Principals' Update

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you had a nice week! It sure was a fun one at school. Despite the snow day on Monday, we still enjoyed field trips, a visit from the Fire Department, a parent presentation about circuitry, and lots of engaging hands-on learning in our classrooms. At our monthly staff meeting on Friday, we eagerly shared with staff the progress that our students have made in the first half of the year. Thank you for your partnership - we are doing hard things!

This week, we are excitedly MARCHing into a new month with some thrills - the Read-A-Thon is here! On Monday, we continue our focus on literacy this year by kicking off our annual Read-A-Thon. Please take a few minutes to sign up your reader(s) for this year's event by seeing the link below in our PTA section. This important fundraising event supports many of the extra programs and resources that benefit our school each year!

Wishing you a great week.

In partnership,

Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Tim Scesney, Assistant Principal

Holly Sims, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2025-26 FCPS School Calendar

Freedom Hill Family Resources

Breakfast/Lunch Menus

March 2 - Read-A-Thon Kickoff Event, AM
March 2 - 13 - Read-A-Thon!
March 9 – 13 – Read-A-Thon Spirit Week (Thank you SCA!)
March 13 - 19 - Spring Book Fair
March 18 - 3-Hour Early Release at 1:05
March 20 – School Closed, Eid Al-Fitr
March 27 – End of Q3, 2-Hour Early Release
March 30 – April 3: Spring Break

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?

2026 SOL Testing Schedule

Students in grades 3-6 participate in state assessments each year. These assessments measure how students are learning the state standards. Below is the current schedule for the spring Standards of Learning tests at Freedom Hill. More information will be provided as we get closer to the testing window and is available on the SOL Tests in Elementary School page on the FCPS website.

Tuesday, March 24: Grade 5 Integrated Reading and Writing SOL
Tuesday, April 28: Grade 6 & Grade 4 Reading SOL
Thursday, April 30: Grade 5 & Grade 3 Reading SOL
Thursday, May 7: Grade 5 Math SOL
Thursday, May 12: Grade 4 Math SOL
Thursday, May 14: Grade 5 Science & Grade 3 Math SOL
Tuesday, May 19: Grade 6 SOL
May 28 - June 3: Retakes for identified students

Please avoid scheduling appointments for students on the dates that students will participate in the SOLs.

Remaining Early Release Days

Will include:

March 18
April 22
May 13

Read more about early release Wednesdays on the FCPS website.

FCPS is excited to welcome The StudyPro at 10AM on March 11 for a conversation around executive functioning.

In this talk we will break down what's really getting in the way and how parents can help to:

- Recognize and identify EF challenges

- Reduce the friction that keeps kids stuck

- Support your child with strategies for planning, time management, and managing work

You'll leave with strategies to reduce homework stress and bolster developing EF skills, and improve relationships. Register here!

Student Fasting Meal Kits

From February 18 to March 19, students who are fasting during the day can take school meals home. These kits include one breakfast and one lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Families must fill out a request form each week for every student who wants a kit. The first deadline is Wednesday, February 11, for the week of February 16. Please note other important details below:

Cost: Meals are charged just like a normal school day.
Pickup: Students must grab their kits at the end of the school day.
Menu: Kits include school meals that are easy to heat at home.

Visit the Food and Nutrition webpage for forms, deadlines, and other information. Please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services with any questions at FCPSFNS@fcps.edu or 703-813-4800.