Greetings FVMS Families,
Welcome back from Thanksgiving Break! I hope you and your student(s) were able to enjoy some much-needed rest and relaxation, along with good food and meaningful family time. We are excited to have our students back and ready to finish this semester strong.
🎶 We’ve Come to the End of the Road…
In the words of Boyz II Men, “we’ve come to the end of the road.” We only have 14 instructional days left in the semester. This first semester is incredibly important—it sets the stage for how hard your student will have to work next semester. Strong grades now help ensure a less stressful and more successful second semester.
Over the next three weeks, teachers will be:
• Providing make-up assignments
• Allowing students to retest on failing work
• Accepting missing assignments
• Supporting students who want to improve their grades
Please encourage your student to take advantage of every opportunity to raise their grades. Aim for your student to finish the semester with at least an 80, which gives them a strong start going into January. If your child is failing or borderline failing, teachers will be contacting you to discuss options. However, if you have concerns and have not heard from your child’s teacher by next Monday, please reach out.
Together, let’s make sure students enter next semester passing and prepared, especially as standards become more rigorous.
📋 Parent Survey
Your feedback is essential to helping us improve our school.
Please take a few minutes to complete our Parent Survey below:
English Link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgAVMb45q0dNF67kbo-mShnWhjx2uGDhtI4fEBS-TExQOboQ/viewform?usp=dialog
Spanish Link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfYt-ARsWKZz8UxMTjw35pJBrCVMwKZ4tCc_lx4yZTkQCcNsA/viewform?usp=dialog
📚 Fall Curriculum & Literacy Night – Tonight, December 2
Join us tonight from 5:30–6:30 p.m. to learn strategies for supporting your student in reading.
This event will help parents understand how to actively support academic growth at home. Fall Curriculum Night will also give families an opportunity to see our new renovation, and there will be gift card prizes for a few lucky families.
🎓 8th Grade Parents
Every year, parents have questions about the skills, grades, and requirements needed for high school promotion. Immediately following Literacy Night, at 6:30 p.m. in the gym, meet with the administrators for an important session on expectations for students transitioning to 9th grade. We are here to make the process clear and support you in supporting your child.
📝 Final Exams – December 18–19
Final Exams are mandatory and will account for 20% of your child’s semester grade. Exams are cumulative, covering all standards taught this semester.
Students will:
• Receive a study guide for each class by December 15
• Complete study guides in class or individually
• Review answers and explanations with their teachers before the exam
Please ensure your student studies and is present on exam days.
Failure to take a final on December 18th or 19th will result in students coming in on January 5th at 8:00 a.m. to take them. This includes students who may be suspended home or are going out of town early. Failure to take a final will result in an incomplete until the student makes up the final in the new year.
🏀 Basketball
Our basketball season begins at home in our newly renovated gym on Wednesday, December 3 against Byron Middle School. Tip-off will be at 5:30 p.m.
Our next game will also be at home on Monday, December 8 against Cirrus Academy, also at 5:30 p.m.
📅 December Events Calendar
December is packed with exciting and important events! Please review the list below:
🐝 Dec 2 – Schoolwide Spelling Bee
📘 Dec 2 @ 5:30 p.m. – Fall Curriculum Night
🎓 Dec 2 @ 6:30 p.m. – 8th Grade High School Promotion Meeting
🎄 Dec 4 – 12 Days of Christmas Theme Days Begin
(Calendar will be sent separately)⭐ Dec 8–Jan 16 – STAR Winter Assessment Window
(Math and ELA teachers will share specific testing dates)🎶 Dec 9 @ 6:00 p.m. – Fine Arts Winter Concert
🏆 Dec 11 @ 6:00 p.m. – Fall Sports Banquet
🎉 Dec 12 @ 5:30 p.m. – Jingle Bell Drip Fall Dance
🏀 Dec 17 – 3-on-3 Basketball Behavior Celebration
📝 Dec 18–19 – Final Exams
🗂️ Dec 19 – Grading Window Closes
🎉 Dec 19 @ 3:00 p.m. – Christmas Break Begins
Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. Let’s work together to help every student finish the semester successfully!
Warmly,
Principal Johnson