Firebird Flash

A huge thank you to our PTO and all the parents, staff, and families who supported our Parents Night Out at Beacon Tap.

• Local businesses generously donated over $1,000 worth of raffle items, including gift cards, gift baskets, and experiences.

• Families who couldn’t attend in person still supported us by ordering takeout, which also contributed to our fundraiser.

• Beacon Tap donated 15% of food sales and provided their back room for our community to gather.

• Raffle winners went home with great prizes, but the biggest win was the sense of community.
  

This was the second year of the event, and it has already become a Friendship tradition. Not only does it raise important funds that go back directly to our students and staff, but it also strengthens the bond we have with one another and with our local businesses.

It was wonderful to see so many new Firebird families joining us for the first time, along with longtime supporters who continue to show up year after year. Events like this remind us of what makes our community special—we come together, we support one another, and we celebrate being Firebirds.

Cool off and cheer on the Firebirds! Kona Ice will be at Friendship Park on Tuesday, September 30 from 3:30–5:30 pm during our home cross country meet and home basketball game. Swing by the truck in the Friendship Park lot to grab a tasty shaved ice and support our PTO—because a percentage of all sales comes right back to our school. Don’t miss this sweet way to support the Firebirds!

Tuesday

• Kona Ice After School

Wednesday

• Midterm Progress Reports in Skyward 4PM

Thursday

• No School: Yom Kippur

Friday

• Midterm Progress Reports Sent Home
• Conference Scheduling Closes at 4PM

Additional Resources:

• Parent Google Calendar (ALL FJHS Happenings)
• FJHS Club and Sport Calendar (Just clubs and sport tryout dates)

• Oct 8/9: Conferences

• Oct 8: PTO Dine and Share: Mr. Beef and Pizza

• Oct 10: No School

• Oct 13: Institute: No Student Attendance

• Oct 17: Movie Night (6th: 3-5PM, 7th/8th: 6-8PM)

• Oct 21: PTO

• Nov 6: Veterans Day Assembly (Regular Schedule Check for grade level assembly period)

• Nov 7: Fall Dance

• Nov 12: Fall Play

• Nov: 13 Fall Play

• Nov 14: Tri 1 Assembly

• Nov 14: McTeacher Night (4-7PM)

• Nov 14: End of Tri 1

• Nov 18: PTO

• Nov 21: Early Release (1:50)

• Nov 24-28: Thanksgiving Break

• 6th Weekly Communication

• 7th Weekly Communication

• 8th Weekly Communication

Midterms for the trimester will be finalized by staff and posted in Skyward this Wednesday by 4:00 PM. Families will also receive a mailing at the end of the week that includes both the midterm report and i-Ready reports from the fall diagnostic. These resources will help guide additional communication and support, and families can also access i-Ready’s family communication [here].

Important details:

• Parents can view midterm grades in Skyward starting Wednesday.

• Any student earning a D or F will receive direct communication with next steps and suggestions for improvement.

• The trimester ends Friday, November 14, giving students time to raise their grades before the end of the term.

We encourage families of students earning a D or F to attend or reach out for conferences. Working together now will help ensure a strong finish to the trimester.

Conference appointments are now open and will remain available until Friday, October 3 at 4:00 PM. Spots are filling quickly, and we want to see you there. Please log in to Skyward to schedule your conference before the window closes.

Fall Goal Setting Conferences give students the chance to reflect on their learning, set goals, and share their plans with families and teachers. Conferences can be in person or via Zoom, and students are expected to attend with their families.

Conference Dates:
• Wednesday, October 8, 2025 | 2:50–6:50 PM
• Thursday, October 9, 2025 | 12:00–4:00 PM and 5:00–8:00 PM (staff dinner break 4:00–5:00 PM)

Don’t miss out—schedule your spot today.

Our Veterans Day Assembly will take place the morning of Thursday, November 6. More details will be shared soon. As part of the assembly, we’ll be sharing a slideshow to honor the veterans connected to our school community.

Please take a few minutes to look over the slides we have so far [HERE]. If you have additional photos, names, or information about veterans in your family, we would love to include them. You may submit more than one entry if you’d like to recognize multiple veterans.

All contributions are due by Sunday, October 27. Submissions will be shared in our slideshow presentation and school newsletter.

Thank you for helping us create a meaningful tribute to honor and celebrate those who have served.

This week, even with a day off, our students and staff worked hard on safety. Each day we practiced different Standard Response Protocols and capped it off with our district safety video.

• Students received clear instructions for every drill.

• Staff and students showed focus and teamwork throughout.

• Safety remains our top priority.
  
  

• Students can fill out the “See Something, Say Something” form.

• Parents can always call or email us directly.
  
  

Partnering together helps ensure our school stays a safe, welcoming place where we can focus on learning.

This week, students completed the Panorama survey. Results will be reviewed by our counseling team next week. If the survey indicates that your child may benefit from additional social-emotional learning support:

• A counselor, teacher, or administrator will reach out directly.
  

• Supports will be discussed and provided at school as needed.
  
  

At Friendship, we know that our Firebird staff make a difference every single day. This year, we’re inviting students and families to help us recognize those efforts through our Staff Member of the Month Award.

A student-led committee, guided by Mr. Wheatley, has created monthly criteria and will review all recognition submissions to select the winner. The honored staff member will receive a gift card, certificate, and schoolwide acknowledgment.

New this year: Recognition blurbs submitted will also be shared with staff, making this a powerful way for parents and students to show their appreciation. Please note that only one submission per person is allowed, and only those addressing the month’s specific criteria will be considered.

Deadline: Please complete your submission by Wednesday, October 1 at 8:00 AM for your vote to count.

Staff winners will be announced Friday, alongside our Students of the Month, together forming our monthly Featured Firebirds.

Let’s celebrate those who inspire us, challenge us, and support us every day.

September Look-Fors:
• Connect lessons to real life
• Help students take charge of learning
• Involve students in the community
• Support both learning and personal growth
• Guide students through challenges

Being on time is essential for your child’s success. We are reinforcing expectations for arriving to school and class on time, and there will now be consistent follow-up and consequences.

Why It Matters

• Students who arrive on time maximize their learning and build strong habits for success.
  

• Punctuality helps create a positive and focused classroom environment.
  

School Arrival Tardies

• Parents will be notified if students are frequently tardy to school.
  

• Continued tardiness may result in:
  

• Developing a success plan with staff
  

• Missing lunch with peers
  

• After-school detention to make up missed academic time and complete goal-setting

• Teachers will reach out regarding tardies between periods.
  

• 3+ tardies in a week: Teacher-determined consequence

• 5+ tardies in a week: Administrative consequence

• To prepare students, hallway sweeps are being conducted.
  

• Students not in class on time during sweeps may receive an immediate consequence.
  

How You Can Help

• Remind your student to arrive on time to school and every class period.
  

• Encourage them to keep materials organized so they’re ready to learn.
  

Thank you for your support in helping students build responsible and successful habits!

It’s time to order your 2025-26 yearbook! Purchase it now at the lowest price of the year—just $27—before prices increase at the end of October. The yearbook will be delivered before the end of the school year, giving students plenty of time to sign and enjoy it before summer break.

Order your yearbook here.

As we begin the new school year, remember: good grades, great behavior, and completed service hours are the keys to Honor Society induction.

Start earning service hours now by volunteering, helping neighbors, or joining community projects. Use the official Service Hour Form and turn it in when we return in the fall.

Lead, serve, and shine—let’s make this year count!

If you're interested in joining the PTO or want to learn more about how you can contribute, please reach out to friendshippto550@gmail.com. We wholeheartedly welcome your involvement and look forward to working together to create an exceptional middle school journey for our students.

• Spiritwear: https://friendshipspiritwear.com/
• Google form link to Become a Friend of the PTO and Big One Fundraiser: https://forms.gle/sH7Q2M8jUwk8d6M56

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendshippto/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BEcG1GE8i/

We’re excited to announce our next PTO Dine & Share at Mr. Beef & Pizza on Tuesday, October 8!

Stop by for dinner before or after conferences—or order takeout for the family—and a portion of the proceeds will go right back to support Friendship Junior High.

This is also a great night to show appreciation to our staff, as teachers will be enjoying Mr. Beef & Pizza for their conference dinner that evening.

Come hungry and support our Firebird community!

Reach out to Principal Wheatley at wheatley.mike@ccsd59.org.

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