Ms. Marx brought science to life in the most exciting way this week as our 5th graders dove into learning all about volcanoes—how they form, what causes them to erupt, and the science behind chemical reactions. She thoughtfully guided each student through the process of building their very own volcano, carefully explaining each step and connecting it back to the content they’ve been studying for over a month.

Today was the big moment—eruption day! Using simple household materials like vinegar, water, a bit of dish soap and baking soda, students watched their creations bubble and burst right before their eyes. The classroom was filled with anticipation, cheers, and wide-eyed excitement as each volcano erupted.

It was hands-on learning at its best, and my favorite part was seeing the pure joy and curiosity on our students’ faces. Experiences like this not only deepen understanding but create lasting memories. Thank you to Ms. Marx for bringing science and art together and making it so engaging and fun! 🌋✨

Fierke had a sweet time at our Candy-Themed Math Night! 🍬🍭 Families filled the cafeteria with excitement as students explored math through hands-on, interactive activities. From playing “Shut the Box” and strengthening number sense, to testing their skills at the Estimation Station with candy-filled containers, there was math fun around every corner! Students built 3D shapes with jelly beans, created colorful M&M bar graphs, and practiced problem-solving in creative and engaging ways.

It was truly wonderful to see so many students and parents learning side-by-side, laughing together, and experiencing the joy of math. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the night such a success—we love seeing our Fierke families shine bright together!

A special thank you to all of the staff who helped plan and organize this incredible event! Their creativity in designing and preparing such fun, engaging games truly made the night special. Your dedication, positivity, and commitment to our school community — both from our incredible staff and our supportive families — are what make events like this such a success. 💛💛💛

Dear Families,

Each year we ask our parents, teachers, and students to participate in the statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. In December 2024, ISBE approved a survey by Panorama as an alternative. This year, District 146 will be utilizing this shorter, easier-to-navigate survey to help us understand and enhance the experiences of our students, families, and staff.

The survey is now open, and we invite our parents to complete it today by visiting district146.org/5Essentials. Please complete one survey for each child attending a District 146 school, even if they both attend the same school. Parents have until Friday, February 27 to complete the survey.

The Panorama survey is available in multiple languages. Parents will see a language drop down button in the top left hand corner of the screen that allows you to change the language.

Your participation in the parent survey will help us understand the conditions at your students’ schools and will guide our continuing improvement efforts. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential. Results are used to create the Illinois School Report Card, and to help our district and school leadership teams drive ongoing school improvement plans.

We appreciate your time as your responses to the survey are important to us. 

Sincerely,

Gina Lamorte

Principal

We are updating how we communicate with families about student attendance. Previously, attendance letters were sent only to families of students who were absent for 10% or more of the school year. Moving forward, all families will receive an attendance letter. This letter will share the total number of days your child has been absent and their current attendance percentage for the school year. Families will receive letters at the end of each trimester. Letters for second trimester will be sent home via regular U.S. mail on or around February 26th.

Each student’s attendance will be identified in one of the following categories:

While we understand that illness and emergencies do occur, our shared goal is for students to attend school 95% or more of the time. Research consistently shows that regular attendance is strongly linked to academic success, stronger social connections, and positive school habits. We appreciate your partnership in supporting consistent attendance and helping your child make the most of every learning day.

Kindergarten Registration begins on February 17th. Please click on one of the links below to access a flyer for more information.

In the event of an E-learning day, the district will notify you via phone, district website, and parent square notification.

Your students' teacher will provide specific classroom information via seesaw.

Please find additional resources below:

Each morning, our school community connects through student-created video announcements that are watched in individual classrooms. Students take the lead by recording daily messages that are shared school-wide, helping set a positive tone for the day. These announcements amplify student voice, build leadership and communication skills, and ensure that all students begin their day informed, engaged, and connected.

Click on the link below to begin your day with us each morning!

Each month, we proudly recognize our Super Stingers – students who go above and beyond to demonstrate what it means to “Aim High and Shine Bright!”

These students are nominated by their teachers for showing exceptional kindness, integrity, perseverance, and a strong work ethic. They lead by example, treat others with respect, and consistently give their best effort in all that they do.

We are so proud of our Super Stingers - thank you for making Fierke a brighter place to learn and grow! We are so proud of their leadership, kindness, and commitment to our Hive values. Congratulations to this month’s Super Stingers! 💛🐝

You can view January Super Stingers here.

Families are asked to submit required health forms as soon as possible. Requirements for specific grade levels are listed below. Please turn in all medical forms to Nurse Cailin or call her directly if you have any questions about these requirements.

Kindergarten: Physical exam with up-to-date immunization record, dental exam and complete eye exam.

Grade 2: Dental exam

Transfer students: Physical exam with up-to-date immunization record. Complete eye exam (if attending an Illinois school for the first time). Parents are ultimately responsible for providing copies of the physical exam and immunizations if receipt of these records is delayed by the transfer school.

To ensure the safety of all students and to remain in compliance with state law, parents are required to notify the school office if their child will not be in attendance. This notification must take place within the first hour of school. When reporting an absence, please call the school office, use the voicemail system, or enter the absence into PowerSchool.

Additionally, if your child will have a change in dismissal plans (leaving early, not taking the bus, riding with a neighbor etc.), please let the office know by 2:00. Informing the office in a timely way makes dismissal run more smoothly for all.

To ensure that all students have a safe and positive experience on the bus, we are reinforcing our bus riding expectations. Students are expected to:

We appreciate your support in reminding your child of these expectations so that everyone can travel to and from school safely.

Walkers/Bussers: Please enter through the main entrance door #1. Car Riders: Enter the parking lot moving east on Victoria. There is no left turn into the parking lot while moving west on Victoria during arrival/dismissal. THERE IS NO PARKING ON VICTORIA DRIVE DURING ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL. Drivers may ONLY make a right turn when exiting the parking lot. See the included map for more details.

Car riders are dropped off at the car circle line and enter via Door #8. Door #8 will close promptly at 8:50am. Car riders arriving after 8:50am must be dropped off at the main entrance.

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade walkers will dismiss via the east doors. Kindergarten students will dismiss via their classroom doors on the south side of the building. Car riders will enter vehicles at the car circle line for dismissal.

Ivy League: Door #10 (South Cafeteria Door). Students using this before/after school program will enter and exit DOOR #10 of the cafeteria black top.

Every child, on a daily basis, should know if they are a “car rider,” “bus rider,” or “walker.”

Important Reminder: For the safety of all students, playground use before school requires direct parental supervision, especially for our younger learners. Staff supervision begins at 8:40 AM. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe.

We would also like to remind parents to drive all the way up to the end of the car line. We ask parents to remain in their vehicles as staff are available to support as needed. With additional families opting to drop students off through the car line for arrival, we would like to ensure that all students are able to enter the building prior to 8:50am. Should your vehicle enter the car circle after 8:50am, there will be no staff supervision so we ask that you bring your child to Door 1.

We will continue to offer free/reduced/paid lunches for the upcoming school year. The costs for each paid category are: Breakfast $1.50, and Lunch $3.75. We use a debit card system through Pushcoin. Funds can be added to your child’s card via a Pushcoin link available on our district website: www.district146.org

Breakfast will be available each morning for students using the debit card system. Students needing breakfast will go to the cafeteria to pick up their breakfast and then return to their classroom. Students will eat breakfast in their classrooms.

The daily hot lunch program will begin on Thursday, August 21st The student’s debit card is

scanned and deducted $3.75 whenever a hot lunch is “purchased”. Debit card accounts can be opened or re-activated by paying online or writing a check to School District 146 marked with “debit card-student’s name” in the memo line.