New Families FAQs

Welcome to FCDS! We’re excited to have your family join our community of learners.

Here are answers to commonly asked questions. We hope you find this information helpful.

Who should I contact?
Here is the all-school contact list. If there’s a question about school life or if you want to get involved, you can call your PA rep. To find your Parents’ Association representative, click here. When your child is sick or needs to miss school, please contact your division administrative assistants: Preschool - Britanny Corts - 336-945-3151 ext. 481 Lower School - Leslie Faraci - 336-945-3151 ext. 344 Middle School - Rhett Newton - 336-945-3151 ext. 341 Upper School - Jennifer Nugent - 336-946-1669 If you have questions or concerns about your child, here’s who to contact first: Academic Questions or Concerns / Athletic Questions or Concerns Classroom Teacher - Coach Homeroom Teacher/Advisor - Athletic Director Department Chair or Lead Teacher - Division Director Division Director - Head of School Head of School What’s the best way to reach out to FCDS contacts? Email and phone calls are generally the most effective ways of scheduling appointments. These forms of communication may also be used for asking questions and sharing information throughout the school year.

Who should I contact?

Here is the all-school contact list.

If there’s a question about school life or if you want to get involved, you can call your PA rep. To find your Parents’ Association representative, click here.

When your child is sick or needs to miss school, please contact your division administrative assistants:
Preschool - Britanny Corts - 336-945-3151 ext. 481
Lower School - Leslie Faraci - 336-945-3151 ext. 344
Middle School - Rhett Newton - 336-945-3151 ext. 341
Upper School - Jennifer Nugent - 336-946-1669

If you have questions or concerns about your child, here’s who to contact first:

Academic Questions or Concerns / Athletic Questions or Concerns
Classroom Teacher - Coach
Homeroom Teacher/Advisor - Athletic Director
Department Chair or Lead Teacher - Division Director
Division Director - Head of School
Head of School

What’s the best way to reach out to FCDS contacts?

Email and phone calls are generally the most effective ways of scheduling appointments. These forms of communication may also be used for asking questions and sharing information throughout the school year.

How should I stay informed?
Please refer to OnCampus notes and announcements. Read the weekly email that is sent to all families at 4 p.m. on Sundays

How can I get involved?
There are many volunteer opportunities through our Parents’ Association. You can help in your child’s classroom, volunteer at the Book Fair or at all-school events, and much more. Learn more on the Parents’ Association webpage. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend Community Nights.

How is my student supported through the transition and throughout the year?
Orientation The Middle School offers an open house for students enrolled in grades 5-8 prior to the start of the school year. New students are able to meet their ambassadors and all students meet their teachers, receive their textbooks, and set up their lockers. Parents and students in fifth grade also have the opportunity to learn more about the Fifth Grade Academy during this time. The Upper School has two new student orientations before the start of school: one for ninth graders and one for all new tenth through twelfth grade students. During these orientations, students receive their schedules, meet their ambassadors, walk around campus, engage with faculty and staff, and learn relevant FCDS information. Ambassadors (MS/US) The Ambassador program is made up of current FCDS students who welcome new students into the community by connecting with students before the year begins, assisting with orientation events, and easing the transition to a new school. Ambassadors also host visiting students on prospective student visit days, serve on student panels, and help with wayfinding and greeting at community events. Tutorial for Middle and Upper School Students - All Middle and Upper School teachers offer tutorial at no extra cost Monday through Thursday from 3:20 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Teachers will be in their classrooms during this time for students to make up missed work, ask questions, and receive individual explanation, enrichment, or extra help. School counselors Our team of College Counselors supports our Upper School students from ninth grade through graduation. They provide each student with the guidance, support, encouragement, and information necessary to make appropriate choices for future opportunities. They counsel students on self-advocacy, setting realistic goals, and academic planning, and we strive to create a school-wide atmosphere that celebrates students and their future plans across a broad range of options. Our Middle School and Upper School Counselors, Jen Gornik and Liz Ahern, are available for individual, small group, and family support. The counseling program is designed to meet the changing personal and academic needs of students at each developmental stage of their school lives. New student meetings/lunches Throughout the year, the Upper School will have special new student lunches and meetings to provide support, build community, and gather feedback from our newest Furies! These structured events include faculty and staff and are designed with fun, care, and support in mind! Fall and spring conferences with homeroom teachers/advisors - In both the Middle and Upper Schools, conferences are held twice a year in order for advisors to continue to build relationships with families. During the conferences, strengths and areas for improvement are discussed. They also talk about how students are involved in both the FCDS and the greater community. At the spring conference, time is set aside for discussing the next school year. Parents are encouraged to contact teachers for additional conferences if needed. Homeroom teacher/advisor Each student in the Middle and Upper School has a designated homeroom teacher or advisor. This faculty member is the main point of contact for communication between home and school related to an individual student’s needs. Parents are encouraged to use this faculty member as the first line of contact with the school. Our homeroom teachers and advisors oversee the academic and non-academic progress of their assigned students. This faculty member knows the student best and can most effectively gather information for school/family discussions. Progress reports For Middle and Upper School, the school year is divided into two semesters and progress reports are sent home following each of these. Written comments accompany all progress reports at the mid-semester point. Throughout the year, unsatisfactory performances (below a C in any subject) are communicated to parents by the teacher.

How is my student supported through the transition and throughout the year?

Orientation

The Middle School offers an open house for students enrolled in grades 5-8 prior to the start of the school year. New students are able to meet their ambassadors and all students meet their teachers, receive their textbooks, and set up their lockers. Parents and students in fifth grade also have the opportunity to learn more about the Fifth Grade Academy during this time.

The Upper School has two new student orientations before the start of school: one for ninth graders and one for all new tenth through twelfth grade students. During these orientations, students receive their schedules, meet their ambassadors, walk around campus, engage with faculty and staff, and learn relevant FCDS information.

Ambassadors (MS/US)

The Ambassador program is made up of current FCDS students who welcome new students into the community by connecting with students before the year begins, assisting with orientation events, and easing the transition to a new school. Ambassadors also host visiting students on prospective student visit days, serve on student panels, and help with wayfinding and greeting at community events.

Tutorial for Middle and Upper School Students - All Middle and Upper School teachers offer tutorial at no extra cost Monday through Thursday from 3:20 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Teachers will be in their classrooms during this time for students to make up missed work, ask questions, and receive individual explanation, enrichment, or extra help.

School counselors

Our team of College Counselors supports our Upper School students from ninth grade through graduation. They provide each student with the guidance, support, encouragement, and information necessary to make appropriate choices for future opportunities. They counsel students on self-advocacy, setting realistic goals, and academic planning, and we strive to create a school-wide atmosphere that celebrates students and their future plans across a broad range of options.

Our Middle School and Upper School Counselors, Jen Gornik and Liz Ahern, are available for individual, small group, and family support. The counseling program is designed to meet the changing personal and academic needs of students at each developmental stage of their school lives.

New student meetings/lunches

Throughout the year, the Upper School will have special new student lunches and meetings to provide support, build community, and gather feedback from our newest Furies! These structured events include faculty and staff and are designed with fun, care, and support in mind!

Fall and spring conferences with homeroom teachers/advisors - In both the Middle and Upper Schools, conferences are held twice a year in order for advisors to continue to build relationships with families. During the conferences, strengths and areas for improvement are discussed. They also talk about how students are involved in both the FCDS and the greater community. At the spring conference, time is set aside for discussing the next school year. Parents are encouraged to contact teachers for additional conferences if needed.

Homeroom teacher/advisor

Each student in the Middle and Upper School has a designated homeroom teacher or advisor. This faculty member is the main point of contact for communication between home and school related to an individual student’s needs. Parents are encouraged to use this faculty member as the first line of contact with the school. Our homeroom teachers and advisors oversee the academic and non-academic progress of their assigned students. This faculty member knows the student best and can most effectively gather information for school/family discussions.

Progress reports

For Middle and Upper School, the school year is divided into two semesters and progress reports are sent home following each of these. Written comments accompany all progress reports at the mid-semester point. Throughout the year, unsatisfactory performances (below a C in any subject) are communicated to parents by the teacher.

Who do I contact if my child is sick or needs to miss school?
Contact Nurse Hart and the assistant in your child’s division. Be sure your child is signed out with the division administrative assistant.

Who do I contact if I have concerns about my child's mental or social-emotional wellbeing?
Megan Martin-Wall (Preschool and Lower School Counselor) - 336-945-3151 ext. 563 Jenifer Gornik (Middle School Counselor) - 336-945-3151 ext. 332 Liz Ahern (Upper School Counselor) - 336-945-3151 ext. 520.

Who do I do if my child leaves something at home?
Items can be dropped off at the front desk or in division offices.

Where can I find the school calendars?
You can find them on the calendar page on the website.

What do I need to know about Lunch?
Please see Dining Services.

Where do I find helpful school resources?
Also in OnCampus is school information and documents, access to Magnus health, lunch menus, weekly email issues from the current school year, Tuition Management, photo gallery, Help Desk Request form, and more.

How can my students get involved in athletics?
Students in grades 6-12 are invited to participate in the fall, winter, and spring. Learn more on our athletics page and contact the coach with any questions and see our athletic FAQs.

Where can I find all school expectations?
You can see all policies and information in the Student & Families Handbook.

Where can I find information about tuition payments and student billing?
Find Tuition Management in OnCampus. Contact Renee Foust at 336-946-1624.

What are the school hours?
Monday-Friday 7:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. - Preschool 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. - Lower School 8:30 a.m. - 3:20 p.m. - Middle & Upper School Preschool & Lower School Before School Program, 7:15 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Preschool & Lower School After School Program, 3:15 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.

What are the pick-up and drop-off procedures/times?
See this information in the welcome packets that will be emailed to you on August 9.

Where do I find information about my child’s classes and grades?
OnCampus is the school information system. Log in to Oncampus using the same login you used for enrollment. You can request your username and password from the login screen. Once logged in, you can choose your child’s name at the top left and scroll down to see links to class pages.

Where do I find information about my child’s classes and grades?

OnCampus is the school information system. Log in to Oncampus using the same login you used for enrollment. You can request your username and password from the login screen.

Once logged in, you can choose your child’s name at the top left and scroll down to see links to class pages.

How do I get tech help?
You can find a link to the Help Desk Request form in OnCampus.

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