On Thursday, our 3rd graders welcomed Moses Amidei, the City Administrator of Oak Forest, as a culmination of their unit on government. Mr. Amidei shared how the City of Oak Forest works to support and serve our community. Students were highly engaged and asked many questions about our community. 

We are so grateful for these meaningful learning experiences that help bring what we study in the classroom to life!

May 15th is Explore More Day!—a special event designed to celebrate the talents, passions, and expertise within our very own community!

Explore More is an opportunity for parents, family members, staff, and community partners to share their career, hobby, interest, or special skill by creating an interactive workshop experience for our students. Whether you are a chef, engineer, artist, entrepreneur, healthcare professional, musician, small business owner, crafter, fitness instructor, gardener—or have a unique hobby you love—this is your chance to inspire our students and help them discover new possibilities.

Experiences like this are incredibly important for our students. They help children explore interests beyond the traditional classroom setting and allow them to grow their passions in the arts, sciences, trades, service fields, and countless other areas. When students are exposed to a wide range of careers and creative pursuits, they begin to see what is possible for their own futures. They discover new talents, build confidence, and make meaningful connections between school and the real world.

This event is one of the most meaningful ways we can connect real-world experiences to student learning. There is something powerful about students learning directly from the adults in their own school community and seeing how passion, dedication, and curiosity can shape a life’s path.

We are so excited to open our doors and showcase the incredible knowledge and experiences that exist right here at Fierke. If you are interested in leading a workshop, please complete the form below. We cannot wait to see the wide range of opportunities our families and community members will bring to life for our students!

Thank you for helping us make Fierke such a vibrant, inspiring, and opportunity-filled place to learn!

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.