It has been an exciting week at Fierke!
Safety and Community Partnerships 🚒
On Monday morning, staff and students participated in our final safety drill of the year, following a special visit from the Tinley Park Fire Department. We appreciate our community partners for helping us reinforce the importance of safety and preparedness. The visit was especially exciting for one lucky student! Through a PTO raffle, Taylor Rodifer, a second grader in Mrs. Morris’ class, won the opportunity to ride to school in a fire truck! What a memorable way to begin the school day! See pictures linked here
A Pumpkin Farm Comes to Fierke! 🎃
Our kindergarten students enjoyed a special fall experience when the pumpkin farm came directly to Fierke! The visit featured a petting zoo and pony rides, giving our youngest learners an exciting opportunity to experience the fun of a traditional fall farm visit right here at school. In addition to visiting the Fierke Pumpkin Patch, students partnered with their buddies for a hands-on pumpkin exploration using their five senses. They observed, touched, smelled, and explored pumpkins while building curiosity, language, and descriptive vocabulary. To top off the experience, our kindergarteners had the opportunity to paint their own pumpkins, combining seasonal learning, creativity, and buddy connections into a memorable fall experience! (See pictures linked here)
Fifth Grade Field Trip 🎂
Our fifth graders enjoyed a fabulous field trip to Creative Cakes, where they had the opportunity to explore a fun and engaging experience outside the classroom. Students also stopped at Aurelio’s for lunch, making it a wonderful day of learning, friendship, and shared memories. (See pictures below)
Our 2nd Annual Staff Pumpkin Decorating Contest! 🎃
The creativity is in full bloom at Fierke as our staff kicked off our 2nd Annual Staff Pumpkin Decorating Contest! During our recent staff meeting, staff members balanced reviewing important school updates with showcasing their creativity by transforming pumpkins into festive works of art. During the upcoming week, students will have the opportunity to view the entries and vote for their favorite pumpkins during Media time. We look forward to seeing our students participate in this fun fall tradition and celebrating the creativity and school spirit of our Fierke staff!
And a very special thank you to all the families who attended parent-teacher conferences! We truly appreciate your partnership and your active involvement in your child’s educational journey. When families and schools work together, our students thrive-and that is exactly what we are seeing with all of our students at Fierke this year! Thank you for being an important part of our Hive and for helping us continue to BEE the Extra Degree in everything we do.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!
Mrs. Lamorte
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New Dismissal Procedure for Walkers |
Join us for Family Reading Night! |
On October 14, our fourth-grade students were treated to a special guest during their specials block. Debut author Elisabeth Kamakawiwoole visited Fierke for her very first author visit to introduce her forthcoming middle-grade novel, The Seventeenth Quest, scheduled for release on March 2, 2027.
During her presentation, Elisabeth shared the history behind her husband’s last name and used the discussion to introduce students to pronunciation, poetic meter, iambs, and trochees. She then connected these concepts to poems featured in her upcoming novel, providing students with an engaging opportunity to explore language, poetry, and the craft of writing.
We are grateful to Random House Kids for generously donating 35 Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) of the book, which will be distributed to randomly selected students. We are also excited to share that we plan to purchase a copy of the book for every student when it is officially released!
The Seventeenth Quest follows Seventeen, a curious robot who dreams of becoming a valiant knight, and Hazel, a daring girl who has lost her memory. Together, they embark on a quest to discover what happened to humanity, encountering extraordinary creatures and unexpected wonders along the way. This imaginative adventure celebrates friendship, courage, the power of stories, and what makes us human.
This visit was a wonderful example of how we bring authentic learning experiences to our students, spark curiosity, and foster a love of reading and writing.
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Pumpkin Farm & Petting Zoo come to Fierke!
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Our kindergarten students enjoyed a special fall experience when the pumpkin farm came directly to Fierke! The visit featured a petting zoo and pony rides, giving our youngest learners an exciting opportunity to experience the fun of a traditional fall farm visit right here at school. In addition to visiting the Fierke Pumpkin Patch, students partnered with their buddies for a hands-on pumpkin exploration using their five senses. They observed, touched, smelled, and explored pumpkins while building curiosity, language, and descriptive vocabulary. To top off the experience, our kindergarteners had the opportunity to paint their own pumpkins, combining seasonal learning, creativity, and buddy connections into a memorable fall experience! (See pictures linked here)
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Our fifth graders enjoyed an exciting hands-on learning experience during their field trip to Creative Cakes and Aurelio’s Pizza!
Students explored the science behind baking and cooking while learning how ingredients undergo chemical changes when mixed, heated, and transformed into delicious treats. From observing how dough rises and changes during baking to discovering how ingredients combine to create cakes and pizza, students saw science in action!
This engaging experience connected classroom learning to the real world and showed our young scientists that chemistry is all around us—even in some of our favorite foods! 🍰🔬
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As we continue our school year, we encourage all families to take some time to review the Fierke Student Handbook. The handbook provides important information about school expectations, policies, procedures, and guidelines that help us maintain a safe, positive, and supportive learning environment for all students.
We appreciate your partnership in reviewing these expectations with your child and working together to ensure a successful school year for everyone. Thank you for being an important part of our Fierke Hive!
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Halloween Parties & Parade |
Since our Halloween parade and classroom parties will take place in the morning, students are welcome to wear their costumes to school. Please note:
- Students should not remove their costumes during the day, though they may add accessories before the parade or party. Be sure your child’s costume is comfortable enough to wear for the entire school day.
- Students will have a brief time before the parade to get ready or make small adjustments in their classrooms.
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Costumes may not include blood or frightening masks, as we are a K–5th elementary school and want to ensure our younger students feel safe and comfortable.
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Props should be left at home—they tend to get lost or damaged during the day.
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Non-scary masks are allowed during the parade only and must be removed afterward.
When helping your child choose a mask, please use this simple guideline:
👉 If it might scare a 5-year-old, please save it for trick-or-treating at home.
Thank you for helping us create a fun and friendly celebration for all of our students!
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Classroom Halloween parties will take place first (prior to the parade) beginning at 09:30 Parties will run until 10:30 at which point students will get ready for the parade, which will begin promptly at 10:45.
The parade will take place outside, weather permitting. Families are welcome to gather on the south and east blacktops to watch students pass. Cones will be set up along the “Parade Path” for guidance.
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If it rains: The parade will be held inside the building. Parents will be invited to watch in the Gym (grades 3–5) and Cafeteria (grades K–2).
Party Volunteers
The PTO will coordinate classroom party volunteers.
- Volunteers should check in at Door #2 starting at 9:15 AM.
- After checking in, volunteers may go to classrooms at 9:25 AM to help set up.
- Parties will run until 10:30 AM, followed by the parade.
Important: Parade will conclude by 11:00 to allow for regular dismissal.
Parents are not permitted to take students home after parties or the parade.
Transportation changes for Friday, October 30th, must be reported to the office no later than Thursday, October 29th. Changes in Transportation may not happen on the day of the Parade/Party.
Please contact the PTO or our front office with any questions.
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Holiday Parties & Classroom Party Guidelines
D146 Elementary buildings have three (3) classroom parties throughout the school year. October, December, and February.
We encourage celebrating with non-food novelty items like stickers, pencils, games and crafts however food is welcome during these 3 celebrations, only.
Classroom teachers and/or the PTA coordinate food donations. If you participate, all food must be pre-packaged and labeled by a manufacturer. 1 week prior to the event teachers will approve food submissions.
Parents or guardians of students with documented medical food allergies are asked to collaborate with classroom teachers to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of their child.
Items strictly prohibited:
· Peanuts, tree nuts and all their derivatives
Please note: Teachers may implement additional restrictions based on student allergies in their classroom or grade level.
***Birthdays may be celebrated with NON-FOOD items. Examples include stickers and pencils
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Buzz Tickets: Working Toward a School-Wide Celebration!
At Fierke, we celebrate students who demonstrate good character and go that Extra Degree! Students earn Buzz Tickets for showing trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.
Each ticket recognizes a student’s positive choices and gives them a vote for our school-wide celebration: Show & Tell Day, Board Game Day in the Library, or Pajama Party!
Our students have been busy filling up the jars, and the excitement is building! 🎉 Stay tuned—we will soon announce which celebration our Fierke community has chosen!
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We know that outdoor recess is an important part of the school day, and we want our students to have the opportunity to enjoy it whenever conditions allow. We use the chart below to help us determine when students should stay indoors.
Our team closely monitors temperature, heat, rain, storms, and overall weather conditions throughout the day. When conditions improve or the weather changes, we will absolutely take advantage of opportunities for students to safely go outside.
Please know that we take the health, safety, and well-being of your child very seriously. Decisions regarding outdoor recess are made with student safety as our first priority.
Thank you for your understanding and partnership as we navigate these changing weather conditions!
Also, please make sure your child comes to school with appropriate outdoor clothing so they can stay warm and comfortable during outdoor activities and recess.
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Kindergarten through 5th grade students will attend school from 8:55 AM - 3:35 PM each day. Our expectation is that students are in their seats and ready to learn at 8:55 AM.
1/2 Day School Attendance is from 8:55 AM - 11:45 AM.
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October:
10/23 No School (SIP Day)
10/25 Trunk or Treat (12-1:30pm)
10/29 Super Stingers Student of the Month Luncheon
10/30 1/2 Day Student Attendance (Dismissal at 11:45am)
10/30 Halloween Parties (parent check-in at 9:15am at Door #2; Parties are from 9:30am-10:30am)
10/30 Halloween Parade at 10:40am (weather permitting)
November:
11/1 Daylight Savings Time Ends (set clocks back 1 hour)
11/2 PTO Read-a-Thon Starts
11/5 PTO Meeting @6pm
11/5 Too Good for Drugs Session with 5th grade
11/6 PTO Fierke Spirit wear Friday
11/10 Nonna's Dine Around 4pm-8pm
11/12 Fierke Family Reading Night (5:30-7pm)
11/13 PTO Read-a-Thon Ends
11/19 Too Good for Drugs Session for 5th Graders
11/19 First Trimester Ends
11/20 PTO Fierke Spirit wear Friday
11/20 Picture Retake Day
11/24 Report Card Day
11/24 1/2 Day SIP Day - 11:45am Student Dismissal
11/25 No School
11/26 Thanksgiving Day - No School
11/27 No School
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We Value Your Feedback! 🐝
At Fierke, we are always looking for ways to grow, improve, and make every family's experience the very best it can be. Your voice is an important part of that work!
🌟 Shout out a teacher or staff member who has made a positive difference
💬 Share a suggestion or concern or something you would like us to know about
💡 Provide general feedback or suggestions to help us continue improving
Whether you have something wonderful to celebrate, an idea to share, or a concern we can help address, we want to hear from you.
Your feedback helps us continue Growing. Learning. Leading—Together and making Fierke a place where every student and family feels welcomed, supported, and valued.
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At Fierke, we believe every day counts! Regular school attendance is one of the most important ways you can help your child succeed. Each day of learning builds upon the last—when students miss class, they miss valuable instruction, collaboration, and connection with their peers. Even a few absences can add up and make it harder for your child to stay on track.
Research consistently shows a strong connection between regular school attendance and student achievement. Even at the elementary level, missed days can have an impact. In fact, research has found that absenteeism as early as kindergarten can be associated with lower achievement in reading, mathematics, and general knowledge, as well as increased absenteeism in later grades.
We know that illnesses and emergencies happen, and we appreciate your partnership in scheduling appointments and trips outside of school hours whenever possible. However, did you know that missing more than 10% of school attendance days may have a negative effect on student learning?
When reporting an absence, please call the school office, use the 24 hour voicemail system, or enter the absence into PowerSchool anytime, day or night. If notice is not received , District procedure is for the school office to attempt to make contact via all phone numbers provided during registration. If unsuccessful, all emergency contacts will be called until confirmation of the absence is received. If all attempts to contact are unsuccessful, a District administrator and/or designee will notify local law enforcement to ensure the safety and well being of the student.
Please let us know if you are having any difficulties with your child wanting to come to school. Together, we can help ensure every child is present, prepared, and ready to shine bright each day!
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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.
If notice is not received, District procedure is for the school office to attempt to make contact via all phone numbers provided during registration. If unsuccessful, all emergency contacts will be called until confirmation of the absence is received. If all attempts to contact are unsuccessful, a District administrator and/or designee will notify local law enforcement to ensure the safety and well-being of the student.
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 pm. Informing the office in a timely way makes dismissal run more smoothly for all.
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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:
- Enter and Exit the bus slowly and safely.
- Sit in their assigned seats at all times.
- Follow the bus driver’s directions promptly and respectfully.
- Remain seated while the bus is moving.
- Keep all parts of their body inside the bus.
- Refrain from littering or leaving belongings behind.
- Use quiet, respectful voices (no screaming or yelling).
- Keep hands and feet to themselves
We appreciate your support in reminding your child of these expectations so that everyone can travel to and from school safely.
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American School Bus is using Bus Bulletin to alert District 146 parents of bus delays and schedule changes.
Bus Bulletin sends parents instant notifications via text message, email, and/or phone call. There is no cost for parents to sign up and receive notifications.
To sign up for notifications, please visit the Bus Bulletin website. Click Register, Select Parent/Student, Select SD 146 from drop down and complete personal information. Once an account is created, you can choose which bus route you want to be notified for both AM/PM.
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Fierke PTO strives to create a strong community and raises money to fund special programs and events throughout the school year. By joining, you will make a positive impact for students and our Fierke community.
For more information:
Crystal Budney (President)
Lindsey Zaldivar (Vice- President)
Kim Salmich (Secretary)
Becky Cook (Treasurer)
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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.
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Anyone who would like to volunteer in classrooms or at school events must have a background check on file. Please be sure to submit an application here: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/ODQzMzplbi1VUw== If you are unsure whether you have submitted a background check in the past, please contact the office. |
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If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach out via the following links:
Phone: (708) 614-4520
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