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Dear Freedom Hill Community,
We hope you are well as February gives way to March and the prospect of some warmer weather!
We have an exciting and eventful new month ahead, beginning with our Read-A-Thon this week. As many of you know, this is our school's/PTA's primary fundraiser for the year, with proceeds benefitting the many extra programs and materials that we have at our school each year. Please see the PTA section below for more information on how to enroll your student(s). As parents and elementary educators, we know that reading is one of the most enriching activities for a child, and we are pleased to promote it this week during Read Across America Week. A BIG thank you to Amber Halaka, who is the PTA lead for our Read-A-Thon this year!
To get things rolling, Mrs. Rossman has invited local author Larry Issa to speak to our students tomorrow. If you'd still like to order a copy of the book that will be featured, you can click here for the order form, that can then be forwarded directly to Mr. Issa at Larryissa@gmail.com
Please remember that this Thursday is a two-hour early release (3/3), and Friday there is no school for the Staff Development Day (3/4). Our staff will be participating in several professional development sessions.
As always, please contact us if you have any questions, concerns or great things to share about our students and staff.
Nicholas Zapadka, Principal
Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal
2021-22 FCPS School Calendar
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February 28 - Read-A-Thon Begins! & Virtual Author Visit
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March 1 - Math Club for Grades 3-6, 8:30 AM
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March 3 - 2-hour Early Release Day
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March 4 - No school for students, Staff Development Day
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March 9 - Spring Picture Day
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March 10 - PTA Meeting
2022-23 FCPS School Calendar
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It is already that time of year to start planning for next year. Our Kindergarten registration for rising kindergartners for the 2022-23 school year is now open. Please use the online portal to submit your initial information and Ms. Sujo will follow up with you about a registration appointment, which will begin after March 1. You can also see this helpful page for more information on the documents that will be needed.
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If you have a child at home who will be five by September 30th, please start your registration now. If you have any neighbors with little ones, please send this information to them as well.
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This week, we are focusing on Enthusiasm. You approach life with excitement and energy. You energize people around you.
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"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Questions you might enjoy talking about:
- How can you tap into enthusiasm for things you don’t like so much?
- How can you encourage each other in the things that you love and the things you don’t like so much?
- What type of mindset do you need to have to be able to approach things in life you don’t like with enthusiasm?
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This weekend, we have a variety of staff updates to share!
- Our first grade teacher, Mrs. Hollaar, has started her maternity leave and is expecting her first child very soon! Ms. Julie Oh is our long-term substitute for the remainder of the school year. She is currently a master's student at George Mason University. Welcome, Ms. Oh!
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Mrs. Emily Edwards, our Math Specialist, and her husband recently announced that they are expecting their first child. Congratulations!
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Ms. Jasmine Threatt has joined our staff as a sixth grade teacher. Ms. Threatt joins us from Panama City, Florida, where she served as a teacher for five years. Among other experiences, she served on her school's leadership team, and was the lead for MTSS and math. She will be graduating this spring with a master's degree in Education Leadership.
- On Monday, we will be introducing our Acting Assistant Principal who will be supporting our community while Mr. Kopacz celebrates the birth of his baby boy in mid-March.
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Ms. Jessica Guzman, our part time Office Assistant, has left Freedom Hill. She is beginning a nursing program. We are excited for her... and will continue to see her in the building as a daily substitute.
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Ms. June Nakano, who is an Instructional Assistant in our ID program, recently became a naturalized US citizen. Congratulations, June!!
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 The Fairfax Health District and Fairfax County Public Schools are hosting free COVID-19 vaccine clinics at 10 schools for students 5-11 years of age. Children do not need to be an FCPS student to attend these clinics. Vaccines will not be available for those 12 years and older. Children must be accompanied by a parent or another responsible adult at all community vaccination sites.
The Fairfax County Health Department’s webpage has information about the clinics and resources for finding and scheduling a vaccine appointment. Up-to-date information about vaccination opportunities is available on our website
READATHON BEGINS TOMORROW!
Starting Monday, February 28th, you can login here and "Start a Reading Session" to add reading minutes from home. (Need to register your reader? Find instructions here.)
Students are working toward the following prizes:
- Individual Read-a-thon prizes in the catalog based on money raised
- Classroom with the most minutes - Dr. Z is your substitute for the day
- Grade level with the most minutes each week gets a reward (PJ day, movie, etc.)
- School-wide prize for raising $10,000 - Water balloons thrown at the Principals during recess! (We are almost halfway there!)
The proceeds collected from Read-A-Thon will be used to replenish our reading resources school wide. (A lot of books were distributed during the pandemic that now need replacing.) Donate now at https://www.read-a-thon.com/school/Freedom-Hill-Elementary-PTA_45888.
For more information, please visit http://www.freedomhillpta.org/content.asp?PageID=20 or email readathon@freedomhillpta.org.
AUTHOR EVENT TOMORROW
To kick off Read-a-thon, we'll be having Larry Issa join Freedom Hill join students on Monday, Feb. 28 during school with his book "Get Back in the Book!". Ask your kids about it on Monday night!
MARCH PTA MEETING, 3/10 at 7:30pm
Join us on Thursday, March 10th for our PTA meeting at 7:30 pm. Join us here using this link or call in.
KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION
SAVE THE DATE! March 31st from 2:30-3:30pm is an orientation for rising Kindergarteners. If you know a family with a child who is turning 5 before Sept. 30th, let them know to attend this meeting via Zoom or in person in the library (It is an early release day at FHES).
FDO HELP FOR KILMER - TODAY
Help our Kilmer students out by attending the Family Dinner Out on today, Sunday, Feb. 27th at Fosters Grille, Ben & Jerry's and TeaDM on Maple Ave. through most of the day! Be sure you say "Kilmer MS" when you order yummy food!
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