Welcome to the Flint Hill Elementary School PTA website!

Please bookmark www.fhespta.org - it's all PTA, all the time!

Stay informed!  All current PTA news items are published every week in our "virtual" Weekly Folder (see below).

Get involved!  There are volunteer opportunities for practically every interest and schedule. :-)

The FHES PTA is committed to supporting the FHES motto: 

We pursue excellence every day in a respectful environment

January 2010

To the members of the Flint Hill Elementary community:

Last month, the Madison High School PTSA held a meeting with School Board Chairman Kathy Smith, to discuss the current budget issues in Fairfax County.  Below is a summary of the meeting with details and suggested follow-up actions that was prepared by Susan Wisseman, the Madison H.S. PTSA President.  This summary was also sent home to members of the Thoreau Middle School community by Gay Campbell, the Thoreau M.S. PTA President.  As noted below, the PTAs within the Madison pyramid are working together to form a united message.

Very truly yours,

Mary Forde, FHES PTA President

 *******************************

The core issue has to do with revenue. Although Fairfax County is weathering the economic turndown better than many other areas of the country, our county government is funded largely by property taxes. Since property values have not yet rebounded, revenue is down significantly.

As you are aware, Fairfax County Public Schools are looking at a deficit of $176,000,000.00 – which assumes the same level of funding from the county and the state as last year. This may be the good news scenario. There is no question that school as we know it will change next year – and likely, for many years to follow.

At this juncture, it is really important that we focus on the revenue side – rather than splintering over trying to save particular programs. The current list of possible cuts does not close the gap in the deficit. Without any increase in revenue, there will have to be even more substantial cuts.

Please consider taking the following actions:

  1. 1.       Be fully informed.
    1. Visit the Fairfax County government website, http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/government/budget/ so that you know what is going on at the Board of Supervisors level. The Board has to advertise a property tax rate the fourth Tuesday in February. Once that rate is publicized, the board cannot raise it further. To come close to maintaining this year’s funding, the property tax rate would have to increase $0.11 per $100.00. For most of us, that would keep our property taxes a little lower than they were this year. However, this would still mean a decrease for the schools because the student population continues to grow.
    2. Visit the FCPS website, as well. You can get the most current information from the Superintendant’s office as well as the school board. http://www.fcps.edu/deptarea.htm
    3. Understand what’s going on the state level, as well. You’ll find information at http://www.fcps.edu/legupdate/index.htm.
  2. Let the Board of Supervisors know if you are willing to pay a slightly higher property tax rate. One cent translates to about $41.00 per year – but $18 million in revenue. Both Michael Frey (Sully) and Kathy Hudgins (Hunter Mill) have constituents in the Madison pyramid – so write or call both, as well as Board Chair Sharon Bulova. Let them know if you would also support additional revenue sources, such as a meal tax, or fee increases for programs or services, or other suggestions you have. This is politics – your voice matters.
  3. Ask others to express their support as well – 70% of households in Fairfax County do not have children. The county budget affects the schools, but it also affects all county services including libraries, parks and recreation, and public safety. We should all care about schools, because the quality of our public schools does have a direct impact on property value and the desirability of living in Fairfax County.

Watch for more information and opportunities to speak out. The PTA presidents within the pyramid are working together to have a united message.

Falcon 5k, Fun Run and Fair

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Come join our community as we kick off National Fitness Month!  Participate in the 5k or Family Fun Run. This is a great event for the entire family to attend.  After the race, please stay for our wonderful Fun Fair. The Fun Fair provides hours of entertainment with games, prizes, a cake walk, moon bounce, dunking booth, face painting, lots of yummy food and so much more! Participation in the race and fun fair will raise needed funds to keep our school programs alive and help to keep Flint Hill Elementary one of the top schools in Fairfax County.

9:00a.m.  5K race

Fun Run to follow

10:00a.m.- 1:00p.m.   Fun Fair

**Needed: Committee level volunteers for planning purposes. All around general support - if you want to help out but not sure how, we will find a place for you!**

Donations Needed!

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding the Falcon 5K , Fun Run and Fair, please contact Joann Meginley at jjod.meg@verizon.net and Jennifer Lippman at lippmaninva@yahoo.com

For additional information on class contests, registration, and sponsors, click here.

Virtual Tuesday Folder

Weekly Folder for 1/31/10

The February 2010 issue of the Flint Hill Forum can be found here.

FCPS FY 2011 Budget:

It's back!  Family Fun Bingo Night!  The FHES PTA is happy once again to sponsor our Family Fun Bingo Night, scheduled for Friday, February 12, 2010, 7:00-9:30 p.m.  Bingo will be held in the FHES gym from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., and beverages and desserts will be served in the FHES cafeteria from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.  Reservations will be accepted until February 10th, or until all slots are full.  Please respond promptly, as this event has always sold out in past years.  Additional information and the registration form can be found here.

Sixth-grade farewell party:  The sixth-grade farewell party is a years-long tradition at FHES.  The PTA is currently looking for a committe chair (or co-chairs) and committee members to help plan this always wonderful, greatly anticipated year-end event.  Anyone interested in helping to plan the sixth-grade farewell party, please contact Mary Forde at mary.forde92@gmail.com. 

After school soccer:  The American Academy of Soccer is returning to FHES to teach soccer skills to interested students (K-3rd; 4th-6th).  The program is scheduled to be held on Thursdays, starting THIS Thursday, February 4th, and runs through Thursday, March 25th.  Cost is $80 per student for this 8 session program.  The registraion form can be found here.

Mad Science is back!  The ever-popular Mad Science program returns to FHES on Tuesdays for K-3rd graders (starting 2/16/10 through 4/13/10) and Thursdays for 3rd-6th graders (starting 2/18/10 through 4/15/10).  The cost of this 8 session program is $104 per student.  The registration form can be found here.

The Show What You Know Expo Returns to Flint Hill Elementary School!

Show What You Know – the annual student event to showcase learning and knowledge – will return to Flint Hill in 2010. For the Expo, students call the shots and present topics that are interesting and fun to them. Some students present subjects they already know about, while others work on subjects they are interested in exploring. This year’s Expo is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, March 24.

Students present their topics using three-paneled presentation boards. Topics are only limited by each student’s imagination. Previous years’ presentations have ranged from composting to animals, from rain forests to vampires, from calligraphy to cooking and from sports to coin collecting. The possibilities are endless!

Information and entry forms have been sent home in hard copy; extra copies can be found on the PTA credenza in the front office. The deadline for entries will be Friday, February 5.

Volunteers are needed and appreciated! For more information, contact Pam Rao (pamreardon@hotmail.com) or Jane Miscavage (janemiscavage@hotmail.com).

GRACE Art:  February in GRACE Art, students will be learning about Georgia O'Keefe.  O’Keefe’s primary artistic inspiration was found in nature.  She liked to simplify a natural object to such a degree that it took on the quality of abstraction.  She is perhaps best known for her expansive canvases of flowers, shown in extreme close-up.  Although she spent parts of her life in Virginia and New York City, it was the American Southwest that she loved best.  More information about GRACE Art can be found here.

Recycling tip of the week from Kristin Rothrock (PTA Recycling) - Plastics:  Do you throw in your whole container, lid & all into the recycling bin? You can and bravo for recycling. You can actually go one step further and remove the lid first. Many soda/water/juice bottle lids are actually not recyclable. The representative at Fairfax County told me that you can throw the lids in the recycling bin but it would be most helpful if you took them off and threw them away. Those lids are not made of the same material as the containers and in most cases, are not even made of recyclable plastic. The machinery that compresses the plastic containers ends up popping off the lids, but at high velocity that could potentially injure someone/something. Long time ago, I was told that if a lid makes it into a batch of melted recyclable plastic, the entire batch has to be thrown away so I take off my lids just in case.

Now some lids are made of #4 plastic. These larger lids are usually found on the tops of plastic containers - cottage cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, etc. These would be recyclable if allowed by your waste management service. Check to see if your waste management company accepts these materials. These are not recycled by Fairfax County either.

Don't forget to keep sending in your phones and other electronics. The bin is in the school office these days. And if you have any questions or any ideas for recycling, please send me an e-mail at kristin.rothrock@gmail.com.

Interest in Mathnasium program as a possible after school activity in the spring:  The goal of the Mathnasium program is to significantly increase a child's math skills, understanding of math concepts, and overall school performance, while building confidence and a positive attitude toward math.  An assessment will be given to develop a customized program for each student.  Each session will include group activities such as math games and contests and individual work learning mental math concepts.  To learn more, visit www.mathnasium.com.  If you are interested, please email Bea Wolman at bkwolman@cox.net with your prefered days.

Recycle those old cellphones and inkjet cartridges and raise money for the PTA!! This year, the PTA has started a new recycling/fundraising project. We are recycling cell phones with a company called EcoPhones. A box will be outside of the school office to collect phones. Please put them in a plastic bag and put your name and e-mail address on it if you would like a receipt. And it is not just phones. It is used, unbroken inkjet cartridges, laptop computers (see list of acceptable ones), MP3 players, digital cameras and video cameras and handheld games. In most cases, they take anything - working or not. Here is the website that describes what is acceptable or not: www.ecophones.com and then choose the pricelist. We are hoping to cut down on electronic waste - a large amount that is toxic going into our landfills. And make a few dollars for the PTA at the same time. :-) 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kristin Rothrock at kristin.rothrock@gmail.com.

Extra copies of the FHES student/school directory are available for purchase from Mrs. Mirilovich in the FHES front office for $5.50 per copy.  Please make checks payable to "FHES PTA."

WANTED:  PUBLISHING CENTER VOLUNTEERS!  The FHES Publishing Center provides publishing opportunities for student writers.  Volunteers are needed to interview students for biographies, work with younger students on stories, input stories into the computer and bind the documents into books.  (Note:  There are opportunities to work from home to help with the Publishing Center.)  Anyone who is interested should contact Sarah Paul at the6pauls@verizon.net.