FMS March Family Newsletter
April 1st, 2026
Dear FMS Families,
Welcome to our March newsletter! As we head into the home stretch of the school year, we’re excited to celebrate the many accomplishments of our students. In this edition, we highlight our SOAR celebrations and recognize students who have earned honor roll achievements that reflect the hard work, character, and dedication we see every day at FMS.
We are also looking ahead with excitement as we prepare for the start of Quarter 4 and begin planning for our 8th grade graduation. It’s a meaningful time of year filled with growth, reflection, and celebration.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and school community. We are proud to partner with you!
Go Falcons!
At Faribault Middle School, we are proud to continue building a strong culture through our SOAR Program... Safe, On-Task, Accountable, and Respectful. These core values guide our daily interactions and help shape the positive, supportive environment we want for every student.
Teaching and reinforcing character traits consistently is essential to student success, both in and out of the classroom. When students understand and practice what it means to be safe, stay on-task, take accountability, and show respect, it creates a learning environment where everyone can thrive.
We are excited to share that the impact of SOAR is clearly reflected in our data. The month of March marked one of the lowest levels of classroom disruptions we have seen on record. A total of 30 teachers reported disruptions to the learning environment, resulting in 97 referrals. Of those, 43% involved support from Student Services to help address situations with students and families. This is a significant improvement compared to just two years ago, when FMS averaged over 1,000 referrals per month.
This progress speaks volumes about the collective efforts of our students, staff, and families. Because of this growth, our teachers are able to spend more time doing what they do best—teaching—rather than managing behaviors. This creates a more positive and productive learning environment where kindness, respect, and care are at the forefront.
We truly appreciate your continued support at home in reinforcing these expectations. Together, we are making a meaningful difference for our students and school community.
Thank you for helping our Falcons SOAR!
FMS had another amazing SOAR Day!
We loved celebrating our Students of the Month, Staff of the Month, and Honor Roll students—such a great way to recognize the hard work, character, and dedication across our school. The afternoon was filled with a variety of fun, enriching activities that students truly enjoyed!
👉 Click on the slide below to see more highlights from the day!
A friendly Reminder,
Quarter Three ends this Friday, April 3rd, and we will begin Quarter Four on Monday, April 6th—wow, how time flies! Let’s keep moving forward and giving our best effort as we finish the year strong.
Grades for Quarter Three will be posted the week of April 13th. Thank you for your continued support in helping students stay focused and finish the year on a high note!
Families may have noticed that teachers are now sharing SOAR Grades, which reflect how students demonstrate positive character and learning behaviors in each class. Students are scored on S – Safety, O – On Task, A – Accountability, and R – Respectfulness using a 0–4 scale:
4 = Exemplary, 3 = Proficient/Meets the Standard, 2 = Developing/Partially Meets the Standard, 1 = Needs Improvement, and 0 = Not Demonstrated.
Our goal is for all students to consistently score at least a 3, while striving toward a 4. If your child is earning a 0, 1, or 2, we encourage you to connect with their teacher to discuss how you can partner together to support your child and help create the best possible learning environment in the classroom.
We are excited to share that our state-required MCA testing will begin this month at Faribault Middle School! These assessments are an important way to measure student learning and growth in key areas, helping us ensure that all students are on track for success.
Here’s our testing schedule for April:
- Reading: April 13–17
- Math: April 20–23
- Science: April 27–30
Your support at home plays a crucial role in helping your child perform their best. You can help by:
- Encouraging a good night’s rest before each test
- Providing a nutritious breakfast or meal
- Maintaining a positive attitude and encouragement for your child
Together, we can help students feel confident, focused, and ready to show all they have learned. Let’s go FMS—we’ve got this!
Thank you for partnering with us in supporting your child’s success.
Yearbooks are on sale now! You can buy them online at faribaultyearbook.com for $25 and then click on "order your middle school yearbook online here". Get yours now before prices go up to $30 on March 30! If you have any questions, please reach out to Hayley Becker.
8th Grade Families,
Graduation is just around the corner! This is an exciting time as we celebrate our 8th graders and all they have accomplished during their time at middle school. Our graduation committee is currently reviewing each student’s academic record to ensure they have earned at least 18 credits, and we are also factoring in attendance and behavior as part of our graduation criteria.
We look forward to honoring our students and their achievements as they prepare to take the next step into high school. It’s a moment to reflect, celebrate, and be proud of all they have accomplished!
We’re excited to announce our upcoming Spring Play, Too Many Ghosts by Todd Wallinger!
Our talented students have been working hard preparing this fun and entertaining production, and we would love to see our school community come out to support them. Performances will be held:
April 2 at 6:00 PM - We'll communicate a make-up date. (Weather Related, E-Learning Day)
April 3 at 6:00 PM
April 4 at 1:00 PM
This lighthearted comedy is sure to bring plenty of laughs and showcase the creativity and dedication of our student performers and stage crew.
Mark your calendars and join us for a great afternoon or evening of theater. We hope to see you there!
Spring is in the air, and that means it’s time for Spring Sports at Faribault Middle School! Whether your student is interested in Baseball, Softball, Track, Tennis, Golf, or even the Clay Target Team, there’s a spot for everyone to get involved.
Participating in sports and activities offers so many benefits:
- Stay active and healthy while having fun with friends
- Build teamwork and leadership skills that last a lifetime
- Learn discipline, focus, and goal-setting on and off the field
- Make lasting memories and be part of something bigger than yourself
Joining a team is more than just playing a sport—it’s about growing, challenging yourself, and being part of our FMS community. No matter your skill level, we encourage every student to give it a try and discover the joy of being active and engaged this spring!
Let’s make this season unforgettable—Go FMS!
4-3: End of Quarter 3
4-3: Spring Play, 6:00pm
4-4: spring Play, 1:00pm
4-6: Start of Quarter 4
4-13/4-17: MCA Reading Testing
4-17: SOAR After School/Evening Activity Night
4-20/4-23: MCA Math Testing
4-24: Professional Learning Day for Staff, No School for Students
4-27/4-30: MCA Science Testing
5-1: SOAR Celebration
Website: https://fms.faribault.k12.mn.us/
Location: 704 17th Street Southwest, Faribault, MN, USA
Phone: 507-333-6300
Facebook: facebook.com/fms.faribault.k12.mn.us