January 21, 2026
Dear Fort Lewis Mesa Families,
As we settle into the middle of January, I want to extend a warm welcome back to all of our students and families. The start of the new year brings renewed focus, fresh goals, and exciting learning opportunities across our school. Our classrooms spent the last few weeks reestablishing routines, diving into instruction, and assessing middle of the year student growth. As cold morning weather continues, we appreciate your partnership in ensuring students come to school prepared and ready to learn each day. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to make this a productive and successful start to the new year.
During the months of January and February, we hone in on creative problem solving (one of the six Portrait of a Graduate dispositions). What is awesome about this is it isn't simply about finding the "right" answer; it’s about teaching children how to navigate ambiguity and think divergently. In teaching kids that obstacles are often puzzles rather than stop signs, we build lifelong resilience.
Some fun ways to practice creative problem solving:
- The Alternative Uses Test: Pick a common object (a paperclip, a shoe, a plastic bucket) and see who can come up with the silliest or most unexpected use for it. A shoe isn't a shoe; it’s a boat for a hamster or a giant’s hammer.
- The Junk Box Challenge: Fill a box with unused or unneeded items (egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, rubber bands, bottle caps). Give them a specific mission. Idea: Build a device that can deliver a snack from the kitchen to the couch without you touching it.
- Fractured Fairytales: Take a classic story and change the conflict. For example, the Three Little Pigs want to be friends with the Wolf, but he has a terrible cold and keeps accidentally blowing their houses down. How do they help him?
Important Dates
- 2/2: Staff Professional Development Day- No School for Students
- 2/11: PTO Meeting @ 3pm (in the FLME Conference Room)
- 2/16: Presidents Day Holiday- No School
Planning ahead…
- 3/2: Conference Day- No School for Students
- 3/12: PTO Meeting @ 3pm (in the FLME Conference Room)
- 3/16-3/20: No School-Spring Break
- 3/26: Spring Pictures-Individual and Class
District Student Badges
- The district badging system is still in the works with new systems being put into place. It is required that students have a badge, especially if they ride the bus.
- We recommend tying the badge to your students backpack and leaving it there all year. If you notice any wear happening to either the lanyard or plastic badge cover, please contact Ms. Steph. We have new ones in the office, free of charge.
- With this, if a badge is lost, a replacement costs $10. Some exemptions apply. Reach out to the office as needed.
- For further questions regarding badges/ transportation, please reach out to the director of transportation, Garry Fulks, at [email protected] or the safety director, James Bass, at [email protected]
PTO Updates
- Preschool won the $10 for having the best attendance at the last meeting. Join us! We are still looking for PTO officers.
- Our annual FLME Read-a-Thon is currently in the works. Further information to follow once we finalize dates with Ms. Cindy in the library.
- Yahoo! Butter Braids was a huge success. We raised $3,974. Thank you for your support!
- Thinking ahead, for Santa Shop next year, we're going to make a document with items and their prices to make shopping easier.
Additional Reminders
- If your student is sick, please keep them home. If they have vomited, had a fever and/or diarrhea, there is a minimum 24 hour out of school requirement.
- Did you get your student’s report card? They went home last week for the first semester. Any questions or is more information needed? If so, please connect with your student’s teacher/s. Build a communication path with them!
- If your student’s afternoon plans change, you must contact Steph by 1pm. While we often can be flexible, it is best that we know any changes ahead of the end of day.
Stay warm! Snow is in the forecast!
Jenny Imel-Principal