not be used in classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, lunch, or recess.

• Students may use the main office phone if they need to contact a parent or guardian.

• Approved use may be permitted through a student’s IEP or 504 Plan.

All visitors, including parents/guardians and siblings, must enter through the front door of the building. Visitors should identify themselves and inform office personnel of their reason for being at school. All FSD79 buildings have secure entrances. Upon being buzzed into the school office, the office staff will scan a picture ID using the Raptor visitor management system. The visitor shall wear a printed visitor ID badge if further entry is required. Visitors are required to proceed immediately to their location in a quiet manner. They must then return to the school office and sign out before leaving the school. (Reference: Board Policy 8:30)

Please note:

• This will be an exit only onto Fremont Center Road. Entrance is not permitted from Fremont Center Road.
• For safety purposes, left turns onto Fremont Center Road are prohibited during school drop-off and pick-up times. Cones will be utilized to block the left-turn lane during these times.
• Only right turns (southbound traffic) will be permitted onto Fremont Center Road during drop-off and pick-up.
• Please adhere to the posted signage.

Final bus route information for the upcoming school year will be shared via email this afternoon. If you have any questions, please contact transportation@fsd79.org.

If you plan to pick up your child from school on a frequent basis please fill out this form. You will be given a sign, through your youngest child at school, that you will display in your car window. If you have completed the form prior to August 15th, we will have the sign available at Meet and Greet. Please refer to our Pick-up and Drop-off Procedures for our specific guidelines. PLEASE NOTE: Second-grade Elementary School students who are the youngest sibling at Fremont and who have an Intermediate School sibling will walk to the Intermediate School to meet their sibling(s) for pickup there.

Following our Raptor DismissalSafe app trial last spring, the ES is officially moving to this new parent pickup system! Your family sign will now include a unique family code to help keep dismissal fast and safe. More information to come.

The My Ride K-12 mobile app allows parents and guardians to stay connected with their student’s transportation schedule. Through the use of GPS technology, the app provides updates to the pick-up and drop-off times based on the bus location.

To learn how to download the app, create your account, and link your student’s information, please visit our Transportation webpage.

Fremont utilizes Quest Food Management Services to provide lunch service for our students. For more information, including how to set up a lunch account for your student, please visit our Food Service webpage. Parents will need their student's Lunch PIN to set up a lunch account. This information can be found in TeacherEase by clicking on the Miscellaneous tab and then selecting Locker/Lunch PIN.

Please note that if you require lunch assistance through available programs, you must complete and submit the Free and Reduced Lunch Application found in the Miscellaneous tab of your TeacherEase portal. Contact Tony Smith, Food Service Director, at asmith@fsd79.org with any questions.

Health information and medical forms are available on the FSD79 Health Services website page. Please drop off forms at your child’s school.

• Kindergarteners must show proof of current physical/immunizations, as well as dental and eye exam forms.

• Second graders must complete a dental examination prior to starting school.

Registration is closed for this year's no-cost Wednesday early release program for K-5 students that runs from 3:08-4:08 p.m. To be added to the waitlist in the event additional spots open, please contact Kimberly Mingo from Right at School.

The Elementary School Curriculum Night will be on Tuesday, August 25. Mrs. Carmody will present a quick introduction at 6:15 p.m. and repeat the introduction at 7:00 p.m. in the Elementary Gym. Each homeroom teacher will give two identical presentations so you only need to attend one of them. More details will be communicated after the start of the school year.

• 6:15-6:25 p.m. Principal Presentation in ES Gym

• 6:30-7:00 p.m. Teacher Presentation #1

• 7:00-7:10 p.m. Principal Presentation in ES Gym (repeat)

• 7:15-7:45 p.m. Teacher Presentation #2 (repeat)

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Address: 28908 N. Fremont Center Road

Phone: (847) 837-0437

Website: elementary.fsd79.org

Instagram: @FSD79

YouTube: youtube.com/FSD79