Dear Freedom Hill Community,
It’s hard to believe that Winter Break is one week away. Last week, "The Hill" was practically humming with activity - our students performed fabulously in their band/strings concerts, taking VGA Reading assessments, participating in our first-grade field trip to D.C., planning for Spirit Week, and even searching for a rather quick gingerbread man who left clues to his whereabouts around the building!
We will be busy here at Freedom Hill with a good deal of fun packed into our school calendar this week. Please check our Spirit Week schedule below - we'd love to have your child's participation.
Tuesday is the last day to sign up for a before/after-school activity for our winter session. Please see the PTA section below. Friday is also the deadline for Full Time AAP referrals for students in grades 2-6.
From all of us at Freedom Hill, we wish you and your family Happy Holidays! Thank you for another year filled with the support of our wonderful students.
In partnership,
Nicholas Zapadka, Principal
Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal
2023-24 FCPS School Calendar
FCPS Lunch Menu
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December 11-15 - December Spirit Week (See below)
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December 12 - Deadline for Before/After School Program Sign-Up
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December 15 - Referral Deadline for Full-Time AAP Services
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December 16 - January 1 - Holiday Break
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January 2 - Return to School
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January 15 - No School, Presidents' Day
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January 22 - Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Night (5:30 - Sign Up Here)
 As we celebrate the season of giving this December, we would like to extend an opportunity to come together as a school community to make a lasting impact on the lives of those in need. This year, we invite you to participate in our Giving Tree Program by sponsoring a family. As a refresher, our Giving Tree Program is a holiday assistance program that we offer to families for assistance with clothing and gifts.
You may sign up to sponsor a family in the sign-up genius link below. You will also find the families’ information of clothing sizes, likes, notes, and instructions.
Visit our Sign-Up Genius link here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4DADAD2FA4F8C34-46309715-2023
Let’s make this holiday season unforgettable for every member in our community. Your participation in the Giving Tree Program is a gift in itself.
Important notes
- Gifts must be wrapped, labeled with the family letter/child’s description (age and gender), and have a note of what the item is. Please do not write this information on the wrapping paper.
- Items will be due on December 11th, 2023 to the Freedom Hill ES Front Office
- Should you have any questions or concerns, please email the program coordinator at Earierapiner@fcps.edu
We look forward to concluding the calendar year with some fun next week!
FCPS Cares is an opportunity for community members to recognize staff who go above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the outstanding work of FH teachers and staff.
We received two submissions this week:
Mrs. Hussin
This is my third child with Mrs. Hussin. She has consistently gone above in beyond over the years, and I can't be happier. All my kids have gotten excellent education and experience during their year with Mrs. Hussin. Her enthusiasm and energy, outmost dedication, care and fun personality is what every child needs in a classroom. I believe she deserves all the recognition and acknowledgement possible.
Ms. Cadena-Gonce
I cannot praise Katherine enough. She has been instrumental for my three kids to feel "at home" and comfortable at school. Her personal touch, greatest care, positive can-do attitude gives me a piece of mind when my kids are in school (2 graduated from FHES), one is still there. Any time I need anything from school, I reach out to Katherine, and she provide just-in-time assistance. Our family loves Katherine!
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This week, we are focusing on Self-Control. You have the ability to control your emotions and behaviors. You think before you act.
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“By constant self-discipline and self-control, you can develop greatness of character.”
~Grenville Kleise
Questions you might enjoy talking about:
- Do you consider yourself to be a person who has self-control? What things do you do that indicate this?
- Why is self-regulation important?
- What happens when your emotions take over? How can you work on developing greater self-control?
 Our Freedom Hill dads/male caregivers are invited to bring their student(s) to Freedom Hill for a pizza dinner and to learn about our Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) volunteer program. We will be holding it this year on January 22 at 5:30. We have made some tweaks this year based on community feedback (including having half-day signups that may be more manageable for our working D.O.G.S). Even if you are a returning participant, we'd still love to have you out. Planning to attend? Please complete this quick form so we have enough pizza!
Thank you David Hay for coordinating this great program as our "Top Dog" again this year.
From Mrs. Fredericks:
On October 18th, I held the full time AAP referral information meeting for parents. If you missed it, or just want to review it, the link to the video is attached here.
If you are a parent of a 2nd-6th grader, and are interested in referring your child to be screened for full time AAP services, you will need to submit the follow things to Tara Fredericks by December 15th:
Please email Tara Fredericks (TLfredericks@fcps.edu) with any questions- I'm happy to help!
The Winter Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) will be taking place at Freedom Hill from 12/5-12/12. This is a content-based assessment for 3-6 grade students in math and reading. The assessments will start around 9:30 each morning so please have your child arrive on time. To learn more information about the Virginia Growth Assessment, please visit this website. If you have any questions about the VGA, please email Mr. Kopacz.
We ask that your family try their best to avoid appointments and absences on testing dates:
For the current school year, FCPS will be returning to its previous procedure for snow days — there will be no virtual learning days when school is closed due to bad weather.
During snow days, students may still access Tutor.com, complete any supplemental learning opportunities recommended by their teachers, and view educational programming (available virtually and on public access television channels):
Eleven snow days are built into the existing FCPS calendar. Eliminating virtual learning days will allow us to maximize students’ in-person learning and provide equitable access to instruction and student services.
       
Happy last week of school this calendar year!
APPRECIATE OUR WONDERFUL FHES STAFF
The PTA is thankful to all the staff that support our students and foster such a positive and caring environment. We’ll celebrate and show appreciation for all staff with lunch from Olive Garden this Tuesday, December 12th. Thank you Sarah Lyon for organizing!
“BEE” PREPARED
The Spelling Bee is coming to FHES! Between the dates of January 16th and 31st, first through sixth grade children will have the option to participate in a grade level Bee conducted by a grade level teacher. Interested students at the same grade level will be placed in a classroom with their peers for the duration of the Bee, where they will be administered the Grade level Bee. If there are 3 classes in a grade, 6 (3*2) students will be selected from the grade to advance to the School Bee on Monday, February 12th, at 6PM. Start preparing today! The word lists and more information are on the PTA website and can be accessed here: Spelling bee
GET READY FOR THE SCIENCE FAIR
We are hosting the Science Fair on February 23rd and look forward to seeing students’ creative projects! This is a great opportunity for students to make a fun display of something that interests them. Projects may relate to something students have learned during the year but there’s no requirement that the project be based on in-class instruction. All students can choose to participate and they can work individually, with a friend, or with a group of friends. Students are encouraged to plan early so they have enough time to prepare. This is just one site where you can get inspired: Science Fair Project Ideas, Answers, & Tools (sciencebuddies.org). More details with sign-up instructions will be posted to the PTA website soon.
LAST CHANCE - REGISTER FOR A BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY
Registration is ending soon for winter enrichment classes - don’t wait! Classes will run from January 8th through March 8th; before school classes run 8:10-9:10AM and after school classes run from 4:15-5:15PM. Register for the classes HERE by December 12th. Limited financial aid opportunities are available for those who qualify. Thank you Ross Camara for organizing so many exciting options!
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