FCPS

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Dear Spring Hill families,

Our week started with an inspirational student speaker, Omar Zaki, a former FCPS student of our very own Mr. Worthington! Students were inspired to never give up, believe in oneself, and follow their passions.

A wonderful musical celebration followed throughout the week with our 4th-6th grade orchestra students performing holiday music and some of our chorus students were given the opportunity to perform at our Region 1 Principal meeting. It was an honor to be chosen and I couldn't be more proud of all our musicians.

We finished our week with a visit from the Saltville Elementary School Principal, Mitzie Frye. We presented Mrs. Frye with over 200 sweatshirts that we collected over the month. This was an incredible opportunity for our students to give to others in need and come together as a community to make a difference.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and restful winter break. Whether celebrating a holiday or taking time to be with family, may you enjoy. 

 

Sincerely,

Amy Briggs

 

Windows into our world

We are so excited for our school-wide holiday Windows display! This is an exciting celebration of all the diversity Spring Hill represents and varied holidays that our Spring Hill families celebrate throughout the year!  This school-wide celebration of celebrations began with a read-aloud of Windows by Julia Denos, which highlights the incredible and beautiful diversity of a community as observed by a little boy taking an evening stroll through his neighborhood.  Each student created their own window into their family’s rich culture, highlighting a holiday celebrated in their home, and each class’s windows was collected into a single building.  The SHES hallways are filled with buildings that feature each and every one of us and the holidays that are near and dear to our hearts. What a special way to head into Winter Break!

Calendar Reminders

 

Dec. 23-Jan. 3   Winter Break

Jan. 8-Feb. 7     iReady Testing Window 

Jan. 10               PTO meeting, 9am

Jan. 13               Picture Make-Up day

Jan. 17               4th Grade Field Trip (African American History Museum)

Jan. 20               Martin Luther King holiday (no school)

Jan. 21               Cooper MS Field Trip

2024-25 FCPS    School Calendar

Spring Hill Office Closed

📅 The front office and school will be closed from December 23rd - January 3rd. Students and staff will return on January 6, 2024.

WINTER BREAK RESOURCES

⛄⛄⛄ Fairfax County Public Schools has compiled a list of resources for students and families in case they need assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources webpage for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs. 

 

Winter Break (Student Holiday)

As a reminder, winter break will be held Monday, December 23, to Friday, January 3. To help make sure you and your children have a restful break, we have asked that no homework be assigned during this time. Teachers may assign long-range assignments in the weeks ahead of the break, allowing students to practice time management skills, but no assignments will be due immediately following the break. We look forward to welcoming students back in the new year.

Classes resume on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. See the complete school year calendar.

Congratulations to SHES Employees

Spring Hill ES thanks all families who nominated our outstanding staff members as part of the annual FCPS Employee Awards process. We had many nominations across four categories!  We also would like to recognize all of our Outstanding Nominees! 

We know every one of our staff members are outstanding and when our community takes a few minutes to recognize them and thank them for their work, it solidifies that the Spring Hill community of students, staff and families is the best!

Our school winners are listed below and will move forward to Langley Pyramid competition and hopefully Region 1!

Outstanding New Teacher (Less than 3 Years Experience):

Ms. Aflaki- 4th Grade

Outstanding Teacher:

Ms. Mavity-4th Grade

Outstanding Professional Employee:

Ms. Strandlund-Resource Teacher

Outstanding New Principal (Less than 3 Years Experience):

Ms. Amy Briggs - Principal

Our School nominees include:

Congratulations to Dan Segal, Alison Drew, Terri Peters, Illy Perotti, Elena Konstantin, Rachel Hoyt, Connie Rinker, Jen Petzold, and Nicole Swiers!!

FCPS News

• FCPS News In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
• • • Dual Language Immersion Lottery Registration
    • Be Among the First to Hear About Closings/Delays
    • Fall 2024 Sports Champions

Spring Hill is excited to announce two fun student events coming up in early 2025: 
The Spring Hill STEAM/Science Fair - March 26 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM
This event is open to all students.  More information will be handed out to students soon.

The Spring Hill Spelling Bee - Friday, February 7 at 2:15 PM
This event is open to students in Grades 4-6.  Students will be entered into the overall Spring Hill Spelling Bee based on the results of classroom spelling bees coordinated by each classroom teacher.  Stay tuned for more information!

A Message from the PTO A Message from the PTO

 PTO MEETING – Friday, January 10!

Please join us for the first PTO meeting of 2025 on Friday, January 10 at 9 AM in the Spring Hill Cafeteria!  We will be talking about the Bids for Kids online and live auction and the annual Fun Fair – two perennial favorites…so come, grab a coffee and a bite to eat and find out more!

 

>>CHECK OUT THESE FUN, EXCITING EVENTS COMING UP IN 2025!<<

 

BIDS FOR KIDS ONLINE AND LIVE AUCTION – FEBRUARY 17-22, 2025!

 

Bids for Kids annual online and live fundraising auctions are right around the corner! We can't wait to celebrate with you! 

 

The online auction will take place from Monday, February 17 - Saturday, February 22. Our adults-only Live Auction Party will be held on the evening of Saturday, February 22 at the VFW Post on Spring Hill Road. This year's theme is a Black and White Affair.

 

We are seeking volunteers to help secure donations, and plan and execute the event. We need your help! Please click here to sign up. 

Questions? Please email Anna and Marcy at [email protected]!

 

FUN FAIR 2025 PLANNING IS UNDERWAY!

 

Mark your calendars for March 15, 2025 when our school building will be transformed into a carnival, bringing our community together to support the school. This tradition includes games, raffles, face painting, prizes, cotton candy and so much more! Get involved in this highly-anticipated annual event! We need help organizing and preparing the activities and infrastructure that make this event so terrific. Please click here to view the list of volunteer opportunities and sign up to be part of the FUN! Check YES for any activity that you would like to learn more about. There's lots you can do to help - before, during and after Fun Fair on March 15th! 

 

Questions? Contact our Fun Fair Committee Co-Chairs, Kate Golden and Jodi Haug at [email protected].

 

SPRING HILL SPELLING BEE AND STEAM/SCIENCE FAIR SAVE THE DATES

 

Spring Hill is excited to announce two fun student events coming up in early 2025:  The Spring Hill STEAM/Science Fair - March 26 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM This event is open to all students.  More information will be handed out to students soon. The Spring Hill Spelling Bee - Friday, February 7 at 2:15 PM This event is open to students in Grades 4-6.  Students will be entered into the overall Spring Hill Spelling Bee based on the results of classroom spelling bees coordinated by each classroom teacher.  Stay tuned for more information!

  LOST & FOUND CORNER

 

The Lost and Found page of the PTO website is now updated with photos…If you haven’t yet, please take a few moments to scroll through the PDFs.  And…check back regularly since the photos will be updated periodically with new lost items!

Community Corner

SHES makes it to NAQT Middle School Nationals

We had a great NAQT middle School tournament on Dec 7, 2024! Details below:

https://www.naqt.com/stats/tournament/standings.jsp?tournament_id=16621

 

The SHES team ranked first and qualified for the middle school nationals to be held in Chicago on May 9-11, 2025. The SHES team represented by Mayan Ramanujan (5th grade) single-handedly outranked 7 other school teams of 4-7 students each from 5th to 8th grades and won first place for the SHES team. So, for the first time in history, SHES is now in the NAQT middle school nationals. For his brilliant performance, Mayan will also find a place in the NAQT individual/team hall of fame records.

📑Family Handbook

Please take some time to review our Parent Handbook. We wanted to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information in regards to the 2024-2025 school year. 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

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Dear Spring Hill families,

We hope your student is enjoying our spirit weeks! We are looking forward to a guest speaker on Monday on 'How to be Super'!

Congratulations to our Spring Hill Chorus.   Our chorus students applied their Portrait of a Graduate Skills and gave a fine performance.

6th graders focused on the POG skill of being goal-directed and resilient.  Learning a song and improving vocal technique is a goal. Much resilience is needed for meeting this long-term POG goal.

5th graders focused on the POG skill of being ethical and global citizens.  Being part of an ensemble involves respecting others in the group, including listening to each other and taking turns.  Learning and performing music from a variety of cultures is part of being a global citizen.  We are proud of our chorus students with their performances as well as with their application of our school-wide and county-wide Portrait of a Graduate skills.

Community Corner

We are so excited to announce we have received over 200 sweatshirts/ hoodies for Saltville Elementary School! Thank you so much for your donations! Your support means the world to our partner school.

 

Sincerely,

Amy Briggs

 

Calendar Reminders

 

Dec. 16              4th Grade Orchestra Concert, 6:30pm

Dec. 17              5th & 6th Grade Orchestra Concert, 6:30pm

Dec. 23-Jan. 3   Winter Break

Jan. 13               Picture Make-Up day

Jan. 17               4th Grade Field Trip (African American History Museum)

Jan. 20               Martin Luther King holiday (no school)

Jan. 21               Cooper MS Field Trip

2024-25 FCPS    School Calendar

Attendance Is Important Every Day!

The weeks surrounding winter break often include more empty seats in classrooms. Every hour of every school day is a unique opportunity for students to learn, connect, and grow. Let’s nurture a rock-solid attendance habit.

A big thank you to:

• 🌟 Students who show up daily and the parents/caregivers supporting them.
• 👩‍🏫 Teachers who create a welcoming environment for learning.
• 👨‍💼 Administrators who provide a safe and engaging place to grow.
• 👏 Bus drivers, support staff, and volunteers who help our learners. 

If you or your child need support, please contact a school counselor, social worker, or family liaison. 

If your child is not feeling well, please refer to our guidance on when to keep your child home.

Find more attendance resources.

 

 

Winter Break (Student Holiday)

As a reminder, winter break will be held Monday, December 23, to Friday, January 3. To help make sure you and your children have a restful break, we have asked that no homework be assigned during this time. Teachers may assign long-range assignments in the weeks ahead of the break, allowing students to practice time management skills, but no assignments will be due immediately following the break. We look forward to welcoming students back in the new year.

Classes resume on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. See the complete school year calendar.

FCPS News

• • FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
  • Course Selection for Middle and High School Students
  • Join Our Teacher Team!
  • Comprehensive Boundary Review Updates

  Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.  

Food Allergies: Form Required for Cafeteria

Starting School Year 2024-2025, the Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) implemented a standardized process for dietary accommodations to ensure the provision of safe and healthy food for our students. If your child will need a medical accommodation (food allergies, texture modifications, or other dietary needs) or a milk substitution in the cafeteria, this a reminder to submit your completed accommodation form if you have not already done so. This form only needs to be filled out once while your child is enrolled at FCPS.  The completed form should be sent to [email protected]. More information including the form can be found here: https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/food-and-nutrition/dietary-accommodations  If you have any questions, please contact FCPS Food and Nutrition Services at:  703-813-4800

Advanced Academics Referral Deadline

Please note that if you are looking to have your child considered for Full Time Advanced Academic Services, the referral is due December 15th. Any forms will need to be submitted directly to Mr. Solsberry, our Assistant Principal, via email at [email protected], Mrs. O'Connor is out on Maternity Leave and will not have access to emails. Our SHES AAP webpage also has helpful information and links to guide you through this process. If you are a parent of a student who is already receiving services and are looking to contact the Long Term Substitute, Carrie Reinders, you may reach her at [email protected]. I look forward to reconnecting with you in the Spring!

Spring Hill is excited to announce two fun student events coming up in early 2025: 
The Spring Hill STEAM/Science Fair - March 26 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM
This event is open to all students.  More information will be handed out to students soon.

The Spring Hill Spelling Bee - Friday, February 7 at 2:15 PM
This event is open to students in Grades 4-6.  Students will be entered into the overall Spring Hill Spelling Bee based on the results of classroom spelling bees coordinated by each classroom teacher.  Stay tuned for more information!

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, schools will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Need to Register for ParentVUE? 

Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. 

Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).

A Message from the PTO BINGO NIGHT IS OFFICIALLY ON! THANK YOU TO OUR NEW CO-CHAIRS!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  We are so grateful to Sophie Townend and Jackie Delaney for stepping up to co-chair Bingo Night for 2025 so that we don't have to cancel this fun community event! New Year! New Chairs! NEW DATE!

The date for Bingo Night this year is Thursday, April 10, 2025! Keep your eyes open for more information coming in the new year! What is Bingo Night? Our annual Bingo Night is a great time to gather with friends and family at Spring Hill, play Bingo, eat dinner, dance and win prizes!  And...you don't need to know how to play Bingo to enjoy the night - we will guide you through it all!

 

BIDS FOR KIDS ONLINE AND LIVE AUCTION – FEBRUARY 17-22, 2025!

 

Bids for Kids annual online and live fundraising auctions are right around the corner! We can't wait to celebrate with you! 

 

The online auction will take place from Monday, February 17 - Saturday, February 22. Our adults-only Live Auction Party will be held on the evening of Saturday, February 22 at the VFW Post on Spring Hill Road. This year's theme is a Black and White Affair.

 

We are seeking volunteers to help secure donations, and plan and execute the event. We need your help! Please click here to sign up. 

Questions? Please email Anna and Marcy at [email protected]!

  FUN FAIR 2025 PLANNING IS UNDERWAY!

 

Mark your calendars for March 15, 2025 when our school building will be transformed into a carnival, bringing our community together to support the school. This tradition includes games, raffles, face painting, prizes, cotton candy and so much more! Get involved in this highly-anticipated annual event! We need help organizing and preparing the activities and infrastructure that make this event so terrific. Please click here to view the list of volunteer opportunities and sign up to be part of the FUN! Check YES for any activity that you would like to learn more about. There's lots you can do to help - before, during and after Fun Fair on March 15th! 

 

Questions? Contact our Fun Fair Committee Co-Chairs, Kate Golden and Jodi Haug at [email protected].

 

SPRING HILL SPELLING BEE AND STEAM/SCIENCE FAIR SAVE THE DATES

 

Spring Hill is excited to announce two fun student events coming up in early 2025:  The Spring Hill STEAM/Science Fair - March 26 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM This event is open to all students.  More information will be handed out to students soon. The Spring Hill Spelling Bee - Friday, February 7 at 2:15 PM This event is open to students in Grades 4-6.  Students will be entered into the overall Spring Hill Spelling Bee based on the results of classroom spelling bees coordinated by each classroom teacher.  Stay tuned for more information!

 

LOST & FOUND CORNER

 

The Lost and Found page of the PTO website is now updated with photos…If you haven’t yet, please take a few moments to scroll through the PDFs.  And…check back regularly since the photos will be updated periodically with new lost items! Also, just a friendly reminder - items are only in Lost & Found if they don't have name tags in them! Consider purchasing Mabel's Labels to get your kid's mislaid items returned to them automatically. 

📑Family Handbook

Please take some time to review our Parent Handbook. We wanted to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information in regards to the 2024-2025 school year. 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Dear Spring Hill families,

As we wind down another busy week, we wanted to take a moment to highlight our second-grade students who dazzled us with their incredible performance! Their hard work and dedication truly shone through. We’re so proud of each and every one of them and thank our wonderful music teachers, Mrs. Harwood and Ms. McPhilamy for their hard work.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your continued support and partnership. We wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and good food.

Our next 3-hour early release Monday is December 9.  Look for an eNotify message on December 2nd.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Amy Briggs

 

Calendar Reminders

Nov. 23-Cooper Middle School is extending a free invitation for students to attend their upcoming production, Elsewhere on Saturday, 11/23 at 2:00 p.m. 

Nov. 27-29-Thanksgiving Holidays-No School

Dec. 5-First Grade Parent Coffee

Dec. 9-3-HR Early Release

Dec. 13-Band Air Force Field Trip

              Hoodie donation due date

Dec. 17-5th & 6th Grade Orchestra Concert, 6:30pm

Dec. 23-Jan. 3-Winter Break

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Attention all first-grade families!

You're invited to join us for a parents' coffee on Friday, December 5th at 8:30 a.m. You'll have the opportunity to meet our wonderful Principal, Amy Briggs, and learn more about:

•              The First-grade Curriculum with Ms. Patel.

•              STEAM for First-grade with Ms. Roman

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

 *Please complete the Google form below and let us know of your availability.

 https://forms.gle/ThouskqhypHcpakm7

Boundary Review Community Meeting

Community meetings regarding FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review will take place in each of the division's six regions. You are encouraged to attend the meeting in our region, which will take place on Wednesday, December 18, 6:30-8 p.m., at Madison High School Cafeteria.

Please register in advance by clicking on the date. Language interpretation will be available. 

If you are unable to attend on this date, view the full list of meetings on the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage.

FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:

• Preparing for Winter Weather
• SEL Screener Results
• Varsity Girls Wrestling Is New Winter Sport
  Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today. 

Food Allergies: Form Required for Cafeteria

Starting School Year 2024-2025, the Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) implemented a standardized process for dietary accommodations to ensure the provision of safe and healthy food for our students. If your child will need a medical accommodation (food allergies, texture modifications, or other dietary needs) or a milk substitution in the cafeteria, this a reminder to submit your completed accommodation form if you have not already done so. This form only needs to be filled out once while your child is enrolled at FCPS.  The completed form should be sent to [email protected]. More information including the form can be found here: https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/food-and-nutrition/dietary-accommodations  If you have any questions, please contact FCPS Food and Nutrition Services at:  703-813-4800

A message from Mrs. O’Connor (Advanced Academic Resource Teacher):

Hi Spring Hill Families! I hope you are all preparing for a healthy and happy holiday season. Please note that if you are looking to have your child considered for Full Time Advanced Academic Services, the referral is due December 15th. Any forms will need to be submitted directly to Mr. Solsberry, our Assistant Principal, via email at [email protected], as I am now out on Maternity Leave and will not have access to emails. Our SHES AAP webpage also has helpful information and links to guide you through this process. If you are a parent of a student who is already receiving services and are looking to contact my Long Term Substitute, Carrie Reinders, you may reach her at [email protected]. I look forward to reconnecting with you in the Spring!

Donate a 'hoodie' for our partner school!

As we approach this season of giving, Spring Hill has decided to partner with Saltville Elementary School as “Blue Ribbon Buddies.” We are asking for families to take this opportunity to give back to a community in need by sending in a (new with tags) sweatshirt or hoodie for a student at Saltville. We encourage you to bring in the size your child would wear so that we have a variety to donate. We will begin collecting this Monday, November 18th and continue through December 13th. Let’s show the generosity from one Panther community to another!

Spring Hill is excited to announce two fun student events coming up in early 2025: 
The Spring Hill STEAM/Science Fair - March 26 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM
This event is open to all students.  More information will be handed out to students soon.

The Spring Hill Spelling Bee - Friday, February 7 at 2:15 PM
This event is open to students in Grades 4-6.  Students will be entered into the overall Spring Hill Spelling Bee based on the results of classroom spelling bees coordinated by each classroom teacher.  Stay tuned for more information!

Outdoor Learning

This week 4th and 5th grade spent time with the Fairfax County Park Authority learning about invasive species, watersheds, and our playground's role in both. Students and teachers alike loved the on-site field trip filled with games and learning. Students utilized the outdoor classroom, soccer field, and riprarian waterways just off our playground.

Spelling Bee

Spelling Bee Grade 4-6 will be February 7, 2:15. Class bees will be taking place now until January 7th. Talk to your child's teacher for class dates and spelling lists.

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, schools will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Need to Register for ParentVUE? 

Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. 

Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).

A Message from the PTO STAFF APPRECIATION CHILI LUNCHEON

 

Calling all parents to show our warm appreciation and gratitude to the amazing SHES staff by cooking up a crockpot of delicious chili and supplying all the "fixings". All varieties of chili - beef, turkey, chicken, vegetarian, vegan, etc. - are welcome! We also need volunteers to bring in plasticware, paper goods, drinks, and cookies. 

Click here to sign up!

THE PTO NEEDS YOUR HELP – KEEP BINGO NIGHT FROM BEING CANCELLED!

We need your help!  We currently have Bingo Night scheduled for Thursday, January 16.  If we can't get enough volunteers, we will have to cancel the event...

What is Bingo Night?

Our annual Bingo Night is a great time to gather with friends and family at Spring Hill, play Bingo, eat dinner, dance and win prizes!  We have detailed event plans that should make it a piece of cake to plan and execute!  Please click here and volunteer to ensure Bingo Night goes on this year!

SPRING HILL CARES MEAL TRAIN FOR MS. ROMAN

Spring Hill Cares is organizing a meal train to continue supporting our fantastic teacher, Ms. Kim Roman, on her way to recovery during her medical leave of absence. Your kindness will be greatly appreciated to deliver a meal* for a family of 4 with no allergies or food preferences, two teenagers and two adults, beginning on Friday, November 22nd and until Sunday, December 8th. Please click here to sign up!

 

*Gift cards to local restaurants or food delivery services are welcome, as well.

 

LOST & FOUND CORNER

The Lost and Found is overflowing…We'll be updating the website soon with photos and item details! Now that everyone has the new Spring Hill spirit wear t-shirts, sweatshirts, and long-sleeved Ts, any spirit wear that ends up in the lost and found without a nametag is IMPOSSIBLE to return to the right owner! Please consider purchasing from Mabel's Labels and ensuring that your spirit wear makes it home again!  

 

📑Family Handbook

Please take some time to review our Parent Handbook. We wanted to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information in regards to the 2024-2025 school year. 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Wow! What a week celebrating our Veterans and our Blue Ribbon Award. A  huge thank you to our PTO and all our staff and parents who helped make our  celebrations full of joy!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

 

Amy Briggs

 

Calendar Reminders

 

Nov. 19-2nd Grade Music Performance-2:45pm-Cafeteria (Enter door 2) 

Nov. 27-29-Thanksgiving Holidays-No School

Dec. 9-3-HR Early Release

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Boundary Review Community Meeting

Community meetings regarding FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review will take place in each of the division's six regions. You are encouraged to attend the meeting in our region, which will take place on Wednesday, December 18, 6:30-8 p.m., at Madison High School Cafeteria.

Please register in advance by clicking on the date. Language interpretation will be available. 

If you are unable to attend on this date, view the full list of meetings on the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage.

FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:

• Veterans Day Recognitions
• Resources on IEPs, Financial Aid, Literacy, and Community Leadership
• Teacher Hiring Event

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today. 

Donate a 'hoodie' for our partner school!

As we approach this season of giving, Spring Hill has decided to partner with Saltville Elementary School as “Blue Ribbon Buddies.” We are asking for families to take this opportunity to give back to a community in need by sending in a (new with tags) sweatshirt or hoodie for a student at Saltville. We encourage you to bring in the size your child would wear so that we have a variety to donate. We will begin collecting this Monday, November 18th and continue through December 13th. Let’s show the generosity from one Panther community to another!

STEAM Night/Science Fair 

March 26, 5:30 -7:30. Sign up coming in December. If you are interested in volunteering please reach out to Kendra Roman [email protected]

Outdoor Learning

This week 4th and 5th grade spent time with the Fairfax County Park Authority learning about invasive species, watersheds, and our playground's role in both. Students and teachers alike loved the on-site field trip filled with games and learning. Students utilized the outdoor classroom, soccer field, and riprarian waterways just off our playground.

Spelling Bee

Spelling Bee Grade 4-6 will be February 7, 2:15. Class bees will be taking place now until January 7th. Talk to your child's teacher for class dates and spelling lists.

FCPS Cell Phone Policy

Please reference the FCPS Cell Phone Policy (including smart watches) when sending your child to school. Phone features (texting, internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when school is in session.

Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates

Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).

Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.

This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reports and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.

We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, schools will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Need to Register for ParentVUE? 

Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. 

Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).

A Message from the PTO

LET’S CELEBRATE SPRING HILL’S BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL AWARD!

We have had so much helping Spring Hill celebrate its designation as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education.  If you have a chance, stop by the cafeteria and look at the blue ribbon (painted by our own art teachers - Ms. Gore and Ms. Lasley) that was then made available to all the students to put their thumb prints on – it’s amazing!  What a lasting tribute to this wonderful achievement!

THE PTO NEEDS YOUR HELP!

We need volunteers to help plan and execute two amazing PTO events early in 2025.

Thursday, January 16

Family Bingo Night is a great time to gather with friends and family at Spring Hill, play Bingo, eat dinner, dance and win prizes!  BUT – without your help, we won’t be able to have it again this year. It’s a fun event – and it’s easy to plan and execute…grab a friend and do it together.  Click here for more information and to sign up to help!

Monday, February 17 – Saturday, February 22

Bids For Kids is a combination of online and live fundraising auctions.  The online auction takes place all week and the adults-only Live Auction Party will be on the evening of Saturday, February 22.  This year’s theme is a Black and White Affair.  Volunteers are needed to help secure donations, and plan and execute the event. We need your help! Click here for more information and to sign up to help!

 

 LOST & FOUND CORNER

 

The Lost and Found is overflowing…We'll be updating the website soon with photos and item details! Now that everyone has the new Spring Hill spirit wear t-shirts, sweatshirts, and long-sleeved Ts, any spirit wear that ends up in the lost and found without a nametag is IMPOSSIBLE to return to the right owner! Please consider purchasing from Mabel's Labels and ensuring that your spirit wear makes it home again!  

📑Family Handbook

Please take some time to review our Parent Handbook. We wanted to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information in regards to the 2024-2025 school year. 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Blue Ribbon Celebration Week

Dear Spring Hill Families,

Please have your student dress in in blue tomorrow for our Blue Ribbon Celebration finale! 

Tomorrow's events include:

PTO Meeting-9:00am-Mrs. Briggs will share what it means to be a Blue Ribbon School.

6th Grade Blue Ribbon Aerial Photo-All sixth graders should wear their 6th grade t-shirts for a special photo opportunity!

Whole School Pep Rally-Celebration of our accomplishments with special guests!

 

Sincerely,

Amy Briggs

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Get Ready for Blue Ribbon Celebration Week!

Dear Spring Hill Families,

We are so excited to celebrate Spring Hill's achievement of receiving the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for Academic Excellence. We will be 'rolling out the blue carpet' on Tuesday morning and asking students and staff to dress their best for some star-studded photo opportunities. Parents, you are welcome to watch our student stars walk the blue carpet on Tuesday, November 12th around 8:30am as students enter the building. Please see below for a more detailed schedule of events.

 

Tuesday

11/12

8:30 to 9:00

Student Dress Up /Blue Carpet Roll Out

Arriving Students/Parents

During the day

Class Photo Op

Students & Teachers

Wednesday

11/13

7:45 to 8:30

Staff Breakfast

Staff

During lunch

Blue Ribbon Art Mural (Thumbprints Collage)

Students

Thursday

11/14

All Day

Telewatch Party

Staff & Students

Friday

11/15

10:00

6th Grade Outdoor Blue-Ribbon Photo

6th Grade Students

9:00

PTO Meeting

Principal Briggs and Parents

2:00-3:30

Blue Out/Blue Ribbon Pep Rally

Staff & Students

 

Portrait of a Graduate-Correction

There was an error in the Portrait of a Graduate Skills posted in my last newsletter. Here are the current skills and grade level mottos students will be focusing on this school year by grade level. Students will be reflecting on how they have grown in these skills throughout the year. Make sure to talk with your child about these skills!

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I had the pleasure and honor of attending the National Blue Ribbon recognition ceremony in Washington, DC on Friday with Mrs. Pourhashemi. It is truly an honor and privilege to celebrate the school that I have loved all these years! I am so proud of our students, staff, and parents for working together to make our school such an incredible place to grow and learn!

We have an exciting week coming up! As a reminder, there is no school Monday in recognition of Veteran's Day. On Tuesday, we kick off our Blue Ribbon Celebration week! Please see a list of events below. We hope all students dress to impress on Tuesday and 'walk the blue carpet' for some fabulous photo opportunities! All parents are welcome to watch from 8:30am-8:50am in the front of the school.

We look forward to honoring our Veteran's on Thursday, November 14th at 9:15am for our Veteran's Day assemblies. 

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

 

Amy Briggs

 

Calendar Reminders

 

Nov. 10-VFW Fundraiser 1-4pm-RSVP here

Nov. 11-No School-Veteran's Day

Nov. 11-15-Blue Ribbon Celebration Week!

Nov. 12-FLE Preview Night-5:30pm-Virtual (link will be sent out closer to the date)

Nov. 14-Veteran's Day Celebration (9:00 am K-3); 10:00am 4-6)

Nov. 15-PTO Meeting-9:15am-Principal Briggs will share more about our Blue Ribbon award and what it means.

Nov. 19-2nd Grade Music Performance-2:45pm-Cafeteria (Enter door 2) 

Nov. 27-29-Thanksgiving Holidays-No School

Dec. 9-3-HR Early Release

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Calling all Veteran's of Active Military Veterans Day Celebration- Nov. 14

On Thursday, November 14th, we will highlight our United States veterans and active military with a  Veterans Day Celebration. 

We welcome all veteran's from both US and foreign military! We will have two ceremonies on Nov. 14th-9:15am (K-3); 10:00 am (4-6)

D.E.A.R (Drop Everything & Reflect)

We kicked off our first school-wide D.E.A.R time (Drop Everything & Reflect) this past Wednesday. All students had an opportunity to review their grade level Portrait of a Graduate (POG) skill and share with a partner and their class how they grew in their skill, shared evidence of their growth, and shared why it was important. Make sure to ask your child about their POG skill! 

FCPS Cell Phone Policy

Please reference the FCPS Cell Phone Policy (including smart watches) when sending your child to school. Phone features (texting, internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when school is in session.

Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates

Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).

Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.

This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reports and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.

We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!

Literacy Resources for Families Webpage

A new Literacy Resources for Families webpage has been published to the external web to provide families with information about how to support their children with developing literacy knowledge and skills at home. It provides valuable information about the reading and writing resources to be used at home, the VALLSS, Reading Plans, guidance for Parent Teacher Conferences, and training available through the Family Academy. 

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, schools will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Need to Register for ParentVUE? 

Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. 

Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).

Tis the season...for flu, strep, covid

Tis the season…for flu, strep, covid…and pneumonia. Fairfax is seeing an increase in Mycoplasma Pneumoniae, so if your child is sick (cough, congestion, fever, shortness of breath, fatigue) consider requesting the nasal swab in addition to chest xrays-this testing will ensure appropriate antibiotic therapy-see here.

Wash hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, and properly dispose of all tissues in the garbage-if you have any additional questions, please reach to our School Nurse, Sarah Harsher

National School Psychology Week

Next week we celebrate the important work school psychologists do to help all students thrive. We are so appreciate to Erin Rinker, Judy Trigiani (school counselors) and Mr. Steve Handweger (school psychologist) and Erin McRae (Social Worker) for all the care and support they provide our students!

Learn more from the National Association of School Psychologists.

Outstanding Employee Awards

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Spring Hill Elementary Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in one more of the criteria for that award category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards.

 

A Message from the PTO

 

LET’S CELEBRATE SPRING HILL’S BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL AWARD!

 

We are so excited to help Spring Hill celebrate its designation as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education.  From November 12 - 15, we will be helping to mark this incredible achievement with lots of fun activities!  Check the calendar in this Panther Press or in this week’s Spring Hill PTO Scoop Newsletter for more details.

PTO MEETING FRIDAY 11-15

Please join us for coffee and nibbles at our next PTO Meeting, Friday, November 15, at 9:00 AM in the Spring Hill Cafeteria.  We will be continuing the Blue Ribbon celebrations and talking about some of the wonderful activities coming up at the end of the year and in 2025.

VFW POST 8241 - MCLEAN POST

 

Our local VFW post, located at 1051 Spring Hill Road, is a hidden gem down the road from Spring Hill. Not many people know of it, but it offers a great venue to host events from meetings to birthday parties and anniversaries. (Fun fact: this year’s Bids for Kids will be held at the VFW!)  Spring Hill families will be given a special discount should they decide to book the venue. Ben Swincicki is a Spring Hill military parent and our point of contact for the VFW. He can be reached at: Email: [email protected]  Tel.: (703)215-6424   Upcoming VFW Event: Veterans Day Fundraiser, November 10. For more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/feed-a-veteran-tickets-1022629852417

 

LOST & FOUND CORNER

 

It's the time of year when the crisp mornings turn into warm afternoons...which means the Lost and Found is already overflowing, just two months into school. We'll be updating the website soon with photos and item details! New Spring Hill spirit wear came home with students earlier this week. Now that everyone has the t-shirts, sweatshirts, and long-sleeved Ts, any spirit wear that ends up in the lost and found without a nametag is IMPOSSIBLE to return to the right owner! Please consider purchasing from Mabel's Labels and ensuring that your spirit wear makes it home again!  

 

Congratuations to our Science Olympiad Teams!

This year our two Science Olympiad teams competed  Nov. 2nd at Langley High School. SHES Mavericks won 24 medals in 25 events they participated in and SHES Wizards won 17 medals in 21 events they participated in …. What a performance! Even more impressive is that every one of the participants from Spring Hill won at least one medal! Congratulations!

 

📑Family Handbook

Please take some time to review our Parent Handbook. We wanted to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information in regards to the 2024-2025 school year. 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Get Ready for Blue Ribbon Celebration Week!

Dear Spring Hill Families,

We are so excited to celebrate Spring Hill's achievement of receiving the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for Academic Excellence. We will be 'rolling out the blue carpet' on Tuesday morning and asking students and staff to dress their best for some star-studded photo opportunities. Parents, you are welcome to watch our student stars walk the blue carpet on Tuesday, November 12th around 8:30am as students enter the building. Please see below for a more detailed schedule of events.

 

Tuesday

11/12

8:30 to 9:00

Student Dress Up /Blue Carpet Roll Out

Arriving Students/Parents

During the day

Class Photo Op

Students & Teachers

Wednesday

11/13

7:45 to 8:30

Staff Breakfast

Staff

During lunch

Blue Ribbon Art Mural (Thumbprints Collage)

Students

Thursday

11/14

All Day

Telewatch Party

Staff & Students

Friday

11/15

10:00

6th Grade Outdoor Blue-Ribbon Photo

6th Grade Students

9:00

PTO Meeting

Principal Briggs and Parents

2:00-3:30

Blue Out/Blue Ribbon Pep Rally

Staff & Students

 

Sincerely,

Amy Briggs

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We had another fun-filled week of learning and celebrating at SHES! Our Fall Festival was full of creative costumes, smiling faces, and moments of JOY! Our fabulous musicians in Chorus, Band, & Strings performed a wonderful 'Spooktacular' performance  for our panthers. It was a fun way to celebrate the season through music.

As a reminder, tomorrow is a holiday in honor of Diwali and All Saints Day and Dia de los Muertos. We wish a fun day to all celebrating! 

Next week, our students have off on Monday & Tuesday. These days are designated workdays for our staff. Please make sure you have scheduled a conference with your child's teacher.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

 

Amy Briggs

 

 

Calendar Reminders

Nov. 1st-School Holiday-Diwali, All Saints Day, & Dia de los Muertos

Nov. 3-Daylight savings time ends. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour! 

Nov. 4 & 5-Teacher Workdays (Parent-Teacher Conferences)

Nov. 6-Drop Everything and Reflect (D.E.A.R)

Nov. 10-VFW Fundraiser

Nov. 11-15-Save the Date-Blue Ribbon Celebration Week!

Nov. 12-FLE Preview Night-5:30pm-Virtual (link will be sent out closer to the date)

Nov. 14-Veteran's Day Celebration 

Nov. 15-PTO Meeting-9:15am 

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Calling all Veteran's of Active Military Veterans Day Celebration- Nov. 14

On Thursday, November 14th, we will highlight our United States veterans and active military with a  Veterans Day Celebration. 

Veterans/ Active Military RSVP To speak to students

All veterans/active military who would like to attend the ceremony, or be willing to share their military experience with students, must RSVP here by Friday, Nov. 1.

Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates

Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).

Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.

This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reports and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.

We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, schools will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Need to Register for ParentVUE? 

Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. 

Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).

Picture Day Information

Strawbridge Studios is scheduled to photograph students at Spring Hill Elementary on Tuesday, October 29th. Please note: orders are online only! To place an order for pictures, please sign up directly with Strawbridge using the provided link:

www.strawbridge.net

Click “Order Pictures” and enter the following code:

FM457808

This link will allow you to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your child's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals, and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, please be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at school.

Outstanding Employee Awards

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Spring Hill Elementary Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in one more of the criteria for that award category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards.

 

A Message from the PTO News from our PTO

 LET’S CELEBRATE SPRING HILL’S BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL AWARD!

 

We are so excited to help Spring Hill celebrate its designation as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education.  From November 12 - 15, we will be marking this incredible achievement with a lot of fun activities! From decorating the school in blue ribbons inscribed with student reflections on what makes Spring Hill Special to them and a "Spring Hill We Wear Blue" spirit day to an awards ceremony tele-watch popcorn party at school, we are really rolling out the blue carpet (literally) for this one! Stay tuned for more detailed information and a schedule of celebrations coming next week!

 

A BIG THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL BOOK FAIR WEEK!

 

The Book Fair Committee would like to thank the entire Spring Hill community for their incredible support! From class previews, to class shopping days, to Ice Cream Social and Family Shopping Night, students, teachers, and families entered "Once Upon A Book Fair..." and enjoyed exploring all the wonderful books that were on offer. All of our students were excited about reading, and most importantly they were kind, polite, and patient with our volunteers as lines got long. We would especially like to say thank you to all of our amazing volunteers!  Book Fair couldn’t have happened without you!

 

LOST & FOUND CORNER

 

It's the time of year when the crisp mornings turn into warm afternoons...which means the Lost and Found is already overflowing, just two months into school. We'll be updating the website soon with photos and item details! New Spring Hill spirit wear came home with students earlier this week. Now that everyone has the t-shirts, sweatshirts, and long-sleeved Ts, any spirit wear that ends up in the lost and found without a nametag is IMPOSSIBLE to return to the right owner! Please consider purchasing from Mabel's Labels and ensuring that your spirit wear makes it home again!  

 

VFW Fundraiser

The VFW located at 1051 Spring Hill Road is a hidden gem down the road from Spring Hill. Not many people know of it, but it offers a great venue to host events from meetings to birthday parties and anniversaries. Spring Hill families will be given a special discount should they decide to book the venue. Ben Swincicki is a Spring Hill military parent and our POC for the VFW. He can be reached at:

Email: [email protected]

Tel:(703)215-6424

 

Upcoming Events:

1. Veterans Day Fundraiser: November 10th’2024

               https://www.eventbrite.com/e/feed-a-veteran-tickets-1022629852417 

A note from Get2Green:

Did you know that yard waste makes up a significant amount of out landfills? Fall leaves are an important habitat for wintering Moths, Butterflies, and Fire Flies. Here are two great resources to help your family decide what you can do with your fall yard waste 

📑Family Handbook

Please take some time to review our Parent Handbook. We wanted to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information in regards to the 2024-2025 school year. 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Fall Festival-Thursday, Oct. 31-9:30am

Dear Spring Hill Families,

We invite all parents to come to our outdoor parade on October 31st at 9:30am. The parade is located on the fields to the right of our school. Please report directly to the inside of the field to watch the parade (see map above). Room parents who are scheduled to volunteer must sign in to the main office with their government issued identification.  Students are encouraged to dress up as their favorite character. There are no masks or weapons (fake or otherwise) permitted for students or parents. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

 

Sincerely,

 

Amy Briggs

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Our Book Fair and Ice Cream Social was a huge success! Thank you for all of our parent volunteers and teachers who scooped ice cream and making this happen! Next week will be fun-filled with our Fall Festival Parade on October 31st. All parents are invited to meet us on the field to the right of the school to watch! 

The parade will begin at 9:30am. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

 

Amy Briggs

 

Early Release Monday, October 24

Students will be released according to form submissions sent out this past week.  

In order to ensure that all students go home safely and correctly, we cannot accept any changes to your form submission. Students will be dismissed by the default method unless you make changes in Pick-Up-Patrol by midnight, Sunday, October 27th.

Calendar Reminders

Oct. 28-Early Dismissal-12:35pm

Oct. 29-Picture Day

Oct. 31-End of Quarter-Fall Festival Parade (9:30am-Right Side Field)

             Early Release 1:35pm

Nov. 1st-School Holiday

Nov. 4 & 5-Teacher Workdays (Parent-Teacher Conferences)

Nov. 11-15-Save the Date-Blue Ribbon Celebration Week!

Nov. 14-Veteran's Day Celebration 

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Calling all Veteran's of Active Military Veterans Day Celebration- Nov. 14

On Thursday, November 14th, we will highlight our United States veterans and active military with a  Veterans Day Celebration. 

Veterans/ Active Military RSVP To speak to students

All veterans/active military who would like to attend the ceremony, or be willing to share their military experience with students, must RSVP here by Friday, Nov. 1.

Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates

Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).

Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.

This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reports and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.

We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, schools will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Need to Register for ParentVUE? 

Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. 

Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).

Picture Day Information

Strawbridge Studios is scheduled to photograph students at Spring Hill Elementary on Tuesday, October 29th. Please note: orders are online only! To place an order for pictures, please sign up directly with Strawbridge using the provided link:

www.strawbridge.net

Click “Order Pictures” and enter the following code:

FM457808

This link will allow you to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your child's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals, and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, please be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at school.

Outstanding Employee Awards

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Spring Hill Elementary Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in one more of the criteria for that award category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards.

 

A Message from the PTO News from our PTO

1. Join the PTO and stay informed
2. Donate to the Panther Fund
3. Volunteer with the PTO

Student Competitions

SHES students can participate in the TSA (grades 5-6), NAQT (grades K-6), National Mythology Exam (grades 3-8) competitions.

 

Websites below for more Information

https://tsaweb.org/competitions

https://www.naqt.com/

https://www.etclassics.org/Contests-Exams/Medusa-Mythology-Exam

 

If you would like to participate, please contact Ram Jagannathan at [email protected]

A note from Get2Green:

Did you know that yard waste makes up a significant amount of out landfills? Fall leaves are an important habitat for wintering Moths, Butterflies, and Fire Flies. Here are two great resources to help your family decide what you can do with your fall yard waste 

• 🩹 Immunization Requirements 

Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. 

Free Immunizations for All FCPS Students

Safeway Pharmacy will be providing immunizations at Frost Middle School for all FCPS students at no cost on: 

• Monday, October 28, 3-7 p.m.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students under the age of 19 to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.

Elementary School Clinics

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices. All school-required immunizations will be offered at no cost. Call 703-246-7100 to make your appointment.

Community Conversations with Dr. Reid

🎤 Join Superintendent Reid for a series of Community Conversations and share your feedback about our schools: September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School

October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School

 

📑Family Handbook

Please take some time to review our Parent Handbook. We wanted to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information in regards to the 2024-2025 school year. 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

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Book Fair Shopping Hours

Dear Spring Hill families, 

 

Due to insufficient volunteer participation, Book Fair shopping hours must now be limited. Before and after school shopping hours on Thursday, October 24 will be cancelled. 

We encourage you to join us from 6-8pm on Thursday evening for Ice Cream Social to do your shopping! 

We are currently still seeking volunteers for Ice Cream Social volunteers! Please visit the SignUp Genius to claim your spot!

 

 

Please contact us with any questions. 

Meaghan Gay - Book Fair Chair

[email protected]

 

Anna Engel - PTO President 

[email protected] 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

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Urgent Request! Volunteers Needed! Dear Spring Hill Parents,  We hope this message finds you well. Our much-anticipated Ice Cream Social Night is quickly approaching on Thursday, October 24, and we need your help to make it a success!  With a variety of open roles – from set-up and clean up to cashiers and assistants – we will need many hands to ensure the event runs smoothly and everyone has a fantastic time.  Whether you can offer an hour of your time or stay for the entire event, your assistance will be greatly appreciated.  If you’re able to volunteer, please sign up using this link or reach out to us directly. Every bit of help counts!   Thank you in advance for your support and for making Spring Hill a wonderful community.  Best,  Meaghan Gay, Book Fair Chair  [email protected]  Anna Engel, PTO President  [email protected] 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

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Getting Ready for Book Fair!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We're excited to share all the wonderful things that have happened at Spring Hill Elementary this past week.

Our 6th graders had a blast at Camp Hemlock, where they enjoyed team-building activities and explored the great outdoors. Our 5th graders learned about the history and function of water-powered mills with a hands-on visit to Colvin Run Mill. Meanwhile, our 3rd graders had a wild time learning about animal habitats at the National Zoo.

Looking ahead, we're all buzzing with excitement for our upcoming Once Upon a Book Fair next week! Thank you to all the wonderful parents who have worked tirelessly to make this event a success.

We can't wait to share more updates with you soon.

 

Sincerely,

 

Amy Briggs

 

Early Release Action Needed

• ❗We are asking everyone to please complete this updated form by noon on October 24th to indicate selections for your family. Please fill out a form for each student you have at Spring Hill ES. 
• New! SACC will be open starting at 12:35 p.m. for those students who are already enrolled in after-school SACC.  All students participating in after-school SACC, as noted on the google form above, will be dismissed directly to SACC at 12:35p.m.   

In order to ensure that all students go home safely and correctly, we cannot accept any changes to your form submission. Students will be dismissed by the default method unless you make changes in Pick-Up-Patrol by midnight, Sunday, October 27th.

Calendar Reminders

Oct. 21-Oct. 25-Book Fair-See Spirit Days below!

Oct. 24-6-8pm-Book Fair Ice Cream Social and family shopping night

Oct. 25-Yearbook cover contest due

Oct. 28-Early Dismissal-12:35pm

Oct. 29-Picture Day

Oct. 31-End of Quarter-Fall Festival Parade (9:30am-Right Side Field)

             Early Release 1:35pm

Nov. 1st-School Holiday

Nov. 4 & 5-Teacher Workdays (Parent-Teacher Conferences)

Nov. 11-15-Save the Date-Blue Ribbon Celebration Week!

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Next week is the very first Spirit Week of the year! The 6th Grade Leadership Club came up with special themed days to support our Book Fair week! Monday- Spring Hill loves books! Wear your SHES gear. Tuesday- Hats off to reading! Wear your favorite hat. Wednesday- Dress as your favorite book character day! Thursday- Reading makes us GLOW! Wear bright colors. Friday- Snuggle up and read! PAJAMA DAY!

Picture Day Information

Strawbridge Studios is scheduled to photograph students at Spring Hill Elementary on Tuesday, October 29th. Please note: orders are online only! To place an order for pictures, please sign up directly with Strawbridge using the provided link:

www.strawbridge.net

Click “Order Pictures” and enter the following code:

FM457808

This link will allow you to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your child's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals, and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, please be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at school.

Attention All Student Artists Draw, Paint, or Sketch a piece of art for the 2024-2025 Yearbook Cover Contest

The first-place winner will have their artwork featured on the front cover of the 2024-2025 Yearbook.

• This contest is open to ALL current Spring Hill ES Students
• Artwork must be on an 8.5x11 piece of paper (copier or printer paper is acceptable, but cardstock is preferred)
• Artwork must be positioned in portrait, not landscape format, to fit the yearbook cover.
• All Artwork must be submitted by October 25, 2024, in the front office
• We must have the student’s Name, Grade, and Teacher on the back of the artwork.

• Only one submission per student.

If you have any questions, contact Ms. Restino at [email protected] or Ms. Ackourey at [email protected]

Outstanding Employee Awards

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Spring Hill Elementary Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in one more of the criteria for that award category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards.

 

News from our PTO

1. Join the PTO and stay informed
2. Donate to the Panther Fund
3. Volunteer with the PTO

A Message from the PTO GET READY! “Once Upon a Book Fair…” starts next week - October 21-25!   The Spring Hill PTO's Annual Book Fair is October 21 - 25, 2024!  This year's theme is "Once Upon A Book Fair..."!  Click here for the Book Fair calendar and FAQs.

 

***VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED!***  

Transform the large pod into a fairy tale...help our Panthers find and purchase their books during the school day...decorate the cafeteria for Ice Cream Social... help with Family Shopping Night...These are just some of the volunteer opportunities - there's is sure to be a shift fit for you! Please support our school community, promote literacy, and raise money for Spring Hill by volunteering for Book Fair!

Click here to sign up for a shift or two!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ice Cream Social and Family Shopping Night

Bring your whole family and peruse the shelves at Book Fair during Family Shopping Night…and come over the cafeteria to enjoy a free bowl of ice cream with all the toppings at the Ice Cream Social – both events will be happening at the same time - Thursday, October 24 from 6 PM to 8 PM. Click to Sign Up For a Book Fair Shift!

KINDERGARTEN COFFEE

Attention all Kindergarten families! You're invited to join us for a parents' coffee on Friday, October 25th at 8:30 a.m. You'll have the opportunity to meet our wonderful Principal, Amy Briggs, and learn more about:

• The Kindergarten Curriculum with Ms. Szynkowski
• STEAM for Kindergarten with Ms. Roman

Please RSVP here.

We are excited to see you there!

A note from Get2Green:

Did you know that yard waste makes up a significant amount of out landfills? Fall leaves are an important habitat for wintering Moths, Butterflies, and Fire Flies. Here are two great resources to help your family decide what you can do with your fall yard waste 

• 🩹 Immunization Requirements 

Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. 

Free Immunizations for All FCPS Students

Safeway Pharmacy will be providing immunizations at Frost Middle School for all FCPS students at no cost on: 

• Monday, October 28, 3-7 p.m.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students under the age of 19 to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.

Elementary School Clinics

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices. All school-required immunizations will be offered at no cost. Call 703-246-7100 to make your appointment.

Community Conversations with Dr. Reid

🎤 Join Superintendent Reid for a series of Community Conversations and share your feedback about our schools: September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School

October 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Virginia Run Elementary School 

October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School

 

📑Family Handbook

Please take some time to review our Parent Handbook. We wanted to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information in regards to the 2024-2025 school year. 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Wear Orange this Wednesday

SHES will once again celebrate National Unity Day on Wednesday, October 16th. Students and staff are asked to wear orange that day and come together to celebrate kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent bullying.

October is known as National Bullying Prevention Month. Orange is the chosen color for National Unity Day. Together, we can be upstanders against bullying. Students can sign a banner in the lobby at arrival pledging to be an upstander. Students and staff will also receive bracelets to celebrate Unity Day.

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

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Dear Parents and Guardians,

We're excited to highlight the incredible diversity and talent of our multilingual learners! Approximately 20% of our student population are multilingual learners. We are proud to have over 52 countries and 48 languages represented at Spring Hill. 

Our multilingual learners are an integral part of our school, contributing to a vibrant and inclusive learning environment. They enrich our classrooms with their unique perspectives, experiences, and language skills.

To support our multilingual learners, we offer a variety of resources and programs, including:

• Language support services: Our dedicated language support staff provides individualized assistance to help students develop their English language skills.
• Cultural awareness activities: We celebrate cultural diversity through events, celebrations, and lessons that promote understanding and appreciation of different cultures.
• Collaborative learning opportunities: We foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students from all backgrounds can work together and learn from each other.

We encourage you to support your child's language development and cultural awareness by:

• Encouraging reading and writing: Reading and writing in both English and their native language can help strengthen language skills.
• Exploring cultural activities: Participating in cultural events and activities can help your child appreciate and understand different cultures.
• Communicating with the school: Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or the school administration if you have any questions or concerns.

We're grateful for the diversity and richness that our multilingual learners bring to our school community. Together, we're creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where all students can thrive.

Sincerely,

 

Amy Briggs

 

Calendar Reminders

Oct. 14-No School (Teacher Work Day)

Oct. 21-Oct. 25-Book Fair

Oct. 24-6-8pm-Book Fair Ice Cream Social and family shopping night

Oct. 25-Yearbook cover contest due

Oct. 28-Early Dismissal-12:35pm

Oct. 29-Picture Day

Oct. 31-End of Quarter-Fall Festival Parade (9:30am-Right Side Field)

             Early Release 1:35pm

Nov. 1st-School Holiday

Nov. 4 & 5-Teacher Workdays (Parent-Teacher Conferences)

Nov. 11-15-Save the Date-Blue Ribbon Celebration Week!

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Picture Day Information

Strawbridge Studios is scheduled to photograph students at Spring Hill Elementary on Tuesday, October 29th. Please note: orders are online only! To place an order for pictures, please sign up directly with Strawbridge using the provided link:

www.strawbridge.net

Click “Order Pictures” and enter the following code:

FM457808

This link will allow you to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your child's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals, and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, please be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at school.

Attention All Student Artists Draw, Paint, or Sketch a piece of art for the 2024-2025 Yearbook Cover Contest

The first-place winner will have their artwork featured on the front cover of the 2024-2025 Yearbook.

• This contest is open to ALL current Spring Hill ES Students
• Artwork must be on an 8.5x11 piece of paper (copier or printer paper is acceptable, but cardstock is preferred)
• Artwork must be positioned in portrait, not landscape format, to fit the yearbook cover.
• All Artwork must be submitted by October 25, 2024, in the front office
• We must have the student’s Name, Grade, and Teacher on the back of the artwork.

• Only one submission per student.

If you have any questions, contact Ms. Restino at [email protected] or Ms. Ackourey at [email protected]

Outstanding Employee Awards

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Spring Hill Elementary Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in one more of the criteria for that award category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards.

 

News from our PTO

1. Join the PTO and stay informed
2. Donate to the Panther Fund
3. Volunteer with the PTO

A Message from the PTO COUNTDOWN TO BOOK FAIR 2024!
OCTOBER 21 - 25, 2024! The Spring Hill PTO's Annual Book Fair is October 21 - 25, 2024!  This year's theme is "Once Upon A Book Fair..."!  Click here for the Book Fair calendar and FAQs.
  VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED!
From transforming the large pod into a fairy tale and helping our Panthers find and purchase their books during the school day to decorating the cafeteria for Ice Cream Social and helping with Family Shopping Night, there's a volunteer shift fit for you!

Please support our school community, promote literacy, and raise money for Spring Hill by volunteering for Book Fair! Click the button below to sign up for a shift or two! Click to Sign Up For a Book Fair Shift!

The Spring Hill PTO has partnered with Mabel's Labels to make labeling easy for you. Plus, when you purchase from Mabel’s Labels, the PTO receives a portion of the proceeds. It’s a win-win!

To ensure that our PTO gets credit for your labels make sure you enter “Spring Hill Elementary School PTO (McLean)” in the "Support a Fundraiser" section of the Mabel's labels Web site - you can also enter “Spring Hill Elementary School PTO (McLean)” at checkout in the Support a Fundraiser bar.  Click the "Mabel's Labels" button below to get started.

Since anything with a label that ends up in the lost and found will be returned to your child at school, please label all water bottles and outerwear, as well as hoodies and sweatshirts, even for older kids.  And make sure to label your new spirit wear too!

• 🩹 Immunization Requirements 

Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. 

Free Immunizations for All FCPS Students

Safeway Pharmacy will be providing immunizations at Frost Middle School for all FCPS students at no cost on: 

• Tuesday, October 8,  3-7 p.m.

• Saturday, October 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Monday, October 28, 3-7 p.m.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students under the age of 19 to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.

Elementary School Clinics

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices. All school-required immunizations will be offered at no cost. Call 703-246-7100 to make your appointment.

Community Conversations with Dr. Reid

🎤 Join Superintendent Reid for a series of Community Conversations and share your feedback about our schools: September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School

October 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School

October 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Virginia Run Elementary School 

October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School

 

Celebrating the Power of School Lunches

Multiple studies show that school lunches are important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Students who eat school lunches consume more fruit, vegetables, and fiber than their peers. 

This School Lunch Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services reminds families that they are dedicated to providing flavorful, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. Also, new menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback. 

Want to know what’s for breakfast or lunch? Nutrition Services now has printable menus.

📑Family Handbook

Please take some time to review our Parent Handbook. We wanted to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information in regards to the 2024-2025 school year. 

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

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Dear Parents and Guardians,

Our grade level teams meet twice a week for their Collaborative Learning Team (CLT) meetings. In CLT's, teachers work collaboratively in recurring cycles of inquiry to increase student learning.  Teachers are committed to shared goals to eliminate gaps in opportunity, access, and achievement by taking collective responsibility for meeting the needs of all students. This process is central to our 2023-30 Strategic Plan.  It is through the powerful work of collaborative teams that we ensure excellence, equity, and opportunity for each and every student.  This work guarantees that every student will acquire critical and creative thinking skills, meet/exceed high academic standards, and achieve their highest academic potential. 

I am proud of the work our educators commit to each day to work together for all students to reach their highest potential!

We hope you have a wonderful weekend!

 

Sincerely,

 

Amy Briggs

 

Calendar Reminders

Oct. 4 -No School (Teacher Work Day)

Oct. 9-Walk & Roll to School Day

Oct. 11-Military Family Coffee-9am (Library); Book Fair
             Poster Contest due

Oct. 14-No School (Teacher Work Day)

Oct. 21-Oct. 25-Book Fair

Oct. 24-Book Fair Ice Cream Social and family shopping night

Oct. 25-Yearbook cover contest due

Oct. 28-Early Dismissal-12:35pm

Oct. 29-Picture Day

Oct. 31-End of Quarter-Early Release 1:35pm

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Picture Day Information

Strawbridge Studios is scheduled to photograph students at Spring Hill Elementary on Tuesday, October 29th. Please note: orders are online only! To place an order for pictures, please sign up directly with Strawbridge using the provided link:

www.strawbridge.net

Click “Order Pictures” and enter the following code:

FM457808

This link will allow you to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your child's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals, and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, please be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at school.

Attention All Student Artists Draw, Paint, or Sketch a piece of art for the 2024-2025 Yearbook Cover Contest

The first-place winner will have their artwork featured on the front cover of the 2024-2025 Yearbook.

• This contest is open to ALL current Spring Hill ES Students
• Artwork must be on an 8.5x11 piece of paper (copier or printer paper is acceptable, but cardstock is preferred)
• Artwork must be positioned in portrait, not landscape format, to fit the yearbook cover.
• All Artwork must be submitted by October 25, 2024, in the front office
• We must have the student’s Name, Grade, and Teacher on the back of the artwork.

• Only one submission per student.

If you have any questions, contact Ms. Restino at [email protected] or Ms. Ackourey at [email protected]

News from our PTO

1. Join the PTO and stay informed
2. Donate to the Panther Fund
3. Volunteer with the PTO

A Message from the PTO Join us on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024 for National Walk and Roll to School Day!
If you don’t normally walk, bike, or scoot to school, don’t worry - you can still join in on the fun!
A group of parents and students will be meeting at the entrance to McLean Hamlet Park and will travel on foot or wheel down Macbeth Street to the path to Spring Hill. The group will depart McLean Hamlet Park at 8:25am, so please arrive on time.  McLean Hamlet Park is located in the Hamlet neighborhood, on Macbeth Street near the intersection with Falstaff Rd. Click here for a map.

We will have a table near the Large Playground at the back of the school with a banner for everyone participating in Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day to sign, as well as participation trinkets as part of the fun!   GET READY FOR OUR ANNUAL BOOK FAIR! ENTER THE POSTER CONTEST – ALL ENTRIES DUE BY Friday, Oct. 11!

All Spring Hill students are invited to create an original poster using this year's Book Fair theme, "Once Upon A Book Fair!" The grand prize winner will have his or her masterpiece printed on a bookmark distributed to everyone at school. The winners for each grade level will each receive the prize of a $5 Book Fair gift certificate!

 

Submission guidelines are as follows:

• Posters must include the theme: Once Upon a Bookfair
• Posters must include original artwork by the student using paint, markers, crayons, etc. No 3D Posters.
• Posters must be no larger than 14” x 22” & no smaller than 8.5”x 11”
• No names on the front of the poster. On the back, write the student’s name, grade & teacher
• Only 1 entry per student

A Poster Contest information flyer came home in this week's Thursday folder. Posters MUST be submitted in the box inside the Library no later than October 11.  Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

The Spring Hill PTO has partnered with Mabel's Labels to make labeling easy for you. Plus, when you purchase from Mabel’s Labels, the PTO receives a portion of the proceeds. It’s a win-win!

To ensure that our PTO gets credit for your labels make sure you enter “Spring Hill Elementary School PTO (McLean)” in the "Support a Fundraiser" section of the Mabel's labels Web site - you can also enter “Spring Hill Elementary School PTO (McLean)” at checkout in the Support a Fundraiser bar.  Click the "Mabel's Labels" button below to get started.

Since anything with a label that ends up in the lost and found will be returned to your child at school, please label all water bottles and outerwear, as well as hoodies and sweatshirts, even for older kids.  And make sure to label your new spirit wear too!

Advanced Academics Information

If you were unable to attend the AAP information session earlier this week, Mrs. O’Connor’s presentation is linked on our website.  Any new to FCPS family in Grades 3-6 looking to refer for Full Time screening must submit the referral by October 15th. All other referrals are due by December 15th. Please reach out to our AART, Erin O’Connor, if you have any questions ([email protected]).

MISSED THE PTO MEETING on SEPTEMBER 13? Click here for the PTO meeting presentation.
Click here for Mrs. Brigg's Parent Coffee presentation.

• 🩹 Immunization Requirements 

Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. 

Free Immunizations for All FCPS Students

Safeway Pharmacy will be providing immunizations at Frost Middle School for all FCPS students at no cost on: 

• Tuesday, October 8,  3-7 p.m.

• Saturday, October 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Monday, October 28, 3-7 p.m.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students under the age of 19 to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.

Elementary School Clinics

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices. All school-required immunizations will be offered at no cost. Call 703-246-7100 to make your appointment.

Community Conversations with Dr. Reid

🎤 Join Superintendent Reid for a series of Community Conversations and share your feedback about our schools: September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School

October 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School

October 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Virginia Run Elementary School 

October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School

 

• 📚 Social Studies Basal Resources Review

FCPS is adopting Social Studies Basal Resources for the 2025-26 school year. Basal resources are the primary resources used to support instruction in a given subject. Public review of the instructional materials under consideration — which is part of the process for selecting new resources — is underway. Visit the Community Review webpage for more information on how to view the materials online or in person. 

All community feedback will be shared with School Board members before they vote to select materials in spring 2025. FCPS adopts basal resources by the process outlined in Regulation 3004.

📑Family Handbook

Please take some time to review our Parent Handbook. We wanted to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information in regards to the 2024-2025 school year. 

 The Langley High School Chorus proudly presents "Langley Lights Up Broadway" – a spectacular showcase of your favorite Broadway tunes, brought to life by our talented chorus members on October 9th and 10th at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available for purchase at langleychorus.thundertix.com. General admission is $10 for adults and just $5 for students. Additionally, FCPS Faculty/Staff members are entitled to two complimentary tickets each. Can't plan ahead? Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door. Get ready to sing, dance, and relive timeless Broadway classics with the Langley High School Chorus!

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We ended last week with our first school-spirited Pep Rally and Block Party! It was a fantastic way to show our spirit! Grade levels showed their spirit with their own grade level cheers and shared examples of how they use their Portrait of a Graduate Skill!

We will continue to celebrate how fantastic Spring Hill is. Stay tuned for how we to plan on celebrating our Blue Ribbon Award for Academic Excellence!

 

We have also  been celebrating National Hispanic Heritage month this past week through Hispanic songs and music in our front lobby to learning about the various celebrations and traditions in the classrooms. We will continue to enjoy learning about the histories and cultures who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.   

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Amy Briggs

           

Calendar Reminders

 

Oct 3 - No School (Rosh Hashanah)

Oct. 4 -No School (Teacher Work Day)

Oct. 9-Walk & Roll to School Day

Oct. 11-Military Family Coffee-9am (Library)

Oct. 14-No School (Teacher Work Day)

Oct. 21-Oct. 25-Book Fair

Oct. 24-Book Fair Ice Cream Social and family shopping night

Oct. 28-Early Dismissal-12:35pm

Oct. 31-End of Quarter-Early Release 1:35pm

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Attention All Student Artists Draw, Paint, or Sketch a piece of art for the 2024-2025 Yearbook Cover Contest

The first-place winner will have their artwork featured on the front cover of the 2024-2025 Yearbook.

• This contest is open to ALL current Spring Hill ES Students
• Artwork must be on an 8.5x11 piece of paper (copier or printer paper is acceptable, but cardstock is preferred)
• Artwork must be positioned in portrait, not landscape format, to fit the yearbook cover.
• All Artwork must be submitted by October 25, 2024, in the front office
• We must have the student’s Name, Grade, and Teacher on the back of the artwork.

• Only one submission per student.

If you have any questions, contact Ms. Restino at [email protected] or Ms. Ackourey at [email protected]

News from our PTO

1. Join the PTO and stay informed
2. Donate to the Panther Fund
3. Volunteer with the PTO

A Message from the PTO CONGRATULATIONS TO SPRING HILL ON BEING NAMED A 2024 NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION!

Please join us in congratulating our amazing teachers, staff, and administrators whose hard work and dedication keeps Spring Hill at the top of its game! The U.S. Department of Education commended Spring Hill as an Exemplary High Performing School based on high achievements in reading and math during the 2022-23 school year!  Click here for more information on this prestigious recognition!

 

Be on the look-out for more details about a community-wide celebration of this wonderful award and achievement!

Join us on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024 for National Walk and Roll to School Day!
If you don’t normally walk, bike, or scoot to school, don’t worry - you can still join in on the fun!
A group of parents and students will be meeting at the entrance to McLean Hamlet Park and will travel on foot or wheel down Macbeth Street to the path to Spring Hill. The group will depart McLean Hamlet Park at 8:25am, so please arrive on time.  McLean Hamlet Park is located in the Hamlet neighborhood, on Macbeth Street near the intersection with Falstaff Rd. Click here for a map.

We will have a table near the Large Playground at the back of the school with a banner for everyone participating in Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day to sign, as well as participation trinkets as part of the fun!   GET READY FOR OUR ANNUAL BOOK FAIR! ENTER THE POSTER CONTEST – ALL ENTRIES DUE BY Friday, Oct. 11!

All Spring Hill students are invited to create an original poster using this year's Book Fair theme, "Once Upon A Book Fair!" The grand prize winner will have his or her masterpiece printed on a bookmark distributed to everyone at school. The winners for each grade level will each receive the prize of a $5 Book Fair gift certificate!

 

Submission guidelines are as follows:

• Posters must include the theme: Once Upon a Bookfair
• Posters must include original artwork by the student using paint, markers, crayons, etc. No 3D Posters.
• Posters must be no larger than 14” x 22” & no smaller than 8.5”x 11”
• No names on the front of the poster. On the back, write the student’s name, grade & teacher
• Only 1 entry per student

A Poster Contest information flyer came home in this week's Thursday folder. Posters MUST be submitted in the box inside the Library no later than October 11.  Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

The Spring Hill PTO has partnered with Mabel's Labels to make labeling easy for you. Plus, when you purchase from Mabel’s Labels, the PTO receives a portion of the proceeds. It’s a win-win!

To ensure that our PTO gets credit for your labels make sure you enter “Spring Hill Elementary School PTO (McLean)” in the "Support a Fundraiser" section of the Mabel's labels Web site - you can also enter “Spring Hill Elementary School PTO (McLean)” at checkout in the Support a Fundraiser bar.  Click the "Mabel's Labels" button below to get started.

Since anything with a label that ends up in the lost and found will be returned to your child at school, please label all water bottles and outerwear, as well as hoodies and sweatshirts, even for older kids.  And make sure to label your new spirit wear too!

Advanced Academics Information

If you were unable to attend the AAP information session earlier this week, Mrs. O’Connor’s presentation is linked on our website.  Any new to FCPS family in Grades 3-6 looking to refer for Full Time screening must submit the referral by October 15th. All other referrals are due by December 15th. Please reach out to our AART, Erin O’Connor, if you have any questions ([email protected]).

MISSED THE PTO MEETING on SEPTEMBER 13? Click here for the PTO meeting presentation.
Click here for Mrs. Brigg's Parent Coffee presentation.

• 🩹 Immunization Requirements 

Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. 

Free Immunizations for All FCPS Students

Safeway Pharmacy will be providing immunizations at Frost Middle School for all FCPS students at no cost on: 

• Tuesday, October 8,  3-7 p.m.

• Saturday, October 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students under the age of 19 to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.

Elementary School Clinics

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices. All school-required immunizations will be offered at no cost. Call 703-246-7100 to make your appointment.

Community Conversations with Dr. Reid

🎤 Join Superintendent Reid for a series of Community Conversations and share your feedback about our schools: September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School

October 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School

October 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Virginia Run Elementary School 

October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School

 

📑Family Handbook

Please take some time to review our Parent Handbook. We wanted to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information in regards to the 2024-2025 school year. 

 The Langley High School Chorus proudly presents "Langley Lights Up Broadway" – a spectacular showcase of your favorite Broadway tunes, brought to life by our talented chorus members on October 9th and 10th at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available for purchase at langleychorus.thundertix.com. General admission is $10 for adults and just $5 for students. Additionally, FCPS Faculty/Staff members are entitled to two complimentary tickets each. Can't plan ahead? Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door. Get ready to sing, dance, and relive timeless Broadway classics with the Langley High School Chorus!

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

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Spring Hill Elementary School Named 2024 National Blue Ribbon School

Dear Spring Hill Community,

It is with great honor that I share the news that Spring Hill Elementary has been named a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education!  Spring Hill Elementary School has been designated an Exemplary High Performing School for 2024 by U. S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona. This prestigious recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance. Spring Hill Elementary is one of four schools in the Commonwealth being celebrated as an Exemplary High Performing School!

I will have the privilege to receive this prestigious award at the the National Blue Ribbon Ceremony in Washington, DC in November. 

If you would like to learn more about this award, please visit our webpage for the announcement. Stay tuned for ways Spring Hill will celebrate this incredible achievement as a school community.

• https://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools
• https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/awardwinners/

Don't forget to join our Spring Hill Facebook and Instagram page to stay updated on the latest news!

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web

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Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thank you for all of the parents who came to our New Family Coffee and PTO meeting this morning. We had over 150 attendees which is a new record! I can't tell you how much I appreciate all that the PTO does for our school! 

Recent Accomplishments:

• New Classroom Furniture: Over the past few years, PTO has purchased new desks and chairs for all First-Sixth grade classrooms. Sixth grade will see their new furniture after winter break. Kindergarten is next on our list and we can't thank you enough for your generous donations.  This furniture provides our students with a more conducive learning environment and helps to enhance their overall educational experience. Stay tuned for our big plans for the Large Pod!

Join the PTO Today!

If you haven't already, we encourage you to join the PTO. Your membership and involvement will help us to continue making a positive difference in our school. By joining, you can:

• Stay informed about school news and events
• Volunteer your time to support our initiatives
• Help us raise funds for important projects

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

 

Amy Briggs

Calendar Reminders

September 20th- Block Party, 5:30pm

September 21st-Community Clean-Up Day

September 23-Early Release Monday #1, Student dismissal is 12:35pm.

September 24-Advanced Academics Interest Meeting, 5:30pm

Oct 3 - No School (Rosh Hashanah)

Oct. 4 -No School (Teacher Work Day)

Oct. 9-Walk & Roll to School Day

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Advanced Academics Interest Meeting

A parent information meeting will be held in the Spring Hill ES cafeteria on September 24, at 5:30pm. Erin O'Connor, Our AART will provide information about the continuum of AAP services, explain the screening processes, and answer questions about advanced academic services. Click here for the AAP newsletter.

News from our PTO

1. Join the PTO and stay informed
2. Donate to the Panther Fund
3. Volunteer with the PTO

WHAT: 9th Annual Spring Hill Back-to-School BBQ Block Party
WHEN: Friday, September 20th at 5:30 PM
WHERE: Spring Hill Parking Lot - by the large playground

Get together with friends new and old for an evening that will be a hit for the whole family. From catered food by Mookie's BBQ to DJ'd tunes and games by Bach to Rock, there's something for everyone!

This is the last day to order tickets! You MUST have a ticket to attend.  Don't delay - click the button below to buy yours today! 

Click Here to Buy Your Block Party Tickets! Please help make Block Party a huge success!  Click on the button below to volunteer! Click Here to Volunteer at Block Party

 

CALLING ALL PANTHERS! The Get 2 Green Club (run by Mrs. Roman) and the PTO Design Committee invite you to join us for the 2nd Annual Spring Hill Fall Cleanup Day! Last year's Cleanup Day was such a success that we’re doing it again!

WHEN: Saturday, September 21, 2024 (starting at 10 AM)
WHERE: The Large Playground at the back of Spring Hill ES
WHAT: Grab your gardening tools and let’s work together to show everyone who comes through Spring Hill what it means to be a Spring Hill Panther!  

We need parent and student volunteers willing to get their hands dirty for a shift or two.*  There will be music, sweet treats and a raffle prize.
Click the button below to sign up for a slot or two and Click Here to Be a Proud Panther! N.B.: Please bring your own gloves and any small, hand-held gardening tools such as trowels or shovels.
* This is also a great opportunity for middle and high school students to get volunteer hours.  ANNOUNCING NEW SPIRIT WEAR SALES WEEKS - NOW THROUGH Sept. 27!!

This year, we are excited to be partnering with a new spirit wear company. Spirit wear will be ON SALE FOR TWO WEEKS ONLY.  Orders will be accepted through Friday, September 27.

Look for an order form in your child's Thursday folder this week! CLICK TO BUY YOUR SPIRIT WEAR!

 

• 🩹 Immunization Requirements 

Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. 

You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office. 

Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to your school’s front office, but they may not be uploaded in ParentVUE:  

• A health care provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
• A health care provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
• A notarized Religious Exemption form objecting to the administration of immunizations due to conflicts with their religious tenets or practices.

Community Conversations with Dr. Reid

 

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions. 

The next event is scheduled for Monday, September 23, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Newington Forest Elementary School. Click on the date to register. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.

Attendance

September is Attendance Awareness Month. Take a look at the Attendance Toolkit for additional content and ideas.

Newsletters:

• 🤒 When a Student Should Stay Home From School

Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.

Help your child succeed by encouraging them to attend as many days as possible, but do make sure your child stays home if they are sick. Visit FCPS’ website for information on when to keep your child at home.

If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify their teacher so that support can be provided if needed. Also, keep an open line of communication with your school's public health staff.

Read about how families can help form good attendance habits. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

📑Family Handbook

Please take some time to review our Parent Handbook. We wanted to provide our families with this resource as it will help assist you with pertinent information in regards to the 2024-2025 school year. 

Student Lunch

Online payment for student fees and school store items are available through the MySchoolBucks School Store. This online payment service provides a quick and easy way to pay for school-related purchases. You will be able to pay for a variety of school fees using credit/debit cards or electronic checks.

8201 Lewinsville Road McLean, VA 22102 | Main Office: 703-506-3400
Attendance: 703-506-3434 | Web