Families
Welcome
Faribault Middle High School provides a high-quality and equitable education that nurtures, inspires, challenges, and empowers all students to engage and grow as learners and citizens. We are a 6-8 school that serves approximately 800 students.
Handbook
Portal Form
Lunch Menu
Vacation Form
SCHOOL HOURS:
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSIAL TIMES:
Classes begin at 7:50 a.m.
Dismissal is 2:37 p.m.
First Bell is 7:40 a.m.
- Students who do not ride the bus should arrive at 7:30 a.m.
ABSENCES:
When your child is absent from school (i.e. illness, late due to an appointment), please remember to call us.
- Messages can be left on our 24 hour voicemail any time of the day or night.
- Please call the attendance line by 8:30 a.m., 507-333-6301
- When your child returns to school, a note needs to be sent to the office or a phone call to the office, indicating the nature of the absence.
- Students must report to the office for a pass if, for any reason, they arrive at school after the 7:50 a.m. bell
Attendance-Report an Absence
The Faribault Public Schools (FPS) Board believes that school attendance is important. Educators and parents must work together to prepare students to earn a living and to function as informed, critical citizens in a democratic and globalized society. The stakes are high. Regular attendance at school maximizes learning for all students. FPS has designed programs to support families and children in keeping children in school and combating truancy and educational neglect. It is the district’s obligation to have systems in place to work with children and families when children do not attend school.
When your child is absent from school (i.e. illness, late due to an appointment), please remember to call us.
- Who is required to attend school?
- Excused Absences
- Unexcused Absences
- Family Vacations
- Tardy & Truancy
- Parent/Guardian Responsibilities
- Educational Neglect
- District Notification if Child is Absent
- Campus Portal & Vacation Request Forms
Who is required to attend school?
Who is required to attend school?
Minnesota law requires that every child between seven and 17 years of age must receive instruction (Minn. Stat. 120A.22, Subd 5). Once a child under the age of seven is enrolled in kindergarten or a higher grade in public school, the child is subject to compulsory attendance provisions.
Excused Absences
What is an excused absence? (per School Board policy 503)
An excused absence is any absence that is reported by a parent or guardian to be due to:
1. Medical Illness. *
2. Serious illness in the student’s immediate family.
3. A death or funeral in the student’s immediate family or of a close friend or relative.
4. Medical, dental, or orthodontic treatment, or a counseling appointment.
5. Court appearances occasioned by family or personal action.
6. Religious instruction.
7. Official school field trip or other school-sponsored outing.
8. Removal of a student pursuant to a suspension.
9. Family emergencies.
10. Administrative pre-approved absences.
* A doctor’s note may be required for absences due to illness that exceed four (4) consecutive day. What is an unexcused absence? (per School Board policy 503) An unexcused absence is any absence that does not meet the definition of excused absence. For example, 1. Leaving school without permission. 2. Any absence that does not meet the criteria specified in an excused absence.
What is the procedure for Excused Absences?
Step 1: The parent/guardian reports absences to the school attendance line if a student will be absent from school. If the parent/guardian does not notify the school, the parent/guardian will be notified by the school on the day of the absence. An absence is considered unexcused until the parent/guardian has provided an explanation that meets the requirements of an excused absence.
Step 2: When a student has seven excused absences a letter is sent home to parents/guardian notifying them about their student's attendance and concerns about continued absences which may lead to requiring a doctor's note in order to excuse the student from school. 7
Step 3: When a student has eleven*** excused absences a letter is sent notifying the parent/guardian that a doctor's note may be required in order to excuse further absences. If the parent/guardian is unable to take the student to the doctor, the school nurse may be used to assess whether a child should attend school or remain home. If no doctor's note is not obtained the absence will be considered unexcused and the unexcused absence procedure will be followed.
*** Individual circumstances will be considered in regards to number of days missed and the need to require a doctor's excuse.
Unexcused Absences
What is the procedure for Unexcused Absences?
Step 1: Parents report absences to the school attendance line if a student will be absent from school. An absence is considered unexcused until the parent has provided an explanation that meets the requirements of an excused absence.
Step 2: When a student has three unexcused absences a letter is sent to the parents notifying them of their child's attendance and the consequences of continued unexcused absences.
Step 3: After the fifth unexcused absence a second letter is sent to the parent/guardian. A phone contact is made by the School Social Worker/School Counselor to arrange a School Attendance Agreement meeting. The school may implement a number of interventions or impose a number of consequences as part of the School Attendance Agreement.
Step 4: Once the student reaches seven unexcused absence a final letter is sent to the parent/guardian notifying them that the student is considered habitual truant and the possible consequences of continued unexcused absences.
Step 5: Any further unexcused absences may result in an educational neglect report to the student's home county or a referral to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) to discuss possible filing of truancy petition with the court.
Family Vacations
What about family vacations?
Family vacations may be deemed as excused with prior authorization from the building administrator. Authorization forms need to be completed by the student’s parent/guardian at least two weeks before the intended vacation. Administrators will review student progress and attendance before approving the absences. Parents may be requested to meet with Administrators prior to approval. Vacations not approved will be considered unexcused absences. Students whose absences are excused are required to make up all assignments missed or to complete alternative assignments as deemed appropriate by the classroom teacher. Work missed because of absence must be made up according to school guidelines. Any work not completed within this period shall result in “no credit” for the missed assignment. However, the building principal or the classroom teacher may extend the time allowed for completion of make-up work in the case of an extended illness or other extenuating circumstances. If a student misses fifteen (15) consecutive school days during the regular school year, without receiving instruction in the home or hospital setting, the School District must drop the student from its enrollment roll and classify the student as withdrawn. (Minn. Stat. 126C.05, Subd. 8). The School District may also be required to file an Educational Neglect or Truancy report with the student’s county of residence.
Tardy & Truancy
What is a tardy?
A tardy is any time a student arrives to class after the bell. At the beginning of the day, a student who arrives within the first 25 minutes of the school day will be marked tardy. After 25 minutes the student will be marked absent.
What is truancy? (Minn. Stat. 260C.007, Subd 19)
“Habitual truant” means a child under the age of 17 years who is absent from school without excuse for seven school days if the child is in elementary school or for one or more class periods on seven school days if the child is in middle school or high school or a child who is 16 or 17 years of age who is absent from school for one or more class periods on seven school days and who has not lawfully withdrawn from school.
Parent/Guardian Responsibilities
Educational Neglect
What is Educational Neglect?
Educational neglect refers to a child under the age of 12 years who is absent from school without excuse for more than seven school days and is in need of protection or services due to habitual truancy. For students under the age of 12 years, an absence from school without excuse is considered educational neglect by the parent rather than truancy by the child.
District Notification if Child is Absent
How will the district notify me if my child is absent from school?
Parents are expected to notify the school when their child will not be in school for any reason. When parents do not notify the school, the schools have procedures in place for notifying parents of student absences on the same day they are absent from school.
Campus Portal & Vacation Request Forms
Supply List
On this page you will find information regarding school supplies. Please click on the link below to view the entire document. If you have any questions please contact the Main Office at 507-333-6300
Counseling
As a student support services team, we are here to help students with social, emotional, academic, and career related topics throughout middle school. Our goal is to assist all students with achieving their maximum potential. We provide the following in individual and small groups:
- Counseling
- Guidance and assistance on topics of goal-setting
- Academic planning
- Self awareness/esteem
- Career planning
- Transition planning
- Crisis intervention
We are also involved with new student registration, scheduling, grade level and building transitions, consultation with parents and teachers, classroom presentations, 504 case management, referrals to outside agencies, and overall coordination of the counseling and guidance program.
When meeting with a student support staff member there is confidentiality between the student and this staff member except in cases where he/she indicates the potential to harm him/herself or another individual. In addition, Minnesota law mandates us, along with all school staff, to report any allegations of child abuse/neglect.
Registration
Middle School is an ideal time for students to explore their interests and to start thinking about how these content areas might translate into future career opportunities. If your student is new to FMS for the 2023-2024 school year please work with them to complete their grade specific course registration form. This information will be utilized to build your student’s schedule for the upcoming school year.
Counselors & Social Worker
Brent Hawkins,
Counselor
507-333-6351 | Email
Lisa Lipins,
Counselor
507-333-6396 | Email
Sarah Garcia,
Counselor
507-333-6359 | Email
Melissa Dobbs,
Social Worker
507-333-6377 | Email
Pick Up /Drop Off Procedures
Pick Up / Drop Off Procedures
Teachers are involved in meetings and preparation before school and are not available to provide supervision prior to the first bell. After school, students will be dismissed in an orderly manner by their 7th hour teacher.
- Please do not leave your car unattended at the curb during drop-off/pick-up times.
- Students are expected to leave the school grounds and go directly home if they are a first bus route rider or walker.
- 2nd bus route students are expected to exit the building and wait for their bus to arrive.
- If working with a teacher after school, a student must have a 2nd route bus pass in order to get on the bus if they are originally a 1st bus route rider.
Pick Up / Drop Off Information
Hello, Middle School Families!
We are trying to make pick up and drop off areas at our school more safe and efficient. Please read the information on this page to learn the correct procedures for picking up and dropping off your students before and after school.
If you are picking up your child(ren) after school hours, please respect our school hours and be on time.
Falcons for Change
Falcons for Change is a community service club at Faribault Middle School. The goal of Falcons for Change is to provide volunteer service to those who need it in our school, in our community, and throughout the world. Students can volunteer both with the Falcons for Change group or do service projects on their own. So far this year members of Falcons for Change have participated in the following activities:
- Children's Hospital Care packages
- Blankets to Faribault Hospital Newborns
- McKinley Early Childhood Center
- Faribault Education Center
- Sending care packages and cards to military members
- Cool School Polar Plunge
- Supporting Ruth's House, Hope Center and Faribault Cancer Center
- Volunteering at local churches, animal shelters, and nursing homes
WEB- Middle School Transition Program
WEB, which stands for “Where Everybody Belongs” is a middle school orientation and transition program that welcomes 6th graders and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year at Faribault Middle School. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, the program trains mentors from FMS' 8th grade class to be WEB Leaders. As positive role models, WEB leaders are mentors and student leaders who guide the 6th graders to discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to middle school and help facilitate 6th grade success.
All 6th graders are automatically placed into the WEB program and assigned two 8th Grade WEB leaders to help them throughout the year. 7th graders are recruited to become WEB leaders for the following year in the Spring.
If you have any questions about the WEB program, please contact our advisors Ms. Cowan, Mrs. Hagedorn, Mrs. McColl or Mr. Hawkins.
The WEB program is made up of 4 main components:
- Middle School Orientation- WEB leaders and 6th graders start building the mentor relationship and receive information about how to be successful in middle school
- Academic Follow Ups- WEB leaders support 6th grade academic success and character development through classroom visits to homebase
- Social Follow Ups- WEB Leaders and 6th graders connect outside the classroom at social events to increase student engagement and promote positive school climate
- Leader Initiated Contacts- WEB Leaders connect with their 6th graders on a more individual basis