Upcoming Events April 3-7: Spring Break April 13: Early Release End of Quarter April 14: Student Holiday Teacher Workday April 15: ANG fundraiser at Plastic Modelers Show April 21: Cultural Observance Day: Eid al Fitr (begins sundown 4/20) April 21: Teacher Work Day, Student Holiday

Included in this issue:

Staff Spotlight!

• Kay Walters, Marketing Education Teacher and DECA Advisor

Fairfax Lions Need to Know:

• Calendar Reminder: Spring Break & Main Office Hours
• Next Principal's Newsletter will be published on April 13
• Attendance Matters! 
• Parent Info Phone Line available in Eight Languages
• Update your Emergency Care info via weCare@school
• FCPS Stance on Proposed History and Social Science Standards

Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:

• Check the Lost & Found ~ all items will be cleared out after break!
• Science Olympiad Results
• Joint Springfield & Sully Districts Hall 
• Asian Festival on Main 2023
• FHS Softball Fundraiser
• Athletic Boosters Golf Tournament
• Connect - Contact - Reach Us

Fairfax HS PTSA

• Join the PTSA Board
• Parent Volunteers Needed this Testing Season
• ANG Tickets and Yard Signs on Sale

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

FHS parent volunteer, Katy Malesky, receives an "Women of Influence" award from the City of Fairfax. L-R: City of Fairfax School Board Members Rachel McQuillen, Sarah Kelsey, Stacy Hall, FHS Principal, Georgina Aye, DRES Principal, Chris Smith, Katy Malesky, School Board Chair, Carolyn Pitches, KJMS Director of Student Services, Kathryn Teague. 

March 31, 2023

SPRING BREAK IS HERE! 

I hope you have some time to spend with family and friends to enjoy the nice weather and share quality time with one another.  I hope you read a book, binge watch your favorite show, travel to a peaceful location, exercise outdoors, try a new restaurant, or ALL OF THE ABOVE. 

This week has been very exciting. Our Portrait of a Graduate skill was focused on being Goal Driven and Directed. Our AVID students took a college tour to VCU and got to fully immerse in "a day in the life" experience of a post-secondary scholar. Our Lion Time, "Lions GOT GOALS" initiative concluded as students measured the progress of their goals and also reflected on what they may do differently moving forward.  When thinking about a big goal to culminate your class work and passions, our Marketing students hosted "Fashion Through the Decades" a true showcase of presentations of learning as they marketed to the community, coordinated fashion loans with areas businesses, and strategically designed a fashion flow that would entertain all.

One of our hometown heroes, parent volunteer, Katy Malesky, was honored by the City of Fairfax for her dynamic and selfless work here at the food pantry, but even more exciting has been her push for student involvement in donation, support, and packaging that helps supports students goals in positive citizenship. WE ARE GOAL GETTING LIONS EVERYDAY at FHS. 

Refresh, relax, and come back rejuvenated and ready to ROAR!

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

Yours in partnership,

Staff Spotlight

Kay Walters, Marketing Education Teacher & DECA Advisor

Kay Walters has always said that she is inspired by the creativity, curiosity, and tireless energy of students.

Fairfax High School has been a welcome home to Ms. Walters and her four children who all discovered various passions fueled by outstanding teachers. Their interests varied from math, technology, finance, and environmental science to six different sports and so many clubs. She started teaching at Fairfax after two of her children graduated eleven years ago. She enjoys seeing her adult children return to Fairfax and still have so many connections with teachers, coaches, and staff.

Ms. Walters graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a double major in Business and Secondary Education and earned her masters in Instructional Technology from George Mason University. Building partnerships with local businesses and organizations to offer students authentic learning experiences has been a focus of her profession. Serving as an Internship Coordinator, it is so rewarding to see her students explore careers and extend the classroom into a workplace setting. Ms. Walters has enjoyed an extraordinary FCPS teaching career establishing off-campus programs that include Travel and Tourism Marketing where students traveled to Dulles airport for hands-on instruction to earn an industry certification, and Classroom-on-the-Mall at Fair Oaks Mall that allowed students to plan and operate an entrepreneurial retail business. The entrepreneur spirit spurred her to start and operate a summer Fashion Camp throughout Fairfax County for twelve years.  She has continued that interest teaching Fashion Marketing.

A highlight of the fashion marketing program is the annual spring fashion show. It is a real-world fashion promotion event created by the advanced fashion marketing students. Students are responsible for identifying and communicating with clothing vendors and managing the merchandise inventory, budgeting production finances, ordering and making props, and working with the models to style the clothing and choreograph the fashion show. It is a fun, yet rigorous experience. Through teamwork, the students learn to quickly and effectively solve problems. Students build relationships with local vendors such as Macy’s, Target, Men’s Wearhouse, TJ Maxx, David’s Bridal, Marshall’s, and Francesca’s, as they present their creative production to a packed audience.

A few other bits about Ms. Walters:

• She loves to read, hike, and play with her grandchild and has ONE MORE grandchild on the way!
• Immersing in other cultures has been her personal passion that has included travel to over sixteen countries and leading an FCPS CTE trip to Paris and London.
• Served as an adjunct professor at NOVA for Travel and Tourism Marketing.
• Teacher Mentor lead for ten years.
• Serve on the Board of Directors for Virginia DECA.
• Proud sponsor of three clubs at Fairfax: Crush Cancer, FIDM Fashion Club, and DECA

Thank you, Kay Walters, for all you do for our students and school community! You are amazing and we are so lucky to have you!

Fashion Marketing students pick out items for the Fashion Show and present their ideas in class. 

Fashion Marketing students shop and prepare for today's Fashion show!

Fairfax Lions Need to Know:

Calendar Reminder: Spring Break April 3-7

Schools will be closed Monday, April 3, to Friday, April 7, (12-month employees report to work). Students will return to school on Monday, April 10. See the complete 2022-23 School Year Calendar.

April is National Arab American Heritage Month

FCPS is proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month in April. This special month provides an opportunity to recognize the remarkable history and valuable contributions of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

Thank You Assistant Principals!

April 3-7 is National Assistant Principals Week. Thank you to all our administrators who help our schools run smoothly!

Quarter End: Early Release, Student Holiday, Teacher Work Day

Reminder, Thursday, April 13, is the quarter end and students will be released two hours early. There will be no classes for students on Friday, April 14, a student holiday and teacher work day.

Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims congregate that morning for Eid prayers. The most common way to wish someone a Happy Eid al-Fitr is Eid Mubarak, which means “blessed feast” (or festival). Read more at Britannica.com.

FCPS has designated Eid al-Fitr as a religious and cultural observance day to allow students the opportunity to miss school for observances not already designated as school holidays. Eid al-Fitr is from sunset Thursday, April 20, to sunset Friday, April 21. April 20 is a half O Day, April 21 is a student holiday. 

See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.

Please note that during Spring Break, the FHS main office will be open Monday-Thursday, from 9am - 1pm, and CLOSED on Friday, April 7.

The next Principal's Desk Newsletter will be published on Thursday, April 13th. Enjoy Spring Break!

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! 

This year, spring break is April 3-7. We will be eager to welcome your children back in school on Monday, April 10. Their attendance is very important. Every day, our teachers will be teaching, and students will be learning. Studies have shown that just two absences per month can cause students to fall behind. Let’s finish this school year strong. Visit our website for more attendance resources.

Parent Information Phone Line Available in Eight Languages

Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. They can also get support with communicating with their child's school.

Update your Emergency Care Information via weCare@school

Fairfax County Public Schools provides weCare@school (weCare), an emergency care information system, to parents/caregivers who have registered for their own parent account. weCare helps manage emergency medical information by allowing parents/caregivers to enter and update their children’s medical data online at their convenience. That contact information automatically enrolls parents/caregivers to receive critical updates from the district and their child’s school through the eNotify system. FCPS uses eNotify to communicate emergency, transportation, attendance, weather closing and delay, and essential outreach messages. Messages are sent by email, text, and occasionally by phone. 

Learn more about updating your emergency care information.

FCPS Stance on Proposed History and Social Science Standards

The Virginia Board of Education (VBOE) is required to review the Standards of Learning (SOL) in all subjects at least once every seven years. The History and Social Science SOL—which seeks to build students’ understanding and skills in history, geography, civics, and economics—is currently up for review. 

Multiple history and social science experts prepared a comprehensive analysis of the January 6 draft standards outlining significant concerns about the proposed standards. The Fairfax County School Board and Dr. Reid submitted a letter to VBOE’s president and the Virginia Department of Education’s acting superintendent of public instruction. The letter raises numerous issues with the proposed standards and their inability to provide students with history and social science instruction that prioritizes thinking, historical accuracy, diverse perspectives, and developmental appropriateness. Read their letters on our website.

Fairfax Lions Nice to Know: 

Lost & Found If students have lost or misplaced any items at school, please have them check the Lost & Found area in the front office. It will be cleared out when we return from spring break, and any items not picked up will be donated to charity. The main office will be open next Mon-Thu, 9am - 1pm.

State Science Olympiad Results

Congratulations to the Fairfax High School Science Olympiad team for their outstanding 3^rd place finish at the state tournament at UVA last  Saturday!

The following Fairfax High School students earned medals:

1^st Place:

Codebusters – David Cheng, Cristian Jimenez-Ebert, Rohan Soma
Scrambler – Aadit Abhilash, William Park
WiFi Lab – David Cheng, Cristian Jimenez-Ebert
Write It Do It – George Huynh, William Park

2^nd Place:

Bridge – Emily Jiang, William Park
Experimental Design – Aadit Abhilash, Averie Hanna, Rohan Soma
Trajectory – Howard Dinh, Zane Geadah
Solar Power – Ethan Doan, Lile Funez

3^rd Place:

Green Generation – Averie Hanna, Rohan Soma
Remote Sensing – David Cheng, Simone De Martin
Rocks and Minerals – Aadit Abhilash, Anka Undraa

5^th Place:

Anatomy and Physiology – Averie Hanna, Maya Kamat
Detector Building – Howard Dinh, Zane Geadah
Flight – Howard Dinh, Emily Jiang

6^th Place:

Cell Biology – George Huynh, Maya Kamat
Disease Detectives – Maya Kamat, Anka Undraa
Forensics – Asha Lowery, Stephen Moir

State tournament trophies went to:

1^st Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
2^nd Langley High School
3^rd Fairfax High School
4^th Woodson High School
5^th Lake Braddock High School

Joint Springfield & Sully District Town Hall

Springfield and Sully District Town Hall

Join Springfield District Representative Laura Jane Cohen, Sully District Representative Stella Pekarsky, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid, and Student Representative to the School Board Michele Togbe for a town hall. All Springfield and Sully District families, staff, students, and community members are welcome! We hope to see you there!

When: Monday, April 10, 2023, from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Where: Chantilly High School (Library), 4201 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, VA

Feel free to submit your questions or comments in advance.

*If American Sign Language or language interpretation is needed, please submit your request by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 31, 2023.​​​​​​​

Asian Festival on Main 2023

FHS families are invited to attend the Asian Festival on Main 2023. This event will be held at Old Town Fairfax on May 21, 2023 from 12PM to 6PM. Student volunteers are also needed to support the festival, organized by Old Town Fairfax Business Association (nonprofit) and supported by Fairfax City. More information is available on our website https://asianfestivalonmain.com or sign up to help here: https://asianfestivalonmain.com/get-involved/#volunteers.

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.

Athletic Boosters Golf Tournament May 8 - Entry Fees go up April 10th! 

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.

SIGN UP NOW! Entry fees go UP after April 10th! 

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

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:

• Join the PTSA Board
• Proctor Volunteers Needed this Testing Season
• ANG Tickets and Yard Signs on Sale

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.

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

Attendance: 703-219-2211| Web