Fair Haven Union MIddle School

Principal's Note

Dear Families,

As this newsletter arrives in in-box, we will just be wrapping up our Fall student-led conferences. I want to take a moment to share why we use this format at the middle school level and what makes it such a valuable experience for our students.

Middle school is an important time for students to begin taking greater ownership of their learning. Student-led conferences provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their progress, demonstrate accountability, recognize their growth, identify areas for improvement, set goals, and communicate their learning to the people who support them most. Students spend time preparing for these conversations in both their classes and advisory. This is intentional work, and research supports student-led conferences as a developmentally appropriate way to build reflection, responsibility, self-awareness, and ownership of learning.

I also recognize that this format can leave some parents feeling frustrated. You may leave a conference wishing you had the opportunity to sit down individually with each of your child's teachers and hear their perspective on how your child is doing in class. That is understandable, and we certainly don't want families to feel that they are missing important information about their child's progress.

Please remember that our middle school teachers are always available to connect with you, either individually or as a grade-level team. You can reach them by email or phone, or arrange a time to meet in person. While it may take 24–48 hours to receive a response, depending on the day of the week, weekends, illness, and other circumstances, you can expect a response. Teachers are available to meet with families throughout the school year.

Communication between home and school should be an ongoing dialogue, not something that waits for designated dates on the school calendar. If you have a question, notice a change, or have a concern about your child's academic progress or experience at school, we encourage you to reach out. If you don't receive a response, or if the response doesn't address your concern, please feel free to reach out to me. We want to work together, and we want you to have the information you need to support your child.

For families who feel that student-led conferences are similar to the conversations you already have with your child around the dinner table or during nightly check-ins, we recognize and appreciate the time and attention you already invest in your child's education. We hope that the reflection, preparation, and conversations students engage in during classes and advisory will bring additional depth and detail to those conversations at home. Sometimes, hearing a student explain their own progress, recognize a challenge, or articulate a goal can lead to a different and valuable conversation.

Finally, while we understand that a remote conference needs to be an option for some families due to extenuating circumstances, we strongly encourage you to come into school if you are able. Take a few minutes to see the environment where your child spends so much of their day. Visit the classroom where they start each morning, connect with the advisor who welcomes them to school each day, and take a peek at their locker. These seemingly small things help you get a better picture of your child's daily middle school experience.

Ultimately, student-led conferences are about giving students a voice in their education and helping them develop the skills to become increasingly independent, reflective, and responsible learners. We appreciate your partnership in this process and the many ways you support your child's growth, both inside and outside of school.

Quarter 1 report cards will arrive in the mail next week. As always, please reach out if you have any questions or would like to connect with us about your child's progress.

Thank you for being part of our middle school community! Our partnership with families is incredibly important to us, and we appreciate the many ways you support your child's learning and growth throughout the year.

Jennefer Paquette

FHUMHS Co-Principal

✅Eligibility Checks

Next Eligibility Check - December 11th

The Dec. 11 eligibility check will get here faster than expected. December 'sounds' far away but with Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Break, it will be here before you know it! Talk with your child and check PowerSchool! They should all know how to log on to their PowerSchool account. The best way to look at PowerSchool is together. Have them log onto their account and talk through what might be missing/late.

We provide numerous eligibility checks. These eligibility checks do not result in removal from an extra-curricular. However, if a student is failing (less than 2.5) two or more classes, at the time of the eligibility check, they will be expected to attend Academic Success for 8 days in order to continue participating in the extra-curricular (sports and clubs). Our goal is to support student participation while placing a priority on academics. There is more information in the Athletic and Co-Curricular Handbook (linked below).

The dates of the remaining Eligibility Checks are: December 11th, January 22*, March 5th, April 2*, May 7th, June 11th*. The four dates with asterisk's are the end of Quarter 1, 2, 3, and 4. You will receive a MS Report Card in the mail shortly after the end of a Quarter. We will remind you, and students, of these as they come up. However, it it important to get this on your radar early.

We want to help students develop the consistent habits and routines that allow them to maintain a steady level of success. We hope to avoid the "let it slip and then scramble' when an eligibility check is coming up.

Your child should know how to check their PowerSchool account. If you have your own login, that is great! You can also ask your child to log in and have them show you their account. Please know that you can log in on any device. You can see more if you log on through a computer than a cell phone.

✅ Timely Arrival and Consistent Attendance Matter

Starting the day on time helps set students up for success. Students who arrive on time are able to settle in, connect with their advisory, and begin the day ready to learn alongside their peers.

At FHUMS, our lobby doors open at 7:45 a.m. The first bell rings at 8:07 a.m., and the late bell rings at 8:10 a.m. Students who are not in advisory by 8:10 a.m. are marked tardy.

Please encourage your child to attend school regularly and arrive on time each day. Consistent attendance and punctuality not only support academic success, but also help students develop responsibility, reliability, and habits that will serve them well throughout high school, college, and future careers.

We understand that families sometimes face challenges that can make consistent attendance difficult. If your family is experiencing barriers, we are here to help. Our Guidance Department and FHUMHS Attendance Team are committed to partnering with families to ensure every student has the support they need. Please don't hesitate to contact our Guidance Department at (802) 265-3636 for assistance or to discuss available supports.