September 12, 2021

This information is important for the upcoming week.

Important Upcoming Dates:

September 13 & 14 - Senior Portraits (Students will be called alphabetically in small groups. Photo sessions should not be more than 10 minutes including travel time to the big gym.)
September 16 - Student Holiday
September 23 - Senior Information Night
September 23&24- Underclassmen Portraits during English classes.
September 27 - Back to School Night
October 13 - PSAT & Convocation
October 22 - Homecoming

HCPS-School-Calendar-2021-22.pdf

This Week at DSF

Parking Permits

Parking permits will be offered only to seniors this week. Freeman senior families, now is the time that you can go online to register to purchase a parking pass. In addition to registering, you will need your license, and registration uploaded as part of that process. Directions are located on Schoology and atdsf.com; they direct students to this form.

Once all forms are filled out, parking passes will be sold for $50, exact change or check made out to DSF, on September 14^th, 15^th and 17^th during all 4 lunches, and since September 16^th is a student holiday, you can come to the bus ramp between 9 and 11 a.m. and pay for and pick up your parking pass then.

Student Holiday on Thursday

This is a reminder that Thursday, September 16th, is a student holiday in Henrico County. Our school offices will be open and our teachers will be participating in professional learning activities on that day.

Student Lunches on the Front Lawn - Pilot this week

For this week, Freeman High School will be piloting a plan at lunch to bring back a Freeman tradition and ease some lunch crowding. Starting Monday, 9/13, members of the Junior class will have the option to each lunch on the front lawn of the school, provided they check out through the cafeteria and eat in designated locations. There are no tables or chairs, only a space where students can enjoy an outdoor lunch if they choose. This was a Freeman tradition for decades and we get requests each year to bring it back. We will do so on a brief trial period this week. Seniors have the option, of course, to eat in the Senior courtyard.

Student Drop-Off and Pick-up

Student drop-off and pick-up locations are in the student parking lot behind the Baseball field, off of Camden Drive. Parents are asked to pull into the main student parking lot when picking up students at dismissal. We release those being picked up at 3:55, after we've released student drivers 5-10 minutes prior.

Parents should not use the visitor's parking lot in front of the school to drop off or pick up students during the start of the school day (8:30 to 9:15 a.m.) or at dismissal (3:30 to 4:15 p.m.). Please note that it is extremely unsafe, at any time of the day, to drop students off on the curb in front of the school. Let’s ensure the safety of our young drivers by following this request. We apprreciate your patience as we work to better serve our pick-up lines while we have more using this form of transportation than ever and as we simultaneously work through challenges with our bus riders.

Student Dress Code

The Henrico County Code of Conduct mandates a dress code to ensure a proper learning environ ment. Students are expected to review that policy prior to choosing clothing and those not adhering to dress-code will be asked to change. Those who repeatedly violate this Code of Conduct policy will be subject to disciplinary action. Please help us avoid that situation by speaking with your student about the dress code.

Cell Phones in Class

The HCPS Code of Conduct stipulates that student cell phones must be off and away during instructional time. This year at DSF, students may be asked to place their phone in a designated location in most classes during class time. Students who do not and whose phone is out without permission during class time will have that device confiscated and turned into the main office. Phones will be retuned to parents and guardians. Students may use the main office landline to inform parents that their phone was confiscated.

Fees, Forms and Powerschool

We are strongly encouraging all forms and fees to be completed online using the same web-based tools we used last year I am proud to announce that our division has waived the Laptop fee and several other required items for every student this school year. With that news, we have moved on from the traditional and terribly-named “fee nights” and are encouraging all families to pay the minor required fees online:

Use this link as a one-stop shop for online HCPS services: https://henricoschools.us/online-services/

Athletics Boosters Membership Information

Each year, nearly 800 students at Douglas Freeman compete on multiple athletic teams. With your membership in the Booster Club, you support our programs and you save money on admission to home sporting events. See our website (www.dsfathleticboosters.org) for details about benefits associated with each membership level. Athletic passes and tickets may be used for all home Varsity and JV athletic events, excluding tournaments and Invitationals. Without a Booster Pass, costs per sporting event are $8 for football and $6 for all other sports. Preferred parking applies to all home football games except Homecoming. Tickets and passes from prior seasons are no longer valid.

Sign Up for Parent Accounts

Now more than ever, staying connected with the school and your child’s teachers is important to your child’s success in school. Henrico parents can create accounts to view grades and attendance information through PowerSchool, access assignment information through Schoology, and receive communications through the SchoolMessenger App. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to set up your access to these tools. If you need assistance, please reach out to our Innovative Learning Coach, Jessica Ciokan (jkciokan@henrico.k12.va.us).

PowerSchool Parent Portal - click here then choose “Create Account” tab
Schoology - click here for directions
SchoolMessenger App - click here to sign up to receive school and teacher communications in one place. (click here to learn more)

DSF COVID SAFETY

Quarantine and Contact Tracing FAQs

Close Contacts:

With almost our entire student body returning to Freeman this year and our classrooms at full capacity, there becomes an increased likelihood that your student could be deemed a close contact if we have a positive case in the building. If that occurs, school administration or health professionals will call with a series of questions to determine if quarantine is necessary. Here's how we can help keep as many students at school as possible:

Encourage mask-wearing at all times as we enforce this every day at school.
If you feel comfortable, have your student get a COVID-19 vaccine. Students with a full vaccination status are better proteced from COVID-19.
Please remain patient with our school officials and contact tracing team.
The school maintains and enforces carefully-documented seating charts to ensure that no unecessary students are quarantined.

Our division has amended its definition of a close contact, citing that students that are three-feet apart and fully masked would no longer be considered close contacts. It is important to remember, however, that this must be determined by our contact tracers, using seating charts and student interviews, which could take some time. Some of our classrooms are not able to maintain 3 feet between students during class so all students within 6 feet will be referred to contact tracers. This does not mean that all will quarantine beyond the initial processing time.

Quarantine Decisions:

HCPS has published a chart to help families and staff understand the decisions being made by our contact tracing team. Only contact tracers and school officials can clear a student for a return in the case of a positive case or exposure, but this chart is meant to provide transparency in how we are arriving at those decisions.

Flowchart-for-Quarantining_Sept-1-2021.pdf

DSF - School-specific Covid Safety Mitigation Plan

Click Here for the DSF COVID MITIGATION PLAN

School Counseling

Information from our School Counseling team, led by Janet Smith, DSF Director of School Counseling

Senior Parent Info Night: Save the Date (9/23)

Senior parents and guardians: save the date for our annual senior parent night event on September 23rd at 6:00 pm. Administration, school counseling, and the senior class sponsors will provide information to senior parents to help them navigate the year ahead. Topics include senior events, college applications, and financial aid.

Parent/Guardian Feedback Request

Help school counseling build their comprehensive school program for the year! The School Counseling program would like your input about which topics we should address with our students this year. Please click this link to take a quick 2 question survey. We will use this information to shape our school counseling program.

Contact Information For School Counseling

Phone: 804-673-3709

Website: tinyurl.com/dsfcounseling

Liz Puckett, School Counselor, A-Cr

ebpuckett@henrico.k12.va.us

Morgan Meadowes, School Counselor, Cu-Hen

memeadowes@henrico.k12.va.us

Janet Smith, Director of School Counseling, Her-K

jksmith@henrico.k12.va.us

Susie Good, School Counselor, L-Ph

slgood@henrico.k12.va.us

Corey Hancock, School Counselor, Pi-Sa

clhancock1@henrico.k12.va.us

Charlie Williams, School Counselor, Sc-Z

cewilliams@henrico.k12.va.us

Graeme Byrne, Administrative Assistant

gjbyrne@henrico.k12.va.us

Sarah Terry, Registrar

sdterry@henrico.k12.va.us

Student Schedules

Schedules are now live in PowerSchool. If your student believes there is an error on their schedule, they should fill out this form. Examples of scheduling errors include, but are not limited to:

No class during a period
Two classes during the same period
Missing a core class (English, Math, Science, History, Health/PE)
Repeating a class you have already passed
Enrolled in a class that you have not passed the prerequisite course (ex.- placed in Spanish III without passing Spanish II)

Evening School/ Fall Online PE

Registration for Evening School/Fall Online PE is now open. All applications and payment must be received no later than September 24, 2021. Please click here for more information.

Senior Classroom Lessons and Individual Meetings

School counselors will be delivering classroom lessons to seniors through their English classes on September 13th and 14th. Counseling will cover all of the information seniors need to prepare to become enrolled, enlisted, or employed after high school. Presentations will be available for reference on the school counseling website. Individual senior meetings will begin on September 15th. Each senior will have a one-on-one meeting with their school counselor.

PTSA

News from our Parent Teacher Student Associationon

PTSA Welcome Letter

Dear Freeman Families,

Welcome back to school! I hope this message finds you healthy and rested and ready to jump into a fantastic school year. It is an honor to serve as your PTSA President this year. We have a group of dedicated PTSA volunteers ready to support programs, events and activities around DSF this year.

Please visit www.freemanptsa.org for all the info you need, including how to donate to the Freeman Fund. This is our main fundraiser, and it is 100% direct donation to DSF PTSA. You might ask: Where does that money go?

At this time of year, we have some start-up costs for PTSA, but the most important way we used funds this summer was for the Freeman Forward Movie Night. PTSA provided concessions and Mister Softee ice cream truck treats for everyone! It was wonderful to see all who attended and so fun to be able to offer snacks and goodies to welcome everyone back to school. Keep an eye on the Freeman Forward and our website for more info on how your donations help. Your contributions to Freeman Fund go right into the hands of our students, teachers, families. Every donation matters!

Go to freemanptsa.org and click GET INVOLVED for direct links to support your PTSA!

Another way you can support DSF PTSA is to link your Amazon Smile account to Freeman PTSA. Use this link smile.amazon.com/ch/54-1148304

You can also link your Publix grocery store card to Freeman PTSA. Both of those bring dollars to us while you shop! Thanks for your help.

If you would like to add your name to the Freeman PTSA volunteer list, please send your email address to: volunteersfreemanptsa@gmail.com. Our family volunteers are recruited through SignUp Genius requests throughout the school year. By providing your email, you will be included in these requests.

Our first PTSA meeting will be a brief one right after Back to School Night, Monday, Sept. 27. We will meet in the DSF library right after you visit your student’s last class. We will vote on the budget which you can see one our website and attached to this message. We look forward to meeting you all! Other meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 5:30pm in the Conference Room of the Leadership Center. Check freemanptsa.org for meeting dates. Everyone is welcome! It is a great place to hear updates from Mr. Marshall and Ms. Smith (Director of School Counseling), and we value input from each one of you.

Here’s to a wonderful year for all of us! I look forward to seeing you at DSF soon. Go Mavs!

Amy Boyle

freemanptsapresident@gmail.com

2021 2022 budget one page.pdf

Key Resources for 2021-22

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.

All Things DSF: www.atdsf.com

Please bookmark www.atdsf.com. This is a one-stop resource for all the links, refences, sign up forms and information you might need. We are constantly updating it and use it to house important school-wide virtual events as well.

Important Links:

Key Resources:

All Things DSF Website (AKA: “at dsf”): www.atdsf.com
Freeman PTSA Website: www.freemanptsa.org
DSF Athletics Calendar (always up to date): www.colonialdistrictva.org
Mr. Marshall on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@dsfMrMarshall
Freeman Official Instagram: www.instagram.com/freemanhighschool.official
Freeman Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreemanHighSchool.official/

Freeman Testing Calendar: https://sites.google.com/henrico.k12.va.us/dsf-testing/home

PSAT Information - October 13th, 2021

9th and 10th grade students are automatically registered to take the PSAT 8/9 (9th grade) and the PSAT/NMSQT (10th grade) tests on Wednesday, October 13th. The county pays for the tests so 9th and 10th graders take it free of charge!
11th grade students can sign up to take the OPTIONAL PSAT/NMSQT test on the same day by registering AND paying the $18.00 fee. Juniors can qualify for college scholarships or the national merit program based on their scores.
- Register here: www.tinyurl.com/DSFPSAT2021
- Pay online here: https://osp.osmsinc.com/HenricoVA/login.aspx?ReturnURL=Payment.aspx OR via cash/check (made payable to Freeman) which you can turn into the main office the first week of school
- 11th grade students must REGISTER AND PAY by MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th! NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED!
The HCPS PSAT official letter can be found HERE.
Any questions? Email Mrs. Reilly, DSF Testing Coordinator, csreilly@henrico.k12.va.us

Athletics/Activities Calendar

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

Activities Newsletter

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