Open House Reminder & More!

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Dear Freedom Hill Families,

We hope you spotted our back-to-school newsletter on August 7 and were able to read, with excitement, about our upcoming year! We are following up today with reminders that Open House will be held this Friday. It is a wonderful opportunity for our Eagles to meet their teacher, learn where their classroom is located, and drop off school supplies. To alleviate parking issues and interior crowding, we will offer several sessions on Friday:

9:00 - 9:45 - Adapted Programs: PAC, EAC, ID, IDS, and Preschool Class-Based (ECCB)
10:00 - 10:30 - Student Last Names A-L
10:45 - 11:15 - Student Last Names M-Z

Some other details:

You will meet your child's teacher and visit the classroom to explore the safe and welcoming environment that our teachers have created.
It's a great time to drop off any medications in the school clinic, and pick up a Kiss 'N Ride number in the office if you will be picking up your student at the end of the school day.
If you cannot attend the Open House, staff members will be available on the first day of school to assist students in locating their classrooms.

It's also a great time to bookmark the FCPS calendar and new breakfast / lunch menu link below, and to sign up for a PTA before-school enrichment class. There are some great classes this fall!

We look forward to seeing you soon.

In partnership,

Dr. Nicholas Zapadka, Principal

Mr. Tim Scesney, Assistant Principal

Ms. Holly Sims, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

2026-27 FCPS School Calendar

Freedom Hill Family Resources

Breakfast/Lunch Menus

August 21 - Open House (see schedule above)
August 21 - PTA Family Dinner Out @ Ben and Jerry's, 4-10PM
August 22 - Last Rising Kindergarten Playdate, 3-4PM (Playground)
August 24 - First Day of School - Students Arrive at 9:05
September 1 - Back to School Night for Parents, 6-8PM
September 11 - PTA Back to School Picnic, 5:30-7:30PM

Fall Before-School Enrichment Classes Now Open for Registration

PTA-sponsored enrichment classes for the Fall 2026 session are now open for registration! Our teacher-led programs offer students a fun and meaningful way to explore new interests before school.

The Fall Session runs from September 8 – December 18 and includes a variety of engaging options across grade levels.

Before-School Options for the Fall Include:

(Class days and times vary; see the registration page for complete details.)

All enrichment classes are taught by FHES teachers, providing a safe, familiar, and supportive learning environment.

To register, visit the PTA Enrichment Activities page and store: https://freedomhillespta.givebacks.com/w/enrichment

Note: Classes require minimum enrollment to run.

Registration Closes August 31 @ 9 PM

Contact the PTA at info@freedomhillpta.org if you have any questions, issues, or need additional help.

Explore School Meals in the New Menu Platform

Experience an easier way to view your child’s school menus using MealViewer:

View what is being served each day.
View the nutritional information for each meal.
See if any specific allergens are being served.
Get notified when your student’s favorite meal is being served.

Printable menus are always available on the Food and Nutrition Services webpage.

School Supply Lists

Want to cross something off of your August to-do list right now? Check out our 2026-27 School Supply Lists and have one thing less to worry about at back to school time!

Updated Cellphone and Smart Watch Policy

Senate Bill 108 is a new Virginia law that went into effect on July 1. It requires that all schools in the state follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy and prohibit cellphone possession and use for the entire school day. The updated FCPS Cellphone Policy aligns with this law.

Across all grade levels, cellphones, cellphone accessories, and all smart devices must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (like a smartwatch) must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day, too. Personal devices that connect to a cellphone or cellphone accessory or operate as a smart device must also follow the FCPS Cellphone Policy.

This policy does not apply to school-issued devices. However, school-issued devices must be used in accordance with FCPS Regulation 6410, Acceptable Use Policy, which allows the use of school-issued devices for educational purposes. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.

New Student ID Cards Coming for Bus Riders This Fall

As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, FCPS will implement a new student ID system for students who ride our school buses.

The implementation of the student IDs is designed as an additional safety measure for our 130,000 students who ride the bus each day, ensuring they are on the right bus and that they get on and off at the correct bus stop, as well as making sure only authorized students are on our buses.

The IDs will be provided to students who ride the bus. Those students will be expected to tap on and tap off the bus. The student IDs do not track student movement. The only information available is when a student taps on or off a bus. Much like our Here Comes the Bus app, our new app will allow parents/guardians to track the progress of the school bus.

It is possible that the ID program will expand in the future to include uses such as library cards and meal payment. Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.