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Dear Freedom Hill Community,
Thanks for another great week on the Hill! We are off to a truly fabulous start to the school year. The week marks the completion of our first month. In only a short time our students have quickly jumped back into old routines and learning is happening every day! In the last few weeks, we've completed our "SOAR into the First 20 Days of School" program, ensuring all students know and can share our school rules and routines. Our students learned and practiced fire and lockdown drills with great success. Next week, we will have our first Early Release Monday so that our classroom teachers have time to dive into their 27-hour professional learning course on our new literacy curriculum.
This week, we are beginning our traditional Positivity Project curriculum. For families who are new to us, we discuss a new trait each week at Freedom Hill. These traits are embedded in our classroom conversations and on the AM News Show. We welcome you joining in and discussing these further with your students at home. We will share some family conversation starters with you each week (see below).
Our first Early Release Monday is just over a week away on Monday, September 23rd, 2024. We will be sending out confirmation emails to all families confirming what your child will be doing on the 23rd. Please look out for this email and let us know if there is an error. It is really important to us to make sure that we have everyone going where they need to go and when they need to leave. Please note that SACC is closed until 4:05 (September Early Release only). Students who typically go to SACC will be supervised by Freedom Hill staff.
Have a great week!
Nicholas Zapadka, Principal
Tim Scesney, Assistant Principal
Holly Sims, Assistant Principal
2024-25 FCPS School Calendar
FCPS Lunch Menu
Freedom Hill Family Resources
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September 19 - PTA Meeting, 6PM
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September 22 - Last Day to Register for PTA Activities
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September 23 - 3-hour Early Release (Dismissal at 1:05)
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September 23 - PTA Family Dinner Out, Shake Shack, 11am-10pm
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This week, we are focusing on Curiosity. You like exploration and discovery. You ask lots of questions because you want to learn more about anything and everything.
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“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.”
~Voltaire
Questions you might enjoy talking about:
- How is curiosity the opposite of judgement?
- How do you feel when you discover something new? Learn something new?
- What are some things you fear? How can CURIOSITY replace that fear?
As you plan upcoming trips and other family events, please remember the importance of sending your child to school every day. Review the FCPS School Year Calendar and try to plan any time away during breaks from school.
Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Research shows that children who were chronically absent (missing 18 days or more) in kindergarten and first grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of third grade.
Learn how families can help form good attendance habits.
Join Our PTA! The PTA has a goal of raising $10,000 through memberships. By becoming a member of the PTA and contributing to our fundraising efforts, you are directly investing in your child’s educational journey and our school community. Visit our PTA website here to join today. A flier with more information will come home in your student’s folder.
The application for free and reduced-priced meals is now available for the 2024-25 school year. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price lunch last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
From September 15th to October 15th, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Happy birthday week to Mr. Scesney and Ms. Sims!
     
THIS THURSDAY, 9/19 at 6PM, FIRST PTA MEETING
Still not sure what the PTA does, or how to get involved? Join us for the first PTA meeting on Thursday, September 19th at 6PM in the school library. Use this Zoom link if you need to attend virtually. Children are welcome to attend; however, we are unable to provide daycare and encourage you to bring a book, or small activity for your child. We will discuss and vote on the budget for the school year*, provide an overview of all of our planned events/calendar for the year, discuss open needs for volunteers, and more. See you Thursday!
*Only paid PTA members can vote on official PTA activities. If you haven’t yet joined, now is a great time! The Freedom Hill PTA is a volunteer-driven organization that facilitates exciting programs, activities, and traditions that are not otherwise provided by Fairfax County Public Schools. We have a goal of raising $10,000 through memberships and we are almost halfway there! By becoming a member of the PTA and contributing to our fundraising efforts, you are directly investing in your child’s educational journey and our school community. Visit our PTA website here to join today.
DEADLINE EXTENDED! TRY A BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY
There are still spots available in the following classes that begin early October:
- Monday AM: PE Club (3rd-6th grades)
- Tuesday AM: Chess (K-6th)
- Tuesday PM: Cooking - Baroody Bakes (K-6th)
- Tuesday PM: Soccer (K-3rd)
- Wednesday AM: Lego spike robotics: Crazy carnival games (K-6th)
- Wednesday PM: Slime time (K-6th)
- Thursday AM: Spanish (K-6th)
- Thursday PM: Autumn artifacts: Pottery (K-5th)
Morning classes are before school and run 8:10-9:10AM; afternoon classes are immediately following school and run from 4:15-5:15PM. We’ve already had to cancel a few classes due to low enrollment so if you’re interested don’t wait, sign up here. If you’ve already signed up, invite a friend to join you! Registration has been extended and will now close next Sunday, September 22nd at 11:59PM.
DINE OUT TO SUPPORT THE PTA
The first Family Dinner Out (FDO) will be Monday, September 23rd at Shake Shack in the Pike7 shopping plaza (8361A Leesburg Pike). Stop by anytime between 11AM and 10PM and mention Donation Day at the register or use promo code DONATESHAKE in the app and the PTA will receive a portion of the sales. This is a great opportunity to meet-up with other friends and families.
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