Update: Monday Building Opening Postponed


Principal's Message

Dear Freedom Hill Community,

I apologize for sending a second newsletter today. As you can see from the Superintendent’s message below, all FCPS schools will be closed until further notice. This includes our "open building" that we had planned for tomorrow to hand out laptops. We had also intended to open the library for students and parents to check out books and to visit classrooms to obtain personal materials. This is all on pause until the building is cleared for normal operations to continue. 

As per Dr. Brabrand's email, the first two weeks of school closure (from Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 27) will not include any teacher-directed instruction.  Students can participate in optional, self-directed learning activities that have been posted on FCPS 24-7 Learning (Blackboard), are available at www.fcps.edu, and are available on our digital learning page. Again, these activities are not required, nor are they graded.

Teacher collaborative planning time to develop Distance Learning lessons (originally scheduled to occur this week) is also on hold. I realize this is a difficult time, and appreciate our community's patience as we ensure safety. Please know that as I receive updates I will communicate with the school community promptly.

Wishing you safety and warm time with family,

Dr. Z.


Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

  • March 16-20 - Building Closed
  • March 18 - PTA Virtual Meeting, 8PM (see below)
  • March 27 - Bingo Night postponed (tentatively to May 15)

Superintendent's Message

COVID-19 continues to be a fast-moving event.  This weekend, we have been continuing to evaluate our options going forward with the health and well-being of our students, employees, and community remaining the top priority.   In consideration of these developments, FCPS is announcing the following actions:

  • All FCPS school buildings are closed until further notice.  Food distribution at FCPS sites will continue as scheduled.  More details about the food program are below. 
  • With the school buildings closed, the laptop distribution scheduled for tomorrow is postponed. 
  • All FCPS administrative offices are closed until further notice.
  • Only essential personnel as defined by FCPS program managers and supervisors will be asked to report to work until further notice.  All other employees will work remotely.  It is expected that all FCPS personnel reporting to work will practice social distancing to the greatest extent possible.

Beginning tomorrow, March 16, we are expanding the grab and go food distribution sites to a total of 18 locations.  The food distribution is set up outside the schools.   Breakfast will be served from 8-10:30 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the locations listed below:

Annandale Terrace ES,  7604 Herald St., Annandale

Bailey's Primary ES, 6111 Knollwood Dr., Falls Church

Braddock ES,  7825 Heritage Dr., Annandale

Brookfield ES, 4200 Lees Corner Rd, Chantilly

Burke School, 9645 Burke Lake Rd., Burke

Centre Ridge ES, 14400 New Braddock Rd., Centreville

Crestwood ES, 6010 Hanover Ave., Springfield

Cunningham Park ES, 1001 Park St., Vienna

Dogwood ES, 12300 Glade Dr., Reston

Garfield ES, 7101 Old Keene Mill Rd., Springfield 

Graham Road  Community Center,  3036 Graham Rd., Falls Church

Fort Belvoir Upper ES, 5980 Meeres Rd., Fort Belvoir

Hutchison ES, 13209 Parcher Ave., Herndon

Hybla Valley ES, 3415 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria 

London Towne ES, 6100 Stone Rd., Centreville

Mount Vernon Woods ES, 4015 Fielding St., Alexandria

Providence ES, 3616 Jermantown Rd., Fairfax

Weyanoke ES, 6520 Braddock Rd., Alexandria

 

We have also been flooded with generous offers from employees and community members to volunteer at our food distribution sites.  Due to state training requirements for food distribution, we are encouraging those interested in helping to contact one of our community partners.   

These partners are in continuous support of our FCPS families and are connected with the larger effort of Fairfax County. Their contact information is available at this link: https://www.fcps.edu/news/coronavirus-update-support

As explained in Friday's letter, we have made plans to provide continuity of learning during this break. Our goal is for students to continue to engage in learning activities.  The first two weeks of school closure (from Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 27) will not include any teacher-directed instruction.  Students can participate in optional, self-directed learning activities that have been posted on FCPS 24-7 Learning (Blackboard) and are available at www.fcps.edu.   Again, these activities are not required, nor graded.

We are all in this together. We encourage you to practice social distancing and healthy habits. Wash your hands frequently, cough into your sleeve, and if you feel sick – stay home. 

Thank you for your continuing support and cooperation.  

Sincerely,

Scott Brabrand, Superintendent Fairfax County Public Schools


ParentVue Accounts

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.


PTA Information

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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