FMS Friday Facts: Back to School Edition

FMS Friday Facts

Back to School Edition

Principal's Corner

Welcome Back for the 2025-26 School Year! We are preparing for new and returning students. It's been a whirlwind of a summer to try and get everything ready for the new school year, but we will be ready. We know you have lots of questions, and we will hopefully have some answers for you. We'll try to cover the big rocks first, and then communicate proactively and responsively along the way.

We'll start with some important dates and events to know. The first day of school for students will be Wednesday, August 6th. We will have two separate Back-to-School Night Events this year. The first will be an Open House-style format for 7th and 8th Graders only on Friday, August 1st from 4:00-5:30PM. 7th and 8th graders will receive schedules upon entering the building on the first day of school. If you want to check your schedule and locker info, you can log into StudentVUE before the event. Then, we will have a separate Back-to-School Night for 6th Graders only on Monday, August 4th from 5:00-7:00PM. We'll start with a presentation in the FMS Gymnasium at 5:00PM. After the presentation, we will allow a half-hour for students and parents to tour the building, find classrooms, and try out lockers. SCHEDULES AND MAPS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR 6th Grade Students at their Back-to-School Night. We encourage you to register online and pay school fees through My Payments Plus.

Another big change this year for Middle and High Schools is early release on Fridays. School will dismiss at 1:15 on Fridays. See our bell schedule attached in this newsletter for more information.

We look forward to seeing you all for a great school year!

Jeremiah Johnston: FMS Principal

**Please be sure to check the other 2 pages of this Newsletter for New Student Information & Staff Contacts. You will find the page links in the upper corner of the page!

Back to School Nights Info

7th & 8th Grade Students: Friday, August 1 4-5:30PM

6th Grade Students: Monday, August 4 5-7PM

Students & Parents will be able to:

Walk around the building
Get questions answered by staff
6th Grade: Hear a presentation from Principal Johnston and receive a copy of their class schedule
7th & 8th Grade: Will receive their paper schedule on the first day of school. Check your StudentVUE account for your schedule and locker info (under the Student Information Tab). Make sure you know your Advisory Teachers name and room number for the first day :)

In Person Registration & Fee Payment

We will be holding an Optional In Person Registration and Fee payment on August 1 from 8:30AM-12:30PM in the Gym. This is for any parent who needs assistance with technology to register their student or pay fees with check or cash.

Visitors will only be able to come to the Gym to pay fees or get help with registration. The building will not be open at that time to walk around, meet teachers etc.

NEW DROP OFF GUIDELINES

All items will be dropped off on a table in the front vestibule. We are not able to deliver these items to students. It is up to you to make arrangements with your student about items you leave for them. Please minimize DoorDash/GrubHub and other lunch deliveries. Again, arrangements must be set up with your student ahead of time, we will not be delivering these items. Students may pick up items that are dropped off on their lunch period. If items are dropped off after their lunch period, they can pick them up at the end of the day.

Text Alerts: To sign up to receive text messages from your school or district, you must have an active SMS number on file in Synergy and Opt-In to receive messages via your mobile carrier. Sign up for text alerts and communications by texting "YES" to 67587.

Student Registration

We are excited to have your student starting at Fruita Middle School in a few weeks! If you have not completed registration, please see the instructions below to check this item off your list!

Register your student on ParentVUE. Please login onto your account at ParentVUE Account Access to register your student. ALL students (new and returning) need to have an up to date registration for 2025-2026.

If you can’t remember your ParentVUE account login, please email Katie Bosio at Katie.Bosio@d51schools.org to request a password reset.

If your student is not returning to FMS: please email Katie Bosio at Katie.Bosio@d51schools.org with your students name and their new school. She will reach out to you to complete a Withdrawal Form for 2025-2026

Save time & pay fees online!

Don’t want to wait in line? Pay your fees online. Access to online payments will be available starting Aug. 1. Click HERE for a QR toMyPaymentsPlus to easily pay fees online. Payment for Instructional Student Fees ($42) and Exploratory Student Fee ($10) are due by or before the first day of school. Other fees such as athletics, PE shirts, instrument rental, music shirts, OWL, etc. can be paid once school has started.

*Optional In Person Registration and Fee payment - Aug. 1, 8:30am-12:30pm in the Gym.

*If you need assistance with fees, school supplies etc., please complete the D51 Meal Benefits application. The application is for more than just Meal Benefits!

Keep up to Date with FMS Activities!

FMS uses a Google Calendar to share information with Families. We encourage you to check this each week in the Friday Facts newsletter for all our up to date information.

School Supply Lists

New school year means new school supplies! Please see our school supply lists for what your student needs!

25-26 FMS School Supply List: All Grades

LIFE (formerly SSN) Student School Supply List

**Please label your child's belongs (notebooks, pencil bogs, backpacks, lunch bags, water bottles, clothes etc). It is a big building and things get misplaced. We have a Lost & Found for any items our staff finds at the end of the day. It is located in the Main Hallway by the Gym.

Pick Up & Drop Off

Please review thee Pick Up & Drop-Off Guidelines for FMS. The first few days of school can cause quite a log jam so please be patient and remember we are next to a high school with new drivers. Safety First!

FMS Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures

FMS Building Map

Bus Route Information

If your student is a bus rider or you would like to see if they ride a bus, please contact Student Transportation of America (STA) at 970-697-1050 or the District Transportation page

***Very Important-Make sure your student knows which bus route they need to ride before the first day of school.

Please note: Elementary school students who live more than two miles from school and middle and high school students who live more than three miles from school are eligible to ride the bus to and from the school in their attendance area.

Athletic Information

First up on the Athletic Schedule is Girl's Volleyball!

Do you have a 7th or 8th grade girl interested in playing volleyball? There will be an interest meeting for students the first week of school. Students will bring home paperwork for parents to review.

Middle School Athletics is open to any 7th & 8th Grade Students at FMS. Interest Meetings and Information Packets are available as each sport begins. There is a $70 fee per sport

2025-2026 Athletic Dates