Freedom Hill Weekly Update 5/18/2020

Principal's Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope this finds your family well, and with another week of distance learning completed. We have been so impressed with the ways in which our students are engaging in content through technology during this time, and how our community has learned and adapted through this shift. In addition, many of us were excited to enjoy a beautiful day on Wednesday with "Bike/Walk Around Day". Despite the remix on the traditional "Bike/Walk to School Day", it was nice to see so many smiling and involved. Thank you to Sam Lee and our PTA for getting us out of the house!

As we enter the last month of school, we will begin the process of closing out the school year and the physical building. Parts of this process include virtual class celebrations, teacher pack up, and the dissemination of student belongings that were left at FHES. FCPS has provided very clear guidelines as to what this will look like in the coming weeks. Our teachers will begin gathering student items and packing up their classrooms starting next week.  Live sessions will continue during this time. 

We are currently finalizing our June dates for families to pick up student items and medications, and will communicate this next week. Don't worry if you will be out of town - we will have more dates later or can transfer your child's bagged belongings to their classroom next year. 

Have a great week!

Dr. Z. 


Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

  • May 18 - 21 - Distance Learning Continues
  • May 22 - Weekly Teacher Workday (students work asynchronously)  
  • May 29 - Virtual Kindergarten Orientation for Parents (will be recorded)
  • June 2 - Virtual PTA Meeting, 8pm

Rising Kindergarten Information

Do you have a son or daughter who will be in Kindergarten this fall? Or do you have a neighbor or friend who is ready to register? Please see below:

Virtual Kindergarten Orientation for Parents

This year, our Kindergarten parent orientation will be online. Please mark your calendar for May 29 at 11:00AM. At this time, parents will be able to meet the Freedom Hill administration, Kindergarten teachers, Student Information Assistant, and health office staff and hear about your child's transition to Kindergarten. 

Kindergarten Registration

Registration is open! Please email our Student Information Assistant, Sey-Lu Sujo, to begin the process and see the following for more details:

- FCPS Kindergarten Registration Page

- Required Forms

You will need to complete all FCPS registration forms, as well as providing the birth certificate, deed or lease of residence, immunization records, and proof of a physical. 


Class Placements

If your child is definitely (or possibly!) returning to Freedom Hill next school year, we offer you the opportunity to share any comments you would like regarding class placements.

Our staff will be working on tentative class groupings this spring, with classroom assignments finalized in August.  As we make these placements, we consider many factors including individual student information, teacher input, and social relationships. Every class will have a blend of children with diverse needs, personalities, and learning interests.  Due to the many factors we must consider in creating classroom placements, including the reassignment of some teachers to a different grade level and the hiring of new teachers, requests for a specific teacher cannot be honored.

If you have information that you believe is pertinent to your child’s placement for next year, please complete this form online (one per child) by Friday, May 22nd for it to be taken into consideration. This could include your child's strengths, growth areas, and what type of teacher best suits their learning style. Thank you.


Moving Over the Summer?

If you will be moving over the summer or not returning to FHES, please email our Student Information Assistant,  Sey-Lu Sujo. Thank you. 

mv

Food Resources

food

FCPS continues to expand the number of locations for food sites.  Please use this link as it will continue to be updated. There is also bus route food distribution that stops at Freedom Hill Monday-Friday at 10:40, as well as a few other stops in the community. Check out the schedule here


Individual Lifetouch Photos

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, families wishing to order their individual photos from Lifetouch this year will need to call the customer service number at 1-800-736-4753 to obtain their individual access code. This code will allow for orders to be placed online at mylifetouch.com. Apologies for the inconvience this causes. 


Public Library Offering Reading Help

dl

The Fairfax County Public Library is offering Reading Help / Ayuda de Lectura virtually to K-6 students, Mondays - Thursdays, at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm.

https://librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/6685277


PTA Information

VIRTUAL PTA MEETING ON JUNE 2nd, 8pm

Thanks who joined us for our Coffee/Brown Bag with Dr. Z and Mr. Kopacz. The recording is here and password: 9T+f+B0=. Join us for the next Virtual PTA meeting on June 2nd at 8pm. We will be celebrating the staff who will be leaving us and finalizing our slate of PTA board officers for 2020-2021. Join here online or call by phone 1-301-715 -8592 and use ID: 933 2752 9720. If you'd like to be a chair for next year, let us know by emailing us!

 

BIKE/WALK ABOUT DAY ON MAY 13

Thanks to everyone for a great Bike/Walk About Day last week! Check out Twitter and Facebook for the photos captured! Big props to Sam Lee and Ms. Trzcinski for pulling this together!

 

VIRTUAL KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION 5/29

Please tell your friends and neighbors who have incoming Kindergarten students to attend the Kindergarten Orientation on Friday, May 29th at 11am. Info is above in this newsletter!

 

GROCERY DRIVE FOR THOSE IN NEED BY JUNE 1st

Some have asked how you can help with families who need help with groceries. You can donate as many Trader Joe's or Giant gift cards as you want in increments of $20-25 to a family in need by mailing the gift card to Freedom Hill, c/o Mary Gutenson, 1945 Lord Fairfax Dr., Vienna, VA 22182. The other option is to order a $35 grocery pack with Caboose Brewery. There is an option to purchase directly through them, indicating Freedom Hill as the recipient on Caboose. If you do this online, once you pick a Day/Time for the order (doesn't matter when), go to to "Community Donations", go to "Grocery Donations" and click the option that says “Food Insecure Families - coordinated w/ FCPS and Vienna VA Foodies". Once Caboose receives the order & fulfills the order for the group of families, they will get in touch with school. We will be running this drive until June 1st!


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