Freedom Trail Elementary School

October 24, 2023 Greetings from the Avery County School System! Our first grading period has quickly passed. All staff and students are working very hard to address academic priorities throughout each school and grade level. Last year’s student performance data has been released and is now available through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction at the following link, Accountability Data Sets and Reports. As a result of the intense focus on reading and math, we continue to see significant academic gains at the elementary level and have a lot to celebrate. We also have several opportunities for growth throughout Avery County Schools. In addition to academic growth, attendance has been improving across all grade levels and will continue to be among our top priorities this year. Thank you to all parents, guardians, and students for recognizing the importance of being in school and arriving on time each day. In addition to academics, safety is a top priority for Avery County Schools. Our fleet of buses are traveling throughout Avery County each school day transporting our students. Vehicles must stop in both directions on all Avery County roadways for stopped school buses when red flashing lights are on and stop arms extended. Compared to this time last year, we are experiencing an increase in the number of vehicles running through stopped school buses, endangering the lives of our children. Buses are on our highways each morning between the hours of 6:00am to 8:00am and 2:30pm to 5:00pm. Motorist are reminded to be on the highest level of alert to avoid running stopped school buses and the possibility of seriously or fatally injuring a child as they are boarding or exiting a school bus. As fall has quickly arrived so has cold temperatures. We have transitioned all schools and other buildings from air conditioning to heat. Fall is also a reminder that snow will soon return to our area. Along with our winter season, comes the frequent decision to close or modify our school schedules, including delayed starts or early releases. Decisions to cancel school or expedite a delayed start will continue to be made at the earliest time possible to allow parents and guardians adequate time to plan for childcare or to make other arrangements on snow days. Our current academic calendar has additional time built in for inclement weather without the need to make up days of instruction. However, if we exhaust all “banked” hours with extended snow days and cancellations, we will have to revisit our calendar and all available options, including make-up days. This is a very exciting time of year with the holidays quickly approaching and the first semester halfway complete. Thanksgiving will be here in a few weeks providing each of us an opportunity to pause and reflect on our numerous blessings. We all have a lot to be thankful for, especially our health, family and this great county we call home. The Avery County School System is very thankful for our strong partnerships between our schools and families as we strive to make this the best school year ever in Avery County!

Our House Dance Competition was held this afternoon and it was awesome! Congratulations to Altruismo🖤on your well-deserved win and congratulations to every house for your hard work, perseverance, and dedication to your dances! None of them were easy and we applaud all efforts!🖤💙❤️💚 https://m.facebook.com/groups/freedomtrailpto/permalink/6568683296564266/?mibextid=SphRi8

Early dismissal Friday, October 6th at 12:00

Join us Wednesday, September 6th at 5:00 for our first PTO meeting

Join us Friday, August 11th for open house

We are ready for our upcoming PreK students

Flock a friend! May 1-12

This morning we celebrated our Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Rhiannon Manis for FTE and Mr. Mason Morris for CMS. Both are exceptional teachers and we are fortunate to have them working with our students.

Parents - Please complete this Home Digital Device and Internet Access Survey. Your responses will be anonymous and will help NCDPI to target areas of need for North Carolina students. http://bit.ly/3TV8jxx

Students working hard in math class. Learning all about a 10 frame

Freedom Trails top 24 Amazing Shake scholars are getting ready to rock the district Amazing Shake on Thursday! So many people have poured into these kids over the past few months, they are prepared and so loved by many. We have had some very special donations from our partners at Eseeola, the Nidiffer family, and even a staff members mother who has worked hard to iron all of their outfits!! We are READY!! Let’s GOOOOOO

Pre K screening for the 2023-2024 school year is April 28th. Please call 828.733.6006 to schedule an appointment.

The Nidiffer’s did it again! This time they hosted some of our 2nd grade students at The Liars Table for another farm to table cooking lesson. This week they learned about making bread, they made their own pizzas, and Amos and Kaci took the time to read them a story. If you haven’t been in this awesome little shop, you seriously need to stop in!! They have a little bit of everything and it’s just really a neat place! We are grateful for these kind of experiences for our students and for those community members that take the time to invest in our school!

“Today I shall behave, as if this is the day I will be remembered” - Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss week came to a close on Friday and it did not disappoint! We appreciate everyone who made an effort to dress up, we are thankful for school staff that goes above and beyond everyday (because weeks like this are hard!), and we are grateful we can make these memories! We are quickly moving toward the end of another school year so we are making every single day count! “A person’s a person, no matter how small” - Dr. Seuss

Freedom Trail has partnered with Amos and Kaci Nidiffer from The Liar's Table. Amos and Kaci are working with students in 2nd and 3rd grades learning how to cook. Today they started with homemade pizzas. Ingredients were fresh from the Nidiffer farm located in Elk Park NC. Students were encouraged to try new toppings on their pizza and several of them found something new they actually enjoyed on their pizzas.

It’s the week we’ve all been waiting for - Dr. Seuss Week will be February 27-March 3! Let the fun begin❤️🤍❤️On Monday, we will celebrate The Sleep Book by wearing our pajamas and it will also be an early release day at 12:00 pm.

Kindergarten Registration is May 1st - please call the school in your community for more information.

Freedom Trail Elementary has some of the best teachers in the entire state. Each year we are fortunate to select one outstanding teacher that goes above and beyond every day. This teacher is the true definition of a runner, never complains, and provides a positive spirit. She is driven by the goal of professional excellence and is focused squarely on what is good for Freedom Trail. Anytime a task needs to be completed, she is ready to get the job done - and done well. No complaints, just hard genuine work. This educator is a quiet leader who shows the true characteristics of the house of isibindi:courage and strength. Her BINDI enthusiasm is contagious!! Please join me as we celebrate Mrs. Rhiannon Manis Freedom Trail Elementary's Teacher of the Year 💚💚💚

* Remember to turn in your form for lunch with your valentine sponsored by the house of AMISTAD ❤️ *Valentines Dance for 3-5 is Thursday - Feb 9th until 4:30 send $5.00 for admission and money for pizza and chips *Candy grams are on sale - check your child's backpack for that information

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