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Fernwood Avenue Middle School

Embrace, Engage , Educate

FMS Newsletter for the Week of February 15, 2026

Posted Date: 02/20/26 (03:00 PM)


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Fernwood Weekly - Rise Above

Week of February 15, 2026

The exterior of Fernwood Avenue Middle School on a sunny day.

Principal's Message

Dear Fernwood Families,

We have officially crossed the halfway point of the school year, and marking Period 3 is in full swing. This is where the heavy lifting happens. The novelty of the new year has faded, but the finish line isn't quite in sight yet.

It is also the time of year when spring fever starts to whisper in our students' ears (even when the weather doesn't match the mood). To keep our momentum strong, we are focusing on fine-tuning the habits that turn potential into progress.

Staying Sharp: The MP3 Checklist
As the curriculum dives deeper, staying organized is the best way to prevent stress.

We’re encouraging students to:

  • The Sunday Reset: Take ten minutes every Sunday night to clear out the backpack, organize materials, and check the week’s calendar.
  • The Portal Habit: Encourage your student to check their own grades and assignments in Infinite Campus. Owning the data is the first step toward owning the result.
  • Attention and Focus: As topics get more complex, we’re pushing for deep work. It’s better to spend 20 focused minutes on a math problem than 60 minutes with a phone nearby.

Looking Ahead

While we are all looking forward to the warmer days of spring, the work we do right now builds the foundation for a successful transition to the next grade level. Let’s keep the energy high and the focus sharp.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping your students stay in the swing of things!

Sincerely,

Frank Locantora
Principal
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Events Calendar

*Updated as of 1/30/26
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Attendance Reminders

A friendly reminder that all absences and doctor notes can be emailed to FMSattendance@eht.k12.nj.us 

Students must be present for 4.5 hours to receive full credit for the day. 

They must: 
Sign in no later than 10:15 am 
Sign out no earlier than 12:45 pm 
Students cannot be late or leave early on half days or two hour delay.

Thank you!
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Student Achievement

Media Club is busy giving us all the tea on holidays!

Ethan and Justice teach us about Presidents' Day! 

Media Club is busy giving us all the tea on holidays!

Joyce, Aya, Alan, and Ayana teach us about Lunar New Year! 

Climate, Culture, and #EHTPride

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Cup Stacking Challenge

Mrs. D’Amodio’s Convocation class working on their team building with a cup stacking activity. Learners worked together using a rubber band and string to stack the cups. One group was successful. Learners had fun completing this task.  

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Celebrating Lunar New Year

Celebrating Lunar New Year with food from our wonderful food service staff!
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drama club
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Community Partnerships

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rec soccer
A checklist for parents about preparing children for smartphones
PC Volunteers
'NJ Parent Link

NJ Parent Link

NJ Parent Link
Updates have been made to the NJ Parent Link website to highlight & prioritize content & hyperlinks to youth suicide, crisis & mental health lifelines, helplines, services and resources:
Youth Mental Health & School/Home Partnership Resources

NJ Parent Link
Navigate Parenthood, Navigate New Jersey.

Parent Portal

Do you have a parent portal account? Request an account today by emailing icportal@eht.k12.nj.us and provide the following information in the body of your email. If you have requested an account and haven't received a reply, please check your spam folder. Due to overwhelming requests, replies may take up to five days.
Parent Portal account.
EHT text message sign-up.
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An advertisement for EHT Transportation, featuring a yellow school bus and recruitment information.
 
 
Person using a laptop

Contact info