Faith Christian School
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Dear FCS families,

We hope that this letter finds you well and that you had a blessed Christmas Day with your family.  As we prepare for the start of second semester, there are a few adjustments to the school calendar that we would like to share with you. In an effort to curb potential exposures and consequent exclusions from school due to Christmas and New Year’s festivities, we are postponing the start of the second semester until Monday, January 11.  This will allow 10 days to pass (from New Year’s Day) and hopefully give us a better footing to begin the new semester.  We do encourage you to try and limit non-household contacts for the 10 days, giving everyone a chance to start school symptom-free.

To help offset the five additional days of Christmas break, we are amending the 2020-2021 school calendar.  The following Wednesdays will now be IN-SCHOOL days: January 20, February 17, March 17, April 21, and May 19.  We apologize for any inconvenience that these changes may present; however, we feel that it is important to do whatever is possible to give us the best chance to be in-person, five days/week with limited student and staff exclusions from school.

Also, we would like to make you aware of updates to the “Faith Christian School COVID Flow Chart.”  The information on this chart was updated to reflect guidance given to us by the Ogle County Health Department. The changes come in the area of close contacts…reducing the number of isolation days.  Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the Flow Chart and information found on the document.

We continue to follow IDPH guidelines regarding face masks, social distancing, sanitizing and hand washing.  We remind students to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth, and to cover coughs and sneezes.  As always, everyone should monitor their health and stay home if they develop symptoms.  We strongly encourage sick persons to contact their health care provider to determine if testing is needed.  Anyone who develops severe symptoms should seek medical care immediately.  If your child has had close contact with a known case of COVID-19, please keep your child at home and notify your primary healthcare provider, Faith Christian School, and your local health department.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we move forward into the second semester.  We will continue to monitor health department guidelines and will keep you informed of any changes in policies and procedures. We are committed at FCS to provide our students and staff with a safe, nurturing environment…a place where they can grow and learn, becoming who God created them to be!

Happy New Year and blessings to you all,

Pastor Jon Marx

Linda Foster

Carrie Worrell

An Unusual Can Food Drive

Submitted by Mr. Gesin

Instead of collecting cans this year for the CAN FOOD DRIVE.  We are asking families to donate to the Dixon food pantry. The Dixon Food Pantry told me that cash donations would be more beneficial for them. The pantry can use the cash to buy canned food from their outlets at a much better price per can than what we pay at the store.

As in the past, there is no requirement for our students to get involved in this activity. We have had great response to the can food drives in past years. We thank you for that.

There are two ways to donate:

1) Send the money directly to the food pantry instead of bringing it to school.

The address is:

Dixon Food Pantry
2001 West 4th Street
Dixon, Illinois

 2) Drop the money off at the food pantry. They are open mornings starting at 9:30.

Thank you for your participation!

What a blessing to have a week of beautiful fall weather in November.  It has been great that almost every day the students have been able to get outside and get some fresh air.

All grades will continue to go outside as many days as possible so we ask that you remind your students to wear the proper clothing.

Calendar Change

We appreciate your understanding in the adjustments we have made to the calendar this year. 

We were already scheduled to have Friday, November 20^th off
Calendar Change:  NO SCHOOL:  Monday, November 23 and Tuesday November 24

NO SCHOOL NOVEMBER 20 – NOVEMBER 27

As we look toward the next few weeks, we wanted to share with you the reasoning behind the calendar change for the week of Thanksgiving.  We met with Pastor Jon and discussed how best to proceed. Since we have next Friday, November 20, off, we felt that it would be in the best interest of both students and staff to take Monday, November 23, and Tuesday, November 24, off with the hopes of limiting exposure for those two days.   We see the toll that COVID is taking on school districts around us…many closing classrooms because of close contacts to positive COVID cases, others being forced to close  in-person learning because there aren’t enough subs to staff classrooms.  It has been our goal since the beginning of the year for students to be in school every day.  And yes, while we are adding two days off, we are hopeful that this calendar change will help us to be better prepared to finish the semester with in-person learning.

We thank you for your cooperation and understanding.  We know that this season isn’t easy for you either.  Please know that we do not make these decisions lightly but put much thought and prayer into how best to use the time that God has given us.  We are thankful that we have the opportunity to partner with you in the education of your child!

HOMEWORK/CLASSWORK

Daily assignments and classwork are being posted on the website.  Students should check their email, online learning, and Seesaw accounts each day.

“The LORD is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalms 28:7

Many Blessings,

Linda Foster
Principal

Calendar Items

Friday, October 30 – NO SCHOOL

December 18 – NO SCHOOL – This was previously a half day.

Note that all scheduled early dismissal days for the remainder of the year will be NO SCHOOL.

Retirement

I have recently submitted a letter to the Faith Assembly Board letting them know my intentions to retire at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. I have been blessed to work with so many great people over the years. It has been a joy to be involved in the lives of so many students and watch them grow and develop. God has confirmed in my heart that this decision Is right for the school and for me. I trust and believe that God has a plan for who will be the next principal. I know I will miss the staff, students and families, but it is time for me to invest in other areas of my life and have fewer responsibilities. I have been humbled and honored to be a part of this ministry for 30 years, 13 as principal.

We have much to accomplish yet this year and it is not time to say good-bye. Please continue to pray for the staff as we face the daily challenges of teaching and mentoring students.

Picture Information

Picture order forms went home Monday and Tuesday. The envelopes are due back by Friday, November 6^th. Feel free to view all of the photos online at www.hagephotography.zenfolio.com, password is FCS2021.

Mask

Two ways to help!

We have masks available at school for students who forget to wear a mask. Our supply is getting low due to many students forgetting.   Please try to remind them to bring a mask. If you know your student is prone to forget, you could donate some to the school to help replenish our supply.

Weather Cancellations

Since we have experienced our first snowfall on October 26, I wanted to remind you of our cancellation protocol. The best way to get the information is to sign up for our textcaster. If you need information to sign up, please call the office and ask for a form. The information will then come directly to your phone via a text. We will also post it on our school website and Facebook page. 

Parent Discretion on Snow Days

We are aware that our families travel from many different directions and some travel many miles. We understand that weather conditions and road conditions can be very different depending on where you live. Please use your own discretion. If you do not feel it is safe to travel…keep your students home.

Fundraising

Blue Freedom Farm Market

Our 2^nd quarter fundraiser is in progress. Orders are due by Wednesday, November 11. Contact Terri Heller with any questions. 815/677-1329 or theller@fcsfalcons.com.

REMINDER ABOUT SCHOOLWORK

If students are out of school due to quarantine and are able to do their work…we encourage them to keep up through the online learning tabs and the SEESAW app.

THANK YOU

Thank you for all your cooperation, encouragement, support and PRAYERS. We are so thankful for each of you. We are so thankful for God’s help, strength and blessing as we walk through the year, one day at a time.

Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. Isaiah 26:12

Linda Foster
Principal

Dear Parents,

We are so thankful for your help and support as we navigate the new procedures this year.  We appreciate you paying attention to symptoms and understanding the prudence in being extra careful regarding students attending school.  We are thankful that we have completed the first quarter. 

CALENDAR CHANGE

 Friday, October 30 will be a full day off school.  This was previously scheduled as a half day.

DROP OFF AT MAIN BUILDING

Drop off at the main building begins at 7:50. Please WAIT with your student until the staff (Mrs. Hage, Mrs. Foster) come out to start temperature checks and symptom checks.   Please form a line on the east side of the driveway and wait.  After we have done the temps/symptoms check you can pull up to the sidewalk for students to exit the car.

STUDIES

Homework

The staff is working very hard to keep all assignments on the learning tabs.

We are also using Seesaw to keep communication going.  If students are absent, they are able to get assignments and keep up with class work.  We especially encourage this if they are home due to quarantine or awaiting test results, BUT are not sick.  If students have questions regarding their work they can email the teacher.  Staff email are first initial, last name @fcsfalcons.com.  (lfoster@fcsfalcons.com).

Reminder About Study Hall

Due to the shortened school day, most students do not have a study hall.

They do have some time in the morning while waiting for first hour and during Activity time.  Students who are having difficulty with getting homework done should take advantage of these study opportunities to get work completed.  They also have that extra time at home to work on assignments.

FUNDRAISING

Walkathon

We are still accepting pledges for the walkathon. We have only received a few pictures.  If you have pictures of your family walking, please submit to cworrell@fcsfalcons.com.  We have a little gift for our favorites.

Blue Freedom Farm Market Fundraiser

In place of the Yankee Candle fundraiser (they are no longer in business), we will be doing the Blue Freedom Farm Market fundraiser.  Information is coming home soon.  This is a great time to purchase some yummy treats for parties and gifts.  Thank you for meeting your fundraising quota.

An Unusual Can Food Drive

Submitted by Mr. Gesin

Instead of collecting cans this year for the CAN FOOD DRIVE.  We are asking families to donate to the Dixon food pantry. The Dixon Food Pantry told me that cash donations would be more beneficial for them. The pantry can use the cash to buy canned food from their outlets at a much better price per can than what we pay at the store.

As in the past, there is no requirement for our students to get involved in this activity. We have had great response to the can food drives in past years. We thank you for that.

There are two ways to donate:

1) Send the money directly to the food pantry instead of bringing it to school.

The address is:

Dixon Food Pantry
2001 West 4th Street
Dixon, Illinois

 2) Drop the money off at the food pantry. They are open mornings starting at 9:30.

Please continue to be diligent and keep us in your prayers.  As a team, with God’s help we go forward in confidence that He will provide everything we need for each day.

Sincerely,

Linda Foster, Principal

Greetings Parents!!!

I would like to update you on some important items.

Picture Day – October 5

Mrs. Hage will be doing pictures on Monday, October 5^th. We will NOT be doing class pictures at this time. Hopefully we will be able to do the class pictures later and include them in the yearbook. 

Fall Break – October 12-16

The week of October 12-16 there will be no school for students.

Parent-Teacher Conferences – October 15

Parent teacher conferences will be by request only. Parents or teachers can request a conference. To request a conference, you can send an email to bmorse@fcsfalcons.com or call the school office.

Volunteer Job

We have suspended most of the volunteer position this year due to COVID restrictions. We will reinstate these jobs ASAP in order to help the students and teachers. If we are not able to do so this year, they will certainly be a part of our procedure again next year.

Thank you for your support, encouragement, and prayers.

Mrs. Foster
FCS Principal