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Dear Freedom Hill Community,
As we enter Thanksgiving week, we have much to be grateful for this year. We are grateful for a community that is working together to keep our students safe, for parents involved in their students' education, for dedicated staff working tireless to provide quality instruction, and OF COURSE for our students who have continued to amaze us. This week, Freedom Hill students captured thoughts on gratitude and created gratitude chains to be displayed around the school. It is clear that they have many things that they are grateful for in their lives! As we depart for a few days for the holiday, we wish you and your family a safe, restful, and thankful time.
We are also excited to hear so many of our Eagles have already received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. The Fairfax Health District and FCPS is offering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 at ten clinics located at schools across Fairfax County. All children are welcome, and a parent or responsible adult must accompany them. We are encouraging parents to consider having their children vaccinated as a way to keep our schools open and safe as we come out of the pandemic. The COVID-19 vaccine is free. To find locations near you, use the website to make the appointment: https://www.vaccines.gov/search/
Happy Thanksgiving!
Nicholas Zapadka, Principal
Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal
Thank you to our community for your assistance as we continue to learn during an unusual year. Please help us to ensure smooth functioning in our school by helping us with the below:
- All students should come to school each day with a water bottle and several masks.
- Parents should remain vigilant about symptoms associated with COVID-19. Please utilize this checklist daily, and do not send your student to school if they have any symptoms.
- Please alert the front office/teacher of dismissal changes before 3:00 each day. Dismissal changes and early dismissals between 3:00-4:00 place a significant burden on the office staff and disruption in classrooms. Thank you!
2021-22 FCPS School Calendar
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November 23 - School COVID Screening Cancelled (Holiday)
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November 24 - 26 - Thanksgiving Break, Front Office Closed
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November 30 - First New Math Club Meeting, 8:30 (Grades 3-6)
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December 6 - 7 - Family Dinner Out - Ledo's Pizza (Falls Church)
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December 11 - Green Team Weekend Work Session, 8:30-12:30
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December 15 - Due date for Level IV AAP Referrals
RED Days This Week: Monday
WHITE Days This Week: Tuesday
If you child is experiencing any of these symptoms, please keep your child at home! In addition, if any member of your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19, your student may not report to school. Please contact our school clinic or the health department for next steps. |
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Level IV AAP Referrals for placement in the 2022-2023 school year are due no later than December 15, 2021. Referrals can be submitted to the office or electronically emailed to Tara Fredericks at TLfredericks@fcps.edu any time between now and December 15th. If submitted electronically, you will receive an email confirmation from Mrs. Fredericks within 48 business hours. Contact her if you have not heard from her or if you have any questions regarding the process.
Referrals should include:
Our garden is growing even in our cold weather. Green Team is having its 3rd garden work session on Saturday December 11th, 2021. On this day, we will be clearing the pathways and laying down gravel in our pollinator garden. We will also be attaching trellises to our garden beds and installing a gate for our pollinator garden. In addition, we will be installing deer fencing to keep some of our larger pests out of the garden. We hope to see you between 8:30 am-12:30 pm behind the school at our school garden.
- Mr. Curtis
Starting on Tuesday, November 30th, we are starting a math club for 3rd-6th grade students. We will meet each week on Tuesday at 8:30 in the cafeteria to practice math problem solving, learn new strategies, and practice challenging math problems! All 3rd-6th graders are welcome! If you have any questions, email Tara Fredericks at TLfredericks@fcps.edu .
Hello Freedom Hill Families and Staff!
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Freedom Hill Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through the Google forms linked as the heading below. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple 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 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, 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, Family Liaisons
The deadline to submit a nomination is Monday, November 29th.
If you have any questions, please contact Eric Kopacz at epkopacz@fcps.edu. Thank you for helping us recognize our wonderful community and staff!
All FCPS schools will begin random COVID-19 screening testing of 10% of students who have parental consent beginning the week of November 15. Screening testing will happen weekly at Freedom Hill on Tuesday afternoons.
One-time parent/legal guardian consent is required to begin COVID screening testing for a student to be tested at school. You may withdraw your consent for testing at any time. If you want your child to begin participating in COVID-19 screening testing, you must pre-register your child(ren) and provide consent using the secure online portal.
If you do not want your child to participate in COVID-19 screening testing, no action is required. You will have the option each week to update your child’s vaccination and consent for testing.
For more information, visit the COVID-19 testing webpage.
PTA MEETING RECAP Thanks to those who joined us for our PTA Meeting last week. If you missed it, here are the slides and the recording! If you missed it, here are the slides and the recording with a passcode of r7bj.=FW.
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CANDYGRAMS ARE BACK! The 6th Grade Class of 2021 is hosting a Winter Candy Cane Sale! Tell your classmates, friends, teachers, and staff how much you appreciate them. Purchase them between Dec. 8–16 from 8:30-9:10 am outside school near the main entrance. Candygrams are only 50￠ each or you can buy them for the whole class! Funds raised will be used to support Sixth Grade celebration activities! All the details are here.
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LEDOS PIZZA FDO - DEC. 6-7th! Join us at Ledo's Pizza in Falls Church on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 6-7 from 5-9pm for a Family Dinner Out. Both dine in and take out will help contribute to Freedom Hill PTA. Ledo's is located at 7510 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA. Thanks to Jen King for organizing!
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