| MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! |
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DEC 19
DEC 24 -31
WINTER BREAK - No school
JAN 1
Happy New Year! - No school
JAN 2
GRACE Volunteer/Docent Meeting
JAN 2
Exec Board Meeting
JAN 9
PTA MEETING
JAN 14
Science Fair
JAN 17
Choral Concert 5th/6th
JAN 21
MLK Day - No School
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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December 18, 2007 |
| Check www.freedomhillpta.org often to stay up to date. No more paper flyers!
Have an enjoyable winter break and a very happy new year. See you in 2008! |
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
It's hard to believe that 2007 is rapidly coming to a close. I hope it was a good year for everyone. If you've been reading either the Washington Post or the local Vienna papers, you have seen the frightening articles about what's in store for Fairfax County Schools with the current projected budget deficit of nearly $100 million. Fairfax County Superintendent Jack Dale will propose a budget in mid-January that will have a serious impact on all FCPS, including Freedom Hill.
Your PTA can have a minimizing affect on these budget but we can't do that without EVERYONE'S support. It's never too late to make a tax-deductible charitable contribution to the PTA. If your contribution is made by December 31, you can deduct it on your 2007 tax return. As I disclosed last week, 75% (or 316 of approximately 430 families) haven't made any monetary contribution to the PTA this year. Freedom Hill needs your help to ensure that our kids receive the best possible education. Your children should be your number one priority. They certainly are ours. So once again, I am asking you to consider donating, at a minimum, the $50 per child suggested contribution. But if you are able, please consider contributing more.
We are working hard to raise funds other ways as well. Stacey Heller and Earling DeGraff have worked non-stop to increase the number of Freedom Hill families registered in the Giant and Safeway programs. To date we have earned over $1,200 from these two programs and plan to use this money to order one of the needed Smart Boards I discussed last week. (PTA newsletters are archived on the PTA website for you to read or review at your convenience). Thanks for all your hard work ladies!
A big thank you to Marjorie Polk and Margaret Walter for running our gift card fundraiser. Gift cards are available all year long and are a great way to help Freedom Hill earn money without spending extra money. We have purchased some extra AMC Movies, Chilis (Maggianos, On The Border, Macaroni Grill), Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, Panera and Claire's in case you've forgotten anyone on your list (or for a treat for yourself).
And of course I would be remiss if I didn't mention the upcoming Spaghetti Dinner/Family Dance and Silent Auction/Raffle that is scheduled for March 7. We are hoping to top last year's proceeds of over $17,000, but of course this won't be possible without everyone's support. So please mark your calendars and get psyched for this event. This year's theme, beach party, will be a welcome reprieve from the lovely March weather we so often experience in Washington, D.C. Also, start thinking up what great item you can donate. The international dinners (last year we had three different ones: French, Indian and Italian) that were catered by Freedom Hill families were a huge success all around. If you have a skill (like scrape-booking, gardening) or connections (White House tours, lunches with celebrities) or tickets (theater, sporting events) you have valuable items to donate. Themed baskets are also appreciated. In addition, if you have connections in the business community please use them to help secure a donation for our auction. Finally, don't forget to get involved. Please contact Kris Delta if you would be willing to serve on one of our auction committees: Teacher Donations, Food, Decorations, Donations, Displays, Thank Yous.
The new classes that we started that are headed by our own wonderful teachers have been a great success. Several are going to offer second sessions. Digital Photography is going to expand to two sections: Digital Photography I (for students who have little photography experience) and Digital Photography II (for students that have completed Digital Photography I and would like to further their learning). Look for these classes to be registering soon. Several classes are already in the process of registering and will begin the second week of January: Broccoli the Clown is back to teach Clown Antics and Clay Café. As always, registering couldn't be easier. Just go to our website and clicking on Activities. You can register and pay online or print out the form and bring it to the school office.
Your PTA Board wishes everyone a happy and healthy holiday season. We are truly blessed at Freedom Hill to experience such a myriad of holiday celebrations and to learn from each other. But regardless of the holiday you celebrate, please consider opening your heart and wallet and giving to your most valuable asset - your children - and their most valuable asset - their education.
PTA President | |
Freedom Hill's Second Annual Science Fair is January 14th!
Please register by December 19. A packet came home in your November 26th Tuesday folder.
The goal of this Science Fair is to have fun while learning science. In general cooperative projects with two (or more) people are encouraged. A big part of the Science Fair is sharing what you learn with your friends and family and you'll do a better job if you give yourself time to do each step thoroughly. The following is a guide for an experimental project, but you'll also find it useful for projects on scientific models, demonstrations, collections, observations, and inventions. This project is to be done outside of the classroom and is not part of any required curriculum. There should be no expectation of any class time dedicated to these projects. Have fun and enjoy!
The entry form and informational packet with plenty of age appropriate ideas can be found on the Science Fair page of our web site.
The science fair is open to students of all grades! There are numerous age appropriate projects, experiments, and presentations for your student. Don't think they can't handle it!
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CLOWN ANTICS Class is now registering!
Classes to start week of January 7th.
Seven Week Course Will Include:
ˇ Juggling ˇ Performing Magic ˇ Making Balloon Animals ˇ Improv ˇ Clown-Make Up
ˇ And much much more!
Monday class for 3rd-6th
Wednesday class for K-2nd
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Clay Cafe is coming in January! Registration is now 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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Volunteer News
Vounteer thanks. . .
...to Dorothy Brown and Rabab Seigle for organizing a great Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. ...to everyone who helped out or contributed to the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon: Lisa Leibow, Tammy Musgrove, Kira Merski, Anjali Anand, Gayle Greene, Angela Diamanti, Isabel Samad-Zadeh, Margaret Kerfoot, Dilkash Almed, Kris Delta, Dennis Alloy, Connie Thompson, Steve Trauman, Cheryl Elder, Rhonda Ebert, Marjorie Polk, Meredith Peterson, Lisa Hoskins, J. Oestreicher, Francoise Campbell, Lynn Alloy, Tina Bell, Madhu Mittal, Zhen Brayman, Ciaran Lusick, Diane Gurdak, Margaret Walter, Eunsoo Ra, Sanaz Arshadi Mesforush, Debbie Bradley, and Carrie Monts. Volunteers NeededVolunteers are needed on Tuesday mornings to help copy the newsletter. There are approximately 100 families who require paper copies of the newsletter. Volunteers will copy, colate and distribute the newsletters into the appropriate teacher's mailbox. Whether you're available every Tuesday or just one Tuesday, we could use your help! Please contact Kris Delta at kndelta@yahoo.com if you're interested. |
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. |
| THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFULLY SUPPORTIVE STAFF
The PTA is proud to report that we have 100% PTA membership from our kindergarten through sixth grade teachers!!!! In addition another 33 staff members have shown their support to our PTA by becoming members. A huge thanks to all who've joined.
Your support means the world to us.
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 Final Box Tops Contest of 2007 is ending soon!!
Don't just do it for the contest, do it for your school!!
The Box Tops contest is ending this week! Ms. Moser's sixth graders remain in the lead with 301 Box Tops. Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Walker's first graders are in second place with 271 Box Tops, and Mrs. Platt's first graders are in third place with 142 Box Tops. In addition, Mrs. Blake's fifth graders, Ms. Davis' second graders and Mr. Snell's sixth graders have turned in over 100 Box Tops. A number of other classes have turned in close to 100 Box Tops. The class that turns in the most Box Tops by December 20 will win a sno-cone party and every class that turns in at least 100 Box Tops by that date will win toosie roll pops, so please don't forget to send in your Box Tops! They really do add up!
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NEWS YOU CAN USE . . .
Education news items for our community.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 31 - Chess Tournament!
No membership in any club required, open to students K-12. See the chess club page for details. Pizza party afterwards and free t-shirts!
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GRACE ART Volunteer Meeting is On January 2 - Don't Forget!
Be sure to mark your calendars.
January brings early sculpture from the Americas to the classroom. We will be presenting sculpture from Intuit, Incas, Mayans and more. Look for your child's project along with a note for the parents describing what we presented. |
The 6th Grade is having a fundraiser at Silver Diner in February.
Please help the 6th grade raise money for their year end celebrations and their class gift to the school!
The 6th grade fundraiser has been scheduled for February 27th from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at Silver Diner on International Drive in Tysons.
Mark your calendars and see you there! |
STUDENT DIRECTORIES ARE STILL AVAILABLE
If you've joined the PTA and paid your membership dues, you should have received your copy of the 2007-08 Freedom Hill Student Directory by now. If you have not received yours, please contact Lynn Alloy and we'll make sure to get a directory sent home to you as soon as possible. If you have not joined the PTA, but would like a copy of the Student Directory, you can order it online at our PTA website for $10. Even better, join the PTA for $10, show support to your children's school and get a free copy of the Student Directory.
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WE NOW HAVE A SINGLE FORM AVAILABLE ONLINE!
- Join the PTA
- Directory Information
- Giant/Safeway Card #'s
- Make a Donation
- Tell us your volunteer interests.
We are making it as easy as we can. Check out our membership page where you can do all these things on one form with just a few clicks of your mouse!
Our goal is 100% PTA membership, $20,000 in donations in lieu of our Fall fundraiser, and getting everyone's Giant/safeway cards registered to benefit Freedom Hill.
Faculty & Staff: Support us for supporting you!
Remember, we are going paperless this year. Your email address is crucial for communicating what is happening at Freedom Hill. Please pass the word!
Thanks for helping us meet our goals and for helping us keep Freedom Hill the gem it is. |
Your Grocery Cards are Adding Up!
Please read below about registration problems.
Designation information for Giant and Safeway:
- Safeway - http://www.escrip.com - Freedom Hill ID #6505730
- Giant - https://www.giantfood.com/aplus/
Freedom Hill ID #02120
Please visit Giant on-line at http://www.giantfood.com/aplus/pin_aplus.htm.
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW your 12-Digit BonusCard number, you will need to call the
BonusCard hotline at: 1-877-366-2668 and they can register you or, email Stacey or
Earling and they can register you.
Giant has had some computer problems and many cards that were originally designated have dropped out of the system. Please be sure your Giant receipt says:
A+ Bonus Bucks
Points earned during this visit xx
Current Total for this Purchase xx
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 . . . see this flyer. |
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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