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August 16th, 2024
Good Afternoon Flint Hill Families,
It was wonderful to see so many excited students and families return to Flint Hill today for Open House! We look forward to welcoming everyone again on Monday for the first day of school! Please see important information below about arrival and dismissal procedures and kindergarten first day information.
We need your help! On Saturday, we will have our first courtyard clean-up day to prepare our gardens for a new year of outdoor learning. Come to FHES (door 3) between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm on Saturday, August 17th to lend a hand. Popsicles will be provided and attendees will get a new FHES sticker that celebrates Flint Hill and our beloved courtyard chickens!
If you have not yet completed the 3-hour early release survey, please see the link in the message below. We want to have a response for all families so that we can plan appropriately for these upcoming days.
Welcome back Falcons!
Kindly,
Mr. Montaquila, Principal
Mr. Baker, Assistant Principal
We are excited to welcome our newest Falcons on Monday, August 19th
Arrival:
To begin building routines and expectations for students, we are asking that families who wish to walk their kindergarten students to school please be prepared to complete drop-off and photos at our playground entrance at door 8 and not go to their child’s classroom door. Kindergarten instructional assistants and Flint Hill staff will be available to help escort students on the short walk to their classrooms.
While we know that sending students off on their first day of school can be exciting and emotional, beginning from day one by establishing independence, routines and expectations will help all kindergarten students gain the skills they need to succeed in their new school. Also, on this big day, we want all our kindergarten teachers, instructional assistants and staff to be able to focus on greeting and welcoming students. Our kindergarten team is looking forward to welcoming parents into classrooms in many volunteer opportunities and back-to-school night in the many weeks to come.
Dismissal:
Please be sure that if your kindergarten student rides the bus, they must be met by their parent or an approved emergency contact at their bus stop. Bus drivers will not release kindergarten students to siblings or unauthorized adults. If a kindergarten student does not have someone to meet them at their bus stop, the driver will return the student to Flint Hill ES and our office staff will contact you to pick up your student from school.
Kindergarten students who are walkers must be met and will only be released to a parent or authorized adult. Siblings and other students are not allowed to receive or supervise a kindergarten student for dismissal.
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Please use the routes and locations marked below for arrival and dismissal.
Students should arrive at school no earlier than 8:35 am to ensure their safety and supervision. At 8:45 am, our first bell rings; students should be in their classroom when the second bell rings at 8:50 am.
We begin our dismissal process at 3:30 pm and all students are on their way home no later than 3:35 pm. Crossing guards will be located at the corners of Flint Hill Rd/Vale Rd. as well as on Flint Hill Road near the SACC entrance.
Parents who wish to pick up their children by car should use the Kiss and Ride lane (marked with purple arrows) that is located on the curb by the parking lot entrance near the gym.
Join us on Saturday morning from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm to help get the FHES courtyard ready for another year of outdoor learning!
The Early Release Mondays planned throughout the school year for elementary schools are essential to allow educators time for planning and professional development. Students will be dismissed 3 hours early seven times throughout the school year and are encouraged to return home via their normal route. However, we understand there may be a childcare hardship because of the early release Mondays for many of our families. To resolve these concerns, student supervision will be available for families who need it.
The following dates are planned for Early Release Mondays throughout the school year:
- September 23
- October 28
- November 25
- February 24
- March 17
- April 28
- May 19
To help plan for our school’s childcare needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/bhnZLEpuQnctV1Jg7 for each of your children who are enrolled at Flint Hill Elementary. The form covers the first two early release Mondays, scheduled for September 23, 2024 and October 28, 2024. If you have multiple children, you will need to submit multiple forms. Staff will confirm the after school supervision plan for each student.
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- August 17th - Courtyard Clean-Up 8 am - Noon
- August 19th - First day of school!
- August 30th - September 2nd - Labor Day Break - School Closed
- September 10th - Back to School Night - 5:30 - 7:00 pm
- September 23rd - 3 Hour Early Release at 12:35 pm
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Fairfax County Public Schools wants all parents and caregivers to understand its policies regarding surveys, records, curriculum, privacy, and related rights.
In its Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms (Annual Notice), FCPS provides explanations of the rights listed above as well as forms that may be used to exercise opt-out choices. Two versions of the Annual Notice are available: a grades K-8 version and a grades 9-12 version. Parents/caregivers with children at different grade levels should read each applicable version of the Annual Notice, because the notices and opt-out rights vary depending on the student’s grade level.
Get more information and view the 2024-25 Opt-Out Booklets.
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Student consent forms on ParentVUE have been moved to the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC).
Families can log in to the PDC using their ParentVUE credentials to complete consent forms assigned to their child. School staff will have access to view consent status and edit consent with permission from the family.
Forms available in the PDC starting in the 2024-2025 school year include:
- School Counseling Opt-Out
- Digital Resources Consent
- SEL Screener Opt-Out
- Consent for Release of Student Records in Support of Postsecondary Applications
- Denial of Access to Military Recruiters
- Family Life Education Opt-Out
- SOL Retest Permission
- Hazel Health
- BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Opt-Out
- SOS Screener Opt-Out
- Objection to Release of Information to Outside Organizations
- Objection to Release of Directory Information to the Public
Student Online Verification/Update (OVU)
The 2024-25 Online Verification/Update (OVU) packet is available in ParentVUE. The OVU packet allows parents to electronically update phone numbers, emergency contacts, health conditions, and add new immunizations dates for their students via ParentVUE. Electronic capture of this data improves data quality and reduces staff workload when feasible. Please sign up for a ParentVUE account so that you can access student information directly and quickly. Instructions and detailed information can be found here.
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View our school supply lists here!
Flint Hill ES: Supply Lists 24-25
If you ordered a supply kit from the PTA, those supplies will be delivered to classrooms before the first day of school. The deadline to order supply kits from the PTA closed on June 25th.
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Good communication between home and school is vital to a successful school experience for each child. Questions relating to your child should be directed to the classroom teacher. All teachers have voice mail and an e-mail address. The school has a web page that links directly to each teacher’s e-mail.
Each year, FCPS produces a Handbook for its FCPS families. It contains valuable information you may need throughout the year, including calendars, services, and special programs, the instructional program, and information about starting school. Flint Hill Elementary has produced a handbook that includes some additional notes that are important for our school community.
Flint Hill Elementary Family Handbook
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All multilingual learners and their families are invited to attend a summit on Thursday, August 8, 2024 from 5-8:30 p.m. at Annandale High School. The summit will be primarily geared for secondary multilingual learners, but all are welcome to attend. The goal of the summit is to foster an environment of empowerment where multilingual students and their families can establish meaningful connections, engage in active listening, and openly share their experiences, cultivating mutual support and a deeper understanding of educational pathways within FCPS.
This event will begin with a table fair showcasing many opportunities available within FCPS and the wider community that support paths to graduation and future careers for students. Additionally, a keynote will be presented by Dr. Jose Luis Zelaya who will share a message about the power of community and resilience. A student panel will dialogue with Dr. Zelaya following the keynote.
Refreshments and light food will be served. Language and childcare services will be available. All secondary level multilingual learners have been invited centrally from FCPS via email. Registration is open for students, families, or staff planning to attend.
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Support Your Child’s Success
Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child.
Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
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Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications Available
According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals receive breakfast and lunch at school at no cost.
Families in FCPS that are earning less than 185% of the poverty level can receive meals for their students at no cost. Families should complete the application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits.
Apply on the Free and Reduced-Price Meals webpage.
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Are Your Child’s Immunizations and Records Up to Date?
In Virginia, it's required by law for students to have certain immunizations to attend school. This is supported by guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Virginia Department of Health, and FCPS Regulation 2101.
Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.
You can check your child’s immunization compliance by accessing ParentVUE.
Families of students with incomplete immunization records need to provide acceptable proof of immunization to their child's school as soon as possible. You can find the list of required immunizations on the General Registration Immunizations webpage.
If your child’s immunizations are incomplete, here's what you need to do:
- Get your child’s immunization record from one of these places:
- Request immunization records for free through the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS).
- If your child was immunized outside Virginia, get records from those states’ systems.
- Request records from your healthcare provider. Some may charge for copies.
Submit your child’s immunization record to your child’s school.
Families should submit their child’s completed immunization records before September 30.
Please visit FCPS’ website for more information. If you would like to speak with an FCPS staff member, please leave a message at one of the phone numbers below. Thank you for supporting our students' health and well-being.
You may wish to read FCPS messages in a language other than English. There are several ways you can receive or view our communications in a different language.
FCPS This Week is distributed in other languages to parents/guardians who have filled out the Home Language Survey form and selected a language supported by FCPS as their preferred language for communication. Home Language Survey forms are available in the following languages: Amharic | Arabic (العربية) | Chinese (中文) | Farsi (فارسی) | Korean (한국어) | Spanish (español) | Urdu (اردو) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt).
Learn more about other communications that are translated.
Paperless Opt-Outs Available!
As a part of our ongoing efforts to streamline paper processes, parents can now select a number of opt-out’s electronically via ParentVUE. Once you have signed into your ParentVUE account, simply select the “Student Info” tab and click on “Edit Information.” You will find opt-out’s listed there. Parents that do not yet have a ParentVUE account will still be able to use paper forms for notification. If you need to set up your ParentVUE account, you can create one online via the FCPS ParentVUE Registration page.
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