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Dear Freedom Hill Community,
Thank you to everyone who was able to participate in our car parade last week! It was a joy to bring members of our community together (from a distance!) and to be able to share a brief moment of happiness together. This week, we hope to see many students and families participating in our Virtual Spirit Week. Details are below. We hope that you will utilize Twitter to share the pictures with us at @FreedomHillES and @FreedomHillPTA so that our staff can also see what everyone is up to during this time.
We are all adjusting to our new reality since the governor made his announcement last Monday. FCPS is working OVERTIME to get distance learning ready for our students, staff, and parents. We recognize the complications moving forward with distance learning and Freedom Hill wants to be sure everyone is ready, supported, and has access as we embark on this new learning for all of us. Read below for the difference between continuity of learning (through Spring Break) and distance learning (beginning April 14). We will also be holding a laptop distribution day this Wednesday. If you or a family you know does not have a device at home, please fill out the form below if you have not in previous weeks. We will reach out to you to know when to come on Wednesday.
I ask you to be patient with our staff as we transition to teaching virtually – this experience is new for all of us and I am instructing the staff to go slow. I also want to remind parents that distance learning is not equal to the instruction provided during a typical school day.
The health and safety of our staff and community is our top priority as we grow with new skills and challenges. Our people are our most important resource. Thank you for everything you have done to support our school and community during this time.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Z.
- March 30 - April 3 - Virtual Spirit Week
- March 30 - April 3 - Teacher PD for Distance Learning
- April 1 - Laptop Distribution from FHES (details below)
- April 3 - Deadline to purchase FHES Spiritwear Online
- April 14 - Distance Learning Begins (details below)
- April 15 - Deadline to turn in Enrichment Matters form (details below)
 FCPS is embarking on a four-tiered approach to distance learning that will begin officially following Spring Break. All work and assignments are currently optional and will not receive a grade. Our priority is to offer continued learning opportunities to all our students for the remainder of the 2019 – 2020 school year.
Part 1: Weekly Learning Packets
Beginning Monday, March 30 and continuing for the remainder of the school year, all elementary students will receive a weekly learning packet in the U.S. Mail. These packets were created centrally, but teachers may reference them when new learning begins on April 14. Students are encouraged to work on these packets at home next week and beyond as independent practice.
Part 2: Virtual Teaching
Our staff will be working this week to develop a plan for ongoing instruction of our students. Classroom teachers and specialists will be either teaching live through sites like Blackboard Collaborate Ultra or recording themselves teaching and posting links to the videos following Spring Break. More detailed information, as well as a daily schedule, will be shared by your child's classroom teacher. When possible, teachers are being recommended to record any live instruction and share links with the students on blackboard so students who cannot join live may view another time. Our plan is that core instruction (community building, language arts, and math) will begin first and we will layer in additional learning opportunities as we grow in our capacity.
Part 3: Channel 21 Programming
Like mentioned above, our FCPS cable television channels are now broadcasting learning activities. New instructional videos are being recorded and will be added to the programming lineup shortly. Students can watch on their TV through Channel 21 or can use these links to view building level instructional programming. Channel 21 includes elementary school programming, Channel 25 includes middle school programming, and Channel 99 includes high school programming.
Part 4: Staff Office Hours
Beginning April 14, all staff will have regular virtual office hours to be available to work with students groups and answer student and parent questions in real-time. Staff will explore various methods of communication and accessibility for office hours and will communicate through email and post their schedule on blackboard.
Here is a link to a survey that we have created to determine the needs of household access for distance learning: Survey. If you do not currently have a tablet/laptop/device at home that your child(ren) can use for distance learning, please complete this survey. We are asking that you complete it by Monday PM at the latest.
Aquí hay un enlace a una encuesta que hemos creado para determinar la necesidad de los hogares para el aprendizaje a distancia: Survey link. Si usted no tiene actualmente una tableta/computadora personal/ o aparato en casa que su(s) hijo(s) puedan usar para aprendizaje a distancia, por favor complete esta encuesta. Estamos pidiendo que lo completen a más tardar el lunes.
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If you are looking to access Parent View on SIS or Blackboard but, you haven't created an account, click on this link to create an account through the FCPS FASTeam. Blackboard will be the primary source parents will visit to access resources for your students while away from school. Remember, students also directly access Blackboard with their FCPS username and password.
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Beginning Monday, we'll focus on the character strength of humor. This is one of those strengths that most people don't associate with the concept of "character." However, we know how important humor is in our lives -- individually and collectively -- especially during times of adversity. Though what the world faces now is a very serious matter, humor can help us see the lighter side of life and gain strength to overcome the unique challenges we all face. For a one-page overview of humor, please click here.
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Our First Virtual Spirit Week!
Many of your still want to connect. We've come up with a Virtual Spirit Week this week! Take a photo of your kids doing the following and share on the Freedom Hill ES Community group or post on Twitter with the hashtag #FHHighlights and tag @FreedomHillPTA and @FreedomHillES.
Details here!
Monday - Be Creative Day - Show us your artwork, paintings, legos, etc. you've created!
Tuesday - Pet/Stuffed Animal Day - Show us you with your real or stuffed cuddly friend!
Wednesday - Share a photo of you being active, outside, dancing inside, whatever!
Thursday - Wear blue and snap a photo for World Autism Day!
Friday - Wear red or FHES gear and share!
SPIRITWEAR SALE ONLINE UNTIL APRIL 3
We extended our online Spiritwear swag sale - available 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 Michelle Z's house and we will figure out distribution from there.
UPDATE ON SPRING ENRICHMENT
For those of you who signed up for Spring Enrichment, please read the detailed email from Enrichment Matters sent on Friday, 3/27. For canceled programs, they are automatically giving you a full credit for 2020-2021 enrichment programs with Enrichment Matters. Since Enrichment Matters incurs credit card processing fees both when getting and refunding payments and they must pay a staff member to administer funds, they are offering an 85% refund on pre-paid spring classes in lieu of a future credit for those who need it and request it individually. Families needing this option should fill out THIS FORM no later than April 15, 2020. Please note that even if you have already emailed or called someone at EM or the FHES PTA, this form is the sole place we are able to track responses.
Our PTA does plan on using Enrichment Matters next school year. Virtually all of the Providers are very small businesses that operate on narrow margins. The cancellation of spring classes is financially devastating for them. Instead of a credit, if you find it in your means to donate your prepaid tuition (either all or half) in order to allow Enrichment Matters to pay the Providers this spring, your generosity and support would help them immensely. If you would like to do this, please fill out this form no later than April 15, 2020. Many providers are working on online options as well - we'll keep you posted on those.
SCHOLASTIC DELIVERS TO HOMES!
Did you hear Scholastic Book Clubs are now delivering to home addresses? Order some new reading material through your teacher's classroom book club so they still get credit! Visit scholastic.com/bookclubs
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