Firebird Flash

Parents, we are excited to see you next week for conferences!

We will be sharing staff Zoom links for families who choose to meet virtually. On Wednesday, October 8, we will send out a sheet that includes each teacher’s Zoom link as well as room assignments for in-person conferences.

We kindly ask that students attend conferences alongside their parents/guardians. The focus will be on goal setting, reflection, supports, and celebrations—centered on each student’s growth and success.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us. Together, we can provide the wraparound support and encouragement that help our Firebirds soar!

Wednesday

• Conferences 2:50-6:50 PM (By appointment only)
• Mr. Beef Dine and Share 11 AM-9 PM

Thursday

• Non Attendance Day: Conferences
• 12-4 PM and 5-8 PM (By appointment only)

Friday

• Non Attendance Day

Additional Resources:

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

• 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

October 15 is the deadline for required vaccines and physicals. Please make sure your child has an appointment scheduled. Students out of compliance will not be allowed to attend classes until this is done. Contact the nurse’s office with any questions or for guidance.

It's that time of year again! The book fair is back! Our book fair will launch on Monday, October 6th and run through Thursday, October 9th. Students will have the opportunity to shop the fair at select times during the day and after school, and everyone is welcome to explore the fair during conferences.

Book fair purchases help support the library and library program, helping us maintain an engaging and relevant collection as well as incentivizing independent reading. Thank you for your support!

Midterm grades for the trimester were finalized by staff and are now posted in Skyward. While printed copies are being prepared, the most accurate and up-to-date grades can always be found online in Skyward.

Families will also receive a mailing be sent on Monday that includes both the midterm report and i-Ready results from the fall diagnostic. These resources are designed to help guide communication and provide additional support. Families can also access i-Ready’s family communication tools [here].

Key Details:

• Midterm grades are available in Skyward now.

• 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 final grades are posted.

We strongly encourage families of students earning a D or F to attend or schedule conferences. Partnering now will help ensure a strong finish to the trimester.

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.

Today we celebrate our amazing custodial team! Their hard work keeps Friendship clean, safe, and welcoming every single day. From early mornings to late evenings, they make sure our school shines. Be sure to thank our custodians for all they do to support our Firebird community!

Our 8th graders had the exciting opportunity to explore Harper College and get a glimpse of what college life looks like right in our own backyard. Students toured the campus, participated in demonstration lessons, and learned about the many benefits of starting at a community college.

Highlights included learning about the Harper Promise Scholarship, the advantages of smaller class sizes, and the ability to live at home while saving on tuition costs. Harper also shared how their strong university partnerships with DePaul, NIU, Roosevelt, and Southern Illinois University allow students to complete bachelor’s degree programs right on Harper’s campus.

Students also explored different fields of study offered at Harper, such as math, graphic design, fashion, and artificial intelligence—sparking ideas for their own future paths.

It’s hard to believe, but in just four short years, today’s 8th graders will be making these important decisions for themselves. This trip gave them an early look at the exciting options available close to home!

Friendship parents/guardians, District 214 emailed and mailed placement testing and enrollment information this week (sent Sept. 30). Please review the dates and enrollment steps below.

What you need to do

• Complete the Intent to Enroll by Wednesday, Oct. 16 and select a placement exam date: www.d214.org/freshmanenroll

• If you don’t complete Intent to Enroll by Oct. 16, your child can still attend the placement exam; please complete the form afterward.

Placement Exam Dates (8:00–11:00 a.m.; arrive by 7:45 a.m.)

• Saturday, Oct. 25 – Elk Grove, Prospect, Rolling Meadows
  Makeup: Saturday, Nov. 8
  
  

More details (and the Intent to Enroll form) are at www.d214.org/freshmanenroll.
Questions about Intent to Enroll? Contact Nicole Young, Student Services Admin Assistant, 847-718-5222.

https://www.d214.org/assessments

Friendship families, we are excited to share a special opportunity from District 214’s WildStang Robotics Teams 111 & 112!

This fall, they are hosting the Miss Maker Workshop, designed for girls ages 9–14 to spark interest and excitement in STEM. Participants will explore:

• Mechanical Engineering – design and build an automata using gears

• Software – learn coding through Minecraft Education and Code.org

• Electrical – create circuits with LEDs and copper tape

Dates: October 18 & November 1

Location: Details in the flyer (below)

This is a hands-on, fun experience for students to try engineering, coding, and circuitry in an engaging way.

For more information and to register, please see the attached flyer or visit the WildStang Robotics website.

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!

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!

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/

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

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