Upcoming Events March 18: Mock SAT/ACT 9am March 21: PTSA Meeting 7pm FHS Library March 22: Virtual All Night Grad Meeting 7pm on Zoom March 23: Cultural Observance Day: Ramadan begins Sunset 3/22 and continues until 4/21 April 3-7: Spring Break April 13: Early Release End of Quarter April 14: Student Holiday Teacher Workday

Included in this issue:

Staff Spotlight!

• Thresa O'Neill, Mathematics Teacher & Department Chair  

Fairfax Lions Need to Know:

• Calendar Reminder: Ramadan Begins March 22
• Community Meeting on the Dangers of Fentanyl
• Difficult Conversations about Drugs and Suicide Prevention
• FCPS-FCPD Youth Substance Use Presentation March 21
• High School Assessment and Grading Survey
• Rising 12th Immunizations Due
• No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for Students

Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:

• School Board Student Representative Applications Due
• FCPS Military Night
• FHS Softball Fundraiser
• Spring Break & Teacher Work Day Camps
• Athletic Boosters Golf Tournament
• Mulch Delivery Volunteers Needed! 
• Connect - Contact - Reach Us

Fairfax HS PTSA

• SAT/ACT Practice Opportunity TOMORROW, 9am @ FHS
• Join the PTSA Board
• Parent Volunteers Needed this Testing Season
• PTSA and ANG Meetings Next Week
• ANG Tickets and Yard Signs on Sale

Acceso de News You Choose en Español:  Haga clic aquí.

Our Cultural Celebration was a Huge Success! 

Just a few small snapshots of the extraordinary talent on display this week for our Cultural Celebration! It was a huge success ~ thank you to all who attended, we had record crowds! Thank you, also, to all our students and staff who worked SO hard the last several weeks to prepare. A huge shout-out goes to ESOL & Academy Resource Teacher, Sara Chae (pictured below), who helped organize it and worked behind the scenes. Congratulations and Well Done to all involved!

All pictures courtesy of Sara Chae

March 17, 2023

Happy St. Patrick's Day Fairfax Family! 

This week we have focused on celebrating our diverse community! Our Cultural Celebration during the day and in the evening have been an amazing showcase of culture while learning and embracing all the Lions of FHS. Our Portrait of a Graduate skill this week leans into being a global and ethical citizen as we have the opportunity to understand others and learn more about their culture and values. Exposure is important and builds a stronger community. 

This week was also "Mathtastic" as we celebrated Pi Day, 3.14. Students had the opportunity to engage in solving Pi problems and receive a special treat. The fun didn't stop there because on March 15 our Latin students recognized the Ides of March - Beware. Students viewed Julius Caesar while enjoying Caesar salads. Our  "Learning Lounge" has been live on late bus days as students are engaging in intervention and acceleration. Our Executive Functioning Academy is also available on late bus days to offer support in organization, time-management, and self- advocacy. 

Spring is exciting. As we wait for the flowers to bloom, our Arts programs and Spring Sports are already budding. Be sure to check our website for a fashion show, production, concert, or game this season. There is always an amazing way to "ROAR" at FHS. 

Every Student, Every Strength, Every Day here at Fairfax High.

Yours in partnership,

Staff Spotlight

Thresa O'Neill, Mathematics Teacher and Department Chair

Thresa O’Neill has always known she wanted to be a teacher. She attended GWU for 2 years before transferring to UVA. After graduating with her bachelor’s in mathematics and masters in Secondary Education, she taught middle school in Arlington. Although she enjoyed middle schoolers (really!), she moved to high school to teach higher level math. She found her passion teaching high school students that math is not a set of rules but a way of thinking…creatively! Before coming to FHS, she taught in 5 other schools then took a hiatus to raise her 3 children. When her children reached school age, she joined the FHS math department and found her school home. She loves this school so much that she pupil-placed all three of her 3 children here! Two have graduated from FHS and her third will be graduating this year. Her daughter is now a Mechanical Engineer, and her son will be teaching Computer Science next fall. Her youngest son is a senior at FHS, has been accepted into college and will be studying Nursing/Music. She has been a band mom for 10 years and was a Science Olympiad mom for 2.  

Mrs. O’Neill has taught grades 7-12, from Math 8 to AP AB Calculus, and is the math department chair. Along with Mr. Weaver, she has run the New Lion Assemble for rising freshmen for the last 5 years. She, with Ms. Varanavage and Mr. Weaver, are the junior class sponsors and she has sponsored several clubs, including Math Honor Society. Lastly, she has the honor of teaching long enough to now be teaching alongside 2 of her former FHS students!

Some things that her students don’t know about her is that she coached JV girls’ soccer at Yorktown HS - they were first in their division! Mrs. O’Neill is almost 100% Italian and comes from a family of teachers: her father was the Associate Dean of Education at GWU, her sister is a professor of Climatology, her mother was a SPED teacher, and her grandfather was a band director!  She also has aunts, uncles and cousins who are teachers. Some of her hobbies include playing board games, cooking, watching movies, crafting, reading and volunteering. She is a foodie and plans to eat her way around the world! Thank you for all you do for school, Mrs. O'Neill! 

Left: Students working together on a math challenge; Right: Math Teachers Julie Dietz and Thresa O'Neill on "Twin Day." 

Fairfax Lions Need to Know:

Calendar Reminder: Ramadan begins March 22

This year, the first day of Ramadan is Wednesday, March 22. Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year, a time for spiritual discipline for Muslims, who believe it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Quran to Mohammed. Read more about Ramadan in National Geographic Kids. 

Ramadan begins with a half “O Day” on March 22, followed by an O Day on March 23. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days. Half-O days are full school days, but important events will not be held after school on those days. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.

Community Meeting on the Dangers of Fentanyl

Monday evening, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid and Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis hosted nearly 400 families, staff, and community members for a conversation on the dangers of fentanyl. During this impactful event, audience members heard testimonials from individuals affected by the opioid epidemic and learned facts from medical experts and law enforcement representatives.  

The conversation will continue on Monday, April 24, with our next community meeting on the critical topic of fentanyl danger and opioid awareness. More information is coming soon. Visit our Opioid Awareness webpage for updates as they become available. 

Visit the Fairfax County Government webpage on opioids for information on how you can take action and how to get help for yourself or loved ones.

Difficult Conversations about Drugs and Suicide Prevention

FCPS’ Parent Resource Center (PRC) is dedicated to helping adults support the success of all students. The PRC will present the following webinars:

• Preparing Families for Difficult Conversations About Alcohol and Drugs: Tuesday, March 21, at 10 a.m.  This webinar will give parents tools to engage in meaningful conversations with their children about alcohol and drugs. Parents will learn basic information about alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioids; what can be done as a caregiver; and how to identify and connect with community resources.

• Suicide Prevention: A School and Family Partnership: Friday, March 24, at 10 a.m.  This session will show ways to spot warning signs of youth confronting mental health challenges and how to quickly respond to unexpected signs. 

Click on the titles above to register.

High School Assessment and Grading Survey

Instructional Services is conducting a survey to gather perceptions and preferences around assessments and grading elements. High school students, their families, and high school-based staff will be surveyed. Students and their families will be asked about their current classes and how they feel about assessment, grading, and grading practices and policies. 

The survey results will be used along with information from student focus groups, research, best practices, and benchmarking to propose recommendations to the School Board later this spring. Surveys will be sent Monday, March 20, and individuals will have until Friday, March 31, to respond. For more information, contact Michael Gillespie in Instructional Services.

Rising 12th Grade Immunizations Due

12th Grade Immunization Requirement Notice

Fairfax County Health Department  https://bit.ly/FairfaxCountyHealthDepartment

Low Cost Healthcare Resources  https://bit.ly/LowCostHealthcareResources

Health and Community Resources   https://bit.ly/HealthAndCommunityResources

Please contact Toby Sorensen at tmsorensen@fcps.edu 703-219-2349 if you have any questions.

No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for Students

FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to begin offering virtual mental health services to high school students via live video sessions. Starting Monday, April 10, parents/caregivers who have been struggling to find a therapist for their child or who notice changes in their child’s behavior will be able to connect them virtually with a licensed therapist. 

Teletherapy services for students are short-term, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive. 

Teletherapy is available on any device, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Therapists will be locally-licensed clinicians; 50% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC); and 40% of whom are bilingual. More than 15 languages are available.

Hazel Health’s licensed therapists can help students who are experiencing:

• Mood/behavior changes, lack of motivation, grief/loss.
• Anxiety, worry, fears.
• Bullying, sexual identity challenges, challenging peer and family relationships.
• Academic stress.

The first step for parents is to provide information through an opt-in form. Visit FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for details.

Fairfax Lions Nice to Know: 

School Board Student Representative Applications Due

Each year, FCPS students have the opportunity to apply for the position of the student representative to the School Board. The student representative is not a member of the School Board but serves in a nonvoting, advisory capacity, representing FCPS students’ interests. The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council delegates will vote to elect the representative to the School Board in April.

Eligible students should currently be in grades 9, 10, and 11; a resident of Fairfax County or Fairfax City; and an FCPS student. Students are required to provide a written application by Friday, March 17, and a 30-second candidate statement via Flip video, which is due Friday, March 31.

FCPS Military Night

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students and families are invited to virtually attend FCPS Military Night on Monday, march 20, 2023, from 5:00pm - 8:00pm, to learn more about the various military pathways available to high school graduates. All presentations will be virtual. 

FHS Softball Fundraiser!

Softball is selling Flowers, Vegetables, Herbs, hanging baskets and flower bowls this spring as a fundraiser! More pictures and an order form can be found here: Softball Fundraiser Flyer & Form.pdf

Orders are due by April 1 and your items will be delivered to you sometime between 5/16-5/28. Orders can be placed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JVL2KFY

or email Annie Clark at Amonastero@aol.com for more information.

Spring Break and Teacher Work Day Camps

Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is offering camps during spring break (April 3-7) and FCPS teacher workdays (April 14 and April 21)! FCPA camps are held in recreation centers, parks, schools, and virtually. Categories include: Sports, performing arts, STEM, music, and others. Kids can explore a special interest or learn something new while making new friends. Register today.

Check out the Camps website for a complete list of options or browse the FCPA Spring and Summer Camp 2023 Guide (PDF).

Athletic Boosters Golf Tournament May 8

HELP SUPPORT FAIRFAX ATHLETICS!  Join us for a fun day of golf, food, prizes and auction, or help by purchasing a sponsorship for the 10th Annual Athletics Booster Fundraiser. All are welcome!  Scan to code below or go to https://fairfaxhighsports.org/page/3310 to register or donate.

For questions contact Miranda Adams at fhsboostergolftour@gmail.com. Thank you!

Mulch Delivery Volunteers Needed! 

Calling all Lion parents! Do you have an SUV or truck? Fairfax Athletics is in need of parent drivers on Saturday, March 18 to help make deliveries for the annual mulch sale fundraiser. All proceed from the fundraiser go directly to supporting FHS sports and activities. Please click the link below for more details and to sign up. Mulch Delivery Volunteer SignUp Thank you for your support!

with us throughout the year by:

• visit the Fairfax High School Website
• sign up/modify your membership to our message -  News You Choose
• visiting the Fairfax PTSA Website

Fairfax HS PTSA

Table of Contents:

• SAT/ACT Practice Opportunity TOMORROW, 9am @ FHS
• Join the PTSA Board
• Parent Volunteers Needed this Testing Season
• PTSA and ANG Meetings Next Week
• ANG Tickets and Yard Signs on Sale

Mock SAT/ACT

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 9am, the Fairfax High School Academic Boosters will again be partnering with Applerouth Tutoring to offer Mock SAT and ACT exams.

This is a perfect opportunity for students who haven’t started their testing to become familiar with the format in a stress-free environment at FHS for only $25. We will also offer the Mock ACT for students who have already taken the SAT and wish to see if the ACT might be right for them.

Students are encouraged to take a practice test before attempting the actual exam. They may select either the SAT or the ACT practice test. Students will receive detailed score reports to help them determine which areas they need to study.

To register, go to:

http://www.applerouth.com/schools/8801/

SAT code: M515738 

ACT code: M515740

Questions: Academicboosters@fairfaxptsa.org

Join the PTSA Board! 

The Fairfax High School PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) is looking for parents to serve on the Board during the 2023 - 2024 school year.  Our goal is to have the Board reflect our school community and classrooms. Involvement is a big part of your student’s success and what better way than to be at the center!  You will be surrounded by community members who are engaged in all aspects of Fairfax High School.

Positions available include:  President, Vice President, Treasurer, Hospitality and Web Master. 

Meetings are currently on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Everyone welcome, no previous experience necessary.

Please contact the nominating committee at Susan@skares.com if you are interested or want to find out more information.

Proctor Volunteers Needed

Fairfax High School is seeking parent volunteers to help proctor the AP exams being administered May 1-18^th. We have many opportunities available to give our students a great exam session. Email or sign up for a time you can work during the school day even if it’s not the whole session:

FHS AP Testing Proctor SignUp

Please note that you cannot proctor an AP exam that your student is scheduled to take and you cannot be in the same room with any family member. If you have any questions, please email Leslie Trieu at latrieu@fcps.edu.

PTSA and ANG Meetings Next Tuesday and Wednesday

All FHS parents are invited to the next PTSA meeting on March 21 from 7-8pm in the FHS Library. Hear all the exciting updates from this month and help plan the rest of the semester!

Next ANG Meeting LOCATION CHANGE:  ZOOM Call

Join All Night Grad Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81673461454

Meeting ID: 816 7346 1454 One tap mobile +13092053325,,81673461454# US

The All Night Grad Meeting will NOT be at the high school this month. Senior and Junior parents are encouraged to zoom in on March 22 at 7pm. Graduation is less than 3 months away and we’re preparing a celebration that they won’t forget!

ANG Tickets Are ON SALE:
https://fairfaxhs.memberhub.com/store/items/499302 Purchase your student’s ticket before the price goes up! If we have money in the bank now we can plan for more fun activities on June 7- don’t wait!

Senior Yard Signs Are ON SALE: 
Double Package: https://fairfaxhs.memberhub.com/store/items/499060 Other ticket/yard sign/donation packages are available on https://fairfaxhs.memberhub.com/store.

Do you want to celebrate a Fairfax employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way, or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.

3501 Lion Run Fairfax, VA 22030  | Main Office: 703-219-2200

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