Principals' Update

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

As winter officially approaches, we want to take a moment to recognize the continued effort and commitment our students show each day. We are also incredibly thankful for our outstanding staff—whose passion, creativity, and dedication make Freedom Hill a joyful place to learn. With winter break just around the corner, we are looking forward to closing out 2025 on a positive and celebratory note.

This week is full of excitement, so be sure to review our December Spirit Week schedule below. We hope all students will join in the fun!

As you begin your holiday celebrations, please take a moment to review the updates below from our amazing PTA. They are also treating our teachers to an appreciation lunch this week—thank you, PTA, for your continued support!

Candygrams are on sale this week
Registration is open for winter before- and after-school activities
The holiday break is a perfect time to prepare for the Spelling Bee
Many teachers have provided wish lists to enhance your students' classrooms. Consider helping them with an item or two!

The Weekly Update will take a short break during the holidays and will return in January. From everyone at Freedom Hill, we wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season. Thank you for another wonderful year of partnership and support for our students—we look forward to an exciting new year ahead!

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

December 15 - 19 - December Spirit Week
December 15 - Last Day for Full-Time AAP Referrals
December 22 - January 4 - Winter Break
January 5 - School Re-Opens
January 9 - Last Day for PTA Winter Enrichment Registration
January 14 - Family Reading Night, 6PM
January 14 - Kilmer MS Virtual Info Session for Rising 7th Graders, 5PM
January 15 - Kilmer MS Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night, 5PM

This week, we are focusing on Self-Control. You have the ability to control your emotions and behaviors. You think before you act.

“By constant self-discipline and self-control, you can develop greatness of character.”

~Grenville Kleise

Questions you might enjoy talking about:

Do you consider yourself to be a person who has self-control? What things do you do that indicate this?
Why is self-regulation important?
What happens when your emotions take over? How can you work on developing greater self-control?

Remaining Early Release Days

Will include:

February 18
March 18
April 22
May 13

Read more about early release Wednesdays on the FCPS website.

Full-Time AAP Referral Window

Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services must submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Mrs. Fredericks no later than December 15, 2025.

Each year, families can submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services any time from the first day of school through December 15. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.

Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for full-time AAP services.

Next Steps for Parents

Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. At the elementary level, referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened by the school. If you miss the full-time referral deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific or part-time AAP services for the remainder of the year.

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

Rising 7th Grade Course Registration Events @ Kilmer MS

Course registration for 7th grade begins in January! Families are invited to a Virtual Information Session on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 5:00 PM for an overview of Kilmer Middle School and course options, and an in-person Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 5:00–7:00 PM to meet teachers, attend information sessions, explore course options, and tour the school. Additional details will be shared by Kilmer before Winter Break!