Good morning Freedom Hill families,
We hope you are well! Our excitement has been growing after a successful second week of in-person kindergarten instruction, and with some of our first and second graders returning this week. We also had a very successful author visit with Laura Gehl. If your student enjoyed the book, we encourage you to order a copy through the PTA section below. If our community purchases 25, this covers the cost of the author visit and it becomes no cost to our school community!
As more of our students continue to transition back into the building, please read the "arrival and dismissal" information below so that we continue to facilitate safe practices when coming to school. We will continue to provide grade-by-grade return to school updates for families in the coming weeks due to transition events:
1st and 2nd grade:
-
March 8 - Student holiday, no instruction
-
March 9 - Tues./Wed. in-person students return to building
-
March 11 - Thurs./Fri. in-person students return to the building
3rd - 6th Grade:
-
March 8 - Student holiday, no instruction
-
March 9 - Meet and Greet sessions for students changing teachers
-
March 10 - Students begin with new teachers virtually
-
March 11, 12, 15 - Asynchronous days for students after AM Meeting
-
Week of March 15 - In-person students return to building
Wishing you a great week,
Nicholas Zapadka, Principal
Eric Kopacz, Asst. Principal
Hours of Operation
Front Office Hours: 8:45 - 4:45
Student Hours: 9:45 - 4:15
Kiss 'N Ride Open: 9:35 - 9:45
Bus Routes
In preparation for the upcoming return to school groups, parents are asked to review their student’s route assignments using their SIS ParentVue account. As changes are being made to the routes frequently to accommodate new students returning, this information must be checked within one week of your student returning to face-to-face instruction.
COVID-19 Arrival Protocols
Due to social distancing requirements, the Kiss 'N Ride will open each day at 9:35, and doors will not be open prior to this time. We will not accommodate early arrivals, as this could compromise our safe social distancing practices in our lobby and hallways. All students will be asked to use our hand sanitizer stands as they enter either the bus or Kiss N' Ride doors. Breakfast will be distributed via bags in the cafeteria, which students may take to their classroom.
Walkers
Students walking to school should enter the Kiss 'N Ride door near the student drop off area. Families should not walk across/along the bus lane to the main entrance. Thank you!
Car Riders
Families dropping off their children should use the Kiss 'N Ride loop (see photo below). Please do not park on the street and walk across the bus lanes. This creates a dangerous situation and delays our buses.
Kiss 'N Ride Registration for Grades 1-6
Planning on picking your student(s) up at the end of the school day in the Kiss 'N Ride? Use the link below to register for a Kiss and Ride Number. Kiss and Ride numbers will be sent home with your student(s). Alternatively, you call the front office to receive a number.
USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER FOR A KISS AND RIDE NUMBER.
-
March 8 - Staff Development Day; Student Holiday
-
March 9 - Grades 1-2 in-person students begin to return
-
March 12 - Freedom Hill Spirit Day (Wear red!)
-
March 15 - 16 - Family Dinner Out, Ledo Pizza
-
March 15 - FLE Preview Night
-
March 15 - Eagles Read! Bedtime Stories Night
-
March 16 - Grades 3-6 in-person students begin to return
-
March 16 - PTA Meeting, 8PM
-
March 28 - Spring PTA Spiritwear Orders Due
Principals' Return to School Presentation and Q&A:
Recording
Slides - This contains an updated return-to-school timeline for grades 1-2 and 3-6, and embedded community and family resources
We are excited to welcome our next class of Kindergarten students. To prepare for the 2021-22 school year, we ask all parents of incoming Kindergartners to visit our registration page to register your child. Encourage your friends and neighbors to register their incoming Kindergartners. Pass the word!
Hello Freedom Hill! This Friday, March 12th, SCA will be sponsoring a “Virtual-Versary” spirit day, where students and staff will wear Freedom Hill Spirit wear, or just something red to reflect and remember the last we were all together. This day brings up many feelings for us as a community. The SCA students felt this would be a way to show that even when we are apart, our school spirit is still a part of us, and we are united as a Freedom Hill Family.
- Ellena Canape, SCA Sponsor
 |
|
|
|
|
This week, we are focusing on Social Intelligence. You are aware of other people’s thoughts and feelings. You understand why they do things.
“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”
~Ernest Hemingway
|
Questions you might enjoy talking about:
- What does a good listener do?
- What does being a good listener have to do with Social Intelligence?
- What can you do to be a better listener?
|
This week all parents/guardians will be contacted through email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form Online. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and offers parents/guardians an opportunity to provide anonymous input about various topics related to our school. The questionnaire will be collected online between March 8 and March 19.
When you receive an email from FCPS Surveys, please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire. Your opinions matter!
We will be holding our Family Life Education (FLE) resource preview on March 15th at 6pm. FCPS implements a K-12 FLE program that adheres to state and Virginia Department of Education requirements and guidelines. There are two units of instruction that are designated as Family Life Education: Emotional and Social Health and Human Growth and Development. Staff will be present to go over the curriculum materials and answer any questions that you may have. This reminder will also be sent in next week’s newsletter and a link will be provided for attendance. If you have any questions, please contact Eric Kopacz epkopac@fcps.edu or Ian Dowling itdowling@fcps.edu.
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
|
READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK
Laura Gehl virtually visited Freedom Hill yesterday. We had over 300 unique logins for the event! We hope your students enjoyed it.
Hooray for Books! is providing a selection of books at special discounted price for this Read Across America Event. There are 2 different ways to order: 1) Fill out and return this form with a check (made to Freedom Hill Elementary School) by Thursday, March 11. (Books are slightly less expensive if you pay this way). or 2) To pay online, fill out this this form and pay at Pay4SchoolStuff. Books should be available for pickup at FHES by March 19 and will include personalized bookplates signed by the author. You can learn more about Ms. Gehl and her wonderful books at https://lauragehl.com/. Contact Mrs. Rossman at Melissa.Rossman@fcps.edu with questions.
|
|
|
|
FAMILY DINNER OUT, LEDO PIZZA MAR. 15-16 Save the dates for a Family Dinner Out on March 15-16! We'll be back at Ledo Pizza at 7510 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church for some yummy food. Ledo will donate a percentage to the FHES PTA. Thanks to Jennifer King for organizing!
|
|
|
|
NEXT PTA MEETING MAR. 16 Our next PTA meeting will be Tuesday, March 16 at 8 pm. We will provide more details soon.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
