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Dear Freedom Hill Families,
We hope everyone enjoyed our very busy week! We attenDANCEd, welcomed some special guests to our October PTA meeting, smiled big for the cameras, learned about Digital Citizenship, had a great evening of Hallowingo Friday night (a big thanks to the Song family for coordinating!), and continued all of our important learning.
It’s incredible to think that the first quarter of the school year is already coming to a close! As we wrap up these first months together, we look forward to connecting with families during Parent/Teacher Conferences. If you haven’t scheduled a time yet, please check your child’s teacher’s communications for the sign-up link. Conferences are a valuable chance to learn more about your child’s academic progress, social experience, and any beginning-of-year assessments they’ve completed.
Looking ahead to next week, please note the following early release days:
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Wednesday: 3-hour early release. We will follow the dismissal preference you submitted earlier this school year, and students will be released at either 1:05 or 4:05.
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Friday: 2-hour early release; childcare will not be provided.
Additionally, schools will be closed for students on Monday, November 3 (school planning day) and Tuesday, November 4 (teacher workday).
Wishing you a wonderful week!
Nicholas Zapadka, Principal
Tim Scesney, Assistant Principal
Holly Sims, Assistant Principal
2025-26 FCPS School Calendar
Freedom Hill Family Resources
Breakfast/Lunch Menus
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October 29 - Early Release Wednesday, Dismissal at 1:05
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October 31 - Q1 Ends, Dismissal at 2:05
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November 3/4 - No School, Q1 Conferences & Staff Development
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November 5 - Full-Time AAP Parent Meeting, 6PM
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November 6 - 14 - Fall Book Fair
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November 10 - Veterans Day Breakfast
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November 12 - Grades 4-6 FLE Info Night, 6:00PM, Link
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November 20 - Save the Date! Thanksgiving Luncheon
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This week, we are working on ONE of the FIVE overarching components of the Positivity Project. Knowing that everything you do and say can affect others-and your relationships with them.
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“Solid character will reflect itself in consistent behavior, while poor character will seek to hide behind deceptive words and actions.”
~Myles Munroe
Often times, knowing something and acting like you know it doesn’t line up with each other. For example, you know that your words and actions impact other people, but your behavior doesn’t always show that understanding.
What does it look like to KNOW that your words and actions impact others?
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. We will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, November 12th.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. This year, FCPS expects to receive approximately $4 million in Impact Aid funding. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
First graders have been hard at work learning precurser skills for STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). STEM is important because it develops critical thinking skills, problem-solving, and creativity! For first graders it provides a foundation of lifelong learning, encourages collaboration and communication, and teaches perseverance. Judging by the pictures below, I think the students had fun!
STEM Friday is made possible with donations to the class of Magna Tiles, Kinetic Sand, and Play Dough. Thank you!
Next up this week - our cafeteria manager... the one and only Mr. Mawson!
Mr. Thomas Mawson served in the Navy from Sept 23rd, 1998 until Oct 20, 2007. He then joined the Air Force from Dec 12th, 2007 until Jan 12, 2019. In the Navy he was a culinary Specialist in the officer's galley, cooking for Naval officers on the USS Saipan LHA-2. He was also responsible for maintaining and cleaning officer’s staterooms and areas on ship. From there Mr. Mawson was at Naval Base Jacksonville where he spent 2.5 yrs working as both Base Police as well as Hospital Security Dept. He returned to Norfolk for three years to serve on USS Gunston Hall LSD-44 before leaving the Navy.
After joining the Air Force Reserve Command he went to the 512th Mortuary Affairs Service (MAS), whose sole mission is to support Dover Mortuary. When not deployed to MAS, Mr. Mawson was Supervisor at the Base Dining facility, ensuring all meals were prepared and served safely.
As a member of 512th he was also on a team that won the prestigious Hennessey Award, an award that's given to the best food service operation in the military. The award is in joint partnership with National Restaurant Association and Mr. Mawson’s team was invited to Chicago for the National Restaurant Association show to receive their trophy and see the trade show of all the latest and best things available in industry.
While at Dover he deployed three times to the Mortuary where he supported those lost in conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq. After a third deployment, Mr. Mawson was moved from Dining Facility to an Instructor in his unit, responsible for teaching all members Readiness Training.
While servicing in the Air Force, Mr. Mawson joined Fairfax County Public Schools, and Freedom Hill, in 2011. He left the Air Force in 2019 and has continued to be an important member of our staff community!
At Freedom Hill we work hard to teach students universal behavior strategies that equip students for a lifetime of success. An area of focus is teaching kids how to regulate their emotions. Our guidance counselors have begun teaching The Zones of Regulation to all student grades K-6. The Zones of Regulation is a curriculum to support your learner’s social and emotional development and regulation skills. The Zones of Regulation provides a simple way for learners (and the adults who support them) to understand, communicate around, and care for their feelings. Please watch the Wednesday Folder for more information about The Zones of Regulation.
A big thanks to Vienna Youth Soccer for donating a new soccer net work our field, and to some of our Eagle Dads for assembling it for us! We're excited to practice our shots!
The Freedom Hill ES Family Life Education (FLE) Parent Preview Night will be held virtually on Wednesday, November 12th at 6:00 p.m. Staff will be present to go over the curriculum materials and answer any questions that you may have.
There are two units of instruction that are designated as Family Life Education: Emotional and Social Health and Human Growth and Development. Emotional and Social Health lessons are delivered throughout the school year. Human Growth and Development lessons are scheduled for fourth grade on December 19, fifth grade from December 12-18, and sixth grade during the week of December 15-19.
FLE teaching materials including lessons and media titles that FCPS has streaming rights for are available through ParentVue. FLE information is also available in the Freedom Hill All Parents/Guardians Schoology course, in the Blue FLE Content For Parents folder, including opt out forms. To opt your child(ren) out of one or more lessons, paper forms will be sent home in Wednesday Folders. If you feel you did not receive a form, please contact your classroom teacher, Holly Sims, hasims@fcps.edu, or Ian Dowling, itdowling@fcps.edu.
Additional information is available through FCPS at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/curriculum/subject-area/family-life-education-fle
FLE Parent Preview Night Meeting Link: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/94996929737
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life.
Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities for the school division. You may also share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask questions. Events are planned for the following dates from 6 to 8 p.m.:
Click on the date to register. Additional locations and registration links will be shared soon. Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all.
Meeting the Moment: FCPS Forward — AI, a conversation with division leadership, which will take place Monday, November 3rd, from 6 to 8 p.m., at West Springfield High School. Attend to:
- Learn about the opportunities and challenges of AI in education.
- Explore how AI can support FCPS student achievement and workforce readiness.
- Engage in a thought-provoking panel and keynotes.
- Help shape the future of innovation at Fairfax County Public Schools.
Agenda details will be shared with registered participants in the coming weeks. Contact DITEvents@fcps.edu with any questions.
The kickoff night, previously scheduled for October 27, will be postponed to a later date. This will allow us to ensure that our program, and program materials, are in full compliance with the new regulations supporting volunteerism in FCPS schools. We hope to share a new date in the coming week or two. Thank you for your flexibility - we look forward to a great night!
    
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