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Dear Freedom Hill Families,
We hope you had a wonderful week and stayed warm!
This week, we are excited to share that our PTA will be kicking off sign-ups for our "new look" before/after school enrichment classes, which will be led by our amazing FHES staff! Signups begin December 8. Financial aid is available for eligible families, and we encourage anyone in need to reach out before registering. All information can be found on the PTA website’s enrichment activities page. A big thanks to Alex Bryden for here tireless work bringing together our new format. You can email her with any questions.
We have seen an uptick of students with runny noses, coughs, and other ailments. Here are three important things families can keep in mind to keep students, staff, and our community healthy:
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Wash Your Hands Often. Encourage regular handwashing with soap and water, especially before eating and after blowing noses or coughing. Clean hands are a simple but powerful way to stop the spread of germs.
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Cover Coughs and Sneezes. Teach kids to use a tissue or their elbow to cover coughs and sneezes. Remind them to wash hands right after.
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Keep Kids Home When Sick. If your child has a fever, is coughing a lot, or isn’t feeling well enough to participate in school, it’s best to keep them home. They can return to school once their symptoms are improving and they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.
Wednesday, December 10th, is our next Early Release Wednesday at 1:05. Please see the note below.
Have a great 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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December 8 - PTA Winter 2026 teacher-led enrichment classes will be available for registration at 8AM.
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December 8 - Bodhi Day - no assessments will be given
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Postponed - Band & Strings Winter Concert
- December 10 - Early Release Wednesday, 1:05
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December 10 - Family Dinner Out, Shake Shack, (rescheduled), 11AM-9:30PM, Pike 7
- December 22 - January 4 - Winter Break
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January 14 - Kilmer MS Virtual Info Session for Rising 7th Graders, 5PM
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January 15 - Kilmer MS Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night, 5PM
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This week, we are working on ONE of the FIVE overarching components of the Positivity Project. Supporting others when they struggle is an important test of our character every single day.
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“We rise by lifting others.”
~Robert Ingersoll
When you put others first, you look to comfort people in the small, day-to-day disappointments, whether they are friends, classmates, acquaintances, family, and even rivals.
Think of a time you went through something difficult and someone encouraged you. How can you pass on that act of kindness this week?
A reminder that our next Early Release Wednesday is December 10th. Students will be released based on the selection that was made earlier this year. Students will be dismissed at 1:05 or 4:05 based on your original selection.
Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services must submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Mrs. Fredericks no later than December 15, 2025.
Each year, families can submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services any time from the first day of school through December 15. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.
Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for full-time AAP services.
Next Steps for Parents
Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. At the elementary level, referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened by the school. If you miss the full-time referral deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific or part-time AAP services for the remainder of the year.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.
 Happy Bodhi Day to those in our community who celebrate! Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday that recognizes the day that Buddha achieved enlightenment through meditation under the Bodhi tree.
Monday, December 8th, is a religious and cultural observance day recognizing the Buddhist holiday of Bodhi. There is school on these days, however specific events that cannot be made up will not be held on these observance days.
At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school.
Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid are underway across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. We encourage you to attend, share your thoughts, and ask questions about FCPS. Events are planned for the following dates from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.:
Click on a date above to register. Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Community Conversations are open to all. Please check FCPS’ website for additional updates.
 There’s a story behind the success of every FCPS student — a story about what’s possible when FCPS receives the appropriate funding for world-class teachers, rigorous academics, and future-ready learning experiences. At FCPS, student success starts with a strong budget!
We’re currently developing our Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, which will be presented by Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid to the School Board in January.
During this process, we’ll be sharing our budget story with you. The different chapters will explain the impact of chronic underfunding, why strong funding benefits all of Fairfax County, what’s at stake when our schools don’t get the support they need, and what Fairfax County residents can do to support our schools, students, and teachers.
We invite you to follow along and learn how you can help our community write its next chapter!
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We are halfway through Benchmark Unit 3 in Language Arts! Students have explored how the government works, why it's important, and how laws change.
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Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: What’s one rule at home or school you wish you could change and why?
- Activity: Play a short game (like musical chairs or Simon Says) but change one rule. Discuss how rules help things run smoothly.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website.
   
Upcoming Events:
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December 8 - Winter 2026 teacher-led enrichment classes will be available for registration at 8AM.
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December 10 - Family Dinner Out, Shake Shack, 11AM-9:30PM, Pike 7 (Use Promo Code: DONATE)
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January 9 - Registration for Winter 2026 teacher-led enrichment classes closes on Friday, January 9th at 9 pm.
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February 3 - School-wide Spelling Bee
WINTER 2026 TEACHER-LED ENRICHMENT CLASSES: REGISTER DEC. 8 AT 8AM
Get ready, Freedom Hill families, our Winter 2026 enrichment classes will open for registration on Monday, December 8th at 8:00 AM! From art and STEM to sports, drama, engineering, and more, our enrichment programs offer fun, hands-on learning opportunities before and after school. Our own amazing FHES teachers lead all classes. Classes fill on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to register early. Financial aid is available for eligible families, and we encourage anyone in need to reach out before registering. All information can be found on the PTA website’s enrichment activities page. If you have any questions, issues, or need additional help, please email PTA enrichment coordinator, Alex Bryden, at abryden@freedomhillpta.org. Many thanks to Alex for managing this initiative for us!
ANNOUNCING NEW PTA GRANT PROGRAM FOR FHES FACULTY
The Freedom Hill Elementary School PTA Faculty Grant Program supports student learning by meeting the needs of teachers and staff. It funds unique or innovative programs or resources, teacher collaborations, instructional materials, professional development, and more.
Submissions:
- For 2025-26, the PTA has designated a pool of $1,000 for FHES faculty.
- FHES faculty should complete the application by April 5, 2026. Submit your application to the PTA Board at info@freedomhillpta.org for review.
- PTA will begin reviewing applications in April to allocate the requested amounts in the PTA Budget or until funds are exhausted.
If you have questions, please contact the PTA at info@freedomhillpta.org.
The grant application can be found here.
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MINTED FUNDRAISING PROGRAM
From holiday cards, children's art, graduation announcements, wedding invitations, and more - you can now shop Minted all while earning 10% of the proceeds from each sale for Freedom Hill PTA. Use code: FUNDRAISEFHESPTA
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FAMILY DINNER OUT (FDO) - DEC 10 @ SHAKE SHACK (PIKE7), 11AM-9:30PM Use Promo Code: DONATE
Come on out on Dec. 10th’s early release day for our FDO at the Shake Shack PIKE7 location (8361A Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182) anytime from 11AM-9:30PM. Shake Shack will give back 25% of profits made to Freedom Hill by using the promo code: DONATE. Our monthly FDOs raise funds that support all aspects of our school community. A big thanks to Camille Paredes for her ongoing organization of these events.
🍬HOLIDAY CANDY GRAMS ARE BACK! 🍬
Are you looking for an easy, sweet way to send a small token of thanks, friendship, or merriment to a classmate, teacher, or FHES staff member? Look no further - the 6th-grade class is continuing the annual tradition of selling Candy Grams!
Pre-sale orders may be turned in from December 4th–10th. Candy Notes (50¢ each) may be placed in the PTA mailbox at any time with cash or check payable to “FHES PTA.”
From December 11th-18th, the 6th graders will sell Candy Grams each morning from 8:30-9:10 AM at the main entrance. Sixth graders will deliver the purchased Candy Grams to classrooms from December 12th-19th.
Each Candy Gram is just 50¢, and you can choose either a classic candy cane or a sweet-free option* (includes a winter-themed stamper, a mini bear eraser, and a glow-in-the-dark resin duck) to accompany your completed note.
*Available for purchase while supplies last.
SPELLING BEE WORD BANKS
PTA Quick Links:
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