March 7, 2021

This information is important for the upcoming week.

Important Upcoming Dates:

March 8th: All In-Person Learners report
March 10th: Wellness Wednesday (SEL Topic: Learning From Others)
March 11th and 12th - Virtual students remote, and In Person Days for In Person Learners
March 12th: Student half day (12:30 release)
April 2: Student half day, staff clerical day
April 5-9: Schools Closed - Spring Break
June 16th at 11am: Freeman High School Class of 2021 (Tentative) Graduation Date

Athletics

Calendar:

Click Here for our up-to-date Fall Sports/Activities Schedule (also embedded at the bottom of the Fwd)

Youtube Channel:

For the first time in school history, you can watch most of our games and contests LIVE on youtube!

Click Here to view.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYfqbIgGx3TpxbggRh4q2Mg

New Information:

This information has not been shared in a Sunday message yet, so it is listed here for the first time. Consider this the "breaking news" for this week.

Wellness Wednesday Attendance Clarification

Wednesday attendance is based on 1 of 2 things. A student is marked present if either:

(a). The student attends the 9 am SEL lesson virtually and is marked present in real-time by Freeman Focus Teacher

--OR--

(b). as a back-up for those unable (tech issues, etc.) to attend the SEL lesson, the student may complete the asynchronous Wellness Wednesday check-in during that calendar day.

(Additionally, and separately from attendance, students have work to complete in each class, posted on Schoology)

Our Process:

teachers take real-time virtual attendance during the 9 am Freeman Focus SEL lesson
Our system generates a report/list of those who did not attend the SEL lesson.
at 7pm that evening a call goes home to those who did not attend the SEL lesson. Use this is a reminder to complete the asynchronous form if your student has not. If you have completed the Asynchronous form, then you can disregard. Students have until the end of the calendar day to complete that time-stamped form.
The next morning, every teacher will check the form and update attendance for those who completed the form asynchronously. Attendance is final at 10 am.
At that time (after 10 am the day after) if attendance is not accurate, please reach out to the school.

Freeman Focus Attendance

Beginning last week, all students (Virtual + InPerson) must check in to Freeman Focus for attendance. See Bell schedule.

Sem 2 DSF Bell Schedule (updated 1-8-20)

Changes For Virtual Learners

Our new bell schedule affects virtual learners, too. The breaks are shorter between classes, for example.
Students are now required to attend Freeman Focus and check in with their teacher for attendance purposes.
Class planning and structure may change now that teachers are engaging with in-person and virtual learners. This might mean station activities, grouping up with in-person learners. At a minimum, there will be some delays and learning curve moments as we adjust as a school.
The attendance procedure doesn't change for a student, other than that we will record students who don't attend class as "absent" until they complete the asynchronous work. This might mean your virtual learner could get the automated call and needs to complete the asynchronous work to get that corrected.

SOL PARTICIPATION FORM

HCPS will administer Virginia Standards of Learning (or SOL) tests from May 3 to June 16th, 2021. HCPS is required by federal mandate to administer these tests, which are designed to measure students' mastery of the standards, and may also be used by students to earn verified credits to meet graduation requirements.
The tests must be administered IN PERSON. Virtual students will come to school to test on Wednesdays only. In Person students will test on Tuesdays or Thursdays. If you have not already done so, we are asking you to complete this form concerning your child's participation in SOL testing.
Forms should be sent to Mrs. Reilly, testing coordinator, at csreilly@henrico.k12.va.us as soon as possible. You and your student would have received an email from her if you need to fill out the form. If you have any questions about testing, you may reach out to her at the email address above or call at 673-3700.
The Testing Calendar with scheduled test dates can be found here: https://sites.google.com/henrico.k12.va.us/dsf-testing/home.

Medication in the Clinic - required process and forms

As we approach our return to in person learning at Freeman we want to remind parents that our medication policy has not changed. All medications must be brought to the clinic by a parent or guardian. Parent permission is required for over the counter medications, and prescription medications require a physician’s order in addition to parent permission. Please see the attached forms and contact the clinic with any questions. If you have not completed a health history form for your student please do so as soon as possible, so that we have all the information we need to care for your child at school.

Please reach out to the clinic to discuss dropping off necessary medication.

Allergy Action Plan

Asthma Action Plan

Over the counter Medication Log

Perscription Medication Log Permission

Semester 2 In-Person Learning Expectations

We will use this section each week to highlight key pieces of information that students returning to in-person instruction will need to know by February

DSF F2F Video Information Series

Click below to check out each short video in our DSF F2F Video Series:

DSF F2F Video Series

Athletics and Game Attendance

Fall Sports have begun using careful mitgation strategies to keep our athletes safe. Participants are encouraged to reach out to their coaches with specific questions.

Attending Games:

In order to be in compliance with Executive Order 72, our schools will offer for purchase two tickets per player, both teams, to familiy members for outdoor events and one ticket per player of the home team for indoor events. In the event that a JV contest takes place before a Varsity contest, the facility must be cleared before the varsity contest.

Tickets will be availabe for purchase by athletes on certain days leading up to each contest. Unfortunately, no general admission tickets will be sold at this time and passes will not be accepted. All spectators will be required to wear a mask at all times and adhere to social distancing guidelines. If guidelines are not followed, you may be asked to leave the event. This is a true team effort and we thank you in advance for your cooperation. Please contact Suzanne Criswell (sgcriswell@henrico.k12.va.us) if you have any questions.

Families of studnet athletes: Please communicate with your coach if you have questions or for dates/times for pick-ups. The information will likely come from your coach, so be sure that he/she has your correct contact information.

Hallway Transitions

Students will maintain social distancing when in the hallways

Teachers will be required to monitor hallway traffic between classes
Hallways and stairwells will shift to one-way traffic during transitions. Students will be provided a map prior to school re-opening.
Restroom breaks must be carefully tracked for contact tracing purposes, students must sign out of class and into restrooms. We will consolidate to two or three restroom sets for the school during class periods. Restroom breaks will occur during class time.
The small gym is no longer a hallway/cut-through. Except for those access the small gym suite of classes (Reset, health rooms)
The quad is now open and encouraged for travel between the math hall and green acres
One-way traffic could lead to longer walks. Those with a transition that is made significantly shorter by going against the direction, they can apply for an against the flow

Class Attendance

Students are designated (in powerschool by parent/family intent choice) as either "Virtual" or "InPerson" students. That drives the following procedures:

Virtual Learners: [Unchanged since September]

Students are marked present by either
- (a) observed by the teacher to be visually present during a synchronous lesson during the course. (They logged in to the Microsoft Teams meeting during class) OR
- (b) completed the designated attendance check-in or warm-up during that calendar day.

InPerson Learners:

Students must be physically present in class/school to be marked present for the day.

Students can be marked tardy to school and to class.

Students cannot choose to stay virtual for a day, week, etc.*

When students are absent from school, families will request the absence to be marked excused in one of the following ways:
- Illness - call the school attendance office on the day of the absence to notify the school of illness
- Planned Absence - contact the school principal to request a planned absence be excused

One Exception:

Students required to quarantine by HCPS contact tracing team, but not showing symptoms may obtain permission to attend class virtually for a specific length of time. (symptomatic students should be absent and rest)

What if/FAQs:

What if I have to be absent?

Please call the school or send in a note from a parent/guardian. The student will make-up the missed work by working with our teachers.

What if my In-person learner wants to learn remotely while on a family trip or at home sick?

This student would be marked absent from class and the parent/guardian should call into school to report the absence. If, despite that absence, the student wants to attend some or all of class virtually, that can be approved by the teacher at the student's request ahead of time. This is important because absences drive make-up work policy and procecures. The exception to this is students asked to quarantine by HCPS contact tracers.

Teacher Attendance Procedures:

Teachers will take attendance and submit it in real-time for thsoe visually present either in class (InPerson) or in the Virtual class meeting (virtual).
Parents/Guardians will recieve an automated call for students who did not attend class that evening
Virtual learners have the remainder of that calendar day to complete asynchronous check in to be marked present
Teachers will amend attendance the next day to reflect those virtual learners who completed asynchronous work

Wellness Wednesdays:

Attendance taken through Freeman Focus classes.
Students considered present if they attend the virtual SEL lesson, OR
Students complete the school-wide Asynchronous check in form, posted in Schoology each Wednesday.
There are no other synchronous classes on Wednesdays and no students will report to the school building.

Wellness Wednesdays

Each Wednesday we will close down the school for a deep clean and students will learn mostly Asynchronously.

Schedule:

9:00 - 9:30 - Wellness Wednesday Social/Emotional Learning Lesson with Freeman Focus

9:30 - 2:55 pm - Asynchronous Wednesdays:

students complete 25-minute mini lessons at own pace from each class (posted on Schoology)
teachers available for office hours, student conferences, etc.

Attendance:

students check in using Asynchronous attendance check-in form

Lunch

Students will eat lunch with their Freeman Focus classes in either the cafeteria, large gym, or small gym, seated in assigned lunch pods.
Students will remain 6 feet apart during lunch. Masks will obviously be down while eating
Students will have assigned seats in their pods (teachers will work with students to request seats within their pod). This is essential for contact tracing purposes.
Students can bring lunch or take advantage of grab-and-go lunch provided for them.
Students in A lunch may assist with setting up their individual lunch table and chair.
Students in B Lunch may assist with putting away their individual lunch table and chair
Stuents will wipe down seating and eating area at the end of lunch and when arriving to lunch. (similar to classes)

Bell Schedule

Our Bell Schedule will be similar to the existing 2020-21 calendar with slight variations for arrival, dismissal and lunch. All students must note this change in schedule

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13HsATd_2RZIBxKyvvSAKKlWlCmPP3VbDxHjJr3AxcpI/edit?usp=sharing

Day1/Day 2 Schedules

We will use the following schedule for each week once we return to in-person instruction, regardless of holidays.

Mondays - Day 1 Schedule (1,3, FF,5,7)
Tuesdays - Day 2 Schedule (1,2,FF,4,6)
Wednesdays - Wellness Wednesdays + Asynchronous work
Thursdays - Day 1 Schedule (1,3, FF,5,7)
Fridays - Day 2 Schedule (1,2,FF,4,6)

Headphones added to supply list

Each year students are asked to purchase pencils, paper, notebooks, etc. for the school year. This semester we would add headphones to that supply list for those opting for in-person instruction. Students are asked to purchase earbuds that work with student laptops and bring them to school each day. Families, please reach out to the school if this is a hardship so we can support you.

Parallel Hybrid Instruction and Student Schedules

Student Schedules Update: After a thorough review of each student, class and classroom space, we have elected to use a parallel-hybrid model for nearly every class section in semester 2 due to the benefits it provides our students.

In this model, students in the classroom and those looking in virtually through Microsoft Teams learn from the same teachers simultaneously. We piloted this learning style for the county in December. This allows for the most flexibility and allows us to keep every student’s schedule and teacher the same as semester 1, regardless of virtual/in-person placement.
With the exception of some classroom number changes, nearly every child’s schedule and teachers will remain the same for semester-2. Parent and student feedback about possible schedule changes was a large driver of this decision.

Arrival To School (Mornings)

Students will not be allowed on campus prior to 8:45 am
Students will enter through bus ramp doors, math hall doors and Green Acres doors
Students getting breakfast will grab and go and eat in designated areas in the cafeteria
Students will report to their first period class upon arrival to school, where they will engage in quiet study, supervised by teacher or classroom monitor
First period schedule will be adjusted with a late start (tentative: 9:10am) due to multiple bus runs. Quiet study will continue until 9:10 am. This will lead to a change in the daily schedule for all periods.

Dismissal from School (Afternoons)

Goal: To ensure a safe and socially distant dismissal of walkers, car riders, student drivers and bus riders. Students will be expected to follow the one way traffic directions during dismissal. All students will stay in their last class and be dismissed from there, via a PA announcement and electronic bus board. Students will engage in asynchronous work while awaiting dismissal.

To facilitate dismissal, DSF will need accurate, up to date information regarding how students plan to travel home in 2021. All families are required to complete this DSF-Specific transportation survey prior to the start of in-person learning in February.

Dismissal Times

2:45pm - Student Drivers

2:45 pm- 3pm: Bus Riders - as each bus arrives

2:50pm - Car Riders/Walkers

Exits for Everyone

Green Acres Doors: All rooms in Green Acres, the Annex, the Center (including Larkins’ room) and Rooms 223-227
Main/Auditorium Doors: Rooms 117 - 129 & Rooms 200-222
Doors 8 or 13: Rooms 100 - 116

Alerting Admin to Protocol Breaches

It is essential that all members of the Freeman Family (Studnets, staff, families, leadership, etc.) follow health and safety protocol. For that reason, we want to encourage all stakeholders to alert school and division leadership to any lapses in protocol. We will use our anonymous alerting system, called "Anonymous Alerts" to do so. This system can be accessed from the Freeman High School website or by using this link: https://report.anonymousalerts.com/henrico/

Breaches in protocol will be addressed by school or HCPS personnell and corrected. This is about all of us doing our part to keep eachother safe, so we will learn from any mistakes in order to minimize risk.

Student Expectations

Students will be required to wear face coverings over the mouth and nose at all times. Those in violation of this are putting others at risk and will face school consequences.
Students will be required to maintain 6-feet of distance from others at all times. Those in violation of this are putting others at risk and will face school consequences Consequences include:
- - - Removal and parent contact, RESET, short-term removal from physical classroom, permanent shift to virtual instruction
Outgoing students will clean desks and seating area at the conclusion of each class with a disposable wipe
Incoming students will clean desks and seating area at the start of each class with a disposable wipe

Restroom Breaks

Restrooms will be closed during transitions between classes and for the first ten minutes of each class. This is for cleaning and monitoring purposes
Three restrooms will be open during class time for student use
Students must obtain permission and a pass to be released from class (as has always been the case)
Students will be monitored using a sign-out process for contact tracing purposes when they leave the room
All water fountains are closed. Students are permitted to bring their own filled waterbottles to school

In-Person required forms

This message is for those who have opted for a return to in-person learning. In accordance with CDC Health and Safety requirements, parents are required to complete and submit two Covid-19 safety forms for each student prior to them returning to the building.

We are very excited to welcome students back into the building and we want to do everything within our power to ensure their safety. Before your student is permitted back into the building, you need to log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account and sign the two required safety forms.

How Do I Access the Forms?

Parents need to have an active PowerSchool Parent Portal account to access the forms. If you have a parent portal account, please complete the forms through the RYCOR system:

● Sign into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account.

● Go to the menu tab and select “Access Online Forms”.

● From there, select your student(s) name(s) and follow the instructions on the screen for each student. Please complete the following forms:

○ COVID-19 Health Screening Acknowledgement

○ COVID-19 Addendum to the Health and Safety Acknowledgement

Transportation Information needed:

Additionally, if you have not yet done so, please use the link below to let us know your plan for getting your student to and from school. We need this information to plan for student parking, and to ensure a safe and socially distant dismissal of walkers, car riders, student drivers and bus riders.

To facilitate dismissal, DSF will need accurate, up to date information regarding how students plan to travel home in 2021. All families are required to complete this the survey below prior to the start of in-person learning.

Survey: DSF-Specific transportation survey

Complete and submit asap or at your earliest convenience so that we are best positioned to welcome all students back once we are cleared to do so.

Information We've Previously Posted:

The information below had been posted in weeks prior, but is still relevant and important. Click the topic to read the collapsed text below it.

Senior Portrait Retakes

Senior Parents,

Strawbridge is adding another senior portrait retake day. On March 3, seniors will be able to take/retake their senior portraits at Freeman in the big gym. Just a reminder: Seniors need to take a photo in their graduation gown to appear in the yearbook.

A signup link for retakes is forthcoming.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Jason Abril

Douglas S. Freeman High School

Afternoon/Evening Hour Appointments with School Counseling

School counseling will be holding afternoon/evening appointments to meet with families and discuss academic planning for the 21-22 school year. Appointments will be held virtually through Microsoft Teams and will last 25 minutes. When you register for your appointment, a meeting link will automatically be emailed to you at the email address you provide. To sign up for an appointment, please click here. Please make sure to note each counselor’s schedule below:

Mrs. Puckett (A-Cr)

Tuesday 2/16 3:00 - 6:00 PM
Tuesday 2/23 3:00 - 6:00 PM

Ms. Meadowes (Cu-Hen)

Tuesday 2/16 3:00 - 6:00 PM
Tuesday 2/23 3:00 - 6:00 PM

Mrs. Smith (Her-K)

Tuesday 2/16 3:30 - 6:30 PM
Wednesday 2/24 3:00 - 6:00 PM

Mrs. Good (L-Ph)

Tuesday 2/16 3:00 - 6:00 PM
Tuesday 2/23 3:00 - 6:00 PM

Mrs. Holtz (Pi-Sa)

Tuesday 2/16 3:00 - 6:00 PM

Mr. Williams (Sc-Z)

Monday 2/15 3:00 - 6:00 PM
Wednesday 2/17 3:00 - 6:00 PM

2021-2022 Scheduling

Scheduling for the 2021-2022 school year is starting soon! The PowerSchool Parent Portal will be open from February 15-26 for students/parents to view teacher recommendations and make selections for their 21-22 school year course request. Students can view the 21-22 course option sheet here. School counselors will meet individually with ALL students beginning in late February. Students will be able to sign up for a meeting with their counselor. The sign up links for students will be posted in Schoology in late February. School counselors will be visiting English classes to discuss scheduling during the week of February 8th.

Senior Mid-year Transcripts

Seniors who applied to 4 year colleges should begin requesting their midyear transcripts in Parchment. Seniors should reach out to their school counselor with questions. The directions below have been posted for seniors on Schoology:

Mid-year transcripts need to be ordered in Parchment - no transcript will be sent unless you request it in Parchment.

1. Order a mid-year transcript (you can do this now!) in Parchment.

2. If you applied to the college through Common App, select "Common App first year applicant" as the destination in Parchment. If you applied through Coalition or directly through the college website (ex: JMU), select the individual college as the destination in Parchment.

3. When ordering, you must choose HOLD FOR GRADES - this ensures we wait to send the semester transcript.

4. Mid-year transcripts will not be sent until mid-February after semester grades and final rank has been finalized.

5. All colleges know you are waiting on HCPS to finalize grades, do not worry about the deadline they email you about - as long as you order your transcript, it will be sent.

Student Parking 2020-21

Please use the following link to submit your student’s application for parking for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. Some key details for this year:

Parking will not have a fee associated with it this year, but students must have a parking permit for this school year to park in our student lot.
Completing the application is NOT a guarantee of receiving a permit.
Parking will be granted to seniors first, then juniors and if spots remain to underclassmen.

To complete the application, you must submit:

Pictures of your student’s license (or permit and 180-day VA Driver Training Certificate)
The vehicle’s valid registration.
You will also need to acknowledge several policies and procedures.

Seniors will have until February 12, 2021 to secure their spot. After February 12, juniors will be considered and the remaining spots will be offered at that time. If you have questions, please email Laura Hollowell at lmhollowell@henrico.k12.va.us.

https://forms.gle/hQimgox854K6JvREA

Freeman Yard Signs for Sale for all students

Freeman is selling class-specific yard signs.

We want to blanket the community with school spirit! You can order today!

In order to order your yard sign, students/ families need to complete the google form AND make their payment through our Online School Payments system (OSP). OSP is linked in the google form for easy access. Signs are $20 each and orders must be submitted by 1/27. A tentative distribution date is 2/8. Families can reach out to Mr. Cook or Mrs. Walthall (Class of 2024 sponsors) with any questions.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER!

Student Variance Request Deadline - Feb 15th

In rare cases, students apply for and are granted requests to attend HCPS schools outside their atttendance zone boundary. The high school (grades 8-11) deadline for submitting a variance request is February 15th. Because variances are only requested on a year-to-year basis, this includes those who attend DSF on a variance this year.

Introducing the Freeman Mavericks

www.freemanmascot.info/announcement

Assistance with the financial aid process

Mrs. Janet Andrews, our GRASP representative is still meeting with students and their families who need assistance with the college financial aid process. She can be reached via email at freeman@grasp4va.org or by phone call/text at 804-223-0854. Mrs. Andrews is a fantastic resource for students and families.

Scholarship Newsletter

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

HCPS CTE LifeReady Expo Series

For the next few months, 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 events.

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.

Click here to attend:

www.tinyurl.com/BusMan-Technology

Schedule of HCPS Life-Ready Expos:

• March 9, 2021: Arts and Communications

PSAT INFORMATION FOR 9TH & 10TH GRADE STUDENTS

The Preliminary Scholastic Achievement Test (PSAT) will be offered free of charge to all 9th and 10th grade students. 9th and 10th grade students who chose to remain VIRTUAL for the second semester can sign up to test on Wednesday, April 14th. This is OPTIONAL and there will be no negative consequences if students choose NOT to test. 9th and 10th grade students who chose to come IN PERSON for the second semester will automatically be signed up and given the test on Thursday, April 15th.

An email with the sign up link and more information was sent to all guardians of students who chose to remain virtual. If you did not receive one, please email Mrs. Reilly, testing coordinator, at csreilly@henrico.k12.va.us.

More information and test day details will be sent to all testing 9th and 10th grade students in late March.

New Virtual Bell Schedule (until 3/1)

-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.

Our new bell schedule, effective Tuesday, 9/29 is linked here:

UPDATED DSF VIRTUAL BELL SCHEDULE

Virtual College Tours

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/

GRASP

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!

DONATE to the Freeman Fund (Our only academic fundraiser)

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!

Athletics/Activities Calendar

(Best viewed on a computer or tablet, Click here to open in a new window)

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