Good afternoon Freedom Hill families,
We hope everyone had a great week! It was another busy week "on the Hill". We are so proud of our staff and students for their hard work! This week we welcomed back grades 3-6 in-person students and continued to see our students engaged in learning both in the school building and at home. Our in-person students have shown curiosity, resilience, and patience as we introduce new safety routines and our virtual students also showed patience as their in-person peers made these adjustments in the building.
This week, we welcomed the FCPS Safety Audit team for an assessment of Freedom Hill's implementation of the five mitigation strategies for a safe school return. We're happy to report that the audit team gave Freedom Hill many kudos for mask wearing, social distancing, hand washing, and cleaning. They also shared that they took pictures of some of our "above and beyond" practices to share with other schools in our area. Way to go staff and students!
Spring break is just around the corner: Monday, 3/29 - Friday, 4/2. This Friday is an early release at 2:15. Monday, 4/5, is a teacher workday and a holiday for students. There will be no Morning Meeting, enrichments, or assignments for students to complete. FCPS is committed to providing all students access to meals during this break from school. See the food distribution web page for more information. Additionally, the United States Department of Agriculture announced this week that no-cost breakfast and lunch meals for all students have been extended through September 30.
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 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.
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March 24 - Curbside Library Checkout, 2-6PM
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March 26 - Early Release at 2:15, Q3 ends
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March 28 - Spring PTA Spiritwear Orders Due
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March 29 - April 2 - Spring Break - No classes
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April 5 - Teacher Work Day - holiday for students
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in grades K-8. Learning experiences are designed to develop higher-level thinking through enrichment, acceleration, and extensions of the Program of Studies (POS). Teachers, administrators, and advanced academic resource teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of school-based services in each elementary school:
- Critical and Creative Thinking Lessons, Grades K-6 (Level I)
- Differentiated Lessons in Areas of Academic Strength, Grades K-6 (Level II)
- Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6 (Level III)
Click here to learn more about Elementary School AAP levels of service. Screening for school-based Level II and III AAP services can happen at any time during the school year, but it is done schoolwide in the spring to determine services for the next school year. Parents or guardians may initiate screening for Level II and Level III services by submitting the AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III) Referral Form. Click here for the form. Please email completed forms to Tara Fredericks, AART at TLFredericks@fcps.edu if you would like your child to be considered for services for the 2021–2022 school year. Multiple criteria are used to screen students for all levels. Families who submit a referral will be notified in June with their student’s eligibility status for Level II-III services beginning in the fall.
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!
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This week, teachers are going back and hitting lessons they may have missed or character strengths they feel their students really enjoyed discussing. Over the last six weeks, we have learned about Integrity, Love, Humility, Enthusiasm, Social Intelligence, and Love of Learning. The important thing to remember is that everyone has ALL 24 strengths within them, but some shine through more than others! How do you SHINE?
“Character, not circumstance makes the person.”
~Booker T. Washington
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Questions you might enjoy talking about:
- When you think of character, what comes to mind?
- Do you think character is just ONE thing, or multiple things?
- Why do we need to continue educating ourselves about character?
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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
LAST WEEK RECAP
Thanks for everyone who joined us at Ledo Pizza and PTA Meeting last week! If you missed the PTA meeting, here's the powerpoint and recording. The access passcode is Access Passcode: Z%*y8Nz.
TEACHER APPRECIATION HELP NEEDED BY FRIDAY, MARCH 26
Help the Teacher Appreciation Committee raise funds for Teacher Appreciation! Consider contributing by March 26th - either by visiting http://www.pay4schoolstuff.com or mailing/dropping a check to Freedom Hill PTA (mark Teacher Appreciation). Q's? Contact: Angela or Ina.
SPIRITWEAR ON SALE TIL SUNDAY!
Check our online Spiritwear Stone! Place orders by Sunday, March 28th. Orders will be shipped 3 weeks after the sale ends. Click here to place your order or see the flyer.
PTA BOARD NOMINATING COMMITTEE
We need 3 people to serve on the nominating committee to facilitate the PTA Board election process for 2020-2021. It's a fairly low time commitment and a great way to get to help. If interested, contact us for info.
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