| MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! |
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JAN 9
PTA MEETING 7:15 pm
JAN 14
Science Fair 6:30-8 pm
JAN 17
Choral Concert 5th/6th
JAN 21
MLK Day - No School
JAN 23
Family Dinner OUt at Chuck E Cheese.
JAN 25 & 28
No School
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| The Freedom Hill PTA |
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1945 Lord Fairfax Road
Vienna, Virginia 22182
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An Eagle Email!
The PREFERRED Way to Communicate!
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Januray 8, 2008 |
| Check www.freedomhillpta.org often to stay up to date. No more paper flyers! |
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Welcome back again! I'm assuming everyone had a great holiday break. Wasn't it nice to have a short week to get us back into the swing of things? We're still trying to catch up on things like laundry and sleep, etc., but we're already feeling the energy that comes with a new beginning. Freedom Hill is in store for many changes in the upcoming year and we all need to get jazzed up for that.
So your PTA decided we should kick off the New Year in a big way. I'm pleased and excited to announce that the PTA has purchased EIGHT new Smart Boards for Freedom Hill! They should be arriving in just a few weeks. Each grade level will now have at least two Smart Boards to share among their classes. I know from the teachers that the Smart Boards are a wonderful, interactive hands-on, minds-on technology tool. We have also asked each grade level for wish list items and hope to get all requested items ordered in the next couple of weeks.
This was all made possible by our 283 wonderful PTA members and donors who have contributed over $11,500 to date. In addition, thank you to the almost 300 families that have designated Freedom Hill to be the recipient of their Giant or Safeway Bonus Bucks Points. We used the $1,500 we've collected to date from these programs to pay for one of the EIGHT Smart Boards.
As we begin the second half of the school year, please don't forget that Freedom Hill needs your continued support. For those of you who have yet to join and/or contribute, it's NEVER too late. And, as we gear up for our big Spaghetti Dinner/Family Dance & Silent Auction/Raffle, think about where you can best lend your support. If you don't have the means to contribute, volunteer your time. If you don't have time to give away, be a donor, bidder or financial backer of the event. If our auction is as successful as it was last year we will ALL be big winners.
I hope to see many of you at Wednesday's night's PTA meeting. It begins at 7:15 p.m. with Kelly Ingalls, Freedom Hill's Public Health Nurse, providing tips on how to make it through winter without your children getting sick. She will also discuss some topics that have been very present in the news lately such as MRSA and meningitis and lice. Don't forget that Wildfire, a brand new restaurant in Tysons II, will be providing some fun fare for attendees to sample.
There are many new classes that have just begun (Clay Café and Clown Antics) as well as several more that are currently enrolling (Alicia McGuire's Story & Craft Hour, Amanda Rowell's Digital Photography I & II, Afterschool Basketball). Make sure you don't forget to enroll early. Look for online registration as well as more information about the classes at our fabulous PTA website.
Thanks and see you Wednesday.
PTA President | |
NEXT PTA MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9th at 7:15pm
Kelly Ingalls, our public health nurse, has agreed to speak at the January PTA meeting. She will discuss children's health issues such as how to keep your kids healthy, medications during school hours (etc.) lice, MRSA, etc...
The new restaurant in Tysons Galleria, Wildfire, will be providing some food for our meeting. What more could you ask for! We hope to see you there!
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Clay Cafe starts January11. Registration is still open.
Registration is now open for Friday afternoon classes for grades 1 thru 6 starting January 11th.
All the details about this extracurricular activity can be found on the Clay Cafe Page of our web site.
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After-School Hoops is starting soon! Registration is now open.
A great way to improve your game.
Join us for AFTER SCHOOL HOOPS at Freedom Hill Elementary for the Winter 2008 session. Skilled and experienced basketball instructors will conduct a one hour clinic each week right after school. These clinics will help you become a better basketball player through drills, contests, and team competition.
- $65 for 8 week class.
- 4th-6th is held on Wednesdays starting Jan 16
- K-3rd is held on Fridays starting Jan 18
- All the details with online registration and payment can be found on the Hoops page of our web site.
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Photography Classes now registering!
Both the Photo I (from the fall) and the advanced Photo II.
Our own Amanda Rowell is offering two photo classes starting in January. Please see our web site for all the details including online registration.
Story and Craft Hour is returning and registering now!
Alicia McGuire is again offering this after-school activity for K through 3rd graders. Please see our web site for all the details including online registration. |
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Volunteers Needed!
- Attention Jump Rope for Heart fans! Mrs Deeney is looking for someone to handle the collection and accounting of donations for the Jump Rope for Heart event to be held on February 15th.
- We are looking for someone to assist Margaret Walter with the Spring Gift Card sale, and handle the two sales in the 2008-2009 school year.
- We are still in need of volunteers to help copy the school newsletter. We'd be happy to work with 8th graders in need of community service hours.
- We are always looking for help with the upcoming dinner/dance/auction.
Please contact Kris Delta at kndelta@yahoo.com if you're interested. |
Plan on coming to the Freedom Hill Science Fair on Monday January 14.
Support our hard working students.
The second annual Freedom Hill Science Fair is this Monday, January 14th 6:30-8:00 pm. Please come out and support our students' hard work in participating in this extra-curricular event.
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SAVE THE DATE - SPAGHETTI DINNER/FAMILY DANCE & SILENT AUCTION/RAFFLE - MARCH 7
The much anticipated event of the year - our Third Annual Spaghetti Dinner/Family Dance with Silent Auction and Raffle - is scheduled for March 7. Please mark your calendars. In order for the event to be a success we never EVERYONE'S participation. We need families to donate items, attend the dinner/dance, and bid on items and purchase raffle tickets. Please start thinking now about what you can contribute. Don't think you have anything to donate??? You're crazy. Everyone has something they can contribute you just don't know what it is yet. Our PTA website has some great donation ideas . . . many of which are inexpensive others you could get together with your neighbors to do. We have both personal and business donation forms on our website as well. Again, to be successful, we need everyone to participate.
We are also looking for some volunteers to be part of our working committees: Teacher Donations; Food; Decorations, Donations, Displays and Thank Yous. If you are interested in helping out please contact Kris Delta at kndelta@yahoo.com. I know this is a busy time of year, but volunteering now won't require work on your part until after the new year.
Believe it or not!!
TABLES FOR AUCTION NEEDED
The past two years we have used approximately 30 extra 6 foot tables to display all the wonderful auction donations. For the past two years we have been able to reserve tables through Fairfax County Public Schools free of charge. This year, oddly, all FCPS extra tables are reserved for March 7. We have a quote for over $350 which includes delivery and pick up of the 30 tables. We hate to spend hard-earned, desperately needed auction dollars on table rentals. If you have any contacts that could provide us with free table rentals for March 7 we would ask that you use them for Freedom Hill's benefit. Please contact Kris Delta or Dianne Gurdak if you have any leads or for further information. |
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR JANUARY 23rd FOR OUR NEXT FAMILY DINNER OUT!
A fun time to spend with friend and family!
Meet us on Wednesday, January 23rd at Chuck E. Cheese in Fairfax for a fun evening with family and friends. It is not as crazy as you think! It is actually quite civilized in the middle of the week (not like those birthday party saturdays!). Let your kids run wild while catching up with the adults.
See you there!
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Community Corner
A place for our membership to make community announcments, needs, offers etc. Send anything you would like posted to newsletter@freedomhillpta.org.
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CALLING ALL KINDERGARTENERS AND 1ST GRADERS!!
There will be a Parent Interest Meeting on Wednesday, January 16 at 7:15 p.m. at the library at Freedom Hill School for families interested in signing up their daughters for Daisy Girl Scouts. This meeting is targeted for families whose daughters are in Kindergarten or First Grade only. For more info, please call Carey Monts at (703) 448-7531 or send your questions via e-mail at WLMCSM@cox.net.
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Mad Science News
Due to space constraints we will be unable to hold another Mad Science session in February/March. If space permits, we will bring Mad Science back for April and May.
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GRACE ART presents art of the Americas.
January brings early sculpture from the Americas to the classroom. We will be presenting sculpture from Inuit, Incas, Mayans and more. Look for your child's project along with a note for the parents describing what we presented. |
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Your Grocery Cards are Adding Up!
If you still have not registered your Giant and Safeway cards, please send your card information to Earling or Stacy and they can do it for you.
IF YOU DO NOT SEE THE A+ BONUS BUCKS TOTALS AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR GIANT RECEIPT, THEN YOUR PURCHASES ARE NOT HELPING OUR SCHOOL!
If you have any questions or need assistance please contact:
Earling DeGraff earling@juno.com (703) 242-6304 or
Stacey Heller at StaceyHeller@aol.com (703) 917-1640
THIS IS MONEY THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL FOR THEIR USE WHERE IT IS NEEDED MOST! IT COSTS YOU NOTHING TO SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL THROUGH YOUR EVERYDAY SHOPPING. BE SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED! WE SHOULD HAVE 100% PARTICIPATION.
DON'T FORGET TO LOOK FOR EXTRA CREDIT BONUS BUCKS AVAILABLE ON CERTAIN ITEMS AT GIANT. FOR A LISTING AND MORE INFORMATION . . .
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There are a few remaining gift cards still available from our last gift card sale.
2x$25 AMC Theatre
3x$25 Chili's
3x$25 Starbucks
2x$25 Barnes & Noble
If you're shopping at Giant or using Peapod.com, why not pay using Giant Gift Cards?
The PTA tries to sponsor fundraisers that don't cost you additional money or time. We purchase Giant gift cards at a discount and sell them to you at face value. It's a great way for you to support the school while you're shopping and for us to make money without a lot of effort.
Why not always have a Giant gift card in your wallet, even for those quick trips in for a couple of items? We normally buy gift cards in $100 and $300 denominations, but they're also available in $10, $20, $25 and $50 denominations.
Contact Margaret Walter at 703-356-5786 or margaretwalter2002@yahoo.com with questions or to place an order; she'll deliver the cards to you. |
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About The Freedom Hill PTA
Who We Are:
WE ARE COMMITTED PARENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF OF FREEDOM HILL THAT WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE THE VOICE OF THE STUDENTS TO THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.
What We Do:
WE PROVIDE THE STUDENTS MEANINGFUL PROGRAMS, CULTURAL EXPERIENCES, AND FUN SOCIAL EVENTS. WE ENCOURAGE THE INVOLVMENT OF PARENTS IN THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN. WE SUPPORT THE SCHOOL BY PURCHASING NEEDED ITEMS SUCH AS COMPUTERS, BOOKS, AND OTHER EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS SUBSIDIZE COSTS SUCH AS FIELD TRIPS AND TEACHER TRAINING BEYOND WHAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES.
How We Do It:
WE INVOLVE THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS BY ASKING THEM TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO ENHANCE THE STUDENTS' EXPERIENCE AT FREEDOM HILL. WE ORGANIZE A PRODUCTIVE BOARD TO STEER US TOWARD OUR GOALS. WE RAISE MONEY TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS THROUGH FUNDRAISERS, CHARITABLE PROMOTIONS, AND BY THE GENEROUS DONATIONS OF THE MEMBERSHIP.
The Mission of the National PTA is Three-fold:
To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in schools, in the community and before governmental agencies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children; and
To assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children; and
To encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of this nation. | |
