Ferson Creek eNews

Happy Friday Ferson Creek Fox Families,

Today the Illinois Report Card for the 2025-2026 school year went live. You can find the link to review Ferson Creek's progress here.

I am excited to announce that Ferson Creek received an overall Exemplary School performance level rating, which is the highest rating a school can earn! This means that there was strong performance across many indicators including proficiency for math, ELA, science, and student growth in ELA and math. This also includes consistent attendance, the climate survey data, and EL progress.

While we received an exemplary rating, we always have a growth mindset and our school goals this year surround further individual student growth in math and ELA as well as a continued focus on PBIS and the Ferson Way.

We look forward to the opportunity to partner with families on these school goals. Please make sure to read the newsletter that your child's teacher sends out to learn about specific ways you can support your child at home with these goals.

Thank you and have a fabulous Halloween weekend!

-Mrs. Salto and Ms. Pigoni

November

November 2nd- CHESS club @ 3:35 in the art room

November 3rd- Election Day (no school)

November 4th & 5th- Big Hearts Holiday Gift Donation Drive during arrival

November 5th-Picture Retakes

November 6th- Trimester 1 ends

November 9th-13th CogAT testing window for grades 3 & 5

November 10th- 5th grade orchestra concert 6p.m. @ TMS

November 13th- Student Leadership Club Meeting 8:05 in STEM room

November 16th- 20th CogAT makeup testing for grades 3 & 5

November 16th- CHESS club @ 3:35 in art room

November 17th- PTO Meeting 12:30-1:30

November 18th- Early release at 2:30p.m.

Trimester report cards available to parents in Synergy ParentVue

November 19th- Windy City Bulls Assembly

November 23rd-29th- No school. Have a great Thanksgiving!

We had so many students demonstrate respect during the month of October. Please see the list of students who were observed going above and beyond to demonstrate respect. Their certificate, award, and photo is currently displayed in the hallway and will be sent home within the next few weeks. Congratulations!

Kindergarten: Damian Sienko & Unlisted

1st Grade: Eli Pasholk & Decker Waugh

2nd Grade: Vivienne Cerna & Unlisted

3rd Grade: Leonardo Beltran-Silva & Unlisted

4th Grade: Alex Kurz & Yuvi Sharma

5th Grade: Bodee Castle & Anthony Kostos

From the Office Staff: Evelyn Matley & Joey Weber

Specials: Elizabeth Colliander, Aria Townsend, Mathew Hodnik, Tanner Hamilton, Rishaan Baxi, Reid Wikerak

Other: Eliana Roman, Margot Daly, CeCe Skrzynecki, Arissa Syed, Nora Van Huysen, Elijah Klosowski, Sadie Doolittle, Giuseppe Greco, Cameron Pater, Anwen Adcock

We love hearing from our Ferson Creek Families! If you have questions, concerns or suggestions please reach out to us through our official PTO email address (fersoncreekpto@gmail.com). This allows us to make sure your message is received and addressed appropriately. Once we receive your email, we will follow up to let you know which PTO meeting it will be discussed at. We will do our best to include your questions and suggestions on the following month’s agenda whenever possible. However, please keep in mind that some topics may be better suited for future meetings based on timing, priorities, and the information needed to address them properly.

Thank you for your continued support of our PTO and for helping us make our school community a wonderful place for everyone!

Good Afternoon,

The Department of Student Services invites you to the upcoming SEPAC meeting on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. This is Part 1 of a 2 Part Series presented by Jordan Eggleson - Professional Learning Supervisor from the Kane County ROE.

Part 1: Growing Together — Helping Children Understand Feelings and Build Connections

Parenting can come with big feelings, meaningful moments, and everyday challenges. Join this session to discover ways to help children understand their emotions, build confidence, develop empathy, and create positive relationships. Using the CASEL social-emotional learning framework, families will explore practical strategies that can be used at home to help children grow socially and emotionally. You’ll leave with ideas to strengthen your connection with your child and build a foundation for lifelong skills.

Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Lincoln School (211 South 6th Ave)

Professional Learning Center (located in the back of the Building)

Park on the East side of the building (back lot). Enter through the back door on the East side of the building.

Spanish and ASL Translators will be on hand. Please RSVP HERE

We hope to see you there!

Laurel O’Brien

Executive Director of Student Services

–Versión en español–

Buenas tardes,

El Departamento de Servicios Estudiantiles le invita a la próxima reunión de SEPAC que se llevará a cabo el miércoles 4 de noviembre del 2026. Esta es la primera de dos partes de una serie presentada por Jordan Eggleson, supervisor de formación profesional del ROE del condado de Kane.

Parte 1: Creciendo Juntos: Ayudando a los Niños a Comprender sus Sentimientos y Construir Conexiones

La crianza de los hijos puede conllevar grandes emociones, momentos significativos y desafíos cotidianos. Únase a esta sesión para descubrir maneras de ayudar a los niños a comprender sus emociones, generar confianza, desarrollar la empatía y crear relaciones positivas. Utilizando el marco de aprendizaje socioemocional CASEL, las familias explorarán estrategias prácticas que pueden aplicar en casa para ayudar a los niños a desarrollarse social y emocionalmente. Al finalizar, se llevarán ideas para fortalecer el vínculo con sus hijos y sentar las bases de habilidades que les acompañarán toda la vida.

Miércoles 4 de noviembre del 2026, de 5:30 a 6:30 pm

Escuela Lincoln (211 South 6th Ave)

Centro de Aprendizaje Profesional (ubicado en la parte trasera del edificio)

Estacionamiento en el lado este del edificio (en la parte trasera). Acceda por la puerta trasera, en el lado este del edificio.

Habrá intérpretes de lengua de señas americana (ASL) y de español disponibles. Por favor, confirme su asistencia AQUI

¡Esperamos verte allí!

Laurel O’Brien

Directora Ejecutiva de Servicios Estudiantiles

We will be celebrating Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11th with an all-school assembly. If there is a veteran that you would like to recognize by having them included in our Veterans Day video, please email our LRC director Renee Ignoffo at sharon.ignoffo@d303.org. In your email, please include your child's name, the veteran's name, the veteran's relation to your child, a picture of the veteran, and branch of the military. Please send all pictures to Mrs. Ignoffo no later than Monday, October 26th. If you sent pictures last year, you do not need to resend them as Mrs. Ignoffo still has the images.

If you have a veteran in your family, or a friend of your family, and your child would like to invite them to attend our assembly on Wednesday, November 11th at 9:30 am (brief pre-assembly welcome at 9:15am with breakfast snacks), please rsvp to Amanda Hodnik at Amanda.hodnik@d303.org, no later than Monday, November 2nd so that we can plan accordingly.

I am also looking for a couple people who would be willing to help with decorations for the Veterans Day assembly. If you are creative, love a craft, or just have an abundance of red, white, and blue decor you'd be willing to let us borrow, please reach out to Kara Salto at Kara.salto@d303.org.

Our Student Leadership Club and PTO are collaborating with Big hearts of Fox Valley for the holiday toy drive. Student Leadership Club members will we available during arrival on November 4th, 5th, and 10th to collect any donations. There is also a box for donations located near the main office.

Here is the Pushcoin link as well for financial donations to Big Hearts that Ferson is collected. It is live and will be open until 11/10 midnight.

https://store.d303.org/?6WZULRLDAF=PUKD2NCHX5#!/products/CGKDN33YNK

Ferson Foxes Give Big this November!
One school. One goal. A whole lot of giving!

50 Items donated- Holiday music at lunch

100 Items donated- cozy sweater/flannel day

150-Items donated- TBD Surprise!

At the end of October, Ms. Daley and Mrs. Sheridan, school social workers, will begin Erin's Law lessons utilizing the Second Step Child Protection Unit. For more information regarding Erin's Law and the Second Step instructional resource, please see the letter below.

Please see the attached letter below for additional information.

🔦💡 STEM IN ACTION: LIGHT & SOUND! 🔊🌲

At Ferson Creek, our Kindergarten and 1st Grade engineers have been busy exploring the world of light and sound through our Project Lead The Way (PLTW) unit!

🌲 The Challenge: Three friends are lost in the woods and need a way to communicate with their hiking group so they can find their way back together! How can we help them?

🎒 With a little help from Suzi’s backpack, our young engineers explored the available materials, put on their thinking caps, and got creative! They used items from the backpack to design and build their own light and sound machines to help the lost friends send signals and get their hiking group’s attention.

💡🔊 Along the way, students practiced:
🛠️ Thinking like real engineers
🔍 Exploring how light and sound can communicate messages
🤝 Sharing ideas and working together
🧪 Testing their designs and thinking about improvements
💭 Using creativity to solve a real-world problem

The best part? Watching our youngest learners turn everyday materials into creative solutions! They are discovering that engineers don't always get it right on the first try—sometimes the best learning happens when we test, rethink, and try again. 🌟

We are so proud of our curious, creative Kindergarten and 1st Grade STEM superstars! ❤️

Who knew Suzi’s backpack could inspire so much engineering?! 🎒🔦🔊

This festive event is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season and we’d love for Ferson Creek students, families, and staff to get involved! There are multiple ways to join in the fun:

• Create your own gingerbread masterpiece — solo, as a family, or with a group! All ages and skill levels welcome. There will be prizes in multiple categories.

• Join us on December 6th. Stop by the event from 11am – 3pm to enjoy music & treats, and vote for your favorite gingerbread house.

• Admission is FREE!

Lunch and Recess

Parent volunteer positions for lunch and recess are currently on pause.

Birthday Lunches

Parent(s)/guardian(s) are welcome to join their child for lunch on their birthday (or an alternate day for summer birthdays).

• Check-in Required: All visitors must check in at the main office to receive a visitor tag before entering the lunchroom.
• Pre-Registration/RSVP Google Form: Please fill out the RSVP Google Form below at least 24 hours in advance so the office and lunchroom staff can plan for extra seating. We are limiting attendance to 2 adult guests per student. Click here to complete the birthday lunch RSVP Google Form.
• Guidelines and Rules: Food may only be shared with your own student. For student privacy, no photos may be taken during lunch. When lunch is over, you must return to the office to sign out.
• Grade-Level Lunch Times

Kindergarten 12:35-12:55

1st Grade 11:05-11:25

2nd Grade 11:25-11:45

3rd Grade 12:55-1:15

4th Grade 11:50-12:10

5th Grade 12:10-12:30

School Start Time - 9:05 am

Earliest Drop-Off Time - 8:50 am

School End Time - 3:25 pm

Early Release End Time - 2:35 pm

There are three easy ways to report your child's absence:

📱 Synergy Parent Portal/App: Click "Report Absence" on the home screen or in the attendance section

📞 Call: 331-228-2300, press option "1"
📧 Email: Amanda.hodnik@d303.org

Phone/email details:

• Messages can be left 24 hours a day
• Please include: your name, your child's name, your phone number, reason for absence, and symptoms (if ill)
• Already emailed the teacher about the absence? Please copy cheryl.wiley@d303.org on that email as well — this helps you avoid a daily attendance verification call

Using Synergy ParentVue?

1. Click the Report Absence button on the home screen or in the attendance section
2. Select the Start and End Date for the absence
3. Choose a Reason from the drop-down menu
4. Enter a Note explaining the absence
5. Upload documentation (e.g., doctor's note) if required, then click Save

Please refer to Chapter 2 of the 2026-2027 Student Handbook for detailed district attendance policies and procedures. Click button below for handbook!

All schools in St. Charles CUSD 303 have moved to Synergy SIS as the district’s new student information system, replacing HAC (Home Access Center). ParentVUE is the secure parent/guardian portal where you will be able to view your student's information, such as grades, report cards, attendance, and online registration.

Please activate your ParentVUE account by following the steps below.

Activate Your Account

Click here to begin: ParentVUE Account Activation

1. Review the Privacy Statement.

2. Click I Accept at the bottom of the page.

3. Create your username and password, and enter your email address.

4. Click Complete Account Activation.

You will then be logged into ParentVUE!

Important Notes

• Initially, you will see one tile: Student Information.

• Student Information: We kindly ask that you click into Student Information and verify that your student’s information is accurate. If edits are necessary, click Edit Information.

• On August 10 in the afternoon, you will see additional information and tiles in the portal.

• Each parent/guardian should create their own account. Do not share accounts.

• You only need one account, even if you have multiple children enrolled in the district.

• You must activate your web portal account before using the mobile app.

• Students in middle and high school will receive their own StudentVUE accounts, which provide similar information. Please do not give your student(s) your ParentVUE login credentials.

Using the ParentVUE Mobile App

1. Download the free ParentVUE app by Edupoint from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

2. Open the app and either allow location services or type your zip code, then tap the district name.

3. Log in using the username and password you created during activation.

If you need assistance, please contact your student's school.

Thank you for completing your ParentVUE activation!

The District 303 Parent/Guardian Attendance Resource Guide is officially launching on the D303 website. This comprehensive resource is organized into three sections: D303-specific attendance resources, community-based attendance resources, and general attendance information, providing families with a clear, accessible starting point for navigating attendance concerns.

Gianna Pigoni, Assistant Principal

Website: https://fersoncreek.d303.org/
Location: 38W160 Bolcum Road, St. Charles, IL, USA
Phone: 331-228-2300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ferson-Creek-Elementary-1492773537612187/