Dec 8th - School Counseling Underclassmen Family Night (see below)
Dec 17th - Chorus Winter Concert Premier (atdsf.com)
Dec 21st - Jan 1st - Winter Break
Jan 18th - MLK Holiday
Feb 1st & 2nd - Ninth Grade students return to school (those opting for in-person)
February 4th - All HS students return to school (those opting for in-person)
Please join the DSF school counseling department on Tuesday, December 8th at 6:00 PM for the Underclass Parent Night. School counseling will cover the college exploration and application process, including steps you and your student can take at each grade level to prepare. This event will be streamed through Facebook as well as through atdsf.com.
As we wrote last week, we have made a change to the original plan for classroom set-up at Freeman due to the greater number of students selecting in-person learning for some classes. When necessary, desks will be spaced 4 to 5 feet apart , instead of the six feet we orignally indicated. If this change causes you to rethink your intent selection and you would like to change from in-person instruction to virtual for semester 2, please indicate that using this form. Thank you!
On Tuesday, students in grades 7-12 and their families will have a chance to connect
virtually with employers across the region at Henrico County Public Schools’ Life-Ready Expo: Natural Resources and Agriculture event. Use your interest in science and the environment to prepare for careers involving food quality and safety, animals, and cultivating and preserving our natural resources. Agriculture is Virginia’s largest private industry, with an economic impact of $52 billion each year, including 300,000 jobs. Students and families can talk with employers and learn about lucrative career opportunities for students, corresponding educational requirements and compensation.
Student registration is not required. The virtual event will be conducted using Microsoft Teams. Attendees can take part using a browser without creating a Teams account. To attend on Tuesday, go to
Schedule of HCPS Life-Ready Expos:
• Dec. 8, 2020: Natural Resources and Agriculture
• Jan. 13, 2021: Human Services
• Jan. 26, 2021: Business Management and Technology
• Feb. 9, 2021: Health Services
• Feb. 23, 2021: Industrial and Engineering Technology
• March 9, 2021: Arts and Communications
The SCA is holding a DSF MASKS FUNDRAISER!! Check out the attached flyer to purchase a DSF mask. There are four styles. Proceeds benefit the SCA for student scholarships, teacher appreciation, and charitable donations. Only $12.00 per mask. A great holiday gift. Share with your friends and family! Pay here: www.tinyurl.com/FreemanPayment. Thank you for considering!
December 2 - December 13
Rhythm & Brew AND Rhythm & Brew Seasonal Perk - (Holiday Blend, a perfect holiday gift!!)
Order from Two Labs Coffee: https://www.twolabscoffee.com/collections/all?page=2
Pick up will take place on December 17thin the parking lot of Mod Pizza, 8671 Quioccasin Road from 4:30-6:30. Pick up location is for Seasonal Perk and Rhythm & Brew pre-orders only; all other coffee varieties purchased must be shipped.
“Join us on Thursday, December 17th at 7:00PM for the DSF Winter Chorus Concert and enjoy an evening of holiday music assembled by our amazing choral students! In the midst of such difficult and uncertain times, we hope that our virtual performance inspires joy and hope in you and your family during this season. Find all the info you need to join us at tinyurl.com/winterconcert20”
Registration for the Evening School of Excellence spring term is now open. All applications and payment must be received no later than January 29th, 2021. For more information, please click here
The DSF Athletics Boosters club has plans to open a Freeman Mavericks gear shop this week. We will alert families and post this information on social media as soon as the virtual shop goes live!
Please join Mr. Marshall and his team for the next Principals Coffee Town Hall event. This will take place at 9 am on Wednesday, December 6th.
Please join us on Facebook Live or by following the link at www.atsdf.com
Hermitage and Highland Springs ACE Centers will host five virtual “Live on Location” events starting Dec. 2 where students can meet and ask career questions of professionals in the field while we stream live from various business locations. Students are able to learn more about ACE programs, ask teachers questions and apply to an ACE program!
Click this link to get started.
Underclassmen Portrait Day
Our underclassmen school pictures were scheduled for next week, but we've been asked to close the school buildings for the weeks after the holiday breaks, which necessitates a change.
Pictures will now take place January 19-22nd
Here is the link to sign up for your session: Underclassmen Portraits Sign Up
Strawbridge will take photos for all underclass grade levels (9, 10, and 11) during these sessions. Please be sure to wear a mask and observe the state’s social distancing rules.
Sitting for your portrait is an excused absence. We will provide your teachers with a record of your time slot and confirmation of your attendance.
The Freeman Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is having a Do Good December Drive to help homeless veterans.
We want to show our appreciation to our veterans by providing Warmth and Hygiene packages. Can you help us by purchasing some of the items we want to put in our packages?
Because of COVID, we will have contactless delivery.
Items can be delivered to the school via Amazon http://tinyurl.com/freemancfawinterdrive2020, or you can drop off items on the bus loop, Dec. 8 from 3:00-4:30.
In August, students/families were requested to bring their laptops to the schools and self- perform an update to optimize the laptop for virtual learning. The Technology Department is suggesting that students who have not completed the laptop update process yet, if possible, please bring their laptop on any weekday during school hours to Technology Support Technician (TST), up until December 18th, to help perform the update. This update is not required but will help optimize and best secure the laptop. TSTs will not be in buildings from December 18th through January 4th due to Winter Break.
For any questions or concerns, please contact Brian Maddox at bemaddox@henrico.k12.va.us.
Parents, please be aware that the scholarship newsletter is available to all seniors. New information is posted every two weeks. You can access the scholarship newsletter on All Things DSF: https://www.atdsf.com/scholarship-info
-Synchronous School Day ending at 2:55
-Freeman Focus moved to the morning
After listening to all the groups that we serve (students, families, teachers), including many of you who have voiced a concern about the length of the school day to me and other school officials, we learned last night that HCPS is shortening the virtual school day for secondary students. For DSF, that means the synchronous school day will dismiss at 2:55, providing more time for students to complete homework and other asynchronous work and providing our teachers time to plan engaging lessons, meet with students virtually and provide meaningful feedback. This new schedule will go into effect on Tuesday 9/29.
The Virginia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Counselors (VACRAO) is proud to present a Virtual College Exploration program, for all Virginia students, September 14-November 5.
The eight-week program consists of hundreds of opportunities for students to learn about the college search process and about many different colleges through panel presentations and weekly Virtual College Fairs. To learn more, visit https://www.strivescan.com/virginia/
Our school has an Advisor from GRASP to support students and families through the college financial aid process, including the FAFSA and searching for scholarships. Our GRASP Advisor is Janet Andrews. You can reach Janet by calling or texting 804 233 0854 or via freeman@grasp4va.org. Virtual appointments are available!
Distribution of free meals will take place at Freeman starting on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 on the bus ramp side of the building.
Monday through Thursday (Friday meals are distributed on Thursdays.)
7-9 a.m.: Hot breakfasts (when available) and cold lunches.
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Hot lunches as well as cold breakfasts for the next day.
Each year, Freeman’s PTSA relies on the Freeman Fund to pay for programs, teacher supplies and other activities that benefit each child and build a strong Freeman community. In previous years, the fund has provided items like classroom sets of books, microphones, microscopes and other teacher needs that extend beyond their budgets; events like We the People and All-Star Prom; and programs like Teacher Appreciation as well as the Angel Fund, which helps students and families in need. As we start the school year virtually, we anticipate the fund will help with unexpected expenses that arise from virtual learning. Even now, teachers are thinking about and anticipating needs for supplies and support that students may not have access to at home. We hope the Freeman Fund will be able to help with those efforts right out of the gate.
These funds are provided solely through the generosity of donations from the Freeman community. Please visit freemanptsa.org and click on “Donate to the Freeman Fund” to learn more. On behalf of the DSF PTSA, thank you!