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Dear Freedom Hill Families,
It was wonderful to have everyone back this week! The first days of 2026 were filled with positivity, learning, and laughter. As we continue our new year, please join us in communication with your son/daughter(s)'s teachers. Open dialogue between school and home is vital for our students' success. Thank you for continuing to partner with us!
Literacy is also so vital to our students' success, and we're eager to kick off the year with a special event. Join us this Wednesday evening to “Read Under the Stars” at our Family Literacy Night from 6-8pm. We’ll start the night with free pizza* for families who RSVP (deadline 1/12) and have read alouds with special guests, book tasting with Mrs. Trott, and a cozy reading space for parents and kids to snuggle up and read together. Parents can also learn about digital tools for reading and some fun early reading games for new readers. To help spread the word about Literacy Night, we will also have a pajama day at school on January 14th! Email Mrs. Rossman, FHES reading specialist, at msrossman@fcps.edu to learn more. RSVP here to help us order enough pizza. We can’t wait to “Read Under the Stars” with our students!
In partnership,
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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January 14 - Family Literacy Night, 6PM, RSVP here for Pizza!
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January 14 - Pajama Day to celebrate Literacy Night
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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
- January 19 - No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
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January 22 - PTA Family Dinner Out - Noodles & Co. Falls Church
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February 3 - School-wide Spelling Bee Finals
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February 6 - SCA Valentine's Dance
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February 11 - PTA Meeting, 6PM (Library & Zoom)
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February 20 - PTA Science Fair
Join Freedom Hill to “Read Under the Stars” at our January 14th Family Literacy Night from 6-8pm. We’ll start the night with free pizza (while supplies last) for families and have read alouds with special guests, book tasting with Mrs. Trott and a cozy reading space for parents and kids to snuggle up and read together. Parents can also learn about digital tools for reading and some fun early reading games for new readers. RSVP here by Jan 12th to help us order enough pizza. We can’t wait to “Read Under the Stars” with our students! Email Mrs. Rossman, FHES reading specialist, at msrossman@fcps.edu with any questions, or if you can volunteer to support.
 
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This week, we are focusing on Prudence. You plan for the future and achieve your goals by making careful everyday choices.
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"When you make the right decision, it doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks.”
~Caroline Kennedy
Questions you might enjoy talking about:
- What does making good decisions have to do with prudence?
- Is it hard to make decisions in certain situations? If yes, which situations?
- Do you find it becoming harder or easier to make good decisions as you get older?
Will include:
- February 18
- March 18
- April 22
- May 13
Read more about early release Wednesdays on the FCPS website.
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FCPS will soon be rolling out Raptor Safe, our new visitor management system. This will be the standard way to sign in at all FCPS schools.
The new system allows you to preregister via the Raptor Safe app, saving you valuable time when checking in for school visits or events!
Registration Options:
Via the App: Search "Raptor Safe" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can also visit raptortech.com/raptorsafe-app/ for direct links.
In Person: If you are unable to register ahead of time, you can still complete the process at the school kiosk. Please ensure you have a valid photo ID with you to check in.
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Benchmark Unit 4 in Language Arts is about points of view. Students in K-5 will be learning about why and how people create stories, and how to understand different perspectives. Grade six students will learn how a person’s life shapes their point of view. |
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Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: Have you ever disagreed with a friend? How did you see things differently?
- Activity: Make up a silly scenario with your child, like a dinosaur walking down the street or an ice cream thunderstorm. Put on a short play where you and your child each play the role of each other. How does your child think you would react to the silly scenario and why? How would you react if you were your child?
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.
Course registration for 7th grade begins in January! Families are invited to a Virtual Information Session on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 5:00 PM for an overview of Kilmer Middle School and course options, and an in-person Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 5:00–7:00 PM to meet teachers, attend information sessions, explore course options, and tour the school. Additional details will be shared by Kilmer before Winter Break!
Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as tutors. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not approved by FCPS and is only meant to be a resource to families.
FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services, at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
Encourage your neighbors, friends, and community members to follow the FCPS budget process and look for opportunities to share your ideas about funding public education. Key decision dates and engagement opportunities are coming up in the next few weeks:
- The Fairfax County delegation to the General Assembly will hold a public hearing regarding the upcoming 2026 session on Saturday, January 10th, at 9 a.m. in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center.
Fairfax County residents can sign up in advance to speak at the hearing online or contact the Department of Clerk Services at 703-324-3151, TTY 711, by Thursday, January 8th, at noon.
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Thursday, January 22nd, Dr. Reid will present the proposed budget to the School Board.
  
Upcoming Events:
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January 14 - Family Literacy Night, "Reading Under the Stars," 6-8PM, FHES Gym 📖
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January 22 - Family Dinner Out (FDO) Noodles & Co., Falls Church, VA (Flyer), 4-8PM (Use Code: GIVING25) 🍝
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February 4 - School-wide Spelling Bee, 6:15-8:15PM, FHES Cafeteria
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February 5 - Science Fair participation forms due
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February 11 - PTA Meeting in the Library and via Zoom, 6PM
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February 20 - Science Fair, 6-8:30PM in the Cafeteria (ideas and project examples)
Family Literacy Night, January 14, 6-8PM FHES Gym
Join Freedom Hill staff to “Read Under the Stars” at our January 14th Family Literacy Night from 6-8pm. We’ll start the night with free pizza* for families and have read-alouds with special guests, book tasting with Mrs. Trott, and a cozy reading space for parents and kids to snuggle up and read together. Parents can also learn about digital tools for reading and some fun early reading games for new readers. We can’t wait to “Read Under the Stars” with our students! Email Mrs. Rossman, FHES reading specialist, at msrossman@fcps.edu to learn more.
*RSVP here to help us order enough pizza.
SPELLING BEE SCHOOL-WIDE EVENT: FEB 4
In-class spelling bees will be completed by January 16th. Mark your calendars to attend the school-wide spelling bee on Wednesday, February 4th from 6:15-8:15PM in the FHES Cafeteria!
In the meantime, have your students studying up on the word lists below:
THE SCIENCE FAIR IS COMING!
Freedom Hill's Science Fair is returning on Friday, February 20th. The Science Fair is a great way to showcase something your child learned with a posterboard/tabletop presentation, demonstrate a cool hands-on experiment, or more! See the flyer for the form to fill out and an example tri-fold poster board. Need ideas? Great resources for ideas are at education.com and ScienceBuddies.
The form is due on Feb. 5th to Hubert at hubertchao@gmail.com or to the PTA Mailbox in the office.
If you need help getting the tri-fold poster board, we have a limited supply; contact Hubert at hubertchao@gmail.com.
We also need people to help with the Science Fair! Sign up here.
TEACHER WISHLISTS
Help grant the wishes of our FHES teachers and staff! Please consider purchasing an item from the wishlists here to directly support our teachers and enhance learning for all students.
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.
PTA Quick Links:
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