Freeland High School

We’re excited to welcome our students and families back for the 2026–27 school year! 🎉 We have several important dates and updates to share as we get ready for another great year at Freeland High School.

Please take a few minutes to review the information below so your student is ready to start strong! 🚀

👋 9th Grade & New Student Orientation

📅 Tuesday, August 18, 2026 – 5:30 PM
📍 High School Auditorium

All incoming freshmen and students who are new to Freeland High School are invited to attend.

During orientation, we’ll share information about how we support students and help them successfully transition to Freeland High School. Incoming freshmen will also be introduced to the 🎓 Prestigious Freeland Scholars Program.

🏫 High School Open House

📅 Tuesday, August 18, 2026 – 6:00–7:30 PM

Open House is a great opportunity for students and families to:

✨ Meet teachers
💻 Pick up Chromebooks
🔑 Find lockers and walk schedules
🎭 Explore student clubs and activities
🚗 Complete the process for student parking

Printed schedules will be available in the front hallway, sorted by grade. Students can also access their schedules through Skyward.

Please note that the front office will be closed during Open House, and counselors will not process schedule changes during Open House. Schedule change requests should go through Guidance.

💻 Chromebook Pickup & Insurance – NEW THIS YEAR!

We are making some changes this year to help make Chromebook pickup faster and easier.

📍 Where will students get their Chromebooks?

➡️ Students will pick up their Chromebook directly from their FIRST HOUR TEACHER during Open House.

➡️ If you do not have a first-hour class or make a schedule change, please check in at the Media Center during Open House or on the first day of school.

➡️ If you cannot attend Open House, no problem! Students will be able to pick up their Chromebook at school on the first day of school.

🛡️ Chromebook Insurance – Purchase Online

Chromebook insurance can now be purchased online before Open House to help speed up the process.

👉 PURCHASE CHROMEBOOK INSURANCE HERE:
https://gofan.co/app/school/MI4282_1

We strongly encourage families who plan to purchase insurance to complete this ahead of time. ✅

🚗 Student Parking Information

Students who plan to drive to school will need to complete the parking permit process in Skyward.

💻 Log into Skyward
➡️ Click on the Custom Forms section
➡️ Complete FHS Parking Permit 26–27

During Open House, students will need to bring $10 to secure their parking spot.

💵 Parking Fee: $10 per spot
Checks should be made payable to Freeland Community School District.

Can't make it to Open House? Students can purchase a parking spot throughout the school year.

🚦 Remember: Parking is a privilege. Excessive tardies, truancy, skipping, or unsafe driving may result in parking privileges being revoked.

🧻 Donations Needed

We are collecting:

🧻 Tissues
🧼 Disinfectant wipes

If your family is able to donate, please bring these items with you to Open House. 💚

📦 Donation drop-off tables will be located in the front hallway.

Thank you for helping us stock our classrooms for students and staff!

📅 Key Dates to Remember

📚 Schedules Released
Monday, August 17 on Skyward
Please check your classes! Schedule changes should go through Guidance.

🎉 Orientation & Open House
Tuesday, August 18
Orientation: 5:30 PM
Open House: 6:00–7:30 PM

🏫 First Day of School
Monday, August 24
School begins at 7:45 AM

📸 Picture Day
September 3

📸 Picture Retake Day
October 23 – Which is a half day

We’re looking forward to seeing our students and families on August 18 and kicking off an outstanding 2026–27 school year together!

💚 #TalonsUp!
🦅 Together We Soar!
Imagine • Innovate • Thrive

Freeland High School

SENIORS — Have some fun! 🎉
Celebrate the start of your year with some Falcon Pride at our annual Senior Chalking Event!

📅 When: Sunday, August 23 (anytime after 5 PM)
📍 Where: Freeland High School parking lot

Bring your creativity and personalize your assigned parking space using CHALK ONLY — no paint and no permanent materials. The building will not be open, so bring your own supplies.

✅ Reminders:

* Keep designs school appropriate
* You must have purchased your parking spot from Mrs. Casey in the HS office
* Decorate the spot number you were assigned
* CHALK ONLY

📸 Snap some pictures of your finished product and email them to hartzellw@freelandschools.net

We can't wait to see your Falcon Pride when we pull in Monday morning for the first day of school!

#FalconPride #ClassOf2027
#TalonsUp

🎺 You Are Invited to the Freeland Band Showcase! 🥁

The countdown is on! Join us Tomorrow,Friday, August 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Freeland Football Stadium for an exciting performance by our talented band students!

Our students have been working incredibly hard all week, dedicating themselves to learning music, refining their marching techniques, and preparing an entertaining show. Tomorrow, they're ready to take the field and showcase their skills, hard work, and passion for our community!

We invite everyone, families, friends, alumni, and community members, to come out and celebrate these outstanding students. Your support means the world to them, and your cheers will make this performance even more memorable.

🎶 Freeland Band Showcase
📅 Friday, August 7, 2026
🕑 2:00 PM
📍 Freeland Football Stadium
🎟️ Free and open to the public!

Come fill the stands, enjoy an afternoon of music and entertainment, and be among the first to see what our band has accomplished this week. We can't wait to share our show with you!

We'll see you at Freeland Football Stadium!

The Freeland Theatre Executive Board spent the past week at the Michigan Educational Theatre Association (META) Leadership Camp at Oakland University, joining student leaders from across the state to prepare for an exciting year ahead.

Throughout the week, students participated in leadership and theatre workshops, collaborated on initiatives for the upcoming school year, and explored ways to strengthen advocacy and inclusion within their program. They also had the opportunity to network with theatre leaders from schools across Michigan, sharing ideas and building connections that will inspire their work throughout the year.

Representing Freeland Theatre at this year's camp were Executive Board members Sadie Moeller, Cate Cole, Haylee McIntosh, and Tesla Provoast, accompanied by theatre advisor Ms. Murray. The group returned energized, full of fresh ideas, and excited to help make this year one of our best yet.

Interested in being part of Freeland Theatre? Students in grades 6–12 are invited to attend our annual Kickoff Event on Tuesday, September 1, from 2:45–3:45 p.m. in the auditorium. Come meet new friends, have some fun, and discover all the ways you can get involved in theatre this year. We can't wait to see you there!

The countdown is on, Falcons!
Students return Monday, August 24 and we can't wait to welcome everyone back for an incredible year of learning, growth, and school spirit.

💚 Students First.
📚 First Day: August 24
#Talonsup #StudentsFirst #BackToSchool #FalconPride

🎶🏆 What an incredible weekend for the Freeland High School Band at festival! 🏆🎶
Congratulations to both our Concert Band and Symphony Band on their outstanding performances!
🎼 Concert Band earned two Division 2 ratings and two Division 1 ratings, finishing with an overall Division 2 rating.
🎼 Symphony Band brought home all Division 1 ratings with a Division 1 overall!
We are so proud of the hard work, dedication, and heart each student put into their performance. 👏
As we celebrate this success, we also want to recognize our amazing seniors. This year we are graduating a large group who have given so much to our band program. Your leadership, commitment, and passion have made a lasting impact. ❤️ Thank you, seniors, for everything you have done.
And a special thank you to Mr. Shaw for teaching our students not just how to play music, but how to truly feel it. 🎵
Way to represent, Falcons! 💙
#falconsflyfar #Talonsup

Mrs Neal’s PE students laced up their dancing shoes and took on line dancing yesterday as part of their dance unit! From grapevines to kick-ball-changes, the gym was full of rhythm, laughter, and a whole lot of fun. 😄✨

A huge thank you to our amazing guest instructor, Nicole Hilliker! When the very first question students asked was “When is she coming back?” — well, that tells you everything! 🎉

We also want to give her business Kickin’ in the Mitten a big Freeland shoutout! 👢
Interested in trying line dancing for yourself or with your Freeland student? You can:

📱 Find Kickin’ in the Mitten on Facebook
📞 Call/Text: 989-280-9572

Keep dancing, Falcons — fitness is a whole lot more fun when you are movin’ and groovin’ together! 💚🕺💫
Talons Up! 🦅
#FalconsFlyFar #KickinInTheMitten #DanceUnitDelight #TalonsUp

🎉 Celebrating Brielle Coffey as a DAR Good Citizen Award Winner 🎉

We are incredibly proud of Brielle Coffey who has been recognized as a 2025 DAR Good Citizen by the John Alden Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Brielle is known for her strong character, leadership, and dedication to serving others. She is a wonderful example of what it means to be a Falcon.

Her accomplishment was featured in the Midland Daily News weekend edition on November 29. FHS Counselor Ms. Harrold joined Brielle at the ceremony to support her and celebrate this special honor. We are grateful for the care and encouragement our staff provides each day.

Brielle will continue to shine and make us proud.

Way to go Brielle 💚
#FalconsFlyFar #TalonsUp #FreelandPride #GoodCitizenAward

🎶✨ BRAVO, FREELAND PERFORMING ARTS! ✨🎶

Our incredible student company brought the new musical String to life this past weekend — and WOW did they deliver! 🤩

From outstanding performances onstage 🎤💫 to flawless teamwork backstage 🎧🎭 this show was truly unforgettable! Every note sang, every laugh shared, every moment on that stage showed just how much heart, time, and dedication our students poured into this production. 💪❤️

A HUGE thank you to our staff, families, and volunteers for supporting our cast and crew every step of the way 👏💚 And to our amazing community - thank you for packing the seats and cheering on the arts here in Freeland! 🎟️🙌

We could not be more proud of this talented group. The arts are alive and thriving because of YOU! 🌟 #TalonsUp #FalconsFlyFar
🎭✨👏

🎉🍦 FREELAND HIGH SCHOOL… YOU DID IT! 🍦🎉

Our Senior Class came out on top for this year’s Food Drive competition! For their well earned reward, the Seniors enjoyed an awesome ice cream social and a movie of their choosing in our beautiful auditorium to wrap up the day before Thanksgiving break.

And what did they pick?
Only one of the greatest holiday classic of all time… HOME ALONE! 🎬😂
Perfect choice. A masterpiece. Kevin McCallister approved.

But here’s the best part…

💚🤍 FHS absolutely CRUSHED our schoolwide goal.
Not kinda. Not sorta.
We obliterated it.

Because of that, every grade got a special treat to celebrate the incredible generosity and teamwork that defines our school community. When Falcons show up, they show UP!

Thank you to our amazing students, staff, families, and community members for making this Food Drive one of our best yet. Your kindness helps fill shelves, warm hearts, and bring our whole community together.

Falcons, you should feel proud. You made a difference.

#FalconsFlyFar #TalonsUp #FreelandProud

🎭✨Freeland Performing Arts presents String the Musical ✨🎭

This November, our 7-12th graders are thrilled to bring you String — a heartfelt and hilarious new musical by Adam Gwon!

When the ancient Greek Fates are banished from Mount Olympus and forced to work in a modern-day office building, their immortal world collides with the chaos of human emotion. String weaves myth and modern life together into a touching, witty, and magical story about love, fate, and what it means to take control of your own destiny.

Filled with clever humor, moving songs, and unforgettable characters, String is a show that will make you laugh, reflect, and feel the beauty of being part of the shared human tapestry that connects us all.


🎶 Don’t miss this beautiful, one-of-a-kind musical experience.
This play contains mild language and some content that may not be suitable for young viewers

SHOW DATES:

Thursday, November 20 at 7pm
Friday, November 21 at 7pm
Saturday, November 22 at 7pm
Sunday, November 23 at 2pm

PRE-PURCHASE TICKETS HERE: https://fpa.ludus.com/200505368
Limited Student Rush tickets available at the door.

🔥 BIG NEWS IN FALCON COUNTRY! 🔥

We are SO proud to announce that THREE Freeland High School teams have advanced to Phase Two of the A.H. Nickless Innovation Award! 🎉🧪💡

A HUGE shoutout to Mr. Ciaran Byrne who coached all three teams 👏

Our advancing teams are:
🟢 ATTLAS-C
🟢 Kaczor’s Hounds
🟢 Team Clean Travel

Each team earned a $1,000 grant to keep researching, building, designing, and creating their solutions. This is an incredible honor and puts FHS right alongside the top STEM programs in our region. 💚🤍

These students now have a shot at winning part of $77,500 in scholarships and STEM grants. Not bad for a Tuesday in Freeland!

We are so honored and pumped to celebrate Mr. Byrne and these amazing students. Way to represent FHS with passion, curiosity, and Falcon Pride.

Talons Up Falcons! 🦅💚🤍

📄 Full press release here:
https://ahninnovationaward.com/Documents/NEWS_2025-26_Phase_Two_teams_announced_Nickless_Innovation.pdf

🎉 Meet and Greet for New FHS Students 🎉

Freeland High School Student Council members, coordinated a wonderful Meet and Greet to welcome our new students. Leadership begins with making others feel comfortable in their surroundings, and that was the heart of today’s event.

Our newest Falcons enjoyed apple cider and donuts, introduced themselves, and joined in fun activities designed to help them feel at ease and connect with others as they transition into our school and community.

A huge thank you to Ms. Neal and our Student Council leaders for modeling true Falcon leadership and ensuring every new student feels at home.

Talons Up! 💚

Freeland High School alumnus Lily Winslow (Class of 2025) has been awarded the Joseph W. Madison Youth Award from the Saginaw Community Foundation. This honor recognizes young leaders in Saginaw County who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to volunteerism, leadership, and service to others.

Lily dedicated over 400 hours of community service during her four years at Freeland High School. Her compassion, leadership, and commitment to making a difference made her a clear choice for this award.

Now a student at the University of Michigan, Lily made special arrangements with her family to return home for the celebration. She was joined by Freeland staff members Ms. Amy Melton (Counselor) and Ms. Jen Neal (Student Council Advisor and Teacher) as she was recognized for this incredible achievement.

We are incredibly proud of Lily for representing Freeland Schools and the entire Freeland community with such distinction.

Congratulations Lily, you continue to make Freeland proud! 🎉💚

🎉 Freeland High School 2025 Homecoming Court 🎉

Freeland High School is proud to announce the members of the 2025 Homecoming Court!

👏 Congratulations to all of these outstanding students who will represent Freeland with pride during this year’s celebrations.

🏈 Homecoming Game: Friday, October 10th vs. Bay City John Glenn
💃 Homecoming Dance: Saturday, October 11th, 8:45–11:45 p.m.

Be on the lookout for more information about Homecoming Week activities and events.

Talons Up, Falcons! 💚🤍

Clarification on Phone Policy for High School and Middle School

Dear Freeland Families, Students, and Staff,

I want to take a moment to clarify our phone policy as we start the new year.

High School: The change this year is that high school students will be allowed to use their phones during lunch in the cafeteria. After lunch, phones should be placed back in lockers for the remainder of the day.

Middle School: There has been no change. Middle school students are not permitted to use their phones at any time during the school day, including during lunch.

This update is specific to the high school only. The middle school policy remains the same as it has always been.

Thank you for your support in helping us keep expectations clear and consistent across both schools. Together, we can ensure students stay focused on learning while still giving high school students some flexibility during their lunch break.

Falcons, we know change is not always easy. A new policy like Put Your Phone Away for the Day might bring some anxiety or frustration. That is real, and we get it. But here is the truth — this will not wreck your year. In fact, it will help make it better.

🎥 Click here to watch:https://youtu.be/EiOMuTtP4yQ

This is about building real connections with people instead of just scrolling through posts and comments. More conversations, more laughter, more focus, and more memories made face to face. Those are the things that make school fun and meaningful.

You still have plenty of time with your phone. You CAN use it before school, after school, and during lunch in the cafeteria. Just remember to put it back in your locker after lunch so you are ready to go strong the rest of the day.

This policy is more than phones. It also includes smart watches and Bluetooth devices. If you need headphones, keep it simple with a corded pair you can use when needed.

It may feel different at first, but in the end this change is about giving you more of what matters most — time with each other.

Lastly, keep in mind to be kind. Be kind to one another and support each other. We have new students who need to feel welcome. Say hi, invite them to your table at lunch, and make them feel part of our team. Throughout this year remember this simple thought: you never know what someone might be going through on any given day. People mask, people put on a good face when they walk into the building, and people laugh and smile even when they are hurting inside. The one thing you will never regret is being kind and caring.

A special thank you to the staff and students of Freeland High School for creating this public service announcement and for helping us share the message of this important change.

TALONS UP!!!

Hey Falcons!
Your 2025-2026 class schedules drop on Skyward this Monday, August 18th – check them out!

Then, join us Tuesday night, August 19th for Open House:
Freshmen & New Student Orientation – 5:30 p.m. (Auditorium)
9th–12th Grade Open House – 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Find your locker, meet your teachers, grab your Chromebook, and get ready for an amazing year at Freeland High School!