Weekly Update for August 30, 2024

Dear Parents,

Each Friday during the 2024-2025 academic year, you will receive a Friday update containing important information and updates that all parents should be aware of. The updates will also be posted on the Parents Page of forkunion.com under Announcements to easily access at a later date if needed. 

Day Student Information

This is a reminder that the first Saturday Class Day is TOMORROW! Day Students must arrive on campus to sign in at the Commandant's Department by 0815. Uniform of the Day is Class B. Day Students are dismissed from campus at 1230. 

Cadet Communication

Phones and email for cadets will be available starting Friday, September 6 at 4 PM. Early next week, cadet emails and phone numbers will be sent to parents. The daily phone schedule is below:

• Sunday | 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM
• Monday | 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
• Tuesday | 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
• Wednesday | 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
• Thursday | 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
• Friday | 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
• Saturday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

How to Send Mail & Packages to Your Son

Even with communication on starting next Friday, we still encourage letters and packages! You can use the addresses below for sending mail and packages to your cadet:

Address for Cadet Mail (Letters, Envelops, Magazines, etc.)

Cadet *First Name* *Last Name*
*Company Name* Company (i.e. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie or Delta)
Fork Union Military Academy
PO Box 278
Fork Union, VA 23055

Address for Cadet Packages

Cadet *First Name* *Last Name*
*Company Name* Company (i.e. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie or Delta)
Fork Union Military Academy
4744 James Madison HWY
Fork Union, VA 23055

Orah Parent Portal & PowerSchool Information

Parents must use the Orah Parent Portal for all transportation and leave requests throughout the year. An email with your login information will be sent to each parent via the Orah Parent Portal starting next week. Please look out for an email from Orah. 

Parents will also be able to access PowerSchool next week. You will receive an email with your login information. I will notify everyone when Orah and PowerSchool emails have been sent. We appreciate your patience with PowerSchool. 

Parents Weekend Schedule

We are thrilled to announce a revised schedule for Parents Weekend at Fork Union Military Academy this year. The schedule offers a variety of events to ensure a memorable and engaging experience for all. We look forward to celebrating our wonderful community together. 

Parents Weekend is schedule for Friday, October 18-Saturday, October 19. Cadets are eligible to depart campus with their families on Saturday, October 19 following the first parade of the year!

2024 Parents Weekend Schedule

Cadet Care Packages for Birthdays and Any Other Occasion

Do you want to do something special to surprise your cadet while being away from home? Treat him to a birthday surprise, a pick me-up, or a just because treat from the list below:

Ms. Rhonda White, Assistant to the Commandant, provides parents with the opportunity to treat their cadet with something special. Choose from the following:

• Qty of 6 Cupcakes for $10
• Qty of 12 Cupcakes for $20
• Qty of 12 Brownies for $10
• Qty of 12 Chocolate Chip Cookies for $12
• Medium Size Gift Bag of Treats for $25
• Large Size Gift Bag of Treats for $40
• Chips and Salsa Bag for $12

For more information, please contact Ms. Rhonda White at whiter@fuma.org or 434-842-4203.

Do You Want to Schedule Senior/Cadet Portraits?

It's time to schedule your cadet's portraits! We are pleased to be able to recommend Kristin Firewicz Studios to our cadet families. Kristin is a professional photographer contracted by the Academy to take campus photos throughout the year and has been specializing in high school senior photography for over 10 years. Kristin is local to Fork Union and has a studio on campus. For more information regarding booking your cadet's private session, please visit her website for special FUMA rates: Kristin Firewicz Studios.

Academic Calendar  

Please bookmark the link to our Academic Calendar for the 2024-2025 school year. This calendar highlights all the major events on campus for the academic year, including dates of when each term begins and ends, leave weekends, SAT and ACT tests and all holiday breaks.

The easy way to find it on forkunion.com is under Academics - Academic Calendar. 

Cadet Activities for September  

Here are the September Off-Site Activities included in the bundle plan. The specific movies will be selected closer to the date. Cadets will receive an email with details about these activities, and there will also be flyers posted all around campus. If you have any questions about cadet activities or the bundle plans, please contact BJ York at yorkw@fuma.org. 

• September 6 - Trip to M Sushi
• September 8 - Trip to the Movies
• September 13 - Trip to Drive Shack
• September 15 - Trip to the Movies
• September 20 - Trip to Laser Tag
• September 22 - Trip to the Movies
• September 27 - Trip to Bowling
• September 29 - Trip to the Movies

Important Dates to Follow:

Please always check the Academic Calendar for updates on events. Below are a few coming up in the next couple months:

• Important Dates:
  • SAT Test | October 5, 2024
    • Seniors & postgraduates can take a SAT Prep Class. 
  • Term 1 Final | October 14, 2024
    • On Monday, October 14, cadets will take their Term 1 final. 
  • Term 2 Begins | October 15, 2024
    • On Tuesday, October 15, cadets begin their Term 2 class.
  • Parent's Weekend | Friday, October 18-Monday, October 21, 2024
    • Parent's Weekend is set to celebrate our parents on Friday and Saturday prior to giving cadets a chance to depart campus for their first leave weekend. 
    • Saturday, October 19 is when cadets can depart campus and return on Monday, October 21 by 7 PM.
    • Click here for the schedule.
  • SAT Test | November 2, 2024
    • Seniors & postgraduates can take a SAT Prep Class. 
  • Veteran's Day Ceremony | November 11, 2024
    • This is a normal class day with a Veteran's Day Ceremony beginning at 11 AM at the Veterans Memorial. 
  • Thanksgiving Leave | Friday, November 22-Sunday, December 1
    • Thanksgiving Leave is the first Major Leave of the academic year. All cadets must depart campus for Thanksgiving Leave. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best regards,
Kelly Barnette
Director of Communications
Fork Union Military Academy
Email: barnettek@fuma.org