From the Principal's desk....


cheer

Dearest Family Fairfax,

We are gearing up for teacher return next Friday and our students are returning for practices and activities.  I am super excited to welcome some of our rising 9th grade students next week for our inaugural Rebels Assemble.  Fun times ahead for our community!

I am deferring much of my message this week to our Director of Student Services, Laura Rotella.  She has a lot of start-of-the-year information to share with you, and I want to make sure that I respect your time though I do have a few quick announcements to share.

I’d like to formally welcome our two newest assistant principals to Fairfax High School:

  • Troy Ketch joins us from South County High School  where he has been an English teacher and department chair.  A West Springfield alum, the former Spartan turned Stallion is so happy to land in our Pride!  He will be supervising English and ESOL and will be serving students whose last names are Rat-Z.  Welcome Mr. Ketch to our family!  His email is tketch@fcps.edu.
  • Kevin Greata is familiar to many in the Fairfax High School community.  Mr. Greata was an AP at Lanier Middle School, and prior to that was a Math teacher and department chair at West Springfield High School.  Mr. Greata is coming full circle:  He is a 1993 graduate of Fairfax High School—so we welcome him back to our Pride.   He will supervise Math and Special Education and will be serving students whose last names are A-D.  Welcome Mr. Greata to our family!  His email is KJGreata@fcps.edu.

I would also like to introduce two important additions to the Fairfax High School team:  Justina Copeland and Joe Blaszkow, our Deans of Students.  An area for improvement at Fairfax is to increase student attendance-both absences (excused and unexcused) and tardies.  We are streamlining our attendance process to make it more efficient for students and parents.  This school year, we will move attendance to one central location—right beside the main office.  This means students will be checked in and checked out right inside the main entrance, limiting the need for parents to sometimes navigate our hallways to find subschools.  We need our students in class, and we are committing time and resources to it.   Please help us support your students by reminding them that attendance matters!   Here is a link to a flyer that provides parents with great information about attendance:  FLYER ENGLISH ; FLYER SPANISH .

Finally, I know that our student drivers are eager for parking passes!  Please look for the parking pass purchases and updated system to be LIVE on the 19th here: https://fairfaxhs.fcps.edu/studentparking .

Wishing you all the best,

 

Erin B. Lenart, Ed.D.

Principal, Fairfax High School

O:  (703) 219-2223

https://fairfaxhs.fcps.edu/

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Rebels Need to Know:


A Message from Director of Student Services, Ms. Rotella:

I hope all of our students and families are enjoying a few more days of rest as we get ready for the start of the 2019-2020 school year.  With our school counselors available beginning Monday, I wanted to share a few updates regarding Student Services. 

Schedules

This year, schedules will be available on Thursday, August 22 at 6am through SIS ParentVUE or SIS StudentVUE. SIS ParentVUE is accessible online at https://sisparent.fcps.edu/   Due to electronic access, printing and mailing of schedules will not occur.

When you/your student view the schedule, please review for the following:

In accordance with previous communications, schedule change requests will only be honored for the following reasons:

  • Too few or too many classes
  • Absence of a required course for graduation
  • Completion of a summer school course
  • Inaccurate placement by grade or course level (ex. 10th grade student signed up for 12th grade English)

If any of these situations occur, please contact your school counselor to correct the error. Counselors are holding drop-in hours Thursday August 22 between 9-11 AM and 1-3 PM. During all other times, appointments are required and can be scheduled by contacting your assigned counselor directly.

Team Updates:

Mrs. Payne will begin the year on leave after she welcomed her beautiful baby girl this summer!  Mrs. Sylvia Headen, a previous FHS long-term sub, will be returning to serve as her substitute.

Additionally, Mrs. Adu-Gyamfi is scheduled to go out on maternity leave the beginning of October.  Although we have already secured her long term substitute, we encourage all of her seniors to reach out to her as soon as possible so that she can support your college applications, specifically any needs for letters of recommendation, before she leaves. 

Alpha Caseload Update:

Over the last few weeks, I have reviewed our school counselor caseloads.  While my preference is not to change the alphabet, in reviewing our counseling caseload numbers, there was a large difference from the highest caseload and the lowest case load – approximately 100 students.  In order for our team to provide support and assistance to students and families, it was necessary to better distribute the alphabet with our school counselors.  As a result, I have slightly changed the alphabet assignment for underclassmen (grades 9-11), with all seniors remaining with their previously assigned counselor. The new alphabet and counselor contact information is listed below.

Contact Information/Back to School Events 

New families (including all freshmen) are invited to attend the New Student/Parent Orientation on Friday, August 23 at 9am. This event gives both new parents and students an opportunity to hear from various staff members on important topics connected to transitioning to Fairfax HS as well as gives students a chance to follow their schedule and meet their teachers. Back to School Night will be held on Thursday August 29. Senior parents are invited to arrive early, for a special senior parent presentation starting at 5:15pm. More information regarding BTSN and the senior parent meeting will be sent out via New You Choose later this month.

Lastly, all new and returning parents and families are also invited to attend the third annual Flavor of Fairfax on Friday September 6 starting at 4pm. This event is a great way to reconnect with the community, explore clubs and activities, listen to music, and eat lots of food, all before the kickoff to the first home football game of the season at 7pm.

The Student Services staff looks forward to working with you this year. We encourage all parents to sign up for SIS ParentVUE accounts, which provides access to information about your student’s courses, attendance, and grades throughout the year. We wish your student the best for a successful 2019-2020 school year!

9-11th   /     12th                   Counselor                           Phone Number        Email

A-Bow       A-Bl                  Mr. St. Clair Phillips           703-219-2219           SLPhillips1@fcps.edu

Box-Dea   Bm-Due            Mr. Peter Uncles                703-219-2213           PUncles@fcps.edu

Deb-G       Duf-Har            Mrs. Donna Leone             703-219-2374           DMLeone@fcps.edu

H-Kim        Has-Kim           Ms. Tiffany Haddock         703-219-4002           TDHaddock@fcps.edu

Kima-May  Kima-Mea        Mrs. Tara Johnson             703-219-2217           TJohnson1@fcps.edu

Maz-Ol       Meb-Or            Mrs. Aja Adu-Gyamfi         703-219-2220           AAdugyamfi@fcps.edu

Om-Rom    Os-R                Ms. Tiera Sharpe              703-219-2207           TRSharpe@fcps.edu

Ron-Tom    S-Tay              Mrs. Sylvia Headen           703-219-2209           SBHeaden@fcps.edu

Ton-Z         Taz-Z               Mrs. Tracy Hartley             703-219-2212           THartley@fcps.edu



Save the Date!  Back to School Night is August 29!

Parents, please join the faculty and staff for our exciting Back to School Night on Thursday, August 29, 2019.  This is a great opportunity to meet your student’s teachers. Class visitation will run from 6:30pm to 8:48 pm. You will also have an opportunity to get information regarding Fairfax High School clubs, sports, parent groups and other activities and resources in the Commons Area, from 6:00pm to 6:30pm and again from 8:48pm to 9:20pm. If you are parent of a 12th grader, please plan to attend the parent Senior Class Meeting from 5:15pm to 6:15pm in the auditorium. 

In addition, you are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held from 5:30pm-6:30pm in the school library. All program materials and media for all grade levels will be available for your review at this time. 

For parents of students receiving special education services, there will be an information session regarding special education services from 5:15pm to 5:45pm in the Multi-Purpose room. Come to learn about the different courses we offer and meet our fantastic special education teachers.

Parking and shuttles will be available from Daniels Run Elementary, St Leo’s Church, and Home Depot parking lots. The shuttles will run from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. We hope to see you on Thursday, August 29, at 6:30pm. 

More information will be going out to parents next week.



Fairfax HS Goes 1:1 This Year!

As you know Fairfax High School is going 1:1 next school year.  This means that we will be assigning you a laptop to use at home and school.  These computers are to assist you in learning content and enhancing your experiences while enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools.  As these are tools for your learning, we ask that you bring them to school charged everyday and use them in accordance with the FCPS SR&R (https://www.fcps.edu/srr).  

To obtain your computer please come on your assigned day (see below) between 9 - 11:30 or  1:00 - 3:00 with a School or Government issued PICTURE ID. If you do not have a picture ID, a custodial parent/guardian with a government issued id who can verify your identity must be present. Please note:  Distribution is offered only on the date listed next to your part of the alphabet as shown on the chart below.

Date

Assigned Group

August 12      

A - Er

August 14

Es - La

August 16

Lb - Re

August 20

Rf - Z

August 22

By Appointment

 

The following lists tasks that will need to be completed prior to arriving at FHS to collect your computer and some tasks prior to departure from FHS with your loaned computer. The goal from the time you enter the door to when you leave is approximately 30 minutes.

Prior to arrival:

Prior to departure:

Ensure you have received:

    • 1 X Laptop Sleeve
    • 1 X Computer Charger
    • 1 X Laptop
  • Plug the computer in and make sure it is charging.
  • Log into the computer
  • Log into  FCPS 24/7 Learning
  • Set up Drive File Stream

 

If you cannot make the dates/times about, please complete the following form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWNYSVZlXPs1HnxkI1Uk4eiyrTT31GmFqO1bxrsgP-I8WGmA/formResponse



SAVE the DATE:

Fairfax High School

The FLAVOR of FAIRFAX

The Flavor of Fairfax is the kick-off event of the year! 

Friday, September 6, 2019

4pm - Kick-Off

CLUBS, MUSIC, FOOD, and FUN! 

Field House Parking Lot



Rebels Nice to Know:



The Football program will be selling Discount Cards beginning at 10 am on Saturday, August 10, in the Fairfax Community!

 



Freddy


Athletic Boosters Spirit Wear online store is now live!!!

https://fairfaxhighsports.org/page/3313

Purchase your spirit wear online and we will let you know when it’s ready to be picked up in the Athletic Office.  

Follow our social media accounts:

@FHSspiritmerch on Instagram

@FHSmerch on Twitter

"FHS Spirit Merchandise" on Facebook

Questions?  Email us at fhsspiritmerch@gmail.com



Nasa Wear

Fairfax High School’s Team Half-Life Invited to Participate in the Wearable Equipment for Averting Radiation Challenge at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA.

Dhruv Batra, Adharsh Jayaseelan, Justin Ortega, Manish Balamurugan, sponsored by Thresa O’Neill and Rebecca Cruley, were invited to travel to NASA Langley Research Center in August to share student-designed, wearable, radiation countermeasures with NASA engineers and scientists.

Through a competitive process, teams of students and educators submitted design proposals for wearable anti-radiation garments. The challenge involves designing wearable radiation countermeasures and sharing their ideas with NASA scientists and engineers who design these technologies in their work. Developing radiation countermeasures are an important step as we return astronauts to the Moon by 2024 and continue on the Mars.

Team Half-Life was one of the top design teams that traveled to NASA Langley to share their designs, learn about the engineering process, participate in STEM engagement activities, and tour NASA Langley Research Center.



Jin-A

Creating Excellence Award Luncheon


Fairfax Academy's  Fashion Careers won the Creating Excellence “Quality” Award for a CTE course.  Congratulations to Jin-A Chang, Fashion Design teacher, and all of her students!



Erin pics

Fairfax Colorguard Listening to Coach Brianna!



football team