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Principal's Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

It is with bittersweet feelings that I ask you to see the message below, in which Mr. Kopacz, our Assistant Principal, announces his departure from Freedom Hill at the end of the school year. As many of our families know, Mr. Kopacz has provided a high level of support to our community over the last five school years, and his impact has been significant. While we are losing a steadfast, positive, and student-centered leader, I take comfort in knowing that Mr. Kopacz now has the opportunity to similarly impact another school, and to live very close to home to maximize his time with his wife and son. 

As summer draws closer, I hope you will join me in celebrating his five years of contributions to our community! Mr. Kopacz will be missed but remembered very fondly.

In partnership,
Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Message from Mr. Kopacz

Dear Freedom Hill Community,

It is with mixed emotions that I announce I will be leaving Freedom Hill at the end of the school year to be the Assistant Principal at Hunt Valley Elementary School. In my five years of working here I have met engaged, hard-working students and caring, enthusiastic families. Freedom Hill is a special school with an exceptional culture that can’t be found just anywhere. It has been wonderful to be a part of this community and to experience such a positive school environment. From parent volunteers for after school events, programs like Watch D.O.G.S., and dedicated PTA members, it is clear that Freedom Hill is a great nest for students. Coupled with the incredible teachers and staff I have worked with, it is no wonder why Freedom Hill is such an excellent place to be. Finally, the students are truly one of a kind. Their passion and enthusiasm make coming to Freedom Hill every day a joy. I will never forget the people I have met on this part of my journey. I am proud to have served the Freedom Hill community over these last years and thank you all for your support.

Wishing everyone the best and many more happy school years to come,

Eric Kopacz

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

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Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

Happy Mother's Day to all of our Freedom Hill moms!

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your support making Staff Appreciation Week very special for our staff. Our PTA and families were instrumental in making it a great week! We completely lost track of all of the notes of appreciation we read written to our teachers and staff, and are truly proud of the impact our staff has on our students each day and every year. Thank you for supporting our hardworking educators! 

And speaking of the PTA, Ms. Camille Paredes has been heading up our Family Dinners Out this year and is interested in your feedback on potential locations for next year. You can email her here. 

As we continue to fly through the month of May, we want to take a moment to tell you how proud we are of our students as they work through many end-of-year assessments. SOLs continue this week - make sure to double check the schedule for when your students are testing. 

A couple of things we know to have a positive impact on students taking tests:

• A good night's sleep
• Encouragement/belief from families and teachers
• A healthy morning meal

Have a great week!

All the best,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• May 16 - 3rd/5th Grade Math SOL Assessment
• May 17 - Last Day for Harriette Best Award Nominations
• May 20 - 5th Grade Science SOL Assessment
• May 21 - 4th/6th Math SOL Assessment
• May 27 - Memorial Day (School Closed)
• May 29 - Marshall HS Senior Walk @ FHES, 2:45
• May 31 - FH Culture/Heritage Parade, 10:00-10:30
• June 7 - Field Day
• June 12 - Last Day of School (2 hour early release at 2:05)

Spring Photos Are Now Online!

For questions, please email: [email protected]

 

 

This week, we were working on reviewing our year-long exploration of Character through the Positivity Project. During these last thirty-four weeks, we have learned that our character is a family of thoughts, feelings, and actions that are recognized and encouraged across our different cultures for the values they cultivate in people and society. Our character is complex. It is the combination of our thoughts, feelings and actions. 

Just like other things in our life, we have strengths and weaknesses of character, as well. As you spend time together at home, now and throughout the summer, consider the following questions:

“Character, not circumstance, makes the person.”

           ~Booker T. Washington

Fairfax Summer Camp Opportunities

2024 Summer Parktakes:

The 2024 Summer Parktakes guides are available in the front office if you have any families who may be interested. Page 37 has all the Camps info. New this year is extended care for before and/or after camp.  This is a great option for working parents.

Here’s the summer Parktakes link.

 

RecPac Camps:

June 24-August 1 from 8:30am-4pm for grades 1-6 (students who have completed kindergarten through rising 7th grade and are residents of Fairfax County, Fairfax City and Falls Church. Children with disabilities may attend any location or select one of the lower ratio sites (specialized inclusion sites with staff trained to support children with disabilities). Students can register for one or more specific sessions. Fee is determined by a sliding scale based on your family’s total annual income. Students who are Fairfax County residents and currently receive public assistance are eligible for partial scholarships.  Please see the attached Recpac brochure with registration form in both English and Spanish.

Parent Input for Class Placement

As the 2023-2024 school year is coming to a close, your Freedom Hill staff is starting to prepare for the 2024-2025 school year. Class placement is one of the most important tasks that our staff engage in during the last weeks of school. When it comes to class placements, we consider many things, such as heterogeneous groupings, balancing academic abilities, and maximizing the support our resource teachers can provide students. 

If you feel that there is pertinent information to support your child’s success, please complete this optional Parent Input Form by Friday, May 24th.

Your child’s current classroom teacher, specialists, counselors, and administrators will collaborate to make well-balanced classes. We value and consider your insight into your child’s learning needs. Please note that this system is not intended for families to request specific teachers. 

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

As we approach the end of the school year, it’s important for students to stay engaged, attend school, and finish strong! Please let us know how we can support your family in making consistent attendance a priority for your child. Visit our website for attendance resources.

2024 SOL Testing Schedule

SOL testing will be taking place starting at the end of April this year for students in grades 3-6. The SOL assessments are content assessments that measure a student’s growth in Mathematics, Reading, and Science (5th grade only). These tests will be conducted during the morning of the dates listed in the table below. As always, please try to avoid absences/appointments during testing days and ensure that your child has a full night’s rest and good breakfast on their testing dates. Thank you!

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

People with ancestral roots in Asia and the islands of the Pacific have been integral to the story of America. In 1992, May was designated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to celebrate their heritage and contributions.

Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

Jewish American Heritage Month

May is a national month of recognition of the history of Jewish contributions to American culture, acknowledging the diverse achievement of the Jewish community in the U.S. 

FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

• Celebrating Students, Teachers, and Nurses
• Help Raise Awareness of Fentanyl
• 2025 FCPS Budget

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

STAFF APPRECIATION - THANK YOU!

Thank you to Sarah Lyon and all the volunteers that contributed their time and various treats as part of this year’s SUN-sational Staff Appreciation Week!

 

TIME IS RUNNING OUT - NOMINATIONS FOR HARRIETTE BEST AWARD

Do you know a staff member or parent/guardian that continually goes above and beyond to support the Freedom Hill Community? Nominate them today! We are seeking nominations of staff and family members of our Freedom Hill community for Freedom Hill’s annual Harriette Best Award. You can use this online form, or use the paper form that came home with your student(s). Nominations are being accepted now through Friday May 17th (date extended), and the award recipients will be announced at the year-end PTA Meeting on June 5th.

The Harriette Ann Best Award was instituted more than a decade ago by the FHES PTA as a tribute to honor former Assistant Principal Harriette Best. Mrs. Best was the epitome of dedication to the staff, students, and community of Freedom Hill from 1991 through 2003. She devoted hours of her own time and went above and beyond on a regular basis to assure that the staff and students at Freedom Hill had anything and everything they needed to be successful. This award is given each year to the parent(s) and/or staff member(s) who best exemplify the values and contributions for which Mrs. Best was known. A commemorative plaque hangs outside the cafeteria with all award recipients.

 

DINNER OUT AT CHIPOTLE

Join the FHES community for the last family dinner out of the school year on Tuesday, May 21st from 5-9PM at Chipotle located at 213 Maple Avenue East in downtown Vienna. If ordering online for pick up, use code R72HVY3; if dining in, mention FHES or show the flier.  FHES will receive 25% of the event sales - see you there!

 

SAVE THE DATE - CULTURE/HERITAGE DAY

Save the date of Friday, May 31st for the annual Freedom Hill Culture/Heritage Day (formerly International Day) parade where students showcase their culture and heritage. This is an optional event for all students. All student participants should arrive on-time to school, and then they will gather in the cafeteria at 9:30AM, with the parade beginning at 10AM and lasting approximately 30 minutes as the participants walk the halls of the school dressed in their culture/heritage attire and carrying flags as fellow students observe the parade by their classrooms. Sign up your student(s) here and also consider signing up to help organize the student(s) or clean-up afterward. Look for a flier coming home this week and reach out to Smriti with any questions at [email protected].

 

ORDER SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2024-2025

For your convenience, the PTA partnered with Sprout School Supplies for the upcoming year. Sprout offers prepackaged school supply kits customized to match the Freedom Hill grade-specific classroom lists.  Supply kits are delivered directly to school prior to the 1st day. Make back-to-school easier than ever and order your school supply kit now through June 18th at sproutsupplies.com with our School Code FHES001.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

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Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you are well! Last week, some summer weather finally arrived, and things were heating up both inside and outside our school building. The principals took to the roof to have some fun with our grade levels who won our Read-A-Thon competition this year. Our 3-6 graders completed the Reading SOL. Initial scores are coming in, and we are so pleased to see our students demonstrating that they have learned at very high levels this year. In our classrooms, we continue to see our students engaged in fun and hands-on learning, which is a huge testament to our teaching staff. Check out some pictures below of our 3rd graders "operating" on non-fiction texts to identify common text features. 

And speaking of our staff... this week is Staff Appreciation Week! We are so thankful for our amazing teachers and staff who make Freedom Hill the wonderfully supportive school community that benefits our students each day. This is a great week for your family to express appreciation for our teachers, specialists, and instructional assistants. Need an idea? 

• Gratitude - a heartfelt note about the impact the staff member has had on your family goes a long way!
• Snacks - do you know your teacher's favorite snack? Providing a snack is a simply and thoughtful gesture to keep our educators energized
• Gift Card - our staff are often spending their own money on making their classrooms special places for our students. Consider returning their kindness with something special. 

We want to thank Sarah Lyon and our PTA who have been doing a fabulous job with many events and meals for our staff during their busy days of teaching! We know it will be a great week. 

All the best,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• May 6 - 10 - Staff Appreciation Week
• May 8 - Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day
• May 16 - SOL Testing Resumes
• May 27 - Memorial Day (School Closed)
• May 31 - FH Culture/Heritage Day

Spring Photos Are Now Online!

For questions, please email: [email protected]

 

 

This week, we are focusing on Leadership. You value each member of your group and inspire other people to do their best.

“Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and actions.”

           ~Harold S. Geneen

Questions you might enjoy talking about:

• What are some of the characteristics of a good leader?
• Do you consider yourself a leader? If not, what are some characteristics that might make that more possible? If so, what are the characteristics of leadership you need to build on to make stronger?
• How does it make you feel to think about yourself as a leader?

Congratulations, Arianna!

A big congratulations to Arianna Cimino, who is the 2024 recipient of the Helping Hands Award presented by the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna! Arianne was selected as the 6th grader who embodies the tenet of Optimist International that “giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world.” Arianna was presented the award last week, accompanied by her teachers, Ms. McFarland and Ms. Bayraktar. 

Parent Input for Class Placement

As the 2023-2024 school year is coming to a close, your Freedom Hill staff is starting to prepare for the 2024-2025 school year. Class placement is one of the most important tasks that our staff engage in during the last weeks of school. When it comes to class placements, we consider many things, such as heterogeneous groupings, balancing academic abilities, and maximizing the support our resource teachers can provide students. 

If you feel that there is pertinent information to support your child’s success, please complete this optional Parent Input Form by Friday, May 24th.

Your child’s current classroom teacher, specialists, counselors, and administrators will collaborate to make well-balanced classes. We value and consider your insight into your child’s learning needs. Please note that this system is not intended for families to request specific teachers. 

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

As we approach the end of the school year, it’s important for students to stay engaged, attend school, and finish strong! Please let us know how we can support your family in making consistent attendance a priority for your child. Visit our website for attendance resources.

2024 SOL Testing Schedule

SOL testing will be taking place starting at the end of April this year for students in grades 3-6. The SOL assessments are content assessments that measure a student’s growth in Mathematics, Reading, and Science (5th grade only). These tests will be conducted during the morning of the dates listed in the table below. As always, please try to avoid absences/appointments during testing days and ensure that your child has a full night’s rest and good breakfast on their testing dates. Thank you!

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

STAFF APPRECIATION - SAVE THE DATE

This year’s SUN-sational Staff Appreciation Week is this week, May 6th through May 10th. There will be treats for the staff all week long.  If you’re able, please sign-up here to volunteer to lend a helping hand to set up/clean up, or bring in an item as needed. Teacher appreciation week is a great opportunity for each of us to remember that a small note of appreciation goes a long way - feel free to send an email or even a handwritten note to school in your student’s backpack!

 

NOMINATIONS FOR HARRIETTE BEST AWARD

Do you know a staff member or parent/guardian that continually goes above and beyond to support the Freedom Hill Community? Nominate them today! We are seeking nominations of staff and family members of our Freedom Hill community for Freedom Hill’s annual Harriette Best Award.  You can use this online form, or use the paper form that came home with your student(s). 

Nominations are being accepted now through May 15th, and the award recipients will be announced at the year-end PTA Meeting on June 5th.

The Harriette Ann Best Award was instituted more than a decade ago by the FHES PTA as a tribute to honor former Assistant Principal Harriette Best. Mrs. Best was the epitome of dedication to the staff, students, and community of Freedom Hill from 1991 through 2003. She devoted hours of her own time and went above and beyond on a regular basis to assure that the staff and students at Freedom Hill had anything and everything they needed to be successful. This award is given each year to the parent(s) and/or staff member(s) who best exemplify the values and contributions for which Mrs. Best was known. A commemorative plaque hangs outside the cafeteria with all award recipients.

 

SAVE THE DATE - CULTURE/HERITAGE DAY

Save the date of Friday, May 31st for the annual Freedom Hill Culture/Heritage Day (formerly International Day) parade. Additional details, including time and how to sign up to participate, will be finalized and communicated soon!

 

ORDER SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2024-2025

For your convenience, the PTA partnered with Sprout School Supplies for the upcoming year. Sprout offers prepackaged school supply kits customized to match the Freedom Hill grade-specific classroom lists.  Supply kits are delivered directly to school prior to the 1st day. Make back-to-school easier than ever and order your school supply kit now through June 18th at sproutsupplies.com with our School Code FHES001.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you had a wonderful weekend! The weather is heating up, and so seem to be our activities at Freedom Hill. It was fabulous seeing so many things happening on campus last week, from several exciting field trips, the Staff vs. 6th Grade Volleyball game, a variety of student projects on display, and much more.

We also celebrated our amazing office staff for Administrative Professionals Day. Their warm and pleasant demeanor does not go unnoticed as many visitors share how welcoming they feel when they enter our school. Our staff treated them to many tokens of appreciation and a wonderful lunch outside of the building. Thank you Ms. Sujo, Mrs. Harris, Ms. Cadena-Gonce, and Ms. Riera! 

As we look ahead to next week, we want to remind families that SOLs will be starting for students in 3rd-6th grade. Please ensure that your child arrives to school on time, gets plenty of rest, and eats a healthy breakfast to fuel their minds for testing. We have full confidence in our students and know that they will do their best! If you'd like to learn more about the Virginia SOL assessments, including our process for taking them at Freedom Hill, tune in to the recording of our recent Family Learning Series session at this link. 

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• April 30 - SOL Testing Begins (full schedule below)
• April 30 - PTA Family Dine Out Day - MOD Pizza / Ben & Jerry's - Vienna Shopping Center Locations
• May 3 - Teacher Work Day (No school for students)
• May 6 - 10 - Staff Appreciation Week
• May 8 - Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day, Flyer

 

 

This week, we are focusing on Enthusiasm. You approach life with excitement and energy. You energize people around you.

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

           ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Questions you might enjoy talking about:

• How can you tap into enthusiasm for things you don’t like so much?
• How can you encourage each other in the things that you love and the things you don’t like so much?
• What type of mindset do you need to have to be able to approach things in life you don’t like with enthusiasm?

Parent Input for Class Placement

As the 2023-2024 school year is coming to a close, your Freedom Hill staff is starting to prepare for the 2024-2025 school year. Class placement is one of the most important tasks that our staff engage in during the last weeks of school. When it comes to class placements, we consider many things, such as heterogeneous groupings, balancing academic abilities, and maximizing the support our resource teachers can provide students. 

If you feel that there is pertinent information to support your child’s success, please complete this optional Parent Input Form by Friday, May 24th.

Your child’s current classroom teacher, specialists, counselors, and administrators will collaborate to make well-balanced classes. We value and consider your insight into your child’s learning needs. Please note that this system is not intended for families to request specific teachers. 

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

As we approach the end of the school year, it’s important for students to stay engaged, attend school, and finish strong! Please let us know how we can support your family in making consistent attendance a priority for your child. Visit our website for attendance resources.

Summer Bookmobile Donation Request

The Freedom Hill Bookmobile is getting organized for summer 2024! We are in desperate need of our students’ favorite categories of books (click links to see examples):  I Can Read books,  2nd-3rd grade series books, graphic novels, and novels from easier to more complex for grades 4-6. We are low on storage as FHES grows, so we are accepting books that are within 5-10 years old and, hopefully, mostly I Can Read, 2nd-3rd grade series books, graphic novels and novels for grades 4th-6th graders. We have TONS of picture books, so you can hold onto those for now. Donations can be labeled as Bookmobile or Rossman and dropped in the main office. Students in need of service hours can reach out to Mrs. Rossman, [email protected], to help her sort books. Our FHES students thank you!

School Pictures Available Soon!

Currently the photography company is working on processing all of the photos taken at Freedom Hill last week.  This usually takes 2-3 weeks.  Upon completion, you will be notified by email that the individual portraits and class photos are available to view and purchase through the Victor O’Neill Studios website.  You will also get a hard copy preview with ordering information in your child’s backpack after they arrive here from the company. We will provide an additional update when online viewing is ready.

Family Learning Series

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. Sessions are simulcast in English and Spanish. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 
• Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (Link)
• The Science of Reading & Supporting Your Child at Home with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (Link)
• All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka (Link)

2024 SOL Testing Schedule

SOL testing will be taking place starting at the end of April this year for students in grades 3-6. The SOL assessments are content assessments that measure a student’s growth in Mathematics, Reading, and Science (5th grade only). These tests will be conducted during the morning of the dates listed in the table below. As always, please try to avoid absences/appointments during testing days and ensure that your child has a full night’s rest and good breakfast on their testing dates. Thank you!

🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:

• Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
• Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
• Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
• Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
• Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
• Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

SEE YOU TUESDAY AT MOD PIZZA & BEN & JERRY’S

We hope to see you this Tuesday, April 30th at another family dinner and dessert out!  Join the Freedom Hill community at the Vienna Shopping Center located on Maple Ave West in downtown Vienna. Grab pizza at Mod Pizza all day (10:30AM to 10:00PM) and dessert from Ben & Jerry’s from 4PM to 9PM. If ordering online at Mod, use code MODGIVES20.  The PTA receives a portion of all sales from both locations!

 

STAFF APPRECIATION - SAVE THE DATE

This year’s SUN-sational Staff Appreciation Week is May 6th through May 10th. There will be treats for the staff all week long.  If you’re able, please sign-up here to volunteer to lend a helping hand to set up/clean up, or bring in an item as needed. Teacher appreciation week is a great opportunity for each of us to remember that a small note of appreciation goes a long way!

 

NOMINATIONS FOR HARRIETTE BEST AWARD

Nominate one (or more) staff or family members of our Freedom Hill community for the annual Harriette Best Award using this online form, or use the paper form that came home with your student(s).  Nominations are being accepted now through May 15th, and the award recipients will be announced at the year-end PTA Meeting on June 5th.

The Harriette Ann Best Award was instituted more than a decade ago by the FHES PTA as a tribute to honor former Assistant Principal Harriette Best. Mrs. Best was the epitome of dedication to the staff, students, and community of Freedom Hill from 1991 through 2003. She devoted hours of her own time and went above and beyond on a regular basis to assure that the staff and students at Freedom Hill had anything and everything they needed to be successful. This award is given each year to the parent(s) and/or staff member(s) who best exemplify the values and contributions for which Mrs. Best was known. A commemorative plaque hangs outside the cafeteria with all award recipients.

 

ORDER SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2024-2025

For your convenience, the PTA partnered with Sprout School Supplies for the upcoming year. Sprout offers prepackaged school supply kits customized to match the Freedom Hill grade-specific classroom lists.  Supply kits are delivered directly to school prior to the 1st day. Make back-to-school easier than ever and order your school supply kit now through June 18th at sproutsupplies.com with our School Code FHES001.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you are enjoying a great weekend! Last week was a memorable one, with the staff volleyball game, the Marshall Pyramid Art Show, the 5th grade field trip, and more. What a pleasure to see so many members of our community supporting our students in staff around the area. Thank you, thank you! 

This week, we hope your family will join us for an Earth Spirit Week as we reflect on our planet and our responsibility to protect it. Staff Appreciation Week is also coming from May 6-10, and our wonderful PTA is planning a nice week of support for our staff. Have you thought about how you might say thank you to your teacher(s) this year? 

Lastly, this week is "Volunteer Appreciation Week". If you have volunteered at Freedom Hill this year in any capacity, please know how appreciated you are! The strength of our school community lies in its desire to support our students, and we couldn't be more thankful for you. 

Wishing a pleasant holiday this week to all of our families celebrating Passover or Theravada New Year. 

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• April 22 - Earth Week Spirit Week
• April 22/23 - Passover Observances (No evening FHES activities)
• April 23 - Full Time AAP Family Orientation, 10AM
• April 24 - Theravada New Year Observance (No tests/assessments at school)
• April 30 - SOL Testing Begins (schedule below)
• April 30 - PTA Family Dine Out Day - MOD Pizza / Ben & Jerry's - Vienna Shopping Center Locations

 

 

This week, we are focusing on the Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence. You notice and value the world’s beauty and people’s skills. You don’t take things for granted.

 

"Better to be blind and see with your heart than to have two good eyes and see nothing.”

                                                          ~Helen Keller

 

Questions you might enjoy talking about:

• What do you think it means to see with your heart?

Why do you think we fail to notice the beauty around us?

Earth Week at Freedom Hill

For Earth Week, students are invited to wear the color matching each day’s theme to show your Earth Week spirit! You may also engage at home with this BINGO choice board!

• Monday, April 22 – Earth Day - wear green
• Tuesday, April 23 – Watershed Day - wear blue
• Wednesday, April 24 – Zero Waste Day - wear white
• Thursday, April 25 – Climate Change Day - wear red
• Friday, April 26- Wildlife Day - wear nature print

Parent Input for Class Placement

As the 2023-2024 school year is coming to a close, your Freedom Hill staff is starting to prepare for the 2024-2025 school year. Class placement is one of the most important tasks that our staff engage in during the last weeks of school. When it comes to class placements, we consider many things, such as heterogeneous groupings, balancing academic abilities, and maximizing the support our resource teachers can provide students. 

If you feel that there is pertinent information to support your child’s success, please complete this optional Parent Input Form by Friday, May 24th.

Your child’s current classroom teacher, specialists, counselors, and administrators will collaborate to make well-balanced classes. We value and consider your insight into your child’s learning needs. Please note that this system is not intended for families to request specific teachers. 

Congratulations Q3 Soaring Eagles!

Last week we also celebrated our third quarterly Soaring Eagle Citizens. These students were selected by their teachers as students who showcase our Positivity Project traits, and who enrich our school culture through kindness, friendship, and respect. We hope they had fun eating lunch with our school counselor and principals! Many thanks to Ms. Hill for organizing this event. Congratulations to our Q3 Soaring Eagles:

Preschool / Adapted Programs:

Hadhif M. & Liam S. 

Kindergarten:

Abraham R., Chloe P., Madison C., Anderson W., Spruha T., Drake R.

1st Grade:

Andres Z., Scarlett R., Lucy B., Brandon C., Maya A., Diego O.

2nd Grade:

Sophia M., Michael F., Vedant H., Kira M., Liam J., Charlotte J.

3rd Grade:

Maria A., Samuel M., Ruth B., Josiah E., Elianny P., Nour E.

4th Grade: 

Alya A., Michael P., Roselyn L., Adam M., Gabriel A., Tala A.

5th Grade:

Radeen O., Allison G., Karim A., Claire O., Sophia M., Mohammad N. 

6th Grade:

Alex R., Karthika E., Yusuf S., Arjun J., Mia S. 

Summer Bookmobile Donation Request

The Freedom Hill Bookmobile is getting organized for summer 2024! We are in desperate need of our students’ favorite categories of books (click links to see examples):  I Can Read books,  2nd-3rd grade series books, graphic novels, and novels from easier to more complex for grades 4-6. We are low on storage as FHES grows, so we are accepting books that are within 5-10 years old and, hopefully, mostly I Can Read, 2nd-3rd grade series books, graphic novels and novels for grades 4th-6th graders. We have TONS of picture books, so you can hold onto those for now. Donations can be labeled as Bookmobile or Rossman and dropped in the main office. Students in need of service hours can reach out to Mrs. Rossman, [email protected], to help her sort books. Our FHES students thank you!

2024-25 Staff Hiring

We are expecting openings in the following areas, and ask for our families' support in referring interested candidates to us:

• Teacher, Special Education (Intellectual Disabilities)
• Teacher, Grades 4-6
• Daily Substitute Teachers and Assistants 

School Pictures Available Soon!

Currently the photography company is working on processing all of the photos taken at Freedom Hill last week.  This usually takes 2-3 weeks.  Upon completion, you will be notified by email that the individual portraits and class photos are available to view and purchase through the Victor O’Neill Studios website.  You will also get a hard copy preview with ordering information in your child’s backpack after they arrive here from the company. We will provide an additional update when online viewing is ready.

Family Learning Series

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. Sessions are simulcast in English and Spanish. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 
• Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (Link)
• The Science of Reading & Supporting Your Child at Home with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (Link)

Recording Coming Soon

• All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka 

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day 2024

Is April 25! Designed to be more than a career day, the Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work program goes beyond the average practice of “shadowing” an adult. Exposing children to what a parent or mentor does during the work day is important, but showing them the value of their education, helping them discover the power and possibilities of work and family life, providing boys and girls a chance to share how they envision the future, and allowing them to begin steps toward their goals in a hands-on and interactive environment is key to their achieving success. Learn more here. 

2024 SOL Testing Schedule

SOL testing will be taking place starting at the end of April this year for students in grades 3-6. The SOL assessments are content assessments that measure a student’s growth in Mathematics, Reading, and Science (5th grade only). These tests will be conducted during the morning of the dates listed in the table below. As always, please try to avoid absences/appointments during testing days and ensure that your child has a full night’s rest and good breakfast on their testing dates. Thank you!

Passover

Many Jewish communities in the United States celebrate Passover, a recognition of the deliverance of Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Passover is also known as Pesah, Pesach, or the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Many Jewish families in the United States eat a ceremonial meal known as the Seder, which involves telling the story of the exodus from Egypt as well as eating various symbolic foods, such as meat of the paschal lamb and bitter herbs, recalling the harsh life of slavery. Learn more about Passover in NatGeo Kids. 

Monday, April 22nd, and Tuesday, April 23rd, are designated half-O days in recognition of the first two days of Passover. Half-O days are full school days, but important events will not be held after school on those days. See the complete school year calendar.

Theravada New Year

In countries where Theravada Buddhism is the most dominant religion, New Year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon in April. Theravada means “the teachings of the elders.” Celebrations begin with people attending the local temple in the morning for chanting and meditation. In the afternoon they have a water festival in which they meet the Buddha image and pay respect to the elderly by watering their hands together. Building sandcastles is also one of the most popular activities during this day of celebration. 

Wednesday, April 24th, is designated as an O day for Theravada New Year. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. There is school on these days, however tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days. See the complete school year calendar.

Dr. Bussey Memorial Equity Award

Nominations are open for the 2024 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award.  The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.  

This award recognizes staff or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.

Any FCPS employee, student, or community member can nominate an individual or group for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Wednesday, May 1st, 2024.  The winner will be recognized at the FCPS Equity Symposium.

Full details and the nomination information form can be found at the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award website

🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:

• Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
• Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
• Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
• Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
• Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
• Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

WE HAVE THE BEST FANS!

Thank you to all the fans who cheered on our wonderful staff in Friday night’s volleyball game.

 

LET’S EAT - MOD PIZZA & BEN & JERRY’S

Save the date for another opportunity to dine out (or take out) with the Freedom Hill community on Tuesday, April 30th at the Vienna Shopping Center located on Maple Ave West in downtown Vienna. Grab pizza at Mod Pizza all day (10:30AM to 10:00PM) and dessert from Ben & Jerry’s from 4PM to 9PM. If ordering online at Mod, use code MODGIVES20.  The PTA receives a portion of all sales from both locations!

 

STAFF APPRECIATION - SAVE THE DATE

This year’s SUN-sational Staff Appreciation Week is May 6th through May 10th. There will be treats for the staff all week long.  If you’re able, please sign-up to volunteer to lend a helping hand to set up/clean up, or bring in an item as needed. Look for a flier with all the details to come home this week, or check out the flier on the PTA website.

 

NOMINATIONS FOR HARRIETTE BEST AWARD

Nominate one (or more) staff or family members of our Freedom Hill community for the annual Harriette Best Award using this online form, or use the paper form that will come this week with your student(s).  Nominations are being accepted now through May 15th, and the award recipients will be announced at the year-end PTA Meeting on June 5th.

 

The Harriette Ann Best Award was instituted more than a decade ago by the FHES PTA as a tribute to honor former Assistant Principal Harriette Best. Mrs. Best was the epitome of dedication to the staff, students, and community of Freedom Hill from 1991 through 2003. She devoted hours of her own time and went above and beyond on a regular basis to assure that the staff and students at Freedom Hill had anything and everything they needed to be successful. This award is given each year to the parent(s) and/or staff member(s) who best exemplify the values and contributions for which Mrs. Best was known. A commemorative plaque hangs outside the cafeteria with all award recipients.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you are enjoying a great weekend! We have a few reminders for you as we kick off another exciting week of learning. 

Don't forget! Our annual Staff vs. the Westgate Staff Volleyball game is this Friday, April 19! Our students love to see their teachers in action, and this is also a great fundraiser for our school. Don’t forget to pre-order your pizza and tickets, and sign-up to lend a helping hand during the event. See you at 6PM at Marshall HS!

On Wednesday, we invite your family to join us in recognizing the sacrifices, and contributions of our military-connected students and their families as we celebrate the Month of the Military Child. One of the most visible displays of support for military-connected youth occurs on Purple Up! Day, a day dedicated to showing appreciation by wearing purple – to represent the combined colors of branches of the military.

Speaking of color coordination, we also hope your family will join us for an Earth Spirit Week next week as we reflect on our planet and our responsibility to protect it. Lastly, this Thursday evening we have some very creative Eagles participating in the Marshall Pyramid Art Show at Marshall HS. Stop over if you have a moment to see their great work!

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• April 17 - Purple Up! Day
• April 18 - Marshall Pyramid Art Show @ Marshall HS, 6-7:30PM
• April 19 - Freedom Hill vs. Westgate Faculty V-ball Game, 7PM
• April 22 - Earth Week Spirit Week
• April 23 - Full Time AAP Family Orientation, 10AM
• April 24 - Theravanda New Year Observance - No tests/assessments at school

 

 

This week, we are focusing on Purpose. You have beliefs about the meaning of life and your life’s purpose. You seek to be part of something greater than yourself.

“Regardless of whatever I do, I know my purpose is to make a difference in people’s lives.”

           ~Tim Tebow

Questions you might enjoy talking about:

• Do you ever wonder what your purpose is?
• What kind of person do you want to be? What things could you be doing now to enhance the life of those around you?
• What gifts, talents, and ideas do you have that you want to share?

Earth Week at Freedom Hill

For Earth Week, students are invited to wear the color matching each day’s theme to show your Earth Week spirit! You may also engage at home with this BINGO choice board!

• Monday, April 22 – Earth Day - wear green
• Tuesday, April 23 – Watershed Day - wear blue
• Wednesday, April 24 – Zero Waste Day - wear white
• Thursday, April 25 – Climate Change Day - wear red
• Friday, April 26- Wildlife Day - wear nature print

School Health Services Survey

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) employs school health aides and public health nurses who provide school health services to the students in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

To determine the quality of these services, a survey has been developed by the FCHD to be shared with all parents or guardians of FCPS students. Parents/guardians will be asked for feedback on the level of satisfaction with School Health services provided to the school community. The survey will be distributed electronically via FCPS This Week. The survey window is April 15 - April 26, 2024.

Survey link: www.redcap.link/FCHDSchoolHealthSurvey.

2024-25 Staff Hiring

We are expecting openings in the following areas, and ask for our families' support in referring interested candidates to us:

• Teacher, Special Education (Autism)
• Teacher, Special Education (Preschool Autism)
• Daily Substitute Teachers and Assistants 

School Pictures Available Soon!

Currently the photography company is working on processing all of the photos taken at Freedom Hill last week.  This usually takes 2-3 weeks.  Upon completion, you will be notified by email that the individual portraits and class photos are available to view and purchase through the Victor O’Neill Studios website.  You will also get a hard copy preview with ordering information in your child’s backpack after they arrive here from the company. We will provide an additional update when online viewing is ready.

Family Learning Series

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. Sessions are simulcast in English and Spanish. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 
• Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (Link)
• The Science of Reading & Supporting Your Child at Home with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (Link)

Recording Coming Soon

• All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka 

Kindergarten Registration

As a reminder, kindergarten registration is now open.  Students that turn five prior to September 30, 2024 are eligible to attend kindergarten this fall.  Please reach out to our Student Information Assistant, Ms. Sujo, at [email protected] to schedule a registration appointment.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day 2024

Is April 25! Designed to be more than a career day, the Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work program goes beyond the average practice of “shadowing” an adult. Exposing children to what a parent or mentor does during the work day is important, but showing them the value of their education, helping them discover the power and possibilities of work and family life, providing boys and girls a chance to share how they envision the future, and allowing them to begin steps toward their goals in a hands-on and interactive environment is key to their achieving success. Learn more here. 

2024 SOL Testing Schedule

SOL testing will be taking place starting at the end of April this year for students in grades 3-6. The SOL assessments are content assessments that measure a student’s growth in Mathematics, Reading, and Science (5th grade only). These tests will be conducted during the morning of the dates listed in the table below. As always, please try to avoid absences/appointments during testing days and ensure that your child has a full night’s rest and good breakfast on their testing dates. Thank you!

April is Autism Acceptance Month

This year, the National Institute of Mental Health is providing resources in honor of Autism Acceptance Month.  These resources highlight and focus on inclusivity and connectedness and honor the unique perspectives of people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

ASD is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience. 

Autism Acceptance Month Resource List

Calendar of Self-Paced Learning Opportunities (from the Applied Behavior Analysis Team)

Month of the Military Child

April is the Month of the Military Child! Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community, and recognize their strength and resilience. Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS’ resources for military families. 

National Arab American Heritage Month

FCPS is proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month in April. This special month provides an opportunity to recognize the remarkable history and valuable contributions of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

National Muslim American Heritage Month

Muslim American Heritage Month is a time for celebrating the history, contributions, culture, and an enhanced understanding of the diverse population of Muslim Americans. View the Fairfax County School Board resolution honoring Muslim American Heritage Month.

Dr. Bussey Memorial Equity Award

Nominations are open for the 2024 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award.  The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.  

This award recognizes staff or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.

Any FCPS employee, student, or community member can nominate an individual or group for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Wednesday, May 1st, 2024.  The winner will be recognized at the FCPS Equity Symposium.

Full details and the nomination information form can be found at the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award website

Safe, Supported, and Included — the FCPS Family Summit 2024

Register Today for the FCPS Family Summit Registration is open for the FCPS Family Summit, which will take place on Saturday, April 20, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Marshall High School. The conference will cover topics that are helpful for all families, such as social-emotional resources, along with a specially curated online component to provide supports for students with disabilities and their families.

Some of the topics include raising resilient, independent children; forming meaningful connections with children; addressing big emotions; and the dangers of opioids and fentanyl. The theme — Safe, Supported, and Included — aligns with Goal 2 of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:

• Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
• Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
• Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
• Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
• Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
• Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

VOLLEYBALL THIS FRIDAY!

Help us rock the Marshall High School gym this Friday night, April 19th, from 6:30-8PM during the annual Freedom Hill ES vs. Westgate ES staff volleyball game. To show your support, wear red, gray or Freedom Hill spirit wear!

Tickets are $5 for adults and children age 5 and older. You can pre-order your tickets and cheese/pepperoni pizzas or slices by Wednesday night to save time. Check-in at the door for pre-ordered tickets, or purchase there. Pom-poms, etc and a limited number of pizza slices will be available for purchase. If you can, sign-up to lend a helping hand during the event. 

Pictured below is last year’s winning team (missing Mr. Kopacz), and a school wide postgame celebration on the court!

 

LET’S EAT - MOD PIZZA & BEN & JERRY’S

Save the date for another opportunity to dine out (or take out) with the Freedom Hill community on Tuesday, April 30th at the Vienna Shopping Center located on Maple Ave West in downtown Vienna. Grab pizza at Mod Pizza all day (10:30AM to 10:00PM) and dessert from Ben & Jerry’s from 4PM to 9PM. If ordering online at Mod, use code MODGIVES20.  The PTA receives a portion of all sales from both locations!

 

SLATE FOR PTA BOARD - 2024-2025

Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in serving on the PTA Board next school year, and thank you to the Nominating Committee of Sohni Azim, Sandy Shadchehr, and Reena Shah who slated the following individuals for the 2024-2025 PTA Board as announced during the PTA meeting last week. If you are still interested in serving on the Board, you can self-nominate from the floor during the elections at the next (and last) PTA meeting on June 5th. Also, there are plenty of opportunities to join or lead a committee next year - more details to be shared at the end of the month.

• ○ President: Kerrey Olden
• ○ Secretary: Hyun Yoo
• ○ Treasurer: Emily Jacobs
• ○ VP: Amber Halaka
• ○ VP of Communications/Technology: Thanya Kiara Osorio
• ○ VP of Membership: Aleksia Forster
• ○ VP of New Business Development: Camille Paredes

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you are well! 

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who joined us last week to volunteer for School Picture Day, and for our Kindergarten Orientation event. If you were unable to attend, please refer to the newsletter for details on registering your child for the 2024-2025 school year. This Thursday, please join us for our April PTA meeting, which has some important topics related to next school year. This month's meeting is virtual and the link is below. 

Mark your calendars! Our annual Staff vs. the Westgate Staff Volleyball game is next week, April 19! Our students love to see their teachers in action. Don’t forget to pre-order your pizza and tickets, and sign-up to lend a helping hand during the event. 

On April 17, we invite your family to join us in recognizing, honoring, and appreciating the resilience, sacrifices, and contributions of our military-connected students and their families as we celebrate the Month of the Military Child. One of the most visible displays of support for military-connected youth occurs on Purple Up! Day, a day dedicated to showing appreciation by wearing purple – to represent the combined colors of branches of the military.

Finally, an early Eid Mubarak to our families who will be ending the season of Ramadan this week. Please see below for more information about this cultural observance. School will be closed on Wednesday in observance of this holiday. 

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• April 10 - Eid al-Fitr, School Closed
• April 11 - 3rd Quarter Report Cards Sent Home
• April 11 - April PTA Meeting, Virtual, 7:30PM, Link
• April 17 - Purple Up! Day
• April 18 - Marshall Pyramid Art Show @ Marshall HS, 6-7:30PM
• April 19 - Freedom Hill vs. Westgate Faculty V-ball Game, 7PM

 

 

This week, we are focusing on Humor. You like to laugh and bring smiles to other people.

“A sense of humor is a major defense against minor troubles.”

           ~Mignon McLaughlin

Questions you might enjoy talking about:

• How does humor affect relationships? How does it connect people?
• How can you incorporate more humor into your everyday life?

Have you ever been in a situation where you just couldn’t stop laughing? What happened?

National Assistant Principals Week

Freedom Hill is privileged to have our wonderful Assistant Principal, Eric Kopacz. We are so thankful for all he does to support our community's students, families, and staff. He supports many areas of our school, including school testing, behavior supports, special education, and much more. He always does so with positivity and the belief that every child's future matters!

Join NASSP, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the American Federation of School Administrators in honoring the enormous contributions of assistant principals to student success.

National Library Week

This week is National Library Week! Please join us in appreciating the one and only Katherine Trott, our librarian at Freedom Hill. Mrs. Trott enthusiastically wears many hats at Freedom Hill - teacher, specialist, instructional partner, leader, library administrator, book fair coordinator, and much more. 

Explore all that school library programs have to offer for student learning, and the important roles that school librarians play in the school community.

2024-25 Staff Hiring

We are expecting openings in the following areas, and ask for our families' support in referring interested candidates to us:

• Teacher, Special Education (Autism)
• Teacher, Special Education (Preschool Autism)
• Instructional Assistant, PreK
• Daily Substitute Teachers and Assistants 

Family Learning Series

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. Sessions are simulcast in English and Spanish. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 
• Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (Link)
• The Science of Reading & Supporting Your Child at Home with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (Link)

Recording Coming Next Week

• All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka 

Kindergarten Registration

As a reminder, kindergarten registration is now open.  Students that turn five prior to September 30, 2024 are eligible to attend kindergarten this fall.  Please reach out to our Student Information Assistant, Ms. Sujo, at [email protected] to schedule a registration appointment.

2024 SOL Testing Schedule

SOL testing will be taking place starting at the end of April this year for students in grades 3-6. The SOL assessments are content assessments that measure a student’s growth in Mathematics, Reading, and Science (5th grade only). These tests will be conducted during the morning of the dates listed in the table below. As always, please try to avoid absences/appointments during testing days and ensure that your child has a full night’s rest and good breakfast on their testing dates. Thank you!

April is Autism Acceptance Month

This year, the National Institute of Mental Health is providing resources in honor of Autism Acceptance Month.  These resources highlight and focus on inclusivity and connectedness and honor the unique perspectives of people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

ASD is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience. 

Autism Acceptance Month Resource List

Calendar of Self-Paced Learning Opportunities (from the Applied Behavior Analysis Team)

Month of the Military Child

April is the Month of the Military Child! Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community, and recognize their strength and resilience. Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS’ resources for military families. 

National Arab American Heritage Month

FCPS is proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month in April. This special month provides an opportunity to recognize the remarkable history and valuable contributions of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

National Muslim American Heritage Month

Muslim American Heritage Month is a time for celebrating the history, contributions, culture, and an enhanced understanding of the diverse population of Muslim Americans. View the Fairfax County School Board resolution honoring Muslim American Heritage Month.

Dr. Bussey Memorial Equity Award

Nominations are open for the 2024 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award.  The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.  

This award recognizes staff or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.

Any FCPS employee, student, or community member can nominate an individual or group for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Wednesday, May 1st, 2024.  The winner will be recognized at the FCPS Equity Symposium.

Full details and the nomination information form can be found at the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award website

Safe, Supported, and Included — the FCPS Family Summit 2024

Register Today for the FCPS Family Summit Registration is open for the FCPS Family Summit, which will take place on Saturday, April 20, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Marshall High School. The conference will cover topics that are helpful for all families, such as social-emotional resources, along with a specially curated online component to provide supports for students with disabilities and their families.

Some of the topics include raising resilient, independent children; forming meaningful connections with children; addressing big emotions; and the dangers of opioids and fentanyl. The theme — Safe, Supported, and Included — aligns with Goal 2 of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:

• Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
• Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
• Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
• Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
• Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
• Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

VIRTUAL PTA MEETING - THIS THURSDAY

Attend the virtual PTA meeting this Thursday, April 11th at 7:30PM.  Use this Zoom link.  This is our next to last meeting of the school year and the agenda is packed! We’ll highlight the remaining PTA events planned for this school year, present the slate of candidates for next year’s PTA Board, and much more. The full agenda and year-to-date financials will be posted to the PTA website prior to the meeting. 

 

GET READY FOR SOME VOLLEYBALL COMPETITION!

Mark your calendars for the annual Freedom Hill ES vs. Westgate ES staff volleyball game on Friday night, April 19th, from 6:30-8PM at Marshall High School. Students, families, and staff LOVE watching and cheering for Freedom Hill!  Fliers came home last week with more information. Don’t forget to pre-order your pizza and tickets, and sign-up to lend a helping hand during the event. 

Thanks to Rachel Shabica for coordinating with Westgate PTA to ‘serve’ a great time and we hope you ‘dig’ the event! (All puns intended!)

 

LET’S EAT - MOD PIZZA & BEN & JERRY’S

Save the date for another opportunity to dine out (or take out) with the Freedom Hill community on Tuesday, April 30th at the Vienna Shopping Center located on Maple Ave West in downtown Vienna. Grab pizza at Mod Pizza all day (10:30AM to 10:00PM) and dessert from Ben & Jerry’s from 4PM to 9PM. If ordering online at Mod, use code MODGIVES20.  The PTA receives a portion of all sales from both locations!

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you had a wonderful Spring Break! It is an exciting time "On the Hill" as we kick off the 4th quarter with our students back in the building tomorrow. Our staff have been diligently preparing this week - they've been working hard to complete grading for Q3, to develop instructional plans for the remainder of the year, and today they previewed coming changes to our reading and math curriculum, which will take effect this fall. We also held Kindergarten Orientation today, and loved meeting our soon-to-be Eagles! We are excited to be back in action tomorrow.  

As a reminder, this Thursday is Spring Picture Day. Students will be having an individual picture and class picture taken, and families will have the opportunity to purchase photos at the Victor O'Neill Studios website by logging in with your student's lunch number ten days after picture day. 

Also this Thursday, the two administrators will be leading a short virtual session in the evening to share information on the Virginia SOL assessments that students in grades 3-6 will be taking in April/May. This may be particularly helpful for grade 3 families with children taking the assessments for the first time. Please join us at the Zoom link below. 

 

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• April 3 - Q4 Begins
• April 4 - Spring Individual and Class Picture Day
• April 4 - FH Family Learning Series - The SOLs, 7:00PM, Link
• April 10 - Eid al-Fitr, School Closed
• April 11 - 3rd Quarter Report Cards Sent Home
• April 11 - April PTA Meeting, Virtual, 7:30PM
• April 19 - Freedom Hill vs. Westgate Faculty V-ball Game, 7PM

2024-25 Staff Hiring

We are expecting openings in the following areas, and ask for our families' support in referring interested candidates to us:

• Teacher, Special Education (Autism)
• Teacher, Special Education (Preschool Autism)
• Instructional Assistant, PreK
• Daily Substitute Teachers and Assistants 

Family Learning Series

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. Sessions are simulcast in English and Spanish. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 
• Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (Link)
• The Science of Reading & Supporting Your Child at Home with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (Link)

This Week

• April 4 - All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka (7PM in English and Spanish, Zoom Link)

Kindergarten Registration

As a reminder, kindergarten registration is now open.  Students that turn five prior to September 30, 2024 are eligible to attend kindergarten this fall.  Please reach out to our Student Information Assistant, Ms. Sujo, at [email protected] to schedule a registration appointment.

2024 SOL Testing Schedule

SOL testing will be taking place starting at the end of April this year for students in grades 3-6. The SOL assessments are content assessments that measure a student’s growth in Mathematics, Reading, and Science (5th grade only). These tests will be conducted during the morning of the dates listed in the table below. As always, please try to avoid absences/appointments during testing days and ensure that your child has a full night’s rest and good breakfast on their testing dates. Thank you!

Solar Eclipse on April 8th ☀️ Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8th

A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8th, and will be viewable, depending on weather, in Fairfax County. The eclipse will begin in our area around 2:04 p.m. and end around 4:32 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring around 3:20 p.m. 

Because the timing overlaps with FH dismissal at 4:05 PM, it is crucial that students understand the importance of safe viewing practices. We encourage families to review these Solar Eclipse Resources, especially the eye safety information. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary natural phenomenon.

PTA Updates

LAST CALL: APPLY TODAY TO SERVE ON THE PTA BOARD FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

The PTA is looking for individuals to serve on the PTA Board next school year (July 2024 - June 2025). Position descriptions and an application form are available on the PTA website. Please submit your application by this Thursday, April 4th - it takes less than 5 minutes to complete. If you have an interest in any position or just want more information, please send a message to [email protected].

 

UPCOMING PTA MEETING - NEXT THURSDAY

Our next PTA meeting will be a virtual meeting on Thursday, April 11th at 7:30PM.  Zoom link will be provided next week, and the agenda will be posted to the PTA website prior to the meeting. 

 

GET READY FOR SOME VOLLEYBALL COMPETITION!

Mark your calendars for the annual Freedom Hill ES vs. Westgate ES staff volleyball game on Friday night, April 19th, from 6:30-8PM at Marshall High School. Students, families, and staff LOVE watching and cheering for Freedom Hill! Look for a flier to come home this week with more information. Don’t forget to pre-order your pizza and tickets, and sign-up to lend a helping hand during the event. 

Thanks to Rachel Shabica for coordinating with Westgate PTA to ‘serve’ a great time and we hope you ‘dig’ the event! (All puns intended!)

 

LET’S EAT - MOD PIZZA & BEN & JERRY’S

Save the date for another opportunity to dine out (or take out) with the Freedom Hill community on Tuesday, April 30th at the Vienna Shopping Center located on Maple Ave West in downtown Vienna. Grab pizza at Mod Pizza all day (10:30AM to 10:00PM) and dessert from Ben & Jerry’s from 4PM to 9PM. If ordering online at Mod, use code MODGIVES20.  The PTA receives a portion of all sales from both locations!

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

Thank you to everyone who made the end of the 3rd quarter a blast! We have seen many community members supporting field trips, the Book Fair, Read-A-Thon, Watch D.O.G.S., staff appreciation, and much more. Your support makes many of these events possible for our students and enhances their opportunities each day. Thank you!

The school building will be closed this week for Spring Break. This is a great time to reserve a copy of the Yearbook, sign up for spring after-school programs (today is the deadline!), order Spiritwear (deadline also today) and provide our school with your feedback by taking the FCPS Family Engagement Survey below.

We'll see everyone on April 3 when school resumes for the beginning of the 4th quarter! Wishing you a safe, restful time this week with your student(s), wherever your plans take you. Thank you for your continued support of our school community. 

 

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• March 24 - Spring Enrichment Registration Ends
• March 25 - 29 - Spring Break, School Closed
• April 1 & 2 - Staff Dev. Days, School Closed for Students
• April 2 - Kindergarten Orientation, 2PM
• April 4 - Spring Individual and Class Picture Day
• April 10 - Eid al-Fitr, School Closed
• April 11 - 3rd Quarter Report Cards Sent Home
• April 19 - Freedom Hill vs. Westgate Faculty V-ball Game, 7PM

2024-25 Staff Hiring

We are expecting openings in the following areas, and ask for our families' support in referring interested candidates to us:

• Teacher, Special Education (Autism)
• Teacher, Special Education (Preschool Autism)
• Daily Substitute Teachers and Assistants 

Kindergarten Registration

As a reminder, kindergarten registration is now open.  Students that turn five prior to September 30, 2024 are eligible to attend kindergarten this fall.  Please reach out to our Student Information Assistant, Ms. Sujo, at [email protected] to schedule a registration appointment.  As as reminder, Kindergarten Orientation will be held Tuesday, April 2 at 2:00. You will learn more about the kindergarten curriculum from our staff, and your child will be able to visit classrooms and connect with new friends.  We hope to see many new and returning families on April 2! 

Solar Eclipse on April 8th ☀️ Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8th

A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8th, and will be viewable, depending on weather, in Fairfax County. The eclipse will begin in our area around 2:04 p.m. and end around 4:32 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring around 3:20 p.m. 

Because the timing overlaps with FH dismissal at 4:05 PM, it is crucial that students understand the importance of safe viewing practices. We encourage families to review these Solar Eclipse Resources, especially the eye safety information. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary natural phenomenon while prioritizing safe solar viewing.

FCPS Family Engagement Survey

FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey will is open.  Parents/caregivers will received the survey link via email from independent research firm K12 Insight. Please participate — your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve practices to best support our students.

Taking this survey will also help strengthen the partnership between your family and your school. When that partnership is strong, students can experience a range of benefits including improved school readiness, higher student achievement, better social skills and behavior, and an increased likelihood of graduating high school.

The survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete and will be available in 10 languages. Please visit the Family Engagement Survey webpage for more information. Your voice matters!

Easter

A joyful Easter to all in our community who celebrate! This year's Easter artwork was created by Falls Church High School student Dayanara M. The springtime celebration of Easter is the most important Christian holiday. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, who sacrificed so that Christians may have life with God after death.

Summer and Dayanra’s artwork was designed as part of the FCPS Observance Design Challenge for Students. Learn more about the challenge: https://bit.ly/47oHw2j.

PTA Updates

READ-A-THON RESULTS ARE IN!

Thank you all for a great Read-a-thon!  We crossed the finish line with over 250,000 minutes read and raised over $13,000!  Reading was celebrated across all classrooms with finger flashlight Fridays, SCA spirit week, and teacher's choice rewards, like PJ day or movie time.

Congratulations to the students this year for meeting our school-wide goal! Students can look forward to throwing water balloons at the Principals during Field Day in June!

Students can still accept donations here, and should spend their prize money by Tuesday, March 26th by logging in here.  Questions? Contact [email protected].

 

APPLY TODAY TO SERVE ON THE PTA BOARD FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

The PTA is looking for individuals to serve on the PTA Board next school year (July 2024 - June 2025). Position descriptions and an application form are available on the PTA website. Please submit your application by Thursday, April 4th - it takes less than 5 minutes to complete. If you have an interest in any position or just want more information, please send a message to [email protected].

 

PURCHASE SPIRIT WEAR ONLINE

With many of us doing spring-cleaning, now’s a great time to look in your student’s closet to see if they need to refresh their FHES spirit wear!  Check out all the t-shirts, shorts and more available for online purchase here through today only. Thank you Michelle Zahalsky for having us covered.

 

SAVE THE DATE FOR STAFF VOLLEYBALL GAME

Mark your calendars for the annual Freedom Hill ES vs. Westgate ES staff volleyball game on Friday night, April 19th at Marshall High School. More information to come home in a flier after Spring Break.

Be sure to check out the spirit wear sale if you want to dress the part and show your support at the game!

 

REGISTER FOR SPRING ENRICHMENT CLASSES

Don’t want to worry about registering for a class while on Spring Break?  Register here today!  Registration is underway and will close Sunday, March 24th at 11:59PM. Classes will run from April 3rd to May 31st; before school classes run 8:10-9:10 AM and after school classes run from 4:15-5:15 PM. Limited financial aid opportunities are available for those who qualify.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you had a great week! We'd like to say a big THANK YOU for your support of the Read-A-Thon. Our students logged over 260,000 minutes of reading! We far surpassed our fundraising goal and are so pleased with how invested our students were in our goal of advancing literacy in our school. A big thanks to Amber Halaka for her continued coordination of our community fundraiser. Another big thank you to the staff, families, and students who participated in our 6th Grade Career Day, our 4th Grade Field Trip to the Baltimore Aquarium, and our collaborative Kindergarten/5th Grade Leprechaun Trap creation. Our students had so much fun!

ALSO on the topic of literacy, our Spring Book Fair kicks off this week. Ms. Trott has family nights set up for Wednesday and Thursday evening - see details below! Come support our wonderful library while picking up some great books!

ALSO ALSO on the topic of literacy, Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy facilitated our Family Learning Series session on the new science of learning to read, and shared some information on how families can support their students reading at home. If you couldn't make it, the recording link can be found below. 

On the radar for the coming weeks - Spring Break, Kindergarten Orientation, Spring Picture Day, and the faculty vs. Westgate volleyball game. Don't forget that the Yearbook is now on sale (see purchase options below). 

Enjoy your week as we finish the third quarter of the year!

 

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• March 18 - 21 - Spring Book Fair, Updated Volunteer Flyer
• March 22 - End of Quarter 3
• March 22 - Spirit Wear Orders Due
• March 24 - Spring Enrichment Registration Ends
• March 25 - 29 - Spring Break, School Closed
• April 1 & 2 - Staff Dev. Days, School Closed for Students
• April 2 - Kindergarten Orientation, 2PM
• April 4 - Spring Individual and Class Picture Day
• April 10 - 3rd Quarter Report Cards Sent Home
• April 19 - Freedom Hill vs. Westgate Faculty V-ball Game, 7PM

2024-25 Staff Hiring

We are expecting openings in the following areas, and ask for our families' support in referring interested candidates to us:

• Teacher, Special Education (Autism)
• Teacher, Special Education (Preschool Autism)
• Instructional Assistant, Special Education 
• Daily Substitute Teachers and Assistants 

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 
• Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (Link)
• The Science of Reading & Supporting Your Child at Home with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (Link)

Later this Year:

• April 4 - All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka (7PM in English and Spanish)

Due to last week's Read-A-Thon, this week our school community will be focusing again on the character strength of Perspective. Perspective means you appreciate when people see things in different ways. You have the ability to understand the world from multiple points of view.

Perspective is also referred to as wisdom and is distinct from intelligence. People with this strength are sought out for advice because they see the big picture and can make sense of the world’s complexity. This strength of perspective gives individuals the ability to see to the heart of difficult matters and achieve clarity. Most importantly, they are honest and behave in an ethically consistent manner. 

Kindergarten Registration

As a reminder, kindergarten registration is now open.  Students that turn five prior to September 30, 2024 are eligible to attend kindergarten this fall.  Please reach out to our Student Information Assistant, Ms. Sujo, at [email protected] to schedule a registration appointment.  As as reminder, Kindergarten Orientation will be held Tuesday, April 2 at 2:00. You will learn more about the kindergarten curriculum from our staff, and your child will be able to visit classrooms and connect with new friends.  We hope to see many new and returning families on April 2! 

2024 SOL Testing Schedule

SOL testing will be taking place starting at the end of April this year for students in grades 3-6. The SOL assessments are content assessments that measure a student’s growth in Mathematics, Reading, and Science (5th grade only). These tests will be conducted during the morning of the dates listed in the table below. As always, please try to avoid absences/appointments during testing days and ensure that your child has a full night’s rest and good breakfast on their testing dates. Thank you!

In addition to the SOLs, 5th grade students will be taking the VA Integrated Writing Assessment on March 20. 

Solar Eclipse on April 8th ☀️ Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8th

A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8th, and will be viewable, depending on weather, in Fairfax County. The eclipse will begin in our area around 2:04 p.m. and end around 4:32 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring around 3:20 p.m. 

Because the timing overlaps with FH dismissal at 4:05 PM, it is crucial that students understand the importance of safe viewing practices. We encourage families to review these Solar Eclipse Resources, especially the eye safety information. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary natural phenomenon while prioritizing safe solar viewing.

FCPS Family Engagement Survey

FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey will is open.  Parents/caregivers will received the survey link via email from independent research firm K12 Insight. Please participate — your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve practices to best support our students.

Taking this survey will also help strengthen the partnership between your family and your school. When that partnership is strong, students can experience a range of benefits including improved school readiness, higher student achievement, better social skills and behavior, and an increased likelihood of graduating high school.

The survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete and will be available in 10 languages. Please visit the Family Engagement Survey webpage for more information. Your voice matters!

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

With just this week of school before Spring Break, don’t forget to 1) purchase spirit wear, 2) register for before/after school classes, 3) spend Read-a-thon prize money, and 3) apply for a PTA Board position!

 

READ-A-THON RESULTS ARE IN!

Thank you all for a great Read-a-thon!  We crossed the finish line with over 250,000 minutes read and raised over $13,000!  Reading was celebrated across all classrooms with finger flashlight Fridays, SCA spirit week, and teacher's choice rewards, like PJ day or movie time.

Congratulations to the students this year for meeting our school-wide goal! Students can look forward to throwing water balloons at the Principals during Field Day in June!

Students can still accept donations here, and should spend their prize money by Tuesday, March 26th by logging in here.  Questions? Contact [email protected].

 

APPLY TODAY TO SERVE ON THE PTA BOARD FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

The PTA is looking for individuals to serve on the PTA Board next school year (July 2024 - June 2025). Position descriptions and an application form are available on the PTA website. Please submit your application by Thursday, April 4th - it takes less than 5 minutes to complete. If you have an interest in any position or just want more information, please send a message to [email protected].

 

PURCHASE SPIRIT WEAR ONLINE

With many of us doing spring-cleaning, now’s a great time to look in your student’s closet to see if they need to refresh their FHES spirit wear!  Check out all the t-shirts, shorts and more available for online purchase here through this Friday, March 22nd. Thank you Michelle Zahalsky for having us covered.

 

SAVE THE DATE FOR STAFF VOLLEYBALL GAME

Mark your calendars for the annual Freedom Hill ES vs. Westgate ES staff volleyball game on Friday night, April 19th at Marshall High School. More information to come home in a flier after Spring Break.

Be sure to check out the spirit wear sale if you want to dress the part and show your support at the game!

 

REGISTER FOR SPRING ENRICHMENT CLASSES

Don’t want to worry about registering for a class while on Spring Break?  Register here today!  Registration is underway and will close Sunday, March 24th at 11:59PM. Classes will run from April 3rd to May 31st; before school classes run 8:10-9:10 AM and after school classes run from 4:15-5:15 PM. Limited financial aid opportunities are available for those who qualify.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you had a great week, and are not feeling too sleepy after losing an hour of sleep! Don't forget to move your clocks ahead one hour today if you have not already as Daylight Savings Time begins.

Last week, we had a fantastic start to our Read-A-Thon! A big thanks to the PTA, our families, and our staff for facilitating a great week focused on literacy and the love of reading for our students. We continue with another week! As part of our week of reading, we are holding a Spirit Week as well as our next Family Information Series meeting this Wednesday. Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (our reading specialists) will be discussing the new science of learning to read, as well as sharing some guidance on how families can support literacy at home. More details are below. 

Thanks to everyone who joined our March PTA meeting on Thursday. Our fabulous volunteers have organized some great events for our school in recent months. They are on the lookout for parents who are interested in serving on the PTA board next year as well as organizing events. Please consider joining! Please email Kerrey Olden with interest.  

Lastly, our Watch D.O.G.S. program has begun! We had several FH dads in the building last week, and we appreciate their time. If you'd like to sign up for an April date, please contact David Hay. Due to SOL preparations and testing, the program will be taking a break from April 30-May 31. 

Have a great week! Sending warm wishes to all of our families who are celebrating Ramadan. 

 

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• March 11 - 15 - 2024 Read-A-Thon, Week 2
• March 11 - Religious/Cultural Observance - First Day of Ramadan
• March 13 - Family Learning Series - Literacy, 7PM, Link
• March 18 - 21 - Spring Book Fair, Updated Volunteer Flyer
• March 22 - End of Quarter 3
• March 25 - 29 - Spring Break, School Closed
• April 2 - Kindergarten Orientation, 2PM

2024-25 Staff Hiring

We are expecting openings in the following areas, and ask for our families' support in referring interested candidates to us:

• Teacher, Special Education (Autism)
• Teacher, Special Education (Preschool Autism)
• Instructional Assistant, Special Education 
• Daily Substitute Teachers and Assistants 

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. The first 30 minutes will be in English, and the second 30 minutes in Spanish. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 
• Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (Link)

This Week

• March 13 - The Science of Reading - Our New Approach to Teaching with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (7PM - Simulcast in English/Spanish, Link)

Later this Year:

• April 4 - All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)

This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Perspective. Perspective means you appreciate when people see things in different ways. You have the ability to understand the world from multiple points of view.

Perspective is also referred to as wisdom and is distinct from intelligence. People with this strength are sought out for advice because they see the big picture and can make sense of the world’s complexity. This strength of perspective gives individuals the ability to see to the heart of difficult matters and achieve clarity. Most importantly, they are honest and behave in an ethically consistent manner. 

Kindergarten Registration

As a reminder, kindergarten registration is now open.  Students that turn five prior to September 30, 2024 are eligible to attend kindergarten this fall.  Please reach out to our Student Information Assistant, Ms. Sujo, at [email protected] to schedule a registration appointment.  As as reminder, Kindergarten Orientation will be held Tuesday, April 2 at 2:30. You will learn more about the kindergarten curriculum from our staff, and your child will be able to visit classrooms and connect with new friends.  We hope to see many new and returning families on April 2! 

2024 SOL Testing Schedule

SOL testing will be taking place starting at the end of April this year for students in grades 3-6. The SOL assessments are content assessments that measure a student’s growth in Mathematics, Reading, and Science (5th grade only). These tests will be conducted during the morning of the dates listed in the table below. As always, please try to avoid absences/appointments during testing days and ensure that your child has a full night’s rest and good breakfast on their testing dates. Thank you!

In addition to the SOLs, 5th grade students will be taking the VA Integrated Writing Assessment on March 20. 

First Full Day of Ramadan

The first full day of Ramadan is Monday, March 11. In Islam, Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset each day, while striving to increase their spirituality through prayers, charity, and good deeds. Read more about Ramadan in National Geographic Kids.

FCPS Family Engagement Survey

FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey will is open.  Parents/caregivers will received the survey link via email from independent research firm K12 Insight. Please participate — your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve practices to best support our students.

Taking this survey will also help strengthen the partnership between your family and your school. When that partnership is strong, students can experience a range of benefits including improved school readiness, higher student achievement, better social skills and behavior, and an increased likelihood of graduating high school.

The survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete and will be available in 10 languages. Please visit the Family Engagement Survey webpage for more information. Your voice matters!

National Women’s History Month

Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Read more about Women’s History Month in National Geographic Kids.

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

FINISH STRONG! READ-A-THON ENDS FRIDAY, MARCH 15th

Freedom Hill readers are rounding the corner to this Friday’s finish line!  Our reading Eagles have already raised over $9,000 and have read over 100,00 minutes!!  We are almost to our school-wide prize of water balloons thrown at the Principals during Field Day if we raise $10,000.

If you haven’t already registered your reader and started to record minutes, help us finish strong by registering today. Contact [email protected] with any questions. Many thanks to Amber Halaka for putting together a great event once again!

How to register your reader? It's as easy as 1 - 2 - 3...Go!

1 - Go to this link: https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/323738323432/1

2 - Find and select your reader’s teacher

3 - Search for and select your reader, then create your account

Go - Send out emails, texts, Facebook posts, or donate!

 

SHOW APPRECIATION FOR FHES STAFF ON THURSDAY, MARCH 14th

The PTA is thankful to all the staff that support our students and foster such a positive and caring environment. We’ll celebrate and show appreciation for all staff with breakfast this Thursday, March 14th beginning at 8AM. Sign up here if you can bring food or drinks.  Thank you Sarah Lyon for organizing!

 

WE NEED YOU FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

The PTA is looking for any individuals interested in volunteering to serve on the PTA Board next school year (July 2024 - June 2025). Look for position descriptions and an application form to be posted on the PTA website later this week. If you have an interest in any position or just want more information, please send a message to [email protected]. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Be on the lookout for more information on the many PTA committees that run the different events throughout the school year.

 

PURCHASE SPIRIT WEAR ONLINE

With many of us doing spring-cleaning, now’s a great time to look in your student’s closet to see if they need to refresh their FHES spirit wear!  Check out all the t-shirts, shorts and more available for online purchase here through Friday, March 22nd. Thank you Michelle Zahalsky for having us covered.

 

SPRING ENRICHMENT CLASSES - REGISTRATION IS UNDERWAY

Don’t forget to register here for before or after school spring classes!  Registration is underway and will close Tuesday, March 24th at 11:59PM. Classes will run from April 3rd to May 31st; before school classes run 8:10-9:10 AM and after school classes run from 4:15-5:15 PM. Limited financial aid opportunities are available for those who qualify. Thank you Ross Camara for organizing so many exciting options.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We have an exciting and eventful new month ahead, beginning with our Read-A-Thon this week. We had such a blast kicking off the Read-A-Thon by welcoming local author Gabriella Aldeman, who shared her writing process with our students and read her book, Paula's Patches. It was fabulous for our students to hear more about her journey as child in Panama who became a author. 

As many of you know, this is our school's/PTA's primary fundraiser for the year, with proceeds benefitting the many extra programs and materials that we have at our school each year. Please see the PTA section below for more information on how to enroll your student(s). As parents and elementary educators, we know that reading is one of the most enriching activities for a child, and we are pleased to promote it this week during Read Across America Week. A BIG thank you to Amber Halaka, who is the PTA lead for our Read-A-Thon this year! 

This week, we also celebrate National School Social Work Week and want to give a special shout out to our school social worker, Mrs. Tara Rice. This week provides us with an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the invaluable contributions that Mrs. Rice provides our students, staff, and community. Thank you, Mrs. Rice!

As a reminder, FCPS will be closed on March 5. Our building will be used as a polling site for this year's primary elections. 

 

Have a great week!

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• March 4 - 15 - 2024 Read-A-Thon
• March 5 - Election Day, School Closed
• March 7 - PTA Meeting, 6:00, Library
• March 18 - 21 - Spring Book Fair, Updated Volunteer Flyer
• March 22 - End of Q3
• March 25 - 29 - Spring Break, School Closed
• April 2 - Kindergarten Orientation, 2PM

2024-25 Staff Hiring

We are expecting openings in the following areas, and ask for our families' support in referring interested candidates to us:

• Teacher, Special Education (Autism)
• Teacher, Special Education (Preschool Autism)
• Instructional Assistant, Special Education 
• Daily Substitute Teachers and Assistants 

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. The first 30 minutes will be in English, and the second 30 minutes in Spanish. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 
• Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (Recording coming soon)

Later this Year:

• March 13 - The Science of Reading - Our New Approach to Teaching with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)
• April 4 - All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)

 

 

 

 

This week, we are working on ONE of the FIVE overarching pillars of the Positivity Project. Identifying and appreciating the good in others can sometimes be difficult to do if we are too focused on ourselves.

 

“It’s not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.”  

           ~Confucius

 

Questions you might enjoy talking about:

• What is expressing appreciation?
• Why does it take COURAGE to express appreciation?
• What are some ways you can show appreciation of others?
• How does it make you feel when someone expresses appreciation?

Kindergarten Registration

As a reminder, kindergarten registration is now open.  Students that turn five prior to September 30, 2024 are eligible to attend kindergarten this fall.  Please reach out to our Student Information Assistant, Ms. Sujo, at [email protected] to schedule a registration appointment.  As as reminder, Kindergarten Orientation will be held Tuesday, April 2 at 2:30. You will learn more about the kindergarten curriculum from our staff, and your child will be able to visit classrooms and connect with new friends.  We hope to see many new and returning families on April 2! 

2024 SOL Testing Schedule

SOL testing will be taking place starting at the end of April this year for students in grades 3-6. The SOL assessments are content assessments that measure a student’s growth in Mathematics, Reading, and Science (5th grade only). These tests will be conducted during the morning of the dates listed in the table below. As always, please try to avoid absences/appointments during testing days and ensure that your child has a full night’s rest and good breakfast on their testing dates. Thank you!

Elementary Magnet School Application and Lottery Information

The Magnet Program registration window will be open from Tuesday, March 5, through Friday, April 12, 2024.  No late applications are accepted.

To learn more about the programs and the registration process, families are encouraged to attend one of the Parent Information Nights:

• Bailey’s Upper, February 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. (Virtual only)
• Hunters Woods Elementary, February 12, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. (In-person)
• Snow date: February 26, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.
• Bailey’s Primary, February 13, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. (In-person)
• Snow date: February 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

READ-A-THON STARTS TOMORROW

Our Read-A-Thon starts tomorrow, Monday, March 4th! In addition to individual Read-A-Thon prizes, classes will compete for a surprise activity with the Principals, and a school-wide prize of water balloons thrown at the Principals during Field Day if we raise $10,000.

We encourage you to activate your reader’s account today!  Teachers and parents should start entering reading minutes Monday, March 4th. Contact [email protected] with any questions.

How to register your reader? It's as easy as 1 - 2 - 3...Go!

1 - Go to this link: https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/323738323432/1

2 - Find and select your reader’s teacher

3 - Search for and select your reader, then create your account

Go - Send out emails, texts, Facebook posts, or donate!

 

NEXT PTA MEETING - THIS THURSDAY

Our next PTA meeting is in-person in the FHES library Thursday, March 7th at 6:00PM.  Agenda will be posted to the PTA website prior to the meeting.

 

WE NEED YOU FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

The PTA still needs at least 2 PTA members interested in serving on this school year’s Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee meets at least once during March/April to review the PTA Board applications and determine a slate of candidates for the PTA Board for the 2024-2025 school year. The slate will be presented at the April PTA meeting. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please email [email protected].

 

The PTA is also looking for any individuals interested in volunteering with the PTA next school year (July 2024 - June 2025), whether that’s in a Board position or on one of our many committees. Look for more information, including application forms, to be posted on the PTA website in the coming week. If you have an interest in any position or just want more information, please send a message to [email protected]. Looking forward to hearing from you!

 

SPRING ENRICHMENT CLASSES - REGISTRATION OPENS WEDNESDAY

Registration opens this Wednesday March 6th, at 9AM for spring enrichment classes! Below is a preview of available classes.  Classes will run from April 3rd to May 31st; before school classes run 8:10-9:10 AM and after school classes run from 4:15-5:15 PM. Limited financial aid opportunities are available for those who qualify. Thank you Ross Camara for organizing so many exciting options.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you and your family are enjoying the weekend! A big thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual Science Fair, and to Kerrey Olden and our PTA/student volunteers who helped make it such an enjoyable evening. It was an amazing opportunity to see our students pursue some different areas of passion, whether through magnetism, plants, chemistry, geology, space topics, and many more. Great work, everyone! 

On Thursday, we will be celebrating Leap Day with a spirit day - Leap into the Past. Students may dress like their favorite decade (80s, 90s, 2000s, etc.). We hope to see some fun apparel! 

This Friday, we kick off our Read-A-Thon by welcoming local guest author Gabriela Aldeman, who will be sharing her recent book Paula's Patches. Families will be receiving more information on supporting their students literacy journeys as we embark on our year's biggest fundraiser. You can also register now by seeing the link in our PTA section below. Thank you for your support!

As a reminder, FCPS will be closed on March 5. Our building will be used as a polling site for this year's primary elections. 

 

Have a great week!

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• February 29 - LEAP Into the Past Day (Decades Day)
• March 1 - Read-A-Thon Kickoff (Author Visit Event)
• March 4 - 15 - 2024 Read-A-Thon
• March 5 - Election Day, School Closed
• March 18 - 21 - Spring Book Fair, Updated Volunteer Flyer
• March 22 - End of Q3
• March 25 - 29 - Spring Break, School Closed

2024-25 Staff Hiring

It may only be February, but we are already recruiting talented and motivated staff members to join our community for the 24-25 school year! We kicked off hiring by attending the FCPS Job Fair this weekend. Dr. Z, Ms. Bliss, and Mrs. Hingl spoke with interested candidates who were eager to hear about the great work of our school. We are expecting openings in the following areas, and ask for our families' support in referring interested candidates to us:

• Teacher, Special Education (Autism)
• Teacher, Special Education (Preschool Autism)
• Instructional Assistant, Special Education 
• Daily Substitute Teachers and Assistants 

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. The first 30 minutes will be in English, and the second 30 minutes in Spanish. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 
• Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (Recording coming soon)

Later this Year:

• March 13 - The Science of Reading - Our New Approach to Teaching with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)
• April 4 - All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)

 

 

This week, we are focusing on Love of Learning. You master new topics and skills on your own or in school.

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”

                                                          ~B.B. King

Questions you might enjoy talking about:

• What kinds of things do you like learning?
• Do you think it’s true that you can learn ANYTHING?

What do you think are the benefits of loving to learn?

2024 SOL Testing Schedule

SOL testing will be taking place starting at the end of April this year for students in grades 3-6. The SOL assessments are content assessments that measure a student’s growth in Mathematics, Reading, and Science (5th grade only). These tests will be conducted during the morning of the dates listed in the table below. As always, please try to avoid absences/appointments during testing days and ensure that your child has a full night’s rest and good breakfast on their testing dates. Thank you!

SCA Leadership

Congratulations to our newly-elected Student Council!

Elementary Magnet School Application and Lottery Information

The Magnet Program registration window will be open from Tuesday, March 5, through Friday, April 12, 2024.  No late applications are accepted.

To learn more about the programs and the registration process, families are encouraged to attend one of the Parent Information Nights:

• Bailey’s Upper, February 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. (Virtual only)
• Hunters Woods Elementary, February 12, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. (In-person)
• Snow date: February 26, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.
• Bailey’s Primary, February 13, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. (In-person)
• Snow date: February 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

GET YOUR BOOKS READY! READ-A-THON IS ALMOST HERE!

Our Read-A-Thon starts Monday, March 4th! In addition to individual Read-A-Thon prizes, classes will compete for a surprise activity with the Principals, and a school-wide prize of water balloons thrown at the Principals during Field Day if we raise $10,000.

We encourage you to activate your reader’s account today!  Teachers and parents will be able to enter reading minutes after the Read-A-Thon starts.

How to register your reader? It's as easy as 1 - 2 - 3...Go!

1 - Go to this link: https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/323738323432/1

2 - Find and select your reader’s teacher

3 - Search for and select your reader, then create your account

Go - Send out emails, texts, Facebook posts, or donate!

Need help? Contact [email protected]

 

NEXT PTA MEETING

Save the date for our next PTA meeting - in-person in the FHES library on Thursday, March 7th at 6:00PM. 

 

WE NEED YOU FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR

The PTA needs at least 3 PTA members interested in serving on this school year’s Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee meets at least once during March/April to review the PTA Board applications and determine a slate of candidates for the PTA Board for the 2024-2025 school year. The slate will be presented at the April PTA meeting. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please email [email protected].

The PTA is also looking for any individuals interested in volunteering with the PTA next school year (July 2024 - June 2025), whether that’s in a Board position or on one of our many committees. Look for more information, including application forms, to be posted on the PTA website in the coming weeks. If you have an interest in any position or just want more information, please send a message to [email protected]. Looking forward to hearing from you!

 

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all the students that participated in this year’s science fair, and thank you to all the friends and family that came out and supported them. The cafeteria was buzzing on Friday night with excitement and energy and so many attendees said they were already looking forward to coming back next year!

It was so sweet seeing the FHES community at Donutchew on Saturday! Thank you for supporting the PTA.

 

SAVE THE DATE - SPRING ENRICHMENT REGISTRATION

Registration opens on March 6th, at 9AM for spring enrichment classes! Below is a preview of available classes.  Classes will run from April 3rd to May 31st; before school classes run 8:10-9:10AM and after school classes run from 4:15-5:15PM. Limited financial aid opportunities are available for those who qualify. Thank you Ross Camara for organizing so many exciting options.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you and your family are enjoying the long weekend! We certainly appreciated it after a busy week, with successful 3rd and 4th grade field trips, Valentine's Day celebrations, and of course our annual PTA Spelling Bee! Congratulations to our winner, Anjali S., who will represent Freedom Hill in the county-wide bee. Good luck, Anjali!

The fun and learning continues as we move toward the end of February. Please see details below for the upcoming Science Fair, Family Donuts Out opportunity, the annual Read-A-Thon, and the Spring Book Fair. Many of these events are facilitated by our fabulous PTA. Our organization is excited to welcome new parents into their leadership. It is a wonderful contribute to our school and learn more about our many families. Please email [email protected] with your interest. 

Have a great week!

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• February 23 - PTA Science Fair, 6:30PM
• February 24 - Family Donuts Out, Donutchew of Vienna, 9AM-8PM
• March 4 - 15 - 2024 Read-A-Thon
• March 5 - Election Day, School Closed
• March 18-21 - Spring Book Fair, Flyer

Smartwatch Usage at School

We have seen an increase in students using smartwatches and wearable technology in classes during the school day, and in particular to contact families. This causes a distraction to the student, their teachers, and classrooms. In accordance with FCPS SR&R, elementary students are not allowed to use the call/text function on smartwatches during the school day.  This policy includes non-instructional times including lunch and recess.  If your child is not feeling well, please remind them that they need to tell their teacher and we can support them in the clinic; they can call you from there. Please DO NOT call, message or reply to your child on their cell phone or smartwatch during the school day. Here is the language from the SR&R specific section regarding cell phones and smart watches. 

Elementary school Kindergarten-sixth grade 

Phones must be silenced and in backpacks for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (e.g., smart watch) may be worn; however, phone features (e.g., texting, Internet, calls, etc.) are to be off when phone use is prohibited. Students are prohibited from using phones, tablets, and other mobile devices in restrooms and locker rooms, unless there is a medical necessity or emergency. Teachers may allow usage of cell phones for instructional activities where they are the most appropriate tool, however one-to-one FCPS devices should meet most needs. Cell phones may be used on campus only before and after school.  The full SR&R document is linked here.

Substitutes Needed!

Freedom Hill is eager to hire additional substitutes who are interested in working as instructional assistants in our preschool and special education classrooms. These individuals will support the classroom teacher and students from 9:00-4:00. If interested, please email the school principal, and apply for the position on the FCPS website. Pay bonuses are available this year for substitutes who work high volume days and/or achieve milestones of days worked. Thank you!

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. The first 30 minutes will be in English, and the second 30 minutes in Spanish. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 
• Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (Recording coming soon)

Later this Year:

• March 13 - The Science of Reading - Our New Approach to Teaching with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)
• April 4 - All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)

Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about Black History month.

 

 

This week, we are focusing on Humility. You do not seek the spotlight. You let your actions speak for themselves.

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”

                                         ~Rick Warren

Questions you might enjoy talking about.

• How is being honest with yourself related to humility?
• Would you be a good teacher of humility?

FCPS Summer Camp Information

The FCPS Career and Technical Education (CTE) office is once again planning engaging summer enrichment programs for students!  For our current Kindergarten - 5th grade students, we have Tech Adventure Camp.  For our current 6th - 11th grade students, we have CTE Summer Academy.  Please see the links below for more information and how to register.

Tech Adventure Camp (Gr. K-5), July 8-22

CTE Summer Academy (Gr. 6-11), July 8-26

Elementary Magnet School Application and Lottery Information

The Magnet Program registration window will be open from Tuesday, March 5, through Friday, April 12, 2024.  No late applications are accepted.

To learn more about the programs and the registration process, families are encouraged to attend one of the Parent Information Nights:

• Bailey’s Upper, February 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. (Virtual only)
• Hunters Woods Elementary, February 12, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. (In-person)
• Snow date: February 26, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.
• Bailey’s Primary, February 13, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. (In-person)
• Snow date: February 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

Eating Disorder Parent Information

In 2013, Virginia passed a law requiring every school system to provide information about eating disorders to parents/guardians of students in the fifth through twelfth grades annually. 

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA 2023),

Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. In the United States, 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives.

There is no single cause of an eating disorder. Rather, it is a complex combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that converge and set off an individual’s predisposed genetic vulnerability.

In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department, FCPS has developed a web page with detailed information and resources about eating disorders.  To find out more, please visit the FCPS Eating Disorders website.

In addition to the information on the FCPS website, the National Eating Disorders Association has a toll free, confidential Helpline, 1-800-931-2237.

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

SCIENCE FAIR - THIS FRIDAY!

Don’t forget to join us at this year’s Science Fair on Friday, from 6:30-7:30PM in the cafeteria. We are expecting nearly 50 student participants from grades K through 6 displaying over 30 projects.  Come learn about volcanoes, tornadoes, global warming, magic bubbles, soil and water, and many more exciting topics! There is no cost to attend this event.

 

FAMILY DONUTS OUT

Join us this coming Saturday, February 24th for something extra sweet - an all-day family donuts out at Donutchew of Vienna! From 9AM-8PM, Donutchew will donate 20% of all proceeds to the Freedom Hill PTA. Donutchew offers mochi donuts, croffles, and bubble tea - oh my! Located at 107 Maple Avenue West in the heart of Vienna, Donutchew is a great spot to start the day, catch an afternoon snack, or even an after-dinner treat.  

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SPELLING BEE WINNER

Congratulations to all the student participants, especially Anjali who came in 1st place and will move on to compete in the Fairfax County Bee on March 17th.

 

READATHON IS COMING MARCH 4th-15th!

Students logged over 330,000 minutes of reading and raised over $10,000 last year for FHES. The proceeds collected from Read-A-Thon will be used to refresh two aging genre collections, as well as to continue to support hands-on materials for our phonics initiative for K-3 students. If we meet our school-wide goal of $10,000 raised, students get to throw water balloons at Principals during Field Day!  Look for more information to come home with students.

 

WE WANT YOU!

The PTA is looking for folks interested in volunteering with the PTA next school year (July 2024 - June 2025), whether that’s in a Board position or on one of our many committees. 

 

We are also looking for individuals interested in serving on this school year’s Nominating Committee.  The Nominating Committee will be elected at our next PTA meeting, Thursday, March 7th at 6:00PM in the FHES library.  They will then meet during March/April to review the PTA Board applications and determine a slate of candidates for the 2024-2025 school year that they will present at the April PTA meeting. Voting on the Board candidates will then occur at the following PTA meeting in the beginning of June.

 

If you have an interest in any position or just want more information, please send a message to [email protected]. Looking forward to hearing from you!

 

PTA SCHOOL DIRECTORY

Looking for the PTA's School Directory? The directory is online! Visit https://freedomhillespta.memberhub.com/directory and log in using the email address you previously provided to the school. If you log in and do NOT have access, please send an email to [email protected] with your name (first and last), the name of your student(s), and the corresponding teacher's name(s). Contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

It was a fun week on the Hill! Last week we celebrated School Counselors Appreciation Week, the 100th day of the school year, had a special lunch with our Q2 Soaring Eagle Citizens (see students recognized below), and continued our year of learning! We invite you to join us this Monday evening in the cafeteria for our annual Spelling Bee Finals. On Tuesday, Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach will be sharing more about Special Education for families who are interested (Zoom Link below). We hope you have a great week!

 

It’s Time For Read Across America 2024!

Author Gabriela Aldeman will visit FHES on March 1st to kick off our Read-a-Thon. To pre-order a copy of Paula’s Patches by Gabriela Aldeman, click this link to purchase from Vienna’s own Bards Alley! Proceeds from book sales will go towards offsetting the cost of the visit. Last chance to pre-order a signed copy of the book is this week! All orders close Friday, February 16th. 

 

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• February 12 - Spelling Bee Finals, 6PM
• February 13 - Family Learning Series > Special Education (7PM English, 7:30 PM Spanish, Link)
• February 19 - Presidents' Day - School Closed
• February 23 - PTA Science Fair, 6:30PM
• February 24 - Family Donuts Out, Donutchew of Vienna, 8AM-9PM

Substitutes Needed!

Freedom Hill is eager to hire additional substitutes who are interested in working as instructional assistants in our preschool and special education classrooms. These individuals will support the classroom teacher and students from 9:00-4:00. If interested, please email the school principal, and apply for the position on the FCPS website. Pay bonuses are available this year for substitutes who work high volume days and/or achieve milestones of days worked. Thank you!

Congratulations Q2 Soaring Eagles!

Last week we also celebrated our second quarterly Soaring Eagle Citizens. These students were selected by their teachers as students who showcase our Positivity Project traits, and who enrich our school culture through kindness, friendship, and respect. We hope they had fun eating lunch with our school counselors and principals! Many thanks to Ms. Hill for organizing this event. Congratulations to our Q2 Soaring Eagles:

Preschool / Adapted Programs:

Erica S., Aiden I., Diego Z., & Victoria P. 

Kindergarten:

Camila U., Ali Y., Sahasra S., Maxwell O., Sofia D., Evan H. 

1st Grade:

Sherilyn S., Thiago T., Mason N., Alyson M., Shama A., Ezekiel L. 

2nd Grade:

Omar N., Angela R., Edisson A., Sophia Y., Jean Y., Skyler H.

3rd Grade:

Nadar A., Bareen N., Cullen M., Serena C., William H., Arya S.

4th Grade: 

Shayla R., Ryan H., Kriday A., Keira W., Charlotte H., Marwan S.

5th Grade:

Claudia B., Ezra W., Deven S., Cara N., Daniela G., Gabriel F.

6th Grade:

Arianna C., Panashe S., Chimsom O., Ascary R., Regina V., Linsy F., Jacob C.

Front Office Reminders

• While it is always a special time when families visit us for lunch, please be sure to 1) notify the classroom teacher, 2) check in at the front office, and 3) be sure to not photograph or share food with another family's student(s).
• When you know ahead of time that you will be picking up your student early, please notify the teacher and the office so that we can have your student packed up and ready when you arrive.
• Please consider donating paper towels to school. If you are able to donate, feel free to drop them off in the office anytime, or have them shipped directly to school. 
• If your child will be traveling home a different way than usual or will be picked up early, please let the teacher and the office know by 2:00.  It is very difficult and not always possible to accommodate the many requests for end of day dismissals during the last few minutes of school.

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. The first 30 minutes will be in English, and the second 30 minutes in Spanish. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 

Coming Soon:

• Feb. 13 - Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link)

Later this Year:

• March 13 - The Science of Reading - Our New Approach to Teaching with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)
• April 4 - All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)

Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about Black History month.

 

 

This week, we are focusing on Love. You value close relationships with others and being close to people.

 

"Love and compassion are necessities not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”

                                                          ~Dalai Lama

Questions you might enjoy talking about:

• Why do you think defining love can be so difficult?
• Are there times when love is difficult to give others?

Why do you think it’s often difficult to demonstrate love to our families and/or friends?

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

GOOD LUCK AT THE SPELLING BEE

Good luck to all the students participating in the school-wide Spelling Bee tomorrow, February 12th in the cafeteria beginning at 6:00PM! You don’t need to be a participant to attend.

 

ORDER A COPY OF “PAULA’S PATCHES”

The school-wide read-a-thon is starting next month and Vienna’s very own author Gabriela Aldeman will visit FHES during the school day on March 1st to kick off the PTA’s Read-a-Thon. To pre-order a copy of Paula’s Patches by Gabriela Aldeman, click here to purchase from Vienna’s own Bards Alley! Proceeds from book sales will go towards offsetting the cost of the visit. All orders close this Friday, February 16th.

 

VOLUNTEERS AND SCIENTISTS

We are looking for a few volunteers to help arrange the cafeteria tables, assist students in setting up their projects, direct attendees during the event, and help reset the cafeteria the night of the science fair on Friday, February 23rd. If you can lend a helping hand, or have a student that needs volunteer hours, please sign up here.

 

FAMILY DONUTS OUT

Join us Saturday, February 24th for something extra sweet - an all-day family donuts out at Donutchew of Vienna! From 9AM-8PM, Donutchew will donate 20% of all proceeds to the Freedom Hill PTA. Donutchew offers mochi donuts, croffles, and bubble tea - oh my! Located at 107 Maple Avenue West in the heart of Vienna, Donutchew is a great spot to start the day, catch an afternoon snack, or even an after-dinner treat.  

 

WE WANT YOU!

The PTA is looking for folks interested in volunteering with the PTA next school year (July 2024 - June 2025), whether that’s in a Board position or on one of our many committees. 

 

We are also looking for individuals interested in serving on this school year’s Nominating Committee.  The Nominating Committee will be elected at our March PTA meeting, and will then meet to review the PTA Board applications and determine a slate of candidates for the 2024-2025 school year that they will present at the April PTA meeting. Voting on the Board candidates will then occur at the following PTA meeting in the beginning of June.

 

If you have an interest in any position or just want more information, please send a message to [email protected]. Looking forward to hearing from you!

 

PTA SCHOOL DIRECTORY

Looking for the PTA's School Directory? The directory is online! Visit https://freedomhillespta.memberhub.com/directory and log in using the email address you previously provided to the school. If you log in and do NOT have access, please send an email to [email protected] with your name (first and last), the name of your student(s), and the corresponding teacher's name(s). Contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Community,

We hope you had a great weekend! We are coming off of an exciting week at Freedom Hill. Our chorus delivered a wonderful concert on Wednesday, and many of our classrooms tuned in to see and learn more about Punxsutawney Phil. It seems spring may be coming soon than we'd think! Before we get there, we still have some great events upcoming in February. Keep your calendar marked with the Spelling Bee Finals, Science Fair, and Family Learning Series session that will focus on Special Education services in FCPS. 

We will be sending home a flier in the coming days related to recruiting substitute staff for our school. We are eagerly searching for individuals who are especially interested in serving as instructional assistants working with our preschool and special needs teachers and students. Please see the additional information below and reach out if you are interested in joining us. 

This week is National School Counseling Week. Please join us in appreciating our wonderful Ms. Donna Hill! 

 

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• February 7 - Q2 Progress Reports Sent Home
• February 12 - Spelling Bee Finals, 6PM
• February 13 - Family Learning Series > Special Education (7PM English, 7:30 PM Spanish, Link)
• February 19 - Presidents' Day - School Closed
• February 23 - PTA Science Fair, 6:30PM
• February 24 - Family Donuts Out, Donutchew of Vienna, 8AM-9PM

Substitutes Needed!

Freedom Hill is eager to hire additional substitutes who are interested in working as instructional assistants in our preschool and special education classrooms. These individuals will support the classroom teacher and students from 9:00-4:00. If interested, please email the school principal, and apply for the position on the FCPS website. Pay bonuses are available this year for substitutes who work high volume days and/or achieve milestones of days worked. Thank you!

Front Office Reminders

• While it is always a special time when families visit us for lunch, please be sure to 1) notify the classroom teacher, 2) check in at the front office, and 3) be sure to not photograph or share food with another family's student(s).
• When you know ahead of time that you will be picking up your student early, please notify the teacher and the office so that we can have your student packed up and ready when you arrive.
• Please consider donating paper towels to school. If you are able to donate, feel free to drop them off in the office anytime, or have them shipped directly to school. 
• If your child will be traveling home a different way than usual or will be picked up early, please let the teacher and the office know by 2:00.  It is very difficult and not always possible to accommodate the many requests for end of day dismissals during the last few minutes of school.

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. The first 30 minutes will be in English, and the second 30 minutes in Spanish. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 

Coming Soon:

• Feb. 13 - Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link)

Later this Year:

• March 13 - The Science of Reading - Our New Approach to Teaching with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)
• April 4 - All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)

Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about Black History month.

 

 

This week, we are working on ONE of the FIVE overarching pillars of the Positivity Project. Cheering others’ success is an important test of our character every single day.

Friends don’t get jealous of each other or begrudge the other for finding success. They celebrate every victory together.”  

                                                          ~Karen Kingsbury

Questions you might enjoy talking about:

• Be grateful. The root of jealousy is cut off when you focus on the things you DO have, not that you don’t have.
• Be inspired instead of discouraged by their success.
• Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone is different.

Know that your value does not come from external things.

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

SPELLING BEE

Don’t forget - the school-wide Spelling Bee is next Monday, February 12th in the cafeteria beginning at 6:00PM. You don’t need to be a participant to attend.

 

VOLUNTEERS AND SCIENTISTS

We are looking for a few volunteers to help arrange the cafeteria tables, assist students in setting up their projects, direct attendees during the event, and help reset the cafeteria the night of the science fair on Friday, February 23rd. If you can lend a helping hand, or have a student that needs volunteer hours, please sign up here.

This year’s Science Fair is scheduled for Friday, February 23rd from 6:30-7:30PM in the cafeteria and we already have a variety of projects submitted.  There’s still time to participate in the fun. No prior science fair experience required! Last year we had participants from Kindergarten through 6th grade. For more information - check out the flier on our PTA website here. Project submissions/ sign-ups due by Friday, February 9th.

 

FAMILY DONUTS OUT

Join us Saturday, February 24th for something extra sweet - an all-day family donuts out at Donutchew of Vienna! From 8AM-9PM, Donutchew will donate 20% of all proceeds to the Freedom Hill PTA. Donutchew offers mochi donuts, croffles, and bubble tea - oh my! Located at 107 Maple Avenue West in the heart of Vienna, Donutchew is a great spot to start the day, catch an afternoon snack, or even an after-dinner treat. Thank you Camille Paredes for organizing this sweet event!  

 

WE WANT YOU!

The PTA is looking for folks interested in volunteering with the PTA next school year (July 2024 - June 2025), whether that’s in a Board position or on one of our many committees. 

We are also looking for individuals interested in serving on this school year’s Nominating Committee.  The Nominating Committee will be elected at our March PTA meeting, and will then meet to review the PTA Board applications and determine a slate of candidates for the 2024-2025 school year that they will present at the April PTA meeting. Voting on the Board candidates will then occur at the following PTA meeting in the beginning of June.

If you have an interest in any position or just want more information, please send a message to [email protected]. Looking forward to hearing from you!

 

PTA SCHOOL DIRECTORY

Looking for the PTA's School Directory? The directory is online! Visit https://freedomhillespta.memberhub.com/directory and log in using the email address you previously provided to the school. If you log in and do NOT have access, please send an email to [email protected] with your name (first and last), the name of your student(s), and the corresponding teacher's name(s). Contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter

Principals' Message

Dear Freedom Hill Community,

We hope you are well! Tomorrow kicks off the 2nd semester of the 23-24 school year! Our teachers were hard at work last Thursday and Friday as they continue to plan engaging instruction for our students across many subjects and grade levels. We hope that you will join us in February for our Spelling Bee Finals, Science Fair, and Family Learning Series session that will focus on Special Education services in FCPS. 

This Thursday, we have a special opportunity for students to see and learn more about Punxsutawney Phil as we eagerly await his arrival on Groundhog's Day. We will virtually learn more about Punxsutawney's home, care, lifestyle, and the tradition of predicting the beginning of spring. A big thanks to Mrs. Hussin for organizing this for us!

Also this week, WIDA testing begins for our English learners. They will have the opportunity to show their fabulous growth across four domains - reading, writing, listening, and speaking! We know they are well-prepared. 

Lastly, please note an FCPS calendar change - March 5 will now be a student holiday due to primary elections utilizing the building. 

See you soon!

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2023-24 FCPS School Calendar

FCPS Lunch Menu

• February 7 - Q2 Progress Reports Sent Home
• February 12 - Spelling Bee Finals, 6PM
• February 13 - Family Learning Series > Special Education (7PM English, 7:30 PM Spanish, Link)
• February 19 - Presidents' Day - School Closed
• February 23 - PTA Science Fair, 6:30PM

Our expert Instructional Support Team is excited to share the dates and topics for our new Family Learning Series. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for parents / caregivers interested in a variety of topics related to our students' experiences. These will be held virtually so that topics can be recorded for families to view at a later time if desired. The first 30 minutes will be in English, and the second 30 minutes in Spanish. We look forward to seeing you!

Completed:

• Introduction to Advanced Academics with Mrs. Fredericks (September 2023, Link)
• Full-Time Advanced Academics Screening with Mrs. Fredericks - for families with students in grades 2-6 (October 2023, Link)
• Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Pizza Night with Dr. Zapadka, Mr. Kopacz. Please email David Hay with inquiries. 

Coming Soon:

• Feb. 13 - Introduction to Special Education & Section 504 with Mrs. Tingler and Mr. Grumbach (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link)

Later this Year:

• March 13 - The Science of Reading - Our New Approach to Teaching with Mrs. Rossman and Mrs. Mansuy (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)
• April 4 - All About the SOLs with Mr. Kopacz and Dr. Zapadka (7PM English, 7:30PM Spanish, Link TBD)

Regular Attendance Leads to Success!

Attendance is an important indicator of student success in school. Recently, we sent home a flyer highlighting the significance of student attendance and the success students see when they achieve regular attendance in school. This week, families who have a student who has missed 5 or more days of school will be receiving a letter as a reminder of the importance of arriving to school with consistency, every day and on time. As we establish our 2024 routines, please have a conversation with your child/children about ensuring continued attendance and participation in school. Thank you, and as always, please feel free to reach out to the school for support if needed.

This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Forgiveness.  Forgiveness means you forgive those who have done wrong and you accept that people make mistakes.

Forgiveness is the ability to move past being injured, and allow yourself to reconcile with the person who hurt you. Forgiveness can often be seen as a selfless act, but it also carries many benefits for those who practice it. Those who demonstrate forgiveness have the ability to move forward after someone has hurt them. Forgiveness is often rooted in the idea that all people are valuable and worthy of a second chance. Many who forgive have the ability to consider things from another’s perspective.

Dual Language Immersion Registration

Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs will open on Monday, January 22. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion programs for the 2024-25 school year. Programs are available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. 

Parents/caregivers who are interested may want to attend an informational meeting. Meetings are held at the school site. Check the FCPS events calendar for the most current information. Meetings will begin on Tuesday, January 16. 

A virtual meeting hosted by the World Languages Office will include general program information. Access to this virtual meeting will be made available on the FCPS events calendar and the Dual Language Immersion registration site on the day of the meeting.

Get more information on the immersion program webpage and registration page.

Hill Happenings PTA Updates

PTA SCHOOL DIRECTORY

Looking for the PTA's School Directory? The directory is online! Visit https://freedomhillespta.memberhub.com/directory and log in using the email address you previously provided to the school. If you log in and do NOT have access, please send an email to [email protected] with your name (first and last), the name of your student(s), and the corresponding teacher's name(s). Contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

 

WHERE ARE THE SCIENTISTS?

Have your student ever wondered how to make a bouncy ball? Or questioned why oil and water don’t mix? Now’s the time to find out! This year’s Science Fair is scheduled for Friday, February 23rd from 6:30-7:30PM in the cafeteria and we’re looking for all the Freedom Hill scientists to join the fun. No prior science fair experience required! Last year we had participants from Kindergarten through 6th grade. For more information - check out the flier on our PTA website here. Project submissions/ sign-ups due by Friday, February 9th.

1945 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182 | Main Phone: 703.506.7800
Attendance: 703.506.7878 | Website | Twitter