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Dear Freedom Hill Community,
Due to the declaration of a National Emergency, FCPS is adjusting its plan to ensure the safety of all community members. As communicated recently by Dr. Brabrand, the teacher workday has been delayed and teachers will not report to work on Monday, March 16, 2020. This means that at this time FCPS teachers will not be developing additional content for students. The distance learning plans will be reevaluated by FCPS by March 27, 2020.
Students will continue to have access to the student learning websites they use at Freedom Hill here: https://freedomhilles.fcps.edu/digital-learning-tools. Students use these sites regularly and should know their usernames (student id number) and passwords. I highly recommend using DreamBox for daily math practice and MyOn for daily reading practice.
The Department of Information Technology and the Instructional Services Department have worked collaboratively to offer an instructional learning lineup. Additional instructional videos are being developed/recorded and will be added into the lineup as they are available.
- Channel 21 is Elementary Programming
- Channel 25 is Middle School Programming
- Channel 99 is High School Programming
Below you will find additional information and resources to support you during the closure. I will continue to update you as the situation evolves. Thank you for your support and understanding as we work to ensure the safety of the entire community.
Wishing you safety and quality time with family. See you tomorrow at 3:00 if your family needs a device or a library book!
Dr. Z.
- March 16 - Device/Book Pickup, 3-5 PM
- March 17-27 - No school for students. Office hours 9:00-1:00
- March 18 - PTA Virtual Meeting, 8PM (see below)
- March 27 - Bingo Night postponed (tentatively to May 15)
The school building will be facilitating laptop checkout for families who do not have a laptop (one per family). This will take place from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Monday, March 16, 2020. Students will also have the opportunity to gather any personal belongings from their classroom and check out library books.
The FCPS Food Services team has mobilized “grab and go” meals for students and families in need. The closest school site for Freedom Hill is Graham Road Elementary School (2831 Graham Road Falls Church, VA 22042). These meals are for any FCPS student (no age restriction) and are available to adults for a small fee ($2). Breakfast will be available from 8:00 am-10:30am, and lunch is available from 10:30 am-2:00 pm, Monday-Friday. More information on this program is available here.
Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services provides access and referrals to both government and community-based resources for Fairfax County residents in need. If you are facing difficulties - including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, healthcare and more other needs, please call 703-222-0880 for assistance.
This weekend, IT will be pushing out emails to any parent who does not currently have a ParentVue account. These emails will direct you as to how to create your account.
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH HELP
Thanks to those of you who reached out about helping with those families who received Free and Reduced Lunch. As you saw in the updates, FCPS is still trying to determine ways to get meals to those families. Additionally, our community raised $3,000 in grocery gift cards and FHES will mail them out to those families next week.
PTA MEETING - MARCH 18th, 6:30 pm
We will make this PTA meeting virtual on Wed., 3/18 at 8pm (later than previous time). The conference call info is below - you can either use Internet or a phone. We will also be changing the topic to be on distance learning ideas and how to share tips with other parents on managing with the kids at home. If you've never been to a PTA meeting before, come join the conversation. Link: https://ellucian.zoom.us/j/3016468917 OR dial: 877-853 5257 and Meeting ID: 301 646 8917
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
With the kids at home, you may need a mixture of new and familiar resources to keep things interesting. Freedom Hill Digital Tools (your kids will be familiar with these) Amazing Education Resources (larger list of resources with descriptions of each site) Virginia Dept of Education (use it to hone in on specific topics for your child's grade. Or Google "Virginia 1st Grade Curriculum" for a 1st grader's curriculum, adjust for other grades, etc.)
PTA SPRING ENRICHMENT IS OPEN
Spring classes are supposed to start April 14th. Many are not filled up yet and we would hate to cancel them. We are working with Enrichment Matters to determine refunds/pro-rate if classes are still closed. But we need to know what your kids would do, so if there is interest - please sign up. There is PE Club, 3D Printing, Unusual Art, Soccer, Spanish, Magic Academy, Sport Tumbling & Yoga, Chess, Beginner Ensemble, All Sports, ZooBots Robotics and KinderTech (trying to get it expanded to 1st grade too). Register online here before it closes on Tues, March 23rd.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES UPDATE
Bingo Night - Was 3/27, aiming for May 15th Faculty Volleyball Game - Still on for 4/17, this will depend on school guidance 5K/1M/Spring Fling - Not doing this event this year and instead putting community sponsorship efforts into Field Day. Field Day - 6/5, save the date! SPIRITWEAR AVAILABLE TIL MARCH 20
No sanitizer here but what better way to keep spirits up with new FHES swag! Our online spiritwear store is only open til Friday, March 20th here! There are a bunch of new FHES items that we are offering this time with more popular dry-fit ("performance") and vintage looks - in child and adult sizes. Orders will be shipped to FHES approx. 3-4 weeks after the store close date.
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