25 - 26 FHS Weekly Update #22
December 15 - 19, 2025 (Office: Mon-Fri 7-3:30)
School of Choice Window for 2nd Semester Ends 12/12/25!
Due to the first semester ending in December instead of mid-January, the FAPS School of Choice window will run from December 1 - December 12, 2025.
Attendance Appeal Time
Students who have accumulated 10+ COUNT absences in any given class for the 1st semester of the 2025-26 school year were scheduled to attend an SRT Attendance Appeal Meeting on Thursday, December 4th (see Attendance Policy graphic below).
Mrs. Kilpatrick, our School-Home Coordinator, met with students to distribute the Attendance Appeals and cover directions on how to complete and submit his/her appeal by the December 12th deadline.
A follow-up meeting is scheduled for SRT on Tuesday, December 16th for any student who still has NOT submitted an Attendance Appeal for the semester.
Important Dates to Note
December
12-13 - Fenton Community Orchestra - 7pm & 2 pm
15 - Rescheduled due to 12/10 Snow Day - FHS Band Concert - 7 p.m. in FHS Auditorium
17-19 - Semester Exams - Half Days - Dismissal at 10:54 a.m.
19 - End of 2nd marking period, end of 1st Semester
January
5 - School Resumes/2nd Semester & 3rd marking period begin
7 - 1st Semester Grades due
7 - Staff Meeting/No After School Tutoring due to Staff Meeting
8 - 26-27 Curriculum Guide to be published
8-10 - Drama Performance (Who's Crazy Now) by Play Production Company in Blackbox Theater
17 - Solo Ensemble - Band
19 - Martin Luther King Day/No School
20 - Early Middle College & Mott Dual Enrollment Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in Lecture Room
21 - Building Leadership Mtg. 2:45 - 3:45 p.m.
21 - SRT IB Diploma Meeting & Parent IB Diploma Meeting 6:30 p.m. in Lecture Room
22 - Course Application & Audition Information for 2026-27 available online
23 - Blood Drive #3
27 - 11th Grade Class Meeting during SRT
29 - 10th Grade Class Meeting during SRT
31 - District 3 Honors Band
December: Week #3 December 15 - 19, 2025
Monday (12/15/25)
- After School Tutoring - 2:45 to 3:20 p.m. (if riding a bus), or 3:40 p.m. if not riding the bus
- Rescheduled FHS Band Concert at 7:00 p.m. in FHS Auditorium
Tuesday (12/16/25)
- After School Tutoring - 2:45 to 3:20 p.m. (if riding a bus), or 3:40 p.m. if not riding the bus
Wednesday (12/17/25) - Half Day due to Semester Exams
- Exams 3rd & 4th hours
- NO AST
Thursday (12/18/25) - Half Day due to Semester Exams
- Exams 5th & 6th hours
- NO AST
Friday (12/19/25) - Half Day due to Semester Exams/Last Day before Holiday Break
- Exams 1st and 2nd hours
January: Week #1 January 5 - 9, 2026
Monday (1/5/26) - 3rd marking period begins/2nd Semester Begins
- After School Tutoring - 2:45 to 3:20 p.m. (if riding a bus), or 3:40 p.m. if not riding the bus
Tuesday (1/6/26)
- After School Tutoring - 2:45 to 3:20 p.m. (if riding a bus), or 3:40 p.m. if not riding the bus
Wednesday (1/7/26) -
- 1st Semester Grades due by Staff at 2:40 p.m.
- No After School Tutoring due to Staff Meeting from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m.
Thursday (1/8/26) - 26-27 Curriculum Guide To Be Printed
- After School Tutoring - 2:45 to 3:20 p.m. (if riding a bus), or 3:40 p.m. if not riding the bus
- Drama Performance of Who's Crazy Now in Blackbox Theater at 7:00 p.m.
Friday (1/9/26) -
- Drama Performance of Who's Crazy Now in Blackbox Theater at 7:00 p.m
Saturday (1/10/26)
- Drama Performance of Who's Crazy Now in Blackbox Theater at 7:00 p.m.
January: Week #2 January 12-16, 2026
Monday (1/12/26) -
- After School Tutoring - 2:45 to 3:20 p.m. (if riding a bus), or 3:40 p.m. if not riding the bus
Tuesday (1/13/26)
- After School Tutoring - 2:45 to 3:20 p.m. (if riding a bus), or 3:40 p.m. if not riding the bus
Wednesday (1/14/26) -
- After School Tutoring - 2:45 to 3:20 p.m. (if riding a bus), or 3:40 p.m. if not riding the bus
Thursday (1/15/26)
- After School Tutoring - 2:45 to 3:20 p.m. (if riding a bus), or 3:40 p.m. if not riding the bus
Friday (1/16/26) -
- No AST on Fridays
Saturday (1/17/25)
- Solo Ensemble - Band
January: Week #3 January 19 - 23, 2026
Monday (1/19/26) - NO SCHOOL/MLK DAY
Tuesday (1/20/26)
- IB Diploma Meeting during SRT for interested students
- After School Tutoring - 2:45 to 3:20 p.m. (if riding a bus), or 3:40 p.m. if not riding the bus
- Early Middle College with Mott Informational Meeting in Lecture Room at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday (1/21/26) -
- After School Tutoring - 2:45 to 3:20 p.m. (if riding a bus), or 3:40 p.m. if not riding the bus
- IB Diploma Meeting for Parents in FHS Lecture Room at 6:30 p.m.
- Building Leadership Meeting - 2:45 to 3:45 p.m.
Thursday (1/22/26)
- After School Tutoring - 2:45 to 3:20 p.m. (if riding a bus), or 3:40 p.m. if not riding the bus
Friday (1/23/26) -
- National Honor Society sponsors Blood Drive #3
- NO AST on Fridays
Scheduling for 2026-27 - New Courses
The Fenton Area Public Schools recently approved new courses for Fenton High School at their Board Meeting on December 2nd. Those courses include:
1. Literature & Composition 1 Academy
2. Gone Boarding
3. Pre-Apprenticeship Training
4. Unified P.E.
5. IB Film SL2
Advanced Physics was also proposed and the Board of Education needed more information before making a decision at their December 16th meeting
Scheduling for 2026-27 - Testing Out of Courses
Public Act 335 allows students the opportunity to “Test Out” of any course offered by Fenton High School except Government or Physical Education by taking a comprehensive final exam in June. Students must demonstrate a reasonable level of mastery of the subject matter (C+ or better) in order to “Test Out” of the course.
When a student successfully completes the “Testing Out” procedures for a course, his/her transcript will reflect “Test Out” credit which will count toward fulfillment of subject area and course sequence requirements BUT NOT toward completion of the credit hours required for graduation. Test Out credit will NOT be included in the computation of grade point average or class rank. When a course is completed by “Testing Out”, a student may NOT receive credit, by any means, for a lower course in the course sequence.
Students who wish to take the test to “Test Out” of a course must register by filling out the appropriate form in the Counseling Office by April 30.
Testing Out Grades/Credits (from Code of Conduct)
If a student successfully completes the “Testing Out” procedures for a course, the following will apply:
The student’s transcript will reflect “Test Out” credit which will count towards fulfillment of subject area & course sequence.
Test Out credit will NOT be included in the computation of grade point average or class rank and will be listed as S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory) on the transcript.
When a course is completed by “Testing Out,” a student may not receive credit, by any means for a lower course in the sequence.
FHS Dance Team
The FHS Dance Team competed this past weekend at Lake Orion and scored 2nd in Hip Hop and 4th in Pom. Individual solos were performed by Avarie Camps (who itook1st place) and Dahlia Wentworth (who took 2nd place).
Lake Fenton, Fenton, & Linden Gymnastics Team
LFLF had a great showing on Saturday at the Holt invitational! The team secured a 3rd place finish. Dayne Stucky (LF) and Emery O’Brien (F) were both all around competitors at the meet and came in 6 and 5th place. Stucky got a PR on floor as well as bar. Addison Ellison (F) also got a PR on floor with her 9.025. Roeynn Roberts (LF) competed for the team on two events, also getting her own PR on bar. Alivia Brown (F) competed on vault and went two for two with perfect landings. Mia Brown’s (L) scores on both bar and vault counted toward the team total that landed LFLF in third. Clare Hunter (F) had an outstanding floor performance, her 9.125 was the highest floor score of the team. LFLF will head to the Fowlerville invite on Friday. Congrats and good luck to these ladies!
SRT Hygiene Drive
Mission: Not all FHS students have the same access to adequate hygiene products. The FHS Hygiene Drive sets out to provide the essential hygiene products necessary to promote all students' physical and mental well-being at FHS. Community participation in these hygiene drives ensures increased accessibility to hygiene products for any and all students.
Goals & Awards
1. Donations tracked by SRT homeroom on a monthly basis
2. SRT class that collects the most donations each month wins a pizza party
3. Pizza parties will take place on the first SRT of the following month.
Please consider helping out this worthy cause!.
FHS News
Mr. Smith and his Video Productions crew have been hard at work creating the next episode of the FHS News. Check out the September 19th episode here.
1st Episode (9/5/25) Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lLbDMh5Oryf-9OReANBS6xUq2MQVnoXK/view?usp=sharing
2nd Episode (9/19/25): https://drive.google.com/file/d/17eVDWu5b4m9DUo32C2efoqcWcnGLeNBb/view
3rd Episode (10/3/25)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BgMK7UKtQKlzEGExl1ysmXplIALNPKNj/view?usp=sharing
4th Episode (10/17/25)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17Dp-5Q81Pz-LcMoE7bhkfgvvitqSxvwV/view?usp=sharing
5th Episode (10/31/25) - Halloween Episode
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13b-0Pej0q6uW6gS_9aPTcA6oITBXQmyQ/view
6th Episode (11/14/25) https://drive.google.com/file/d/16YZ8kv13xwYcr3jlGWHSSnJXD1ZlEHiv/view
Thank you to all of our students and staff who participated in the impromptu Snowman contest on December 10th! Below are three of the submissions, and as you'll see, not all are traditional snowmen. Checkout the gallery of all the submissions by clicking on the Snowman with the F-Paw on the hat to the right.
Community Bulletin Board
This is a reminder that we have a "Community Bulletin Board" on our district website where we post digital flyers related to community events, local clubs or activities, community sports programs, etc... Please visit the link to see what's happening throughout our community! #WeAreFenton
Santa Makes An Appearance at Jinglefest
Fenton High School's own, Oley Frappier, worked with Fenton Kiwanis this past weekend to make sure kids attending Jinglefest had the opportunity to see Santa.
Also making an appearance was former WOW Director, Linda Mora, as the Holiday Tree.
Work Permits
Under 16 years: https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/ber/wage-and-hour/work-permits
Age 16–17 yrs: https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/ber/wage-and-hour/work-permits
- Beginning April 2, 2025, HB 5594 changed work-hour restrictions for 14- and 15-year-olds to align with federal law, limiting them to 3 hours per school day, 18 hours per school week, and 40 hours per non-school week, with work allowed only between 7 AM and 7 PM (or 9 PM from May 31 until Labor Day)
- Work Permits Shifting to LEO - PA 196 of 2024 moves the responsibility for issuing work permits from schools to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity starting no later than October 1, 2026. Schools will still retain the authority to revoke permits for attendance or academic concerns, maintaining a key leverage point for student engagement.
- There will be some additional, minimal process for employers and minors (or their parents), as well as a new database of authorized youth employers available online, but that process will be handled entirely by LEO once they take over the work permit system.
Weekly Updates
Every Friday during the school year, FHS will push out a Weekly Update to students/parents. These updates are also posted on the Fenton Area Public Schools website and are housed there for families to be able to refer back to them.
1. Go to www.fentonschools.org
2. Click on Schools & select Fenton High School
3. Go to heading "Our School"
4. Look for subheading called "Weekly Updates"
Inclement Weather
With the colder weather season upon us, it's that time of year when we start preparing for possible inclement weather and the possibility of school cancellation. Please take time to plan for what you and your family will do in the event we have to cancel school.
The process used to consider weather cancellations is below:
- The district, in conjunction with the transportation department, operations department, law enforcement and local road commissions monitor the weather.
- Fenton collaborates with other area superintendents to make decisions based on the road conditions for our area currently and/or in the near future.
- The district will notify designated individuals in the event of a school closure to then disseminate information as quickly as possible.
- Families can check: the district website, messaging through our FAPS app to phones in the form of voice, text message, email message, district Facebook, and news stations (ABC 12, WNEM 5, NBC 25, Detroit Fox2).
When the weather breaks and road conditions are in question, remember to leave early and drive slowly. Ensure your contact information is updated with your school so the district can provide the most efficient communication, and download our FAPS App.
Suicide Awareness & Prevention
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. We're committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.
Kinship Care
Contact: 800-535-1218 (Monday - Friday, 9-4 PM).
WEBSITE: kinship.msu.edu EMAIL: kinship@msu.edu
FARR
If you need assistance, and are in the Fenton, Lake Fenton, or Linden school districts, Fenton Area Resources & Referral Network (aka FARR) can help with emergency assistance and resources. See contact info below.
FARR
P.O. Box 529
Fenton, MI 48430
Phone - (810) 750-6244
Fax - (810) 885-0286
Email - FARRNetworkHelp@gmail.com
Follow Us on Social Media!!!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fentonhs48430
Instagram: @fenton_hs
Twitter: @Fenton_HS
Website: www.fentonschools.org
Fenton High School
Office Hours: Monday through Friday - 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Website: www.fentonschools.org
Location: 3200 West Shiawassee Avenue, Fenton, MI, USA
Phone: (810) 591-2600
FHS Administration:
Michael Bakker, Principal
Laura Lemke, Assistant Principal (Grade 10 & 12):
Edward Uhrik, Athletic Director/Assistant Principal:
Jennifer Yonkof, Assistant Principal (Grades 9 & 11)
Counselors:
Brian Halas - Last Names A - F
Michelle Pietraszkiewicz - Last Names G - N:
mpietraszkiewicz@fentonschools.org
Craig Golembiewski - Last Names O - Z:
cgolembiewski@fentonschools.org
Career & College Readiness Coordinator:
Lindsay Grady:
IB Diploma Coordinator:
Mark Suchowski
Phone (810) 591-2610
Early Middle College/Dual Enrollment Coordinator
Samantha Burns