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Dear Family Fairfax,
HAPPY FIRST WEEK! I was so impressed to see how much our students grew over the summer—I always feel so lucky that I get to watch them grow up alongside you. It is probably the best part of my job!
I have had a couple of questions about our move from four lunches to three. Four lunch groups were taxing on student and staff schedules since we both have to have the staff to adequately supervise the lunches and ½ of the school has an imbalanced class period (having to stop for lunch in the middle half or final third of class). Though our incredible teachers do a great job accommodating split class time with lunch, we have a number of classes that cannot which is what led to the imbalance of lunches last year.
I understand that lunches are busier than they had been previously, but we are not at capacity in our cafeteria for any lunch. This year, our students will not be able to have entire long tables to small groups, but there is more than enough seating. The beginning of the year always has hiccups with the lunch lines, students who have forgotten their numbers or technology snafus, but issues generally work themselves out. By Wednesday of this week, we already experienced lunch lines fully servicing students within the first 10 minutes, and we know that their service will get even faster and more efficient in the coming weeks.
To provide a little clarification, I know some students may believe that they have to eat lunch in the hallway. This is not the case. Last year, I had students who requested the option to have an alternative location to eat, and we allowed them to move to the charging tables we have on Mane (not a typo—it is named Mane). Some students then decided to move to the pit areas as well. For safety reasons, students stay on campus for lunch, but we do want to provide a campus “feel” whenever we can, without compromising student safety.
Our amazing technology professionals did a tremendous job distributing laptops this year! Over 2300 laptops were distributed to our students in the first few days of school or during the summer distribution times. For our first distribution, this is a success, but we are always open to feedback. If you have some to provide about you or your child’s experience, please consider filling out the survey found at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccgYwQWyRfG_HsDSAD4rcrTZfnQEh1rdaluDitCmtzY0uGKg/viewform
Finally, we celebrate the start of football season as we play Oakton High School—and mark your calendars for the Flavor of Fairfax on September 6th! Our athletes already in competition or about to begin, from cross country to golf to field hockey to volleyball to cheer are guaranteed to make us all very proud to be a part of Fairfax High School!
Wishing you a safe and restful holiday weekend,
Erin B. Lenart, Ed.D.
Principal, Fairfax High School
O: (703) 219-2223
https://fairfaxhs.fcps.edu/
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Free and Reduced Meal Application
The Free and Reduced Meals application is now online. Families must re-apply every year to receive this service. More information and a link to the application can be found at: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/food-and-nutrition-programs/free-and-reduced-price-meals. Please also complete the consent to share information (section 4 of the application) as this can allow the school to waive course fees and receive reduced fees for other activities. If families do not re-apply their number will be inactivated in early October.
Emergency Care and Health Information:
We are committed to ensuring that Fairfax HS is safe and secure. In support of this goal, FCPS provides weCare@school, an emergency care information system, available to FCPS parents and guardians who have registered for their own Parent account. weCare@school helps manage emergency medical information by enabling parents to enter and update their children’s medical data at their convenience online.
All parents should take the time to verify and make any changes that are needed. For information and step by step instructions on how to access weCare@school, visit https://www.fcps.edu/resources/parent-communication-overview/wecareschool
2019-20 Changes to Advanced Placement Test Opt-Out Timeline and Fees
As part of the FCPS FY 2020 Approved Budget, FCPS is continuing to assess Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test fees. As in previous years, the fees for the first six AP/IB tests taken for courses in which students are enrolled for high school credit will be paid for by FCPS. Students taking AP tests without enrolling in the corresponding FCPS course are responsible for the test fee(s). FCPS encourages all students to take AP/IB tests for courses in which they are enrolled. However, students will have the opportunity to opt-out of the test(s) by filling out an Opt-Out form to be provided by the school. To assist in the decision-making process, students will be provided a report with their previous tests and current AP/IB course enrollment.
Starting with the 2019-20 school year, The College Board is launching MyAP, a digital platform which includes new AP test ordering timeline, fee structure and instructional resources. As a result, FCPS had to adjust the AP Test Opt-Out timeline and fees. AP students will be provided their individualized Opt-Out form via mail in early October. AP students must now make Opt-Out decisions for AP tests by October 25, 2019 and parents will be billed in December 2019 for tests that exceed the six FCPS funded tests. Per College Board’s new fee structure, AP students that do not sit for a registered AP test will be assessed a $40 change fee. The cost of an AP exam beyond the six tests for which FCPS pays or for taking an exam for which your student is not enrolled in the course is $94.
Please contact Kathy Kraus-Zadrozny, Assessment Coach at kjkrauszadro@fcps.edu with any questions.
FHS Golf Team Wins Patriot District Kickoff at Springfield CC
Congratulations to the FHS golf team on winning the District Kickoff on Friday, August 23 by 21 strokes (209 to 230). Another awesome performance by our kids. They are getting more focused and playing better every match they're in.
 Congratulations to Ethan Walter, a Senior this year at Fairfax HS.
This summer, Ethan was selected to attend the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute at the Kennedy Center. He spent one month in Washington, D.C. playing Violin alongside professional musicians, taking master classes, and performing chamber and orchestral music on the Kennedy Center Concert Hall Stage.
Save the Date!
Fairfax High School - The Flavor of Fairfax - the kick-off event of the year!
Friday, September 6, 2019 - 4:00 pm to kick-off
Clubs, Music, Food and Fun!
Field House Parking Lot
 FIRST DAY AT FAIRFAX ACADEMY!
 MUSICAL THEATRE with MR. REPLOGLE, OFF TO A ROUSING START!
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