News From The Nest

Dear Falcon Families,

It's hard to believe we're already at the end of January! I want to remind families that this Friday is our monthly Read With A Loved One after our flag assembly. Please join your Falcon their classroom for a morning of reading. If you'd like, feel free to bring a beach chair or blanket to set up just outside their room to read.

Our PTA Board would also like to invite you to come early to chat with about our open Board positions in 26-27 and ask questions that you might have about what those positions entail. We are actively seeking new members to step into Board positions.

As a reminder, Open Enrollment is currently open for any students on transfer and any new students who want to attend Fern Drive in the fall. The window is open from 1/12-2/13. Please let any of your neighbors or new families know. You access the OE forms online. See below for more information.

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend to our annual Open House this year on Thursday, February 19th. We look forward to seeing you then!

Go Falcons! 💚

Warmly,

Mrs. Lucas

Mark Your Calendars:

January 26th ~ New and Prospective Family School Tour, 9:00 am

January 26th ~ District Preschool & TK Webinar, 5:00 pm

February 10th ~ New and Prospective Family School Tour, 9:00 am

Families, please share this information with any new or prospective families

that would like to attend Fern Drive in the fall.

We love to see our community grow! 💚

We are aware that there has been concern in the broader community regarding immigration enforcement activity. I want to reassure you that at this point in time there has been no activity at Fern Drive and that our students are safe while they are at school.

Our school remains a safe and supportive place for all children. We do not ask for or collect immigration information, and we do not collect Social Security numbers or keep birth certificates on file. A student will never be released to anyone who is not listed on the family’s emergency contact list. Please contact the office if you wish to add any individuals to your child's emergency contacts. We encourage you to keep your contact information updated.

Fern Drive follows guidance from the district and state to ensure that schools remain focused on learning and student well-being. Our priority every day is keeping students safe, supported, and ready to learn. To that point, this week, our teachers will be sharing a brief, age-appropriate lesson on immigration and reassuring students that school remains a safe place.

If you would like additional information, the district has shared resources explaining schools and immigration on our district website HERE.

If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office. We are here to support you and your children.

On Monday, January 26th, from 5:00-6:00 PM, families with students who are preschool or TK-eligible are invited to learn about the different early education options in FSD.

Please visit fullertonsd.org/earlyeducation for webinar details.

Attendance is key in student achievement and success at school.

Thank you for ensuring your Falcon attends school on time every day that they are healthy.

If your child will be absent, please use this google form to clear their absence. You may also call the school attendance line to clear an absence. Independent Study MUST be requested on THE DAY of the absence. For vacations, parents must request Independent Study TWO weeks before the absence.

Each week we hold a raffle for class attendance. Each day, if the class has 100% attendance, the teacher sends a raffle coupon up to the office. On Friday's we draw a primary and upper grade class winner. The winning class receives 3 class Gotcha's, a 10 minute extra recess and has the Falcon mascot in their room for the week.

This week's winners are:

Primary - Mrs. Valenzuela

Upper grades - Mrs. Gambrell

As we head into the winter months, students are often home ill. If your child is absent, you can request Independent Study to make up the absence on their attendance. You MUST request it on the first day of the absence. There is a spot on the google attendance form to request this. If your child is absent, you MUST clear their attendance with either the ABSENCE google form or a call to our office attendance line so that the absence does not become a truancy. TY!

This is a message from Fullerton School District regarding Open Enrollment for

Intradistrict and Interdistrict Transfers for the 2026-2027 school year.

Please note that TK - 7 grade Intradistrict and Interdistrict Transfers must be renewed annually. Open Enrollment begins on January 12, 2026, and closes on February 13, 2026. Parents who reside within Fullerton Elementary School District boundaries, who would like their students to attend a school other than their school of residence, can apply for a transfer by submitting an application online via the Fullerton School District website between January 12th and February 13th.

New this year for junior high: Approved transfers will cover the two-year junior high grade span, so families will not need to reapply each year. A transfer secured in 7th grade remains valid through 8th grade, unless specified otherwise in the agreement. If you reside within Fullerton Elementary School District boundaries and your child is currently a 6th grader and you wish to have them attend a junior high school that is not your junior high school of residence, please apply for an Intradistrict Transfer by submitting an application online via the Fullerton School District website at www.fullertonsd.org.

If you live outside the Fullerton Elementary School District boundaries and currently have your student on an Interdistrict Transfer, the transfer must be initiated in your district of residence. These Interdistrict Transfer forms should be received at the Fullerton School District Office by February 13th for consideration.

Allen Bill: A parent or guardian who is physically employed within the Fullerton School District school boundaries for a minimum of 10 hours per week may be able to enroll their student through the Allen Bill enrollment option.

For more information, please visit our website at www.fullertonsd.org. If you have any questions, please contact the Fullerton School District's Office of Child Welfare and Attendance at 714-447-7529.

Thank you, and we look forward to having your students learn with us in the 2026-27 school year!

In service, Fullerton School District's Office of Child Welfare and Attendance

Here is our latest update from Student Council. Read carefully to see the latest spirit dates.

Link to FSD website Nutrition Page

Lunch and breakfast will continue to be free for all students daily. We will still do a lunch count daily so please discuss with your student the importance to take a correct lunch count. Some students bring a lunch to school and then at lunchtime go get a school lunch. This results in some lunch shortages of the choice meal that day. Lunch options are still available and all children will be fed but often when this happens, the "lunch of the day" runs out. Please review with students the importance of this an accurate lunch count.

📚Read With A Loved One dates for the remainder of the year: 📚

An important reminder to drive SLOWLY and SAFELY through our parking lot and on Fern Drive. Cars are driving too fast through our parking lot and students are also exiting cars in the drive through lane. This is not safe and we need to follow our drop off/pick up protocols. Students are only permitted to exit their car on the SIDEWALK side of their car in the drop off lane, NOT the drive-through lane. A reminder that adults are not permitted to exit the car. Students should be ready to exit when their car pulls into the drop off lane. As cars pull away, please be sure you are driving SLOWLY and cautiously. Drive slowly on Pico and Fern Drive as well. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Our students, families and staff should be safe at all times.

Month of November PTA update.

Each month, be sure to take a look at the latest news and events from PTA.

We have the following PTA Board positions open for the 26-27 school year. Please consider grabbing another Fern Drive parent and jumping into one of these positions. Your time, service and dedication are greatly appreciated and add to the success of our kids' elementary experience! Please reach out to the PTA Board at ferndrpta@gmail.com if you have questions.

Our 25-26 Foundation Board Members

President, Kristen Jones

Vice President, George Benfit

Secretary, Nanette Roller

Treasurer, Joe Conti

• The PowerSchool Parent Portal will be live beginning Fri, 8/8. If your child took the state test last spring, you can find their CAASPP test scores there.
• Fern Drive School Handbook
• Fern Drive Website
• FSD Website
• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook

Follow Fern Drive on IG: fern_drive_falcons

Follow our PTA on IG: ferndrivepta

Follow our Foundation on IG: ferndrivefoundation