FHES Weekly Update: 2/7/2021

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Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

Today we are writing to you with hopeful news! The Fairfax County School Board has given unanimous consent for some students to begin transitioning back into the school building. We are working closely with the Health Department and county officials to ensure that we are meeting all CDC guidelines and faithful implementing COVID-19 mitigation strategies. We have some important news and dates to share with you this weekend:

Timeline for Return

February 23: Pre-K and Kindergarten in-person students return

March 9: 1st and 2nd Grade in-person students return

March 16: 3rd - 6th Grade in-person students return

 

Bell Schedule Change

FHES will be shifting to a 9:45-4:15 bell schedule beginning on February 16th. The bell schedule change will apply to both in-person learning as well as students who are doing full-time virtual learning. Teachers will send their families an updated master schedule this week. 

 

New Teacher & Days of the Week Notifications 

As we have mentioned, the new bell schedule and return plans require that some students change their teacher. Teacher changes and the two days of the week that students will attend in-person school will be communicated at least one week before your student's grade-level return date. 

 

Resurvey / Change of Choice

FCPS does not have plans to resurvey parents about your selection of virtual or in-person instruction, and a recent communication from Dr. Brabrand reminded families that their choice was for the entirety of the 2020-21 school year. Our regrouping of classes was according to the choices families selected in the Fall. While we will do our best to accommodate change requests, please know that several grade levels are already at or very close to their "max" in-person occupancy based on CDC guidelines. 

 

For those seeking additional information, we will be holding an informational Q&A session this Wednesday, 2/10 at 7PM at this link. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we move forward together.

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Asst. Principal 


Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

  • February 8 - Eagles Read! Bedtime Stories Night, 7:30
  • February 10 - Curbside Library Checkout, 2-6PM
  • February 10 - Return to School Q&A, 7PM
  • February 10 - PTA Meeting, 8PM
  • February 16 - FCPS Begins New Bell Schedule
  • February 16 - ECCB & ID Return to School
  • February 23 - Kindergarten & Head Start Return to School

Return to School Updates

The following return to school dates were unanimously approved by the Fairfax County School Board:

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Eagles Read! Bedtime Stories 2/8

Join us Monday, February 8th from 7:30 – 8:00 pm for our fourth monthly "Eagles Read"! Bedtime Stories Night.

Mrs. Trott will be our MC for the night as we celebrate togetherness and a positive start to the new year. Staff participating on Monday will be, Mr. Fenton, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Qian and Mrs. Pantzer. You’re never too old to listen to a read aloud! Be sure to join us in your coziest pajamas at our Eagles Read! monthly bedtime story-time program and start our week together as a PK-6 Freedom Hill community.


Positivity Project: Love

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Next week, we'll discuss the strength of love. For a 1-page character card overview, click here. Love means you value close relationships with others and being close to people. Love represents the way we think, feel, and behave towards the people with whom we have close relationships. When one person loves another person, that person: comforts and makes the other feel safe; sacrifices on the other’s behalf; supports the other during struggles; and places the other’s needs ahead of their own. If you love a person, that person makes you feel safe and secure. You can be yourself with that person.


Imagine Learning & Literacy

Imagine Language & Literacy is an adaptive program designed to accelerate reading and language proficiency in grades K-6. Staff and students are encouraged to use this engaging and adaptive program as a component of their instructional day. Access is easy through the link our school’s Digital Learning Tools Page https://freedomhilles.fcps.edu/index.php/digital-learning-tools

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ST Math

ST Math is visual instructional program designed to help students build deep conceptual understanding of mathematics. Staff and students are encouraged to use this engaging and adaptive program as a component of their instructional day. Access is easy through the link our school’s Digital Learning Tools Page https://freedomhilles.fcps.edu/index.php/digital-learning-tools

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Parent Resource Center Webinars

From Chaos to Calm: Strategies for Families to Create Calm and Confidence in the Midst of Chaos and Uncertainty: A Webinar for Families

Learn practical tools that can be applied IMMEDIATELY to restore your sense of calm and focus so you can cultivate joy and connection in your family.

Presented by Corinne Coppola, M.A., and Well-Being Professional.

Friday, February 12, 2021 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Register for From Chaos to Calm: Strategies for Families to Create Calm and Confidence in the Midst of Chaos and Uncertainty: A Webinar for Families

 

Encouraging Positive Behaviors at Home Series: Teaching your Children to Follow Directions

Parents/guardians will receive an overview of instructional control and will review strategies to support their students with following directions.

Thursday February 18, 2021, 10 - 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Register for Teaching Your Child to Follow Directions

 

Strategies to Support Social Emotional Learning at Home: A Webinar for Families

Parents and families are critical in helping children develop social and emotional awareness. This webinar will highlight strategies to see children’s behavior and emotions as communication, create emotional safety, and recognize/support personal and family strengths.

FCPS Social Worker, Jeanne Veraska & FCPS School Psychologist, Lisa Phifer

February 17, 2021 6:30 - 8 p.m. or February 19, 2021 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Register for Strategies to Support Social Emotional Learning at Home: A Webinar for Families

 

Is it Over Yet? How to Help your Child Cope with the Pandemic and the Eventual Return to Normalcy: A Webinar for Families

Join licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Bateman for a webinar on parenting strategies to help children cope with the pandemic. 

Strategies include coping with stress, changes in routine, uncertainty, loss of regular activities and social interaction, virtual school, etc.

Friday, February 26, 2021 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Register for Is it Over Yet? How to Help your Child Cope with the Pandemic and the Eventual Return to Normalcy: A Webinar for Families               


Forms for Families

We will periodically re-post forms for our families:

Consent to use digital resources

Opt-Out forms  

Paperless Report Cards

Student Rights and Responsibilities & Acknowledgement


Family Resources

 Parent Technology Help Desk  833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS) 

Parent and Student Technology Support Portal 

Freedom Hill Digital Tools Webpage  

FCPS Parent Resource Center 

FCPS Return to School


Updates from the PTA

PTA MEETING FEB. 10 Please join us for our next PTA meeting on Wednesday, February 10 at 8 pm. (We will not have a meeting on February 5). Join here online

 

PTA ENGAGEMENT SURVEY Thank you to the 30 PTA members who filled out our survey! Respondents provided important feedback about their PTA communication preferences and interest in potential future events for the remainder of this school year. 

6TH GRADE FAMILIES - KILMER BAND! Want to have fun playing a band instrument in school every day? Make great music with your friends? Be a member of the largest team at Kilmer MS? Then you want to be in the Kilmer Band program! Whether you have never played an instrument before or you've been playing for a while, we've got a place for you in the Kilmer MS Bands. For lots of info, visit tinyurl.com/kilmermsbands. Email the lead band director, email Ms. Bonneau for any questions.

 

DIRECTORY UPDATE Please update the AtoZConnect directory! You should have gotten an email which will prompt you to update the Freedom Hill Directory with your current information. Take 2 minutes to update your info for your child, teachers, and contact info.