FCPS

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Dear Spring Hill Families,

What a fantastic week it has been! Our students have had the opportunity to experience the magic of music and delve into the rich tapestry of our nation's history.

Our talented young musicians filled the air with beautiful harmonies during the Langley Pyramid Chorus concert. Their hard work and dedication were evident in their wonderful performance. We were honored to welcome the renowned Langley High School Madrigals to Spring Hill. Their captivating performance was a true inspiration for our students. Lastly, our fourth-graders embarked on a memorable journey to the African American History Museum. This enriching experience provided valuable insights into the significant contributions of African Americans to our country.

Thank you to our dedicated teachers, staff, and volunteers for making these enriching experiences possible for our students. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments!

 

Sincerely,

     

Amy Briggs

Calendar Reminders

 

January 20-Martin Luther King holiday (no school)

January 21-Cooper MS Field Trip

January 24-Author Visit (4th-6th grades)

January 28 -End of the Quarter 

January 29-Student Holiday / Teacher Workday

February 1-Rise Against Hunger Event (Colvin Run ES)

February 10-3hour Early Release Monday

February 17 -President's Day Holiday

2024-25 FCPS    School Calendar

 

SY 2025-26 registration for Kindergarten and new students

 

SY 2025-26 registration for kindergarten and new students at Spring Hill ES is open January 27, 2025.

Please submit Intake Form in New Student Registration site on the website then school registrar will send you an email with information about required forms and link to schedule an appointment for registration.

Student’s Intention for the SY 25-26

If your student is not coming back to Spring Hill ES due to moving or transferring to private school for SY 25-26, please submit the Student’s Intention for the Next School Year form to the school office. Rising 7th grade students are placed in middle schools in the boundary by their home address. Please submit the form only if your student is moving out of the boundary.

 

Yearbook orders are due by April 4th

 

To order a yearbook, visit www.strawbridge.net and use the order code: YB31541. See this link for more details.

Author Visit

Dear 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Families,
Author Erin Stewart will be visiting Spring Hill on Friday,
January 24. Erin is a former Spring Hill ES student and
parent and will be coming to talk about her brand
new book, The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner!
If you would like to have a book signed by the author,
please order via this link or your favorite book seller. If
the book arrives before 1/24, please bring in the book
and the bottom of this paper to the Library. If the
book has not arrived by 1/24, please just bring in this
completed paper and we will have a book plate
personalized and signed to be put in the book when
it arrives. Hard copies of this paper are available in
the Library.
Please contact our librarian, Mrs. DeVylder
([email protected]), with any questions.

 

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.

 

Science Fair and STEAM Night – March 26, 2025

 

PTO and SHES are proud to announce the return of the SHES Science Fair and the introduction of STEAM Night.   Both events will be 5:30 – 7:00 pm on March 26, 2025.  The science Fair is open to all students K – 6 using this link.  Attached is the SHES Science Fair Handbook, this will help to guide your child through the process for their age group.  Here are a few highlights from the Handbook:

• All students are encouraged to participate.
• Sign up using this google form; sign-ups will be open until 2/26/25.
• Science Projects are for singles or partners – no groups 3 or more.
• All displays will be presented on a trifold – No digital displays.
• $50 budget for each project
• Prizes and awards will be given.
• Handbook is posted on the SHES Schoology page.

 

If you or your company would like to sponsor a prize or award, please reach out to Anna our PTO President.   We are looking for donations and fun awards for each group. For other questions about the science fair please reach out to Morgan Ackourey, Connie Rinker, or Kendra Roman.

 

Our first annual STEAM Night will be a fun night for families to come together to build and play in the STEAM realm.  Please be on the lookout for our STEAM Night Wishlist though PTO.  We hope you will consider joining us and supporting our new SHES tradition!     If you have specific questions, ideas to make this night the best it can be or would like to volunteer please reach out to Kendra Roman. 

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

FCPS Trust Policy

April 28, 2022, the School Board voted to adopt the Trust Policy affirming our commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students and their families. This policy aligns Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) policy with Fairfax County Government's Public Trust and Confidentiality Policy. This policy ensures that students and families can access the division’s benefits and services without fear of information being disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials.

To review the FCPS Trust Policy, please click here. 

Rise Against Hunger

It’s time again to initiate our Langley pyramid service-learning project in partnership with Rise Against Hunger, a global organization dedicated to ending hunger by providing life-changing meals to those in need. This initiative unites our students, staff, and families from across the pyramid to fund and package meals and make a meaningful impact in the fight against food insecurity worldwide. Please read below for information about how to join us by donating your time or funds in the most impactful way for your family.   

1,000,000 Meals Milestone this year! We are on pace to package our one-millionth meal at this annual Langley Pyramid service learning event. To do so, we must raise money to purchase 82,080 meals. We’ve come a long way since our first event in 2012 and are excited to share this monumental milestone with our communities. We will need to raise $34,475 to reach the milestone this year. 

Save the Date: Together We Rise Against Hunger! On Saturday, February 1, 2025, families in the Langley Pyramid will gather at Colvin Run Elementary School to help needy children. In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, the Langley Pyramid elementary, middle, and high schools will collaborate to prepare 82,080 meal packages for schools and orphanages worldwide. 

Sign up to volunteer to package meals on February 1st!

Spring Hill ES  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0C45ABA62FA1FC1-spring 

FCPS News

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

• • Dress Children Warmly
  • Proposed Construction Projects
  • Dual Language Immersion Lottery
• Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

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

 

SPRING OSA REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN!

The PTO is pleased to offer a variety of outside school classes and activities led by our talented Spring Hill Teachers and skilled FCPS-approved vendors. Our OSA Program helps provide our students with exciting and engaging opportunities to practice and learn new skills and activities surrounded by friendly faces from school in a safe, secure, familiar environment.  Please click here for the Spring OSA course list and class descriptions.   SPRING OSA registration is now open and will close at noon on Friday, January 24th.  Most classes run for 10 weeks and begin in February. Please click here to see a schedule and review our OSA policies regarding cancellations, no late registrations, and limited class capacity.

Click here to register for classes on the OSA Web page!

Active/current PTO Members (24-25) will be provided a one-time discount code for use for OSA course fees, ahead of the registration period. Proceeds from OSA classes help fund priority PTO projects for Spring Hill Elementary School. 

  YOU’RE INVITED TO BIDS FOR KIDS!

SAVE THESE DATES!  BIDS FOR KIDS ONLINE AUCTION – FEBRUARY 17 – 22…BIDS FOR KIDS ADULTS-ONLY LIVE AUCTION GALA – FEBRUARY 22!

 

The Spring Hill Elementary School PTO invites you to join us! WHAT: The adults-only Bids for Kids: Black and White Gala Live Auction event WHEN: Saturday, February 22 at 6PM WHERE: VFW Post on Spring Hill Road (1051 Spring Hill Road) At this fun, in-person party, we will come together to raise funds to help Spring Hill develop and create a new innovative learning space in the large pod.  The evening will feature not only our lively Auction, but also delicious bites, a DJ, and a full bar.  Ticket sales for the Live, Adults-Only Auction Gala will open on February 3.  WE NEED YOUR HELP! The Bids for Kids committee has been working hard to make this year's fundraiser a success but we could use your help! Please consider donating a gift basket for the silent auction - put it together with your family, or even ask a friend (or group of friends) to do it with you! We will also feature a Wine Pull and are seeking donations of bottles. (Please do not send alcohol to school - we will gladly coordinate a pick up.) Click here for more information and to sign up!

 

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

 

 

PLANNING FOR OUR BLUE RIBBON FUN FAIR 2025 IS UNDERWAY!

 

Mark your calendar for Saturday, 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 still need leaders to join our Committee for: 

• Decorations/Signs
• Candy Clock 
• Face Painting
• Cotton Candy

We need help organizing and preparing the activities and infrastructure that make this event so terrific. 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 Chairs, Kate Golden and Jodi Haug at [email protected].

  📑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, 

  

I am writing to encourage you to support your student(s) as they endeavor to collaborate with their Langley Pyramid peers to Rise Against Hunger. This yearly Langley Pyramid tradition is successful due to the support and commitment of our families. We held our last Rise Against Hunger event in February 2024. This event was a huge success and provided an outstanding service learning opportunity for children and adults of all ages.  

1,000,000 Meals Milestone this year! We are on pace to package our one-millionth meal at this annual Langley Pyramid service learning event. To do so, we must raise money to purchase 82,080 meals. We’ve come a long way since our first event in 2012 and are excited to share this monumental milestone with our communities. We will need to raise $34,475 to reach the milestone this year. 

Event Date: 

Saturday, February 1, 2025, families in the Langley Pyramid are joining at Colvin Run Elementary School to help needy families. In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, the Langley Pyramid schools will prepare 82,080 meal packages for schools and orphanages worldwide. This event will Each meal costs only 42 cents to make. For just $15, you can donate over 35 meals; $30 will make over 71 meals and $100 will make nearly 240 meals. 

Help raise money for the event: (Edit to fit your school’s format)  Students are encouraged to donate loose change or earned money to Rise Against Hunger. Students should bring in any money they would like to donate. Each school will collect cash during arrival from January 10 to January 31.  

Donate money online: To reach our one-millionth meal, the Langley Pyramid needs to raise $34,475 by January 31st. If your company matches contributions, please consider having them join you in making a tax-deductible donation today at Langley Pyramid Rise Against Hunger 2025 and help us Rise Against Hunger.  

 

Volunteer for the event: 

Register to volunteer for the event at: 

Spring Hill ES   www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0C45ABA62FA1FC1-spring 

  

Enter your Last Name and Enter "Quantity" as the number of volunteers in your party attending.  If for any reason you need to cancel, please cancel through the Sign-up Genius to make those slots available to other Langley pyramid families. Being a popular Langley pyramid event, please sign up as volunteer slots will fill up quickly.  Children ages 4-12 must be accompanied by an adult. On the day of the event, volunteers package meals based on the amount of money raised, so it is recommended that if you wish to volunteer for the event, please make a monetary donation.    

 

We package meals based on the amount of money raised and our Langley pyramid goal is $34,475 which provides 82,080 meals. With each meal feeding 5-6 people, this is a wonderful event that impacts over 500,000 individuals around the world and broadens the perspective of our students and families. 

  

Sincerely, 

Amy Briggs

 

 

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

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“Rise Against Hunger” Service Learning Project (All Grades)

We will be starting our annual “Rise Against Hunger” Service Learning project on Monday, January 13 and will be collecting donations in school and online through January 31. All students are encouraged to earn some extra money at home through doing chores, saving, or set aside a portion of any allowance to donate to our Rise Against Hunger initiative. 

As a Langley pyramid, the goal is to raise $34,475, to purchase 82,080 meals which will be given to families in need around the world. If it is $.50, $2.00, or $20.00, we want our students to know that they are never too young to make a difference, and we appreciate your support in sending this message to your child as well. 

We will be tracking the percentage of participation per Grade Level. We hope 100% of our students will participate by donating any amount of money they can. Every $.42 purchases a meal which feeds 5-6 people.

Families may also donate online at Langley Pyramid Rise Against Hunger 2025. NOTE: If you donate online, please have your child inform us of that when they stop by the Front Lobby table during Morning Arrival, so we can count their participation.

Sign-Up to Volunteer- The event will be held at Colvin Run ES on Saturday, February 1, 2025. You must sign-up to volunteer for the event. The Volunteer sign-up Genius will be sent Wednesday, January 15 at 5:30 p.m.

Need More Information? Rise Against Hunger is a 4-star rated organization that provides nutrient-rich meal packages to developing countries delivered through schools. These meals encourage children to attend school, receive an education, and provide additional meals for their families.

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

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Dear Spring Hill families,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! HAPPY SNOW DAYS! ❄️❄️❄️❄️☃️☃️ What fun to have some time at the end of the winter break to celebrate the snow!

I hope you and your family had a restful winter break and have enjoyed your time together! We are ready to get back into a routine! Our custodians have been working tirelessly to clear the sidewalks and be ready to re-open! 

A few updates looking ahead:

• Our PTO meeting scheduled tomorrow will be rescheduled for next Friday, January 17th at 9am. 
• Picture day retakes are coming up on Monday, January 13th. Please see below for more information.
• STEAM/Science Fair will be March 26th
• Bingo Night is changed to April 10th!

As we look at returning back to school, please remind your students that phones must be silenced and in backpacks for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (e.g., smart watch) may be worn; however, phone features (e.g., texting, Internet, calls, etc.) are to be off when phone use is prohibited. If your child is not feeling well, please remind them to let an adult know and proceed to the clinic. For safety and security, students should not contact parents directly, via phones or watches and request that parents pick them up from school. The office or clinic will reach out to parents via our office phones, with such information. Please reach out the administrative team if you have any questions.       

 

Sincerely,

Amy Briggs

 

Picture Day Make-Up-Monday Jan. 13th!

Please plan to have your child(ren) have their picture taken for the yearbook if they were not here in the Fall. Click here to sign up for email updates about your child's school picture after picture day.

Calendar Reminders

 

Jan. 13               Picture Make-Up day

Jan. 17               PTO Meeting, 9am

                           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 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.

 

Science Fair and STEAM Night – March 26, 2025

 

PTO and SHES are proud to announce the return of the SHES Science Fair and the introduction of STEAM Night.   Both events will be 5:30 – 7:00 pm on March 26, 2025.  The science Fair is open to all students K – 6 using this link.  Attached is the SHES Science Fair Handbook, this will help to guide your child through the process for their age group.  Here are a few highlights from the Handbook:

• All students are encouraged to participate.
• Sign up using this google form; sign-ups will be open until 2/26/25.
• Science Projects are for singles or partners – no groups 3 or more.
• All displays will be presented on a trifold – No digital displays.
• $50 budget for each project
• Prizes and awards will be given.
• Handbook is posted on the SHES Schoology page.

 

If you or your company would like to sponsor a prize or award, please reach out to Anna our PTO President.   We are looking for donations and fun awards for each group. For other questions about the science fair please reach out to Morgan Ackourey, Connie Rinker, or Kendra Roman.

 

Our first annual STEAM Night will be a fun night for families to come together to build and play in the STEAM realm.  Please be on the lookout for our STEAM Night Wishlist though PTO.  We hope you will consider joining us and supporting our new SHES tradition!     If you have specific questions, ideas to make this night the best it can be or would like to volunteer please reach out to Kendra Roman. 

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

UPDATE ON POTENTIAL CHANGES TO MIDDLE SCHOOL START TIMES!

⏰🔔⏰🔔 I think it is important that all of you are informed about the discussion on Middle School Start Times, which don’t just affect Middle School! At Tuesday’s School Board work session, staff from Prismatic Services, Inc., presented options for adjusting start times at FCPS middle schools. As a reminder, Prismatic is charged with developing an action plan to help the School Board reach its goal of starting middle school at or after 8 a.m.

The presentation includes five options for adjusting middle school start times based on the consultant’s analysis from community forums, surveys, and interviews with staff, parents, associations, and other groups. The School Board will provide next steps to the superintendent. Watch a video of the work session. Visit the Middle School Start Times webpage for more information on the project.

FCPS News

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

  • Family Academy Orientation
  • Literacy Resources
  • Winter Programs and Activities

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

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    PTO MEETING – Rescheduled to Friday, January 17!

Please join us for the first PTO meeting of 2025 on Friday, January 17 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!<<

 

SPRING OSA PREVIEW AND REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

SPRING OSA registration is around the corner!

Be on the lookout for the Spring OSA calendar preview next week, with registrations to follow shortly.

  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

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

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

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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