Spring Hill ES Panther Press


A Note from Principal Eck


Dear Families,

     This week, our students celebrated Read Across America Week with dedicated read-ins with their classmates and special guest readers,

     Today was a wonderful professional development day. Staff discussed and trained in Cultural Proficiency, focusing on various pieces of data used to make learning meaningful for students. Teachers also had time to meet and plan their next units of studies.

     As you know, last fall, FCPS received $188.8 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding. These funds have helped us safely reopen our schools and keep them open. We have also been able to address the impacts of COVID-19 on students. Visit the ESSER III webpage for more information.

      Some of the ways that we have used the ESSER III funding provided to Spring Hill include the following:

  • Providing before and after school math, reading and SEL interventions 
  • Providing during the school day reading and math interventions for identified students
  • Providing during the day SEL opportunities
  • Providing school-based leadership training for team leads
  • Providing specialized reading instruction training for teachers
  • Providing MTSS training for staff
  • Purchasing research-based curriculum to support the social and emotional learning
  • Purchasing additional reading instructional supplies
  • Planning for professional development for teachers for the upcoming school year

     The staff at Spring Hill is committed to the success to every student. If you have questions regarding interventions, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher.

     Last, Spring Hill will participate in Virginia’s Statewide Tornado Drill on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Teachers will prepare their students ahead of time so they know what to expect.

     Have a wonderful weekend!


American Heart Association

Kid's Heart Challenge Fun Run

This year we are inviting our Panther families to come and join us for an American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge Fun Run on March 11th.  As a Kids Heart Challenge Heart Hero, your student will help raise funds for the health of all hearts and become a heart hero! On Friday, March 11th, for PE class, we will be taking he students outside for a lap challenge. Students that sign up will be challenged to run as many laps as they can around the track within the PE time allowed.

Parents, we are asking you to sponsor your child and make a donation amount per lap or a one-time donation. More importantly, we are asking the Spring Hill parents to come join us outside by the track in the back of the school and cheer on all the students participating in the KHC run! The schedule is as follows:

Grades 4-6: 11-12pm

Grades K-3: 2-3pm

Join today! Not only will you be helping fight heart disease and stroke (the No. 1 and No. 2 killers worldwide), but participants can earn fun thank-you gifts AND earn PE equipment for their school!

We are looking forward to seeing our community come together for this event! Parents do not need to check in the main office if they are coming around the outside of the building.

You can click on this link to go directly to our schools Kids Heart Challenge page: http://www2.heart.org/goto/springhill

 


Testing Updates

SEL Screener (K-6 students)

The spring SEL screener testing window will open on April 12th and run through May 6th. If you prefer your child not participate in the SEL screener, please fill out the opt-out form located here(https://www.fcps.edu/node/43941).  Parents that already submitted an opt-out form do not need to submit a new opt-out form.

Teachers set the specific dates for testing in their classes. If you do not want your student to take part in the SEL screener, please return the opt-out form to your child’s teacher.

More information, including a short video about the SEL screener in FCPS and the screener questions, can be found on the SEL Screener webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/43892). Please contact Amy Briggs (arbriggs@fcps.edu) , assistant principal, with any questions or concerns.

 


Positivity Project

Next Week’s Positivity Trait is Social Intelligence.  People with Social Intelligence are able to understand and empathize with the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors of other people.

To learn more about the Positivity Project click here.


Cafeteria Volunteers (1st - 6th Grade Parents)

If you would like to volunteer during lunch, please use this link to sign up. We have 2 slots per lunch session. 


Nominate a Spring Hill Staff Member for FCPS Cares!

FCPS Cares

The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Spring Hill.


A Message from PTO


Volunteer for Fun Fair and get FREE tickets!

Fun Fair is just around the corner (March 19th!!) and we need your help! Every adult volunteer that signs up by end-of-day TODAY (March 4th) will receive 15 FREE Fun Fair tickets.  

Volunteers are needed for two hour shifts throughout the day to manage games, collect tickets and celebrate with our winners. Find a buddy, recruit family and friends, and volunteer to work a shift together to maximize the fun! Visit our Guide to Fun Fair page to learn more about the various games and activities.

Volunteering is not only critical to the success of the event, but a great way to get more involved and meet your fellow Spring Hill families. Please SIGN UP for a volunteer shift (or two!) and don't forget to PURCHASE TICKETS!

 

Middle and High School Volunteers are also a big part of Fun Fair. If you have a student who needs service hours, or just wants to come back to experience the FUN of Fun Fair, sign up to be a student volunteer.

 

Over $25,000 raised through Bids for Kids!

THANK YOU to our Spring Hill community for your participation in and generous donations toward our annual Bids for Kids fundraiser. Through our online auction and Bingo night, we raised over $25,000!!! The proceeds will benefit Spring Hill Elementary through appropriations towards technology upgrades, educational enhancements, field trips, cultural arts events, teacher


Parent Resources


Register Now for the FCPS Virtual Special Education Conference on March 26

FCPS’s 17th Annual Special Education Conference will be held virtually on Saturday, March 26, with a combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (recorded) sessions supporting the conference's theme: Bringing our Inclusive Community Together: Affirming, Assessing, Advancing. Welcoming ceremonies, guest speakers, FCPS presentations, and an exhibit hall are included. Registration for this free conference is now open online.

  • Parents and community members will be able to register online.
  • FCPS educators, administrators, and preservice teachers will be able to register online and earn recertification points for attending the conference.
  • Individuals needing foreign language interpretation (Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, and Korean), American Sign Language (ASL), or Cued Language Transliterator (CLT) interpreters for the live sessions may request this on the registration form. 

For questions please contact specialedconf@fcps.edu. 

Visit the Special Education Conference webpage for more information and to register


immunization clinic

Safe Community Coalition Book Talk

In anticipation of best-selling author Julie Lythcott-Haims’ April visit to McLean to present the talk, “Throw out the Checklisted Childhood: Tips and Strategies for Raising Successful Kids,” McLean psychologists Heather Tedesco, PhD, and Melissa Sporn, PhD, will host a virtual parent book club on Julie’s most-acclaimed book, How to Raise an Adult on Friday, March 18, at noon. Dr. Tedesco and Dr. Sporn will share their thoughts on the aspects of the book that are especially relevant to families in our area. 

Find the Zoom link on our website just prior to the event.


Important Dates

March 31 - End of Third Quarter - 2 hour Early Release

Kindergarten Orientation - 2:00 - 3:00 PM

April 1 - No School-Teacher Workday

April 4-8 - No School- Spring Break