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. Fun Run

9:20a.m. 5k Race

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 3/5/10

From our Positive Behavior Support (PBS) Committee – Sign up to help in the FHES cafeteria!

The PBS Committee has created an online “sign-up sheet” to fill the available slots for cafeteria help.  Just follow the simple instructions below.

To sign up for a slot, go to this website,
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/cafeteria1 <http://www.SignUpGenius.com/go/cafeteria1>

and enter the password:
*falcon*

When the list of available slots comes up, click the "Sign Up" box next to the slot you want to work. Slots already filled will be indicated.
After you pick your slot, on the next page, select the 3rd option, "I don't want an account. I'll just enter my name", and type your name in the box below next to "Your Name".  Then click the box below that says "Sign Up".

That's all there is to it!  Currently all shifts are available, so sign up quickly in order to get your preferred slot!  Please contact Dot Artz at 703/264-0484 or dartz@cox.net, if you have any questions and thanks in advance for volunteering!

Show What You Know Expo – Volunteers needed

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 scheduled for Wednesday, March 24.

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

Goal:  100% Participation for the Falcon 5K, Fun Run and Fair!

The Fun Fair is two short months away. We need your help! Our goal for the 2010 Flint Hill Falcon 5K,  Fun Run and Fair is 100 percent participation from our FHES families. Remember, the event kicks off at  9 a.m. May 1 with the 5K and a much shorter Fun Run (1 mile or less), followed by the Fun Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Why do we need you? This is the FHES PTA’s biggest fundraiser of the school year! In this tightest of budget years for FCPS, our Falcon 5K, Fun Run and Fair couldn’t be more important. Please contribute to this critical effort.

We need help organizing, decorating, finding sponsors for the run, baking cakes, staffing the events --- in short, everything! Please contact our Fair Chairwoman Jennifer Lippman at 703-938-4635 lippmaninva@yahoo.com or our Run Chairwoman Joann Meglinley at 703- 255-7087 jjod.meg@verizon.net to offer your support!

As a reminder, the Fun Fair features games, a moon bounce, great food, cake and cupcake walks, and a silent auction. The auction includes enormous baskets filled to the brim with items donated by FHES classes. Also returning this year is the highly popular “Teacher Time,” in which your child can win special activities with a favorite teacher or teachers, to be shared with a few friends or the whole class!

The Falcon 5K and Fun Run is new this year to kick off National Fitness Month. The 5K is a road race in the neighborhoods around Flint Hill – all ages are welcome to participate. The Fun Run, geared toward our youngest students, is the shorter race (a mile or less) on the FHES grounds.

Our runs are a great way to boost your fitness but we also have plenty of other incentives:

 

We need sponsors! Please contact Amanda Di Donna, Fundraising Chairwoman at amanda@di-donna.org

To volunteer for the Run, please contact Joann Meginley at jjod.meg@verizon.net

Sixth-grade farewell party:  Planning for this always greatly anticipated year-end event is getting under way!  Anyone interested in helping out with the sixth-grade farewell party, please contact Donna Perez at dognanbean@verizon.net and/or Debbi Dyson at dsdyson@aol.com.  

FHES Family Bingo Night will be rescheduled:  Because of the cancellation of school on February 12th, all after school and evening activities scheduled to be held on school grounds were also canceled, including Family Bingo Night.  L  We are currently working to reschedule bingo night.  Please stay tuned!  Any questions in the mean time, please contact Jean Duffy at duffydesigns1@verizon.net.

6th grade parents – Are you ready for Thoreau Middle School?  Thoreau MS has an active, inclusive PTA lead by Flint Hill parent "graduates" Gay Campbell & Nancy Socher who will stay on as President and Vice President next year.  Getting involved in the PTA is the best way to stay connected to your student since there are no or limited volunteer roles in the classroom.  Principal Greenfielder and his staff communicate with the PTA and have an excellent working relationship.  The Nominating Committee is represented by the liaisons from all the feeder elementary schools so the PTA is diverse and a great way to meet new parents.  There are positions available that can suit your time & talents, such as Secretary, Treasurer, 7th Grade Dinner, Diversity, Grocery Receipts, Health, Landscaping, Legislative Rep, Parent Programs, Reflections, School Store, and Welcome. There are job descriptions & I can put you in touch with the previous PTA parent.  If you are interested in getting involved next year, contact Aimee Davis at aimeedav@cox.net or 703-242-7870.

Parent orientation night at Thoreau M.S.:  The Rising 7th Grade Parent Night will be held on Tuesday, March 16th from 7-8 p.m. at Thoreau M.S.  Parents will be able to hear from teachers, administrators, and counselors regarding the core classes and the exploratory classes (electives) options.

GRACE Art: Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519):  Flying Machines and other Fantastic Inventions

Leonardo da Vinci is often, and with justification, said to be the embodiment of the Italian Renaissance.  Astoundingly gifted as an artist and endlessly curious about the world, he could also be described as an architect, engineer, inventor, scientist, writer and musician.  While we will see examples of his famous paintings, such as the Mona Lisa and the Madonna of the Rocks, we will be primarily concerned with Leonardo the inventor and creative thinker.  Inspired by his many sketches for flying machines and other fantastic marvels, the students will create their own miniature “flying machines”  from paper, cardboard, craft sticks, straws and various other common materials.  Students will get the chance to give full vent to their imaginations. 

For the GRACE Art calendar and the dates and times of upcoming volunteer meetings, see the PTA website at www.fhespta.org.  For questions about GRACE Art, contact Sammye Justice at justall@cox.net.   More information about GRACE Art can be found here.

Recycling tip of the week from Kristin Rothrock (PTA Recycling) – Freecycling

Have you ever heard of Freecycle? I hadn't until about 2 years ago. Ok, this is technically not traditional recycling but works the same way.  I know some of you do this because I see you on it. It is a yahoo list-serv that lets you list stuff you want to get rid of that you don't want to throw away in the trash. The people who started it are passionate about keeping stuff out of landfills. I have been able to give away stuff that would have gone into the trash otherwise. It is quite amazing to me what people list on there and what other people want. Last summer, I even converted my husband. He cleaned out our garage and wanted to throw away 3 half-used bags of fertilizer, old biking shoes and 2 wood filler containers that were hardly used at all. I had all three things listed and they were picked up by others that would use them before the trash even picked up that week. If you want to register, go to www.freecycle.org and then choose the area that you live in. For Oakton, I believe it would be Fairfax City that you choose. (That is the one I am in) I believe Vienna is McLean-Vienna. You try to join a group closest to you so you are not driving or the person interest in your stuff is not driving too far to pick it up.

And if you are looking for something, you may find it for free on freecycle. You should check it out. Although I am more of a lister than a seeker, I have found craft type stuff that have come in very handy.

Keep sending in your phones other electronics.  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.