Dialing In and Celebrating Fairfax Academy

Fairfax Academy Families,

We successfully had 45 students join us on Monday, October 26 for our first day of in-person learning sessions which allowed our students to access labs and equipment that is typically an integral part of their Academy experience. We thank everyone for following all the health and safety protocols. 

A few reminders as we continue to dial groups in:

  • Please bring your completed Health Screen Commitment Form signed by a parent to the first in-person session.
  • Please follow the map sent in the October 19 and 23 emails and enter the parking lot at the front of Fairfax High School. Drive around to the back of the building to access both the drop-off parking lots and student parking.
  • Please complete your "back to school" paperwork before your first day in the building and submit via the google form, email to Ms. Cate or bring a printed hard copy with you. Call the Academy office at 703-219-2226 with any questions.
  • If you need a parking pass, please electronically submit a copy of your driver's license or bring a copy with you to the school in addition to your parking application.
  • If you arrive late for your session, please check in at Door #10. We will complete your health screening and temperature check there before sending you to class.
  • If you need to miss one of your in-person sessions, notify the Academy office and your teacher.

In other news, we encourage you to check out our Academy website for updated staff biographies including our newest staff members: Mr. Dicenzo (Musical Theatre and Actor's Studio), Ms. Nesbitt (ASL) and Mr. Buckley (Academy Support Teacher).

Also, check out our social media (Instagram, Twitter and Facebook) to see and hear the latest on upcoming Academy events, student work, and more!

I hope you all enjoy the extra hour this weekend and that you find time to recharge with Monday and Tuesday being student holidays! We look forward to seeing more of our students over the coming weeks.

All the best,

Mrs. Cook

 

Andrea Cook

Academy Administrator

 

Fairfax Academy for Communications and the Arts

703.219.2387 (office) | amcook@fcps.edu (email)


First Day Back Highlights


Social Distancing during Hip Hop Class

Our hip hop dancers each had their own personal stage during class! Mrs. Barnes, our Dance Director, had the students up and moving quickly learning a high intensity combination. Check out the dance instagram account (@faxcaddance) to see the class in action!


Photo student learns about camera

Mr. Smith, our photography instructor, shows a level 1 student how to use his camera. Our photography students were excited to use equipment beyond their cell phones.


New Staff Members


Mr. Buckley grew up in Fairfax City and Woodbridge, Virginia.  At Virginia Commonwealth University, he graduated with an Interdisciplinary Studies degree with concentrations in music and education.  He received his Master’s degree from Concordia University in 2013.  He has worked in both Prince William, where he was the assistant marching band director at Woodbridge High School, and Fairfax County.  Mr. Buckley has taught elementary, middle, and high school throughout both Prince William and Fairfax Counties. 

Photo of Mr. Buckley

Picture of Erich DiCenzo

Mr. DiCenzo attended the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre. Since arriving in Virginia after a successful professional career, Mr. DiCenzo has served as the Director of Theatre Arts and Technical Theatre at Fairfax High School, the Resident Director and Choreographer for the City of Fairfax Theatre Company as well as the Instructor of Musical Theatre at Fairfax County Public School's Institute for the Arts. Most recent on-stage regional credits include Dominion Stage's production of Snakebit, The Arlington Players' production of Pippin in the role of the Leading Player and Reston Community Players' productions of Rock of Ages (Mayor/JaKeith) and Gypsy (Tulsa).


Ms. Nesbitt just relocated to Virginia from Atlanta, Georgia. For the last seven years, she has taught students who are deaf and hard of hearing using American Sign Language as a means of instruction. During that time, she worked in public and state schools for the deaf with elementary, middle, and high school students in addition to working at Georgia State University as an ASL instructor.

Photo of Ms. Nesbitt