|
We are excited to welcome all our students back to school tomorrow!
We will have many staff members throughout our school during arrival and dismissal times to assist all children. We will be very watchful to ensure that all our students, those returning to Freedom Hill, as well as our new students and new kindergartners, feel welcome, comfortable and safe. We will help them the first day and throughout the first weeks of school to learn their way around the building.
We ask that all bus riders come on the bus from the very first day of school. If you would like to be present at arrival on the first day, please follow the bus in your vehicle and park in the lot, or on the street at the school-not on any yellow curb area. Riding the bus from the very first day encourages your child’s independence and confidence at school. The bus is very safe and the drivers are aware of each child assigned to each stop on their route. Kindergartners are seated together in the front of the bus. School safety patrols are also on each bus to assist children.
School doors open at 9:05 a.m. The late bell rings at 9:20 a.m. Children should not be unattended at Freedom Hill before that time. For the first day of school, parents/guardians may walk their child(ren) to the classroom door. Kindergartners and their parents will meet in the cafeteria. Starting on Tuesday we ask that families say good-bye at the school doors.
Parents must wait until morning Kiss/Ride opens to drop off children for school. No supervision is available for children before 9:05AM. Students may not be dropped off at the front of the building unsupervised to wait for school arrival time.
Dismissal begins at 4:05 p.m. Please make sure that your child and his/her teacher knows how your child is going home on the first few days of school. We want to make sure that your child goes home the right way! If you wish to pick up your child early, you must always bring a photo ID.
Whether your child rides the bus, will be in Kiss & Ride, or walks home, we kindly ask for your patience these first few weeks. Safety is our priority!
We have a 15 minute arrival window from 9:05-9:20 to allow the children to unpack and be prepared for the day. On-time arrival allows your child to be present and prepared, and avoids rushing or missing instruction. Students who are late miss important organizational time and opening activities. Student tardiness also interrupts the continuity of the instructional day for the teacher and the other children in the class. Students arriving to the school after 9:20 AM are late and must be brought inside by a parent to sign in at the main office. It is very important that children are on time for school each day.
Our structure this year will be as follows:
-
6:00-6:20 Specialists (PE, Music, Art, Band, Strings, Counselors), PTA, Community Organizations will have tables set up in the cafeteria to share their curriculum, resources, and general information. Don't miss this great opportunity to connect with some important people that work with your child!
-
6:20-6:25 Transition to Classrooms
-
6:25-6:30 Admin/PTA President Welcome via News Show
-
6:30-7:10 Session 1 (Teacher presentations)
-
7:10-7:15 Transition to second classroom for families with more than one student
-
7:15-7:55 Session 2 (Teacher presentations)
Here's a link to information about the new "Here Comes the Bus" App being used by FCPS to assist families to locate their child's bus.
Please e-mail your input to apmcgeehan@fcps.edu or send to:
Adam McGeehan
Suite 1111
Gatehouse Administration Center I
8115 Gatehouse Road
Falls Church, Virginia 22042
Fairfax County Public Schools mission is to provide creative, knowledgeable, and talented leadership to ensure student success. To determine the best match for the leadership needs at your school, parent and staff perspectives will be used to screen candidate resumes and develop interview questions. Please provide input detailing the skills, experiences, and leadership characteristics needed at your school. Include challenges and issues that the new principal will need to address. Principal professional skills include planning and assessment, instructional leadership, safety and organizational management, communication and community relations.
PROCESO PARA SELECCIONAR AL DIRECTOR ESCUELAS PÚBLICAS DEL CONDADO DE FAIRFAX
La misión de las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Fairfax es proporcionar un liderazgo eficaz, creativo y talentoso para garantizar el éxito de los alumnos. Para escoger al candidato idóneo que pueda satisfacer la necesidad de liderazgo de su escuela, se usarán las perspectivas de los padres de familia y del personal para analizar el currículum de los candidatos y para elaborar las preguntas para la entrevista. Por favor, dennos su opinión detallando las habilidades, la experiencia y las características de liderazgo que se necesitan en la escuela de su hijo. Incluyan los retos y los problemas que el nuevo director tendrá que enfrentar. Las habilidades profesionales de un director incluyen la planificación y la evaluación, el liderazgo docente, la gestión administrativa y de la seguridad, la comunicación y las relaciones con la comunidad.
Beginning THURSDAY, August 29, the Freedom Hill kitchen will again offer breakfast each morning beginning at 9:05 AM. Students may purchase a "Grab and Go" breakfast and take it to their classroom.
Each classroom teacher is in need of a room parent!
Several parents have already volunteered to be a room parent - thank you! For those who are wondering what does a room parent do - they help to collect funds for classes, organize teacher gifts at holidays and during teacher appreciation week and recruit volunteers for classroom support. The PTA will also help give you templates of emails to send out to parents and give you all the guidance you need. If you are interested, send an email to your student’s teacher and copy Kerrey Olden, our room parent coordinator.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms will be included in your child’s back-to-school/orientation packets and are available online for Elementary (K-6) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-family-life-education , Middle School (7-8) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle, and High School (9-12) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/family-life-education-fle. Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.
Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) , Middle School (7-8) , and High School (9-12). FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in FCPS 24-7 (Blackboard) Parent View https://fcps.blackboard.com/. Account information is available at your local school or online at http://www.fcps.edu/is/instructionaltechnology/247help/parents.shtml. Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the Fairfax County Regional Library in the City of Fairfax (this location does not have media). Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library. Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.
Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or by contacting Elizabeth Payne, Health and Physical Education Coordinator at etpayne@fcps.edu.
Monday, August 26 First day of school
Friday, August 30 No School - Labor Day Holiday
Monday, September 2 No School - Labor Day Holiday
Wednesday, September 4 Principal Coffee- 9:30 AM
Thursday, September 5 Back to School Night- 6:00 PM
|
