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Dear Freedom Hill Families,
It was wonderful to be back last week after spring break. The world is awakening again, and the campus was abuzz with the changing colors of the landscape and beautiful weather. We also had the opportunity to celebrate our Q3 Soaring Eagles! This week, we are expecting cool morning and hot afternoons. Dressing in layers is a great way to enjoy recess time outside when the temperatures rise.
On April 15th, FCPS is encouraging everyone to “Purple Up" as we show support for our wonderful Freedom Hill military families. Why purple? Purple symbolizes all branches of the military as a combination of Army green, Marine Corps red, and Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force and Space Force blue. We look forward to seeing all of our Freedom Hill family wearing purple on Wednesday, April 15th!
Don't forget that we also have some great events this week organized by our PTA! On Wednesday evening, we hope to see you at our PTA meeting, and on Friday all our welcome for our traditional Cultural Heritage Parade. It is always a great event and a favorite of our students!
Have a great week,
In partnership,
Nicholas Zapadka, Principal
Tim Scesney, Asst. Principal
Holly Sims, Asst. Principal
2025-26 FCPS School Calendar
Freedom Hill Family Resources
Breakfast/Lunch Menus
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April 15 - Wear Purple for "Purple Up Day" to support our military families
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April 15 - PTA Meeting in the Library and via Zoom, 6PM
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April 17 - Culture & Heritage Parade, 9:30–10:30AM @ Freedom Hill (Sign-up Form)
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April 20 - 24 - Earth Week Spirit Week
- April 21 - No School, Statewide Election Day
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April 22 - PTA Family Dinner Out, SCA "Runs the Diner" at Silver Diner McLean, 4-8PM
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April 23 - Spring Picture Day
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April 24 - Freedom Hill vs. Westgate Volleyball Game, 6:30PM-8PM, Marshall High School 🏐
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This week, we are focusing on Fairness. You believe that all people have value. You approach situations with an unbiased mindset and treat everyone with respect.
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“Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.”
~Oscar Wilde
Questions you might enjoy talking about:
- Do you consider yourself a fair person?
- Would you say that fairness is important to you?
- What would you do if you saw someone being unfair?
For Earth Week, students and staff are invited to wear the color matching each day’s theme to show your Earth Week spirit!
- Monday, April 20 – Wildlife Day - wear nature print
- Wednesday, April 22 – Zero Waste Day and Earth Day - wear green
- Thursday, April 23 – Climate Change Day - wear red
- Friday, April 24 - Watershed Day - wear blue
We encourage families registering students for the 2026–2027 school year (Kindergarten and Grades 1–6) to begin the registration process online.
Please start the process here.
Once you have completed the online registration and gathered all required forms and documentation, please contact Ms. Sujo to schedule an appointment to finalize the process at the school.
On the day of your appointment, please bring the following original documents:
- Child’s Birth Certificate
- ID of the enrolling parent/guardian
- Vaccine records
- Physical examination form
- Three (3) forms of proof of address
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office.
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Benchmark Unit 6 in Language Arts is about the lessons we can learn from different stories around the world. Students in K-5 will be learning about themes across cultures. Sixth grade students will learn about legendary journeys. |
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: What’s a lesson that you’ve learned recently, or a challenge you had?
- Activity: Pick a few of your child’s favorite books or classic stories such as “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” With your child, discuss each story and whether it has a lesson.
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.
Students in grades 3-6 participate in state assessments each year. These assessments measure how students are learning the state standards. Below is the current schedule for the spring Standards of Learning tests at Freedom Hill. More information will be provided as we get closer to the testing window and is available on the SOL Tests in Elementary School page on the FCPS website.
- Tuesday, April 28: Grade 6 & Grade 4 Reading SOL
- Thursday, April 30: Grade 5 & Grade 3 Reading SOL
- Thursday, May 7: Grade 5 Math SOL
- Thursday, May 12: Grade 4 Math SOL
- Thursday, May 14: Grade 5 Science & Grade 3 Math SOL
- Tuesday, May 19: Grade 6 SOL
- May 28 - June 3: Retakes for identified students
Please avoid scheduling appointments for students on the dates that students will participate in the SOLs.
April Statewide Election: No School for Students - There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21st, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled.
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:
Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Tuesday, April 21, is now a teacher workday and staff development day because of a recently announced special election that will impact all FCPS schools.
Students will now have a traditional full day of instruction and be released at the regular dismissal time on April 22, which was previously a 3-hour early release day.
This adjustment allows our staff to still have dedicated time for planning, collaboration, and professional learning without reducing instructional time on other school days.Read Dr. Reid’s letter to elementary parents for more details.
 A joyful Easter to our Orthodox Christian community! Many Orthodox Christians in the U.S. celebrate Easter according to the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, which differs from the Western date we are most familiar with. Easter is a time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God
FCPS’ 2026 Special Education Family Conference has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 18th, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marshall High School. Updated conference details are now available on the Special Education Family Conference webpage. Please register for the event. If you registered before, please re-register for the new date. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this date change may cause and appreciate your understanding.
FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children with economic and educational risk factors, ages 6 weeks to 4 years, living in Fairfax County.
- Pre-K prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30 of the same year.
- Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from pregnancy to 2 years old.
Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Space is limited and provided based on need, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications are accepted online, by email, by mail, or in person at the program office at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.
If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).
On Saturday, April 18, the Fairfax County History Commission will host Revolutionary Ideas: Fairfax County’s American Revolution, featuring free, interactive activities designed with young learners in mind. From hands-on experiences to creative ways to explore the past, elementary-age students will have plenty of opportunities to jump in and have fun. The conference will be held at the Fairfax County Government Center, with children’s activities beginning at 1:30 p.m.
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DIG ARCHAEOLOGY “What Is It?” A guessing game that asks you to be the archaeologist. Handle cool artifacts that make Fairfax County unique.
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IN YOUR OWN WORDS What does freedom mean to you? Share your thoughts. Responses will be collected on a poster.
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LIVE LIKE A COLONIAL Write with a quill pen, try a whirligig, play dress-up, learn colonial slang.
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FIND YOUR ROOTS Interactive session. Fairfax Genealogical Society dives deep into your past.
🗓️ Saturday, April 18, 2026
⏰ Children’s activities begin at 1:30 p.m.
📍Fairfax County Government Center, 2000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax, VA 22035
     
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April 15 - PTA Meeting in the Library and via Zoom, 6PM (Zoom Link)
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April 17 - Cultural Heritage Parade, 9:30–10:30AM @ Freedom Hill (Sign-up Form)
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April 22 - Family Dinner Out @ Silver Diner (8101 Fletcher St., McLean, VA 22102), 4-8PM (Flyer)
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April 24 - Freedom Hill vs. Westgate Volleyball Game, 6:30PM-8PM, Marshall High School (Links: Volunteer and Order Ahead)
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May 21 - PTA Meeting & Volunteer Celebration in the Library and via Zoom, 6PM
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May 29 - Cultural Heritage Night, 6–8 PM, in the Cafeteria 🌐
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 - PTA MEETING INFORMATION
The next PTA general meeting is this Wednesday, April 15th at 6PM in the Library and via Zoom. Feel free to bring your child/children. For anyone unable to attend in person, please join the Zoom Meeting.
Meeting ID: 746 885 8356Passcode: ggH4mf
We will be voting as a general membership (to be eligible to vote, you must be an active member of the PTA - join here: Givebacks) on a number of items, including:
- Election of the Nominating Committee:
- Lauren Starace
- David Hay
- Amber Halaka
Approval of the Advocacy Chair position to the PTA Board
Approval or the additional budget request for the five teacher grant requests
Reallocation of a sixth-grade line item
HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE FCPS BUDGET: APRIL 14-16
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is reviewing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Advertised Budget, which funds about 70% of the FCPS budget. They are considering possible adjustments before budget adoption in May.
The County is also holding public budget hearings at the Government Center Board Auditorium, and families and staff are encouraged to share feedback to support students and schools:
You may provide testimony at public hearings in person, in writing, by phone or video. For submission deadlines, speaking time and complete details visit the ways to provide public hearing testimony webpage.
Additionally, the School Board will present the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Advertised Budget to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 14. The meeting will take place in the Fairfax Government Center Board Auditorium and in Conference Room 11, and is available to view live on Channel 16 and stream live online.
Interested in more information? Follow the FCPS Budget Development Process.
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NEXT FDO AT SILVER DINER - APRIL 22, 4-8PM (Flyer)
Join your fellow Freedom Hill Eagles for our next Family Dinner Out on Wednesday, April 22 from 4-8PM at Silver Diner. It’s a great chance to enjoy a delicious meal while supporting our school community. 20% of sale proceeds will go directly to FHES!
Our Student Council members will be welcoming guests starting at 4:20 PM, adding an extra touch of Eagle pride to the evening.
Can't make it in person? Order online: Tysons Corner - Order Online or call to place your order 703-821-5666 and use code Parrot0422.
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PRE-ORDER VOLLEYBALL GAME TICKETS & PIZZA
We’re serving up an evening of friendly competition between the FHES staff and the Westgate staff in the annual volleyball showdown! If you haven’t already, mark your calendars for Friday, April 24th from 6:30pm-8pm at Marshall High School and we’ll see you there! Tickets are $5 (children under 5 years old are free), whole pizzas are $15, pizza slices are $3, and drinks and snacks are $1-$2. Save yourself time and pre-order your tickets and pizza by April 22nd on the PTA website. We always need volunteers to make events successful so sign-up for a volunteer shift too!
VIENNA YOUTH SOCCER CAMP AT FREEDOM HILL
We are excited to announce that Vienna Youth Soccer Summer Camp is now happening at Freedom Hill Elementary School!
In addition to the engaging soccer programming, campers will now enjoy access to:
- Indoor gymnasium to cool off from the heat (Yes, we have AC!)
- Indoor classroom as we offer creative crafts & projects
- Multi-Sport offering in the afternoon
- A TV to watch World Cup games during camp hours (who wants to miss a game?!)
- World-Cup themed days
To register for Half-Day & Full-Day, Click Here
To register for Early Drop-Off & Late Pick-Up, Click Here
https://www.vys.org/programs/camps#SummerCamps
We look forward to an unforgettable summer of camps at Freedom Hill with Vienna Youth Soccer.
PTA Quick Links:
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