FH Weekly Update - 5/27/24


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Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you are well! What an exciting time it is as we move into the final two and a half weeks of the 23-24 school year. Our students continue to enjoy some amazing field trips (especially our PreK students pictured above at Frying Pan Park!), finish their SOL testing, and plan for end-of-year celebrations. We have also seen our community gearing up for next year. New Patrols are being trained and initiated, our 6th grade News Crew is teaching the technology to younger students, our staff are diligently preparing the data needed for class placements for next year, and our PTA is recruiting new membership. Here are a few brief reminders for the week:

  • It is a week of parades! Our graduating Marshall High School seniors will be returning on Wednesday for their annual parade at Freedom Hill, which we expect to start between 2:45-3:00. On Friday, we are celebrating our annual Culture/Heritage Day with a student parade beginning at 10AM. Please see our PTA section below for signup information.
  • Field Day is June 7th and will be here before you know it. We are in need of parent volunteers. Please sign up here. As a reminder, the cafeteria will be closed for lunch as the PTA is buying pizza for all. 
  • Be sure to see the dates below for our end-of-year musical concerts, as well as our final PTA meeting of the year on June 5. With many contributing families currently in our 5th and 6th grades, we are eager to invite new families in our PTA organization who have an interest in supporting our school programs. 
  • It is a great time to print a copy of the 2024-25 FCPS Calendar! It will remain linked below in the "Upcoming Dates" section. 

Have a great week!

 

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal


Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

  • May 29 - Marshall HS Senior Walk, 2:45
  • May 31 - FH Culture/Heritage Parade, 10:00-10:30
  • June 4 - Year-End Band (6PM) and Strings (7PM) Concert
  • June 5 - Year-End Chorus Concert (6PM)
  • June 5 - PTA Meeting, 6:30PM (In-Person)
  • June 7 - Field Day
  • June 11 - 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony / Dance (Evening)
  • June 12 - Last Day of School (2 hour early release at 2:05)
  • June 18 - PTA Sprout School Supply Orders Due (See Below)

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar


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Spring Photos Are Now Online!

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For questions, please email: underclass@vosphoto.com


Health Room Notice

The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than 2:00 pm, student dismissal time, on the last day of school, June 12. Medication left in the health room after that time will be discarded. It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian. Medication cannot be sent home with your student.

Medication authorization forms for next school year may be obtained from the school or online at https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/school-health-services. A medication authorization form is required for any medication, prescription or over-the-counter, to be kept at school.


Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

Student attendance at school is important all year long, up to the last day of school. Attendance has an effect on student performance and on school accreditation. See how to:

  • Check your child’s attendance record.
  • Help your student stay engaged at school.
  • Report future absences.
  • Understand the FCPS school calendar.

Learn more about attendance resources

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Fairfax Summer Camp Opportunities

2024 Summer Parktakes:

The 2024 Summer Parktakes guides are available in the front office if you have any families who may be interested. Page 37 has all the Camps info. New this year is extended care for before and/or after camp.  This is a great option for working parents.

Here’s the summer Parktakes link.

 

RecPac Camps:

June 24-August 1 from 8:30am-4pm for grades 1-6 (students who have completed kindergarten through rising 7th grade and are residents of Fairfax County, Fairfax City and Falls Church. Children with disabilities may attend any location or select one of the lower ratio sites (specialized inclusion sites with staff trained to support children with disabilities). Students can register for one or more specific sessions. Fee is determined by a sliding scale based on your family’s total annual income. Students who are Fairfax County residents and currently receive public assistance are eligible for partial scholarships.  Please see the attached Recpac brochure with registration form in both English and Spanish.

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Student Testing Results Coming Soon

Later this month, you will begin receiving your child’s spring assessment results. If you aren’t sure what assessments your child took this year, view this list of tests by grade level on FCPS’ website. 

How the results are delivered depends on the test. Scores will be posted in SIS ParentVUE, or sent by mail or from the school or testing organization. Learn what to expect regarding assessment reporting practices and timelines

Visit FCPS’ website for additional information about student assessments, including what each assessment is testing for and how to interpret the test results. Caregivers should contact their children’s teacher with any testing questions. 


Hill Happenings

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PTA Updates

THIS FRIDAY - CULTURE/HERITAGE DAY

This Friday, May 31st is the annual Freedom Hill Culture/Heritage Day (formerly International Day) parade where students showcase their culture and heritage. This is an optional event for all students. All student participants should arrive on-time to school, and then they will gather in the cafeteria at 9:30AM, with the parade beginning at 10AM and lasting approximately 30 minutes as the participants walk the halls of the school dressed in their culture/heritage attire and carrying flags as fellow students observe the parade by their classrooms. Sign up your student(s) here and also consider signing up to help organize the student(s) or clean-up afterward. Reach out to Smriti with any questions at choudharysmriti@gmail.com.

 

JOIN A PTA COMMITTEE FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

The PTA relies on committee volunteers to plan events throughout the year. Please consider joining a committee - it’s a great way to build relationships within the FHES community.  And the best part?  No experience is necessary - we will train you! 

Thank you to those who have already volunteered, including those who are jumping into this year’s field day! There’s still time and room for additional volunteers. Check out the list: Kindergarten playdates, Marquee sign, Tears & Cheers, Spiritwear, Teacher Appreciation, and the Back to School picnic. If interested, complete this online form, or look for a flier to come home with your student and return the completed form by Friday, May 31st. Send any questions to info@freedomhillpta.org.

 

LAST PTA MEETING - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5th

Save the date for the last PTA meeting of the school year. Lots of exciting items on the agenda - voting in the new Board members, recognizing the recipients of the Harriette Best award, celebrating departing staff and more! This is an in-person event to be held in the FHES library at 6:30PM, immediately following the chorus concert. Light refreshments will be served.

 

FIELD DAY TREATS - FRIDAY, JUNE 7th

The PTA is providing treats and pizza to all students during Field Day. There will be Fla-Vor-Ice brand freeze pops during the field day activities, followed by lunch and dessert of Domino’s pizza and Giant store-brand vanilla/chocolate ice cream cups. The cafeteria will be open for breakfast but closed for lunch. Families are asked to pack an alternative for lunch if they would like to decline the PTA lunch. 

 

ORDER SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2024-2025

For your convenience, the PTA partnered with Sprout School Supplies for the upcoming year. Sprout offers prepackaged school supply kits customized to match the Freedom Hill grade-specific classroom lists.  Supply kits are delivered directly to school prior to the 1st day. Make back-to-school easier than ever and order your school supply kit now through June 18th at sproutsupplies.com with our School Code FHES001.


Marshall Pyramid