Freedom Hill community,
Last week, the Fairfax County School Board presented Freedom Hill with the "Excellence in Equity" Award, signifying that our community has closed achievement gaps across the grade levels in math and reading. Though I was not here last year to contribute to this effort, I was not surprised that our teachers, students, and community were able to accomplish something so lofty. In less than a month at FHES, I've seen many powerful strategies and structures in place that support students academically and socially. Our teachers collaborate each week to examine student achievement data and differentiate their instruction to meet student needs. Our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher enriches our curriculum and helps teaches integrate AAP strategies in their classrooms. Our support staff monitor students' progress and intervene when necessary to ensure no one is "falling through the cracks". Students engage in conversations around the "Positivity Project" and practice kindness. Parents are involved in conferences and PTA events and play a meaningful role in their students' success. I was thrilled to accept this award and to acknowledge all of the hard work each day that leads to these outcomes!
This week will be our last full week before the Thanksgiving holiday. Here are some ways that you can be involved:
- Attending the PTA Family Dinner Out at Silver Diner on Tuesday
- Watching the Positivity Project Gratitude video with your children (link below). A great segue into Thanksgiving!
- Joining us for our Thanksgiving Luncheon on Friday. If you have free time before/after your child's lunch, we are still looking for some host/hostess volunteers. You can sign up to volunteer here. Thank you!
All the best,
Dr. Z.
- November 19 - Family Dinner Out, Silver Diner, 5-9PM
- November 21 - PTA Meeting, 6:30PM
- November 22 - Thanksgiving Luncheon (and Spirit Wear Sale)
- November 27-29 - No School (Holiday)
Nominations are now open for the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Freedom Hill Outstanding Employee in one of five categories, please complete the nomination through the Google form link. The five categories are:
- Outstanding Teacher
- Outstanding New Teacher
- Outstanding Leader
- Outstanding Professional Employee
- Outstanding Operational Employee
You may nominate an employee in one or more categories and each employee fits in an award category. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards. Thank you for celebrating each other and the great work we are doing at Freedom Hill! If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Bliss at LMBLISS@FCPS.EDU. The deadline is November 22.
Starting next Monday and going until Thanksgiving, we'll begin learning about gratitude -- and being aware of and thankful for the good things that happen in our lives. For a 1-page overview, please click here. And, for Mike Irwin’s 1-minute message on gratitude, please see the video here.
|
All families are invited to join us for a special Thanksgiving Lunch!
When: Friday, November 22, 2019
Where: Freedom Hill Cafeteria
Schedule: Join your child's class for lunch (Special Lunch Schedule below)
Cost: $4.50 for parents and all guests, including non-school age siblings
Tickets will be sold in the school lobby on November 22 only, beginning at 10:30 AM with either a check made to Freedom Hill Food Services or cash. There will not be any advanced purchasing of tickets.
Parents/Guests must purchase a lunch ticket in the lobby before entering the cafeteria. No tickets will be sold in the lunch line. You must have a ticket to go through the lunch line.
Freedom Hill students do not need a ticket and can purchase lunch in their typical manner. If your child does not usually purchase school lunch, money should be added to the student account prior to the luncheon. FHES Student Cost: $3.25
*Only Freedom Hill students can purchase lunch on their student accounts.
Our Lunch Schedule on November 22:
|
Start
|
End
|
Grade
|
Teacher
|
|
10:45
|
11:15
|
K
|
Maenner (Carson)
|
|
10:50
|
11:20
|
K
|
Ruttenberg
|
|
10:55
|
11:25
|
K
|
Weise
|
|
11:00
|
11:30
|
K
|
Hears
|
|
11:00
|
11:30
|
K
|
Mathis
|
|
11:20
|
11:50
|
1
|
Howell
|
|
11:20
|
11:50
|
1
|
Huebner
|
|
11:25
|
11:55
|
1
|
Mukherjee
|
|
11:25
|
11:55
|
1
|
Schmidt
|
|
11:40
|
12:10
|
2
|
Woods
|
|
11:45
|
12:15
|
2
|
Patterson
|
|
11:50
|
12:20
|
2
|
Wilson
|
|
12:05
|
12:35
|
6
|
Jimenez
|
|
12:10
|
12:40
|
6
|
Finkelstein
|
|
12:15
|
12:45
|
6
|
Doherty
|
|
12:30
|
1:00
|
3
|
Curran
|
|
12:35
|
1:05
|
3
|
Curtis
|
|
12:40
|
1:10
|
3
|
Stewart
|
|
12:45
|
1:15
|
3
|
Jacoby
|
|
1:00
|
1:30
|
4
|
Stromlund
|
|
1:05
|
1:35
|
4
|
Price
|
|
1:10
|
1:40
|
4
|
Hussin
|
|
1:20
|
1:50
|
5
|
Bliss
|
|
1:25
|
1:55
|
5
|
Oh
|
|
1:30
|
2:00
|
5
|
Linsdsay
|
Each year, staff and community members adopt Freedom Hill families in need, helping them with clothes and gifts for the holidays. If you would like to adopt a family, you can sign up in the main office or call the school, starting on Friday November 16th. You can also e-mail ssujoromero@fcps.edu. You will be assigned a family and be provided with the children’s ages, sizes and preferences.
In case you missed it over the summer, the 2020-21 school year calendar has been announced. See the complete 2020-21 school year calendar
Parents, have you ever considered applying to become a substitute teacher? FCPS has a significant need for substitute teachers. We've already had several days with teachers out on leave here at Freedom Hill with no available substitutes. When this occurs, we must rearrange our staff to cover the classrooms for the day.
As a substitute teacher, you choose the days and schools in which you are willing to work. We’d love to develop a core group of Freedom Hill parents who are available to serve as substitute teachers. If you think this might be a good opportunity for you, please click here.
The AAP office has created this slideshow to help guide parents through the process of referring your child for Level IV AAP services. The first step in the process is for a parent or teacher to submit the Level IV referral form (https://www.fcps.edu/node/38893). This can be submitted to your child’s teacher or emailed directly to Tara Fredericks (tlfredericks@fcps.edu). The deadline for referrals is January 9th.
Please contact Tara Fredericks (tlfredericks@fcps.edu) with any questions!
 |
|
Freedom Hill Spiritwear
Online orders are all wrapped up. Those orders will now be placed and they should come to school in about three week for distribution (so expect them the week of December 10th or so). Missed the deadline? No problem! Stop by the spiritwear table at Thanksgiving Lunch on Friday, 11/22.
|
|
SILVER DINER FAMILY DINNER OUT
Save the date for our next Family Dinner Out next Tuesday, Nov. 19th between 5-9pm at Silver Diner! A portion of proceeds will go to FHES PTA.
PTA MEMBER MEETING 11/21
The PTA meeting is on Thursday, 11/21 at 6:30pm. All our welcome and childcare will be provided. Dr. Zapadka will be our guest speaker and talk about his transition, ways to contribute during the holiday season, and updates to school security. He will also be asking what you are interested in talking about at future meetings so come and join the conversation!
|
WINTER GLOVE DRIVE
Please help out our fellow Freedom Hill students with new or gently used gloves. Winter is coming! And it's going to be a cold one. The PTA will be collecting new and gently used pairs of gloves in all sizes for our students who need them. There will be a collection box in the school foyer at the Thanksgiving luncheon. We would appreciate your participation in this important glove drive!
2019 PTA HOLIDAY GIFT CARD SALE!
|
Do all your holiday shopping while helping raise money for your FHES PTA! Gift cards make fabulous presents for family, teachers, school staff, childcare providers, coaches and scout leaders. Great options include Starbucks, Amazon, Target and more! Deadline: Mon. Dec. 9th (to get by Tues. Dec. 17th) Order forms are going home in this week's Tuesday Folder. Questions? Contact Joyce Chong.
|
|
|
|
Directory Update
While the print directory is being finalized, you can always still updated your info online in the AtoZConnect directory online. You'll want to verify your student's teacher, parent names, address, phone numbers and email. It takes only a few minutes! |
|
|
|
|
|
