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Volume 4, Issue 10; November 1, 2020
Dear Families,
As you are aware, data has been collected from your confirmation of intent this past Friday, as well as your completion of the optional Google form.
This week, our school team, consisting of administration, resource teachers, and clinical faculty, will re-evaluate student placement, in light of teacher and parent input, to ensure that we create classrooms to meet our students' needs. We are beginning with kindergarten placement and will provide you with this information at least a week in advance of phasing-in. To this end, please understand that there are many factors that impact your child's placement, including programming, such as specialized learning needs. We will consider the same criteria for updating placement that we typically reference, including the prioritization of thought partners, minimizing the number of transitions throughout the day, and, overall, maintaining well-balanced, heterogenous classroom communities.
While I know that this transition will lead to the creation of many concurrent classrooms, we are still working toward creating wholly virtual classrooms whenever possible. Upcoming professional development days will help us plan effectively, and intentionally, for this model of instruction. As iterated last week, we are seeking a version of concurrent instruction that mirrors much of what we are doing now to support small group, guided instruction.
Lastly, it has come to my attention that some families are getting caught-up in the noise that is being furthered on social media and in the news, including claims that teachers are not interested in showing-up to work. I want to assure you that this is not the case for Flint Hill teachers. I choose to stay away from the noise, and I encourage you to do the same. This is not a time for negativity or to perpetuate rumors. This is a time to come together to create a viable blended learning community. Many families are wondering how we will accomplish meeting the needs of all students in a concurrent model. As the quote above states, it is only impossible until it is done. I have no doubt that we can accomplish this aim as long as we trust in our collective efficacy and can rely on your ongoing support.
As always, thank you for all you do to support our Flint Hill family. It means so much to the teachers and administration to know we can count on your positivity and strength during this season of change.
Warmly,
Dr. Hertzberg, Principal
 A Few Updates
Since our last meeting this past Monday, we have been apprised of a few other tidbits of information that we would like you to keep in mind.
Alpha Split
Schools have been provided permission to deviate from the original alpha-split (A-K T/W; L-Z Th/F), if warranted, to accommodate the demand for in-person instruction. Updates to your child's in-person instruction days will be shared a week in advance. Please note, there is very little wiggle room to change these days. In order to comply with CDC guidelines for 6 feet distancing, we ask that parents refrain from making requests to change their child's days. We understand that work schedules of our parents complicate preferred days, and we will do our best to adhere to the original alpha split, but in some of our grade levels, this is not possible.
Recess
Schools will schedule 30 minutes of recess for students on days they attend school. Shared equipment, such as playground equipment, balls, ropes, and other items will not be used during recess. School staff will encourage students to play games or activities that minimize close physical contact and allow for social distancing unless otherwise directed by an FCPS staff member. Face coverings may be temporarily removed during recess, while under the supervision of school staff, as long as social distancing can be maintained at a distance of 10 feet or more at all times. Students will wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before returning to class.
Lunch
Students will eat meals in classrooms in small groups whenever possible. If students bring lunch from home, they should use disposable bags when possible (no lunch boxes). FCPS will offer grab and go lunches for all students. For students participating in virtual learning, grab and go meals are still available to all FCPS students at school sites and on bus routes.
Cleaning Protocols
FCPS cleaning personnel clean and sanitize the school building regularly.
Custodians use effective disinfectant and sanitizing products every day. The following steps are performed to maximize our sanitizing efforts:
Sanitizing and disinfecting restrooms more frequently, including thoroughly disinfecting and sanitizing all surfaces, doors, toilets, and handles, and ensuring that all supplies are always fully stocked.
Increased cleaning to high-touch surfaces/points such as door handles, glass, elevator buttons, doors, tables, chairs, and light switches. Daytime custodians have been instructed to continuously disinfect and sanitize all touch points throughout the day.
FCPS has updated health and safety guidance for air ventilation in schools. A comprehensive review of school ventilation systems was performed to ensure facilities are operated in accordance with CDC and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers guidance and the manufacturer’s recommendations. Assessments and improvements include:
- Ensured all schools and offices have sufficient air ventilation
- Purchased initial allocation of MERV 13 filters (based on availability) and upgrading school HVAC systems where possible
- Purchased HEPA filters and air purifiers for use in select areas
- Continued review of the use of UV-C lighting in classrooms and ventilation systems and its best application
- Third-party health and safety verification for all buildings
For more information on the Return to School, please see this site. It is updated frequently!
A Virtual Veteran's Day Celebration
 
Please be mindful that your child requires a quiet place to think and learn for virtual instruction. While we know this is not always possible, please consider where you take your conference or personal phone calls. It has been enlightening what we have learned about our families that we didn't already know! 😊
Digital Citizenship Series: Tips for Parents: Helping Kids Navigate Life in the Digital Age
- Series Part 1: How to Find Balance with Technology
- When technology becomes the primary place for school and connecting with others, what does it look like to set boundaries?
- We will discuss ways to stay connected with the world and how to get back on track when it goes too far.
- Tuesday, November 6, 2020, 10 - 11:30 a.m.
- Series Part 2: Hot Topics: What Concerns You the Most?
- What can you do to set your child up for success to handle whatever challenges and temptations they may face with technology?
- What can you do to help them rebound when they make a mistake? We will be asking you to share your top concerns about the world of technology and your child so that we may craft this webinar around advice and resources on the hottest topics.
- Tuesday, November 13, 2020, 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Register for Digital Citizenship Series: Tips for Parents: Helping Kids Navigate Life in the Digital Age
 https://yearbookforever.com/#
Madison Pyramid Canned Food Drive
The Madison Pyramid schools are joining together for a canned food drive which will begin on Monday, November 9th. A box will be placed outside Door 1 for community members to drop off cans during the day M-F, during school hours. We will be collecting the cans each week on Mondays, between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The canned food drive will end on December 14th. These donations will directly support our community, and we are hoping to help as many families as we can!
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DedicatED
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Flint Hill Elementary School Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through the Google link for each category. You may nominate one or more employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)
All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below.
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):
Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee
Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)
The deadline to submit a nomination is Tuesday, November 24, 2020.
If you have any questions, please contact award liaison, Laurie Arnold at lmarnold2@fcps.edu.
Gentle Reminder for Paperless Progress Reports
With the end of the 1st quarter approaching, parents have the option to “Go Paperless” which will allow you to receive online progress reports.
To take advantage of the paperless option, parents and/or guardians will need to log into ParentVUE, go to “My Account,” and select "Go Paperless." All parents and/or guardians who live with the student must have a SIS ParentVUE account and select the paperless option to prevent mailing of the printed progress reports. The “Go Paperless” option will apply to all children in the household, no matter what school level. For example, if you have already selected “Go Paperless” for your secondary student, the option will now apply to any elementary siblings as well.
Thank you for considering this environmentally friendly solution to receiving your child's progress report!
 We continue to highlight learning experiences that support the acquisition of Portrait of a Graduate attributes and skills across our community and Google classrooms.
Fifth graders had to use their critical and creative thinking skills to go shopping on a budget! Communication and collaboration are key in breakout rooms!
For more information on Portrait of a Graduate, ask your child how they are a communicator, collaborator, critical and creative thinker, goal-directed and resilient individual, or ethical and global citizen. Or, click here!
Please click on our hashtag, #FHESfamily, for more awesome highlights from Flint Hill! There are just too many to highlight them all!
Tweet, tweet, Flint Hill family!
Please Mark Your Calendars!
Great news! Flint Hill Elementary School's events are now easily added to your own personal calendar. To find out how to download our calendar feed, please go here.
November 2nd-3rd: Student Holidays
Upcoming Asynchronous Days for Groups 5 & 6: Teachers will send out more information regarding asynchronous days to their families. Dates will be provided next week!
November 25th-27th: Thanksgiving Break
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FCPS Cares Program
Recognizing employees who go above and beyond
FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize those who go above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the outstanding work of FCPS, and more specifically, Flint Hill employees.
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Falcon Feedback
To provide feedback directly to Ms. Hertzberg, please use the QR code, or click on this link. Thank you, in advance, for sharing your thinking!
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