Fremont Elementary School

Dear Fremont Families,

As we head into our winter break, we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible growth and joy our students have shown this season. Whether they are mastering new words or making new friends, our K-2 learners have made this a wonderful school year. We hope this upcoming break is filled with laughter, cozy moments, and quality time with family and friends. Take this time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the magic of the season together!

At school, we use Clever Badges to log in to our district applications and websites. Please note that current QR codes will expire on December 30th. Students will receive their new login badges when they return to school in January.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday, January 6th. We will celebrate the new year with a spirit week. Please see below for details. Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our school community. Have a safe, happy holiday and a wonderful New Year!

Sincerely,

Beth Carmody

Principal

Our holiday parties were filled with smiles and shared moments. Students enjoyed holiday crafts, played games, and listened to music as they spent time celebrating together with classmates and staff. It was a joyful time marked by creativity, laughter, and seasonal fun.

December 22-January 2 -Winter Break (Students Not In Attendance)
January 5 - Teacher Institute Day (Students Not In Attendance)
January 6 - School Resumes - Winter Spirit Week Begins (see below for more info)
January 7 - Early Release Schedule (ES dismissed at 3:08 p.m.)

2025-26 FSD79 School Calendar

Absences need to be reported to the school by 9:00am by calling the attendance line or submitting the electronic absence form

847-837-0437 option 2
https://www.fsd79.org/families/student-absences/report-an-absence

Excused Absences Include

Illness (physical, mental or behavioral) Please note, after 3+ consecutive days of an illness related absence, a doctor's note is required on day 4 in order for the absence to be considered excused moving forward
Medical/Therapeutic appointments
Religious Holidays
Family emergencies or civic events
Parenting or safety-related concerns

Vacations

Vacations during school are discouraged and count as unexcused absences.

We encourage you to keep your child IN SCHOOL before and after field trips and special events.

Report an Absence Form

At the December 15 Board of Education meeting, a two-hour late start was reviewed as a new District option in the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen events. By implementing this two-hour delayed start, the District can maintain in-person learning while prioritizing the safety of students and staff. Under this plan:

The school day will shift forward by two hours for our K-8 students, and dismissal times will remain unchanged.

Elementary & Intermediate Schools

Delayed start time: 10:50 a.m.

Middle School

Delayed start time: 9:55 a.m.

Morning student bus times would be exactly two hours later than their regularly scheduled bus stop pick-up time.
Lincoln Early Learning Center would see its AM session canceled entirely, while the PM session proceeds as scheduled.

As with any shift in the school day, administration will monitor conditions to determine if conditions are safe for after-school activities.

The District recently installed new signage at the entrance to the parking lot and bus loading area between the elementary and intermediate schools. Thank you for adhering to the parking rules for this area.

Speaking of our Target shopping trip, it's the subject of our brand-new episode of the "Fremont Leads" podcast. Give it a listen to learn more about the history of the event, how it benefits our community, and how you can contribute to the Fremont Township Food Pantry as well if you'd like. Subscribe via any of the platforms below so you don't miss an episode!

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | YouTube Music | iHeartRadio

The end of the calendar year can be busy, but staying present in school is the best gift we can give our students. Each day this month counts, and teachers are working hard to keep students learning and connected. Thank you for prioritizing school while also supporting our health guidelines for illness.

Fremont Elementary is seeking to provide a no-cost, eight week, 30 minutes a week, in-school grief support group for students who have experienced the death of a parent, caregiver, or sibling. Willow House is a non-profit organization dedicated to the needs of grieving children and their families.Trained Willow House facilitators and a Fremont social worker will provide a safe, confidential space to help students process grief and build coping skills. Please submit this form to express your interest. We will reach out with details once they are in place.

As we head into the holidays, let’s keep social-emotional and mental health top of mind for our students and ourselves. Please review the Family Resources compiled by the Fremont Mental Health Team and the ReferralGPS program to ensure you have the tools you need for a healthy season.

We kindly ask all parents to send an extra, labeled set of seasonally appropriate clothing (including shirt, pants, underwear, and socks) to be kept at school, regardless of your student's grade level. Accidents, spills, or unexpected muddy activities can happen to students of any age, and having a spare set on hand allows us to quickly and comfortably resolve the situation without having to call home and disrupt your day. If the spare set is used, please remember to send in a replacement set the next day. Thank you for your cooperation!

To all the hockey fans out there, keep that reading going! Winter break will be a great time to finish your reading and earn a free ticket. Remember, students can earn a FREE TICKET to any Chicago Wolves home game by reading 400 minutes by January 7. Once completed, fill out the Google Form, and a ticket order form will be sent home with your child. The Google Form is due by Wednesday, January 7. If you have any questions, please contact Rachal Swiderski, rswiderski@fsd79.org.

Wolves Reading Challenge 2025

A friendly reminder that every student in FSD79 has access to the Varsity Tutors Live + AI platform. This access includes:

On-Demand Chat Tutoring
On-Demand Essay Review
100+ Weekly Live Classes
Recorded Enrichment Classes
Self-Study & Practice Resources

Here is a pamphlet that provides an overview of the platform features. Students can go to their Clever Dashboard and select the Varsity Tutors icon to login to the platform. Any chat sessions students participate in are recorded and posted on their dashboard for future reference.

Unless your child is a regularly scheduled pickup, you must email or call our building receptionist
Aura Perez Cruces at aperezcruces@fsd79.org or 847-837-0437 no later than 2:45 p.m. *On Wednesdays, you must let us know by 2:15 p.m.

A friendly reminder about our drop off and pick up line ...

Please stay in your car when dropping off or picking up your student(s).

Please do not park in the parking lot and send your student(s) to the school. Stay in the drop-off line.

Please pull all the way forward in line when dropping off and picking up. Students exit the car on the sidewalk only.

If you arrive at school after 8:55 a.m., you must come into the school to sign your student in. Doors close at 8:55 a.m.
Please refer to our Pick-up and Drop-off Procedures for our specific guidelines.

Lunch menus can be found here. For more information, including how to set up a lunch account for your student, please click here. Parents will need their student's Lunch PIN/Student Number to set up a lunch account. This information can be found in TeacherEase by clicking on the Miscellaneous tab and then selecting Locker/Lunch PIN. For more information Food Service page on our website.

Health information and medical forms are available on the FSD79 Health Services website page. Please drop off forms at your child’s school.

Kindergarteners must show proof of current physical/immunizations, as well as dental and eye exam forms.
Second graders must complete a dental examination prior to starting school.

Right at School offers before and after-school child care at FSD79, for grades K-8. Please visit the Right At School website for information and to register your child(ren) for the program.

Right at School Fall Registration