FAPS #WeAreFenton Community Update

As the school year draws to a close, a profound sense of pride and gratitude fills me as I reflect on all that our students, staff, and community have accomplished together throughout 2025. This year has been marked by remarkable achievements, unwavering dedication, and a shared commitment to fostering an environment where every student can thrive.

Our graduating class of 2025 stands as a shining testament to the hard work and perseverance that defines our district. We have watched these young individuals grow, learn, and discover their passions, and we now celebrate their readiness to embark on the next exciting chapter of their lives. Their accomplishments, both academic and extracurricular, are a source of immense pride for us all.

Beyond graduation, 2025 has been a year of significant progress across our schools. We've seen:

• Enrichment and Innovation: New initiatives in STEAM have provided our students with richer and more engaging learning experiences.
• Community Engagement: Our partnerships with local organizations have strengthened, offering valuable opportunities for student learning and service within the Fenton community.
• Dedication of Our Staff: The tireless efforts of our teachers, administrators, and support staff have been instrumental in creating a nurturing and effective learning environment for all our students. Their passion and commitment are truly the heart of our district.

On a personal note, this end-of-year celebration carries a bittersweet sentiment for me as it marks my retirement as Superintendent of Fenton Public Schools. Serving this community for 15 years has been an incredible honor and privilege. I have been deeply inspired by the dedication of our educators, the enthusiasm of our students, and the unwavering support of our families. I leave with a heart full of gratitude for the countless memories and the strong relationships we have built together. I am confident in the continued success and bright future of Fenton Public Schools under new leadership.

Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your unwavering commitment to our children's education. I wish you all a safe, happy, and restful summer.

With warmest regards,

Superintendent Heidie Ciesielski

The State of Michigan allows school districts 6 forgiven days for inclement weather, if a school district goes over those 6 forgiven days due to weather they are able to apply for a waiver for up to three more forgiven days if they meet the qualifications. As a school district, we have had 8 weather days this last school year, so we applied for a waiver for the two additional forgiven days. We heard in late April that our waiver was granted. There will be no need to add days or time to the school calendar as long as we don't get anymore weather, power or utility closings for the rest of the school year (I hate adding that because as the kids would say we are jinxing ourselves). Our last day of school will be May 30th as planned.

This week was National Teacher Recognition and Appreciation, and we can't thank all of our FAPS Teachers enough for their impact on our school system, and the impact they have on the future of our community. I would encourage you to either reach out to a past teacher of yours, reach out to your child's favorite teacher, or a friend that is a teacher and thank them for their service. I leave you with this quote from Andy Rooney, "Most of us end up with no more than a dozen people who remember us. Teachers have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives"

In honor of teachers, take a look at this article that is a pretty good picture of "What Teachers Wish Parents Knew" https://everyteachereveryday.kinf.org/what-teachers-wish-parents-knew/

Congrats to those retiring from our school district - we wish nothing more than continued happiness in your next adventure! #WeAreFenton

Stay tuned for the announcement of THE Support Staff Person of the Year next week!

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers of our #WeAreFenton Community! The quote below to me is one of the best! I hope all mothers get to enjoy the day as they deserve!

If you haven't had a chance to look at all of the opportunities for our Summer Programming please take a look - very exciting activities for students. Here is a link for all the activities, but we've featured a few for your review

https://www.fentonschools.org/page/summer-camp

We will be very busy this summer with our Bond Project work at 5 of our 6 buildings. We will continue to finalize the work at AGS with the new office addition and moving in and then turning over the existing space to a science lab and Special Services Office. Please be advised that all elementary buildings will be closed during the Summer Months, including our playgrounds. Summer programming with exception to WOW will take place at FHS this year.

Consult the BOND portion of our website for more information

https://www.fentonschools.org/page/bond-projects

Enrollment and registration for next school year is underway, please spread the word! Online enrollment for new students and the registration of current students is open.

New families will want to create a Parentvue account to enroll students.

Current FAPS families will login to your existing Parentvue account to add new students and/or update your current students information.

The link for enrollment information is

https://fentonareaschoolsmi.sites.thrillshare.com/page/enrollment

Schools of Choice window is OPEN!

If you are a current FAPS family and having trouble logging into your account please contact Cathy Ebert cebert@fentonschools.org DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT.

https://forms.gle/4XfsegJmXZJoUAtw6

May work session took place on May 6, 2025. Our board of education will be working very hard in the next few months to name a new Superintendent as that is one of their two most critical functions. Moving into the summer we will be looking to ensure our bond work is communicated and transparent.

Please find the link to the board's work located on our new easy to navigate BOE website page here:

https://www.fentonschools.org/page/board-of-education