Happy Friday, Lil Steamer Families!

From the Desk of: Principal Hoese

Lil Steamer Families --

Next week is Homecoming Week! We are looking forward to sharing our Steamer Pride all week long with fun dress up days and cheering our Steamers on all week long!

As a reminder, FBP & FES will dismiss one hour earlier. That means FBP bus students will dismiss at 2:00 PM and FES bus students will dismiss at 2:07 PM.

If you are participating in or going to watch the Homecoming Parade, it starts at 3:00 PM at the post office. Due to downtown construction, the parade will go from the post office to de Immigrant windmill by the dike.

See below picture for the parade lineup. Have a great weekend!

JAGH

From the Desk of: AP Marten

Building a Smooth School Routine: Quick Tips for Parents

A consistent routine is one of the best ways to help your elementary student feel secure and confident. It reduces stress and makes your days run more smoothly. It’s not about being rigid, but about creating a predictable rhythm for your family.

Here are a few simple ways to build a routine that works:

Show, Don't Just Tell

Kids are visual! Create a simple chart with pictures or words that shows the day's schedule, from morning to bedtime. Put it somewhere they can see it, like on the fridge. This helps them know what's next and feel in control.

Anchor the Day

Set a few consistent "anchor points" that don't change much, like wake-up time, meals, and bedtime. These consistent times help regulate your child's internal clock and make every day feel more predictable.

Prepare the Night Before

Save your morning sanity by getting ready the night before. Have your child pack their backpack and lay out their clothes. This teaches responsibility and makes mornings less of a rush.

Designate a "Homework Hub"

Create a specific spot for homework that's free of distractions. This could be a corner of the kitchen table or a desk in their room. A consistent space helps your child get into a focused mindset.

Include Fun and Free Time

A good routine isn't just about schoolwork. Make sure you build in time for unstructured play, physical activity, and downtime. These breaks are crucial for a child's mental well-being and help them recharge.

Give Choices

Let your child make small choices within the routine. For example, ask, "Would you like to put away your toys now or after your snack?" This gives them a sense of control and reduces power struggles.

Stay Flexible

Remember, a routine is a guide, not a strict rulebook. Be ready to adjust for sick days or special events. Talk to your child about these changes so they learn to be adaptable, too.

By using these simple supports, you can create a calmer, more predictable home environment that helps your child thrive.

From the Desk of: Counselor Meumann

We are role models for our children. Children learn about feelings and how to express them by watching others. Show your child how you are feeling about different situations and how you deal with those feelings. Encourage your child with praise. Praise your child when they talk about their feelings or express them in an appropriate way.

It is easy to learn about the teacher that your child/children have or have had. However, at FBP and FES, we are one large team. For this reason, we will introduce and give some fun information about each of our family members in our newsletter!

Affter 26 days, Kindergartten students completed their ABC Boot Camp. We spent the last 26 days reviewing letters and their sounds. To celebrate completing Boot Camp, students wore camo attire and wore camo helmets for the day. We also had a special snack of ABC cookies and green punch! Students received a certificate of completion and a special Army theme goodie bag for all their hard work!

1A had AG in the classroom visit our room! We learned all about the different foods you can grow in our state of Illinois. They listened to a story, learned some new facts, and did a fun activity. Thank you to our special guest!

Monarchs, Monarchs, Monarchs!

We had an explosion of monarchs this week! Some of the classes have had the chance to release a butterfly during their library time as well!

Book Bingo

Don't forget to help your child complete their book bingo papers! We have already had several kiddos complete their paper. They are now entered into the drawing for the grand prize!

Some awesome students volunteered to help Ms. Powell at recess taking out some of the wild weeds. It soon became a competition to see which root system was going to be the longest!

4th Grade Enjoys Ag in the Classroom This Year

The 4th grade will be participating in Ag in the Classroom through out the year. We started with the water cycle and making a water cycle in a bag. Then Mrs. Baker from the State Ag in the Classroom, through Farm Bureau support, visited last week and taught us about building a Banana Split from Farm to Spoon. This week we learned about dairy and several classes did a cheese tasting. We will continue with lessons on early dismissal days to learn about Ag Supply Chain, Seasons, Nutrition, Apples, Pumpkins, Pizza, Horses, Corn, Wheat, Pollinators, Renewable Energy, and Poultry. Below are pictures from some of the Ag in the Classroom activities so far.

Getting the bowl.

Figuring out the clues.

Putting items in the order of the processes.

Getting the ice cream clue.

Putting the water cycle bag on the window in our class to observe.

Crossword puzzle using our water cycle words.

Teams work to solve.

The EGM Festival is a one-day clinic for 4th-6th grade students who are interested in music. It's hosted by the Illinois Music Educator's Association each November. Click below for more info!