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Dear Freedom Hill Families,
We hope you are well and enjoying the long weekend! We had an eventful week on the Hill with lots of learning, work in the garden, a visit from the fire department, our first Running Club meeting, the celebration of our Kindergarten Color Days, and much more.
We hope you will join us this Wednesday at 6PM for our first PTA Meeting of the year. We are eager to have your support and partnership in a new school year. If you've never joined us for a PTA meeting before, the first meeting is a great time to come, network, collaborate on the new PTA budget, and learn about school opportunities and events that will enrich our community.
This week, our Eagle families have a chance to read the book Scary Gary on their way into the building. A big thanks to our friends in Facility Management office for partnering with us and setting up this Storywalk near the front of our building. Whether you ride the bus, walk to school, or are dropped off at the Kiss N Ride, make sure you check it out on your way in on Tuesday!
Lastly, our first of four Early Release Wednesdays is next week, 9/30. It is essential that all families have filled out the form to share how their child will be getting home and if they require childcare. If you have not done so already, please complete your online verification forms electronically through ParentVUE, or by downloading the paper form from the FCPS website and returning it to the office.
Let's make it a great week!
In partnership,
Dr. Nicholas Zapadka, Principal
Mr. Tim Scesney, Assistant Principal
Ms. Holly Sims, Assistant Principal
2026-27 FCPS School Calendar
Freedom Hill Family Resources
Breakfast/Lunch Menus
- September 21 – School Closed – Yom Kippur
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September 23 - First PTA Meeting, 6PM, Library
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September 30 – Early Release Wednesday, Dismissal #1 at 1:05
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September 30 - Family Dinner Out @ Pike 7 Shake Shack, 10am-10pm, mention Donation Day or use promo code, DONATE (Flyer)
The Marshall High School Leadership class is hosting Marshall Mayhem on Friday, September 25, 2026, from 5:00-6:30 p.m. We would like to cordially invite students and families to attend! The event will occur at Marshall High Schools’ upper back lot.
We will have many fun activities, including:
- Live music
- Marshall club displays
- Face painting
- Games
- Activities
- And more!
Students/families should bring cash for food and an entrance fee of $5.00 per person.
The FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) booklet explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. This year’s SR&R includes new Universal Grade Matrices, which are at-a-glance charts that make it easier for families to see behavior expectations and school responses for grades K-3, 4-8, and 9-12.
We ask that families please review the SR&R and discuss these expectations with your child. Be sure to sign the SR&R acknowledgement form by Wednesday, September 30, either by logging into SIS ParentVUE or signing and returning the Signature Sheet to your child’s school.
Learn more by watching a short video about the SR&R (available in English and Spanish) or visiting the SR&R webpage.
 Your voice matters, and Dr. 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. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
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Wednesday, September 16, 6:45 p.m., at McNair Elementary School
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Monday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Riverside Elementary School
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Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
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Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
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Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
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Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are one hour long and open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
 May all in our Jewish community observing Yom Kippur have an easy and meaningful fast. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year.
 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.
As we look ahead to the upcoming school year, the health and well-being of our students continues to be one of our priorities. Staying up to date with your child's flu vaccination helps:
- Reduce School Absences: Keeping students healthy means more time spent learning and engaging with peers.
- Protect the Community: Vaccination helps shield vulnerable family members and neighbors from seasonal illness.
- Support Overall Wellness: Routine flu shots are a key component of a proactive student health plan.
Upcoming Flu Shot Events
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will be taking place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.
September is Attendance Awareness Month. Some of the ways families can help their children create healthy routines and a habit of getting to school on time every day include:
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine. (Need help? Download this checklist in English or Spanish.)
- Laying out clothes and packing backpacks the night before.
- Talking to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning, if they seem anxious about going to school.
- Developing back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
- Avoiding medical appointments or extended trips when school is in session.
If you or your family need any kind of support, please reach out to your school’s front office. We are here for you! Visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.
 Register now for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students. The free conference will take place on Saturday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School.
The conference will feature an inspiring opening session, engaging breakout sessions, an exhibitor hall with local resources, and lunch for all participants.
Register for the conference and visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.
 As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, FCPS will implement a new student ID system for students who ride our school buses.
The implementation of the student IDs is designed as an additional safety measure for our 130,000 students who ride the bus each day, ensuring they are on the right bus and that they get on and off at the correct bus stop, as well as making sure only authorized students are on our buses.
The IDs will be provided to students who ride the bus. Those students will be expected to tap on and tap off the bus. The student IDs do not track student movement. The only information available is when a student taps on or off a bus. Much like our Here Comes the Bus app, our new app will allow parents/guardians to track the progress of the school bus.
It is possible that the ID program will expand in the future to include uses such as library cards and meal payment. Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals.
Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost or at a reduced cost. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits.
The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
 
Upcoming Events
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Sept 23 - First PTA Meeting, 6PM-8PM, Library (Agenda)
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Sept 30 - Family Dinner Out @ Pike 7 Shake Shack, 10am-10pm, mention Donation Day or use promo code, DONATE (Flyer)
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Sept 30 - Deadline for PTA membership to qualify for swag, yearbook & class incentives (join here)
❤️ We’re Over $5,700!
The momentum continues! We’ve officially raised over $5,700 toward our $10,000 PTA goal!
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has joined the PTA and supported our fundraising efforts. We truly couldn’t do it without you—our amazing community! ❤️
🎒 PTA Swag Has Arrived! The first round of PTA swag went home in students’ backpacks last week. We hope you enjoy it!
Every membership and donation makes a difference for our students, teachers, and school community.
Thank you for being part of it! ❤️
STAY CONNECTED
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