|
Dear Freedom Hill Families,
If you are anything like me, the fact that this is the last week of "school" for the academic year comes as a strange feeling. As you know, it has been a year filled with unanticipated challenges for our school community. I have said it before and I will say it again - this community is strong, resilient, caring, and compassionate. Our school staff continue to advocate passionately for students, our parents support them while balancing a multitude of other commitments at home, and our students show the grit and perseverance that we have talked so much about through the Positivity Project. And though next school year still looms with some uncertainty, I know none of this togetherness will change!
We were reminded this week that, despite the progress our nation and our community have made, action is still needed to ensure that ALL families benefit from everything that our community offers. At the elementary level, we educators and parents have the tremendous responsibility of raising our students to see our community's diversity for what it is - a source of learning, understanding, and growth. As Freedom Hill's principal, I am so proud to lead a school where so many different learners are present and valued. Each year, we educate boys and girls from all over the world who have English language needs, learning disabilities, severe disabilities, advanced academic abilities, live many states away from their parents, have significant medical diagnoses, are food insecure at home, and more. Our staff and community value each student no matter their background. As we move into next school year, I look forward to working with our school-based Equity Team and soliciting community feedback as we continue to discuss how we can be a more equitable and inclusive school so that all families will continue to benefit.
Though our end-of-year celebrations will be virtual this year, I hope that all can take a few moments to speak to their children on the last day of school. They have accomplished what no students have been asked to do in history. They deserve our admiration and our praise!
It has been an honor to serve the FH community this year. I look forward to seeing you and your students at our EOY celebrations this week and when you pick up your student's personal items at the school (see below). Be well, be safe, and have fun this week!
Dr. Z.
- June 8 - 11 - Distance Learning Continues
- June 8 - 12 - "Virtual Field Day" Spirit Week
- June 8 - Item pickup - Last names A-G
- June 11 - Last Day of School
- June 11 - Virtual 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony
- June 15 - Item pickup - Last names H-Z
When to Arrive at FHES
June 8:
9:00-11:00 - Last name A
11:00-1:00 - Last names B-D
1:00-3:00 - Last names E-G
June 15:
9:00-11:00 - Last name H-L
11:00-1:00 - Last names M-O
1:00-2:30 - Last names P-R
2:30-4:00 - Last names S-Z
What to Bring
Library books, patrol badges, instruments, classroom books, book donations for the Summer Bookmobile, rented laptops if you will not be returning to FH or Kilmer MS.
Logistics
When it is your timeslot, please proceed in car through the bus line to the front door. You can come anytime within the timeslot to collect and drop off your items. Please place a paper with your child(ren)’s first and last name(s) on your dashboard or passenger side window where it is clearly visible to staff. Staff members will retrieve your items and bring them to your car. Please make sure your car is unlocked. Staff will place items in the back seat to avoid contact. Staff members will wear masks and gloves for safety. If you will be walking to school, please stand by the marquee sign.
Thank you for your help to ensure this is a safe process for all.
One of the most beloved traditions at Freedom Hill is our annual Field Day at the end of the year. Mr. Dowling and Mrs. Trzcinski have been working on creating a virtual field day that you can create at home throughout the week. Every day (or the night before) two new activities will be posted!
The theme this year is Olympics. Every day there will be a challenge and an activity for you and your family to complete. Each day will also be a spirit day where you can post your pictures on Twitter or email them to one of us! Remember to use #FHHighlights when using Twitter! You can also tag @coachtrz. We look forward to seeing some fun happening at home!
Our 2019-2020 school year is coming to a close and with that parents are picking up their children’s materials from school. Please consider donating gently loved books at that time in the box near the FHES library/bookroom returns.
FHES staff was able to give away hundreds of books to students who felt they needed them on Thursday, March 12 from our Bookmobile book collection. Please consider replenishing our Bookmobile collection with books you are looking to donate so that we may begin giving away books again as soon as we are allowed to. Highly engaging books, including fiction or nonfiction; board books, picture books, chapter books and/or Young Adult, are best. Please contact Freedom Hill’s reading specialist, Mrs. Rossman at Melissa.Rossman@fcps.edu with any questions.
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
Missed Kindergarten orientation? You can watch the presentation here or view the slides here.
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.
This summer students will have the opportunity to review concepts and skills using recommended self-directed print and digital materials. Materials will not be collected or graded.
Print materials will be mailed to families who did not opt-out of the weekly distance learning packets. Families will receive two envelopes near the end of June:
One Language Arts Essentials Practice Book
One Mathematics Essentials Practice Book
Digital versions of practice books will be available on FCPS 24/7 Learning.
As with every year, we will be saying bittersweet goodbyes to some of our teachers and staff members. Though they will be dearly missed at Freedom Hill, they have some wonderful adventures ahead of them. From moves out of state, opportunities closer to home, promotions within K-12, jobs in higher education, and retirements, we are excited for the spirit of FH to spread and flourish. Since we are not able to celebrate them in person this year, we have created a Google Site that allowed them to write a goodbye message. You are also able to leave a message on this site or to contact them individually. We will miss them!
Our hiring for next year is mostly complete. Our philosophy for teacher recruitment is to always begin hiring early and to attract the finest teachers, and we're very pleased to welcome these new staff members. We are also using the Google Site as a place for our new staff to introduce themselves and their experiences. We will continue to update this site with new staff members as they complete their HR requirements and become official. Since we are still months from next school year, many of their final positions for next year are still pending. Thanks for joining us in giving them a big Freedom Hill welcome!
If you will be moving over the summer or not returning to FHES, please email our Student Information Assistant, Sey-Lu Sujo. Thank you. |
|
 |
VIRTUAL PTA MEETING RECAP
We had a great virtual PTA meeting last week. Here is the presentation. We did successfully pass our officer board for 2020-2021 so congratulations to our new board. We also gave a huge thanks to our PTA Chairs, our Room Parents, our previous PTA Board and our departing teachers! We also awarded the Harriet Best award to Diana Hernandez for her amazing contributions over the years. Thanks to everyone who participated!
SPROUT SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS Our Back to School Supply Kits with Sprout have been set up here. The deadline to order is June 30th. These are the supply kits delivered to school in time for the first day in Fall. It's an easy way to get your back-to-school shopping done in minutes and never leave home. The exact, teacher approved supplies for every grade are listed here. To order them through Sprout, you visit www.sproutsupplies.com (our School Code is FHES001). We did ask Sprout what happens if we have distance learning in fall. Their response was anybody can cancel their order until June 30th so keep that in mind. Some families may want the supplies regardless if there is distance learning at home. The flier is here with more details.
INCOMING KINDERGARTEN PARENT MEET & GREETS OVER SUMMER We are pivoting a bit and doing virtual meet and greets for incoming KG parents over the summer instead of incoming Kindergarten playdates. The following are the time and dates. Encourage any of your neighbors who have incoming FHES kids to join so they can learn more about Freedom Hill's community. This info will be on the PTA website at freedomhillpta.org.
Sunday, June 28th, 3pm or call 877 853 5257 with Meeting ID: 982 0482 1911
Tuesday, July 14th, 7:30pm or call 877 853 5257 with Meeting ID: 950 2677 9230
Saturday, August 8th, 10am or call 877 853 5257 with Meeting ID: 922 4545 9943
DONATE BOOKS AT EOY PICK UP
As you do end of year pick-up, please consider donating gently loved books at that time in the box near the FHES library/bookroom returns. FHES staff was able to give away hundreds of books to students who felt they needed them on Thursday, March 12 from our Bookmobile book collection. Please consider replenishing our Bookmobile collection with books you are looking to donate. Highly engaging books, including fiction or nonfiction; board books, picture books, chapter books and/or Young Adult, are best. Contact Melissa Rossman with Q's.
END OF YEAR NOTES If you haven't heard from your room parent on an End of Year gift for teachers and want to help with that, be sure to reach out to them. Also be sure to take note of this info published in Dr. Z's newsletter which has specific info for next year and next week's school pick up times.
VIRTUAL FIELD DAY
Get ready for an exciting event with Mr. Dowling and Mrs. Trzcinski! We will be hosting the first ever Virtual Field Day! Information can be found on the PE Google Site under the Virtual Field Day tab (be sure to login as a student in Google). Each day two new activities will be posted for you to compete to work as a team with your family. Also get ready for some fun spirit days! Our theme this year is Summer Olympics. Thank you and we look forward to the pictures and memories you share!
|
